AWJ Blog

At the Base, It Is NOT True That All Is Relative

2009-07-20T15:40:00.003-04:00

As popular as it may be today to proclaim everything to be relative, that is not true. There is a right and wrong which transcend our society and our culture - and which remain right and wrong even in spite of our culture's denial.

Gerard Reed illustrates this well (in the Inroduction to his book C. S. Lewis Explores Vice and Virtue, Beacon Hill Press, Kansas City, MO, 2001) by citing a scene from C. S. Lewis' novel That Hideous Strength where the main character Mark, a young sociologist, encounters Bill Hingest, an elderly chemist. Mark suggested to Hingest "I suppose there are two views about everything?" to which Hingest replies "Eh? Two views? There are about a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one."

As long as we use feelings and emotions to determine right and wrong, the line demarcating one from the other is free to move. Only when we look to an external source (such as the Bible) can we have a fixed point to measure from. Until then, all our attempts to be "good" will depend on finding someone who tells us what we want to hear about ourselves.

Discussing Judge Sotomayor's Nomination, Part II

2009-05-28T09:53:00.006-04:00

I am not a legal scholar, but I want to base my remarks and arguments on facts rather than conjecture. To do this, I must depend on the reliability of others' reporting. I am including a link to the CNN review of her record which I am using as my primary source of information for this purpose. Note that this article somewhat confusingly lists her cases which have been reviewed by SCOTUS twice each.

My initial reaction to Judge Sotomayor's nomination is probably best described as a resigned disappointment. After this limited amount of investigation, I am mildly surprised at her selection on judicial terms. I remain convinced that she has been chosen because she is a capable judge who is a woman and is of Latino descent - and the President wanted to nominate a Justice who met both of those criteria - and because her inspiring life story will assist her popularity through the confirmation process.

Per my 'judicial terms selection surprise', as I review the list of cases she's had reviewed by the SCOTUS (and I have done no investigation to speak of beyond this article and others like it which cite largely the same facts), I am struck by the percentage of her cases which are overturned. I do understand that she's replacing Justice Souter - and that he has frequently sided with her - and that Conservatives won't agree with her on some issues.

But of the seven cases cited here, (only six of which have finished their review) four times she was overturned, once she was unanimously overturned, and even in one of the times she was upheld they unanimously rejected her reasoning. I wonder how common it is for a judge to twice have been corrected unanimously... and then be promoted to the SCOTUS.

One reason I chose the CNN article was the paragraph quoting more fully Sotomayor's discourse at Duke. It also discusses the comments at Cal-Berkeley which are probably the basis for Gov. Huckabee's remark about "taking the blindfold off" of Lady Justice. The Berkeley remarks are another can of worms alotgether.

When I read the quote of her Duke remarks I have mild concerns about her beliefs. But I saw the video of those remarks and I am alarmed that her excitement about being part of the Appellate Court system comes from her assent to the "policy-making" role she sees the Court system having. I know she qualified the remarks after she remembered that she was being taped, but I can't stop being troubled by what I heard.

As stated before in the FB dialogue, when justices and judges step away from interpretation and into making policy, that's where I believe the system goes astray. That's why I'm alarmed.

Discussing Judge Sotomayor's Nomination, Part I

2009-05-28T09:44:00.004-04:00

This is the beginning of a recent discussion from my Facebook page. It started with my snide remark in reaction to Judge Sotomayor's nomination and my having seen her comments to a Duke University forum. I've edited the transcript only to provide easier reading, but have not removed any content from the remarks.

The initial post was my FB status:
Alan Johnson thought that policy was to be "made" by legislatures, not appellate courts. I guess that was part of the "Change".

Audrey Mae DeNeui at 8:36pm May 26
And a friend of mine says she's a Yankee's fan, to boot!

Frank R Kennedy III at 9:26pm May 26
She has been photograhed in a Red Sox hat. She wrote in a dissenting opinion that her colleagues were legislating. Which"opinions" offend you on an activist level?

Audrey Mae DeNeui at 9:42pm May 26
This other guy's a White Sox fan, I guess. It's not like we can actually do anything about it, other than satirize.

Audrey Mae DeNeui at 9:43pm May 26
She may be a very nice lady.

Alan Johnson at 8:38am May 27
The primary opinion which offends me is the one she expressed at Duke University that "appeals courts which is where policy is made". That is expressly the attitude which has blurred the separation of powers and led to the legislation from the bench such as Roe v Wade.

