Two Goals - From Mike Huckabee

Email from Mike Huckabee:

Dear Friend,
I am busy campaigning in Iowa today but I wanted to reach out to you with an update on where things stand.

I spent yesterday in Davenport where I met hundreds of interested voters. Education, health care, border security, Iraq and out of control Washington spending are on the minds of voters here. Which isn't suprising, because wherever I go these are the issues people are talking about.

As I have said in previous emails our campaign is continuing to gain ground. Our online fundraising is picking up and our website traffic is building, especially in Iowa. Which is good news because the Iowa Straw Poll is only 18 days away and we still have a ways to go and very real goals we must meet as a campaign. Its my hope that you will once again help us.

1) By this Friday at midnight we need 1,000 online Vounteers to send emails to their friends, family members and co-workers encouraging them to join our campaign. You can do so by visiting the "Build Our Base" section of the website. The last time we set this goal over 2,000 of you participated. A great result and one we need to duplicate.

2) Make an immediate online contribution to our campaign of $15, $25, $35, $50, $70 or even $140. We must raise 400 contributions by Friday at midnight, so I hope you will take a moment now to make a contribution in support of our campaign. We will invest the contribution you make immediately into our grassroots field operations nationally.

Your support has helped fuel this campaign and your continued support is critical in the remaining 18 days before the Ames Straw Poll. If you have already made a contribution, now is the time to seriously consider making another. The amount you contribute isn't as important as your participation. Thank you!
With deep gratitude,

Mike Huckabee will Speak at NEA

From Campaign e-mail-

Mike Huckabee to Address the National Education Association

in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 5 at 1:45 p.m.

Little Rock, AR – Former Ark. Governor Mike Huckabee, a Republican, will outline his vision for the future of America’s public schools at the National Education Association (NEA)’s Representative Assembly in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 5 at 1:45 p.m. ET. The event is open to the press. The NEA is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million teachers, higher education faculty, educational support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. More than 9,000 school employees will attend the assembly, which is one of the largest democratic decision-making bodies in the world. Huckabee, who served as governor of Arkansas from 1996-2007, is recognized as a national leader. A past chairman of the bipartisan National Governors’ Association (NGA) and chairman of the Education Commission of the States, he has been honored by several renowned publications and organizations for his numerous accomplishments. Governing Magazine named him as one of its 2005 ‘Public Officials of the Year.’ Time Magazine called him “one of the five best governors” in America. In 2007, he received the Music for Life Award by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) for his commitment to music education. As governor, Huckabee created intensive reading and math programs for elementary and then high school students, resulting in a dramatic rise in test scores – and one of the most demanding high school curricula in the country. Other achievements included raising teacher salaries, from among the lowest in the nation to among the most competitive, and making schools more accountable by insisting on transparency in how money is spent and creating more efficiency by putting money into classroom programs, rather than administrative costs. Huckabee, who formed a 2008 presidential exploratory committee, said education reform remains a critical part of his agenda. He supports the “No Child Left Behind” law’s effort to set high national standards; however, he believes states must be allowed to develop their own benchmarks. Among other initiatives, he stresses the importance of music and the arts to prepare the nation’s youth to meet the challenges of a creative global economy. (For more information, please visit: http://www.explorehuckabee.com/.)

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 Ain't No Sissy

I came up with the title of this post after reading an article in newsobserver.com from North Carolina. "Huckabee's faith moves him past hot button issues"

• WASHINGTON - Mike Huckabee isn't what pundits would call a mainstream Christian conservative Republican.
  Sure, the candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination is a devout Christian. In fact, he's a Baptist minister and was the president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention before he served as the governor of Arkansas for 10 years.
  But ask the 51-year-old Huckabee how his faith affects his politics, and he skips over the standard hot-button issues of abortion, gays or whether people should say "Merry Christmas" or "season's greetings" -- topics that dominate talk radio and cable TV and thus define Christian conservatives to much of the country.
  Rather, he talks passionately about the morality of helping parents send their children to college, the need to observe the golden rule in handling Katrina refugees mistreated by an uncaring federal government, and the immorality of corporate chief executive officers getting multimillion-dollar bonuses while taking pensions and jobs away from workers.

I think it is more important for someone in government to care about these things. While abortion is a major issue, it does not affect everyday issues. Does who's gay or how holidays are wished put young adults through college? No. Does it help victims of natural disasters? No. Does it put dinner on the kitchen table of the workers of the big corporations? No.

• But he says his version of moral conservatism makes sense in governing, and it could appeal to a broader audience at a time when many Republicans have lost support from independents and moderate suburbanites.
  "It is an appealing message to a broader cross-section of the voting public, not just a litmus-test list," said former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley, who recently endorsed Huckabee. "His sense of right and wrong is more than just a few issues."

David Beasley says exactly what I am thinking. Mike Huckabee is a multi-faceted candidate. He doesn't fit any mold. I think this is what scares some in the "party establishment," about him. They want some Pinocchio that they can mold, create and pull the strings. Well Mike ain't no sissy who will allow others to control him. There is no elitist Republican ventriloquist speaking behind Mike Huckabee. Soon, the noses of the "Pinochios" will grow long and the ventriloquists hands up the butts will be exposed. Then the American people will see who the true Conservative really is. And that person is Mike Huckabee.

