Saul Anuzis' Exellent Adventure!

Hey y'all, our Republican State Party Chairman Saul Anuzis attended the New Hampshire Primary. Here is some snippets from his "excellent adventure, dude." Ya have to be gen-xer to get that.

• The bottom line…the race for the Republican and Democrat nomination is wide open!
• I spent most of the day with New Hampshire GOP Chairman Fergus Cullen. We visited various campaigns’ election night parties, media rooms, radio “row” and did scores of interviews talking about how important Michigan was.
• I called home to WWJ, The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press as well as others and then to the NY Times, Human Events, BBC, Bloomberg TV and Aljazeera. Nuh-uh, no way, no freakin way! Y'all know I woulda loved to have been a fly on the wall or phone on that conversation. The eyes of the nation and the world are turning to Michigan!
• Today I continue with various media interviews and head to Concord to meet with Secretary of State Bill Gardner. Secretary Gardner is going to give me an inside view of how their voting and tabulation system works and then we’re going to discuss our presidential primary reform proposal.
• It was an exciting day in New Hampshire as national pundits and media types all turned their focus to Michigan. Get ready Michigan…the eyes of the nation are upon us!!!
• We are in the process of compiling a complete list of “party events” and “candidate appearances” around the state. If you have any additional information, please send it to our offices ASAP and we will update the list. The list is being sent to state and national media outlets regularly and updated on our web site and blog daily. To see the latest list go to:
• http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2008/01/mi-gop-presiden.html

• Dick Morris on Hannity and Colmes said Michigan is “going to be decisive” and Bill Kristol of the National Review called it “ground zero” for the Republicans.

Well sheesh, took them all long enough to figure it out. Perhaps I am just impatient. Probably a bit of both.

• So lets recap:
• Huckabee wins Iowa.
• Romney wins Wyoming.
• McCain wins New Hampshire.
• Michigan, Nevada, South Carolina and Florida come next…then February 5th.
• With the race wide open, Super Tuesday is stacking up to be decisive and exciting!
• Take advantage of this opportunity and get out and meet the various candidates face to face.

• We issued the following press release last night:
• MANCHESTER, N.H. – The polls in New Hampshire are closed and now Republican presidential candidates are heading to Michigan for what could be a watershed GOP primary in the Great Lakes State.
• “Michigan is positioned to be a make-or-break state for Republican candidates,” said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saulius “Saul” Anuzis. “Michigan is a better test of a candidate’s general election appeal than most of the early primary states. Michigan is a perennial bellwether political state. Its citizenry is extremely diverse, and it and has a long tradition of independent-minded voters. A Republican who does well in Michigan will do well across the country.” [more here]

Remember, I am looking for guest posters, regarding the Michigan Primary. Email at gypzychik (a) yahoo.com

Citizens for Life Endorse Fred Thompson

• Fred Thompson Announces Endorsement of Citizens for Life
  by SOPnewswire

• Today Fred Thompson announced the endorsement of Citizens for Life, the New Hampshire affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.

• "Granite State voters like no-nonsense candidates who stand up for their beliefs. Fred Thompson is such a candidate," said Roger Stenson, Citizens for Life Executive Director. "Fred Thompson had a 100% pro-life voting record as a member of the United States Senate. For all of us who care about the dignity and sanctity of human life and the most basic freedom upon which our nation was founded - the right to life - Fred Thompson is a leader of great promise."

• Citizens for Life is the 14th state pro-life organization to endorse Senator Thompson for President. [more here]
  

Polar Opposites

Okee-dokee, I was searching for Michigan news, to escape this stupid New Hampshowa crap. Well, when I clicked on politics in MNewsLive.com mostly Iowa news came up. I scrolled through and found this, regarding how different Iowa and New Hampshire are from each other, not just geographically. Keep reading and I will insert my dumb broad comments throughout, along with why I even posted this. I hope y'all know I am ignoring my Czech pen-pals to post on blogs, only for the moment. I will ignore y'all soon and pay attention to them. My honesty is going to bite me in the ass someday.

• More than geography separates Iowa, NH

• 1/1/2008, 4:29 p.m. EST By DAVID ESPO The Associated Press

• MANCHESTER, NH. (AP) — So long, ethanol. Hello, taxes. More than geography changes when the 2008 presidential campaign leaves the land of flat — aka Iowa — for New Hampshire, the Granite State. The electorate is different, and the blend of issues.

• Which may be why former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's made-for-Iowa television ad tagline, "Christian leader," has yet to make the trip east across the Mississippi River. In New England, he's a conservative leader.

Fred Thompson doesn't have to play switch-a-roo. He is a conservative leader, who happens to be a Christian.

• "The people of New Hampshire pay attention to Iowa, but it's not the determining factor," Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona observed recently.

Please, change that phrase to fit your state.

• That's a diplomatic way of saying New Hampshire primary voters see little merit in rubber-stamping decisions made in Iowa.

Again, read my previous comment.

• As a group, voters in Iowa and New Hampshire are overwhelmingly white and better educated than the national average.

Two things here. I am thinking of John Cougar Mellencamp's mildly veiled protest song, "Ain't that America," in terms of the "overwhelmingly white" comment. Fill in your own thought.
Does better educated mean more street smarts?

• Still, the differences between them are significant enough to dictate adjustments by the campaigns, even if this year's compressed timetable provides only a five-day interval for changes.

