Topic: Presidential Campaign 2008
Q4 $$ Smackdown! Ron Paul vs. Mike Huckabee Is it just me or does it seem like this race is forming up to be a Ron Paul vs. Mike Huckabee Smackdown?by CT Johnson
(libertarian)
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
So this writer has been watching the fundraising for Congressman Ron Paul and Governor Mike Huckabee. What I have noticed is a drastic upswing in Huckabee's fundraising. While watching www.ronpaulgraphs.com I have noticed that Huckabee has matched or out raised Ron Paul many days in the last month.
Now I am fully aware of the impending Ron Paul Boston Tea Party Money Bomb on December 16th. My question is, with the increasing grassroots of Mike Huckabee, will Huckabee's fundraising keep pace? Will Huckabee supporters rally and surge as they have done in the last month to match Ron Paul's supporters? It appears to me that Mike Huckabee's grassroots is at the same spot Ron Paul's was last quarter so there is decent potential for large money surges.
Now you Huckabee supporters will the upswing in Mike's fundraising be enough to carry you through to a possible victory? I have no doubt that Ron Paul's campaign will have enough cash to go the distance, but can Mike Huckabee stay in it if he only raises $5 million during this critical period?
Finally, is it just me or does it seem like this race is forming up to be a Ron Paul vs. Mike Huckabee Smackdown? It appears that only these two candidates are on the rise. Of course there could be some surprises. Giuliani has massive name recognition and Romney has tons of personal cash to infuse into the race. However, Giuliani and Romney appear to be trending down.
Tell me how do you think this is going to play out...don't be shy. Just tell me what you're thinking! I want to see how much support there is for each candidate and would like to hear the opinions of you the readers.
As a final question...Huckabee supporters read this article and tell me how Mike Huckabee will fight the vampiric effects of overtaxation and the hidden taxation called inflation when money is printed quite literally out of thin air. I would really like to hear Huckabee supporters views on taxation and inflation. Oh, and supporters of other candidates...feel free to pipe in as well on that article. I would love to hear your opinions as well.
The views expressed in this
article are those of CT Johnson only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. CT Johnson is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
In my opinion, the powers-that-be, are putting forth a victim for Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton has been given the nod to be president. The election process is the magic trick folks. Slide of hand, so-to-speak. No candidate, Democrat or Republican, can beat Ron Paul and his message. This is why those in charge need a straw man. Ron Paul carries our message and our forefathers gift to humanity. No other country compared to ours, in those days. Man was set free from bondage for the first time in all of our history. That's the promise and greatness of america. Not more bondage. Wake up ladies and gentleman. Wipe the sleep from your eyes and see the world for what it is and is not. Ron Paul will restore the republic...if you give him the deserved chance. People say that this is a rEVOLution. I see it as a restoration. The word revolution can be dangerous. Those behind the curtain, or whatever you wish to call them, want us to think that our government doesn't work. They want the constitution gone from our hands, hearts, and minds. Then they can insert what government they want. Our form of government is not perfect, but it is the greatest the world has had to offer since the dawn of mankind. Those filling the positions of our government are mostly corrupt and impede in the process of our government all that they can. If the inner parts are corrupt then obviously the government will not function. That's the problem. We need to replace the inner parts of the government to get it functioning properly and constitutionally. That's Ron Paul's mission and it's our mission to get him there. No other candidate talks about these things. They are starting to copy Ron Paul. They're fakes ladies and gentlemen. Complete fakes. Ron Paul is your man and freedom should be your creed.
The "Huckster" is what is known in politics as a "Stalking Horse" which is a false alternative provided to "fool-the-hell-out-of-some-group(s)."
If this is true, then two questions have arisen. First, whose stakling horse? The Media [which explains the fundrasing]. Second, to fool who and why? The American people especially Ron Paul supporters [so Paul can now be ignored as they talk about an actual underdog.] The media is already well aware that ALL Democrat contenders will beat the "Huckster" in and election.
