Category: The Dish

Why The GOP Fears Huckabee

Publius makes some very shrewd observations:

The fear [of Huckabee from the right] is not of fundamentalism itself. The fear is losing. On some level, they know that these positions freak out mainstream America. That’s why Bush fumbled about on Roe v. Wade during the 2004 debates and could only bring himself to speak in code (Dred Scott). The backlash shows that these people – like much of the GOP establishment – are ashamed of this coalition. They’re happy to make out with them behind the football bleachers on Saturday night, but ignore them in the lunchroom on Monday.

But still, the GOP needs them. And so the deal has been that "the crazies" stay below-radar in return for below-radar policies (e.g., judges, denying funding to international organizations who don’t believe in abstinence-based policies). Huckabee is a threat because he violates the terms of the unspoken deal.

Mother Jones On Libertarianism

Heh. Reason comments:

Occasionally apt, often tendentious (especially with its obsessive belief that libertarianism is some sort of philosophy of corporate power and Pinochetism), but usually interesting to see the modern left try to grapple with the strange beast of libertarianism.

MoJo’s libertarian time-line here. At least, they’re trying.

Bainbridge Against Paul

He makes some good points, which is why it is so depressing that he leads with the guilt-by-association charge. Really. Meanwhile, the Paul campaign is expanding in Florida. Here’s a fun profile of his online money guru:

Trevor Lyman is unshaven, wearing a T-shirt and jeans and sitting at the dining table of his rented home. Scattered around him are a one-pound bag of M&Ms, liter-size bottles of soda and a box of Frosted Flakes — the cereal accounts for his recommended daily allowance of vitamins…

Lyman and his housemates have never met Paul, although the candidate has called Lyman to thank him for his efforts. On CBS’ "Face the Nation," Paul pronounced his name "Clymon." "We don’t know a whole heck of a lot about him," Paul communications director Jesse Benton said of Lyman.

Just compare that to, say, the Clinton or Romney campaigns. Could they even begin to get the kind of spontaneous support? Oh, and the blimp. Did I mention the blimp? I love this country.

Bill vs Hillary

The difference in an anecdote:

[O]n the way out of the store, a woman asked Bill to sign a greenback. Bill obliged, while pointing out "this isn’t legal" to the amusement of folks standing nearby.

A few minutes later, the same request was made to the senator, who said that she couldn’t do it. "I can’t sign money. That’s illegal. I’m so sorry," she said.

Well at least she won’t perjure herself over a blow-job.

(Hat tip: Ben.)

Electability

Suddenly an Obama advantage over Clinton:

In hypothetical matchups for the general presidential election, Clinton and Obama each led Giuliani, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Romney, although at times narrowly.

Obama was somewhat stronger, besting Giuliani by 6 points, Huckabee by 11 and Romney by 18. Clinton had an edge of 1 point over Giuliani, 9 points over Huckabee and 6 points over Romney.

A Ron Paul Third Party Possibility?

He leaves the option open:

If you don’t win, will you support the GOP nominee and promise not to run on the Libertarian or any other ticket?

I’m not promising any of those things. If we have a Republican nominee that has convinced me they have come around on foreign policy … I would consider it. As far as running on a third-party ticket, or [as an] independent, or Libertarian, I have no plans to do that.

Well, "no plans" doesn’t mean you won’t.

The best way I can state it is: I have no plans. I can’t conceive of it. But I guess in life there aren’t that many absolutes.

The combination of a more prudent foreign policy – including withdrawal from Iraq – and a dismantling of the police/torture/surveillance state could be potent in a general election, if Paul loses the GOP race. Who would run with him?

Hat tip: Corner.