For how long,

[Bill Swerski]

I'd read somewhere that Rush said if Huckabee or McCain were the nominee he'll quit the Republican party, or the party will self-destruct, or something like that.

 

Best endorsement of McCain I've heard yet.

 

A McCain/Huckabee ticket would be tough to beat.

 

I understand why the right-wing of the Republican party doesn't like McCain, but I don't understand their beef with Huckabee. Is it because he's not in bed with Wall Street?

Edited January 22, 2008 by Bill Swerski

[Azazello1313]

I understand why the right-wing of the Republican party doesn't like McCain, but I don't understand their beef with Huckabee.

 

huckabee is the epitome of "compassionate conservatism", which, properly understood, is simply big government liberalism with social conservative "values". i believe i said this in another thread, but i really think it's true and bears repeating -- huckabee is the actual incarnation of all the wildest, caricaturish things bush's biggest critics say about bush. huckabee is the bushzilla.

Edited January 22, 2008 by Azazello1313

[Bill Swerski]

huckabee is the epitome of "compassionate conservatism", which, properly understood, is simply big government liberalism with social conservative "values". i believe i said this in another thread, but i really think it's true and bears repeating -- huckabee is the actual incarnation of all the wildest, caricaturish things bush's biggest critics say about bush. huckabee is the bushzilla.

 

But Rush loooves Bush and Cheney, so why is he crapping on a neoconservative ("compassionate conservative") like Huckabee?

 

And I honestly don't know much about Huckabee's record as governor of Arkansas, but what has he done in the past that makes you think that he's going to continue Bush/Cheney's lower-taxes-and-still-spend-like-mad policies? I realize that he increased taxes slightly, extended Medicaid to children of poor families, and built/improved roads (if you've ever driven through Arkansas, some parts are pretty backwards) but that doesn't exactly sound like Conservative Socialism.

Edited January 22, 2008 by Bill Swerski

[Azazello1313]

But Rush loooves Bush and Cheney, so why is he crapping on a neoconservative ("compassionate conservative") like Huckabee?

 

well, first of all, "neoconservative" and "compassionate conservative" are two totally different things. the former is a foreign policy outlook, which calls for using US power and influence to promote western style democracy abroad; the latter is a domestic policy calling for (reactionary/conservative) government answers to social problems. bush may in some sense represent both, but they are not the same, or really even related to each other in any meaningful way.

 

as far as why would someone like rush defend bush while bagging on huckabee? well, i don't listen to rush so i probably wouldn't have the best answer to that question, but i could guess and say that if bush were somehow running for a third term -- or a bush disciple running on a "compassionate conservative" platform of expanding domestic spending on things like education and medicare -- a guy like rush might not be his biggest fan. defending someone once he is the president and party standard-bearer is different than supporting a guy amidst other candidates who better represents your views. mccain and huckabee clearly aren't rush's first choices, but when it's one of them and, say, hillary, i'm willing to wager on where he'll throw his substantial (literal) weight, and it ain't with hilary. any bluster of his to the contrary is just that.

Edited January 22, 2008 by Azazello1313

[Bill Swerski]

well, first of all, "neoconservative" and "compassionate conservative" are two totally different things. the former is a foreign policy outlook, which calls for using US power and influence to promote western style democracy abroad; the latter is a domestic policy calling for (reactionary/conservative) government answers to social problems. bush may in some sense represent both, but they are not the same, or really even related to each other in any meaningful way.

 

Actually, neoconservatism was founded by ex-liberals who were not at all against government spending on social problems. At least, that's how Irving Kristol defined it. The foreign policy aspect is certainly the dominant issue (and also explains why so many Jewish conservatives are neocons), but there is a social element to it as well. And it's a big part of the difference in philosophy between guys like Bush and Pat Buchanan.

 

as far as why would someone like rush defend bush while bagging on huckabee? well, i don't listen to rush so i probably wouldn't have the best answer to that question, but i could guess and say that if bush were somehow running for a third term -- or a bush disciple running on a "compassionate conservative" platform of expanding domestic spending on things like education and medicare -- a guy like rush might not be his biggest fan. defending someone once he is the president and party standard-bearer is different than supporting a guy amidst other candidates who better represents your views. mccain and huckabee clearly aren't rush's first choices, but when it's one of them and, say, hillary, i'm willing to wager on where he'll throw his substantial (literal) weight, and it ain't with hilary. any bluster of his to the contrary is just that.

 

Yeah, I pretty much agree. Guys like Rush and Jim Dobson make all sorts of ridiculous threats about leaving the party or staying at home on Election Day if somebody they don't like (Huckabee and Giuliani, respectively) wins the nomination. They're not going to sit at home and let Hillary or Obama win without a fight.

 

But I still find it odd that Rush feels that Huckabee isn't a real conservative, but he doesn't criticize Romney in the same way. And Romney very loudly touts his accomplishment of making MANDATORY health insurance law while governor of Massachusetts. I get the feeling that Romney's (perceived) willingness to cozy up to Wall Street (and Huckabee's populist rhetoric) are responsible for much of that.