Now I personally have stated that I am voting for McCain regardless of the VP, and whether he picks Huckabee, Romney, or the tooth fairy, it doesn’t matter to me. I am looking at 2008 and the potential damage that can be caused by such an un-vetted, inexperienced Marxist junior senator such as B. Hussein Obama. With that said, I thought this was a timely and somewhat well written argument for a Huckabee VP pick. I do not believe that Mike will be the VP pick, and I do not want to start the rantings and ravings of highly em-passioned supporters of either candidate. I rather want to get this word “out there” from an economist that I feel “Get’s it”.

Is Huckabee the economic wiz that will save the free-market capitalistic economy that we know and love? No. Is he the worst possible choice in this arena? I know some will say yes, but I disagree. It doesn’t matter how hard CfG or others attack Mike on economic issues, the fact remains that he is an economic Conservative. He governed conservatively in a highly democratic state. Dick Morris made some good arguments over here. And the source for the real cause for the Club for Growth attack can be found here.

Yesterday we heard about an independent Evangelical group in Michigan striving to be heard by the Republican Party, and then another group in Ohio had their voice marginalized, and I’m sure that there are others in the rest of the key swing states that want to be heard. These are voices that need to be listened to.

As for the original article, here are some excerpts:

McCain needs help if he is going to win. Huckabee is in many respects an ideal complement for the senator from Arizona - he is 52 to McCain’s 71; Huckabee, a Baptist minister, is solid with the evangelicals, who remain suspicious of McCain; Huckabee is a genial, folksy, guitar-playing personality who connects on the campaign trail, compared with McCain’s grating and inept performances (not to mention Romney’s power-point drone).

No I know some people LIVE for those PowerPoint’s - The cool fade effects, and the neat spinning transitions are pretty sweet, but they do not work for most of the non-white collar workers.

During his primary campaign, Huckabee was able to show the same sympathy for the plight of low-income workers as Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. And Huckabee — who at one point interrupted his campaign to deliver a paid speech outside the country because he needs to earn a living — was much more convincing than the multi-multimillionaire Romney or the married-to-an-heiress McCain. His whimsical ad about preferring to vote for someone you can work alongside rather than the boss said it all.

I’m sure that Metro will point to this as the EXACT reason to not vote for Mike, and God love him, he is entitled to that opinion, the fact is, it resonated well with the electorate on both side of the aisle.

But free-market policies may not be what voters in a distressed economy want to hear. In an election when many low-income white voters may be reluctant to vote for an African American with no track record, Huckabee offers a lifeline of economic support with solid social conservative credentials. What should McCain choose: 40,000 Club of Growth members or 80 million-some evangelicals? Hmmm.

That pretty much says it all. I know that all 80MM Evangelicals will not vote for Mike solely because he is on the ticket, but I know that most of them would echo these sentiments:

“It’s important that people sing from their hearts and don’t merely lip-sync the lyrics to our songs,” he said. “I think it’s important that the language of Zion is a mother tongue and not a recently acquired second language.”

Thanks for your time today, and if you do want to make a difference, and you want to get involved regardless of the VP pick, please join me over here at Stop Barack and get signed up for updates as we have work to do in the coming election to educate the voters just how bad Barack is and your help is needed.

h/t Debra Mantey

Too good not to share! Coach Dave Daubenmire from Pass The Salt Ministries just got me thinking again. Would love to hear some comments…

Make no mistake about it; Christianity is nearly illegal in America.

Oh, they let us stay in our churches and sing songs, but they are hell-bent on making sure that we don’t take our faith outside of the four walls of our stained-glass fortresses. Christians think they have impact but it is a façade. For the most part the modern evangellyfish church is a toothless tiger. John McCain throws Christians under the bus.

Our Founders were brilliant men. When they wrote the First Amendment to the Constitution they used the phrase “or prohibiting the free-exercise thereof.” They knew what any back-woods football coach knows…use it or lose it. If you don’t exercise the muscle then it loses its power. Exercise is the key to strength. If we can’t freely exercise our faith, then we might as well not have it.

