Taylor, Carter and Anderson endorse Huckabee
October 25th, 2007Justin Taylor, Joe Carter and Matthew Anderson have issued a joint statement endorsing Mike Huckabee for president.
I’m starting to lean that way myself. I hope to make a final decision over the weekend, and will try to post my thoughts sometime next week.
Tim (or anybody else),
Do you have any informed thoughts on Fred Thompson?
j razz
Mike Huckabee is a true evangelical conservative with a proven track record of effective leadership.
He cleaned up after Clinton in Arkansas, and he’ll restore godly leadership in the white house.
He deserves the support of voters who claim to choose a candidate on the basis of that candidate’s stance on kingdom issues.
Don’t think he’s “electable”? Then get off your rear-end and get out and vote for him in your state’s primary. That will make him electable!
…he’ll restore godly leadership in the white house.
Isn’t this the same reason Muslims elect religious fundamentalists in their own democracies? Ahmadinejad in Iran and Hezbollah in Palestine, for example. They want to restore Godly (their version of God) leadership.
Is this really a good reason to elect anyone to political office? I can certainly understand it if that’s how you choose your pastor or priest.
From their endorsement: “…he supports policies that ensure children receive a quality education, first-rate health care, decent housing in a safe neighborhood, and clean air and drinking water”
None of which is a Constitutionally sanctioned function of the Federal Government or the Executive branch.
I have no doubt Huckabee is a good guy but like virtually all the other candidates in the race he has no clue what the Constitution says (or at least what it MEANS) and how our Founders intended the government to function.
Tim, didn’t even know you had a blog. Just ran across it tonight. The Carter et al endorsement is big for Huckabee.
Don’t foget Chuck Norris endorsed him, too. You DO NOT want Chuck mad at you.
“but like virtually all the other candidates in the race he has no clue what the Constitution says (or at least what it MEANS) and how our Founders intended the government to function.”
The exception would be Ron Paul.
Huckabee is already lying (perhaps you’d prefer misshaping the truth?) about some of his records as Ark. Gov.
Huckabee said that he had a consistent record of tax cutting and that he had slashed taxes in Arkansas “94 times.” His record is this: He signed one big tax cut, a 1997 income tax revision drafted and passed by the other party. He supported two other smaller tax cuts that became law.
He fought elimination of the sales tax on groceries. He raised taxes far more than he cut them. He raised them so much that treasury surpluses set records his last two years in office.
source:Arkansas Times
…he’ll restore godly leadership in the white house.
Cineaste,
What would be objections you would have to what Huckabee would bring to the White House as it pertains to Godly leadership? I understand your statement above and I agree in general, but it does beg the question as to how you specifically see it as it pertains to Huckabee’s leadership.
j razz
“The exception would be Ron Paul. ”
You’re correct Zoner.
I also have to wonder about all these Republican candidates who, like Huckaby, claim they will appoint only ’strict constructionist’ judges when they themselves are not ’strict contstructionists’ when it comes to how they view the federal government and the presidency.
j,
[Supply Side Jesus]
This is what “Godly” becomes when you mix your Christianity with politics.
The caption, “And now you know what it means to be a Republican and a Christian” is really how right wing evangelical Republicans are perceived by those outside their ideological sphere.
I think the video was well done and the contrast between Jesus and Supply Side Jesus stark, but I am still curious as to what specifically, pertaining to Huckabee’s leadership, would echo the sentiment in the video (or how Godly leadership would be a detriment)? If his leadership in Arkansas would have been similar to what is portrayed in the video, much publicity would have been raised concerning it I would assume.
Here are my cards on this issue: If Godly is taken to mean such things as honesty, integrity, uprightness, honorable, etc., etc. how could that be a bad thing?
If it is taken to mean things such as forcing beliefs, imposing religous systems (or one religous system), making a theocracy, etc., etc. I agree with you that this is not a good thing to have in the White House. But I don’t think this is how it is to be taken (or else his time in Arkansas would have foreshadowed such things).
That is why I asked how restoring Godly leadership relates specifically to your understanding of Huckabee’s statement.
j razz
I asked how restoring Godly leadership relates specifically to your understanding of Huckabee’s statement.
It was Tony’s statement, not Huckabee’s, right? That’s what I responded to. Would you like to know my personal thoughts about Huckabee then, instead of my thoughts on “Godly leadership” as expressed by “Supply Side Jesus?”
“Here are my cards on this issue: If Godly is taken to mean such things as honesty, integrity, uprightness, honorable, etc., etc. how could that be a bad thing?”
Well, of course, they can’t be considered a bad thing. Those are admirable qualities. I never implied honesty, integrity, uprightness, and honor are “bad things.” So, why ask me that?
But, those adjectives apply to lots of people. I’d use those words to describe Barack Obama, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton as well. So, if that’s all you mean by “Godly” maybe you should consider voting for one of them. I am. Peter Stark, the only admitted atheist in Congress, can be described as “Godly” with your criteria.