Frank R Kennedy III at 9:27am May 27 via Facebook Mobile
At the same conference she said she didn't agree with that, but she did recognise it happens. What on her judicial record is activist?

Audrey Mae DeNeui at 9:54am May 27
There's that captain's test for the fire department thing...You know, when someone gets nominated for anything, people start examining his/her life with electron microscopes. Not that we shouldn't examine folks who will be our leaders, but it is impossible to please everyone. It would be werid to expect, given the current admin's political bent, ... Read Morethat a strict conservative constitutionalist would be appointed, wouldn't it, now? Which is why I'm not upset about this or anything else, political-wise. Look at what just happened yesterday out here in California.

Alan Johnson at 10:59am May 27
My discomfort remains in the opinion she expressed at Duke... and I heard her qualification and attempt to backtrack upon remembering that she was being taped. I didn't accuse her of having written activist decisions. I am concerned that she really holds the perspective that the courts are where policies are made... since that's what she expressed. I expect her nomination to be confirmed. I don't expect to ever believe that she was the best choice. She was the politically expedient choice.

Audrey Mae DeNeui at 11:27am May 27
I saw that tape, too. I laughed. By the way, how's your ankle?

Frank R Kennedy III at 2:53pm May 27 via Facebook Mobile
So there is no opinion feom the bench that offends you? She ruled in favor of the abortion gag rule. She has been quoted as saying that she doesn' t believe appeals court should make policy...more than once. Have you seen more that 'Duke' clip?

Frank R Kennedy III at 2:56pm May 27 via Facebook Mobile
She agrees with you that policy is made in courts, she like you doesn't condone it.

Frank R Kennedy III at 6:25pm May 27
If I said I know that people speed on the highway and its dangerous....does it mean I condone it. Perhaps? If I had speeding tickets, that would be evidence. She made over 3000 court opinions -- that seems to be a good point of attack not a statement of observation (Duke comment).

Alan Johnson at 9:43am May 28
Frank, Let's take this to my blog (awjblog.blogspot.com) where we can deal with it in a better format than FB wall posts. I'll copy the discussion to date there and publish your posts as written. Interested parties can follow from there.

The Scoop: I Have Been Laid Off

2009-04-01T15:27:00.002-04:00

Friends,

I have been notified that my job at Nationwide has been eliminated. Since the organization that I was a part of has access to sensitive information, I will be paid for the next sixty days but I have been released from my job responsibility immediately. Effective June 1st, I am unemployed.

While no one who receives such news is happy about being let go, I am somewhat relieved to have resolution to an issue I have seen coming for many weeks.

Nationwide has been my employer, but Nationwide has never been my Provider. My Provider is God and God alone. He will provide for our needs through this transition as He has provided for us our whole lives. How our lives change because of this job change, obviously, we don't know yet.

What I do know is that God is present with us, He knows our situation, and He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

Please pray that He gives us clear direction for the future.