Differences, yes, just as all the states have differences. No other state is as extreme as either one of these states. Most states seem to be more balanced in political views. So why should you let these people dictate how you should think and vote?

• But in New Hampshire, they care somewhat less about health care as an issue than Iowans, and more about the economy. Not surprisingly, they were also less apt to say that jobs are plentiful locally.

• Overall, New Hampshire is more independent-heavy than Iowa. At about 40 percent of the electorate or so, they outnumber registered Republicans and Democrats. They are free to vote in either party's race, a fact that complicates any pre-primary predictions.
• New Hampshire Republicans are more moderate politically than those in Iowa, likelier to support gay marriage, abortion rights and stricter environmental laws.
• Among Iowa Republicans, white evangelical Protestants account for an estimated 38 percent of the population of caucus-goers. In New Hampshire, it drops to about 18 percent, according to the Pew survey. In theory, that will make it more difficult for Huckabee to match the strong showing that pre-caucus polls suggest he will have in Iowa.

• "There's certainly a different focus, more so on fiscal issues, and a libertarian streak in New Hampshire. But I don't see a huge difference between New Hampshire and Iowa voters," Huckabee said recently.

There different, but their not ;).

• Even the method for sorting out the candidates is different.
• New Hampshire has a straight-forward, daylong secret ballot election on Jan. 8 in which voters go to the polls at a time of their choosing.
• Iowa's caucuses on Jan. 3 are essentially neighborhood political meetings, all starting at 8 p.m. EST and each requiring voters to publicly declare their presidential preference.
• Which New Hampshire is free to ignore.
  

Read the full article here.
While I don't think anyone should be swayed by how New Hampshites vote. The last quoting shows why I would give more credence to how New Hampshowites vote.

McCain and Huckabee on Push Polling

In a recent AP article John McCain commented on recent push polling done by supporters, not the Huckabee campaign, in New Hampshire.

• McCain Calls for a Stop to Push Polling

• By JIM DAVENPORT – 12 hours ago
• NEWBERRY, S.C. (AP) — White House hopeful John McCain on Saturday called on Republican rival Mike Huckabee to end push polling in New Hampshire tied to his presidential campaign's supporters, but Huckabee denied any involvement.

• If an ally of his was doing that, "I would ask him to stop it immediately and take those things down. And I hope that Mike Huckabee will do the same," McCain said by phone as he traveled between campaign stops in South Carolina.

Mike Huckabee has already done that. More on that later.

• At an event in Littleton, N.H., Huckabee said he had great respect for McCain and found such criticisms despicable. "I would never be party to any kind of attack upon him," he said.

I truly believe Mike Huckabee to be honest in that. If you recall, both gentlemen did speak jointly at a Townhall meeting hosted by AARP back a while ago. It was supposed to be a debate, but all the other Republican candidates declined to show. Both men showed respect for each other at this event.

A McCain supporter talks about a call from so called "Huckabee supporters" were like.

• McCain supporter Bernie Campbell said he got a call from a Virginia number Friday night and was asked about his positions on gay marriage and abortion through an automated voice response system.
• When he said he supported McCain, "they continued to ask me a number of questions regarding negative aspects of my candidate and asked if they changed my opinion," Campbell said. "Things like, 'You know, Senator McCain's campaign finance reform limits the ability of right to life groups to get their message out. Does that change your opinion about Senator McCain?"
• Campbell said he was also asked whether he knew McCain didn't support a federal amendment to the Constitution banning same-sex marriages.
• At the end, Campbell said the message said it was paid for by "Common Sense something."

Read the rest here.

I have posted Mike Huckabee's response to the recent push polling.

• December 15, 2007 - 05:26 PM

• Stop The Push Polling

• by Team Huckabee

• News Release: Huckabee Campaign Denounces Push Polling -- Again
• Berlin , New Hampshire -- Republican Presidential Candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee today strongly denounced push polling activities in Iowa, New Hampshire, and any state in the country.
  
  "As I've said before, our campaign has nothing to do with push polling and I wish they would stop. We don't want this kind of campaigning because it violates the spirit of our campaign. I want to become President because I am the best candidate, not because I disabled the other candidates,"said Huckabee.
  
  National Campaign Manager Chip Saltsman agreed: "Anyone who has the slightest understanding of the race ahead and the mindset of voters would know this sort of activity is extremely counterproductive. It takes the campaign off message at a time when Governor Huckabee is resonating with voters as never before. It loses votes rather than gains them. It's an underhanded way of doing business that is not welcomed by the campaign and it flies in the face of what Governor Huckabee stands for: integrity and clean politics. On behalf of Governor Huckabee and his campaign, I ask once again that these calls be stopped immediately." [source]
  

What is Kathy's response? I have to say that I think this whole thing is really stupid. Currently I do not believe Mike Huckabee has any involvement whatsoever. Let's say that these people are really Huckabee supporters. They are doing a serious disservice to Mike Huckabee, the Republican candidates, the election process and democracy all together. If they really "Like Mike" this is the last thing they should be doing. Perhaps one does not need to strap a fake bomb on their chest and storm into a campaign office to be another Leland Eisenberg. If they are not Huckabee supporters they are not doing their candidate any good, once the truth is out.

