Did Huckabee commit political suicide tonight?

[Ramo]

Read my whole post. The penalty is either high enough to serve as a deterrrent or it isnt. If the latter, it IS substantively different. If the former, its just as unaffordable. And some folks wont buy insurance anyway, and will face this huge cost right when they are sick, not the best time. The Clinton-Edwards solution is preferable. Its NOT a coincidence that its the choice of BOTH Clinton, and Edwards, and generally of people favoring universal care. Whereas Obamas seems to be the brainchild of his odd ball economic advisors from UC (not that Im agin UC, but on this one I think theyre wrong)

The penalty is obviously a deterrent. What else would it be? Revenge?

In the Edwards solution (I don't think Clinton has spelled out the enforcement mechanism), you don't specifically target the fundamental problem in an unmandated system - the free riders. You penalize everyone who doesn't get health insurance. Obama specifically tries to deter free riders. There's an added bonus, again, of getting the subsidy level worked out before you start imposing penalties. And it might be easier to pass.

Again, I honestly don't really care about it one way or the other. I'd be happy with something resembling any of the three plans getting through Congress.

Running in the general, where you got maybe 5 months to cover 50 states (or at least dozen swing states, to look at differently) isnt quite the same as the Iowa caucuses. Im not sure about Obama, but Edwards has been working Iowa hard since 2004 or so (after spending months there in 2003) and has been practically living there the last year.

All three have spent roughly the same number of days in IA (Clinton has spent ~15% less time than Obama there, and the difference between Clinton and Edwards is only slightly higher). She also has, by far, the largest IA staff. The Edwards living in IA thing is largely a myth.

IA is generally considered a swing state. This is a moot issue anyways given that Clinton has been a national figure for the past 16 years. And yes, IA is part of this nation.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Governors have a more substantive record with which to propel them to national office or spot light that state senators (Obama's previous position).

Remember: The Governor of Texas is a part-time position.

[Perfection]

Yeah the lieutenant governor is the position with the real power.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

re the OP: Looks like he didn't.

[Wiglaf]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


That's my point. Big labor is identified with the Dems, not the Repubs. If it was, say, Edwards, he'd be crucified, because I'm sure a lot of his support would be affiliated somewhat with big labor.

It was embarrassing not because he crossed the picket lines, but because he later revealed he had thought Leno (like Letterman) had reached a deal with the WGA. This made him look out of touch, like everything else the ****** does.

[Lonestar]

Re: Did Huckabee commit political suicide tonight?

Originally posted by -Jrabbit


Is Huckabee just insane, or is he operating without advisors, or what?

Dude, several hours after that NIE on Iran came out he was asked about it by reporters. He had no response, not because he hadn't had time to read it, but because he hadn't a ****ing clue as to it's existence.


The guy ain't the brightest Bulb. Of course, he pardoned more criminals than the three previous state governors because "JESUS TOLD ME HE WAS A GOOD GUY!", so...

[MOBIUS]

Huckabee for US President!

[Imran Siddiqui]

is right.

He may have won in Iowa for his "gee shucks" routine, but I don't think he'll be able to build on it. He's got no clue what in the Hell is going on out there.

[MOBIUS]

Sounds like the perfect candidate to engage with the average voter as they don't have a clue either - it worked for Bush jnr.

[-Jrabbit]

I guess messing with unions isn't the political poison it used to be.

Now I'm just afraid this twit will somehow win.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Nah... he's too dumb to capitalize on it.

[DanS]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
I guess messing with unions isn't the political poison it used to be.

It hasn't been poison for a long time.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
He may have won in Iowa for his "gee aww shucks" routine, but I don't think he'll be able to build on it. He's got no clue what in the Hell is going on out there.

I think his real role in the campaign is going to be to knock Romney out of the race allowing either McCain or Rudy to swoop in. Given the number of mistakes he's been making, I don't think he can sustain the momentum out of a state not as friendly to him as Iowa.

[DanS]

He won Iowa on the evangelical vote. 60% of the GOP voters were evangelical, half of whom voted for Huckabee. Only 4 percentage points of the vote were beyond the evangelicals for him. Put another way, Ron Paul had lots more support outside the evangelicals.

There's lots of evangelicals out there, but a much smaller proportion in other states like New Hampshire.

[Ninot]

won't Huckabee be golden with the evangelicals as long as he doesn't go satanic or something?