Alan's 25 Random Thoughts

2009-02-08T23:30:00.000-05:00

1. A large part of me wants to sort this list of thoughts by importance, but I’m resisting that temptation because the title of the list is supposed to be “random thoughts”.
2. I really enjoy reading my friends’ thought lists so I’m assembling one of my own to reciprocate their sharing.
3. Grace is undeserved favor - getting what you don’t deserve. As I grow older I find it permeates my life. I wish I was good enough to deserve some of the blessings in my life, but I’m glad I have them all the same.
4. I love to watch sports. I frequently get too emotionally involved in them for my own good. My teams have very rarely won championships and the frequent disappointments make me wish I didn’t care and make me wonder why I do.
5. My wife is amazing… a primary example of me receiving something I don’t deserve.
6. Parenthood is incredible.
7. I often wonder if I missed a call to be a preacher. I ask God about that frequently. I haven’t yet recognized a response.
8. I have found a good Christian discipleship ministry. I grow spiritually from things I learn from Chip Ingram’s podcasts at Living on the Edge (www.livingontheedge.org).
9. It drives me nuts that I can’t seem to control our spending well enough.
10. I love my children. It is hard to let them grow up and make decisions which are different than I would make. All I can do is love them, pray they don’t get hurt too badly, and be ready to help them as I can. Parents, your window of influence in your childrens’ lives is temporary.
11. I am surprised at how much I enjoy ballroom dancing classes with my wife.
12. I love deer hunting. I love that I learned it from my Dad and my brother. It doesn’t hurt that I enjoy eating venison. ;)
13. I enjoy teaching (Sunday School, Boy Scouts, or wherever). My father taught for a living. I admire educators who care about their students.
14. I have a tendency to be overdramatic.
15. For a job I manage computer programmer types. I think I’m a pretty good manager in that I do the important stuff well… but lately I’ve really been poor at some of the little things.
16. Some days I seem about as observant as a washcloth.
17. America won’t see significant economic revival with band-aid “stimulus” spending bills; especially if the spending is based so much on debt. We need to quit taxing income and start taxing consumption… until we go to a system like the Fair Tax, other efforts won’t make much of a difference.
18. Rev. Rick Warren’s popular book “A Purpose Driven Life” has the best topic sentences I’ve ever seen. You could get the sense of the entire book just by reading the first sentence of each of the forty chapters. Chapter One starts with “It’s not about you.”
19. America’s biggest problem isn’t economic – it’s moral. Many of us live as if we’re the center of the universe and we can do as we please without consequences.
20. I appreciate the friends in my life who care enough to confront me when I’m wrong… especially if they’re kind while they’re doing it.
21. My younger two kids are ten years separated from their older three siblings. I love all five of the kids. It’s really fun to be reminded of the first three’s childhoods by stuff we see the latter two doing. It helps ease the pain of seeing the older three grow up and leave (or prepare to leave) the “nest”.
22. I love to laugh. I enjoy making others laugh when I can.
23. I admire Millard Fuller, who founded Habitat for Humanity. He wasn’t perfect, but he had a deep if indirect impact on the lives of more than one million people in need.
24. I wish my church was larger, but I wonder if that isn’t merely a pride thing.
25. I had my first opportunity to go snorkeling this past summer. I loved it. It was like swimming in an aquarium.

A Couple of Firsts

2009-01-20T18:38:00.002-05:00

Today the nation completed another peaceful transfer of power. It's always a point of pride that we do that so well. History is loaded with political leaders who never willingly step off the stage. I'm thankful that Americans haven't gone there... once an election has been decided, the transition is peaceful and usually smooth.

It's well documented that this is the first African-American President. I'm glad for America that we have shown that minority candidates can be elected. It's now not just empty talk that there is opportunity at all levels in America. Real equality will come should he be judged on the quality of his leadership rather than favored merely for the pigment of his skin.

The second "first" is one thing that concerns me, and I hope it to be an unfounded concern. This is the first day that President Obama has ever been an executive in charge of anything. He has spent his career organizing communities and sitting on committees in legislatures. Legislators have hours to ponder issues and can vote "present" when it's inconvenient for them to take a stand. As President, Obama now must make decisions on the spot and there's no avoiding the difficult issues.

I remember how angry many liberals were with Bill Clinton after his Inauguration when it became apparent to them that he wasn't doing everything they wanted. I wonder how President Obama will keep his vast following happy. It seems that Rep. Pelosi is already complaining about his economic package (surprise, surprise).

I pray that God will pour upon this man the wisdom and courage he'll need to lead this country. He's our President now. Let's hope he has good judgment and leadership abilities.

Goodbye, Jenn

2009-01-18T01:09:00.002-05:00

Jenn Viveiros was taken from us Saturday. A close friend to my teenagers and a frequent participant in the church youth group with them, Jenn was friendly and upbeat. She enjoyed many ultimate frisbee games in the church back yard with David, Seth, Zach, Aly, and Sam (and many others).

How can we make sense of this tragedy? I don't believe we can. Some things I may never know nor understand. It may never make sense to me.

The pain is stark, blunt, and hard. I cannot imagine the agony her parents must be experiencing. I can see the impact her loss is already having on my family.

May God help us all to get through this.

You asked for it, America.

2008-11-04T21:39:00.005-05:00

As I write this I'm seeing the White House go to Sen. Obama (who has never been in charge of anything). It is thoroughly underwhelming.

I walked away from the television after having heard enough gloating to last a lifetime (before 10pm).

What I fear this means I described in my previous post. I pray that I'm wrong.

My anger may settle... I cling to my God (and any guns I may own) while ambiguous "CHANGE" is imposed upon me.

I've been overdramatic most of my life...

2008-10-29T17:06:00.003-04:00

I can remember other elections in the past when I was sure a particular outcome would have tragic results. I comfort myself now with the hope that I was occasionally way off base in those thoughts. Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic again.

Nonetheless, I can not escape the sick feeling of bitterness in my stomach that America is about to entrench itself further into making abortion a permanent stain on the American landscape.

My imagination runs wild with what the Democrats would do with possession of the White House along with super-majorities in both houses of Congress.

