Huckabee Looks Back at 2005, Forward to Final Year As Governor

Governor Huckabee's News Column
December 31, 2005

The New Year: A look back, a look ahead

As we dust off our copies of ‘Auld Lang Syne,' we naturally begin to reflect on our accomplishments of the past year and set our sights on a successful one coming up.

From a personal standpoint, I'm proud of the fact that I have continued my commitment to a healthy lifestyle. In March, I accomplished something I never before dreamed possible and completed my first marathon. After months of training, I ran the Little Rock Marathon with a time of 4 hours and 38 minutes. The feeling I experienced crossing the finish line is unlike any other, exhausted and thrilled all at the same time. Even more surprising, it didn't take long for me to realize that marathoning is in my blood. In October, I ran in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. Here, I managed to set a new personal record with a time of 4 hours 37 minutes and 27 seconds. However, that pales in comparison to the memories I have of finishing with the run up Iwo Jima hill, with all those Marines lined up cheering the runners on. Take it from me, there's no way to top that!

I was fortunate to see another personal goal accomplished this year when my fourth book was published. In “Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork,” I recount my own struggle with my unhealthy lifestyle and the life saving doctor's advice that helped me lose 110 pounds. In the book, I share 12 stops, things that people can do to help them lose weight and start living a healthy lifestyle.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention a special event that is certainly near and dear to my heart -- the marriage of my son David and his beautiful bride Lauren. The two shared their vows in a covenant marriage on New Year's Day, an event that I was honored to officiate.

For our state, I'm particularly proud of the successful and harmonious legislative session of 2005. The atmosphere surrounding this session was the simply the best I've ever seen. The positive spirit was due in large part to the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Jim Argue and House Speaker Bill Stovall.

Legislators agreed on the importance of merging the Department of Health with the Department of Human services, and it sure didn't take long for us to see the importance of that merger. When we were hit with 70,000 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina, the newly-formed DHHS worked flawlessly to meet the needs of evacuees. Our state received national praise for the way we assisted the evacuees. We also saw the passage of legislation creating the Department of Agriculture and secured record levels of funding for Higher Education.

As I look to the year ahead, I see many goals I want to achieve. Of course I want to continue to eat right and stay healthy, which includes keeping up my marathon training.

Yes, I am currently training for the Little Rock Marathon. With all the hills we have along the course in Little Rock, this race is considered one of the toughest courses in the country. It certainly is a challenge and a thrill for me to take part. My next goal, after I recover from that race is training for and competing in the New York City Marathon to be run the following October. I've heard that it's one of the most inspirational marathons out there, with more than 85 thousand registered runners. I remember reading once that Will Rogers said “We can't all be heroes, because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.” Well, there certainly are plenty of those clappers in New York on that day.

Organizers estimate there are 2 million spectators cheering on the runners as they make their way through the 26.2 mile course. I have a hard time imagining a crowd of people, almost as many as we have in our entire state, cheering us on. For me though, the best things about the marathons experience are the camaraderie, the friendly competition and healthy lifestyle of the folks involved.

Speaking of healthy living, I am committed to driving home the message of good health and my Healthy America initiative. As chairman of the National Governors Association, I plan to continue encouraging other governors to set an example and see to it that those in the public and private sector work together, creating incentives for people to choose a healthy lifestyle. Ultimately, I want all Americans to adopt the three main areas of focus found in the Healthy America campaign: eating right, exercising, and staying away from tobacco. By following these three simple tenants, a person can add two years to their life.

Another goal is continuing to write. I have already started work on what will be my fifth book. While Harry Potter doesn't need to worry about me knocking him off the bookshelves, this latest book is something that means much to me and I hope readers will like it.

Finally, this year will also be bitter-sweet because it's the final year of my 10 and a half years as governor of Arkansas. I've truly been honored to serve the people of this state for the past decade. My staff and I are gearing up for a strong finish to my tenure as governor and we are already taking steps to ensure a smooth transition for the next governor. My New Year's resolution to the citizens of this state is not to wind DOWN, but finish UP.

Mike Huckabee

Resting, Relaxing, and Enjoying Family

Hello,

Thanks for dropping by. We at Mike Huckabee President 2008 are enjoying the holidays and will return with fresh content later this week. Until then, have a look around and learn more about Huckabee. The "Information Center" in the side bar is a great place to start.

BSR

Merry CHRISTmas!