Versatile Huckabee

Here is an article about Mike Huckabee campaigning in New Hampshire. The article is about even though Mike Huckabee is a Christian conservative, he is also showing his more versatile side. Some highlights;

• Republican Mike Huckabee seeks to broaden his appeal

• GOP leader in Iowa is trying to win over N.H. and nation

By Jill Zuckman |Tribune national correspondent
9:28 AM CST, December 15, 2007
• BOSCAWEN, N.H. - In Iowa, where he's leading the Republican field, Mike Huckabee bills himself as a "Christian leader." But here in New England, where voters are more taciturn about their religious beliefs, Huckabee is a "committed conservative," according to his television ads.

• He's also trying to expand his campaign, which is suddenly under pressure from all the attention, to a more national operation. Friday, Huckabee announced that veteran Republican strategist Ed Rollins would take over as national chairman of his campaign in an attempt to do just that.

• "Live free or die -- I get the picture here," Huckabee on Friday told employees on the plant floor at Elektrisola, a manufacturer of magnetic wire, echoing the New Hampshire motto.
• To those workers he sounded a populist appeal -- decrying jobs sent overseas, lambasting the federal tax system that eats up their paychecks, and underscoring his roots coming from a family of modest means. "It's not OK if you guys are invisible to the people who get elected to office," Huckabee said.

• Huckabee said he's not trying to obscure his faith or his social conservatism as he campaigns in a state where Republicans tend to be fiscally conservative and socially liberal.
• "I've never downplayed or up-played it. More people have asked me questions about it than perhaps any other person running," he said at a news conference packed with a newly attentive media contingent. "What I'm playing up is the fact that I've got more executive experience actually running a government as a governor. That's what's important. People shouldn't vote for me or against me because of my faith."

Read the full article here.

Mike Huckabee at Twenty-One Percent

Mike Huckabee is at 21% in Iowa Polls, found on the campaign blog.

• CBS NEWS/NYT POLL SET FOR RELEASE ON WEDNESDAY:

• IOWA:

• Romney 27;
• Huckabee 21;
• Giuliani 15;
• Thompson 9

• Here is the link to the story.

I also found this, a pdf from CBS. Sorry it looks all messed up. I am still unsure how to do copy and paste from pdfs.

• CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL
• For release: November 13, 2007
• 6:30 P.M. EST

• EARLY AND ATTENTIVE VOTERS: IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE
• November 2-12, 2007

• Voters in the first two states to participate in the 2008 presidential selection process are more knowledgeable and much more attentive than voters nationally, especially Iowa Democrats. Two-thirds of them are paying a lot of attention to the campaign, and nearly as many have met a candidate. Iowa Republicans and New Hampshire voters are only slightly less attentive. But attachments are still fluid and half say their minds could change.

I would really like to say a few things about this paragraph. For real, Iowa and New Hampshire voters are more knowledgeable and attententive than voters nationally? Thank you CBS. Golly gee, I's ain't nothin more than just a dumb redneck from the far north of Michigan. I best be listening to what smart farmers in Iowa say.
I am, probably, the only Huckabee supporter who splits on this thought about "New Hampowa" being holier than thou. I am a Michigander before I am an American. I am a Michigander before I am a Huckabee supporter.
I would like to know where they get this info about "New Hampowa-ites" are smarter than the rest of the country. Are they doing some sort of political based IQ tests? People of America, stand up and think for your own dang selfs! Don't just sit back and say, "gee, that's who some smarty in Iowa or New Hampshire supports, so I guess that's who I should support."
What is the difference between this and the media telling us who the front runners are?
Again, I'm just some dumb broad. What do I know? Regardless of how the primary/convention/caucus in Michigan works out, one good thing that will come out of this, is this. Michigan, and Florida too, have been heard and seen. It has gotten people thinking. It has gotten them thinking about the fact that maybe they should think for themselves.
Let's not forget the last part that says half of them could change their minds.

• In Iowa, much will depend on who comes to the caucuses. Hillary Clinton’s lead in Iowa with likely caucus-goers is within the margin of error, and a large turnout from younger and less committed voters could give Obama a clear lead. Among Republican caucus goers, Mike Huckabee is now challenging Mitt Romney. In New Hampshire, Clinton and Romney lead comfortably.

• IOWA: VOTE AMONG LIKELY CAUCUS-GOERS
• Republicans
• Romney 27%
• Huckabee 21
• Giuliani 15
• Thompson 9
• Paul 4
• McCain 4
• Tancredo 3
• Hunter 2
• Undecided 14

• NEW HAMPSHIRE: VOTE AMONG LIKELY PRIMARY VOTERS
• Republicans
• Romney 34%
• McCain 16
• Giuliani 16
• Paul 8
• Huckabee 6
• Thompson 5
• Tancredo 0
• Hunter 0
• Undecided 14

You may wonder why I, a Huckabee supporter would show the New Hampshire poll. Y'all know I am an honest realist. But my main point is this, there is such a major difference between these two polls. Why? They are both two different states. These states have different people with different lifestyles and different beliefs. Neither state is listening to the other state. So why should we listen to either one of these states? Just look at the facts and research all the candidates. I would prefer you check out Mike Huckabee at www.mikehuckabee.com and support him. But most important, I want my readers to think for themselves.

• 

Mike Huckabee's Humility Makes him Likeable

Check out this terrific article in the Concord Monitor.

