Eve Fairbanks Does Not Heart Huckabee

She observes that he has some character issues:

The stories that have come out about Huckabee paint a portrait of him not just as somebody not ready for prime-time--a fault he can overcome with his I-never-said-I-was-perfect bit on the stump--but as a real narcissist. The idea that one's past policies (the AIDS position) or actions (the R.J. Reynolds deal) could turn out to have been bad ideas, and require apologies or explanations, doesn't appear to touch him. And the idea that gathering more information on issues (like the NIE, criminals' records, immigration details, or tax policy) could improve his leadership doesn't seem to register, either. The Huckabee credo appears to be this: Feeling moved, Huckabee creates, and God sees that it is good.

Well said.

Comments

I'm wondering if there are any other modern politicians who suffers from this sort of unfortunate affliction. Hmm.

Posted by ed | December 13, 2007 5:54 PM

Certainly doesn't remind me of any mistake-free president with a direct hotline to God. And no parallels to a evangelical "regular guy" you'd want to have a beer with.

Posted by ben | December 13, 2007 6:14 PM

Huckabee is a big idea kind of guy, he works from the larger principles and not so much from the numbers. That being said, I've never gotten the impression that he was closed minded or stubborn about what sort of policy to pursue. Sure he gets passionate about things like the "fair tax" - and he'll try and persuade you on it for a long time, but it doesn't mean its the only thing he'll consider when it gets down to the real business of political compromise.

Posted by Shua Nedi | December 13, 2007 6:44 PM

But it's true! Like that time he went hunting and the angels took the bullet straight to the antelope. How could that possibly have happened unless God saw that his aim was good?

Posted by bobbo | December 13, 2007 8:14 PM

It's part of the larger "admitting mistakes is weak" republican cult technique.

When you have large media mouthpieces backing you, the facts never matter. All that matters is appearing "resolute" and then playing the victim card when people call you out.

Huckabee is a disgrace. I didn't think anyone scared me as much as Giuliani, but he and Mitt are getting close.

Posted by WinSmith | December 13, 2007 9:12 PM

"Huckabee is a disgrace. I didn't think anyone scared me as much as Giuliani, but he and Mitt are getting close."

Typical Yglesias poster.

Being scared is their normal state of mind. Pathetic.

Posted by Rob | December 14, 2007 12:09 AM

Being scared nowadays is EVERYBODY'S frame of mind, Rob. Wonder how that happened?

Posted by Bruce Moomaw | December 14, 2007 12:52 AM

I see we have a new right wing troll!

Welcome, Rob! I for one welcome our new right wing troll overlords!

Posted by Richard Steven Hack | December 14, 2007 6:48 AM

Welcome, Rob! I for one welcome our new right wing troll overlords!

Rule One (or perhaps even Rule Zero) Of Online Forums: Don't Feed The Trolls.

I think that Ed, the first commenter put it best. I don't quite get the piling-on of Huckabee these last few days. It's true that his positions are completely and absolutely disconnected from reality--but that's equally true, if not more so for any other GOP candidate.

The Republican campaign strategy for 2008 has been Full-Bore Demagoguery-- analyzing any candidate's position on its merits is like shooting fish at Long John Silver's.

Posted by James Gary | December 14, 2007 7:35 AM