Rumor: Another New Huckabee Book?

We're hearing rumors about another new book by Gov. Huckabee that is reportedly hitting the bookstore shelves soon. Huckabee penned a new book called "From Hope to Higher Ground" in the final months of his recently completed tenure as Governor of Arkansas (it was released early this year) but we're hearing this is an entirely new one -- the topic, we're told, is "character."

More on this as we hear it.

BSR

Real Clear Politics: Huckabee May Fare 'Much Better' Than Many Expect

Tom Bevan is the co-founder and Executive Editor of the very well-respected RealClearPolitics (a daily read for us).

Mr. Bevan had the opportunity to tag along with Gov. Huckabee on his recent trip to New Hampshire. Check out his impressions:

Huckabee Takes New Hampshire

March 15, 2007

Posted by TOM BEVAN

I just returned from New Hampshire where I spent all day Wednesday on the trail with Governor Mike Huckabee. I'll be writing more about the trip in the future, but my brief take is this: overall Huckabee was quite well received. Many of the folks I talked to were getting their first look at the Governor in person, and most generally liked what they saw and heard from him. Up close Huckabee is a pretty darn good retail politician; warm, funny, quick on his feet - yet still remarkably disciplined.

On paper Huckabee doesn't necessarily look like the best fit to do well in New Hampshire, but then again neither did Bill Clinton. My sense is that if Huckabee puts in enough quality time with New Hampshire Republicans he may fare better - perhaps much better - than many currently expect.

As I said, I'll have more on this later, but in the meantime here's a smattering of local news coverage of Huckabee's trip:

Huckabee Touts Warm Reception During Visit To N.H. - WMUR
Huckabee defends his record on taxes - Nashua Telegraph
Huckabee takes it easy in Concord - Concord Monitor
Huckabee: Disease prevention should be goal - New Hampshire Union-Leader/AP
Huckabee calls Bush's policies taking away state's rights 'horrible' - Boston Globe
Interview with Laura Knoy of New Hampshire Public Radio

Mike Huckabee: A 'Political Inconvenience'

I LOVE this new TIME article about Gov. Huckabee (excerpt provided below):

The weakness of modern religion is its obsession with sin, G.K. Chesterton once observed. "A modern morality," he wrote, "can only point with absolute conviction to the horrors that follow breaches of the law." And so it has been with the religious conservatives who have overwhelmed the latter-day Republican Party.

But there is a striking change in the 2008 Republican presidential field...Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas spend[s] far more time talking about good works than about sin, although [he] has the requisite positions on abortion and gay marriage.

"The real significance of Huckabee...is that he represents the introduction of a new constituency into the political process: 'Second Commandment' Christians, those more interested in salvation than damnation, people like the California pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life."

Indeed, it was Huckabee who reminded me of Chesterton's lament. "I'm a 'grace' Christian," Huckabee told me over lunch recently, "not a 'law' Christian. The Second Commandment--do unto others--is the basic tenet of my faith. And so I believe that life begins at conception, but I don't believe it ends at birth. I believe we have a responsibility to feed the hungry, to provide a good education, a safe neighborhood, health care ... That's why I talk so much about the need for music and art programs in our schools. I know some conservatives think it's foolish, but I just believe it's necessary to build whole, creative individuals."

Huckabee is a political inconvenience, a destroyer of stereotypes. He is probably best known as the fellow who lost 100 lbs. in a year, and made living well through exercise and good nutrition one of his signature issues as Governor.

But the real significance of Huckabee ... is that he represents the introduction of a new constituency into the political process: "Second Commandment" Christians, those more interested in salvation than damnation, people like the California pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life.

Huckabee says, "Our church in Little Rock is very similar to Rick Warren's. We've gone from 25 members to about 5,000 in eight years. Our focus has been to minister to people who were otherwise neglected. We built a ministry center before we even had a sanctuary. We held our services in warehouses until a year or two ago." The center contains a range of faith-based initiatives: welfare to work, job training, programs for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts, a food bank. "We are a multicultural, multiracial congregation, with rich and poor," Huckabee says. "I play the bass in the Praise band."

