The Post In Which We Hate To Go Negative, But…
Now That It Is “Official”. . .
. . . that I am voting for Romney today, the news about Huckabee is startlingly bad. The Denver Post wonders if a company, on the board of which Huckabee serves, is not bilking stockholders. As Jack Tapper reports, Huckabee is getting really ugly about Romney. And the Wall Street Journal reports on the independent groups that are backing Huckabee without the candidates consent and their very underhanded handling of things.
Looking at these links one gets a picture of a guy that is willing to play very close to the edge when it comes to rules, and certainly when it comes to common electoral civility. Legal perhaps, but that is all you can say about it.
Lowell adds: Meanwhile, there’s this evidence of what Mr. Huckabee has done to increase interfaith understanding and good will. Long after this campaign is over, we will still be picking through the wreckage that Huck has left behind. The writer’s sneering portrayal of the offended Mormons in this story is just one tiny example of what emerged from the Pandora’s box that Mike has opened.
But Rush Points Out That Huck May Be In Bilderberger Territory . . .
From Rush’s show yesterday, examining some of Huckabee‘s weekend comments:
HUCKABEE: Some suggest that the fact that Bain Capital owns a major stake in Clear Channel and is on Sean’s network, that maybe there’s a correlation. I don’t know.
Now this little bit of conspiracy theory has been floating around for months, and no serious pundit, commentator or journalist has picked it up. Of course, Huckabee raises it in his typical attempt-to-be-deniable fashion, but give me a break here.
All I can say is that as an Evangelical I find this sort of thing shameful. I know there is no way Huck buys into this pile of conspiratorial nonsense, but to capitalize on it for electoral purposes – to transmit a lie for personal gain – is simply not honorable.
Lowell: A little more on this here.
There Is Still Left-Wing Religiously Based Hate Speech Out There…
From the Asia Times and The Wonkette. But the prize goes to this out of HuffPo. With his tactics Huck has more in common with the left than the genuine right that he claims to represent. Something to think about.
The Christian Science Monitor wonders if some of his supporters might not go Democratic. At least in the lead, but the story is really about what are perceived as “shifting” Evangelical concerns, and a move to the left. A similarly themed story showed up in the Washington Post and Nicholas Kristof worote about it in the NYTimes.
The Left cannot decide if they want us or not. Some of that is a self-inflicted wound, as I opined at length yesterday, by playing identity politics we have backed ourselves into a corner.
Consider carefully Lowell’s link above. Apparently it is not only Mormons that are bearing animus about these tactics. It saddens me deeply that it is someone from a different faith tradition than my own that has held the proper example on faith and politics in this election. I come from the religious tradition from which most of the great ideas of this nation have sprung, and yet now we seem to have forgotten all of that.
Speaking of which…
Jimmy Carter put his foot deeply in his mouth the other day. Captain Ed points out that it is probably not quite as bad as AmSpec paints it; however, as someone seduced at a very young and tender age, by Carter religio-speak, this entire incident is an example of how not to do this sort of thing.
Finally…
Serious Evangelical endorsement is lining up behind Romney.
Well, It Is Time To Go Vote…
FOR MITT ROMNEY!
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benjensen on 05 Feb 2008 at 8:49 am #
When it comes to foreign policy and war, the “D” word is the only word the liberals understand, and they understand it through a foggy, dimented glass window.
On the right, the “D” word has become taboo, perhaps because it IS such a buzzword on the left.
The word is DIPLOMACY.
If the US is to effectively protect itself from enemies abroad (the 2nd most dangerous enemy we face), it must use its military might. There is no doubt about it. We must strike hard when necessary and leave no doubt in the minds of our enemies. However, it is paramount that the United States have an effective, multilateral diplomatic policy in addition to military might.
Remember, the goal is NOT war. The goal is absence of war. Sometimes it is necessary to fight wars in order to prevent future and more severe warfare. But, war is expensive and miserable for everyone.
So, what is diplomacy?
In its most pure form, political diplomacy is communication between officials aimed at achieving objectives of foreign policy. Diplomats usually try to engender goodwill, clarify policies and intentions, and conceptualize ideas that will benefit both parties. In essence, it is negotiation.
Bilateral diplomacy is usually pretty simple in concept. Multilateral diplomacy, on the other hand, is usually complicated. Picture the world as a pool table and each country is represented by one of the pool balls. Now, liken a diplomatic decision to hitting the cue ball. While the objective may be achieved with the initial collision with the “objective” ball, the collateral action (all the other balls hitting each other) is often hard to judge. Unintended balls will be affected by the initial action of hitting the cue ball. A good diplomatic policy will understand how a decision will affect the rest of the players in the world – not just politically, but economically as well. After all, politics is not a zero sum proposition.
We have diplomats and they play an important role. However, the President is essentially the chief diplomat for the US. If he does not understand how to effectively negotiate with countries that have different agendas, our country will suffer. Just as importantly, a President must WANT to engage in diplomacy. Otherwise, the country’s diplomatic efforts will be anemic.
Now, imagine John McCain as the chief diplomat for the United States! He can’t even negotiate with his own party without losing his temper. How can we expect him to negotiate with countries who have an agenda different than ours? McCain’s “JUST DO IT BECAUSE I SAID SO” diplomatic strategy won’t go over well with other sovereign countries.
Mitt Romney is the epitome of a diplomat. He is able to negotiate with goodwill while understanding when to bend and when not to bend. The skills used to effectively negotiate in the corporate world mirror the skills necessary in the political world.
Mitt Romney has an unquenchable curiosity and superior intellect. He seeks to understand the roots of problems. Not only will he effectively execute wars, when necessary, he will effectively seek diplomacy in order to prevent the war from happening again.
The importance of diplomacy CANNOT be overstated. A strong diplomatic strategy is essential to a powerful, successful, and legendary administration.
McCain does NOT have what it takes to be a diplomat.
Romney is the poster boy for diplomacy!
Finally, I would love to have someone who firmly understands how to receive TRUE inspiration and revelation from God. Mitt Romney’s religious background suggests he knows how to communicate with the Almighty.
http://jensencirclesjensen.blogspot.com
jane on 05 Feb 2008 at 3:17 pm #
I forget where I read on here that they didn’t have information about this, so I will just put it here, and your moderator can move it to where it needs to be. THANKS!
As I listened to Hannity on his radio show, he said that Huckabee has NOT struck down those who have smeared Romney and HIMSELF that said Bain Capital OWNED the majority of stock in the radio station that he worked for, and that THEY made him and others support Mitt!
He said that is NOT true, and that he has held his SAME conservative issues for YEARS, and it is ON those issues that he supports Mitt. Also that Mitt is not the owner of Bain, nor does he work there anymore.
There was more that he said but I can’t remember it all, but it might be found in the archives of yesterday, as that is when I heard him say that.
Also, I have heard that Romney ALSO said that was ridiculous and totally refuted it.