I think it's gonna be Huckabee

[MonkeyFunk]

and I've long thought he's the strongest candidate they could nominate.

Rudy's a dead-end. Romney's an empty suit.

I think they'll pick Huckabee, and he will be formidable. We'll beat him, but it's gonna be a fight.

[BlueStater]

1. Him or Romney

I just can't see them nominating Ghouliani as their candidate. I just can't see it.

McCain and Ol' Man Fred aren't going anywhere.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. agreed

McCain's time has passed, and Thompson is just floundering.

I agree that Romney is more likely than any of the others, besides Huckabee.

[Renew Deal]

41. I think they'll probably be the final 2.

[lisa58]

2. I agree....

....but it could also be a big blood bath and then McCain could win by default.

[monmouth]

4. The fundies will love him...n/t

[FreeStateDemocrat]

73. He was speaking on campus at Liberty U yesterday w/ Falwell jr suspending classes.

[book_worm]

5. I agree because he will get the fundies behind him who control the GOP primaries.

[rudy23]

6. I thought that the first time I saw him on Colbert

I thought "How is this guy not insanely popular with the Republicans?" He's everything they used to love before they started kinda waking up to the fact that neocons do things a little differently. And he does more than pay lip service to their religious base--he IS their religious base.

[MonkeyFunk]

16. Yeah

I saw that episode and thought the same thing. He's a right-wing fundy, but he plays well with the public. He's very formidable, as a candidate.

I'd prefer they nominate Rudy, though.

[ProgressiveFool]

94. If I'm not mistaken, didn't he commit to selecting Colbert as his running mate if he got the nom?

at the time, Huckabee was considered about as likely to win as Ron Paul.

[Narkos]

7. He's too crazy!

He's another fundamentlist loon...the Rethuglicans are just too damn cynical to nominate someone like him. I'm still thinking Rudy

[Toots]

81. But I don't think he is a criminal like the others are.

All of the Republicans that are in the Administration and that support the Administration are criminals and only fake the Christianity stuff. Huckabee is a real Christian and is not a part of the criminality of the rest of the Republicans..He very well could get the nomination because of that yet I really don't think America is ready to go down the fundamentalist road just yet..

[bunkerbuster1]

92. Naw, he's slick.

Slick like Clinton. And pious-sounding like Carter.

He will not be easy to beat. I hope like hell they don't have the good sense to nominate him, and stick with Ghouliani or Romney instead.

[MADem]

8. I don't know about that, but I do think he is winning this debate.

Thus far, no one has laid a glove on the guy.

If they did pick Huckabee, it would be a more civil debate. There'd be fewer dirty tricks.

I'm not convinced, yet, that he's a shoe-in. It could happen, but it is still an uphill climb.

And as the field narrows, the oddball stuff, like the "Man Walked the Earth With Dino and Fred Flintstone" crap will come out. That's not helpful.

[Seen the light]

9. Hate to say I told you so...

But I thought Huckabee was going to win the GOP nomination before thinking that was cool.

The Christian fundamentalist base was torn between him and Brownback. Without Brownback, it's Huckabee all the way for them.

[MonkeyFunk]

11. yep!

They're not gonna go for Rudy or Mitt, that's for sure.

[Seen the light]

15. I predict Huckabee will be leading in Iowa outright in the next poll

It's going to be something to see it too.

[earthlover]

39. huckabee was by far the most skilled debater tonite

[The Magistrate]

10. That Bet, Sir, Is Looking Better And Better

I do expect him to take the Iowa Republican caucuses, and with Paul becoming the story out of New Hampshire, things could get very interesting by Valentines....

[JerseygirlCT]

12. I'm afraid you're right

And it's been my fear for a long time, too.

He's a slick one, Huckabee. Seems so much like just folks. Unless you actually LISTEN to anything he says. Which consists of a lot of crazy. Sprinkled with just the right (for them) dose of authoritarian.

{{{{Shudder}}}}}


edited to fix my terrible typo - how embarrassing!!

[MonkeyFunk]

18. yup!

I've long thought he was the best candidate they could nominate (not best as in good, but the one most likely to win in the GE).

Rudy and Mitt are taking each other down - not that they ever really had that much base support in the first place. Thompson is going nowhere. McCain can't cut it anymore. That leaves the Huckster.

[earthlover]

42. huckleberry is the only one they have who can win....

he would almost certainly beat hillary. i am not so sure he could beat anyone else. However, huckleberry would do better than the rest of that mottley crew

[MonkeyFunk]

66. Hillary would clean his clock

[Tesha]

72. You'd better pray awfully hard, because I think it would be the reverse. (NT)

[tularetom]

13. The corporatists won't let him get elected

If he winds up with the nomination look for Bloomberg to jump in as a third party candidate and siphon moderate votes away from him especially if Clinton is the Democratic candidate. I honestly believe the corporate repubs would prefer her to huckelberry.

