CPAC Week and the Dark Horse Candidates

This is CPAC week, and even though some potential 2012 candidates are not speaking, other lesser potentials are using the CPAC event as a continued institution for networking and furthering the political dialogue. Huckabee and Palin are not scheduled to attend or to speak, but the likes of Bachmann, Ron Paul, and Luis Fortuño are expected to take a moment on stage.

We are one year away from the Iowa caucuses, and I believe that the usual attendees at these events do so in hopes to stay current, maintain or gain name recognition, and wait for their chance to jump into the race (or at least receive a draft movement on their behalf).

The 2008 campaign was changed by two dark horse candidates - Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee. They both could now enter the 2012 race as established figures in the party with a clear direction and message. 2012 still leaves much room for a dark horse candidate... for someone with a message or movement that could unite the country and fix this economic, foreign, and otherwise general disaster we have in there now...

Keep an eye on Luis Fortuño, Puerto Rican governor. He just got a Bob Barr endorsement in the Atlanta Journal, and the Associated Press just interviewed me for a story they are going to run about a potential Puerto Rican President of the United States. Like I said, there is plenty of room for a dark horse candidate to establish himself over the next year... with the rate of progress in Puerto Rico, and their rebounding economy, one has to wonder how much longer before Fortuño becomes a household name...

The Death of Establishment Politics?

The new buzzword from the lips of the establishment political mouthpieces is no longer "islamofascists"... well, at least not during the election season. The new buzzword is "populism"... but trust me on this, the use of the word is meant to invoke the same fear and emotion!

The reason that this word is causing fear is that the people are speaking, and they are finally united in one effort: Get rid of politics as usual. One thing is for sure, politics in America will never be the same after 2008! At least if the trends continue.

The establishment candidates are falling faster than those poorly animated ducks in Nintendo's Duck Hunt... That hunting dog has his work cut out for him as he has to run around picking up nose-diving establishment candidates.

And if one pays any attention to tracking polls, you can clearly see that the populous was wearily supporting the establishment candidates, because the Media declared that they were the only viable candidates in either party. But, as the polls show, the first sign that there was even a hint of viability in another candidate, the establishment lost the wheels on it's bandwagon! (See the red arrows in the picture above... nose-dives indeed!)

Since 2006, the media has been building the next Royal Rumble... Hillary Clinton facing off on the national stage against Rudy Giuliani... pollsters and pundits have written books about this clash of the titans, made millions, and had nearly handicapped the 2008 race for us...

So was this anticipation the straw that broke the camel's back? Was it the grinding in on "viability" politics that finally made the people throw their hands in the air and declare "ENOUGH!"? I think so... I think the quasi-subdued citizens, distracted by American Idol and Top Model, were motivated by something different... and the tools of motivation made these citizens more accessible.

That is right... The death of the establishment politics, and the rise of populist politics, is due to the internet. The last vestige of free speech... and I mean free in that you can send powerful messages (via YouTube, e-mail, MySpace, Facebook) for FREE. No money required. That means candidates can focus on getting their messages out to millions of citizens at the cost of ZERO...

Then enter the bloggers... the most effective and passionate grassroots effort in American Politics... perhaps in history... capable of causing a revolution within our government without firing a single shot... The perfect example of the David v. Goliath... the Bloggers taking on the Major News Outlets... Communication amongst the people, giving rally cries, circling wagons, reaching out to one another, and waiting for our chance to pounce.

No longer are we restricted to the newspaper reading over the coffee table, where we are limited to bouncing our ideas and opinions off of our significant other... Now, each and every citizen has a forum... and we are excited about it.

Now that we are able to see our results, the impact that we have had, the downing of the establishment candidates... politics in America will never be the same. Empty campaign promises, negativity, gaffes, and slips... they will all be reported, they will all be discussed, they will all be scrutinized... because, in our lifetime, we have seen the beginning of the populist movement, when the people... WE the people... have decided to take our government back.

Let's see what happens after tonight... but I am willing to bet the farm that the trends continue, and that the pundits will be left scratching their heads over two obscure dark horse candidates getting the nod, and heading into the general election.