Free-exercise has been slowly removed by judges. They have told us that we can believe what we want as long as we don’t exercise that belief. Free-exercise means free-exercise. “Shall not be infringed” means shall not be infringed. You don’t need a law degree to understand the meaning of those words. Unless you wear a black robe. Then the words mean what YOU say they mean. So much for “endowed by our Creator” rights. (Notice, a capital “C” in Creator.) Now they have become “court restricted rights.”

Am I the only one ticked off?

True, Bible-believing Christians are the new endangered species. We have fewer rights than the polar bears….and for the most part the churches appeal to the politicians for the crumbs off of the table. “Please let us pray before graduation, your honor!”

I’m sick of it. I’m sick of sissy leaders, I’m sick of sissy Christians, and I’m doubly-sick of sissy Christian-politicians who allow the courts to run rough-shod over the God-given rights of those who trusted in them enough to put them in office.

Back in the days when real-Christians were real-men there would have been a whole lot of tar and feathering going on for any official foolish enough to question whether a child could pray in school or a father could carry a gun to defend his family. Instead, today, our Christian-leadership sits around, folds their hands, and prays that the Lord will “move upon the hearts” of the terrorists in black robes and convince them to allow us to exercise the rights that the Creator alone granted to us.

Folks, forty-four-per-cent of the Supreme Court do not think God gave us the right to own guns! They think THEY grant that right. Who the heck are these tyrants?

How stinkin’ cowardly are we? Don’t you know the Second Amendment was put in place to protect the First Amendment? Today some churches are leading the battle to limit guns! Guns don’t kill people…cowardly leadership kills people!

Think I’m wrong? How many babies never saw the light of day because our Christian-leadership turned yellow when “the judges” said that a woman had a right to murder the most helpless creature under the sun? They found the “right” to “choose” in the “penumbras” of the Constitution. God said “Thou shall Not Murder.” He didn’t hide the truth in the shadows.

Oh, the churches peeped for a while, until the Legislature passed the unconstitutional F.A.C.E. Act. That law claimed a women’s right to murder a baby superseded the right of others to freedom of assembly and expression…both guaranteed by that troublesome First Amendment.

And how did our leadership respond? “Vote Republican! They’re pro-life!” Yeah right. Next thing you know they’ll tell us that Democrats are for the little guy.

The scoundrels on the bench ruled that “sodomy” was a protected right. For six-thousand years it was a capital crime. Millions are dead from AIDS because of the abdominal behavior. What do the Christian-leaders do? Why they lament how “liberal” the court is. Liberal my butt, they are un-Godly. They spit again in the face of God. David cried “who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” Today’s church raises money to treat the disease rather than outlawing the cause.

Who are those uncircumcised Philistines declaring righteous the thing the Lord called an abomination? We need some leaders with some stones.

I wonder what The Black Regiment would have done? Compare Jonas Clark to the government-fearing sissies we have today. (Can you say Faith-based initiatives?) I know this, when they decide to round the “Christians” up I bet I’m higher on the government list than Joel Osteen and Rick Warren.

Face it Church, we are not free. We have to ask government permission to pray to the Creator who gave us the right.

Should I go on?

We have followed our “leaders” and look at what we have. Obama verse McCain. Tweedle Dee vs Tweedle Dumb. Leftist Communism vs Mainstream Communism.

David ran towards evil. Today we are told to vote for the lesser evil. “At least he’s better than Obama. We can’t let Obama pick the new Supreme Court justices.”

Really? Seven of the current Dwarfs were appointed by Republicans. Six of the seven on the California Supreme Court are Republicans. They gave us homo-marriage.

Well I ain’t drinkin’ the Kool Aid.

