[Jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Chrysostom

I dunno. I think the fictional "War On Radical Fundamentalist Islam" is the top priority on the minds of most of the social-conservative types (even though that's not strictly a 'social' viewpoint, haha). And that's what Huckabee brings -- social conservative pedigree, committed to "Fight For Honor" against "Evil Heathen Muslims", decent speaker, some leadership ability, horrible puns. I mean, obviously he's bringing together the worst of all worlds -- faith in the State over here and over there and in your pants and in your thoughts -- but this is the kind of thing that the kinds of people who show up on primary polls in the South are looking for. It's really refreshing to hear him say that he doesn't like the blue/red dichotomy, but he's not going to help kill it.

I guess I tend to think of the Republican base as one that likes small government and lower taxes, but you're right that social issues have tended to define the GOP in the past decade or more.

But what would a post-millenialist America look like?

I'm not so sure about this one. Anybody has the right to change his mind over the course of ten years. And I think the article itself slants both postures a bit.

I agree. He spoke about AIDS at a time when the messages about it were unclear. I think it's more refreshing to see a politician admit to being wrong unless it's part of a history of wrongdoing and quick apologies.

[ApparentlyNothing]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

I agree. He spoke about AIDS at a time when the messages about it were unclear. I think it's more refreshing to see a politician admit to being wrong unless it's part of a history of wrongdoing and quick apologies.

I'm not so concerned about the AIDS part as much as equating environmentalism with pornography, homosexuality with necrophilia, and non-Christians with evil-doers.

"Men who have rejected God and do not walk in faith are more often than not immoral, impure, and improvident."

He then cites Bible passages that have been misinterpreted and taken out of context to somehow support such a wild and untrue generalization. He's a fundamentalist wacko at worst and an idiot at best. I haven't seen anything to make me think otherwise of him yet.

To top it all off, HE SUPPORTS THE WAR IN IRAQ.

He also stated that if he felt Iran was a threat, he'd attack them as well WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL.

I'm not sure what other reasons you need to not like the guy. Flat out stating he'd defy the Constitution is enough for me. The rest just piles it on.

[Chrysostom]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

I guess I tend to think of the Republican base as one that likes small government and lower taxes, but you're right that social issues have tended to define the GOP in the past decade or more.

The Republican base has in large part followed the right-wing pundits, who all decided that small government and lower taxes go right out the window because of the "War On Radical Evil Heathen Fundamentalist Islam."

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

But what would a post-millenialist America look like?

What would a Christian America look like? I don't nearly have the imagination for that. I know that electronic media/advertising would stop defining social structures. But I don't know the alternative.

[JerryLove]

A scientifically illeterate religious funsablenalist who believes that God wants him to be president and that "evil" is the cause of everything from poverty to the envyronment (not that he's going to help the envyronment), who wants to expand the power of the fed, get the state *mor* involved in personal.religious issues like marriage, etc.

I, thankfully, don't think he could win a general election. Nominating him is probably a guarentee of a Democratic victory. We alrady have a light version of this in Bush, and he makes me want to leave the country.

The Ron Paul thread made me want to look up more. Looking even a little here makes me cringe in fear.

[RipVanWinkle]

He's got my support.

I've heard him speak at a few Christian Conferences in the past. He really has a heart for God and is an honest guy. Perhaps he's all talk (I hope not though), but if a president of our country truly bases his decisions on what the will of God is, that would be incredible

[bowstaff981]

I don't understand the overstated hatred for him. I think he's a little strange for my tastes, but just because his attempts at being cool and making jokes are bad doesn't mean that he'll make a bad president. There are other people I would rather see president over him, and there are other people I would rather Huckabee be president over.

It's important to remember that the Republican party is playing defense in this election; they're going to nominate the person that can win the election for them, whether he holds all the republican values true or not.

[ApparentlyNothing]

Originally Posted by RipVanWinkle

He's got my support.

I've heard him speak at a few Christian Conferences in the past. He really has a heart for God and is an honest guy. Perhaps he's all talk (I hope not though), but if a president of our country truly bases his decisions on what the will of God is, that would be incredible

Did you go to any of the links I posted?