[saigon68]

28. Yes Bush Lite is preferable to Rush or Oral Heavy

[annabanana]

34. I think you have it, tularetom. The deep pockets won't put up with

Huck's populist streak, so Diebold will go against him. He might send all that juicy Iraq $$ to the POOR or something.

Yes, they would prefer Hillary.


If he gets the nomination, he will be the Republican's Gene McCarthy.

[Subdivisions]

14. I have to agree. n/t

[Catchawave]

17. I like Mike !

I really am an Independent....if not Edwards, it may be Mike.

[MonkeyFunk]

20. I think of all the Republican candidates,

he's the most personable.

But I wouldn't go so far as to say i like him.

[Exultant Democracy]

19. He is cleaning their clocks tonight. Mittens looks like a huffy little

prep school boy tonight.

[MonkeyFunk]

21. Romney's the HUGE loser tonight

he's getting his clock cleaned on immigration, abortion, and just general appearance.

[closeupready]

40. And it's his own fault, to a large extent. HE WOULDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

He skirted every single tough question. I just kept thinking, "how wimpy. That's not what you want in a President."

[jaysunb]

22. I've said it repeatedly

He's perfect for what's happening in the Republican party ( criminality & corruption) and the neo cons need to slither off w/ the money....for now.

[scarface2004]

23. hucklebee the jesuz freek!!!

great...zippy the pinhead could wax that yahooo!!

[earthlover]

43. yup...but hillary would have great difficulty

[polichick]

24. Someone needs to do a cartoon of Huckabee...

...with a Bible in one hand and a gun in the other ~ apparently that's how he sees Americans.

[Colobo]

25. I've always believed it as well. Him or Romney.

(Against Obama they will run).

[BestCenter]

26. Don't discount him so quickly

If Clinton is nominated, he may end up leading the moderate-to-conservative working class/lower middle class vote. Times are a'changing in both parties.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/11/24/55537/214

[MonkeyFunk]

27. Yes

that's why I think he'd be the most formidable candidate for them to nominate. I hope they don't, though.

[liberalpragmatist]

29. Problem is, business wing of the party HATES him

He didn't govern as a "fiscal conservative," and he's made moderate-sounding noises on economic issues for years.

He also has no national organization and negligible support among the GOP establishment.

If he wins Iowa (quite possible), it'll be a royal mess. Giuliani's not gonna get the nod, but Huckabee might not either. And if Huckabee wins Iowa, Romney's knocked out probably. So then who? McCain? Thompson? I think the possibility (though still very slight) is there for a brokered convention.

[MonkeyFunk]

30. I think

brokered conventions are a thing of the past.

Somebody will win outright - I think it'll be Huckabee, maybe Romney.

McCain is probably the best man running, but it seems his time has passed. Thompson is going nowhere, rightfully.

It is an interesting race, though.

[sandnsea]

33. He was a minister, then a governor

Talk about NO experience. The monied interests will NOT let this man win. It'll be Romney, they're taking Giuliani down as we speak.

[Canuckistanian]

31. What is the stupidest choice Americans ever made?

Thank you! I'll take "Momentous Mistakes" again for $500, Alex.....

[MonkeyFunk]

32. already lived through it

in 1980.

[demosincebirth]

35. Doesn't even sound right..Pres HUCKABEE?

[HughBeaumont]

86. One can almost hear "Dueling Banjos" in the background.

[demosincebirth]

95. LOL!

[Lint Head]

36. Whoever it is will be the loser.

[pa28]

37. The audience loved him.

Although most of his ideas are what we would call "batsh!t crazy" he is the only one of the candidates that comes across as sincere.

I think Huckabee is a genuine dark horse and it will be interesting to see how the establishment Repubs try to make him go away.

[Eurobabe]

38. Been saying that for awhile

I think Huckabee will win Iowa. The rest are a joke. Ron Paul has some interesting ideas, but he's a bit of a loon too.

[earthlover]

45. All huckabee needs is media attention and credibility and he will win the nom

If he wins iowa, he will get all three.

[Eurobabe]

46. Probably right

He "seems" like the most "honest" one of the bad apples. And he hit the right notes.

[earthlover]

71. people respond more to folks they view as honest....

so if you take people who think ALL politicians are bad apples, ie independents.....they will likely go with the one perceived as the most honest. Now, who on our side fits this bill? And who has the most difficulty being viewed as honest?

Huckleberry can win. Sad, but true.

