My problem with Romney isn't the flip-flopping, it is the changing of his positions to suit the current need. If he became the nominee you would definitely see him move back to the center to win voters there. I think his hunting experiences really point to him as a person.
To move to the right he says he is a lifelong hunter. He then has to clarify that he has only hunted twice. And then he says he is a hunter but only meant hunting in certain contexts.
It's just crap like that which keeps happening over and over again with him.
He says A.He said B before.
A is a more conservative stance than B. A is how he really feels and B was taken out of context/a joke/how he felt at a different part of his life/said when he was drunk. A good amount of these changes happened right before he decided to run for president.
It's just too convenient.
With his history of policies, I think I would like Romney over most of the presidential candidates. He seems to be close to the middle on a good amount of things. It seems like it would be good to have a moderate from the republicans, even one that comes in undercover. However, I just don't trust the guy at all. I feel more strongly against him as president than any other candidate.
Also, I hate his smirk.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Thompson and the Flag
Well I am happy, I didn't ask Fred Thompson any questions. He was always too angry anyway, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
One thing I did not realize is that South Carolina put up the Confederate Battle Flag in 1962. Considering what was happening at the time in the civil rights movement, it gets a lot harder to justify it as a symbol of heritage.
In a related note, I think I respect Mike Huckabee less every week. There are just too many times when he seems uninformed and can say some really right things to the people who want to hear it.
Telling a group of evangelicals that he wants to remake the constitution in the bible's image:
Ok, it's one thing to say that the country needs to return to biblical values, it is another to say what he said. They may mean nearly the same thing, but they have very different connotations and Huckabee has to be smart enough to know this. I trust him much less after hearing that.
Telling South Carolinian's he would let them decide what to do with their flag:
More shameless pandering and telling people what they want to hear.
One thing I did not realize is that South Carolina put up the Confederate Battle Flag in 1962. Considering what was happening at the time in the civil rights movement, it gets a lot harder to justify it as a symbol of heritage.
In a related note, I think I respect Mike Huckabee less every week. There are just too many times when he seems uninformed and can say some really right things to the people who want to hear it.
Telling a group of evangelicals that he wants to remake the constitution in the bible's image:
Ok, it's one thing to say that the country needs to return to biblical values, it is another to say what he said. They may mean nearly the same thing, but they have very different connotations and Huckabee has to be smart enough to know this. I trust him much less after hearing that.
Telling South Carolinian's he would let them decide what to do with their flag:
More shameless pandering and telling people what they want to hear.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Questions I would ask the candidates:
To All Republicans:
-Is it ever a good idea to raise taxes?
-In what ways did the surge did not reach it's goal?
-Should the government ever make a law to prevent/take away individual liberties(i.e. gay marriage)?
-What would happen to those other than small business owners if there was no estate tax?
-Do you think someone is unpatriotic for wanting to abandon the war?
-Please describe the Democrats health plans and list out the strengths and weaknesses.
-Is Hillary Clinton evil?
To All Democrats:
-How much of a burden should the rich take of our taxes?
-What aspects of the war were positive?
-What steps do we need to take to make the country safer?
-Is saying "Merry Christmas" to a total stranger rude? Why?
-Is it correct to have a defeatist attitude towards the war? If we leave now are we putting Iraq better or worse than we found it? Is that fair?
-Does apologizing for your vote on the war change anything?
-Would you consider voting for any of the republicans?
Mike Huckabee:
-Would you have improved the education in Arkansas if the courts did not mandate it? If so, why do you state that the courts mandated that you raise taxes?
-Have you overstepped your bounds by pressuring others around you?
-Is being reelected in a consistently democratic state a great sign of your conservative credentials?
Mitt Romney:
-Why are you so consistently inconsistent on your past positions?
-Would you find behavior like that suspicious if it was coming from one of your opponents?
-When you say that you will return the jobs to Michigan, do you expect the same companies will return?
-Do you feel that the other candidates have worse families than yours and that makes you a better person?
-Are there aspects of your faith that you disagree with? Can you discuss the "South Park" about Mormons?
Barack Obama:
-Why do you feel that you are better served attacking small changes in your opponents policies over time when you stand for looking at each problem with an open mind? Isn't development of the best idea sometimes a process that needs to be reached through a series of steps?
-Why does everyone feel that you are all talk? Where is the beef?
