Huckabee's Big Night

Not that Mike Huckabee is going to be the Republican nominee, but he's put on an impressive showing tonight. His resiliency really seems to me to underscore how moribund orthodox conservatism is at the moment. On the one hand, John McCain is apparently going to win the nomination notwithstanding the fact that he's loathed by a significant swathe of conservative elites. And then on the other hand, Huckabee who's loathed by an even wider swathe of conservative elites keeps hanging around. He doesn't have the money or the policy substance necessary to break out of his niche, but his constituency -- an important part of the GOP base -- loves him and doesn't care what anyone says about it.

Comments

I love this. Go Huckabee! In his speech tonight he promised to abolish the IRS. Yeah, that'll happen. Right after the Fair Tax.

Posted by jay | February 5, 2008 10:17 PM

I love it. I was talking to a Republican co-worker supporting Romney today who was appalled that Huck was even in the race and that he should "do the right thing and drop out so it can be the two-man race its supposed to be."

Maybe its Romney who should do the honorable thing and drop out.

Posted by Jayhawk Max | February 5, 2008 10:19 PM

You have to give Huckabee some credit. He's made the most of his relatively small campaign budget and has actively courted both conventional and unconventional media outlets. For example, Conan O'Brien had a video last last of O'Brien, Jon Stewart, and Steven Colbert punching each other in a fight to take credit for launching Huckabee's campaign (Huckabee appeared in a short clip at the end of the segment)

Posted by Jason | February 5, 2008 10:25 PM

We now know the GOP ticket: McCain-Huckabee. See it. Believe it. Know it.

Posted by BryklynLibrul | February 5, 2008 10:36 PM

Romney and Huckabee's speeches are like night and day - Huckabee knows how to inspire people; Romney does not. It's fascinating to see how Romney just can't push through; as ridiculous as some thought it was for Huckabee to stay in the race, suddenly he's racking up states again.

Posted by Alexander | February 5, 2008 10:39 PM

> We now know the GOP ticket: McCain-Huckabee.
> See it. Believe it. Know it.

Careful: a guy could get derided around here for making that prediction.

Cranky

Posted by Cranky Observer | February 5, 2008 10:40 PM

OK, this is somewhat off topic, but still... CNN is showing Romney HQ and people are waving signs that say "CHANGE begins with us". What is that about? Is Romney seriously advocating policies that will substantially differ from what Bush is running now? I haven't been paying as much attention to the GOP race and maybe Romney's brought out some huge policy initiatives that I'm unaware of, but he seems like he's running as the "establishment" Republican candidate. How is he claiming the mantle of change?

Posted by Andrew | February 5, 2008 10:46 PM

"For example, Conan O'Brien had a video last last of O'Brien, Jon Stewart, and Steven Colbert punching each other in a fight to take credit for launching Huckabee's campaign (Huckabee appeared in a short clip at the end of the segment)"

You can see that whole buildup on video clips from the Colbert show, the Stewart show and the O'Brien show at HuffPo.

It's screamingly funny!

Posted by Richard Steven Hack | February 6, 2008 2:16 AM

Andrew:
That suprises you? Do you think Republicans live in reality or dreamland? Of course it is BS, but Republicans love that stuff.

Posted by Joe Klein's conscience | February 6, 2008 9:39 AM