[frogmarch]

44. If it's Huckabee, Darwin will roll over in his grave n/t

[Maestro]

47. He is a fundie loon for sure!

Rolling Stone had a scathing article on him. I think I saw it posted in AlterNews.

[RebelSansCause]

48. isnt his Arkansas record terrible?

and he's a former preacher who can spew bible shit at will? and a complete fundie? who the hell will vote for this guy? he remindes me of * just without the financial backing and a lot of other shit. no way in hell this asshole wins. i thought his record as a governor was terrible. kinda like romney... (i'm talking about what ridiculous repuke primary voter wants of course)

[screembloodymurder]

56. Are you living in the US?

The people that elected Bush, that's who. They're organized, they're motivated, and they've got money.

[RebelSansCause]

62. i live in new york city

and i dont see huckabee having the same backing from the financial institutions. i am pretty sure his campaign is pretty big on how broke they are compared to the ghoul or mittens. besides, bush was not elected during a season when his party's sitting president had fucked up everything. someone said hucky actually had the possibility to beat the dem nom. my only answer to that question is how?

(and yes i intentionally took your question literally for fun)

[screembloodymurder]

82. No disrespect, but that explains it. : >)

I think Huckabee will attract the Christian Right, the South and rural Americans. I have a feeling some Romney money will jump ship. (and I meant it literally)

[Hoof Hearted]

49. Uck. I said this earlier. He would be the hardest to beat.

I think Edwards would fold like an accordion against at least half of the (R)'s, and certainly the ones that have a rats chance. As a candidate, he's thinner than parchment.

Obama is a good candidate. I'm troubled by a few things he's done and I absolutely hate his association with that anti-gay bigot. It's coming close to a deal broken, but I still believe he could pull it off if he makes changes.

Richardson is a really nice guy but not really electric enough to win the POTUS.

I'm left with Biden and Clinton. I'm absolutely O.K. with any, ANY of our (D) candidates.

What a wild ride.

[Quixote1818]

53. I thought Edwards head his own against Cheney

and that was the old "nice" Edwards. Edwards is a lot tougher now.

[Hoof Hearted]

68. It would be awesome if I had any idea what you were trying to say. . .

that way I could agree with you or argue the point. As it is,you've lost me.

[iamthebandfanman]

50. i agree

ive spoken to atleast 2 republicans who definitely have him as their pick now that thompsons in the race

[karlrschneider]

51. I often disagree with you but I think you're on track here. As push comes to shove,

the wingnut base of the GOP will toss Rudy because he's too "liberal" and Mitt because he's too nuts and McCain is too old and that leaves Gawd's own choice, Huckster.

[MonkeyFunk]

59. Yes, we often disagree

but I like you anyway

edit: stupid typo

[Quixote1818]

52. I suggested him way, way back and everyone thought I was nuts.

nt

[denem]

54. Biden against Hucklabee

Edward is out southerned, Obama's tent shrinks, Hillary loses on likability. It will take deep understanding of the process of government to keep him looking of the amateur he is. The rejoinder to scholk is common sense.

[screembloodymurder]

84. I like that match up.

I think Biden is our most experienced and Presidential candidate.

[doc03]

55. The MSM talking heads love him, I have heard him described

as likeable, funny and folksy. probably another jackass Bubba would like to have a beer with. Basically how they described Bush* we see how that come out. Just like the question ask, if Jesus was President would he favor the death penalty, he makes a joke and gets a pass on the question.

[screembloodymurder]

83. Tonight's debate was the first I've watched. I thought "old Huck" won hands down.

MSM isn't always wrong.

[doc03]

89. That's my point, Old Huck, just another folksy guy

we have one of those in the White house now. I don't think the USA can survive another good old boy you would like to have a beer with.

[dysfunctional press]

57. yup. a few days ago, i thought it would be some form of a romney/guliani ticket...

just for the sound of it, if nothing else.

now- i'm thinking huckabee/not-currently-a-candidate will be the ticket in november.

i just hope that they're dumb enough to put either newt or jeb in the 2nd slot.

[TheFarseer]

58. Huckabee is a real wild card

It depends on if he gets piled on for the un-Fair Tax or if MSM tries to tell us how good of an idea it is. Will they make fun of him that he believes in creationism or will he be sold as a good moral Christian.

That said, is he doing well in NH or SC? I heard he was not.

[Jennifer C]

60. Agree, about the Huckster

Huckabee has been on my radar for some time as a viable candidate for the Republicans...

But ever since the 'values voters' conference, where he completely won them over, I've thought it will definitely be him who gets the nom, without a doubt.

He certainly portrays himself as "nice" and this could be a real problem.

[Beausoir]

61. He's the "I'd like to have a beer with him!" candidate. And the southerners and bible freaks will

swallow that hook line and sinker.