Huckabee Back to Iowa

We just received this press release from Gov. Huckabee's Iowa team.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HUCKABEE TO VISIT FOUR WESTERN IOWA
COMMUNITIES ON SATURDAY, MARCH 24

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who launched an exploratory campaign for president in late January, will visit Treynor, Sioux City, Le Mars and Alton on Saturday, March 24 as part of a one-day tour of western Iowa.

Huckabee will speak at the Treynor Community Building at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, March 24. He will meet local Republicans at Lucianos, 1019 Fourth Ave. , Sioux City , from noon to 1:15 p.m. He will meet Plymouth County Republicans at the Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream Shop, 26 Fifth Ave., NW , Le Mars at 2:00 p.m. and will meet GOP activists at a soup supper at the Sioux Golf & Country Club in Alton that begins at 6:00 p.m. The events are free and open to the public.

Huckabee was recently described by Washington Post columnist E.J Dionne as “the Republican to watch” in the upcoming political cycle. He left office on Jan. 9 after more than 10 years as governor. He has recently toured the country to discuss his fifth book, “From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 STOPs to Restoring America’s Greatness.”

Huckabee, who served as the chairman of the National Governors Association until last July, was named one of the five best governors in the nation by Time magazine. His leadership efforts on education and national Medicaid reform were among the reasons Governing Magazine named Huckabee as a "Public Official of the Year" and AARP presented him with a national "Impact" award.

Huckabee's improvement of his own health has also received national attention. Diagnosed with Type II diabetes in 2003, he lost 110 pounds and became a recognized advocate for health, fitness and nutrition. He completed his fourth marathon late last year, running in the famed New York City Marathon.

Huckabee became governor in July 1996 when he moved up from lieutenant governor following the resignation of Gov. Jim Guy Tucker. He became Arkansas ' 44th elected governor after winning the November 1998 election with the highest percentage of votes ever received by a Republican gubernatorial nominee in Arkansas . He was re-elected in November 2002.

For more information about the events, contact Eric Woolson at 515-681-3967.

# # # #

Paid for by Huckabee for President Exploratory Committee

Conservative Leader Urges Dumping of McCain, Giuliani & Romney

According to Agape Press, conservative author and talk show host Janet Folger of the group Faith 2 Action believes GOP presidential candidates Giuliani, McCain and Romney are "Republicans in name only."

Folger calls Giuliani "completely unacceptable," describing him as pro-abortion and "anti-marriage."

McCain, she says is "disqualified" for "leading the 'gang of 14" who stood in the way of breaking the judicial filibuster. He also "voted against the federal marriage amendment [and] he just sued Wisconsin Right to Life, taking them to court because they had the audacity to suggest that people lobby Congress, and it was during one of those federally mandated gag rules.

Folger says she is "especially troubled" by Romney who "suddenly and conveniently switched from being an ardent, hardcore pro-abort." In actuality Romney is "extreme," as he "not only wants abortion -- he wants you to pay for it with your tax dollars." And that is exactly what the candidate's healthcare plan said, she points out, "even after his supposed conversion." Romney also "mandated marriage licenses to homosexual couples even after his supposed pro-marriage conversion."

Instead of looking at name-only Republican presidential hopefuls, she argues, conservatives need to take a closer look at candidates like ... Mike Huckabee, among others.

Editor's note: The above is excerpted from an original article by Jim Brown of the AgapePress. The complete text can be found HERE.

Making History: One Post At a Time

We know we are the first Huckabee blog, but Hotline says they think we may have been the first unofficial White House 08 blog period.

That's kind of cool. We always wanted to be a footnote in history.

BSR

Mike Huckabee, Supporter of Right to Keep and Bear Arms

Blogger Rick Daniel of Irmo, South Carolina met Gov. Mike Huckabee during his recent tour through the state and likes what he learned about the Governor’s stance on gun rights. Mr. Daniel served nearly 10 years as president of Gun Owners of South Carolina (NRA State Association). He is a NRA Life Member and is, in fact, the only non-legislator in South Carolina to be named a "Defender of Freedom" by NRA.Needless to say, Mr. Daniel is qualified to analyze and give an opinion about candidates’ gun rights positions.