The Problem with National Polls

First and foremost, let it be known that I LOVE polls! It is a pulse of the living and breathing free republican democracy in which we live! Knowing that there are so many people free and willing to give their opinion on how our government and way of life should be molded... well, it is all a sign that freedom is still alive and well in the US.

But recently I have been plagued by the national presidential polls. I keep hearing about the almost certain general election showdown between Rudy and Hillary. National polls show one edging out the other on any given day. And it is right time that we all shake off the results of these polls and understand that the United States does not elect a President in the General election based on a national popularity vote... we use the amazing Electoral College System.



The great thing about the Electoral College system is that it forces candidates to campaign in the "flyover states" as well as in the big cities of New York and Los Angeles. It ensures that the "little guys" have power via delegates that takes away from the sheer quantity of citizens (and sometimes illegally voting non-citizens) found in the big cities.

So the question that I have for these poll takers is this: Where are you making your phone calls? Do they call Farmer Henry in Nowhere Kansas and Forest Ranger Steve in Montana, or do they make calls to Tom, Dick, and Harry living in St.Louis, New York, and San Francisco?

The problem with the National Polls is that when Hillary loses the General election, there is going to be a huge outcry because she was leading the national polls, and further calls for the elimination of the Electoral College System of voting in favor of Mob Rule.

The question is going to be this: Which candidate can pick up, for their respective parties, states that traditionally have supported one party over the other? Consider the 2004 results map:
The national polls, as fun as they are, should be replaced with a poll facing the candidates off in a state by state match-up, and determining which gains can be made.

In a Rudy/Clinton match up, there has been much discussion about a third party contender taking a large split of the votes... this is not a new concept. Consider the Bull Moose party of Teddy Roosevelt, splitting the Republican vote and delivering electoral victory to Woodrow Wilson. This was a case where a third party candidate actually received electoral votes... the cause? The Republican party had shifted too far from it's platform.

What states could Clinton steal? Perhaps Florida is in play... Perhaps Nevada and New Mexico... and Ohio is always a key player... But if she were head to head with a Liberal candidate like Rudy, who knows where the states would go.

What about Rudy... could he take New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania? Perhaps...

But what if a conservative third party candidate were to take the stage? This could throw the "fly-over states" into a Democratic win overall, as these states may give their electoral votes to the third party candidate, or split the Republican ticket so badly that Hillary wins the state.

But if the GOP elects a conservative candidate that rallies the base, one could expect that the electoral map would not vary much from the above image, and the Republicans would continue to hold on to the White House.

So, I say, enough with the attention on the National Polls... what are the state by state results, and how do the match-ups in those states relate to electoral votes? Who, then, will the victor be?

"Get To Know Mike Huckabee" Day

I hereby declare, on behalf of the Huckabee blogging community, that July 4th, 2007 is "Get to know Mike Huckabee" day. Watch the video to learn more:




You can use this text as part of the issues pamphlet, or visit ExploreHuckabee.com to get the issues yourself:

Mike Huckabee on the Issues:

Education and the Arts:
• I believe that every child in America has the right to a quality public education that teaches the fundamental skills needed to compete in a global economy.
• Music and the arts are not extraneous, extra-curricular, or expendable – I believe they are essential. I want to provide every child these “Weapons of Mass Instruction.”
• Our future economy depends on a creative generation.
• We need to judge the success of our schools by the results we obtain, not the revenue we spend.
• Test scores rose dramatically when I was Governor of Arkansas because of my education reforms.
• I have been a strong, consistent supporter of the rights of parents to home school their children, of creating more charter schools, and of public school choice.
• We need a clear distinction between federal and state roles in education. While there is value in the “No Child Left Behind” law’s effort to set high standards, states must be allowed to develop their own benchmarks.

Energy Independence:
• The first thing I will do as President is send Congress my comprehensive plan for energy independence. We will achieve energy independence by the end of my second term.
• Achieving energy independence is vital to achieving success both in the war on terror and in globalization. Energy independence will help guarantee both our safety and our prosperity.
• We have to explore, we have to conserve, and we have to pursue all avenues of alternative energy: nuclear, wind, solar, hydrogen, clean coal, bio-diesel, and biomass.