• Voters should get to know Huckabee
  Candidate connects easily with people


• There was plenty to admire about Mike Huckabee's appearance at Concord High on Friday. He talked with the students, not at them or down to them. Many of them disagreed with him on abortion rights, but they had to respect the way he explained his pro-life views. And in both body language and actual language he displayed a humility that would be a rare quality - and an asset - in a president.


• Huckabee is just the kind of candidate for whom the New Hampshire primary purports to exist. He's a little-known governor with a small bankroll. His only hope is to sell himself directly to the public.
  To run this kind of personal campaign, a candidate must come across as genuine, smart and experienced. Check, check and check. Huckabee, 52, is comfortable with himself and well-versed in the issues. For 11 years he was Arkansas's governor, a job in which, as he explained to the students, he often had to pursue or sell policies that he knew were unpopular.


• So far, Huckabee is best known as a bass guitarist, a guy who lost more than 100 pounds and a comedian. These are positives. He's humble about his musical skills, but even in a dark suit, white shirt and pink tie, he looks natural with a guitar strapped over his shoulder. He has translated his belief in music and the arts into appealing public policy. His weight loss makes him a role model and gives him a platform for talking about health as a public issue. The humor is a bonus; he and John McCain are in a league of their own in the 2008 presidential field.


• Religion could also be a problem for Huckabee.

I disagree, I think religion is a positive for him.

• He told us that in dealing with members of his congregation, he had experienced and confronted every kind of human misery. He counseled parents who had lost young children, married couples on the verge of divorce, people in debt, people struggling with alcohol and drug problems. The forlorn, the sinners and the sinned-against are a pastor's province.
  Huckabee had taken from this experience a profound understanding of human nature. He projects this quality when he speaks in public. While explaining his own views clearly and unapologetically, he also considers his listeners' interests and tries to address them.


• But New Hampshire isn't the Bible Belt. Voters in this live-and-let-live state tend to be suspicious of those who mix religion and politics, such as the Republican pastor-politician Pat Robertson.

OK, from this point I guess I can understand that about new Hampshire. But Mike Huckabee is different.

Check this out what the reporter has to say about his conclusion of Mike Huckabee.

• In case you were wondering, I should acknowledge here that I am not in that camp. There are many issues on which I disagree profoundly with Huckabee. Despite those differences, I find him intriguing and wonder why his party, with its big southern base, pays him so little heed.
  One of his well-heeled rivals may emerge as a stronger candidate than any appear to be now. Then again, maybe not. While New Hampshire Republicans wait and see, they owe it to themselves - and to the state's primary tradition - to lend Huckabee an ear.
  He may make you chuckle, but he'll also surprise you with his depth and his manner.

Read the full article here.

New Hampshire State Rep Julie Brown Endorseses Mike Huckabee

NEWS RELEASE

Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee Announces the Endorsement of State Rep. Julie Brown from Strafford County

Little Rock, AR – Former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee announced today the endorsement of 10-term New Hampshire State Representative Julie Brown. She is the only Republican in the state legislature to hold one of the 37 seats from Strafford County .
“I believe Mike Huckabee has the moral character and vision to lead our country, and he espouses everything I believe in; God, country, and family,” Rep. Julie Brown said. “I am proud to endorse his candidacy for President of the United States .”

Julie Brown joins the growing list of influential endorsements from Strafford County , including Dan Philbrick and Sheriff Wayne Estes.

“I am honored to have Representative Julie Brown’s endorsement. She has been a true Republican leader in Strafford County – and I’m deeply gratified to see the caliber of support that my campaign is attracting. I look forward to working with Julie and the other members of our Strafford County leadership team toward a successful Primary Day in the Granite State ,” said Huckabee.

Will N.H. like Mike?

Found this at SeacoastOnline, some highlights.

• Talk about your trials and tribulations. Consider Mike Huckabee and his journey as a presidential candidate.
  Huckabee is a very popular former Republican governor of Arkansas (a rare species indeed), with no shortage of faith (a Baptist preacher), quips and potential political star power — it's not every presidential candidate who sits with a rock band and plays bass for an hour as Huckabee did recently in Londonderry.
  He's also got plenty of brains ("big ideas") and a relaxing public composure that suggests "come to my revival tent and sit for a spell."
  He's got a conservative populist perspective and has even risen to the level of getting that double-edged sword of legitimacy: favorable and respectful coverage from that dreaded mainstream media.
• But more importantly, Huckabee seems to me to represent the man of the hour for the Republican Party (yes, I know some would consider that faint praise), a seductively charismatic leader who could realize the GOP "big tent" ideal. With the exception of a few conservative heresies in terms of small tax hikes in Arkansas, Huckabee is pleasantly pro-life, anti-gay marriage, loves the Second Amendment, and sincerely questions the concept of evolution. He's on board for the most part with the GOP thinking on Iraq, the war on terror, Iran, and Guantanamo Bay (though he admits that not talking with bad guys is rather self-defeating).
• Huckabee, who underwent a dramatic life-transforming weight-loss experience a few years ago, has also gone out of his way to remind Republicans that a third party candidate would be unnecessary and do for Hillary Clinton what Ross Perot in 1992 did for Bill Clinton — hand the Dems the election.
  "There's no need for a third party if I'm the candidate," Huckabee said.
• While there's no shortage of pundit proclamations about how the races will turn out, the reality is we know a bare minimum about what's going to unfold. Huckabee doesn't fit into a predictable mold. In some ways, he talks funny for a Republican Party used to more clear-cut language of heroes and villains.
  Huckabee talks about renewable energy and education in life-changing rather than factory-delivery analogies. He's the only candidate in either party who talks consistently about wanting to enhance music and art programs as important for education, the economy and life. He also speaks in populist tones, which can frighten away Wall Street conservatives. At the debate in Michigan, he didn't buy the du jour GOP dogma that the economy is a golden river of fortune. It's going, in Huckabee vernacular, "not quite so swimmingly well."
• "We're losing jobs here. That's why people in Michigan are going — looking for something to do. And that's what has to change and it's not being changed. And this party is going to have to start addressing it or we're going to get our britches beat next year," he said at the debate.
  This doesn't mean a return to New Deal liberalism. One of Huckabee's big ideas is to tear down the current tax system and replace it with the fair tax — a qualified 23 to 30 percent national sales tax on retail items. It's controversial (regressive or progressive for most Americans?) and highly theoretical. It's also a great debating start line.
• More than any other candidate, Huckabee has prompted the media herd to ask: Why hasn't he caught fire? Perhaps it's a fire that can't be seen until the first votes are cast.