Originally Posted by bowstaff981

I don't understand the overstated hatred for him. I think he's a little strange for my tastes, but just because his attempts at being cool and making jokes are bad doesn't mean that he'll make a bad president. There are other people I would rather see president over him, and there are other people I would rather Huckabee be president over.

It's important to remember that the Republican party is playing defense in this election; they're going to nominate the person that can win the election for them, whether he holds all the republican values true or not.

Did you go to any of the links I posted?

It's not overstated at all. If being "a little strange" and awkwardly trying to be cool were his main follies, I'd agree with you.

[bowstaff981]

Originally Posted by ApparentlyNothing

Did you go to any of the links I posted?

It's not overstated at all. If being "a little strange" and awkwardly trying to be cool were his main follies, I'd agree with you.

Yes I did. I'm saying that people are making him out to be this maniac, his attempts to be cool with young people are actually pretty much typical of somebody his age to me. I wasn't trying to defend him and say that I think he's a great guy, I'm just saying that everyone is making him out to be worse than he is.

[ApparentlyNothing]

Originally Posted by bowstaff981

Yes I did. I'm saying that people are making him out to be this maniac, his attempts to be cool with young people are actually pretty much typical of somebody his age to me. I wasn't trying to defend him and say that I think he's a great guy, I'm just saying that everyone is making him out to be worse than he is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iod3G8tGsIw

That's good enough for me to not like him, and it has nothing to do with him "trying to be cool with young people".

He's Bush x 10. 1 is more than enough.

[Bryan]

what do you have a problem with? the fact that he wouldn't go to Congress first or the fact that he would go ahead with an attack if congress said no if he felt it was in the best interest of the American public?

[ApparentlyNothing]

Originally Posted by Bryan

what do you have a problem with? the fact that he wouldn't go to Congress first or the fact that he would go ahead with an attack if congress said no if he felt it was in the best interest of the American public?

Both. It's unconstitutional. There are very important, specific reasons why we don't give the president that amount of power.

He's playing to the fears of the American people. If we think that we're always threatened by nuclear weapons, our fear will overpower reason, and we'll elect someone who promises us to keep us safe but is actually incredibly unfit for the job, or even worse, a dictator.

[thesteve]

Originally Posted by ApparentlyNothing

Both. It's unconstitutional. There are very important, specific reasons why we don't give the president that amount of power.

He's playing to the fears of the American people. If we think that we're always threatened by nuclear weapons, our fear will overpower reason, and we'll elect someone who promises us to keep us safe but is actually incredibly unfit for the job, or even worse, a dictator.

From what I understand, under the War Powers Act, the President has that kind of power for up to 90 days. Whether or not that Act is constitutional is debated, but regardless, it has been a presidential right since 1973.

[Bryan]

it is not unconstitutional for the president to take military action without congress' approval. it is unconstitutional for him to wage war without approval. there is a difference between a precision strike against a site that is being used for nuclear research and manufacturing and deploying tens of thousands of troops to take over Iran.

[thesteve]

Originally Posted by Bryan

there is a difference between a precision strike against a site that is being used for nuclear research and manufacturing and deploying tens of thousands of troops to take over Iran.

though if he managed to take over Iran in 90 days...

[wjarmusch]

Originally Posted by RipVanWinkle

He's got my support.

I've heard him speak at a few Christian Conferences in the past. He really has a heart for God and is an honest guy. Perhaps he's all talk (I hope not though), but if a president of our country truly bases his decisions on what the will of God is, that would be incredible

Originally Posted by bowstaff981

I don't understand the overstated hatred for him. I think he's a little strange for my tastes, but just because his attempts at being cool and making jokes are bad doesn't mean that he'll make a bad president. There are other people I would rather see president over him, and there are other people I would rather Huckabee be president over.

It's important to remember that the Republican party is playing defense in this election; they're going to nominate the person that can win the election for them, whether he holds all the republican values true or not.

I guess this is kinda my mindset. He seems to be a strong man of God, with good morals.
For some reason he seems to be getting attacked massively. I haven't really seen anything that convinces me otherwise yet.

I mean, sure, he's not perfect...but if the choice was him over say Rudy Guliani, or Barak Obama (SP?), or Hillary Clinton, or John McCain I'd take him anyday. I'm leaning towards him over Ron Paul also.