On his Fox News program tonight Mike Huckabee announced that he is not running for president in 2012.
Earlier today, a leaked email from Huckabee to his inner circle made it look like he was leaning towards running, but according to news reports Huckabee has changed his mind at least four times in the past few weeks, so no one really knew for sure what he would say tonight. In the end, Huckabee decided not to run.
The immediate impact of Huckabee’s announcement is that a weak Republican field just got weaker. Huckabee’s presence would have given evangelical Republicans and social conservatives a candidate to support. If Huckabee would have sat this one out, those voters would have been up for grabs. Mike Huckabee is polling well right now, so was Rudy Giuliani in 2007.
Huckabee hasn’t been the typical Obama bashing Fox News personality. During his speech at the National Press Club earlier this year Huckabee praised Obama as good family man and role model, “I think he has been an exemplary husband to his wife and an extraordinary father to his daughters. Frankly, America needs a good role model like that and how can I on one hand argue for the primacy of the American family and not recognize that in his own personal life style he has given us an excellent example of a person who has his priorities straight in marking out time for his wife and raising his daughters in a disciplinary environment in which he recognizes that he the parent is responsible for the atmosphere in which they are raised. And I commend him and salute him for that.”
Mike Huckabee has also praised Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity campaign, “What Michelle Obama is proposing is not that the government should tells you that you can’t eat dessert. What Michelle Obama has proposed is that we recognize that we have a serious obesity crisis — which we do. Seventy-five percent of military eligible kids going into the army can’t qualify for the physical because they are either overweight or obese and can’t meet the minimum army standards. That’s serious. This is no longer a health issue, an economic issue, it’s becoming an issue of national security.”
Then we have the other Mike Huckabee who earlier this year took a ride on the Birther Express and embarrassed himself by questioning Obama’s birth certificate. Then there is his pardoning of a serial rapist while he was governor of Arkansas, and the missing, possibly destroyed, records from his time as governor.
Mike Huckabee isn’t and was never going to be a threat to Obama in 2012, no matter what he announced.
I can think of no greater testament to the degree of suck that is the 2012 GOP field then the fact that Mike Huckabee’s announcement captivated the political world on a Saturday night.
Mike Huckabee is not running for president.
Now we all can go back to ignoring Mike Huckabee.
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Sarah Jones
May. 14th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Ah, one fundie down. Jesus scores for Huckabee’s money (i.e., lack of support). I have to say that given the fundie field, Huckabee was the best choice. I commend him for recognizing and honoring the President’s family values, even though they don’t agree on much politically. That said, Huckabee went nasty a few times, which was disappointing, even though I would not have ever voted for him – at least I respected him until he did that.
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Shiva (Moderator)
May. 14th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Oh cripes! Who will run now? Romney is running for the Kleenexes, Sarah is having palpatations, Lou Dobbs just swooned, Boehner is starting to think its his big chance and the dominists are plotting to put a bomb in hucks car
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Ingarose
May. 14th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
I believe it will be Sarah Palin. She will wait until the last minute to enter (she always said she does things differently) and carry the momentum for the GOP. Please do not underestimate her, your own Sarah Jones never underestimates her.
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Shiva (Moderator)
May. 14th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
I do not underestimate her possible actions, I just dont think she has the moxie to carry on the campaign.
I dont think there is anyone running from the GOP worth spitting on unless a dark horse shows up
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Anne
May. 14th, 2011 at 9:34 pm
I don’t underestimate her ambition and thirst for power. However, she has proven to be thin-skinned, defensive, and ethically as well as intellectually challenged. She likes power without having to actually do the hard work to earn it. Besides, no one starting out with such high unfavorable ratings has ever prevailed in presidential elections.
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Shiva (Moderator)
May. 14th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
I have a feeling she equates being able to throw a can of tuna at Todd at over 98 MPH to being a good president
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Oldsun
May. 14th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
“I can think of no greater testament to the degree of suck that is the 2012 GOP field” LOL
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Shiva (Moderator)
May. 14th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Huck says he will continue his career on TV and radio, but of what use is he to Fox News now?
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Reynardine
May. 14th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Another one bites the dust. I hope that’s it for 2012, but given the hyperbulia of the whackwing, I don’t believe they’ll give up either. Two things occur to me: (1) Faithless electors; (2) John Bolton.
Well, I have nightmares sometimes.
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galactus6x
May. 15th, 2011 at 3:29 am
LOL! I am sorry I am still laughing about the can of tuna being fast pitched at Todd! Heh, Sure she is a threat to caribou when she is using a fucking 50 caliber gatling gun! But a threat to the fabulously brilliant President Obama? Please I am going to wee a little from laughter.
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