This all fits in very nicely into the overall desired result. To get Hillary Clinton elected. I case you haven't figured it out yet, Barrack Obama is a stalking horse for Hillary to freeze out any real compitition from the Democrat side.
Please keep this in mind: No Republican who is pro war will beat ANY Democrat contender.
Huck is probably on rudy's payrol.... he is there to screw Romney then kiss up to Rudy to be his VP only to get bumped for one of Rudy's thugs later on. I do not see how Huckabee can get rid of the IRS (think Ron Paul has been saying that for 30 years) but Mike thinks he can keep the millitary empire, police state, and welfare system funded AND cut taxes?? That is more retarded Bushicnomics that has ruined the dollar and wrecked the housing market. The "Fair Tax" though better than income tax will make inflation even worse and kill the local economy and land values. It is a half ass solution to a big problem that Mike just don't get.
For me at the end of the day it is all about our pollicy over seas. I am a US MARINE vet and Ron Paul is the only man on either side who feels the way I do about when to go to war and knows best how to keep us safe.. Did the Huckster serve in the millitary???
Going on the slim fast diet don't qualify you for the job and neither does having all the money in the world, being Mayor when a city that is attacked or getting captured in Nam. I see a real trend of these Republicans running on their past tragic life events or trying to buy their way in....
If Romney is such agood business man why would he spend 10 million of his own money the get a job that only pays a few hundred thousand a year??
Huckabee is a media (FOX/CNN) creation. He's full of shit. He will not raise 5 million this quarter. Period! He was a weak Governor, let lose murderers, let illegals get free college. He's full of shit. His supporters are doing Rudy the crossdressers dirty work, but his supporters will lick this up. They are too stupid to see through this. Where's the proof of this drastic upswing in fundrising? Goober, show me the money bitch!
Yep you nailed it Jim, I truly do believe that Ron Paul's popularity is to a point were it is starting to scare the elite. The only and best way to stop Ron is to blure the line some with huck and push his name hard. Huck was there wild card, if Ron started to blow up. I'll tell ya no Ron type voter would vote for Huck so Hillary truly would blow by him in the general. There is a much larger chunck of the Republican party and the general population that are more than fed up with the middle east and "secretive i know what's best for you" people in office. I knew from day one if they wanted to hurt the Ron movement all they needed to do is start to push Huck. Will it stop the Ron movement? I think not and hope not.
Nice writeup, I think that true conservatives will research both Ron Paul and the Huckster's records and see that Huck is for higher taxes, soft on illegal immigration, and has no plans to change the course in iraq. Ron Paul is anti tax, is very firmly against illegal immigration, and wants us out of this illegal war in iraq. Go Ron Paul!!
Posted By: Joseph Stanson
Date: 2007-12-12 04:49:52
The very suggestion that "Huckabee has been blowing up" is a complete and utter fabrication of the media. He didn't blow up. He managed to get some votes in the IOWA straw poll and suddenly, overnight, he's this big force to be reconned with.
The stalking horse analogy is entirely accurate. This is the media's way of getting everybody to "look over HERE" and not "over here" (where Ron Paul is standing). We shouldn't even be talking about Huckabee. Nobody should. But they just keep throwing him in the headlines...creating our reality, and putting him in it.
I'm not sure where you've gotten your statisticts regarding the amount of money contributed to huck-a-bee (cough). You specifically quote Ron Paul's figures, and I would expect the same facts to be represented equally.