I think one should expect that during an Obama administration with both houses of congress in Democratic control the following will happen:
* Abortion will remain legal at any time in any manner for any reason (or no reason) and any attempt to restrict it will be destroyed.
* Christians (and Muslims) will increasingly face pressure to conform to the tyranny of political correctness. Houses of worship of any faith will be made to submit to "hate speech" rules of political correctness regardless of the position of their faith's beliefs. I believe this will impact Christians and Muslims alike who may believe that homosexual activity is wrong. Preachers will no longer be permitted to declare their faith's beliefs without fear of legal problems.
* Private youth organizations and private colleges and universities will be forced to either admit practicing homosexuals as leaders contrary to their doctrines or close.
* Taxes will go up. (This pales by comparison in importance when next to the first point, doesn't it?)
* Government will grow... a lot.
* American involvement in foreign conflicts may or may not go down. Foreign conflicts being brought into our borders will multiply.
* Illegal immigration will remain out of control. (to be fair, Sen. McCain also plans to do nothing about this one)
* America will become even less competitive economically than it is today.
* Chinese control of our economy will grow as our debt multiplies.

These are some of what I envision to be in our future should Sen. Obama and the liberals win this election. That's why I'm so worried.

I feel our generation has been given a wonderful gift of opportunity by our predecessors (at a very dear price which includes the sacrifices of the Civil and two World Wars); but that we are collectively turning to self-gratification and are setting ourselves up for judgment in the near future.

My thoughts on the present collection of issues are dominated by abortion. I can not escape believing that we can not continue to murder thousands of unborn infants and still escape without consequences.

It's easy and popular in America to look down our noses at Nazi Germany during the thirties. We console ourselves as having been on the side of the "right" in that situation. It's not hard to imagine how we'd have reacted if we'd been there during that time. We picture ourselves as willing to stand up for the oppressed and helpless as they're being killed. But how is this so different from that?

The situation isn't so simple, I know that. But the fact remains that thousands dead, and most of America seems OK with that. I am not OK with it. I fear it is killing each of us inside to let this continue. The Bible calls that sin.

So that's the summary of my discontent as the press tells us of the coming Obama presidency.

Beginning a Post-Huckabee-Campaign Time in My Blog

2008-07-11T14:13:00.003-04:00

I lost a lot of my desire to update a blog in the months following the withdrawal of Gov. Huckabee from the presidential campaign. I continue to believe that his positions are / were much better than those of anyone else remaining in the field.

Gov. Huckabee has heartily endorsed Sen. McCain and is working towards helping him get elected. I strongly prefer McCain over Sen. Obama (and Sen. Clinton as well) but I have difficulty convincing myself to encourage others to support McCain... he really appears to be the consummate Washington politician. I agree with more of his positions than I do Sen. Obama's... and some of those differences are about issues I care deeply about. But where Gov. Huckabee provided a hope to move beyond the politics as usual, Sen. McCain is the stereotype of politics as usual.

May God have mercy on America for such poor choosing of leadership. May He replace the leadership of the National Right to Life organization that endorsed Fred Thompson instead of Gov. Huckabee.

And with that I've decided to begin moving past Presidential politics for blog material.

Even Though Huckabee Won't Be Elected...

2008-06-22T00:36:00.002-04:00

... the country still needs the FairTax desperately.

Instead we insist on choosing between two men who sit on committees for a living and we tell ourselves that they're the right ones to lead our country onward. One spouts the word "change" but neither of them have ideas that will make a positive impact on the country anything like the FairTax would.

Upon Further Review... Little Has Changed

2008-03-14T11:24:00.006-04:00

Ten days after Gov. Huckabee was defeated in the Republican primaries of Ohio and Texas, some of my anger has subsided. My disgust has not.

A friend who is a Republican asked me if I would now support Sen. McCain in the general election. My initial response to him was that perhaps Sen. McCain should seek support among those who believe like he does: those who support amnesty for illegal immigrants, those who opposed the Bush tax cuts, and those who support embryonic stem cell research. (I then noted that most of those voters are already supporting either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.)

The Republican party continues to ignore the Sanctity of Life issue... after years of tolerating a pro-choice Republican in Deb Pryce, my district has nominated yet another pro-choice Republican in Steve Stivers. Stivers' opponent in the primary was Robert Wagner, who also ignored the entire Sanctity of Life issue on his campaign website. Again pro-life voters had and have no congressional candidates to vote for in Ohio's 15th District. It's quite the irony that there is no "choice" on the Sanctity of Life issue for Ohio's 15th District.