• During a recent Republican debate in New Hampshire, Huckabee criticized his fellow opponents of abortion for appearing to lose interest in children after birth and for not talking about problems such as homelessness later in life.

I am glad that someone is speaking out that pro-life is more than just what happens up until birth. How is it pro-life if life is not taken serious? When life after birth is not taken serious then it is just "talking points" spin and drivel.

• Huckabee started in politics as Arkansas lieutenant governor in 1993. He moved up to the top job in 1996 when the governor resigned amid a corruption scandal. Huckabee cut income taxes, expanded health care for poor children, boosted elementary-school education and was re-elected twice.
• He noted that he's solidly against abortion -- he signed a state ban on late-term abortions -- but stressed that the issue didn't come close to dominating his agenda.
  "I was consistent in my views and values as it related to social issues," he said. "But 91 percent of our state budget is spent on education, prisons and Medicaid. So it didn't make sense to spend 91 percent of my time on issues that didn't reflect my real job."

• Huckabee insists on other examples to illustrate how his faith affects the way he governs. Nothing got him as agitated as the thought of people losing jobs or pensions.
  When a CEO makes $100 million while his workers lose pensions or jobs, he said, "that is immoral. ... That's not free enterprise. That's theft."

This is one of my biggest pet peeves about the party. They try telling everyone that these fancy pants guys deserve all the big raises and whatnot, because he went to college and got a BS degree. I am not knocking down someone who went to college and studied to graduate. But there is such an imbalance in the pay between the "fat-cats" and the blue-collar people who are struggling to put dinner on the table and pay their bills according to which utility company is threatening to shut them off.

Some people may disagree with me and even call me a liberal. But I don't care. Personally, I think whenever these CEOs and executives get raises and promotions it's because they got a new mistress. And he needs more money to buy her a car, jewelry, fur coats or "set her up" in a condo. Maybe he has to pay hush money. It also could be that his wife has found out about said mistress and is threatening to call the best divorce attorney in town. So what does mister fancy pants do? He buys her something shiny to keep her quiet. These are the same people who talk about morality and purity. Ha-ha!

Sometimes I can see communism in both parties. One party says they want to take from the poor and take from the rich. And yet they want to stay rich. Why? Because they know more than everyone else. They deserve it. That is wrong. Then you have another party that wants to see a major schism in pay between the haves and have nots. Whenever anyone questions this they are told not to question. We are told they know better than the rest of us. This too is wrong. How I got off on a tangent about communism is beyond me?

God Bless from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!

James Kotecki Interviews Mike Huckabee

Watch both videos. In these vids Mike Huckabee is given the chance to discuss all the issues that are on his mind. Fair Tax, Education, Arts & Music, Health, his own personal issues with health, going from pastor to governor and why both experiences can help him in his run for President, Foreign Policy.





I don't know too much about this James Kotecki kid. I hear he is fairly popular in political videos on YouTube. It seems he is a college student. From what I have seen in these two vids he seems smarter than many of the guys on major news channels. He actually listened to Mike rather than staring off to space saying, "uh-hu, uh-hu."

UPDATE: I have received a comment from James Kotecki. He is currently a college grad.

Blogger's Call Part 1

This morning I participated in another Blogger's Conference Call with Mike Huckabee and his guest was Senator Bob Kleg of New Hampshire. Mike Huckabee is thrilled to have him on his team. I am rather tired, just got home from work a few hours ago. So I will be writing this in parts.

As I have stated I didn't get to watch the debate or record it, I am still kicking myself over this. I was able to pick up on what was being said. He wished that there were more questions about issues that the American folk talk about around the dinner table, like education, economy and healthe care. He was grateful that bloggers talk about these issues and get the word out to the viewing public.

One blogger asked Mike a question about No Child Left Behind Innitiative. His answer was that education should be primarily left up to the states. Although he still feels that The No Child Left Behind Innitiative did bring up the school standards in the states. He feels that testing is vital in finding out how well the kids are learning. He said "It's like going to a ball game and there's no scoreboard." He compared turning the numbers on a scoreboard like seeing the test results. While Governor of Arkansas more got done in five years than all that was done in the past fifty years in Arkansas schools. Teacher's pay and standards became more competitive. He said that too many kids are putting their heads on their desks and taking the most expensive naps because they are bored. That is why he is so passionate about music and arts. Music and arts help kids to learn with their right and left brains. When kids learn with both sides of their brains their test scores go up in math and science. It will also enhance them with team work and leadership skills, which is essential.

He also believes that education should be focused on in the campaigns and it should be on the minds of all the candidates. While I don't have kids, as an American voter and taxpayer, I think focusing on education is important. These kids are the future of America. I don't want kids taking naps on my tax dollars. If these kids don't get a good education they will be on government assistance after they graduate. Thus, after I pay for their naps I pay for their food and nessicities. So I am glad he is focusing on education.

Well yawl, I am tired and need to sleep, so I shall go now. I will blog more later.