Yes. it was Tony’s statement. And yes, I would like to know your thoughts on Huckabee (and if you have an informed opinion on Thompson I would like to know that too).
I don’t think that supply side jesus would embody Godly leadership. I think he would be just another politician. I think what I was wanting from you was how you were viewing/defining Godly leadership and how your definition/viewing pertained to Huckabee. I think we are associating it with differenct concepts based on your response above to Tony’s statement concerning Muslims.
In case anyone is interested here is a quote from Huckabee concerning faith: We should share and debate our faith, but never seek to impose it. When discussing faith and politics, we should honor the “candid” in candidate - I have much more respect for an honest atheist than a disingenuous believer.
My faith is my life - it defines me. My faith doesn’t influence my decisions, it drives them. For example, when it comes to the environment, I believe in being a good steward of the earth. I don’t separate my faith from my personal and professional lives.
Real faith makes us humble and mindful, not of the faults of others, but of our own. It makes us less judgmental, as we see others with the same frailties we have. Faith gives us strength in the face of injustice and motivates us to do our best for “the least of us.”
j razz
JRazz, I’ve met Thompson a couple of times, and I think he’s a reliable conservative. He is incredibly low-key, and I don’t know how well that will play across the nation (OK for Tennessee). His biggest problem in my mind is he’s never been an administrator; people whose only experience is as legislators usually don’t make good presidents. I also think his appeal to evangelicals is a matter of convenience.
I also think his appeal to evangelicals is a matter of convenience.
Craig,
What do you mean by this?
Thanks for responding.
j razz
I would like to know your thoughts on Huckabee.
I don’t know very much about either. I know that Huckabee is a creationist. This is a deal breaker for me. I fear he will attempt to have Genesis taught in schools instead of evolution. It makes be think he is just another right wing religious fundamentalist. Also, I fear Huckabee will continue G.W. Bush’s stance on abortion and stem cell research. A hypocritical stance, in my opinion which I expressed in another thread. These are stances he will take because that’s what his faith dictates, not what reason dictates. I know you disagree, but that’s really what I think.
It [faith] makes us less judgmental, as we see others with the same frailties we have.
I think the complete opposite is the case. It makes one more judgmental.
(and if you have an informed opinion on Thompson I would like to know that too)
I don’t know much about him. I’ve seen him in some movies. Here is what President Richard Nixon thought about Fred Thompson…
I don’t think Thompson is as dim as Bush Jr. but I’d really love our next president to be extremely bright. I am tired of seeing Bush playing checkers against chess masters like Putin and other world leaders. It hurts our country when it’s leader is incompetent.
I don’t think that supply side jesus would embody Godly leadership.
“And now you know what it means to be a Republican and a Christian” is how I and others perceive it.
I would have liked to see General Wesley Clark run this year.
Cineaste,
Thanks for your comments. I don’t think too much of Nixon (moral-wise), but I was unaware of those audio recordings. Thanks for sharing.
And just so I understsand, as it relates to Godly leadership, you would take that to mean he would impose creationistic curriculums on the schools and fight for pro-life laws as well as further develop Bush’s stance on stem cell research. I may not have that right but that is what I think I am seeing you say.
So, who do you think you will vote for or is it too early yet?
j razz
I meant I don’t think Thompson is a great man of faith.
And just so I understand, as it relates to Godly leadership, you would take that to mean he would impose creationistic curriculums on the schools and fight for pro-life laws as well as further develop Bush’s stance on stem cell research.
Yes. And, that’s why I think you guys like him. He’ll mix religion with politics. It’s not as if Huckabee would push the Islamic creation story. He’d push his own religion, he’d push Genesis. Hard line Muslims didn’t elect their leaders to adhere to the science of the day either. They want their own creationist and moral values enforced through law. Instead of Genesis taught in public schools, they want the Qu’ran taught in Madrasa’s. Instead of removing a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion, since Muslims have already done that, they want to take away more women’s rights.
What it boils down to is this. “Godly leadership” is a relative term. One person’s idea of “Godly” is another’s idea of disaster.
If you don’t mind I’m going to get on my soapbox for a second and ask, why in the world did you guys (conservative evangelicals) elect GW Bush, not once, but twice?!?! How could you do that to our country? He wrecks the constitution, habeas corpus, starts an unnecessary war that turned into quagmire of an occupation and killed a lot of people, spends huge amounts of money and runs up our debts to China, Katrina, My Pet Goat, Doesn’t know how to pronounce “nuclear,” doesn’t know the definition of “sovereignty,” and on and on… He’s an embarrassment. I respect the office he holds, but jeez. Have you ever seen “Band of Brothers?” It’s like being under the command of Captain Sobel or Lt. Dike. That bad!