Read the full article here.

Michigan's Primary Made Fox News Top Story

Wow, I never thought Michigan would make this much political news, Michigan One Step Closer to Jan 15 . I thought I would provide some highlights, then you can click the link to read the rest of the story.

• Michigan's Senate voted to hold a presidential primary on January 15th -- which would completely change the primary landscape. But the bill still has to pass the House, and could face serious changes before being signed into law.
• While both political parties have agreed to the new date, and Democratic Governor Jennifer Granhold has reportedly expressed her support for the bill, Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer has badmouthed the Senate version of the bill -- and expressed support for a caucus instead of a primary. He's also said the bill does not meet DNC requirements, and is unacceptable.

From what I have been hearing, Mark Brewer is an Edwards supporter. And a Democratic caucus in Michigan would be better for Edwards, as oposed to a primary

• The DNC rules and bylaws committee meets this weekend in Washington to discuss penalizing states that move their primaries to January without party consent -- including Florida and possibly Michigan if the current bill is signed into law as written.

Bite my big toe.

• A January 15th primary would force New Hampshire to move up to January 8th at the latest, since state law requires a week between New Hampshire's primary and any similar election. That would force Iowa to break it's state own law requiring a week between the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary -- or risk caucusing on New Year's Day or in 2007. One scenario would have NH on the 8th and Iowa on the 7th, which could backfire on Levin and enhance NH's importance. Candidates are likely to pick either Iowa or New Hampshire -- and, calculating that the one day bounce out of a top tier finish in Iowa isn't worth spending millions of dollars, many could pull out of Iowa altogether to focus on NH. Either way, it seems that Iowa is under the gun.
• A January 15th primary would force New Hampshire to move up to January 8th at the latest, since state law requires a week between New Hampshire's primary and any similar election. That would force Iowa to break it's state own law requiring a week between the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary -- or risk caucusing on New Year's Day or in 2007. One scenario would have NH on the 8th and Iowa on the 7th, which could backfire on Levin and enhance NH's importance. Candidates are likely to pick either Iowa or New Hampshire -- and, calculating that the one day bounce out of a top tier finish in Iowa isn't worth spending millions of dollars, many could pull out of Iowa altogether to focus on NH. Either way, it seems that Iowa is under the gun.

Why is this a state law in New Hampshire and Iowa? Let's put the American people first. Like I have said before, "buyers remorse" could happen. Iowa is such a nice happy little state with the perfect little towns and homes. Michigan is different. The nation and the candidates need to see what has happened to the state of "What's good for General Motors is good for the country." This is the best way for that to happen.

I know I said I would only highlight parts of the article, but I thought it was all important, so I posted it all.

God Bless from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!

MICHIGAN TO MOVE UP ITS PRIMARY/UPDATE

Michigan will be holding it's Primary on January 22, 2008. Meaning now that New Hampshire has to move it's Primary to Jan. 8, Elvis' Birthday, how blasphemus. There is some good and bad about this. The good, It will be an election and not a caucus. This way the people will have a say and not just the mucky-mucks. The bad, this is just so early that it helps the moneyed guys.
I am getting sick of all this competition between the states. "I wanna be first." "No, I wanna be first." "No, me" "Me, me, me." Who is the loser, the American people. Let's forget about which state is the first to hold a primary and put the American people first. With all this early crap, whoever are the nominees to each party, one of them ultimately will be the President. Whoever it is, it could end up a case of buyers remorse. Why, because people won't have time to truly find out about all the candidates. They will only get to hear about the big names. Then afterwards they will wish they had been given more time.
Right now I don't care who wins in Michigan. Obviously I want Mike Huckabee to win. But I think it would be funny for Mitt Romney, daddies boy, to lose in his "state of Nostalgia." So basically anyone but Romney.
Here is the article I found on MSNBC about the news.
I will be back to report more on this.

