Mike Huckabee and the Coming Republican Realignment

[BestCenter]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/11/24/55537/214

Does his scenario bear any merit?

Also, don't overstate the man; it's his message. Forget the politician; it's the position. Does the GOP really have a chance of becoming a socially conservative, economically liberal party? Could the Democratic Party turn corporatist? The two might not be necessarily connected; many European countries have a Social Democratic party against a socially center-right, fiscally center-left Christian Democratic party, at least during the Cold War.

[TwilightGardener]

1. No. He's not influential within his party. The only reason any of us

has ever even heard of this jackass is because the GOP prez field is so weak and pathetic. Abortion is bringing down their entire party--if Mitt or Rudy had been pro-life from birth, Huck would never have gotten out of single digits. And his whole "populist" thing is a shtick.

[AX10]

2. NO!

Missouri will still be a swing state, Virginia will become a slightly blue state as will Pennsylvania. New Mexico will become a blue state in the next generation as will Maine. Michigan will move over to the blue side as well just as Virginia is. We will have a slight advantage in the state.

Huckabee as to win the nomination and overcome the powerful forces that control his party with a brutal iron fist. Big business has always been at home with the GOP. I do not see that changing.
The Democrats are too much of a pro-working class party to become a pro-corporate party. Even though there are corporatist elements in the party (DLC), there is still a pro-working class majority in the party.

Finally, does Huckabee really believe his own words about the economy or is he just blowing smoke in order to catch onto something that could propel him into the Whitehouse. I'll take the later. Huckabee did nothing to help better the economic situation of Arkansas during his sorry tenure as governor.

Last note: I do wonder about Kansas. It's a traditionally Repubican/conservative state. However, they are the land of the fundies, so what happens to them I don't know. Chances are it will become a red leaning state. Maybe we can get a moderate Democratic senator from them.

[sasquatch]

3. You mean the sociopathic/narcacistic faction of the republican party is finally dead!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-vQKZFF-9s

[Mojambo]

4. Very interesting post. Seems plausible to me, but Huckabee's a pretty lone factor so far.

I'd kind of feel left without a party under such a scenario, but I almost feel that way now so what's the difference really?

I'd prefer to just see the Democrats return to their economic roots.

[jgraz]

5. There's going to be a lot more sturm und drang before this all shakes out

But I predict within 10 years we'll be left with the pro-choice and anti-abortion wings of the populist party. If it wasn't for the corporate masters, conservatism would already be dead.

[PATRICK]

6. Bush dynasty soap opera

That's how I see their entire primary. No one dares to bring anything new or counter to the ruling, extremely unpopular Bush power team. Most of them are each saddled with some of that 'winning" team of power mad, loyal extremists? Why? For their acumen and experience? For being mini-Roves? More, in general, just to get the Emperor's permission to be anointed their puppet crony, disaster-by-comparison scapegoat who couldn't buck Bush power even if they had the slightest inclination. Strangled, destroyed and destroyers to continue the real Junior legacy and take ALL the blame.

The problem is that popularity thing. Cronies like that can't fare well and are as brainless and destructive on the campaign trail as they would be in office. So they might want to end up with Romney, but not if he is a big loser. Contradiction. Guiliani is too over the top and can easily tank. McCain is burned out goods consumed by too many years of being a bloody handed lick-spittle for nothing.

So I always suspected the alternate plan IF they had to sink to offering America something more than a fascist slap would be a dark horse "likable" guy who wouldn't shoot his foot in his mouth too often. Someone more genuine(naive) who can actually(ugh) earn more votes so the stealing won't look so bad. I always thought Huckabee fit that bill or some outsider.

Gingrich and Hagel grind their cowardly teeth on the sidelines submitting to the denial of their chances by the Dynasty.

However it works out their will be a transformation, supported by the media, in the "high drama" of their fake primaries, of the eventual winner into a demi-god. Supply name here. If they have to perform more slight of hand than that and bring in someone off the slate completely they will.

In my book all is disdainfully fluid except one thing. They(the Bush boys) want Thompson as Veep. To die and get replaced by Jeb. So far they get most of what they want in the short run and nearly everything in the long run- the people be damned(stripped of rights, killed, disenfranchised, propagandized, divided, as they are now).

[skipos]

7. Huckabee ise a fiscally irresponsible social conservative, who says Jesus like 9iu11iani says 911

Some voters may want to have a beer with him. Sound like Bush II to me.

[Prophet 451]

8. the Dem party already IS corporatist

Sorry to say it but (with the exception of Dennis Kucinich and, to a lesser extent, Edwards), the entire political system is one big cult of wealth-worship. The choice is between corporatists with some kind of heart and really extreme radical corporatists.