"Friends, Mike Huckabee is the real deal."

"I finally met a likely presidential candidate who leaves no doubt about where he stands on the gun issue," Daniel said. "Friends, Mike Huckabee is the real deal. He understands gun rights as well as anyone I've met. You can't fake the answers he gave and the depth of knowledge that he displayed. Kudos to Mike Huckabee and I wish him the absolute best of luck."

Among Huckabee’s gun rights credentials that impressed Daniel:

--Huckabee has his own Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) and supports a national right-to-carry

--Huckabee is a true outdoorsman, including being a knowledgeable and skilled marksman

--Huckabee understands that the Second Amendment is about far more than just hunting. It is about self-defense and ultimately it gives the citizenry protection against a tyrannical government

There’s more, so hop on over the Mr. Daniel’s blog, SC Gun Rights, HERE.

Other Bloggers on Mike Huckabee

Our good friend and New Hampshire blogger Monday Morning Clacker of the blog Green Mountain Politics 1 scored an email interview with Governor Huckabee this week. Governor Huckabee has long been known as a technophile and he is embracing bloggers.

Check out the interview HERE and I suggest you make GMP1 part of your regular rounds. He's going to have an impact on NH primary.

BSR

Official Huckabee Blog Launched

On February 14, 2005 we launched the first unofficial Mike Huckabee for President blog, probably before even he thought about running. Now 749 days later we are proud to announce that the OFFICIAL Huckabee for President blog has launched.

Head on over now to learn more about Gov. Huckabee, leave a comment and join the blogroll!

Official Mike Huckabee Blog

BSR

Salon: 'No One Can Rule Out Huckabee'

Here's an excerpt from a great article on Salon.com today:

...Iowans like [Mike] Evans are a prize of near-incalculable value, early voters worthy of countless hours of campaign time and millions of dollars in advertising. In exchange for the privilege, Evans, the pastor of Crossroad Evangelical Free Church, takes his responsibility seriously ... he has already been learning about...Mitt Romney..."I have respect for him as a person," Evans says of Romney, a practicing Mormon. "But I have problems with him theologically."

Huckabee, on the other hand, is cut from Evans' cloth. Before becoming governor in 1996, he served for 12 years as a small-town Baptist pastor. He is unassailably antiabortion, anti-gay marriage and sympathetic to creationism. ...But ... Evans seems to notice something about [Huckabee] beyond his policy positions ...he pulls out his day planner and begins to take notes. "Optimistic," he writes below Huckabee's name. "Positive."

"He is the only Republican...running for president with solid-gold Christian-right credentials as well as the potential to appeal to crossover independent voters, who abandoned the Republican Party in 2006."

Far from the fire and brimstone of other conservative Christians, Huckabee speaks warmly of Democrats ... [talks] of increasing spending on children's healthcare and education ... mentions the need for renewable fuels and music programs in schools.

Evans explains his impressions, which have nothing to do with the candidate's stand on cultural issues. "It's nice to see a little humility in a politician once in a while," he says. "Just to say that Democrats might not be completely out to lunch -- I've always believed that."

In an instant, Evans had captured the Huckabee quality that poses the clearest threat to partisan Democrats. He is the only Republican...running for president with solid-gold Christian-right credentials as well as the potential to appeal to crossover independent voters, who abandoned the Republican Party in 2006.

For the other second-tier Republican candidates, the hard road [ahead] will lead to a near-certain dead end. But no one is counting out Huckabee just yet...

For the rest, click HERE

BSR

VIDEO: Huckabee at CPAC

Here's some video from Gov. Huckabee's great speech at CPAC.

Click HERE.

Mike Huckabee: Fiscal Conservative

Huckabee to sign no-tax pledge

Saturday, March 3, 2007

WASHINGTON — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Friday that he would promise not to raise taxes if he were elected president...

Speaking to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Huckabee said that before day’s end he would deliver to Grover Norquist, president of the lobbying group Americans for Tax Reform, a signed pledge not to raise income taxes.

Captain's Quarters Interviews Huckabee

Conservative Blog Captain's Quarters will air a podcast interview with Governor Huckabee tonight (Thur., 3/1/07). Don't miss it.