I have had the same thought about a narrowing of the race to leave Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee the last two contenders, but I thought it might be just wishful thinking on my part. I am a hard money libertarian, long time Ron Paul supporter; I see Huckabee as a smooth version of George Bush which should play well with the pro war, Christian right neo-cons, and those expecting government largesse; he has shallow, but effective one liners for most everything. To me he looks like the typical tax and spend proponent we see every election, who on the surface claims to be otherwise, but deep down just wants to use government to control the world, and us US citizens. I can understand why Iowa Republicans might go for him as the polls supposedly indicate, but I can also see why New Hampshire voters might favor Ron Paul's libertarian views and genuine intentions to downsize government. It certainly would be a shock if Huckabee took Iowa with Ron Paul doing respectably, and then Ron Paul took New Hampshire with Huckabee doing respectably.
No doubt those special interests who expect something in return for their supprort would give Huckabee money since he is likely to be responsive to the usual you scratch my back, I scratch yours mode of operation that is US politics. Ron Paul, I think will continue to be dependent on individual support because he does not play the sell your soul game.
Ron Paul is the only candidate addressing the Federal Reserve/money out of thin air issue. If voters could grasp this somewhat complex issue, and understand the magnitude of the fleecing they are taking under this debt based money loaned into existence system (think of all the interest we pay on the new money that is created and then loaned to us and our government), then I think Ron Paul would be everyone's top choice; unfortunately, you need to be a CPA understand how this fraud works, so maybe people will first need to be hit over the head with a total collapse of the financial system before they understand, if even then. This significant issue really differentiates Ron Paul from Huckabee.
On the (visible) tax issue, Ron Paul wants to end the IRS, and the income tax with corresponding spending reductions, while Huckabee has seen the appeal of Ron Paul's end the IRS message, so he claims to also want to end the IRS, only he wants to replace the income tax with a fair tax (is any tax fair?) meaning a national sales tax. If people realized that everytime the went shopping they needed to add 30%, you can bet they would understand Huckabee is no friend to the taxpayer, expecially since on large purchases like a car they would need to come up with the cash for the tax up front, as no banker is going to loan them the money to pay 30% above the value of the car. At least under the income tax, you don't have to pay the tax until you earn the money.
Call me paranoid, but I just don't trust this sudden "surge" of Huckabee with all the media frothing at the mouth, while they continue to marganilize Ron Paul. Maybe they realized that none of the candidates they originally selected for us would fly, so they have selected Huckabee as the "candidate of change" to market to a dissatified public. Can you imagine the financial interests in the world actually allowing someone like Ron Paul to gain office with the intent of taking away their lucrative money creation privilege?
Buchanan said it about two months ago, Ghouliani supporters need to send Huck money in Iowa and vote for him in the polls to sink Romney. Ghouls knows he cannot compete in Iowa. Huck knows he is Ghouls VP selection and cannot compete nationally. So, its a two on one against Romney for now. When the FEC filings come out, you will see many NY area donations to Huck that in the past donated to Ghouls as well.
Huckabee's rise has only served to convince me that the Evangelicals still have a stronghold on the Republican Party and I want this hold broken once and for all. Paulites are not one issue voters. We do not get excited because our candidate is a Christian and beats on anyone (declaring immoral) who is not. It is irrelevant. Paulites are multi-issue voters who want to take back the party from war enthusiasts and return it soundly to fiscal responsibility, free trade with all countries, sound money and diplomacy over warring. Huckabee, should he win the nomination, will go down hard against any democrat because the majority of the people will recognize another Bush when they see one.
I truly believe that Ron Paul has the only hope for the Republican party to keep the president. What we need is to get that point out there and maybe he can get the MSM onboard. Most people in our country have not awoken from their stupor and don't seem to care about the truly important issues. If the MSM starts reporting that Ron Paul is the only way to avoid Hillary then that will be all we need. Also, please go to www.politicaltrends.info and submit blogs that feature Ron Paul. It cherry picks blogs to figure out the most popular cnadidate on the web. Ron Paul is listed at about 10% of Huckabee and Romney!
Huckabee is the distraction from Ron Paul. It's obvious more & more fed-up Americans aren't falling for the other goons, so they need a knight in shining armor. Too bad many know how to use the internet these days and are finding out Huckabee is more of the same! Go Ron Paul! Dec. 16th is going to be HUGE- can't wait to throw my "tea bag" into his campaign for REAL change.