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem." (Matthew 2:1)

Mike Huckabee President 2008 returns next week. Have a very merry Christmas!

Blogs 4 Life Conference January 23, Washington DC

As regular readers of this blog know, Governor Mike Huckabee is strongly pro-life and the abortion issue is very important to us here at the blog, as well. We're pleased to provide more information about the upcoming Blogs4Life conference that will be held in Washington, DC on January 23.

Click HERE to learn more and please help promote it on your own blogs.

BSR

2008 Round-up

It's been a while since we rounded-up 2008 related info from around blogland, so here goes:

Justin Ready at 2008 Political Perspective has a 2008 poll up where you can go vote for Huckabee right now.

Mark Coffey at Decision 08, who is a bit of a fan of Huckabee's, takes a look at the "front-runners."

Ryan James, a member of our "Bloggers 4 Huckabee" team, has a whole Huckabee category worth a perusal.

Political Wire says Romney won't make a decision about running for president until sometime in 2007, but he will continue to "lay the groundwork" for a potential run. News flash for you -- Romney is running. Prediction for you: He has absolutely NO CHANCE of winning the GOP nomination.

Save The GOP isn't so sure about Romney, either.

Campaign 2008, like so many blogs, started off great but seems to have pooped-out. I can understand why. This is hard work.

Hotline On Call has become a daily read for us.

GOP bloggers has a post up showing Hillary Clinton pretending she actually cares about the number of abortions happening in America.

Captians Quarters takes a look at Senate Majority Leader Frist's squandering of the greatest opportunity to advance the conservative agenda we've ever had. We'll look back on this in 20 years and puke our guts out. And some people still think he could be president?

This isn't really 2008 specific, but Wizbang has a very interesting analysis of the differences between the right and left sides of the blogosphere and their "real world" counterparts.

Apparently the Boston Herald doesn't think Romney has a chance either. Check it out at Oval Office 2008.

Anthony Surace of The Templar Pundit has announced some changes. We look forward to seeing it, Anthony!

Abortion will be an important topic in the 2008 election, so here's news for you about the first Pro-Life Blogger conference set for next month.

Dying To Lose Weight

A new report shows that gastric bypass surgery, a last resort for the morbidly obese, is exploding in popularity in America, despite serious and deadly risks.

In 1998, just under 13,000 gastric bypass surgeries were perfomed. By 2002 the number of these surgeries exploded to over 70,000.

One in every 50 patients DIE.

There IS a better way.

BSR

Study: One Third Of U.S. Teens Have Poor Heart Fitness

Here's more evidence that supports Governor Mike Huckabee's fight to improve health and wellness in America.

In a sombering new study conducted by Northwestern University researchers, fully one third of U.S. teens would flunk a treadmill fitness test used to measure heart fitness. While that finding is not surprising given previous research showing that about 16 percent of U.S. schoolchildren are seriously overweight it's "very concerning," said Dr. David Ludwig, director of the obesity program at Children's Hospital Boston.

He said the results show that "at a time in life when adolescents and young adults should be at peak levels of fitness, there's in fact a very high prevalence … of very low fitness." The study estimates that about 7 million young people are now at risk of developing heart disease later in life.

"We've known for a long time that there's a trend toward declining physical activity" among U.S. children, said Mercedes Carnethon, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern. The study shows this "is now being reflected by the prevalence of poor fitness."

In addition, average cholesterol levels were about 10 points higher for youngsters in the low fitness category than for those considered highly fit. And about 4 percent of the girls and almost 2 percent of the boys already had high blood pressure. Also, 2 percent of girls and 7 percent of boys had metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that includes big waists and higher levels for blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, which increase the risk for heart disease.

The study "really highlights that there's a problem," said Dr. David Bernhardt, a Madison, Wis., pediatrician and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness.

Poor lifestyle choices are costing thousands of American lives and billions of dollars every year. Medical costs, much of it due to preventable diseases associated with obesity and inactivity, are growing at an unsustainable rate.

Mike Huckabee, America's health spokesperson, is the only potential candidate for President who is attemping to deal with these critical issues.

BSR

Huckabee: Keep CHRIST in Christmas (UPDATED)

12/10/2005

Secularlists are whining and complaining about the public use of the word "Christmas" because it supposedly offends them. Quick to cave in, many retailers and public officials switched to selling "holiday trees" and sending out "holiday cards." Sadly, even President Bush and the First Lady chose to send "holiday cards" this year.