I think Bush and the Republican political machine pulled the wool over the eyes of evangelicals by saying they would hold to conservative values. But they didn’t. They used evangelicals by aligning themselves with God and evangelicals bought it hook, line and sinker. I just hope you guys chose a better nominee this time and for the right reasons.
“So, who do you think you will vote for or is it too early yet?”
I’m not sure yet. I think the biggest challenge to our country is that Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives, are at each other’s throats. You guys put a lot of stock in scripture so here is one for you,
“If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:25)
I want to choose the candidate who will do the best job in healing our country. I like Obama so far because he has reached out to people like Rick Warren where other Democrats have not. Also, I think Obama is as sharp as a razor and well educated; Harvard Law. He’s charismatic. And, even though he is religiously devout, I don’t think he will further erode the wall between church and state.
What do you think of Stephen Colbert?
I see too much schtick from Colbert to really know anything real about him. He’s funny sometimes though.
And, that’s why I think you guys like him. He’ll mix religion with politics. It’s not as if Huckabee would push the Islamic creation story. He’d push his own religion, he’d push Genesis.
Actually, that really has no bearing at all on my decision. I’d gladly support a Muslim for office if his priorities lined up with mine.
As for this:
why in the world did you guys (conservative evangelicals) elect GW Bush, not once, but twice?!?!
That’s easy. Because you guys offered Al Gore and John Kerry as the alternatives.
I’d gladly support a conservative Muslim for office if his priorities lined up with mine.
That’s actually comforting to hear. But realistically, will that ever happen?
That’s easy. Because you guys offered Al Gore and John Kerry as the alternatives.
If you had to vote for a Democrat this election, who would it be? If I had to vote for a Republican, it would be between John McCain and Ron Paul. I’d also consider Rudy Giuliani, but the way he frames himself as a hero grates on my nerves. It seems phony to me. Mitt too.
Honestly? If I had to vote for a Democrat, I’d probably have to vote for Hillary Clinton.
I can’t decide which would be worse — voting for Hillary Clinton or the Cubs winning the World Series.
Tim, it pains me to say this, and I never, ever, ever, ever, thought I would, but, the Cubs winning the World Series would be 1000 times preferable to Clinton becoming president.
After all, that’s one year compared to 4 or, the Lord forbid, 8.
I’d vote for Dennis Kucinich and just let the world end.
After all, that’s one year compared to 4 or, the Lord forbid, 8.
That’s not quite true. Cub fans would be sure to remind you of it for the next 100 years.
Having lived among more Cubs fans than I would have cared to for most of my life, I can say you are absolutely correct.
Cineaste, are you aware of Ron Paul’s ideas about gay marriage?
What do you think of Stephen Colbert?
I think he is one funny person who can keep a straight face when he is being funny. As for his “run” for office, I don’t know that much about his platform. He seems to mix so much comedy in that I can’t tell what he would really do or not do or what he would be for or against if he really did run. If he is not really wanting to run, I do wish that he would not send out petitions asking to be put on the ballot for both the republican and democrat spots.
If I had to vote Democrat… I don’t know to be honest with you Cineaste. None of them (as far as I know) denounce the murder of unborn babies /prochoice, stand on a platform of removing the IRS’s role in government and doing away with the current tax system or talk of reforming medical care in such a way as Thompson or Huckabee. I think that would have to be some of the platforms they stand on for me to take them seriously, but that is not what you asked me. You asked if I had to vote Democrat. For me I would vote for Obama, but of course I don’t agree with a lot of what he is running on and it kind of scares me to think that he is coming from an afrocentric theological camp (the teaching of this pastor). I don’t know, maybe Hillary would be a better option? I do find it enlightening to visit the candidates websites and read through their “issues” section (on both sides of the political spectrum). You can see a vast difference on some issues from Republican to Democrat and on other issues, they both consider them issues but take different approaches and twists concerning them. If you or anyone else for that matter hasn’t visited all of the candidates sites, I would encourage you to do so and read the “issues” sections.
j razz
Ron Paul on the FMA
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul207.html
Cineaste, are you aware of Ron Paul’s ideas about gay marriage?
No, what are they? I’m a live and let live kind of guy. If gays and lesbians want to get married, fine. It doesn’t hurt anyone. It’s not really a big issue to me though. My biggest issue is the environment.
None of them (as far as I know) denounce the murder of unborn babies…
None of the Republican candidates, so far as I know, denounce “In vitro Fertilization” as murder like they do abortion. Even though, both are considered murder by Christians. Why? Because it’s political suicide to do so. So, Republican candidates conveniently turn their heads and ignore IFV blastocyst murders but condemn stem cell/abortion murders. That tells me the Republican candidates don’t have good morals because they have such an obvious double standard on this issue. IVF murders are permissible, stem cell/abortion murders are not. They are hypocrites.
Paul thinks that marriage as a whole should fall under the authority of religions and not be a civil matter at all. So you’d better mark him off your list.
So you’d better mark him off your list.
Nope. He stays on.