UPDATE:
From migop.org-
8/17/2007
Early Presidential Primary Gives Michigan Pivotal Role

Voters will hear from candidates - from both parties - on issues important to Michigan
LANSING - Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saulius "Saul" Anuzis today said the decision by state Democratic leaders to hold a presidential primary -- with the concensus being Jan. 15 -- gives Republican and Democrat voters more influence in determining the respective parties' nominees for the White House.
Comments from Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saulius "Saul" Anuzis:
"Republicans have said all along that holding a presidential primary on February 5th or earlier is in the best interest of the state of Michigan. It ensures maximum participation by Republican activists and supporters. Although going on January 15th is not our first choice, we will join with the Democrats and hold our primary on the same day. This puts Michigan front and center in the presidential battle ground."
The Michigan Senate could act on legislation, as early as next week, to set a date for a joint presidential primary.
Still gonna find ya some more info.

Huckabee sees 'new life' in presidential bid after Iowa straw poll

Here are are some parts from an article in the Christian Science Monitor;

• Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee came to a Monitor-sponsored breakfast with reporters Thursday morning still reveling in the political lift from a better-than-expected showing in last weekend's Iowa straw poll.
  "There is a new life in our campaign" as a result of coming in second in the Iowa contest among Republican presidential candidates, Mr. Huckabee said. The two-term former governor won 18.1 percent of the votes last Saturday versus front-runner Mitt Romney's 31.6 percent.
  As a result of the strong Iowa showing, Huckabee said his team had scheduled 16 new fundraisers. "We had 1,000 new contributions, new donors to our website, from Saturday night to Tuesday morning. So clearly there is some momentum," he said.
• He professed optimism about his chances in New Hampshire with its key first-in-the-nation primary. "We have a great team on the ground there. I feel like frankly that we have as good if not better a chance to do well in New Hampshire as we did in Iowa…. *The point [critics] were saying was that was my appeal is limited to values voters, religious voters. I don't think so."
• While both he and former Massachusetts Governor Romney have played influential roles in their respective denominations, Huckabee downplayed the possibility that voters might be concerned their religious views would intrude on government.
  "I don't think people in America are that prejudiced or biased against people of faith," Huckabee said. "What they expect is that if you express a faith that they can trace it down to your roots and that they can also see it in your actions. The only thing people in America truly have a problem with is hypocrisy or phoniness."
• The mood among the evangelical community is different than in previous national elections, Huckabee said. "There are a lot of issues people still care a lot about … but I don't think we are as clearly polarized, for example in the community of faith, as we once were where it is all about one or two issues. In fact, I think there has been somewhat of a maturing process among particularly Evangelicals."
  Huckabee described the change as "a new sense that if you really are going to say I am applying my faith to the world in which I live, that has to include concerns about the environment, it has to include concerns about poverty and hunger; it can't just be about abortion and same sex marriage. It is not that there is sort of a softening or a weakening on the convictions regarding those issues. But that is not enough."
• The proper role of the federal government is one area where Huckabee said he disagrees with the Bush White House. "I tend to see things from a governor's perspective – that states should maintain a great deal more authority and the federal government a lot less. I am truly a Jeffersonian when it comes to that. And I think, if anything, this administration has troubled me most in that it is more Hamiltonian than it is Jeffersonian."
  During his 10 years as governor, "My conflicts often with the White House were over the basis of 10th Amendment issues." That amendment provides that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, belong to the states. "Jefferson was, in fact, right that the ideal is strong states and a relatively weak centralized federal government, not the other way around," Huckabee added.
• One way Huckabee tries to differentiate himself from the eight other announced or unannounced Republican presidential candidates is by calling himself a Main Street Republican as opposed to what he terms a Wall Street Republican. And he talks about the lasting impact of growing up in modest circumstances.
  "I have shopped the aisles of Wal-Mart. I have lived that life. If you grew up in a household, as I did, where you are told to eat everything on your plate because you are really not sure there will be a plateful tomorrow, if you truly understand what it means to scratch it out to get an education because you see in your own family what the lack of an education means…. And there is no trust fund, no savings account to fall back on … you have just a different perspective about life than if there is really no sense that you can fall and get hurt."

*Refering to

• But pundits and political writers are questioning how long the momentum will last. "I predict a year from now Huckabee will be a footnote of a footnote," said conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer on Fox News.

Mr. Krauthammer you are so wrong.

• And an Associated Press analysis Thursday argued that "the traits that helped Republican hopeful Mike Huckabee race to a second-place finish in last week's Iowa straw poll might be more of a drag with voters in New Hampshire." The piece noted that many Republicans in New England are economic conservatives and social liberals.

Mike Huckabee is way more versatile than that. He may be a social conservative, but he is also an economic conservative. If people are more willing to listen to him speak than listen to what narrow-minded critics have to say they will realize he is true, genuine and authentic in all realms of voters concerns.

Read the full article here.

7-7-07 Will be a Lucky Day for Mike Huckabee, Capitol Offense and Concert Goers!

Huckabee ain't too proud to beg

• Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and his rock band, Capitol Offense, will play "Mustang Sally" when they come to Concord this weekend, if you want. Or "Jailhouse Rock."
  Or "Ain't Too Proud to Beg."
  The concert, scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. at the ball fields behind Northeast Delta Dental, is a fundraiser for the campaign, which has lagged behind in terms of raising money. It's also the second of two events being billed as the one-day-only Huckabee '08 New Hampshire Summer Concert Tour. (The other is a support-our-troops rally in Nashua at noon.)
  Before Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, straps on his bass guitar, concertgoers can vote online for which songs they'd like the band to play at musiciansforhuckabee.wordpress.com.
  As of yesterday afternoon, "Mustang Sally" held a narrow lead, with 17 percent of the votes. "Fortunate Son" had 16 percent of the votes. In order to see the results, we had to vote. (We chose "Taking Care of Business" because, well, we were). A tally on PollDaddy.com said it was one of 5,165 votes cast .

