Russert: It has been documented in several sources that you were willing to release felons early who have been "Born Again." Would you be willing to release a Muslim convert who professes Allah while in prison or a convict who has converted to Mormonism? If not, would it be fair to describe this as a religious test?


Huckabee: Tim, Look we need to bring hope to this campaign and learn that we are all brothers. I intend to bring Hope to the White House.


Russert: So would it be a religious test to release someone from prison based on their faith?


Huckabee: Look I hate religious tests. That's why I dropped out of Divinity school! (light hearted laughter.) Besides, I don't think Article 5 of the Constitution forbids me from giving compassion to the destitute.

Surely a blow to the Team Huckabee, and a strong message to Iowa Christian Voters:

Officials with the group typically avoid making public endorsements because of their tax-exempt status, but Mr. Hurd blurted out his decision tonight in what felt like a bit of an accident.

“I’ll tell you a little secret,” he told the audience of more than 200 people. “I haven’t told anybody else this. I’ll tell this secret out here. Next Thursday, when I go to the caucuses, I’m going to cast my vote for Governor Mitt Romney.”

Neither Mr. Hurd, nor Mr. Romney, who took the microphone afterward, identified Mr. Hurd as the chairman of the Alliance’s board.

“I don’t think I’m supposed to endorse a candidate,” said Mr. Hurd afterward, when the Caucus approached him. “I hope I don’t get in trouble.”

Mr. Hurd downplayed the weight of his endorsement, but Tim Albrecht, Mr. Romney’s Iowa campaign spokeman, called it a “huge validator.” Link

While a public endorsement of Romney by Hurd was a surprise, I am positive that Mr. Hurd's support of Romney was not to insiders. Calling Jeff Fuller! Any details you want to chime in with are appreciated. :)

As a businessman, consultant, and venture capitalist. Mitt Romney demonstrated clear excellence pertaining to business and economic matters. One can clearly say that he possesses a greater understanding of how America's economy works than any of the other candidates as a result of that experience.

One fact that can be overlooked if one does not consider it, is the fact that Governor Romney gained relevant foreign policy experience as a businessman and as the CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics. In both of those worlds he gained significant experience and contacts overseas, meaning that as President of the United States he will not be in over his head, as has happened to past state governors that went on to the Presidency.

I would say that it is also more about what they are feeling, at least for the campaign vets on the Democratic side. And that goes doubly for so many of the posts on blogs around the Web. Some of the mindless things said about Mitt are so lacking in substance that is clear that too many people are "feeling" and not "thinking." Reason seems to have disappeared for way too many folks out there!

Susan Estrich, who is often one of the more thoughtful Democrats I have seen, wrote this on RealClearPolitics:

Huckabee? We should be so lucky. Romney? A Democratic dream. Rudy? What's happened to him? No, it's McCain who Democrats are watching and worrying about.

Yeah, right! It is clear to me that these folks are impressed with the person on the other side for whom only minor adjustments in their thought processes would enable them to vote for that candidate, despite party differences. There is no doubt in my mind that the least adjustment necessary would be with John McCain.

In case you have forgotten just how excited the Dems would have been to have had McCain for Kerry's running mate in '04, read this piece from the New York Times! The good news is that McCain had the presence of mind to say no. The bad news is that Kerry and many Dems thought this would have been a great idea. Somehow, I just can't see how a Dem favorite for their choice for VP should be considered a very good option for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party, despite war hero status and vaunted singlemindeness.

And for anyone who is worried about Estrich's "feeling" about the less than ideal opponents on the Republican side, please rest easy. Those who remain unconvinced and insist on wondering about how Mitt's resume will compare to Hillary's, please have a look at this cartoon:


Click here to see a larger of the cartoon.

See the Powerline link for the full story.

From Lucianne via Powerline

So that is how it goes for Hillary, and it is hard to believe that folks could think that Obama and Edwards have a whole lot more to offer!

Mike B.

Huckabee's foreign affairs lapses By: Lisa Lerer December 29, 2007 01:26 PM EST
As his campaign has surged, Mike Huckabee has made a series of public foreign policy gaffes, fueling attacks by rivals that he lacks the international experience to be president. The former governor of Arkansas has 1.) confused the status of martial law in Pakistan, 2.) raised questions about Pakistanis crossing the U.S. border and 3.) wasn't initially familiar with the latest U.S. intelligence assessment of Iran's nuclear weapons program. While the missteps are his, a tough foreign policy critique has often been lobbed against governors, or past governors, running for president — Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, among them. But what Reagan, Clinton and Bush had — and what Huckabee seems to sorely lack in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination — was a roster of respected foreign policy advisers to reassure voters on national security issues.  On Friday morning, