Arkansas Blog

per msnbc,

After the news conference with Ed Rollins in Concord, NH, Huckabee and Rollins, his new national campaign manager, took some questions. The last question was about a Powerline blog, a conservative blog, story that he did not, in fact, have a theology degree, as he has claimed. Here is Huckabee's response:

"I have a bachelor of arts in religion and a minor in communications in my undergraduate work. And then I have 46 hours on a master's degree at Southwestern Theology Seminary. (snip) Here's what Huckabee said in a Christian Broadcasting Network interview: "I'm as strong on terror as anybody. In fact I think I'm stronger than most people because I truly understand the nature of the war that we are in with Islamofascism. These are people that want to kill us. It's a theocratic war. And I don't know if anybody fully understands that. I'm the only guy on that stage with a theology degree. I think I understand it really well."
....
pols fudge with every breath, but preachers ? ... oh, nevermind. res ipsa loquitor.

i wish they'd get to the voting part, so i can finally begin to determine whether Huckabee's ascendance is purely divinely (read Media) inspired, or something else.

having watched campaigns since 1972, i am amazed daily by the news that comes out about MH. the question i cannot definitively answer as yet is:

"howinthehell did Huckabee think he could ever run for POTUS?"

the best i can come up with so far, is a combination of ego, money, the curious examples of his predecessors, and god knows what. all i can say after what i've seen go down in the past 17 years is... where is Gary Hart when we really need him?

"MADD refrained from public comment regarding my wife's opponent, a public official with several D.W.I.'s, one of which was in a state-owned car."

Huck has a valid point.

So many are critical of Huckabee because he isn't always the smooth politician that fits the profile of what we expect our politicians to be --- Perfect. He is human. He has imperfections. He gets angry sometimes and isn't afraid to say what he thinks about somebody. Perhaps our other limp spined politicians should take a lesson from Mike Huckabee. He is the type of leader we need right now. We need a leader who has the compassion when needed but has a backbone when standing up to those who would take away our liberties. He isn't afraid to tell Bush, Clinton, Bin Laden, Saudi Arabia, of France how the cow ate the cabbage. And that is what people like about him.

Read Max's link about Charlie Wilson and you will see how much American's like a plain spoken politician. I and so many other American's are finally glad to have a politician who isn't afraid to tell people what he thinks and will fire back at his critics.

American's on both sides of the political spectrum are afraid of Mike Huckabee. He is tapping into the power of the average American voter and reminding them that they too count in this process.

That's why the Light Brigade will continue to spread the message about Mike Huckabee even if shots are fired from those on both sides of the political spectrum. We know we will continue to be attacked. We know we aren't as smart as many of you and we don't have the power and influence that many of you have but that doesn't slow us down. We know that on election day, those who have stood and fought will be rewarded when we are able to proudly know that we helped elect the right kind of leader for our nation. Our vote counts just like your vote does and if the average American will remember that then we can overcome.

Dawn is coming to America and we will continue to rally forth and help to awaken America to what is good and right.

Cannons to the Right.
Cannons to the Left.
Boldly they rode and well.

HAVE A DRINK WITH CHARLIE WHILE DISCUSSING HYPOCRISY

It was a logical question then. It is a logical question now.

Why did the Arkansas chapter of MADD, which loves to go public with certian cases, never want to go after Charlie Daniels in 2002. Daniels had....if memory serves...three DWI's and was still running for statewide office. MADD thinks plenty of things are news, but they did not think this was worth a news release?

Gotta tell you folks....I have no problem seeing why the Huckabees thought this was hypocritical. If it was my wife, I would have written the same letter.

And in my never ending question to point out the double standard here. If Huckabee had three lifetime DWI's Max would have sore fingers from writing about that. But of course...it's a Democrat and you guys lebal it a non issue.

Same as ever.....you don't like Huckabee, fine.....but it's your transparent double standard here that drives me nuts.

I would love to here from someone with MADD as to why Daniels got such a pass from you people in 2002. You lost your credibility with me every time I read your comments on any case.

on the contrary lb, Huckabee can arguably be called "slicker than Slick" or "smooth as a gravy sandwich".

deft, subtle, unruffleable (so far this campaign), and always mannerly, Huckabee may well have discovered the secret to procuring press coverage without spending money. Huckabee fudges, then "exlains", flip-flops then "explains", rinse/repeat. garnering in the process, millions of dollars worth of free airtime and print.

a harbinger of the 'new way' of politicking? probably.

bloody genius? seems so.

defining deviancy down? unquestionably.

"So many are critical of Huckabee because he isn't always the smooth politician that fits the profile of what we expect our politicians to be --- Perfect."

Facetious????

Huck cartoon.....click on Cato

ROBOCALLING BR'ER RABBIT ? (name/link)

COLUMBIA, S.C. - An independent political group says it plans to make phone calls to a million households in South Carolina using an automated system that disparages Republican presidential Mike Huckabee's opponents, despite a state law that says such practices are illegal.

Common Sense Issues, a Colorado-based organization, does not have a connection to the former Arkansas governor, the group's executive director, Patrick Davis, said Friday. However, the nonprofit group is financed and run by Huckabee supporters.

Davis said the calls to South Carolina, which began last weekend, are legal under federal law and constitutionally protected free speech.

"We are sending those calls into South Carolina from outside the state," Davis said. "The federal law is the law that we're riding on."

lb explain the difference between saying i have a theology degree and not actually having one and a lie.

SHADES OF DAN QUAYLE/MURPHY BROWN ?

or is Huckabee just still "lost in the 1960's" ?

from a Hucka-book (which one?), MH laments...

"celebrities like Dean Martin building their routines around the hilarity of being falling down drunk"

seems Mike has a problem with those who drink, smoke, fornicate without church sanction, etc... (which also means he has a real problem with me.) and makes his efforts on Mr. Fields' behalf even more hypocritical. (or perhaps it's professional jealousy? dean martin was a helluva lot funnier than Mike)

Zonker,

The fixation that you and others have with the theology degree is both comical and disturbing.

Comical: Are you seriously quibbling over whether or not the man who will be the leader of the free world has a theology degree or not? If we were looking for an accountant and our candidate professed to having an accounting degree and had a degree in finance with an emphasis in accounting then maybe you could have an argument. The man is a preacher. I'm sure if the church he pastored had a problem with his knowledge of theology then they would not have hired him. The man has a degree from a fine institution. Period, end of story. But if you want to keep fixating on theology or not, then America will continue to tune you out.

Disturbing: To much of America your attacks on the pious nature of a preacher and parsing words related to a theology degree sounds like an attack on christians. It only serves as a rallying point for those who feel like their faith and values are under attack in America. It continues to motivate those christians who tired of political rhetoric and stayed home in 2006. Keep pounding your chest about how theological studies are bad so that we can continue to spread the word to evangelicals that their rebirth as christians is under attack by those who demean their values and beliefs. It only serves to make Mike Huckabee's campaign stronger.

I also know that you will continue to say that he lies. How many times does he have to repeat the exact and specific nature of his credentials before you will be happy. He has repeated and repeated his educational background and the more he does it the better he sounds.

Cannons to the Right.
Cannons to the Left.
Boldly they rode and well.

Jeez 'Lite' Brigade, why not come clean...just witness to the lost souls on the Arkansas Blog and get it over with!
Save US from eternal damnation.

actually meaning he is a lying sob and if he lies on something like that he will lie on something important, therefore why should we trust him on anything?

The pathetic attempts of failed Huckabee staffers to smear the record of Mike Huckabee with rumour and suggested quid pro quo is sad at best. America understands that they were released from the Huckabee staff for a reason and one would guess that reason had nothing to do with doing their job too well. Here is a good background on David Sander's role as a Judas. He has been trying to destroy Mike Huckabee and other republicans for a long time and you don't develop that kind of hatred without a serious issue.

My favorite quote is the one at the end...

...because someone would be hard pressed to hire people who stab their former employers,"...

Cannons to the Right.
Cannons to the Left.
Boldly they rode and well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shootout among Arkansas Republicans

Why did a conservative Arkansas magazine allege that Sen. Tim Hutchinson is having an affair?

- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Suzi Parker

The latest publication to out a Republican Clinton basher for infidelity is not a Larry Flynt magazine or Vanity Fair or even Salon.com, but a conservative Arkansas political magazine, the Arkansas Review. In its July issue, the Review revealed U.S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson's upcoming divorce -- two days before his lawyer filed papers -- and suggested that Hutchinson was having an affair with a former staffer.

The revelation carried weight because the Review is owned by Sam Sellers, a former aide to Hutchinson. Sellers' decision to out his former boss has Arkansas Republicans reeling. With a friend like the Review, many are saying, state conservatives certainly don't need enemies.

In his July "From the Publisher" column, headlined "Broken Vows," Sellers wrote:

"As we go to print, the [Hutchinsons'] divorce papers are being filed and the separation is a done deal." He added: "As far as I know, though there has never been a 'that woman' in Hutchinson's life" -- referring to Clinton's denial of a sexual affair with "that woman, Ms. Lewinsky" -- Hutchinson "would have to admit there is a growing relationship with ... former legislative director, Randi Fredholm."

Almost immediately, the Donrey newspapers in Arkansas wrote about the affair, naming Fredholm and quoting the magazine. The Associated Press picked the story up and named Fredholm in its first version, but later accounts removed Fredholm's name.

Hutchinson, a Southern Baptist minister, voted to impeach the president. He is an ardent proponent of family values and a key member of the conservative Christian right. Hutchinson's brother, U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson, was one of the House impeachment managers.

Sellers, 32, defends his black-and-white, semi-glossy publication, which began in April. He touts the Review as a conservative political magazine, not an organ for the Republican Party of Arkansas. Look at it more like Arkansas' answer to the Weekly Standard, he says.

"We are duty bound to print the truth," says Sellers. "That isn't palatable to some people."

Sellers explains that as a conservative publication, the Review supports strong family values, which Hutchinson's affair and divorce violate.

As he wrote in his column: "And while we're troubled to report this sad news, Tim Hutchinson's office and his support of 'family values' make this a news story. I can empathize with, although not fully understand, the pressures under which Hutchinson has lived since being elected to Congress in 1992. I was with him that year as he grew into the office of Congressman. I was there as his legislative director showered him with praise. Fleeing temptation must have been tough."

In 1991, Sellers managed Hutchinson's first congressional campaign. When Hutchinson won, Sellers followed him to Washington and worked as press secretary for a year before returning to Arkansas. Donna Hutchinson, the senator's wife, introduced Sellers to the woman he eventually married. The senator served as the couple's pre-marital counselor, and later performed the ceremony. Sellers also knew Fredholm, who was Hutchinson's legislative director.

"I don't think Tim or Donna have taken any exception" with his column, says Sellers. Hutchinson's office did not return phone calls.

Sellers says he is disappointed in Hutchinson's divorce. "I'd be inhumane not to feel something," says Sellers, who stops short of calling Hutchinson a hypocrite.

Sellers has been on local radio shows defending his revelation of the Hutchinson affair. It still hasn't stopped critics from saying that the publisher pulled a George Stephanopoulos by turning on a former employer and exposing his personal foibles.

It's not the first time Sellers has been criticized by Arkansas Republicans, who claim the Review is more likely to savage them than Democrats. In fact, the latest issue skewers more than 10 Republicans, while barely scratching a Democrat. Many who are criticized, including Hutchinson, have contributed articles and opinion columns to the fledgling magazine.

The Review is the project of several former staffers to Republican Arkansas congressmen and state officials. While in Washington, Sellers met Dan Greenberg, 33, who was press secretary for U.S. Rep. Jay Dickey, R-Ark. Greenberg left Washington and worked for several politicians, including Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Now, he edits the Review.

Both Dickey and Huckabee write for the magazine, but neither have been immune from attacks by their former employee. For instance, the Review revealed racial jokes Dickey made at a roast for Asa Hutchinson. He pointed out that he sometimes votes differently than the Hutchinson brothers, and attributed this to two things: Unlike them, he has minorities in his district -- Dickey suggested that the only black person the Hutchinsons had heard of was Shirley Temple Black -- and the Hutchinsons attended Bob Jones University, which lost its federal funding because of such discriminatory practices as prohibiting interracial dating.

The other Review staffer, David Sanders, 24, has also worked for Huckabee and Fay Boozman, who was the Republican U.S. Senate nominee last year. Sellers worked as Boozman's campaign manager. The first Review issue outlined Boozman's weakness -- "a real naiveté" -- as the new director of the state Department of Health.

Many Republicans believed the trio would target liberals and put Democrats on the spot. No one expected the three to slam their former bosses. Republicans who initially supported the magazine as a much-needed beacon in a Democrat-lovin' state now feel deceived, and they question the magazine's journalistic integrity and ethics.

"Arkansas Review is welcome to print whatever their readership deems worthy," says Chris Carnahan, executive director of the state Republican Party. "But facts aren't checked out, and they have a problem that confidential sources remain confidential."

Some are wondering -- and worrying -- what secrets will be exposed next. Its critics say that the Review staff simply wants to sell magazines at whatever the cost. "If they will betray the men who they worked for as staffers, they will start betraying anyone," said a source who has held various Republican Party positions.

While Huckabee won't comment on the record, those close to the governor say he was livid when the Review claimed that he refused to sign thousands of certificates for Republican donors thanking them for their commitment to the party. But critics say the Review didn't tell the whole story.

"The governor didn't say he wouldn't sign it," said Jim Harris, spokesman for Huckabee. "He was involved in a huge campaign to get his highway proposal passed by voters and couldn't be distracted. He said he could only do one major project at a time."

Another Review story about a Republican congressional candidate, Rod Martin, appeared riddled with errors.

Martin has been a regular contributor to the Review, but the magazine made numerous allegations about campaign infractions against him and his steering committee. "These allegations would be very damaging if only they were true," said a source close to both the campaign and the Review.

Ken Coon, Martin's campaign chairman, and former state party chairman, said in a letter sent to the Review this week, "I am extremely disappointed that your writer asserted such ugly untruths against so many good people, and did so without checking a single so-called 'fact.' Neither your writer nor anyone else from the Review called anyone associated with our Committee to verify a single point." Greenberg, who plans to run for the Arkansas House of Representatives next year against Tim Hutchinson's son, Jeremy, says the allegations about Huckabee and Martin were included in an anonymous gossip column meant as humor. "Factual mistakes will happen in any publication," adds Greenberg. "You can't take this too seriously."

Perhaps, but Martin, who has known Sanders and Sellers for more than 10 years, says, "I was just blown away. I thought these guys were my friends, and here I was reading this stuff. It was just surreal."

Surreal is a word that pops into many conversations about the Review. Glen Hooks, executive director of the state Democratic Party, says he is surprised by the magazine.

"It's an odd publication," says Hooks, who appeared on the cover of the second issue along with Carnahan. "I could take issue with some things in the story about me, but I just think the whole publication is a little weird."

As the Review struggles to gain advertisers and subscribers, Republicans offer a word of advice to the staff.

"I hope the three of them enjoy their journalistic lives, because someone would be hard pressed to hire people who stab their former employers," says Carnahan.
salon.com | July 16, 1999

greenberg eh? (dan i presume)

kinda curious how every prominent potential GOP competitor to Huckabee's career in AR politics seems to run into the kind of trouble that derails their futures?

coincidence i guess (divine providence?)

Old News Lite,
same 'Ole HuckAgenda...never say you're sorry or admit you're wrong.
The man has more excuses than he has old folk jokes.

"I hope the three of them enjoy their journalistic lives, because someone would be hard pressed to hire people who stab their former employers,"

Was that a suggestion or threat?

A lie is an excuse guarded. ~Jonathan Swift

lb i asked you a direct question. would you give me a direct answer without any bs.

Lord Tennyson, AKA Light Brigade:

Did you know the Daily Republican Newsletter (sometimes referred to as the Ark. Dem. Gaz) has NEVER written an account as to WHY little Timmy and wife got a divorce? Not one word about his affair with Randi has passed their lips.

Years ago I got the information about this illicit affair from my father-in-law, a stauch Republican who resides in D.C. I posted the info on Representative Asa Hutchinson's web site. Needless to say, I was lambasted as a liar, a destroyer of a good Christian, destroyer of an ordained Baptist minister and so forth. Rev. Jay Cole Sr. and Jr. came out of the woodwork, labeling such stories as vicious lies because they personally knew Sen. Tim to be a righteous man who delivered stirring sermons on fidelity, truth, and defended family values. I stood my ground. And when Sen. Tim spoke up to the affair (after Larry Flynt go the goods on him), none of those bastards who tried to discredit me apologized or admitted my information was true. But believe me, the pleasure was all mine.

by the way lb i don't need any crap about cannons, just answer the question straight. lord knows your candidate hasn't.

Light Brigade is suffering from a transfered Jesus complex. Huckabee=Jesus in his or her mind. Therefore if you point out a Huckabee lie, you've taken a dump on Jesus. This kind of mindset must explain the 30% who still support George Bush. George W. Bush=Jesus, therefore George W. Bush is perfect and anyone pointing out his short comings or criminal activity or incompetence must be working for the devil.

Light Brigade gets upset when zonker points out that Huckabee has lied about his educational degree. As I remember someone caught practicing as a CPA without the proper degree is breaking the law and can go to jail. Same for a pretend doctor or lawyer. No one is interested in jailing a lying preacher, thus we have a true double standard. Yet, pointing out the Huckabee lie about his degree, in Light Brigade's mind, shows that zonker is obsessed, not that Huckabee is a liar. Very curious!

Also note that Light Brigade is upset at Republicans who reported the true facts about Tim Hutchinson. Does this mean that Tim Hutchinson also equals Jesus? I suppose, using that kind of thinking, that if Tim Hutchinson had killed his ex-wife to be instead of divorcing her, that should also be overlooked by journalists for the greater good of the Republican Party and God. Now I understand better how Christians can speak of love all the time yet support killing in Iraq. How they worry about the unborn yet have no compassion for the living. The unborn are sinless, living, dirties up the equation....sorta like man on man sex in an airport bathroom.

The blind devotion shown by Light Brigade would explain how people in the Middle East can strap bombs to their bodies and walk into a crowded market. At the risk of sounding like Huckabee wanting to isolate every person with AIDS, people like Light Brigade should be noted, their names put on a watch list because what is now a delusion could very well turn into something more dangerous in the future.

Cannons to the Right.
Cannons to the Left.

"Disturbing: To much of America your attacks on the pious nature of a preacher and parsing words related to a theology degree sounds like an attack on christians."

Clearly these references show a delusional person imagining their side is under attack. Pointing out a Huckabee lie translates to an attack on Christianity in the mind of those who think like Light Brigade. Working under the theory they'll get their reward in Heaven, these people could become every bit as dangerous as suicide bombers in the Middle East. By 2017 it could become dangerous to shop at Sears. Our future could become a nightmare of suicide-bombing Republican Methodists if this keeps up. We never think it can happen here, but a few short years ago, who could have imagined an America without habeas corpus, our own government spying on us, America torturing. The nightmare can happen here and with legions of Light Brigades, it will.

Be afraid! Fanatics like LB are all around us, disaster always follows when large numbers reject facts and science for some kind of home grown spiritual guidance they make up as they go along. While Light Brigade sees a war on Christianity, I see him and his kind waging a war on humanity. Be afraid!

to tell you the truth all i see is someone who is afraid to answer a simple question with a simple answer. he cannot come up with a simple answer and cannot think of something except his several paragraph bs answers that mean nothing. his political answers go around the question but do not answer it. you have had 2 hours. come on lb, have the guts to give me a 1 sentence answer to my question as to why your candidate is nothing but a lying sob. why if he will lie on something as to what his education is should we trust him on something as important as what he will do for the future of our country?

speaking of retrospect and double-standards (as much as it pains me to point out something complimentary to the Clintons, thanks to W during the past seven years i've learned how to handle it, after all everything is relative, especially in Arkansas pardon the pun)

can anyone imagine the howling had Bill's wife run for statewide office whilst he was Governor?

Of course MADD and everyone else should be pissed when connected/wealthy people get away with driving our roads drunk. But excusing one piece of crap by bringing up another piece just doesn't cut it. When it comes to excusing/fabricating, Huck makes Bill Clinton look like a straight shooter. (And his zombie-like, Jesus-freak followers are pathetic.) Of all the excusing that's gone on in the Huck camp, the excuses that have been puked up regarding the dog torturing Huck child are the most galling. And, any 'parent' who would help their child escape accountability regarding something so serious isn't being a parent. Taking FULL responsibility would have been the beginning for my child...followed by years of therapy/hard work. Aside from other things, Huck taught his child that covering up his actions was more important than those actions were wrong. (And where do I begin about teaching your child that 'reputation' and 'power' are more important than the truth or someone's job.)

(I loved the manger/Huck cartoon, cato...just keep em coming.)

Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am.

it costs 20,000 a year to house a person in prison..so what if huckabee freed the state of that burden..let the guy do community service, not waste my tax dollars on holding him in prison while violent offenders go free......good job huckabee

I can still spit nails when I think of all the Reps., who were gettin it on with women other
than their wives, when they marched so piously to the chamber to impeach Bill and don't
say it was for a lie....it was all over a blowjob, period, end of story. I only hope it was the
best BJ any man ever got in the history of men and women getting together to pleasure
each other.
This is nothing to do with sex but where is Dan Lassiter these days? Still knocking about
Pleasant Valley??

Another cartoon, zelda. You know where to click, baby!

>>If we were looking for an accountant and our candidate professed to having an accounting degree and had a degree in finance with an emphasis in accounting then maybe you could have an argument.<<
very Light Brigade

The candidate professing to hold an accounting degree and in fact s/he did not could be prosecuted.
There are rules that apply to holding your self out as a professional.
No so for preachers and politicians. Huck exemplifies that. He was a preacher at 16.

Mr. Baber,
You left out the part we are all experiencing with our politicians.

Clowns to the left of me,
Jokers to the right
Here I am

Stuck in the middle with you.

There don't seem to be many viable choices out there at the moment. Hate it when the middle is the least offensive, so its the best that we can choose.

can you imagine the howling if hillary had tried to work the polls during an election at a black precinct? if she had been accused of trying to influence votes and been asked by voters to stop and angrily refused? that would have haunted her and her husband to this day.

max brantley thinks the ny times offers an unbiased view of huckabee? ...you shouldnt even be able to report traffic , you imbecile..

Sounds like a hanging offence to me.

speaking of traffic, may i invite you to go play in some ?

been waiting since11:30 for an honest simple answer from light brigabe to one question. does this mean that the huckabee people are not capable of explaning that they can't tell the truth? i wonder if when asked this question on tv he would be able to answer the question straight out without any bullshit? probably not. i wonder if lb has the guts to post again if he doesn have the guts to answer a simple question?
as they say
clowns to the left
jokers to the right. lb you are now a joke

How patient of you, zonker, but ole light and dirty are just some of those Huck Bees who only know how to regurgitate the Party line. Actually engaging someone in a two-way exchange of ideas/information would blow their circuits.

zonker, I'd give up waiting on an answer from LB. Republicans like that can only participate in "group speak" . If Rush or O' Reilly don't provide the talking points, people like LB have no answer. It's the downside of being a goose-stepping clone. Oh....I guess that's pretty much what zelda just said.

Come on Rapture! I'm dying for a little peace.