Follow the drift; Reagan, Poppa Bush, GW Bush, and now McCain; each more socialist than his predecessor. They shoot horses don’t they? The Republican Party is a dead horse and I ‘m not climbing back on that nag….no matter how “conservative” Hannity tells me they are.

“You’ll just through away your vote.” The Kool Aid drinkers tell me. “A third-party candidate can’t win.”

They’re probably right but I will not abandon my conscience. Voting for either one of those phonies gives me the heebie-geebies.

I had Alan Stang on my show Monday night. He said something to me that I couldn’t shake. You can listen for yourself, but allow me to repeat it as I recall it. Talking about the two parties and their candidates he said:

“It is like lying under a huge bug. Down on the ground where the bug’s feet are it looks like McCain and Obama are two different feet. But the farther up the legs you allow yourself to look you begin to realize that they really are nothing more than two legs connected to the same body.”

Unfortunately, the bug is a blood-sucker.

So here it is. I’m constantly hearing that all of the evil we see descending around us is nothing more than what Jesus told us would happen in the end. To fight it, is to fight the will of God. As a result, instead of fighting evil they sit inside their churches and pray for financial blessings to store up before Jesus returns. It never made sense to me. They fight to get stuff that they cannot keep, yet refuse to fight for what they must not lose.

Well, I’ve had enough of it. I ain’t voting for any more bugs. I figure that way maybe we will get the evil they have been waiting so long for. It will speed along the return of Jesus.

Maybe there are right….worse is better. No sense fighting the Lord.

Boy, I hope they’re right. If Obama gets in, we might get some judges who spit on the Constitution and perhaps take away the church’s tax exemption.

But, that might be a good thing. Taking the churches money might get the sissy boys riled up. Abortion didn’t do it and sodomy didn’t do it. But money….well now the government is messin’ where it don’t belong.

Maybe worse is better. Persecution can be a good thing. “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.” Bring it on.

I ain’t votin’ for no bugs.

Podcast Show Notes

Leftist groups sends threatening letters to Republican donors.

A Republican Sheriff blasts John McCain on immigration, while four members of the Mexican Army hold a Border Patrol Agent at gun point.

Home Schooling ruled constitutional in California.

A ballot measure that could lead to rich people fleeing California.

A promising new source of non-food based ethanol. (Hat Tip: Instapundit.)

Detroit’s Democratic Mayor goes to jail. (Hat Tip: Red State.)

Plus one group’s plan to get men to convert Islam: emphasize sleazy temporary marriages. (Hat Tip: Right Mind.)

Plus TV disses marriage.

Is environmental extremism in opposing refineries and new drilling leading to worse air quality.

Click here to listen, click here to download.

Podcast Show Notes 

The Truth in Obama’s Statement to a girl in Indiana.

Obama fatigue: let’s chalk it up to the long campaign. (Hat Tip: Reformed Chicks Babbling.)

The Republican battle against Nancy Pelosi’s irresponsible summer recess expands to the House GOP leadership.

 The Grassroots liberal vision: $10 a gallon gas.  

Bill Clinton advocates monogamy. (Hat Tip: Outside the Beltway.)

Public schools so bad, that the school board has to threaten to prison to keep parents in them. (Hat Tip: Right Mind.)

Hugo Chavez back to the business of trying to establish a dictatorship. (Hat Tip: Midnight Sun.)

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IMPORTANT:  Please take our listener survey

I am pleased to announce that we have launched a new www.MikeHuckabee.com. We hope you will use this website along with www.huckpac.com as valuable resources to follow what I am doing and the work our team is doing on behalf of conservative candidates nationwide.

We have added events, books, videos and news sections to our new website. Along with prominent links to Huck PAC and a new organization I have formed called the Vertical Politics Institute.

The Vertical Politics Institute will focus on the issues and challenges before us. It will serve as a clearing house for ideas and a way for grassroots activists to campaign and promote the issues that matter most to them. Ronald Reagan once said that “No crisis is beyond the capacity of our people to solve; no challenge too great.” He was right.