Read the rest of the article in the Concord Monitor Online.

Be sure to vote in the poll for the song you would like to hear the band play. You can vote as many times as you want. If ya love Elvis please vote for Jailhouse Rock. Click here

Click to read Steve Pyle's updates on Twitter. Click to read Mark Allison's updates on Twitter.

Todays Mike Huckabee Blogger Call

Today I participated in yet another great blogger call. While all the previous blogger calls have been wonderful this one seems to be the best one yet. I could really feel the energy from both Mike Huckabee and all the fellow bloggers asking questions. Mike Huckabee answered questions from the campaign trail in Iowa. This time I think I asked my question worded the way I meant to last week. I will get to the question and Mike's terrific answer later.

His guest for this call was Fred Bramante, Co-Chair of the New Hampshire Huckabee Exploratory Committee. He is also a member on the New Hampshire School Board. This time I spelled the guest caller's name correctly. On the last call I spelled the last name of the guest caller Ferris instead of Farris. My apologies.

Mike Huckabee wished everyone a Happy Fourth of July. He applauded all us bloggers for getting out his message and that of what is going on around us, things that don't always get printed in the mainstream media.

He made a comment about Bill and Hillary Clinton being in Iowa taking over the media, and everything else being overshadowed. It sounds like history repeating itself. If ya recall in one of my book reports I told y'all about how Bill Clinton's presidential campaign overshadowed all politics in Arkansas when Mike was running for Senate. "HOPE"fully, the end result won't be the same as in '92. For real, I don't see that happening.

He said one of the best things about living in this great country, U.S.A., is that all children can get an education and run for president, regardless of background. He feels glad that he grew up in such a great country where he got a great education that he wants to run for president and give back what was given to him and see all American children get an education.

Fred Bramante then spoke. He said there is a buzz of excitement in New Hampshire over Mike Huckabee's campaign. More people are joining up and helping the campaign grow. He said Mike has definitely risen to the top of the 2ND tier and the more people hear about him the more he will rise into the main tier. Mr. Bramante then expressed his disappointment that hardly any education questions were asked in any of the three debates. He feels that Mike Huckabee will be the President to steer education in the right direction. He also mentioned that Mike Huckabee will be the only Republican candidate to speak at the next NEA convention.

Which brings me to this blogger Q&A from Steven Nielsen of Colorado for Huckabee. I am not going to blog in order of Q&A this time, just in order I feel relevance. Not that I think any one asked irrelevant questions, just that some questions follow others more smoothly. That being said I will stop blabbering.

Steve asked Mike on his opinion of the polls showing low approval ratings for both President Bush and Congress. Mike began his answer talking about a quote from Isiah that was hanging over the fireplace of one of his judge friends in Arkansas. "Come let us reason together." He said that there is too much polarization going on between the Democrats and Republicans fighting. Most of the American people are tired of seeing and hearing both parties throwing grenades, figuratively of course, at each other. He said the big concerns of the American people are seeing the tax system replaced and border security.

Music for All asked about something Mike Huckabee asked recently. Mike said that "Music was life changing for me in my life." He elaborated on that quote. Mike was a shy kid while he was growing up. When he was eleven his parents bought him an electric guitar that he had really wanted. That cost his parents over $90 from the JC Penneys catalog. That was a lot of money back then and they had to make payments on it. He is grateful for the sacrifice they made for him to see his dream come true.

This is why Mike Huckabee is such an ardent supporter of Arts and Music education. he said too many kids are bored in school and end up taking naps during class. He claims that music education will help wake up kids in class. It is a powerful and essential learning tool for kids to use both their right and left sides of their brains. He said all kids love music.

He credits that guitar with helping him overcome his shyness. With that guitar he was able to play the music he loved and get on stage in front of people. It was sort of his first intro to the public spotlight. While many people are comparing different candidates to former Presidents, I will compare him to Elvis.

While Elvis became famous for his music and Mike is becoming famous for politicking. The similarities are that growing up Elvis was shy, just like Mike. Elvis received a guitar at eleven years old, just like Mike. Elvis overcame his shyness through his guitar playing at local events, just like Mike. OK, Elvis wanted a bike instead of a guitar and Mike wanted a guitar. But think, where would either one of them be if they had gotten a bike when they were eleven? I don't want to think about it.

Now, for my question. Ya know what, I need a break. I will be back sometime today. I will finish the whole blog about the call today or tomorrow. So many great questions and answers that my head is just spinning.

God Bless from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!

Mike Huckabee to Appear on Hannity and Colmes Tonight

Mike Huckabee will appear on Hannity and Colmes tonight on FOX News at 9pm est. If you somehow miss the 9 pm broadcast you can watch again at midnight.

Also, if you find yourself in New England on or around July 7 check out Massachusetts for Huckabee. She has info about Mike Huckabee New Hampshire Summer tour. His band Capitol Offense will be playing there next month.

I will be adding more links to media appearances, articles and blogs.

I have finished reading Chapter 3 in Character Makes a Difference. My book report is on it's way. If you are new to this blog or missed the previous reports first go to Intro, Chapter 1 and then Chapter 2.

Mike Huckabee at House Party in N.H.