The issues that are most important to me and which led me to support Gov. Huckabee for President were the Sanctity of Life, support of the FairTax, and decreasing the size of government. The Republican Party does not seem to have learned anything from their free-spending ways which led to their defeats in 2006.

I don't see myself supporting either Sen. McCain nor Steve Stivers in the fall. There's just not much difference between their positions and those of their Democratic opponents in the issues which matter the most to me.

Huckabee Defeated

2008-03-04T23:43:00.003-05:00

I am angry beyond my ability to describe.

I'd like to play the good sport and congratulate the winner but this isn't a stupid game. Unborn babies will continue to be murdered because of the choices Americans made tonight in Vermont, Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island.

I see how little John McCain motivates conservatives and I wonder if the leadership at National Right to Life are proud of their endorsement of Fred Thompson. May God replace them all.

I believe the Republican party has forfeited the general election. May God grant health (and a desire to work four more years) to the Supreme Court justices who survive until the end of Pres. Bush's term.

The Conservative Movement's New Leader

2008-03-04T16:24:00.002-05:00

Here's an excellent article by Janet Folger at WorldNetDaily...

Hey - Who's that Guy?

2008-03-03T12:54:00.001-05:00

I got to meet Gov. Huckabee before last week's rally in Columbus. I didn't get much time to talk with him, and I wish I'd have focused that time more on him than on getting pictures taken; but hindsight is always 20/20.

Dallas Morning News' Endorsement

2008-03-03T12:52:00.001-05:00

This is the endorsement of the Dallas Morning News announcing their support for Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign.

Home Stretch for Ohio & Texas

2008-03-02T00:14:00.002-05:00

I got to meet Gov. Huckabee last Tuesday just prior to his rally in Columbus. I'll post a picture shortly.

Today I spent a few hours with some dedicated Huckabee supporters at a Gun Show on the west side of Columbus. My first trip to a gun show was an enjoyable time. Here's hoping that many of those gun owners will step up and protect our 2nd Amendment rights this Tuesday with votes for Gov. Huckabee.

Here Comes Huck... to Columbus!

2008-02-21T17:13:00.003-05:00

Huck at the Hyatt! Gov. Huckabee will be attending a rally at the Hyatt Regency (Delaware Room) at 350 N High St in Columbus Tuesday at 1pm.

RSVP to robert.kuykendall@explorehuckabee.com

What Is the FairTax?

2008-02-18T20:14:00.000-05:00

Why Are the Republicans Chasing John McCain...

2008-02-13T09:05:00.003-05:00

... because Gerald Ford and Bob Dole are not available?

It appears that the Republican establishment is chasing after a candidate in John McCain who can't even win the majority of red states in his own party.

McCain was outpolled by Barack Obama in Virginia - a historically red state - by 619,036 to 242,578!! McCain has so motivated and inspired the Republicans in this Republican stronghold that the Democrats outvoted Republicans by two to one!!

John McCain is NOT inspiring new voters to the Republican cause. He is NOT part of the solution to the problems Washington has created -- He embodies Washington!

What piece of twisted logic causes Republicans to delude themselves into thinking that he will have a prayer of competing against the younger inspiring Barack Obama? Obama is promising voters ambiguous "change" for change's sake. He tells the masses that the government under Obama will solve all their problems (and they believe it will happen for free). How is it that conservatives think McCain will compete with that if he can't even exceed a third of the raw vote in Virginia of all places? Virginia is not Massachusetts or New York.

There needs to be a stark contrast between what the Dems promise and what the Republican nominee proposes. That contrast does not come from John McCain. Obama and Clinton oppose the Bush Tax Cuts - so did McCain (until he wanted the Republican nomination).

Republicans need to stop staring at the POW piece of McCain's past - we're aware of that, it's honorable, but it's not going to win this election. Remember also the McCain-Feingold and McCain-Kennedy pieces of his past. This man is only conservative when it is convenient.

By contrast, Mike Huckabee is a true conservative who has in Arkansas a demonstrated record of attracting non-Republican voters as well as Republicans. He is the only remaining candidate with any experience at all as an executive. His FairTax is a stark contrast to the Democrats' increased taxing and spending. His consistent stand for the Sanctity of Life is well-known - only he favors amending the Constitution to preserve the life of unborn children. Mike Huckabee, not John McCain, opposes the Brady Bill's imposition on 2nd Amendment Rights. Mike Huckabee, not John McCain, has defeated the Clinton machine in Arkansas four times. Mike Huckabee, not John McCain, can communicate, inspire, and motivate on par with Barack Obama.