Taxes:
• I support the FairTax.
• As Governor of Arkansas, I cut taxes and fees almost 100 times, saving the taxpayers almost $380 million. I left a surplus of nearly $850 million, which I urged should go back to the people.
• Our massive deficit is not due to Americans’ being under-taxed, but to the government’s over-spending.
• To control spending, I believe the President should have the line-item veto.
• I believe in free trade, but it has to be fair trade.
• Globalization, done right, done fairly, can be the equivalent of a big pay raise by allowing us to buy things more cheaply.

Immigration:
• My number one priority is to secure America's border.
• We have to know who is coming into our country, where they are going, and why they are here. We need a fence along our border with Mexico, electronic in some places, and more highly-trained border agents.
• Those who are caught trying to enter illegally must be detained, processed, and deported.
• Illegal immigrants already living among us who commit crimes must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and incarcerated or deported.
• We must get our border under control before we deal with the illegal immigrants who are already here.
• I am opposed to amnesty - I believe that those who came here years ago and are law-abiding taxpayers must pay a significant fine as admission of their guilt and have a choice of deportation or a rigorous process toward legal status.

National Security/Foreign Policy: Iraq / Israel
• I support a regional summit so that Iraq’s neighbors become militarily and financially committed to stabilizing Iraq.
• Our troops are giving their all to provide a window of opportunity for the Iraq government to succeed
• I am a steadfast supporter of Israel, our staunch ally in the War on Terror, the only fully-functioning democracy in the Middle East, and our greatest friend in that region.
The United States must remain true to its long-standing commitment to the Israeli people
As President, I will always ensure that Israel has access to the technology she needs to defend herself from those who seek her annihilation.
• I believe that we are currently engaged in a world war. This war is not a conventional war, and these terrorists are not a conventional enemy.
• The top priority of the President as Commander in Chief is first and foremost protecting our own citizens.
• With a focus on renewed diplomacy and inclusion, we can accomplish the goals of our nation without having to go it alone.
• During the Cold War, we had hawks and doves, but this new war requires us to be a phoenix, rising reborn to meet each new challenge and seize each new opportunity.
• As President, I will fight this war hard, but I will also fight it smart, using all our political, economic, diplomatic, and intelligence weapons as well as our military might.
• The terrorists train in small, scattered groups. We can accomplish a great deal with swift, surgical air strikes and commando raids by our elite units.
• We have to get tough with President Musharaff who has allowed Al Qaeda and the Taliban to have bases in Waziristan.
• We don’t have a dog in the fight between Sunnis and Shiites – our enemy is Islamic extremism in all its guises.
• The long-term solution is to empower moderates in the region by attacking the underlying conditions that breed terror.
• Part of winning the war on terror is achieving energy independence.
• I believe in the Powell Doctrine of using overwhelming force to accomplish a mission.
• I have the executive and crisis management experience, the judgment and the temperament to be an effective commander in chief.
I will expand the army and increase the defense budget.

You can use these images, or go to Mike Huckabee's official Myspace page for higher resolution versions... or make something yourself...

Remember, 100 pamphlets... or 1 hour... Hit the parades, the markets, the fireworks shows, the BBQs, church picnics... anything... Putting that flier in someone's hand, looking them straight in the eyes and saying, "You need to see this guy"... wow... it is a powerful message!

Polling and the 2008 Presidential Race

I would like to first thank my friends at the Huckabee '08 blog for alerting me to this article. Please check their blog for a complete Arkansas based analysis of the results and possible race.

The Rasmussen Reports polls have FINALLY conducted a Huckabee poll, pitting him against Clinton, Obama, and Edwards for 2008. The results? Clinton holds only a single digit lead (Clinton 48% / Huckabee 43%). What this means is that Clinton, who most likely holds the lead on name recognition alone, is within reach of this up and coming candidate. Obama and Edwards were polling higher than Clinton against all candidates in this 800 voter study, 47% of which declared that they definitely would not vote for Hillary. That leave a 10% undecided on the Clinton/Huckabee poll. How to get that 10%? Let Mike talk about education, arts in education, and taxes... and stop ONLY asking him about his religious views in the debates! Enough already - the man is a level headed Christian. Move On!