-Is being right about the war really what you want to build a campaign around?
John McCain:
-Why do you go half-assed over so many things instead of taking a stand? There is no doubt that your immigration plan contains some amnesty, do you need to get bogged down in a debate over semantics?
-Do you regret catering to any group to win their approval?
Hillary Clinton:
-Do you really think your health care plan is that much different than Edwards or Obama's(or Massachusetts')?
-Do you feel that you have become less genuine by trying to appear more genuine?
Rudy Guliani:
-If nobody in your family(past or present) likes you, do you think that is a warning sign about yourself?
-Did you make any mistakes in 9/11?
John Edwards:
-What do you think would happen if all big businesses went away? Why do they not get a seat at the negotiations?
-Given what you were told at the time, did you make a mistake on voting for the war?
-Is it ever a good idea to raise taxes?
-In what ways did the surge did not reach it's goal?
-Should the government ever make a law to prevent/take away individual liberties(i.e. gay marriage)?
-What would happen to those other than small business owners if there was no estate tax?
-Do you think someone is unpatriotic for wanting to abandon the war?
-Please describe the Democrats health plans and list out the strengths and weaknesses.
-Is Hillary Clinton evil?
To All Democrats:
-How much of a burden should the rich take of our taxes?
-What aspects of the war were positive?
-What steps do we need to take to make the country safer?
-Is saying "Merry Christmas" to a total stranger rude? Why?
-Is it correct to have a defeatist attitude towards the war? If we leave now are we putting Iraq better or worse than we found it? Is that fair?
-Does apologizing for your vote on the war change anything?
-Would you consider voting for any of the republicans?
Mike Huckabee:
-Would you have improved the education in Arkansas if the courts did not mandate it? If so, why do you state that the courts mandated that you raise taxes?
-Have you overstepped your bounds by pressuring others around you?
-Is being reelected in a consistently democratic state a great sign of your conservative credentials?
Mitt Romney:
-Why are you so consistently inconsistent on your past positions?
-Would you find behavior like that suspicious if it was coming from one of your opponents?
-When you say that you will return the jobs to Michigan, do you expect the same companies will return?
-Do you feel that the other candidates have worse families than yours and that makes you a better person?
-Are there aspects of your faith that you disagree with? Can you discuss the "South Park" about Mormons?
Barack Obama:
-Why do you feel that you are better served attacking small changes in your opponents policies over time when you stand for looking at each problem with an open mind? Isn't development of the best idea sometimes a process that needs to be reached through a series of steps?
-Why does everyone feel that you are all talk? Where is the beef?
-Is being right about the war really what you want to build a campaign around?
John McCain:
-Why do you go half-assed over so many things instead of taking a stand? There is no doubt that your immigration plan contains some amnesty, do you need to get bogged down in a debate over semantics?
-Do you regret catering to any group to win their approval?
Hillary Clinton:
-Do you really think your health care plan is that much different than Edwards or Obama's(or Massachusetts')?
-Do you feel that you have become less genuine by trying to appear more genuine?
Rudy Guliani:
-If nobody in your family(past or present) likes you, do you think that is a warning sign about yourself?
-Did you make any mistakes in 9/11?
John Edwards:
-What do you think would happen if all big businesses went away? Why do they not get a seat at the negotiations?
-Given what you were told at the time, did you make a mistake on voting for the war?
Monday, December 24, 2007
This Guy/Girl as president? Part 1: Mike Huckabee
This is a reaction to the New York Times article(along with many other articles and interviews)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22365097/. There is not much extra evidence given, mainly because I didn't want to write 3 pages. This is more all heart no fact, and I think Colbert would be proud. I am planning to write up my feelings on the other candidates as well as other random thoughts in no planned order.
I'm not quite sure what I think about Mike Huckabee yet. He seems to be a very strong leader with a clear picture of how his faith defines him. On the other hand, he can let his temper and emotions get the best of him. Unlike what I think happens with Bush/Cheney sometimes, these do not seem to affect his policy decisions. Huckabee has made some very public outbursts through the years, but I have not read of any serious policy changes the came of them. Even so, it could be a cause for concern if he loses his temper in any kind of international diplomacy meeting. A small outburst could have larger implications. He may also expect too much in terms of obedience of the population/media/legislative branch and may not react well to the larger microscope of national politics.
