Comments on: The Man (Huckabee) from Hope offers none, except for maybe illegals… http://committedtoromney.com/2007/11/30/the-man-huckabee-from-hope-offers-none-except-for-maybe-illegals/ A Community of People Committed to Conservative Principles Since 2005. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:34:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Steven http://committedtoromney.com/2007/11/30/the-man-huckabee-from-hope-offers-none-except-for-maybe-illegals/#comment-69689 Steven Sat, 01 Dec 2007 03:35:29 +0000 http://blog.electromneyin2008.com/2007/11/30/the-man-huckabee-from-hope-offers-none-except-for-maybe-illegals/#comment-69689 What we are seeing in this race is shaping into a battle between populist conservatism (if there is such a thing) represented in Huckabee and Giuliani. And traditional conservatism, exuded by Romney and personified by Thompson. In my opinion, conservatives will make a choice between these two camps based on how they feel going into 2008. If conservatives feel confident, they will go with a traditional conservative, who will win based on persuasively advocating conservatism to solve today's problems. If conservatives feel jittery, they will turn to the populists, who are in one way or another liberal in one policy era so to maximize their support theoretically, since they take for granted conservative support. Huckabee personifies populist conservatism in his liberal economic/fiscal positions. Giuliani personifies populist conservatism with his liberal moral/social beliefs and positions. McCain personifies populism in taking certain pointed liberal positions across the spectrum of policy positions (moral, economic, fiscal, foriegn policy, etc). Now it is becoming very clear that the populists namely Giuliani and Huckabee have formed an alliance, and indeed a Giulaini/Huckabee ticket or a Huckabee/Giuliani ticket would be very compelling (I would prefer the later of the worst outcome). The question is whether the traditional conservatives will form an alliance in kind to ensure a traditional conservative wins the nomination. Thus far no such alliance has been made, though I sensed from the last debate that Thompson would be open to such an alliance with Romney. I thought Thompson's answer for the what type of role his vice president would take was telling, in that he seem to be making the case for himself. In any case, such an alliance would of course mean that whoever wins the nomination will make the other the running mate. This in my estimation is what is happening with Huckabee and Giuliani. And this is why Huckabee is surging and Giuliani is not attacking Huckabee. Will this type of arrangement happen between the traditional conservative duo? With Huckabee's strength in Iowa, a win there paving the way for a populist nomination, I think it behooves the traditional conservatives to form such an alliance. What we are seeing in this race is shaping into a battle between populist conservatism (if there is such a thing) represented in Huckabee and Giuliani. And traditional conservatism, exuded by Romney and personified by Thompson. In my opinion, conservatives will make a choice between these two camps based on how they feel going into 2008. If conservatives feel confident, they will go with a traditional conservative, who will win based on persuasively advocating conservatism to solve today’s problems. If conservatives feel jittery, they will turn to the populists, who are in one way or another liberal in one policy era so to maximize their support theoretically, since they take for granted conservative support. Huckabee personifies populist conservatism in his liberal economic/fiscal positions. Giuliani personifies populist conservatism with his liberal moral/social beliefs and positions. McCain personifies populism in taking certain pointed liberal positions across the spectrum of policy positions (moral, economic, fiscal, foriegn policy, etc).

Now it is becoming very clear that the populists namely Giuliani and Huckabee have formed an alliance, and indeed a Giulaini/Huckabee ticket or a Huckabee/Giuliani ticket would be very compelling (I would prefer the later of the worst outcome). The question is whether the traditional conservatives will form an alliance in kind to ensure a traditional conservative wins the nomination. Thus far no such alliance has been made, though I sensed from the last debate that Thompson would be open to such an alliance with Romney. I thought Thompson’s answer for the what type of role his vice president would take was telling, in that he seem to be making the case for himself. In any case, such an alliance would of course mean that whoever wins the nomination will make the other the running mate.

This in my estimation is what is happening with Huckabee and Giuliani. And this is why Huckabee is surging and Giuliani is not attacking Huckabee. Will this type of arrangement happen between the traditional conservative duo? With Huckabee’s strength in Iowa, a win there paving the way for a populist nomination, I think it behooves the traditional conservatives to form such an alliance.

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