I don't think Huckabee is actually doing all that well. Did he ever win a straw poll, or any other kind of poll? Does he have money? Have I seen sign-wavers or bumper stickers for him locally? Do people really care who Chuck Norris supports? I think the answer to all of these is no. The people who currently support Ron Paul are not going to be intimidated by the media. Tell everyone you know about Paul! Chances are, they'll pay more attention to a real person than a media push.
In all my analysis of this presidential race it has been setup from the get go to be a Democratic win. I even think there is the potential that Hillary is a decoy for an Obama win. Look at the Republican contenders. Not a single one, save Ron Paul, really says anything new. The country is in pain. The world hates us. I would be shocked if supporters of Huckabee could honestly believe that he can beat the Democrat. He has a spotty ‘tax and spend’ record. Very evangelical (scares most voters) and he has no problem with a Federal ban on Abortion, Gay Marriage and even cigarettes. These are not populist views. I think he is a good man and given the chance could win the Republican nod. I am 100% positive he cannot beat a Democrat and that this is the sole reason he has become so liked by the media which has been setting up a Democratic win for a long time now. Think about it, how long have you been seeing Hilary and Obama plastered on the front of news stands and magazines? Well before this race even started. The ONLY chance Republicans have is Ron Paul. and even then it will be one hell of a fight. All other contenders represent zero change and come with too much baggage.
Huckabee's rise corresponds to media repetition of his name. Huckabee was the media answer to all the Ron Paul supporters claim that the MSM was creating the first tier. So the MSM agreed to create a darling by pitching softballs and then filling the airwaves with the Huckabee homeruns.
The problem for me is that the more I hear about Mr. Huckabee's acceptance of gifts, trips, and his comments on AIDS, and his handout to illegals makes him unelectable.
And the MSM knows this. His quick rise will be followed by an equally quick disappearance.
Now if only the MSM thought about pitching a few softballs to Ron Paul, then surging the coverage, we might be able to avoid the next dark age.
Posted By: Linda Inveninato
Date: 2007-12-12 08:17:25
Mike Huckabee is pro-war, a quote from his website, "I believe that we are currently engaged in a world war. Iraq is a battle in our generational, ideological war on terror. I am focused on winning."
Huckabee would escalate the war...He has a VERY limited voter interest.
It seems to me from watching videos and reading that Huckabee is just another politician. Ron Paul is far more knowledgable, has a much better record, and is a humble man. How can a Baptist minister be pro war (especially preemptive war)? I am a Christian and cannot understand that. I believe in the just war theory. We should only go to war if we are under attack or are in imminent danger of being attacked.
Ron Paul - the first polititian to give me hope for the future of my children.
Mike Huckabee was selected by the MSM as an alternative to Ron Paul -- Ron Paul "lite." If you were watching closely, you could literally watch this happen in real time, beginning right after the "Values Voters" charade. Huckabee went from no-name to being adulated, thanks to a single poll (albeit an admitted landslide). Meawhile, Ron Paul's poll results were ridiculed and accusations of impropriety were bandied about.
Since they could not justify their blatant marginalization of Paul, they simply replaced him with Huckabee, to put forth the illusion that they were not in the business of marginalizing second-tier candidates. This of course gave Huckabee a much-needed boost, and elevated him to first-tier status. The MSM has no love for Huckabee; he is a man of God after all, which the liberal media detests. But they understand that he is no threat to Hillary Clinton, whereas Paul will severely maim her. All he has to do is hold up a pocket-Constitution and ask her to please explain her blatant violation of it. No other candidate can do the same, because they have all acted in kind, whereas Ron Paul has fought tooth and nail to defend that document -- as his sole litmus test for every vote -- for 20 years.
Still wondering why Huckabee gets a free boost, while Paul gets ignored? "First they ignore you, yadda yadda."
