[ToTheLeft]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/03/ ... index.html

Mike Huckabee will win the Iowa Republican caucus, CNN projects, based on early results.

[El Scorcho]

ABC is also projecting the Huckster.

That's a shame.

[Baldspot]

I have a real problem with someone who overturned 1,300 jury decisions during his time as govenor. That many people sitting on all those juries couldn't be wrong. He makes Hilary look strong on crime.

Please tell me I'm wrong because I'd like to root for the guy.

[flamesbball84]

if huckabee wins the republican nomination, my vote is going to the libertarian candidate. 1,300 pardons is way too much for me - that's 1,300 convicted criminals back on the street, and I dont know what every single one of them did to get in jail in the first place, but im pretty sure more than a handful would have been for major crimes...

[ToTheLeft]

Oh no, he isn't perfect! OH NO!

[whmatthews]

the cry babies come out.

[TDDance234]

I'm more surprised by Thompson's showing in Iowa. While he certaintly won't duplicate his success in NH (Huckabee will probably falter a bit too), it's a bit surprising to see Fred above McCain, Guiliani and even Paul.

[TDDance234]

ABC is also projecting the Huckster.

That's a shame.

Come on... did you really think Paul was going to win?

[PastorZack]

hey baldspot, our primary is really late, compared to the rest of the voting public....but how do you think PA will turn out in April? I still think the American public and the media will try to push is that Huckabee is a W clone, and go from there.

[RagingTireFire]

Huckabee creeps me out on a level reserved for porn collectors and the Travelocity Roamin' Gnome but, if he's the Republican nominee, I'm still voting for him.

[El Scorcho]

ABC is also projecting the Huckster.

That's a shame.

Come on... did you really think Paul was going to win?

Did I say anything in this thread about Ron Paul? No. Not a single word. I said it was a shame that Huckabee was projected to win and it was. Now it's a shame that he won. I agree with RTF. He creeps me out and I don't like him one bit. I, however, will not vote for him.

[jcmanson]

Why does he creep you out?

It's a legit question as I have yet to make my decision on who to vote for.

[El Scorcho]

It's his political "slickness" that creeps me out. The way he talks, the way he smiles and the way he answers without really saying anything. For example: Just this morning Matt Lauer asked him what his thoughts were on "religious voters" after the exit polls showed that they heavily influenced his win. Rather than acknowledging the stat, he immediately started walking around it and talking about how this was America asking for a change and how it's not just religious voters since he's polling so strongly in other states. (He listed SC and TX as examples. ) To me he'll just be another psuedo-conservative who convinces evangelicals to vote for them, but then refuses to acknowledge them. Everything about him (especially his track record as a governor) indicates that he's a psuedo-conservative. Real conservatives get that and have called him out on it. (See Limbaugh, Coulter, etc.) I think he's a sham and his tax, pardon and immigration record in Arkansas doesn't help to convince me otherwise. I think he's paying lip service to conservatism.

I say that with the completely realistic view that my favorite candidate stands no shot at getting the nomination and that I'm going to have to decide what I think about the other candidates soon. If it comes down to voting for Huckabee, I can't do it.

[ALAFlamesFan]

Is there a viable candidate in either party that anyone is really 100% for? I can't see any that get me really excited. I may sit this election out. They all look the same to me. Except Hillary....

[RagingTireFire]

I once had a timeshare sales rep tell me that God wanted me to take vacations and that I should buy a timeshare because it was in the Bible. I had the exact same reaction to that then that I have to Huckabee's campaign schpiel now. Huckabee is marketing himself as the "Christian" candidate and that's the selling point that supposedly sets him apart. Some people may see that as a good thing but whether or not someone is a Christian has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not they'll be a good president so, as a Christian, I see that as disingenous and I feel like I'm being pandered just to win the office.
Frankly, it offends me, particularly since his record in Arkansas doesn't back up what he's saying now. I'd much rather have a good candidate running for office than a good Christian. The country needs a president, not a national high priest.

[LUconn]

Is there a viable candidate in either party that anyone is really 100% for? I can't see any that get me really excited. I may sit this election out. They all look the same to me. Except Hillary....

http://www.alankeyes.com/


Oh wait, you said viable.

