Told ya!

The Huckaboob was looking for another boob. Seems he found one!

I personally think that Huckabee will trumpet the Fair Tax to win Fair Tax supporters in the primaries and possibly even the general election, if he were to win the Republican primary. But I believe that if he gets into office, he will only put forth a marginal effort to get it passed, not the monumental effort that would be required to even get it truly debated, and then go forward with his past tax and spend efforts. I agree with you, Huckabee is playing the Fair Tax supporters for fools.

Not me, I strongly support the Fairtax and yet I have no desire to see Mike Huckabee win the nomination.

Right On!!! Give 'em Hell, Jason!!!!

I agree with this so much it feels like I'd have written it if I'd had the skills and knowledge of Huckabee. Boortz just seems to be getting more and more blinded by his own opinions. He won't even pretend to debate people on the war, and his support of Huckabee is an affront to most of the principles he supposedly believes in. He's as bad as all the confederate flag voters he made fun of back when that issue defined an election for a lot of Georgians.

Huck's feel-good statements don't fool me. Ron Paul has stated on many occasions that he would vote for the FairTax because it would get rid of the IRS. And you know what? I believe him! Still the FairTax supporters cling to Huck and some even bash Ron Paul for not "promoting" the FairTax. Are the FairTax supporters to blind to see that it doesn't really matter how we get rid of the IRS as long as it happens? We don't need the income tax at all to fund the government and that's all I have to say about the matter.

These points could be responded to one by one: perrault@sbcglobal.net , if you like. But, all of this dispairing about Huckabee is misguided. In the first place, the idea that Huckabee is a liberal spendthrift is nonsense. People believe that who believe other peoples' words without doing any study of their own. Money inflates and budgets grow. Over the course of Huckabee's governorship, his state's budget grew at about half the rate of the average American state.

In the second place, it is a CRASHING irony for these concerns to be stated over Huckabee, given the conservative/constitutional infidels who are the nearest competitors: Romney, Giuliani, McCain, Thompson? Philosophically clueless. At least Romney knows to pull any leg that sticks out in front of him. None of these are close to as constitutionally constrained as Huckabee. He constantly cites the appropriate state v. federal distinction of powers of the 10th Amendment. Anyone who was paying attention would know that.

The supposed "fiscal conservatives" that oppose Huckabee have ultrior motives, and opposition to The Fair Tax is one of them. People who write off nearly every luxury as a "business expense," effectively shifting the tax burden down to the middle class, don't want it "fair." They are used to being privileged.

The idea that Huckabee is cynically using The Fair Tax to gain power and will then ignore it and tax away is unmitigated paranoia. Huckabee has signed the Americans for Tax Reform "no new taxes " pledge and constantly says the federal government doesn't need more money. Again, pay attention.

And lastly: so-called "populist" rhetoric does not define liberal policy. Huckabee is a smart and honest man who grew up in a Democrat family, in a Democrat town, in a Democrat state, and BECAME a Republican. But not just because he doesn't care about middle and lower class people. He knows that true conservative free-market policy (like our current tax system ISN'T) provides the most opportunity for EVERYONE!

The sound of that rhetoric is the sound of the Democrats' most powerful emotional tool being cut right out from under them. It's the sound of general election victory for conservative principle. Take a muscle relaxer.

In the first place, the idea that Huckabee is a liberal spendthrift is nonsense.

He supported takes increases of $505 million while Governor of Arkansas and increased spending three times the rate of inflation.

In the second place, it is a CRASHING irony for these concerns to be stated over Huckabee, given the conservative/constitutional infidels who are the nearest competitors: Romney, Giuliani, McCain, Thompson?

Is that a question or statement?

I voted for Ron Paul.

The supposed "fiscal conservatives" that oppose Huckabee have ultrior motives, and opposition to The Fair Tax is one of them.

I'm calling bullshit on that one.

The Club for Growth, who has been the most vocal against Huckabee as far as a fiscal conservatives go, supports the Fair Tax. Stephen Moore, who was formerly headed the organization, is one of the main supporters of that movement.

The idea that Huckabee is cynically using The Fair Tax to gain power and will then ignore it and tax away is unmitigated paranoia.

Huckabee has changed positions on issues like immigration before. He sees a movement and he is attempting to use that movement to gain support.

It has nothing to do with paranoia, which is an accusation that makes no sense.