If any candidate is the Howard Dean of 2008 it is Mike Huckabee. He has no real support, but the media has pumped so much free air time into him that he's gotten the name recognition/hype bump. The problem is that said bump will likely deflate when people realize what kind of person they're supporting (soft on immigration, tax raiser, big government, etc) just like support for Rudy McRomneson is collapsing (Romney went from 30%+ in Iowa to 15-20% over night, which is a good example of just how soft and empty the support for the media candidates is right now). Ron Paul can win this if his supporters stay vocal, motivated, and turn out to the polls.
If it was a smackdown, Huckabee will plead "no contest". In due time, my friends, in due time.. We will go out and prove once and for all that no even the most influential characters can stop the Ron Paul revolution!
Since the Huckster's 15 minutes of fame are almost over and he's being exposed as a big spender I can say what I really think about him... Is it just me or do his ears look like they came out of the old "Mr. Potatoe Head" play set popular back in the 1960s? I hope Chuck Norris doesn't hunt me down and kick my ass now!
I am truly disappointed by the quality of the replies here. The questions posed were thoughtful. There is a real chance that Mike could be the last one standing against Paul (and Romney of course.) This is an opportunity to spell out some of rons positions and explain the differences with the others. Try to keep this conversation intelligent. We do not want to alienate either Mike or Mitt's supporters. We want to convert them to Dr Paul. Here's your chance. Run with it.
Posted By: Scott Wienert
Date: 2007-12-15 09:04:40
Treber, the point most of these posters were trying to make is that there really aren't any Huckabee supporters, so alienating them isn't really a concern.
I live in South Carolina where Huckabee is now 'leading' in the most recent poll with 24%. The only problem with that is I have not seen ANY real support in the form of signs, bumper stickers, or even people talking about the man. My guess is the respondents to that poll chose Huckabee's name because they have heard it repeated over and over in their casual observance of the news. It is just people saying his name because he seems like a good right wing conservative and the 'Top Tier' names are getting worn out.
There is more than a month before the South Carolina Primary, plenty of time for those respondents to be exposed to Huckabee's stances and record. We will see how real that support is then. But I am a logical person and it is hard for me to believe that his support is real, atleast in South Carolina, when I don't see any fruits of this support in my daily life around the state (I travel around the state for work).
A good example of the above is with one of my co workers. He knows I am a Ron Paul supporter. When the topic of Ron comes up he inevitably looks at me with a look of 'you still like that guy' and says "What do you think about Fred Thompson? He is at the top of the polls right now, he is a Ronald Reagan Republican," or "I am liking Romney, he is doing pretty good right now," or the most recent, "You know Huckabee is doing pretty good lately, I like him." What is interesting is that the candidate he is always currently supporting is the one that is getting the most buzz at the time. Huckabee early on, then Thompson when he was thinking about getting in, now Huckabee who is the medias darling. The problem is he never knows anything specific about the candidate, so I do my best to educate him briefly and I email him articles and write ups so he can inform himself about the candidate.
My point I guess is that most people don't 'support' Huckabee and the other candidates. They say their name in a poll, that's it. I am glad Huckabee is at the top of the polls right now, because if he weren't, people wouldn't have the chance to learn about him. Now that people will have a chance to learn about him and make a decision, that will leave one candidate for people to really learn about, Ron Paul. His rise will start with this Sunday, December 16th when he breaks all one day fundraising records. He will get an unbelieveable amount of buzz, people will hear his name, and people will learn about him.
To answer the questions in the article, No, Huckabee will not be able to go forward if he hasn't raised more than $5 million (I don't think he will raise more than $3-4 million). No, Huckabee supporters will not rally and provide a surge in fundraising like Ron Paul's did at the end of last quarter. Huckabee's website says he has raised about $1.1 million in December.... he isn't even on pace to raise in one month what Ron did in one day!
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