Not Mike Huckabee.

Christmas is a time of year to "celebrate the birth of the Savior," Huckabee says. For that reason, his Christmas cards proudly wish the recipient a "Merry Christmas."

You can listen to Mike Huckabee talk about it right HERE.

UPDATE 12/20: Stateline.org has conducted an analysis of all of the country's Governors' Christmas cards and found the following:
Only 10 Governors' cards mentioned Christmas specifically (2 Democrats & 8 Republicans).

But the most spirited Christmas wish of all came from none other than Mike Huckabee.

"Huckabee ... pictures the baby Jesus in a creche — on the back of a tear-off card with Mrs. Huckabee’s brisket recipe — and trumps everyone by mentioning Christmas four times, as well as ‘our Savior’s birth,’ the ‘Messiah’ and a Bible verse,” says the Stateline.org report.

Way to go, Governor!

BSR

Mike Huckabee The Outdoorsman

One of the great things about living in a place like the south is being able to enjoy the outdoors.

Governor Huckabee is an outdoorsman who enjoys fishing and hunting. Here he is with a beautiful wild turkey he bagged recently.

Congratulations, Governor!

As a hunter, Huckabee clearly understands and appreciates the importance of the Second Ammendment, which ensures that all Americans have the right to keep and bear arms. As proof, we invite you to check out the following copy of the text from a rather strongly worded letter written by Governor Huckabee to New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, regarding the "Smith and Wesson quid pro quo" (an attempt to force gun manufacturers' compliance with former President Clinton's gun mandates in order to win federal and state law enforcement purchase contracts).

Dear General Spitzer:

I have received your letter inviting me to join in your effort to encourage
various state and local governments to award law enforcement gun contracts only to gun manufacturers agreeing to a "Code of Conduct" which dictates various business practices, safety features, marketing strategies, etc., for both gun manufacturers and gun dealers at the wholesale and retail level. I must
respectfully decline your invitation.

First let me say, if I believed the safety of my constituents were truly
the issue, I would be much more considerate of your request. But we are not
living in a country flooded with "unsafe" guns. It is their illegal use that
endangers us -- that must be addressed through vigorous criminal
prosecution.

Providing for guns safety locks is one thing and, in truth, only a small
part of your "Code of Conduct." However, dictating how many guns a purchaser is allowed to take home on one day, banning sales at gun shows and prohibiting a minor from even entering a gun store without a parent or guardian are parts of a political agenda, not a push for "gun safety." Coupling the safety issue with a strict regulation of business practices is merely a maneuver to advance a
decidedly political agenda under the guise of "public safety."

I am a strong proponent and defender of Americans' Second Amendment right
to keep and bear arms. I also make every effort to be a responsible manager of
my constituents' tax dollars. I ask the director of the Arkansas State Police to
make purchasing and requisition decisions based on quality, service and price. I
will not ask him to award a lucrative government contract in order to further a
political agenda geared at controlling and ultimately destroying the firearms
industry.

I want Arkansas State Troopers to protect our citizens and themselves using
the best guns available, not guns from the most "politically correct"
manufacturer. In 1999, I signed into law an act prohibiting Arkansas' local
governments from suing firearms manufacturers seeking compensation for injuries and deaths resulting from the illegal use of these companies' products. To hold the gun industry accountable for crime is like holding our nation's farmers liable for the healthcare costs associated with obesity.

The desire of some to blame the gun manufacturers for crime rather than
prosecute criminals seems to me a sadly misguided attempt at protecting our
citizens. It is also a rather thinly veiled attempt to vilify and control those
who engage in a business which is eminently legal and necessary, yet not
particularly smiled upon by the current administration in Washington.

I thank God previous administrations understood and appreciated not only
the sanctity of the Second Amendment, but its necessity as well. Gun
manufacturers make the Second Amendment a viable right rather than some
theoretical proposition. I will not abuse my authority as Governor to pursue
their demise or dictate their business practices through coercion.

So the answer is a definite "no," I will not seek the capitulation of
firearm manufacturers through the use of asinine lawsuits or the doling out of
taxpayer-funded government contracts. I regret that you feel either of these
tactics to be worthwhile endeavors.

Sincerely yours,
Mike Huckabee

Giuliani, Rice Don't Stand Chance

Charlie Cook's highly respected Cook Political Report recently took an honest and objective look at potential 2008 candidates by surveying GOP voters and came to some very interesting and revealing conclusions that run contrary to the conventional "front-runner" wisdom of lazy MSM reporters.

