Huckabee shines out in Florida debate
I did something that I haven’t done yet: I watched the entire televised Republican debate on Fox News. I thought all the candidates were good. I even liked most of what Ron Paul had to say. Mike Huckabee, however, got my attention the most. The media machine really doesn’t let us get to know candidates that aren’t at the top. Huckabee has been getting my attention because I’ve heard that he’s been getting some momentum and I really didn’t know him. He seemed very knowledgeable, very capable, very bold - especially his “There’s nothing funny about Hillary being President” line. On the pre-debate show, Bill Kristol declared that it’s now a 5 man race that includes Huckabee. He has more experience running a government than anyone else in the entire race, and I believe that he actually has some core principles. It’s great that - in the face of a disparity in financing - he is able to compete with the others. Let’s keep watching him!
McCain had the funniest line when he explained that he wasn’t at the Woodstock. While all the hippies were partying it up, McCain said, “I was tied up at the time,” a reference to his POW status. It really is sick that Hillary wants to take money out of my check to memorialized that bunch of reprobates! Still, I would NEVER vote for John McCain… EVER!
In a reply to Hannity, McCain said, “If you’re really rich in England or Canada you’re OK.” That’s right. Health care in those countries is miserable because it’s been taken over by the government. The only people who can get good care are those who are wealthy that can afford private health insurance and those who can travel to America to get health care. The poor, the working people, and the chronically ill are screwed because of their lack of resources. Well, I’m getting off topic.
Rudy came across well too. I like he’s tough and fluid, and I like him. In fact I didn’t really find anything in his answers that I didn’t like. I think he’s a good man and I certainly would rather have him than Hillary.
Romney came on the stage with a hair problem. That distracted be for the opening portion of the program. He sounded good too, but I am concerned that he seems a lot like a spin machine, used car salesman, slick guy who has memorized a lot of things to say. I don’t think that he believes all that he says, and I really didn’t get excited about him at all. I still have to say that there’s nothing I heard from him that I particularly didn’t like.
I liked Fred Thompson. He’s got to show more energy though. He seems like a really nice man and I think he showed a little “fight” in him tonight. I liked how he stood up for himself. I like how he emphasized the importance of strength. I like how he challenged Rudy on his record, saying that it’s a lot like Hillary’s.
I still like Tancredo, but I have to say that I was more impressed with Huckabee tonight. Why? I guess Tancredo just didn’t seem as confident, or as serious, but I still like his emphasis on the illegal alien problem. I like how he exposed Nancy Pelosi and the Turkey/Armenian issue. Tancredo does seem to be a one-issue candidate.
Ron Paul is good from the standpoint of Constitutionalism. His views on Iraq and isolationism are not going to endear him to the Republicans that way.
Similarly I have no problem with Duncan Hunter either.
Perhaps the bad thing was how the surge of excitement came when speaking out against Hillary. We are being set up by the typical Republican scenario: voting against the Democrat. No matter who spoke against Hillary, the excitement went up. What makes this scary is that there’s not enough UMPH behind any candidate to cause excitement about him. I think that we’d be better with a strong vote FOR someone rather than a vote AGAINST someone like Hillary.
So, there you have it. I give First place to Huckabee. Second, would have to go to Rudy, with 3rd going to Thompson. Romney would have to be 4th, followed by Hunter, Tancredo, and Paul (in that order).