If Republicans really want to win the White House, time is running short. The time is now to support Mike Huckabee.

Tomorrow's Hope

2008-02-12T10:15:00.001-05:00

WarrenPiece has produced another impressive video.

I like the mention of "former favorites who quit the race" and how he notes that the pundits "preferred their own projections above election results".

Romney Suspends Campaign

2008-02-07T15:28:00.000-05:00

Mitt Romney tired of spending his millions and today he has left the active campaign for the Republican nomination.

Conservatives now need to rally around Gov. Huckabee and support him unless they're ready to hand the reins of the Republican Party to Sen. McCain.

To contrast Gov. Huckabee with Sen. McCain:
* Huckabee has a tough immigration policy... McCain has supported amnesty programs and continues to be soft on illegal immigration.
* Huckabee supports the FairTax... McCain supports the IRS.
* Huckabee wants to bring change to the Washington establishment... McCain embodies the Washington establishment.
* Huckabee supports amending the constitution to preserve the sanctity of life... McCain does not.
* Huckabee supports a Veterans' Bill of Rights... honestly, I'm not yet familiar with what McCain proposes to DO for other veterans.

* McCain co-wrote the present campaign "reform" bill (with Diane Feingold) which constrains the political speech of groups of voters with common interests. It also tilts Presidential campaigns significantly in favor of those who are either independently wealthy or those who have campaign funds remaining from previous federal campaigns (like long-time senators). So he wrote himself a downhill path toward the nomination.

So let's step in and help Gov. Huckabee to rally and win the Republican nomination. Gov. Huckabee needs your donation to get his conservative message out to the states which still have yet to vote. Click here to join that effort.

Maintaining Our Foundational Strength

2008-02-01T23:08:00.001-05:00

It's about the Delegates

2008-02-01T23:05:00.001-05:00

When a Leader Appears

2008-02-01T23:02:00.000-05:00

Romney on Romney

2008-02-01T22:57:00.000-05:00

Who knows more about Mitt's positions than Mitt does? Or did? Are the positions not still the same since he resists the "flip flop" label so strenuously?

The True Conservative

2008-02-01T22:51:00.000-05:00

CNN Didn't Control These Ladies...

2008-02-01T22:44:00.000-05:00

Politico.com ran a "focus group" of undecided voters of their own. Shockingly enough, their analysis didn't fall into line with the CNN "Experts"... be sure to play the video.

Let Huckabee Speak, Let Huckabee Run....

2008-01-26T17:42:00.000-05:00

and check his pockets.

Deacon Keith Fournier has posted a great article about Gov. Huckabee and the reception his candidacy has received from the media and the Republican establishment.

It might be interesting to know just what is in his pockets!

When a Leader Appears...

2008-01-26T17:34:00.000-05:00

... we are wise to listen to his message of hope and we are wise to not let the opportunity pass.

Mike Huckabee for America

Why Limbaugh, Hannity, et al Oppose Huckabee

2008-01-26T10:56:00.000-05:00

The conservative radio talk show hosts such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity who are so strident in their opposition to Mike Huckabee have been less than forthright in their motivation.

Their shows are carried by the radio stations of ClearChannel Communications, which has recently been acquired by Bain Capital... the company where Flip Romney made his millions through corporate acquisitions.

If It's Broke.... Fix It.

2008-01-26T10:47:00.000-05:00

Mike Huckabee wants to replace the payroll and income taxes with the FairTax... a consumption tax on purchases. American-made goods would be taxed once - at the point of sale - rather than every time an employee (with their embedded payroll taxes) touches them. Illegal immigrants would join the tax base - paying tax like the rest of us for everything they consume. No more would America penalize productivity and savings. A monthly "pre-bate" check would be issued to every citizen up to refund to them the tax they'll incur for the poverty level of spending in the month, so the tax burden not only remains lighter on the poor - it goes away completely for many. The FairTax is designed to be revenue-neutral - the amount of money brought in would not change - but the removal of the hidden taxes built into all the goods we buy would put lots of buying power back into our economy.

What's wrong with this idea? The establishment opposes it. Many people with vested interest in the status quo are made nervous by it. They prefer the complex tax code we have now. Do you?

I don't. Mike Huckabee does not.

McCain v McCain

2008-01-22T13:57:00.001-05:00

Hey, Fred! Can You See It Yet? GET OUT!!!