First, as we've been saying here for months, Giuliani does not have a chance.

"Many observers, including this one," Cook says, "believe it is virtually impossible for a candidate who favors abortion rights and takes liberal positions on gun control and gay rights to capture the Republican nomination."

Cook does not discuss Condoleeza rice in his report but, like Guiliani, she is a pro-choicer.

There are a lot more interesting findings, as well:

"...33 percent [of GOP voters surveyed] preferred a social and cultural issue-emphasizing candidate; 30 percent preferred a conservative who focuses on business and tax issues, more of a garden-variety Main Street conservative; while 29 percent picked the description that reflected more neoconservative values. Clearly there is no consensus on what kind of candidate should win the nomination."

So, what we have developing is traditional battle between the evangelicals and the fiscal conservatives with the neocons eventually being forced to get behind which ever candidate gets the nod.

In a battle for the nomination between the evangelical and fiscal conservatives, who do you think is going to win?

Read the entire Cook Political Report HERE.

BSR

Other Bloggers On Mike Huckabee

Nathan Shore, chairman of the University of North Carolina - Charlotte College Republicans is a supporter of Governor Huckabee for POTUS. Nathan posted a well-written article about Huckabee on the UNCC College Republican blog yesterday, saying:

"I think this man would make a great president because he is such an eloquent public speaker, like Ronald Reagan. He has the ability to open peoples’ ears with a light-hearted joke and then get down to business and focus on whatever the topic has in store."

Check out Nathan's entire post HERE.

Thanks, Nathan. And welcome to the Huckabee Nation!

BSR

Mike Huckabee: "Governor of Health"

We don't know who coined Huckabee as the "Governor of Health," but we wish it had been us.

Check it out HERE.

Mike Huckabee: Inspiration To Others

Another blogger is inspired by Governor Mike Huckabee to start living a healthier lifestyle. Greg Graber of The Greg Graber Growl says this about Huckabee's book, "Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork":

"...it makes for decent reading for anyone who wants to shape up. I have used it to spark my own new healthy lifestyle. Up until a few weeks ago, I weighed around 227 pounds. While that may not seem like too much weight for someone who is 6'4 to carry around, I still needed to shape up. In the next few months, I hope to be down to 200 pounds. A LEAN, MEAN FIGHTIN' MACHINE! Thanks for the jump start, Mike."

Check out Greg's blog HERE.

Many Of Nation's Governors Join Huckabee In Obesity Fight

Many of the nation's governors are beginning to recognize the enormous cost of obesity -- in both financial and human terms -- to their states. They're joining Mike Huckabee's push for positive lifestyle choices and wellness as way to save thousands of lives and billions and billions of dollars every year.

Check out the story HERE.

Huckabee Named Public Health Legislator of the Year

Awards continue to rain down on Governor Mike Huckabee.

It was announced today by the American Public Health Association that he has been named a Distinguished Public Health Legislator of the Year for 2005.

According to the association, Huckabee was recognized because he "has been a leader in improving the health care for the citizens of Arkansas for many years. In 2000, he led a ballot initiative that devotes all of the state’s tobacco settlement money to improving state residents’ health. He recently created the Healthy Arkansas initiative to encourage Arkansans to stop smoking, exercise more and eat healthier."

"Serving as a personal example of living a healthier lifestyle, Huckabee gained national attention for his weight loss success. He was diagnosed with type II diabetes in 2003 and that same year lost 110 pounds. This year, he completed the Little Rock Marathon, and the Road Runners Club of America named him Southern Region Runner of the Year. A book about his healthier lifestyle, “Quit Killing Yourself With a Knife and Fork,” was released earlier this year."

The awards, established by APHA's Executive Board in 1997, honor individuals each year at the federal, state or local levels "who support public health issues and have taken action in the name of public health."

Others receiving the honor include U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-New Mex., U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii, and Maryland State Rep. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam.

Congratulations, Governor. It is well-deserved.

BSR

Other States Following Huckabee's Lead

Governor Mike Huckabee, chairman of the National Governor's Association, recently launched his national "Healthy America" initiative. The intitiative is based upon the "Healthy Arkansas" initiative he launched last year to help the state begin battling the chronic health problems that take an enourmous human and financial toll.