"Oh look! He's so nice as he tells those pesky gay people to go to hell!"

[Iris]

63. "President Huckabee" hmmm..... has a nice ring to it!

[doc03]

93. Rhymes with Chimpanzee

[Prefer]

64. I wouldn't have thought that myself

He doesn't seem like really a big name player. I agree on his fundy appeal, but he's a B list name.

[cali]

65. it won't be, the huckster is a born vp candidate

but if it is, he will be easily beaten. Huckabee also has skeletons and he's just too religious for the fiscal conservatives/social moderates. People keep forgetting that there are a lot of them in the repuke party.

[B Calm]

67. The people in Arkansas know Huckabee as a crook. So he probably

will get their nomination..

[opihimoimoi]

69. Them fuckers are outright SCAREY...Andy Coopers the Best

[hfojvt]

70. I think he's a likely veep

for one of the other three.

[SoCalDem]

74. President/Reverend Poppin' Fresh.. just what the US needs

[Tesha]

75. I've thought so since the beginning.

Ghoul: His personal life makes him ineligible.

Mitt: He's a Mormon.

McCain: Possibilities, but too old.

Paul: Not an actual Republican and the machine would never line up behind him.

Tancredo: Possibilities, but pretty single-issue on immigration.

Thompson: Another actor/figurehead? Well, it could have been.

Tesha

[deacon]

76. He's the perfect nut for the GOP. He has been all along. n/t

[Perry Logan]

77. The Repubs would never nominate a guy whose name rhymes with "Fuckabee."

[Vinca]

78. It's truly amazing that in the 21st century there is an individual

likely to nominated for president who doesn't believe in evolution. Maybe his campaign kickoff will be at that museum with Adam, Eve and the dinosaurs.

[sendero]

79. At this point...

.. I agree with you.

He's got the chops, and he showed them off last night.

Ghoul's baggage is about to catch up with him. Romney is like a Republican Bill Clinton, he's just too slick - he won't play either.

It's Huckabee's to lose IMHO.

[mmarsh]

80. I worry about about a Huckabee nomination...

I am much more worried about Huckabee becoming President than Rudy or Mitt. The last thing we need is a another bible-thumping, gun-toting, super-conservative southern-boy yahoo as president. Its too close to what we currently have. I would much rather have a Republican like Rudy or Mitt because at least we know they have their own ideas and not be a puppet for every extremist in America. I mean Rudy might pander to the Christian right but we all know he is going to drop them like a bad habit the moment hes elected.

Huckabee on the other hand is a conservative 'true-believer', and we haven't even yet recovered from the last one. Of course I don't want ANY republican to win, but Rudy or Mitt seem like the lesser of two evils.

If Huckabee becomes the nominee, than the Democrats are going to have borrow a page from the Karl Rove playbook and portray Huckabee as the next King George W. Bush II. That should scare enough of the country away from him.

I am still a registered Republican (don't worry, I hate 95% of them) but I think I might stay GOP just to be sure that my tiny primary vote doesn't go to the god-squad.

[terrya]

85. I still think it will be Romney.

But I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Huckabee.

I think we can both agree that it sure as fuck won't be Giuliani.

[LeftCoast]

88. I think it will be Romney as well

Particularly now with all of Rudy's new scandals popping up.

Feels like Romney is also one of the easier ones to beat, but then again I never thought ANYONE would vote for GWB so I no longer try and predict things like that.

[MonkeyFunk]

90. Yep!

I don't think Giuliani has a shot at all.

[SidDithers]

87. "Congratulations, Canada, on preserving your national igloo"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bCyy7q_ylc

Comedy gold.

(and, no, I don't think he was in on the joke.)

Sid

[orleans]

91. just keep the dogs away from him. n/t

[Reterr]

96. Isn't that Romney?

I thought Romney was the one who did something awful to his dog-I forget the details.

[orleans]

98. oh god, i forgot about the dog on the roof of the car in a cage!

you're right. it's him too.

huckabee apparently was a boy scout counselor when a "sick" dog came into the camp. so they hung it, slit its throat and stoned it. now, isn't that motherfucking huckabee a preacher or some such crap? hope he's been praying on his fucking knees all these years for god to forgive him (what would jesus do, huck?)

on edit: frist with the cats, bush with the frogs--what the fuck is wrong with these people???

another edit: here is a link where i heard of this story in case you want to read more about it
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[LibDemAlways]

97. Huckabee reminds me of the overly friendly

salesman on the used car lot - the guy who knows that what he's selling is a pile of shit, but he's betting you'll be so taken with his folksy personality, you won't notice, and he'll seal the deal.