2008-01-19T23:03:00.000-05:00

I am one angry and frustrated man tonight. I am edging close to despair over America's future. Tonight South Carolina voted for John McCain by 33% to 30% over Mike Huckabee. Fred Thompson set a personal best tonight with all of sixteen percent.

It will take me some time to forgive Fred Thompson, the National Right to Life Committee, and Fred's supporters for handing John McCain such a big win tonight in South Carolina. May God help Gov. Huckabee to rally in Florida after Thompson finally recognizes what all of America has known since Iowa. Fred needs to drop out of the race and do it now while there's still a chance to nominate a pro-life candidate.

John McCain crafted a Presidential selection process tailor made for long-time Senators such as himself to have a huge advantage. They can use their existing funds from previous federal level races in their campaigns for President. The only other alternative to running a national campaign on level playing grounds with long-time Senators is the tiny set of independently wealthy people like Mitt Romney.

As if the process was not slanted enough, the Christian community leaders waffled between the candidates, some of whom support abortion now, some of whom supported abortion when it was convenient for the race they were running at the time, or they lobbied on behalf of abortion rights groups. So there was no unified voice of Christians DESPITE the "Values Voters" summit where ***51%*** of those present chose Gov. Huckabee. Apparently, the leaders felt "uncomfortable" with the only consistently pro-life candidate. It is time for the leadership of the National Right to Life Committee to resign. Such a position of responsibility and yet so little backbone.

Hey Jim Dobson, if you could really "never vote for John McCain", perhaps the Values Voters Summit was the time to come out with that little tidbit of information? Why bother now? If it's true that his McCain-Feingold Act has involved government in controlling what can and cannot be said in worship services, and what groups like Focus on the Family can tell their supporters, then where was this information in South Carolina?

If 527 Organizations like Club for Growth can receive hundreds of thousands from the rich friends of Flip Romney, and they can run ads without regard to truth or context, where is the fairness or justice in that? Who set up this system, anyway? Oh, that's right... John McCain.

Now we have McCain, Giuliani, and Flip Romney fighting for the lead in "winner take all" Florida... and South Carolina just handed momentum to McCain.

Maybe God really has abandoned America. Maybe the vast number of infant murders already committed is too much for him to overlook.

What will be our answer when the question is asked about abortion: "Why didn't somebody do something?" Will it be "We voted based on political expediency"? Perhaps God will be mollified with "I didn't think Mike could win so I didn't want to vote for him and he lost by three percentage points".

A Review of the SC Debate from Weekly Standard

2008-01-11T09:46:00.000-05:00

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/CampaignStandard/2008/01/barnett_a_big_night_for_huckab_1.asp

Huck's New Ad for Michigan...

2008-01-09T16:33:00.001-05:00

In Honor of Huck's Appearance on Letterman...

2008-01-08T11:12:00.000-05:00

Gov. Huckabee appeared on David Letterman last night (or so I'm told - my Columbus CBS affiliate thought I'd rather watch a post-game press conference after a bad OSU loss)... StuckonHuck.com posted this video in preparation for that visit... a Huckabee Top Ten List.

Huckabee Interview with Larry King

2008-01-04T23:31:00.000-05:00

I like to post videos of Huckabee because he communicates so well. My favorite portion of this interview is near the end when he describes the campaign's cash on hand being a result of frugal spending. That's the sign of a fiscal conservative... his actions there speak louder than the labels affixed to him by the Limbaugh-types.

Huckabee Wins Iowa

2008-01-03T22:24:00.001-05:00

The first step to the Republican nomination has been taken as Gov. Huckabee has won the Iowa Caucuses. In spite of opposition from many of the traditional conservative power-brokers such as Limbaugh, Hannity, etc., Huckabee's message resonated with Iowa's conservative base and he moves on with the win he sought.

Furthermore I think this shows that Mitt Romney's misleading mudslinging not only failed him, but has exposed the weakness of his support. He outspent Huckabee by millions in Iowa and came away with precious little from it. Romney now faces a struggle against Senator McCain to win New Hampshire.

Huck on the Early Show This Morning

2008-01-03T13:02:00.000-05:00

Not Your Average Underdog

2007-12-24T17:57:00.001-05:00

What We Need

2007-12-24T17:55:00.000-05:00

Dallas Morning News Endores Huckabee

2007-12-23T12:17:00.000-05:00

The Dallas Morning News has written a thoughtful endorsement of Mike Huckabee for President.