Huckabee assumed the roll of a true leader in this effort by doing for himself what he asks others to do. He completely changed his own lifestyle habits and lost more than 100 pounds. In doing so, he also reversed Type II diabetes and reached his physical peak at age 50. In 2005, Huckabee completed two 26.2 mile marathons.

Now other states are beginning to take notice of Arkansas' efforts to battle obesity, the most serious preventable disease affecting America today.

It is estimated that obesity-related medical costs suck more than $9.75 billion out of the U.S. economy every month! That's FAR more than the war on terror costs each month.

Today, the Louisville, Kentucky Courier-Journal reports that drastic measures are required to address Kentucky's health problems. In the article, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher compliments Huckabee's programs.

Here's an excerpt:

[T]he state perhaps best known for its anti-obesity efforts is Arkansas, where Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee has turned his personal weight battle into a statewide crusade. Huckabee received national attention when he lost more than 100 pounds after being diagnosed with Type II diabetes in 2003, then wrote a book called "Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork."

He now uses his bully pulpit to persuade residents to slim down. During his travels across the state and nation, and on the Internet, he tells his story — complete with practical details of his weight loss that others can adopt, such as cutting out fried foods and keeping apples around as snacks. In a state with a slightly higher obesity rate than Kentucky, Huckabee launched "Healthy Arkansas" last year.

The initiative has goals such as reducing the percentage of obese adults from the current 26 percent to 15 percent. Arkansas also requires schools to check for obesity in students and report it to parents; offers businesses an "employee fitness contest kit" in partnership with an insurer; trains diabetics to manage their disease; and gives out an award that recognizes restaurants that provide healthy food choices and environments.

The state has established an extensive Web site (www.arkansas.gov/ha/home.html) that includes tips, health statistics and tools such as a "portion placemat" showing residents how to measure their meals.

[Kentucky Gov. Ernie] Fletcher said he admires Huckabee's efforts and could envision borrowing ideas from Arkansas.

Read the rest by clicking HERE.

Congratulations, Governor. Your efforts are beginning to help people all over the country!

BSR

Other Bloggers On Mike Huckabee

Indigo from a blog we'll refer to as ACCT has posted a good roundup of his opinions about 2008 GOP hopefuls, including the following about Governor Huckabee:

..."I've seen him speak. He's very reasonable and well-spoken, is another governor that's worked wonders with his state, and definitely does not have the liabilities or the negatives other candidates have. He's also a popular governor from Arkansas going for a presidential nomination to succeed a Bush presidency. Sound familiar? I would be hard-pressed to decide between a Huckabee ticket and a Warner ticket, if such a thing were to happen. I'm telling you guys, try to catch this guy talking on any issue..."

There's more, so head on over by clicking HERE.

Thanks, Indigo! Welcome to the team.

BSR

Other Bloggers On Mike Huckabee

Special thanks to Newsie at Penndit, who provides a great round-up of recent Huckabee news. Check it out HERE.

Our favorite Huckabee quote from the post:

"Frankly, I think governors, out of necessity, tend to be pragmatists more than they tend to be ideologists. And that's because if you're a parent and you want your child's school to be good and the streets to be safe and jobs to be out there in the future, you really don't care as much whether a Democrat or a Republican delivers it, what you care is whether or not it gets delivered."

UPDATED: Huckabee Discusses Medicaid Reform

Governor Mike Huckabee, chairman of the National Governors Association, had taken the lead in a major national policy issue: compassionately reforming Medicaid.
Following is a wire release announcing an important meeting taking place today in Washington.

For more about Huckabee's leadership role in Medicaid reform, click HERE and HERE.

------------------------------------------

NGA Chairman Mike Huckabee Media Availability Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 9:15 a.m. After Meeting with House Leaders on Medicaid Reform

Contact: Kirsten Fedewa, 703-684-3339, for Gov. Huckabee

News Advisory:

Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.), chairman of the National Governors Association, will meet with U.S. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) and Subcommittee Chairman Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) on Wednesday to discuss important Medicaid reforms contained in the budget reconciliation package.

Gov. Huckabee will hold an informal media availability for reporters after the meeting.

WHO: NGA Chairman Governor Mike Huckabee (Ark.).

WHAT: After his meeting with U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton and Subcommittee Chairman Nathan Deal, Gov. Huckabee will be available to members of the media.