He constantly cites the appropriate state v. federal distinction of powers of the 10th Amendment. Anyone who was paying attention would know that.

What's that? You must have missed the stories of Huckabee wanting a federal ban on abortion and a federal smoking ban.

And...anyone who calls NCLB "the greatest education reform effort by the federal government in my lifetime," cannot be taken seriously. That legislation furthered the nationalization of education in the US and is by far the worth thing to happen to our education system since the creation of the DoE.

These are not the sentiments of a federalist.

Huckabee has signed the Americans for Tax Reform "no new taxes " pledge and constantly says the federal government doesn't need more money. Again, pay attention.

Huckabee signed the petition after pressure to do so. At first he refused to sign it.

Huckabee is a smart and honest man who grew up in a Democrat family, in a Democrat town, in a Democrat state, and BECAME a Republican.

He may have become a Republican in name, but not in practice.

Huckabee is a Christian socialist.

"I voted for Ron Paul."

That explains a lot. I agree with a LOT of what Ron Paul says. But, the few things I disagree about are BIIIIG! And, Huckabee has a positive, engaging, and inviting disposition.

Well, to get technical about your exalted rgetoric, "bullshit" is commonly connoted to imply that I might be disingenuous in what I'm saying. I assure you, I am not.

The Club for Growth's attacks are mercenary and misleading. Pat Toomey isn't saying nice things about The Fair Tax. Two of The CFG's MAJOR contributor's are a Romney supporter and an Arkansas billionaire for whom Huckabee didn't snap to when he barked. Those are the facts. I'm sorry that some people don't explore them.

Paranoia describes the fear of someone who can't believe that ANY politician is honest, whether he is or isn't. And BTW, though he had to find a relatively rural Texas district to succeed, Ron Paul is a politician, too. I believe he's mistaken about a few things. I DON"T believe he's dishonest. He's SERIOUS!

Huckabee hasn't changed his position on immigration. He has always believed that our government caused the problem by not enforcing the law. And, he STILL believes that we oughtn't punish children for the crime of a parent (though that bill failed). The problem isn't foreigners who want to work. The problem is a government that so poorly dealt with the border as to practically invite lawbreaking just to make a buck.

I haven't missed anything. The respect of human life was not intended to be a matter left to the states, though I acknowledge the unique conditions in the case of abortion and grant that returning the matter to the states is probably the most tidy way to move out of the constitutiona dissonnance that we have created.

Support for a constitutional ban is shorthand for saying that the disrespect of human life is unconstitutional, which I think it is. But, the fact is that in order for there to be any progress toward a constitutyional amendment, the public conscience will have to have been shifted so that the problem will be well on the way to solution.

And, the context in which the smoking ban matter arose was a Lance Armstrong Cancer forum at which Chris Matthews raised the question to Huckabee: "As president, if Congress passerd a smoking ban and put it on your desk, would you sign it?"

Huckabee answered that yes, he would, but not as a regulation of the public in places like bars and restaurants, but as something like an OSHA workplace regulation.

The law he sigfned in Arkansas exepted workplaces that catered only to adults or which employed 3 or fewer people.

I've been over this with a Constitution-hawk website (BTW, I have voted with The Constitution Party more than once). I told them that yes, there is no constitutional license for a smoking ban. But, constitutional scrupulosity in today's America is on the oder of standing neck-deep in a swimming pool and complaining that a light shower is getting you wet.

There are libraries of unconstitutional laws expanding by the day. The federal government has taken up trillions of dollars in medical liabilities. Discouraging the few behaviors thast are responsible for a huge portion of national medical costs, is just bare fiscal prudence. In Arkansas for example, the epidemic of childhood obesity was confronted not by constraing unhealthy choices but by encouragin healthy ones. School vending machine offerings were expanded with healthier options. A state healthy insignia was offered for restaurant menu options that met certain criteria. You can curse the darkness or light a match.

Again, you are not paying attention. If Huckabee wins the Iowa Caucuses, perhaps you will start? REPEATEDLY, he says that education is a state, not a federal matter. In the context of an unfortunately expanding federal role, at least the NCLB act set goals and accountability standards for every child in every public school.

"Huckabee signed the petition after pressure to do so. At first he refused to sign it."
Cynicism, again. Huckabee was one of the earliest signers.

