Huckabee and McCain, leading in SC polls, avoid negative politics

Tale of Two Gentlemen

This is about the strangest thing anyone has ever seen in South Carolina politics. The two leading contenders in the state for the Republican presidential nomination are not fighting. While the two leaders contend they have differences between them, they do not even attempt to highlight them in public.

This type of 'gentle' politics is historical -- dirty, vulgar politics date back to the founding of our nation (you should see what they said about Lincoln back in the day). What I find here is encouraging, something very different. Two people respecting each other, with different points of views, and debating where it counts: at a debate forum.

I applaud these two for being brave and showing true observance of the Christian. They are brave enough to back off from attacking each other and brave enough to form a friendship despite being competitors.

McCain and Huckabee ticket?

Who knows, perhaps if one wins the nomination, the other becomes vice president? Now that would be a very viable ticket in the general election. The ticket pleases all sides of the Republican spectrum and enough will power to bring in independent voters in a general election.

Gov. Huckabee on the Daily Show

What happens when a Christian man wants to make a difference in the world of politics? Something might actually get done.

In this video, Gov. Huckabee is warmly welcomed at the very liberal Daily Show. Clearly explaining his biblical faith of being prolife, he gets applause rather than scorn. God teaches us to take care of the weak and the poor in the Bible and Gov. Huckabee clearly believes in this, making him a true social conservative.

This is not the 'political' conservative where someone steps in a room and divisions are made.

Two outsiders win Iowa

Huckabee (R) and Obama (D) won the Iowa caucus today for their respective parties. Both candidates have trumped their competitors and changed the political landscape in the 2008 presidential run.

Huckabee, outmanned and outgunned by Romney, was suppose to lose. Huckabee, spent roughly $300,000-$400,000 in Iowa while Romney spent $20 million. Obama was a nobody in Iowa compared to the well known Clinton machine. He is also the first African American to win an Iowa nomination, a miracle in itself since only 2% of Iowans are black.

While there's still many more races to go, this win for the Huckabee and Obama camp is significant. Romney and Clinton no longer look invinsible as they did before.

[On a side note, I personally think Huckabee and Clinton should fight in 2008. They are still the best representatives of liberalism and social conservatism in America.]

Huckabee jams on Leno's Tonight Show

Very similar to another former Arkansas governor...(Clinton). But this was a very solid and short interview. People got to see him personally, outside of the political machinery in Iowa. Relaxed and poised, he clearly explained his position about the current tax reform needs of America and the issues he has with his underfunded campaign.

I'm in total agreement -- we should encourage people to work hard and be successful, not go on welfare.

Huckabee and Clinton - the race I want to see

Over the past few months, I have said little about the 2008 U.S. presidential race. But after watching a few debates, having read every one's positions, and seeing the polls, I have some early predictions on the two party's nominees.

I believe it would be a great race if Clinton and Huckabee were the presidential nominees. They both represent the two most active voices in American politics: social liberalism and religious conservatism.

Here are some of my positive thoughts about these two:

Huckabee is a gentleman. When former president Bill Clinton was being pounded in the media regarding his promiscious affairs, Huckabee, the governor of Arkansas at the time, refused to attack Clinton. It is easy to kick someone when they are down, but it takes a gentleman to refuse joining the lynch mob.

Hillary is a survivor. Bill Clinton's numerous affairs undoubtedly have hurt their marriage. Despite the public spotlight on their marriage, she sought to reconcile and recover. Some say her ability to forgive is a weakness, but to me, that is one of her greatest strengths. Being able to stick by your husband despite the public humiliation speaks strength and conviction and values that are hard to come by in a society where divorce is so rampant.

Huckabee has conservative values that are biblically based. He is the answer to many Protestants' Christmas wishes, someone that isn't afraid to mention the name "Jesus" on public television and yet someone that knows how to separate church and state. He is against murdering babies, and he believes that the Bible is the Word of God, not an inspirational book.

Hillary supports socialistic health programs. I believe she can help with Medicare. Taking care of our oldest citizens that can no longer work, or have trouble being functional due to stroke or other diseases need government intervention. We cannot simply ignore the people that cannot help themselves and let them die. We need to support our nursing homes and outpatient therapy clinics. I do disagree with Hillary on more broader socialistic programs -- where the government is paying for people that have the ability to work and make money on their own. The last thing I want is spending tax dollars on lazy folks that do not want to work. (The Bible commands us to work six days a week, Exo 20:9, "Six days shalt thou labour...")

Huckabee's flat tax program would remove the IRS and install a new taxing agency to collect sales tax across the board in a fair manner. Economists say this could work. The basic idea behind the current tax system is, the more successful you are, the more you are punished by taxes. If you work less, the more you are rewarded. I think a flat tax rate would make it equal across the board and get rid of this idea to punish successful, hard working Americans. Equality is the key value here.

These are just some of my thoughts and I'm sure I will type up more later, but let me know if you agree or disagree.