On Sunday, June 3 Mike Huckabee attended a house party at the farm-home of Roger and May Pat Jackson, where he spoke about border control and tougher trade negotiations.

The majority of the attendees said that of the policies Huckabee proposed border security is the most important.
What are people saying of his visit?
"His answer on immigration was good," said Bruce Jackson, 23, a firefighter from Auburn. "He wants to close down the borders and track what is going on."
"He was quick on his feet and knowledgeable," , says Mary Pat Jackson

Talking about American businesses and international trade, he says this, "there is no free trade without fair trade,"

Roger Jackson, who is employed at Merrimack Street Volvo in Manchester, liked these ideas. He said that the domestic automobile industry is dire straights because it builds health care and retirement into the prices of its vehicles, expenses not always included in foreign vehicles.

He also touched on the subject of energy dependence. "The U.S. is being held hostage to foreign oil," he said.
From Fred Noyes of Epson, "I thought he failed to address geothermal resources. This country has volcanic heat beds that can be converted to steam and electricity," said Noyes who asked the candidate to consider this.
"He promised me he would look into it," he said.

Read the full story in the Union Leader.


I would like to get a little off track for a moment and speak from a Michigan perspective regarding the auto industry. Roger Jackson's comment above got me thinking. I grew up near Flint, Michigan. As most people know this is where General Motors got it's start. And of course Ford got it's start in Detroit. In fact, Flint's nickname used to be Buick City. A good majority of the kids I went to school with had fathers who worked in the General Motors plants and mom was a homemaker. Many of those kids, or at least the boys, figured they would follow their fathers into the "shops." By the time we started graduating high school this was not the case.
If you talk to the Democrats and Democrat voters in Genesee County they will tell you that the "Big wigs" in Detroit are evil and greedy. Talk to the Republicans and Republican voters in the county and they will tell you that the UAW is evil and greedy. Talk to me... I will tell you both sides got greedy.
Look at the picture in my header. That photo was taken at the Sloan Museum in Flint, Michigan. The 1955 Chevy Bel Air in the background, there is a 75% chance that my grandfather had his hand on it as it was rolling down the assembly line.
Fifty years ago and longer GM needed so many workers that they couldn't find enough locals, so they recruited men from Down South to come up to Flint to work. My grandfather was one of those men. He was a cotton farmer in Arkansas with an eighth grade education. He brought his family up to Flint so that he could provide better for them, to become what is known as a "shop rat." That is an assembly line worker. My grandparents still live in the same one story two bedroom house, where they raised 3 boys and 3 girls, my youngest uncle came way later. The girls slept in one room while the boys slept in the living room. My other grandfather grew up in Flint and didn't finish college, yet he was made a supervisor as soon as he started working there. This was the era that, "What's good for GM is good for the country." Now Michigan unemployment rates are 7.1%.
I can't say that the employee benefits are bad. I think GM was doing what they thought was right at the time. When the 70's came quality levels of cars went down. While at the same time employee salaries went up. It doesn't take an economic genius to figure how this was going to end. If it wasn't for these benefits neither of my grandparents would be in the financial situation they are. Enough blabbering! I thought I was just going to make a quick note about GM.

God Bless from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!

Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee to Talk of His Hope for America

Thursday, June 7 in Washington DC Mike Huckabee will talk before National Press Club audience in Washington DC, two days after the June 5 Republican Debate in New Hampshire. Click here

From the Union Leader-Huckabee vs. Richardson Would be a Dream Presidential Contest

From the Union Leader in New Hampshire. David Broder writes that Huckabee vs. Richardson would be a dream Presidential contest. Beginning paragraph, "THE LIVELIEST pair of candidates in the large fields of Democratic and Republican long shots, Bill Richardson and Mike Huckabee, are also -- not coincidentally -- the likeliest to break through into the top ranks of their parties if anyone ever does."

Some good things Mr. Broder says about Mike Huckabee.

"...Richardson and Huckabee communicate a good-humored enjoyment of the chase that is as refreshing as it is rare."

"Nonetheless, the early going has shown Huckabee and Richardson poking their heads above the others who are striving to break out of the second tier -- seven of them on the GOP side, five on the Democratic."

"Huckabee has been the source of some of the best lines at the two Republican debates, including his comment that Congress has 'spent money like John Edwards at a beauty shop.'"

"He is a good-natured fundamentalist, both in his religious values (a Baptist preacher before he entered politics) and in his basic conservatism. But he has an independent streak. He has the guts to call Alberto Gonzales an embarrassment to the administration and, at home, he defied the legislature in a losing battle to allow the children of illegal immigrants, when they graduated from an Arkansas high school, to go to college for the same tuition paid by other state residents. And he advocates a radical overhaul of the tax system, abolishing all federal levies in favor of a retail sales tax with progressive protections for the poor."


He also says of Mike "Huckabee is hurting for money and still searching for an early-voting state where he can plant his flag. He may never find it, but given the question marks hanging over the three Republican front-runners, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney, there could be room for him."
Yes, the money thing. Currently Mike doesn't have the money to bombard the people with advertising. That's where the grassrooters come in. All the Huckabee supporters need to do everything we can for him, whether it be through blogging, financial support or telling as many friends as possible about him.

Yes, there are question marks over the three biggies. There are no question marks lingering over Mike Huckabee. He is who he is, and that's a good thing!

To read the whole article click the link above.


God Bless from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!