WHEN: 9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7

WHERE: Room 2125 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

WHY: Enacted in 1965, Medicaid is a federal-state partnership that provides a safety net for approximately 41.3 million Americans including the poor, frail and elderly. Unfortunately, the rate of growth of Medicaid is unsustainable for states. The cost of Medicaid is rising at such a rate that it is competing within states' budget with other vital programs, such as education. Huckabee will ask for help from Congress to push for additional reforms in the budget reconciliation package to strengthen this vital program for millions of Americans.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Gov. Huckabee, please contact Kirsten Fedewa at 703-684-3339.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

UPDATE:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 /U.S. Newswire/

-- Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), chairman of the National Governors Association, met Wednesday with House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) and Subcommittee Chairman Nathan Deal (R-GA) to thank them for their leadership and work on Medicaid reform to date. The three also discussed strategies for implementing more reforms in the budget reconciliation package.

"Medicaid is a safety-net program for millions of Americans who truly need it," Huckabee said after the meeting. " I appreciate Chairman Barton and Chairman Deal's leadership and efforts to enact major reforms to help governors strengthen this important program, and to provide better services for our most fragile citizens."

Medicaid serves approximately 41.3 million Americans. Huckabee says it's not one "monolithic" federal program but 50 separate programs administered by the states.

"To get 50 governors to agree on anything is nothing short of a miracle. However, in the many meetings we have had with Governors from both sides of the aisle, we agree that if states want to continue to offer Medicaid to the poor, frail and elderly, the program has to change to meet new times," said Huckabee.

Medicaid was enacted in 1965. Huckabee said the federal-state partnership program has not undergone any type of major reform since then.

"Unfortunately, the rate of growth is unsustainable for states. The cost of Medicaid is rising at such a rate that it is competing within states' budget with other vital programs that states must provide, such as education," Huckabee said. "Chairmen Barton and Deal understand this, they have listened to governors and addressed many of our concerns."

Huckabee asked Barton and Deal to push for additional reform to strengthen Medicaid to be included in the final bill, including benefit package flexibility for states to provide benchmark coverage to certain beneficiaries and options for states to apply enforceable and reasonable cost sharing co-pays on certain populations.

"Individuals and groups opposed to this reform want you to think we are only cutting services, not increasing the number of individuals who can gain access to health care," said Huckabee. "The flexibility we are seeking means governors can provide basic services to more people in their states who really need it, instead of 'platinum level' services to only a few."

Huckabee added the issue of cost-sharing is being politicized unfairly and in reality will help states and governors eliminate fraud and abuse.

"Those who can't afford to pay a small co-pay are protected, but this provision gives states an option to try to rein in individuals who abuse the system with unnecessary emergency room visits - as well as to ask those who can and should pay a portion, to do so," said Huckabee.

During the meeting, Huckabee also urged Barton and Deal to oppose a House provision requiring states to cover certain mental health drugs, include some funding in Hurricane Katrina relief for an uncompensated care pool, to oppose changes to Targeted Case Management (TCM), to include the flexibility provided in the House bill in attaining and operating waivers and to oppose the Medicaid Integrity Program.

"It's time to take a fresh look at how we approach Medicaid, not so we can undo it, but so we can make it better for millions of Americans and their families who need a safety net," said Huckabee.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/redir.asp?ReleaseID=57754&Link=http://www.usnewswire.com/

On The Road With Mike Huckabee

Yesterday, Governor Huckabee was in New York to recieve the AARP Impact Award.

Last night he appeared on the Charlie Rose Show (details to come).

Today he delivers the keynote address at the A+ School Program National Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina.

On Sunday (12/11) he'll be in Philadelphia to speak to the American Public Health Association's annual meeting.

Abortionist: "I Destroy Life"

Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, a former Baptist minister and a strong conservative republican, is a very dedicated pro-life leader.

This week, an abortionist from Huckabee's home state does the pro-life cause a great service -- and illustrates why it is CRITICAL that America elect a LEADER who will do something about it.

Dr. William Harrison, self-proclaimed abortionist from Fayetteville, Arkansas, opened his doors to Stephanie Simon, a Los Angeles Times staff writer, providing her an all-access pass to the realities that exist within an abortion clinic's walls.

"I am destroying life," Harrison told Simon.

It only becomes more shocking from there. Read on.

Note: David Sanders, writing for the Arkansas News Bureau, wrote the summarization of the Times article upon which this post is based. You can find the original Times story HERE.

It was a brash statement rooted in honesty, Sanders wrote of Dr. Harrison's remark, but it's also a point that many in the pro-choice community aren't willing to concede. They believe that cells, tissue or, at best, the potential for life are housed in the womb.

It's ironic that many on the left, who lecture on about the need for science's preeminence when foundations of life on Earth are taught in America's classrooms, cast aside science as it relates to basic questions about life's beginning in the womb. They claim that questions about when life begins are better answered by philosophy or religion.

Not Harrison. The 70-year-old doctor knows exactly what he does. He has been in the business since 1973, when Roe vs. Wade legalized abortion on demand. He estimates having performed "at least" 20,000 abortions. He described what he does in paradoxical terms. While admitting to being a life-taker, Harrison also claimed to be a life-giver: Harrison calls his patients "born again."

A young woman who arrived at the clinic uncertain about abortion was shown statistics about the number of women who have abortions and then asked, "You think there's room in hell for all those women?"

Simon quoted him as saying: "When you end what the woman considers a disastrous pregnancy, she has literally been given her life back." Simon moved from the interview with Harrison to his "operating table," where an 18-year-old who was 13 weeks pregnant, laid with her feet in stirrups and her arms strapped down. Simon detailed the image from the ultrasound, taken prior to the abortion where "the curve of a head, the bend of an elbow, the ball of a fist" could be seen. Harrison warned the young woman of cramping she would feel and a "sucking sound" she would hear while he worked to get "everything out."

Two minutes and it was all over. Simon saw tears in the patient's eyes, a blank post-op ultrasound - another life ended - and a confused young woman, who was barely an adult.

There were those who arrived at the clinic undecided about abortion. Simon observed Harrison's nurse showing those women a couple of statistics about the number of women who have abortions and then asking them, "You think there's room in hell for all those women?"

There were many other women who arrived seeking to end the lives inside them, some for very specific reasons.

A high school volleyball player who was three months pregnant said "she doesn't want to give up her body for nine months."

A 23-year-old real estate agent said, "I don't think my dress would have fit with a baby in there." She was busy planning her upcoming wedding.

A 32-year-old college student sought her fourth abortion because she kept "forgetting to take her birth control pills."

A single mother of three would rather end the life of the little boy in her womb than give the child up for adoption because she "couldn't bear to give away a child and have to wonder every day if he were loved."

What a choice.

Thank you, David Sanders, for writing this. It is an important piece of work.

You can find our previous posts about abortion and pro-life issues here, here and here.

BSR

Note: Minor edits were made by BSR for length and content. See the links provided above for the original appearances of these articles.

Republican Pollster Picks Huckabee

Hotline On Call reports today that, when asked to list their top tier of 2008 Republican presidential candidates, only one sitting Governor was listed by pollster Tony Fabrizio: Mike Huckabee.

Hotline credits the selection to "Fabrizio's sense that Huckabee could unite the various wings of the GOP."

Interestingly, not one pollster mentioned Mitt Romney or Condi Rice in their top tiers. Readers of this blog should not be surprised. Soon, we predict McCain and Giuliani will drop from the lists, as well.

BSR

Hewitt Poll Update

We're not sure what is going on with Hugh Hewitt's November poll. Since the day the poll was launched just before thanksgiving, he's only mentioned it in passing. At one point he referred to it as "the four day poll" which would indicate that voting has ended, but there has been no "official" announcement of the closing of the poll, nor has there been an analysis of the results that we have seen.

And people continue to vote, with votes being added to the totals daily.

So...here's a quick update from us on how things stand right now. Meanwhile, so long as votes continue to be tallied, feel free to continue voting (scroll down for the link).

On with our update.

Congratulations are in order once again, friends!

As of now, Mike Huckabee holds 1.7% of the vote, putting him just behind Brownback and defeating Pawlenty, Frist, Hagel, and Pataki.

Winning the poll once again is Giuliani (who cannot possibly win the GOP nomination). Following him are Allen (a possible contender), Gingrich (a threat if he runs), Romney (not a chance), and McCain (not a chance).

Once again, Huckabee is carrying his home state of Arkansas with 33% of the vote thus far. The only other candidates we see winning their own state at this time are Giuliani and Allen. All of the other candates are failing to carry their home states, which in our judgement says a lot about their ability to appeal to the rest of America.

Regarding your contribution to this effort, the poll allows us to track the number of votes coming from our blog. Last time we came in at #18, referring a total of 54 votes to the poll. This time we are sitting at #12 as of today with 68 votes cast.

Good work! We'll let you know if/when Hewitt posts any official results.

BSR