As I campaigned across America I was struck not just by the generosity and deep love Americans have for their country, but also by our ingenuity and creativity as a people. There wasn’t a place I went where someone didn’t offer me an idea or a solution to a problem America faces. We are a nation with a “can do” attitude and our hope with this new website is to capture that spirit, constructively discuss ideas, and then fight for the issues that matter most.

The Vertical Politics Institute website is in development. In the meantime, you can signup for email updates by visiting www.MikeHuckabee.com and clicking on the Vertical Politics Institute banner or by visiting www.NoChallengeTooGreat.com.

Over the next days and weeks the campaign season will continue to heat up. You can expect me to be at the forefront fighting for our ideas and the conservative candidates we support. I hope you will join me.

With deep gratitude,

Mike Huckabee

Podcast Show Notes

Godspeed to one of Congress’ true patriots, Senator Tom Coburn who is suffering an irregular heartbeat.

German reaction to Obama’s speech is a cause for concern and ridicule. (Hat Tip: The Corner.)

An anti-gun Congresswoman makes an abusive 9-1-1 call on her own constitutent. (Hat Tip: Gun Watch.)

The problem with McCain supporters who can only attack Obama and the keys to Obama’s hopes.

When Freedom’s abused: Schwarzenegger signs Transfat ban.

Harry Reid gets testy with reporters. (Hat Tip: Red State.)

Detroit’s bad boy Democratic Mayor. (Hat Tip: Right Wing News.)

Parents teach kids real math behind the State’s back. (Hat Tip: Education Watch.)

Gun owners using the second amendment rights for self-defense and the defense of property. 

Who brought down the Berlin wall and ended the cold war?  The media says Springsteen and Hasselhoff.

A federal court strikes down Colorado’s attempt to deny aid to Christian Schools. (Hat Tip: Idaho Values Alliance.)

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I’m going to be mostly away from the blog for the next week. It’s probably the longest I’ve stepped away since at least July, 2005. I’m off to a Writer’s Conference outside Portland, where I hope to perhaps to have a shot at selling a novel. Yes, like many political writers, I’m an aspiring and hardworking novelist. After this conference, I’m off to the Comedy Sportz World Championships in Portland at the Gerding Theater.

Your prayers are much appreciated as we travel, as well as for our transportation and finances. Last night, my car decided to blow a head gasket. Thankfully, this didn’t happen in an isolated spot in Eastern Oregon while we were on our way, but it’s going to be a chunk of change to fix.

Podcast Show Notes

There’s a fine line between audacity and arrogance and Obama seems to keep crossing it. From using a Wailing Wall apperance for political gain (Hat Tip: Right Wing News.) To removing the American flag from the tail of his plane to put his own logo on it.

House Republican Leader: John Boehner. The man with no plan or why House Republican leaders don’t want a second contract with America.

Jindal says no to being Veep.

A sweetheart deal for the DNC Host Committee.

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IMPORTANT:  Please take our listener survey

Huckabee has been hosting vertical day on the HuckPAC blog where candidates for office, distinguished guest and ideas talk about how to move our country forward vertically: upward, that is. Huckabee explains the concept of Vertical politics, taking America up and not down. The Governor explains:

Representative Sam Graves (R-MO) explains why illegal immigration poses a threat to our nation’s security.

A Candidate for the Texas House of Representatives Brian Walker talks about the preciousness of human life. Indiana Congressional Candidate Luke Puckett relates a personal story to explain his pro-life position.

Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) urges passage of the Child Custody Protection Act which protects children and parents from those who would abscond with minor children to take them across state lines to get abortions in contravention of their home state laws.

Want to talk tax reform? The original sponsor of the Fair Tax (H.R. 25) Rep. John Linder (R-GA) shows up with a post on his tax proposal.

Senator “Big” John Cornyn (R-TX) gives the answer to America’s energy problems: All of the Above.