If we were to have a baptist minister become president, I think his attitude towards religion and government is the best we could hope for. He has the strongest religious credentials, yet I have never detected animosity towards other views on religion or a superiority of his own. Romney's Mormon speech was the exact opposite for me, I felt that those with similar beliefs were invited to one big group whose job was to protect against those on the other side. He has had some misteps though. I felt that the floating cross in the Christmas ad was out of character for him, but I do feel that it was deliberate. It was also a mistake and unnecessary, there is no doubt that Huckabee is a man of faith, and there is no reason to cast doubt on his ability to let the public know exactly what he is thinking.
What worries me the most is his ends justify the means policy of lawmaking. He seems to get his mind set on something and then does whatever necessary to achieve it. Luckily, his ideas tend to be on the intelligent side. I think he could be a hugely polarizing president, but not in the traditional partisan way. This could work out and break down some ideological walls by creating strange bedfellows out of the camps that oppose/support the policies he tries to strongarm through. He could find out very quickly that his previous way of pushing out legislation doesn't work in the big leagues of DC politics. Based on his recent history, I think he can stay light on his feet and adjust accordingly.
His willingness to publicy compromise himself by accepting gifts seems to fit his personality. He feels so strongly about his issues that he feels that he cannot be compromised. The NYT article called the gifts he received "Tribute." I think that is the perfect term.
I think Huckabee is much smarter that many give him credit for. To borrow a line from Guliani, he would not be a "perfect president," but he may make a very good one in terms of policy decisions. However, his style of government may even be more secretive than the current administration's and he does not like being questioned. It might be best for a more open group to come in for a couple years. It seems like a national trust in the president needs to be built before we are ready for one who can't take "no" as an answer. I haven't decided against him, but I think there might be a better option.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22365097/. There is not much extra evidence given, mainly because I didn't want to write 3 pages. This is more all heart no fact, and I think Colbert would be proud. I am planning to write up my feelings on the other candidates as well as other random thoughts in no planned order.
I'm not quite sure what I think about Mike Huckabee yet. He seems to be a very strong leader with a clear picture of how his faith defines him. On the other hand, he can let his temper and emotions get the best of him. Unlike what I think happens with Bush/Cheney sometimes, these do not seem to affect his policy decisions. Huckabee has made some very public outbursts through the years, but I have not read of any serious policy changes the came of them. Even so, it could be a cause for concern if he loses his temper in any kind of international diplomacy meeting. A small outburst could have larger implications. He may also expect too much in terms of obedience of the population/media/legislative branch and may not react well to the larger microscope of national politics.
If we were to have a baptist minister become president, I think his attitude towards religion and government is the best we could hope for. He has the strongest religious credentials, yet I have never detected animosity towards other views on religion or a superiority of his own. Romney's Mormon speech was the exact opposite for me, I felt that those with similar beliefs were invited to one big group whose job was to protect against those on the other side. He has had some misteps though. I felt that the floating cross in the Christmas ad was out of character for him, but I do feel that it was deliberate. It was also a mistake and unnecessary, there is no doubt that Huckabee is a man of faith, and there is no reason to cast doubt on his ability to let the public know exactly what he is thinking.
What worries me the most is his ends justify the means policy of lawmaking. He seems to get his mind set on something and then does whatever necessary to achieve it. Luckily, his ideas tend to be on the intelligent side. I think he could be a hugely polarizing president, but not in the traditional partisan way. This could work out and break down some ideological walls by creating strange bedfellows out of the camps that oppose/support the policies he tries to strongarm through. He could find out very quickly that his previous way of pushing out legislation doesn't work in the big leagues of DC politics. Based on his recent history, I think he can stay light on his feet and adjust accordingly.
His willingness to publicy compromise himself by accepting gifts seems to fit his personality. He feels so strongly about his issues that he feels that he cannot be compromised. The NYT article called the gifts he received "Tribute." I think that is the perfect term.
I think Huckabee is much smarter that many give him credit for. To borrow a line from Guliani, he would not be a "perfect president," but he may make a very good one in terms of policy decisions. However, his style of government may even be more secretive than the current administration's and he does not like being questioned. It might be best for a more open group to come in for a couple years. It seems like a national trust in the president needs to be built before we are ready for one who can't take "no" as an answer. I haven't decided against him, but I think there might be a better option.
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