Anyone wanting another Reagan, hold up your hand
When Fred Thompson made his belated entry into the already crowded Republican presidential race, it was to the cries of a lot of people who said he was the new Ronald Reagan. Since that entry, it has become very apparent he is not. His energy for the race is not up to Reagan’s and he most certainly can not articulate his views as Reagan was able to do. So, for all of you who were crying out for another Reagan, let me present you with some facts about him. Joe Carter, over at the evangelical outpost has this neat little play on words from Reason Online:
Huckabee went on to win the Arkansas governorship and was re-elected for second four-year term. Throughout his ten and a half years in office, Huckabee stressed the idea of holding down the size and cost of government, nonetheless, the state budget increased from $5.7 billion to $10.8 billion during his time in office.
Huckabee did institute property and inventory tax cuts, but during his tenure the sales tax was increased to six percent and withholding was introduced to the state income tax system. Under Huckabee’s administration, state funding for public schools (grades K- 12) increased 105 percent (although enrollment went up only 5 percent), state support for junior colleges increased 323 percent, and grants and loans to college students increased 900 percent.
If you will visit the Reason Online link I provided above, you will find this quote actually came from an interview with Ronald Reagan in 1975. We just inserted Mike Huckabee’s name to show the similarities between the accusations that were being thrown at both candidates. It appears to me, if Ronald Reagan were running for President in 2008, the Club for Growth and other fiscal conservatives would be howling for his head on a platter, just as they are for Mike Huckabee. Both men were faced with an almost untenable situation in their respective state governments when they took office. Both state governments were in shambles and both men had to contend with Democrat controlled state legislatures that fought their policies at every turn.
The similarities between the two men do not stop at their governorship of two Democrat controlled states. I have not seen a candidate who can articulate his views and make you understand what he is talking about like Ronald Reagan. Unless, of course, you listen to Mike Huckabee. Different in their styles, maybe, but the same in their power of articulation. That was one of Reagan’s strengths and so it is with Huckabee. They have no equal when it comes to this.
So, if you are looking for another Ronald Reagan, stop looking at a sleepy candidate who acts as if he doesn’t really want to be running for President. Stop looking at a candidate who changes his position when the wind blows. Stop looking at a candidate who stands for every issue we hold dear as value voters. Take a look at Mike Huckabee. Dig into his record for yourself, do not trust me or my blog and do not trust what you read in other articles that point out all the “bad fiscal policies” of Mike Huckabee. Take a look for yourself and I believe you will find a man who, while certainly not perfect, is certainly the man we need as President.
That’s my take!
Larry