Regarding the Iowa Straw Polls - WOW... what a choice for the slipping top tier candidates!

Giuliani and McCain have both decided to not participate in the Ames Iowa Straw Poll, and for good reason: Romney is expected to beat them both. A Romney win in those polls would be a BIG hit to their campaign, and a trump for Romney. So what should we expect to see? With Fred Thompson also not participating, we should see a Romney lead with a great showing of support for the other candidates, namely Huckabee!

"No candidate has skipped the straw poll and gone on to win the caucuses in the past 30 years..."
The Ames poll is a huge benchmark test for the nomination, measuring the organization ability and strength of the campaigns, and the fact that two of the "top three" are declining to participate because of an expected poor showing is disappointing. I say, if you are in it to win it, let's see what the PEOPLE think! I mean, honestly, NYTimes polling can only get you so far... Leave it in the hands of the voters, and let's see what the NEW direction of the party is going to be.

One thing that I have been saying for some time now, the "Top Candidates" want nothing more than to maintain the status quo. We need to put some spin on this story and expose the "Top Candidates" for what they are... beatable!

Huckabee - discussing the issues

Mike Huckabee is growing in popularity, not only due to grassroots efforts alone, but because once his views on the issues are heard, citizens realize that he is the right man (person) for the job of the next US President.

Take a minute, visit the YouTube site, Explore Huckabee, and listen to his views on the issues. Everything from Arts and education to eliminating the IRS. I am sure that once you hear what he has to say, you will support Huckabee too!

Get up to date on the issues, and get the word out! Let everyone know that You Like Mike!

One nice thing, Every day

How do we not only better ourselves, but better our world? The answer is easy, and easy to do. Every day, do one nice thing for someone else.

For example, the one nice thing can be as little as holding a door for someone, or buying a stranger lunch. How about paying the toll for the car behind you? Or have you considered calling your office custodian by their first name, and saying thanks while looking them in the eyes...

Happiness is contagious, and so are good deeds. Not only will you make yourself feel better, but you could potentially be the highlight of someone elses day.

If you are up to a larger task, try visiting DoOneNiceThing.com. They are focussed on better your lives by bettering the lives of others.

What is my inspiration for promiting this idea? Mike Huckabee's book, of course...

So I ask you, are you ready to do something nice?

And with Memorial day right around the corner, how about making an extra effort to thank a serviceman/woman, or even the family of someone you know who is in the service. Appreciate our military!

God Bless!

Why I like Mike Huckabee for our next President

Let me preface this by saying that I started supporting Huckabee for president the second that I read his bio on Wikipedia... which was about December of 2006. Talk about a well rounded guy without the "drama" of EVERYONE else in the conservative camp! Anyway, I liked what I saw and joined the Explore Huckabee team right away.

Since then, I have paid special attention to his speeches, his comments during the debates, his e-mails, and his blogs... this guy just keeps looking better and better.

To top it off, I recently purchased his latest book, "From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 STOPs to Restoring America's Greatness"... and I am quickly realizing that this is the sort of president that the US needs!

He is the answer to the growing political rift, the increased divide in the "class", and the content based politician that has been elusive in recent federal elections. Believe it or not, Mike Huckabee stands for common decency toward your fellow man, and he not only believes in what he says but he LIVES IT! He is of the same line of thinking that I am, that the government is only as good as the people who support it, and thus it not only benefits us ALL to be better people, but to be involved in our community and thus better ourselves and our expectations of our government.

As he states in his book, we are in a political environment where the goal is to win, not better the lives of the people. This is where the vicious attack campaigns have come from... and it is destructive to not only us as citizens, but to the pool of citizen servants who will dare put themselves into the political spectrum... i.e. it scares away a lot of great political potential for fear of defamation... and what we are left with... the "lesser of two evils"...

This is exactly why I intend to vote for Huckabee. He is a decent man, with a great outlook on life. He is the very type of man that you can ACTUALLY be proud of when you say, "That's my President!!!"

And when I decide to get my political hands dirty, I hope to have the same outlook, and openness that Huckabee has.

This man has moved me, and I am sure that if you look into what he stands for, perhaps read his book, you will be moved as well.