What makes this HuckPAC event interesting is that Huckabee sought posts from regular citizens. Eight were chosen. My favorite is from Brian Donegan who has a great post with some thoughtful ideas for education reform.

Mike Huckabee didn’t get to be as active as he wanted in this Vertical Day due to being delayed in leaving Africa. His Daughter Sarah has a positive note on the folks behind HuckPAC, and they definitely deserve some praise.

They’ve managed to bring together a very distinguished guest list of posters with some fabulous posts on the issues. It represents a job well done by the Governor and all the folks at HuckPAC.

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Also posted here and here.

Someone really has to start keeping me from reading my local newspaper’s main section. I’m fine as long as I restrict myself to the sports section, the comics, and the features. But when I delve into the opinion columns and the readers’ letters, I likely won’t come out without being fired up.

Most of the time, I write a response in my head, and that is enough to satisfy me. But, today, I decided to actually write a rebuttal. I’ll post it here and a couple of other places, then perhaps submit it to my newspaper.

First, the original letter:

…America has become decadent.
It has become decadent when the personal, private and harmless activities of two consenting adults are grounds for immorality.
It has become decadent when one faith out of millions blelives that it has a monopoly on whom we may love.
It has become decadent when citizens believe their faith should override all others, ignoring the freedom of thought upon which this country was built.
And it has become decadent when fools cannot follow the teachings of their own religion: “Judge not, lest ye be judged” — Matthew 7:1.

~Mr. C. Payton

Did that get you riled up? Here’s my response:

~~
I suppose that the scathing “decadent” contributor on July 22 believes that his morality (if you can even call it that) should rule the day, for all legislation comes from a foundation of morality. He seems to feel very strongly on the issue of right and wrong, yet he gives no basis for his determinations. Is he depending on the “divine” wisdom or omniscience of his own mind? If so, that’s “just his opinion or preference, just truth for him,” as a relativist might say, and he might as well keep it to himself. Otherwise, he is the one exhibiting arrogance when he dares to pound the gavel on an issue with the arm of his own conjecture.

He certainly is not consulting the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,” as the Founders did, for he skewers reliance on God and turns a blind eye to the obvious, common-sense, self-evident realization of that which is natural and that which is not. Our ancestors would go so far as to call homosexuality a “crime against nature.”

We’ve reached an astounding level of illogic in this country when it is considered decadence to hold yourself and society to a standard of decent behavior, while following your own selfish passions no matter where they lead is deemed what? Virtue?

I fail to see where Christians are suppressing freedom of thought. I do see gay activists trying to restrict freedom of speech, the press, religion, and conscience through overreaching “hate speech” legislation, as well as employee “non-discrimination” measures. Not to mention how they endeavor to revolutionize the definition of marriage and family for everyone.

There’s an erroneous notion prevalent today that to be a tolerant person means to be a political pushover for your opponents. Now, while this is a very advantageous concept for those opposing you, it is utterly ridiculous, and I will not yield to it.

Matthew 7:1 is a condemnation of hypocrisy and a caution to pride in oneself, not a prohibition on biblical discretion. Just read the following verses to see what I mean. We are to be careful when judging others, but it is irrational to claim that we aren’t even allowed to judge conduct, especially when the Bible is so clear on a specific matter. Or else, there’s no point to a law system and much of the Bible–Old Testament and New–is negated.
~~

Here are two things which I would like to point out but chose not to include in the letter, for the sake of its length and flow:

1.) The original writer makes the faulty assumption that something is not immoral if it is “personal, private, and harmless.” First of all, he’s taking the liberty to define morality for himself, as I alluded in my response. The “private and harmless” concept, from the biblical commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself,” may form the basis for much of our civil justice system, but it does not decide what morality is and is not.

2.) He also makes the mistake of assuming that the sanctioning of homosexuality by our government would not have far-reaching effects on our society.