More on the FairTax

2007-12-21T12:30:00.000-05:00

The Fair Tax Is About Economic Growth

This is a good article about the FairTax, one of the fundamental planks of Mike Huckabee's run for President. I find it interesting that this article is written by Louis R. Woodhill, a member of the Club for Growth's Leadership Council... a group which seems terrified of Huckabee's candidacy.

Hey, Mitt.... Tell Us the Whole Truth

2007-12-19T23:40:00.000-05:00

FactCheck.org Adds Perspective to the Claims of Mitt Romney's Attack on Governor Huckabee.

It is instructive to consider whose best interests a Governor has in mind when considering commutations. Clearly the law gives the Governor the responsibility to consider the applications and to make those decisions. It will never benefit a Governor politically to grant pardons or commutations, but it may be in the best interest of justice and/or the people of the state.

While Gov. Huckabee granted just over 10% of the more than 8700 requests brought him in ten and half years in Arkansas, Gov. Romney granted zero of the 100 requests brought before him in his four years in Massachusetts. Google the news for a Bronze Star recipient named Lt. Anthony Circosta (from Agawam, MA) to learn of a particularly offensive refusal. When a decorated Army officer is prevented from becoming police officer because of a refusal to pardon a conviction from a BB-gun incident (that drew no blood!) incurred at age thirteen, it seems to be clear that Gov. Romney is most concerned about Gov. Romney's political future. In Circosta's case, Romney ignored the recommendation of state's Board of Pardons.

My endorsement

2007-12-17T15:24:00.001-05:00

I like Mike because he is a leader who has consistently stood for things I value most in a national leader. He supports the sanctity of life, conservative economic principles such as limiting the size and role of government, and Mike is concerned about the widening rift between Americans. I like that Mike supports the individual freedoms of the 2nd Amendment. I like that Mike supports replacing our complicated Tax system (indeed, replacing the whole IRS) with the Fair Tax.

In short, I believe Mike has set his priorities well and he maintains a good perspective. He leads in the direction he feels is right rather than waiting for a public opinion poll to learn what his position on an issue should be.

I endorse Mike Huckabee for President of the United States in 2008. I encourage you to support his candidacy as well.

This Guy Gets It

2007-12-17T15:16:00.000-05:00

Here's a political ad for the holidays... if one could ever imagine a political ad one would want to see during the holidays.

Obviously the ability to put out good advertisements isn't the primary skill one looks for in Presidential candidates... but the ability to maintain perspective through stressful and hectic schedules is - and obviously Huck's got that.

Huckabee's Surge Continues

2007-12-12T07:30:00.000-05:00

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee continues his surge toward the lead in the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination. These are exciting times to see him overtake the other candidates. I trust that as his poll numbers' growth rate slows (and it will or he'll pass 100% before the Nov election) that supporters will stay true even as we begin to feel withdrawal from the recent waves of good news, which have been arriving almost daily for nigh unto a month now. Things have gone very well of late, and it's easy to be excited when things go well... but this is a long race, and we will need to stay the course throughout.

Why Huckabee?

2007-12-01T01:02:00.000-05:00

I support the Presidential campaign of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

I agree with many of Huckabee's positions such as the sanctity of life, his belief in God, the need to overhaul the tax system in America, and the need to address America's health problems... and I could go on. But I think one thing that attracts me even beyond giving mental agreement to his positions on issues is his demeanor in these early days of the campaign. Mike seems to be an American first and a conservative second. "I'm conservative, but I'm not angry about it" is a quote which expresses this. I've seen (and heard) many today trying to get their way by shouting the loudest... that doesn't sit so well in the long run.

I understand that many of Huckabee's positions are controversial. But unlike the previous Governor from Hope, Arkansas, Mike builds his positions from his beliefs and leads with them rather than building his positions from popular opinion polls and following the crowd he should be leading.

Mike is very articulate. His positions on issues are well described in videos on his website www.mikehuckabee.com. I encourage you to learn about him and listen to him.

I Got a Buck!

2007-12-01T00:36:00.000-05:00

I have attached a photo of the buck I bagged this week. This is my first large buck and it was quite exciting and gratifying. I've been hunting since 1991. I always enjoy being in the woods and getting away from the IT world of my job. I'm not an avid hunter - I began hunting as a means to spend meaningful time with my father and brother. Through the continued generosity of the family friend who owns the land we hunt, I still have the opportunity to continue hunting with my brother (also in the picture) even this seventh year after my Dad's passing. I've also had the opportunity to take my oldest three children hunting with me in the preceding years. Hunting has provided me with memories I'll cherish for years.