For those waiting for the “second coming” the wait is over. He’s here in the person of Mike Huckabee. 
Democrats had John Kerry who managed to be for something before he was against, Republicans now have two flippers all to themselves.
Issues of the Day has had fun on the first flipper in the race for president; our own Massachusetts creation, Mitt Romney.
Democrats had John Kerry who managed to be for something before he was against, Republicans now have two flippers all to themselves.
Issues of the Day has had fun on the first flipper in the race for president; our own Massachusetts creation, Mitt Romney.
Now here’s the second coming of Romney, from Arkansas. At first I rejected the notion Mike Huckabee is the second coming of Jed Clampett of the Beverly Hillbillies. I was right in making that rejection. No, the Huckster is no hillbilly. The only thing slick about the Clampett clan was the oil they discovered.
Mike Huckabee out slicks our own Bay State slicksters. He’s up there with Slick Willy.
I recall once, as a boy, catching an eel while fishing from the Brightman Street Bridge. When I got it on the bridge I tried to get a good hold on it so I could remove the hook from its mouth. It simply slithered out of my hand. A friend attempted to help and met with the same fate, it slithered out of his hand. Finally an old Portuguese man fishing nearby saw our plight and came to our assistance. He had a wooden club and whacked the eel until it was unconscious. Only then we were able hold it and remove the hook.
The older fisherman asked if we intended to bring the eel home and we said no. I understood now why my Mom asked we not bring home an eel. Very oily. Tautog, yes. Eel, no. (Among older Portuguese families feel eels are close to being delicacies.)
Automobile and insurance salesmen and lawyers have the reputation for stretching or tilting the truth. Most of us enter into business situations with that caveat in mind. I think, generally speaking, we should apply the same to those seeking elective office. Whether it’s Slick Willie asking for the definition of “it” or, my favorite president, The Gipper cupping his ear feigning not hearing a difficult question and walking on by, we recognize the tilting and stretching when it occurs.
We also know intuitively that no used car was ever driven only on Sundays by a little old lady going to church. She simply didn’t exist except in the fantasies created by some used car salesmen.
I recall a politician who was a man of the cloth, one Robert Drinan who served as a congressman from Massachusetts from 1971 to 1980. It was then Pope John Paul II unequivocally demanded that all priests withdraw from electoral politics. Drinan complied and did not seek reelection.
“It is just unthinkable,” he said of the idea of renouncing the priesthood to stay in office. “I am proud and honored to
be a priest and a Jesuit. As a person of faith I must believe that there is work for me to do which somehow will be more important than the work I am required to leave.” I, for one, disagreed with Father Drinan’s politics. He was as liberal as I am conservative. The one thing you always got from the Jesuit was honesty. He said what he meant and meant what he said. I could not vote for him (had I lived in his district) because of the extent of our disagreements on principle. However, I respected his as a man of honor and dignity. I somehow doubt Robert Drinan ever flip flopped on an issue for political purposes.
Sure, we all have changes of heart. I did on the abortion issue thirty years ago thanks to Dr. Mildred Jefferson calmly, yet passionately, explaining where I was wrong in my logic. After a few months of dwelling on the arguments I saw that her view was on target and I was wrong. There was no bolt of lightening or political reason to make my change. It came over time and lots of thought and swallowing of pride. I am Pro-Life with no apoligies.
I belittled John Kerry for his transparent efforts to convince all that he was “on their side”. He reminded me of the old time politician who, while stumping in an area where the voters were evenly divided on a given issue, told his audience, “I know many of you are four square behind this measure and the rest of you are equally strong in your opposition. I want you ALL to know so am I.”
Well, Republicans have their version of John Kerry and Hillary and Bill Clinton in the persons of Romney and Huckabee. This space has documented the many failings of Mitt Romney. In the meantime the affable Huckster has flown everyone’s radar. I watched him la
st night on Hannity and Colmes and thought I’d regurgitate. Sean Hannity had Huckabee on the ropes on the question of all his commutations and recommendations for clemency and parole for some very violent criminals. The Huckster said he opposed clemency because the rapist who was eventually paroled and went on to murder (shades of Tavares here in Massachusetts) so he’d be supervised after his release. In his letter to the parole board Huckabee recommended parole. His rationale that he wanted the rapist to have suprevision through parole rather than unfettered freedom through clemency was a lark. It was not a case of clemency or parole.
It was a question of whether or not he was released. Period.
In his letter the Huckster did say he recommended this rapist for parole. After the Huckster’s dance Hannity simply moved on rather than return to the parole recommendation. Hucabee recommended it and gave the parole board cover to release this man. The rapist had been brutalized by other inmates so there was likely some softness for the man.
Huckabee also recommended more paroles and clemency for violent criminals than all six states bordering Arkansas combin
ed. This guy is as tough on criminals as Mike Dukakis. Then there’s the imitation of Dumbo when he tried to explain to the Cuban community in Miami why, a couple of years ago, he wrote President Bush to redcommend a lifting of the embargo on Cuba:
“I really wasn’t aware of a lot of the issues that exist between Cuba and the United States. Being in Arkansas, that’s not something that there’s a close proximity of.”
That’s either a lie or he’s a boob.
The Huckster now talks glowingly against amnesty for illegal aliens. This is the same man who just a couple of years ago said that those who favored a secure fence along the Mexican border and denying government benefits to illegals as racists.
On the same subject, Mike Huckabee favored special breaks for children of illegal aliens regarding college and favors drivers’ licenses for illegals.
Boy, does Mike Huckabee ever sound like Deval Patrick; that includes his position on taxes. Here’s Mike Huckabee on taxes in Arkansas. The state had been ordered by the state’s Supreme Court to help pay for public education. There was no attempt to cut spending in other areas. The tax increase was the only option he presented. Carl Cameron and Fox News caught him in the lie. Add to that fact taxes actually increased more in Huckabee’s tenure than Clinton’s. He claims to have cut taxes multiple times. That’s bunk to, the total state take was higher when he left office than when he arrived.
Mike Huckabee, like Mitt Romney presents himself as a real conservative. That’s yet more bunk. Both are beginning to be revealed as opportunistic politicians. Their credibility is such I’d be hard pressed to buy a used car from either of them.
Where’s that old Portuguese fisherman when we need him again.
Ciao…….Moe
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