[Purple Haize]

I am not suprised that the Huckster and his Huckstermaniacs took Iowa. I WILL echo that the Fred Thompson showing suprised me. I knew he would finish ahead of RG since RG didn't spend much if any time there. Finishing ahead of Ron Paul and the Paulistas was a bit of a suprise since RP prides himself on his grassroots appeal (See 04 Howard Dean) but beating John McCain was REALLY suprising. Maybe there is some hope in his campaign at last. Although IMHO he has VP written all over him. He would be a nice "balance" to a RG ticket. Or a nice balance to MR in the hair department. (BTW, LOVED MR comeback to MH campaign manager "Just don't touch the hair!") i would LOVE to see FT really start a move. Nothing would be more impressive then a 6'8" president staring down some world leaders. Plus add the accent and he would be VERY imposing!! "Look here now boy, I don't give a flying fig tree about Wahabi's, I think it makes a fine hot sauce, but you gotta get those fellers under control. Now if you aint got the gumption, I have several thousand marines and and itchy trigger finger that might help persuade you" (Cue law and order music) Plus, I KNOW he would refer to Hunt for Red October "The Russians don't take a dump without a plan son, so what's there plan?"
Ok I am now rambling, much like FT himself@!

[Knucklehead]

You people are crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look, no matter if you like Huckabee or not you can't go voting for 3rd party folks or you will have president Obama/Clinton.
Who would you call a better ELECTIBLE option Romney or Thompson? I think not. Huck is NOT perfect, but he is a Godly man with a moral compass, and the ONLY hope for the Fair Tax.
And to Scorcho. I really don''t like your reaction, but OH well!

[Sly Fox]

It is just a meaningless Caucus scheduled to give a farm state a few moments in the sun that they would never merit in general. Get back with me on who is leading in a couple of months.

[Knucklehead]

It is just a meaningless Caucus scheduled to give a farm state a few moments in the sun that they would never merit in general. Get back with me on who is leading in a couple of months.

MEANINGLESS!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Maybe "Mildly Important", but not Meaningless! I do find it comforting that there are still people somewhere other than Lynchburg who Value Values, and want the Fair Tax!

Remember too that most of the Iowa Huckabee Precinct leaders were Baptist ministers.

[Knucklehead]

Is there a viable candidate in either party that anyone is really 100% for? I can't see any that get me really excited. I may sit this election out. They all look the same to me. Except Hillary....

http://www.alankeyes.com/


Oh wait, you said viable.

Totally unelectable because of his hateful rhetoric.

[Sly Fox]

The past few elections have shown that success in Iowa has little to no bearing on getting to the White House. So while meaningless may have been an overstatement, it is not one by much.

[LUconn]

...you can't go voting for 3rd party folks or you will have president Obama/Clinton.
Who would you call a better ELECTIBLE option...

This type of thinking by all of america is the problem with our election system. If not everybody thought that way, we could have more than 2 parties, and you wouldn't have to sell your soul to try and keep so and so out of office.

[Knucklehead]

...you can't go voting for 3rd party folks or you will have president Obama/Clinton.
Who would you call a better ELECTIBLE option...

This type of thinking by all of america is the problem with our election system. If not everybody thought that way, we could have more than 2 parties, and you wouldn't have to sell your soul to try and keep so and so out of office.

OK sell me a 3rd party candidate that we can get the populus to vote for. I agree with the principal of what you say. I haven't been excited about a Pres. Candidate since Regan. I'd love to see 3 or even 4 parties, but it will not work in our system. Heck the Republican party as a whole has move way to centrist for me. I'd love to see a true conservative party / candidate. There sure isn't one out there.

[RagingTireFire]

The past few elections have shown that success in Iowa has little to no bearing on getting to the White House. So while meaningless may have been an overstatement, it is not one by much.

Very true. The Iowa mystique is largely a creation of the election coverage media who have precious little to cover up to this point. I seem to remember Pat Robertson putting up some serious numbers in Iowa a few years back.

As for Huckabee being a Godly man, that's not for me or anyone else on here to say. I know he's trying to sell me on him being a Godly man but that, in and of itself, has no bearing at all why I should vote for him.