"Huckabee is a Christian socialist." Oh, for Pete's sake. What am I? An idiot? Do your homework. Don't use the words of others to inform you. There are enough stupid people in the world. It's a darn shame when people with a scintilla of sense operate impertinently on shallow information and thinking.

Well, to get technical about your exalted rgetoric, "bullshit" is commonly connoted to imply that I might be disingenuous in what I'm saying. I assure you, I am not.

Yes, you are. You are imply that all aof Huckabee critics are wrong about his record. That is blatant lie.

Huckabee answered that yes, he would, but not as a regulation of the public in places like bars and restaurants, but as something like an OSHA workplace regulation.

More regulation rom the federal government on business and further infringement of private property rights. These are not the words of a federalist.

The Club for Growth's attacks are mercenary and misleading. Pat Toomey isn't saying nice things about The Fair Tax. Two of The CFG's MAJOR contributor's are a Romney supporter and an Arkansas billionaire for whom Huckabee didn't snap to when he barked. Those are the facts. I'm sorry that some people don't explore them.

On their CFG white paper for Huckabee they give him credit for supporting the FairTax, but coupled with his record as Governor it is "a drop in the bucket."

I am well aware of the CFG's donors, but it's part of our system. I don't have any issues with it.

I've been over this with a Constitution-hawk website (BTW, I have voted with The Constitution Party more than once). I told them that yes, there is no constitutional license for a smoking ban. But, constitutional scrupulosity in today's America is on the oder of standing neck-deep in a swimming pool and complaining that a light shower is getting you wet.

If you've supported the Constitution Party, then you know many of its leaders are opposed to Huckabee.

The Constitution is meant to be read texturally and by its original intent. There is nothing in the Constitution that allows for the federal government to ban smoking.

Again, you are not paying attention. If Huckabee wins the Iowa Caucuses, perhaps you will start? REPEATEDLY, he says that education is a state, not a federal matter. In the context of an unfortunately expanding federal role, at least the NCLB act set goals and accountability standards for every child in every public school.

Look, you can be passive and say I'm not paying attention or you can see the writing on the law. Huckabee has called for more federal spending on education and his comments on NCLB cannot be overlooked.

Cynicism, again. Huckabee was one of the earliest signers.

His tax-and-spend record is all that I need to make a judgment on him.

Oh, for Pete's sake. What am I? An idiot?

Yes.

Huckabee is the very definition of a "compassionate conservative," which is nothing more than religious collectivism.

I'm sorry. You are absolutely wrong about Huckabee. He is a big government Republican.

I'm not going to keep going back and forth over this with you. I see no need to repeat myself.

There are too many people in the news and on blogs like this that are just repeating comments they hear and want to believe. More people need to really delve into the facts.

I don't believe that Huckabee is the big spender or Liberal that many want to portray him as. I appreciate his support of the Fair Tax, am somewhat scared by his religious supporters and background, but am trying to learn the facts about his past before I do or do not support him.

Here is what Factcheck.org says about his tax record, which by the way doesn't support this open letter's attack on him:

"Huckabee's critics, however, have done some exaggerating of their own. That press release from former Tennessee Sen. Thompson accuses Huckabee of more than doubling state spending, from $6.6 billion to $16.1 billion at the end of 2006. But those numbers aren't correct. When we talked to Mike Stormes, the administrator of the Office of Budget for the state of Arkansas, we discovered a different story. In fact, after adjusting for inflation, we found that spending in fiscal year 1998 (the first budget for which Huckabee was responsible) was actually $10.4 billion, while spending at the end of 2006 was $15.6 billion. That’s a big increase, but it’s a far cry from doubling state spending.

It’s worth noting, too, that Huckabee, despite facing a $200 million shortfall in 2002, ended his term with a surplus of $844.5 million. A billion dollar turnaround is, we think, a noteworthy accomplishment.

– by Joe Miller and Lori Robertson"

You're right, it doesn't back it up because I never claimed that he doubled spending. I wrote that he increased spending by more than 60%, three times the rate of inflation. FactCheck backs up what I wrote.

The $800 million surplus is washed away by the $1 billion in new bond debt he accumulated during his time in office.

You do not address anything else in the letter because it cannot be defended, just like what you argued cannot be defended.

The bottomline is, Huckabee raised taxes by 47%, $505 million, during his time in office and did not cut spending. He created new programs and increased spending by more than 60%.

All great points. I couldn't agree more. Thanks for summarizing the issue. I discussed it on my blog as well.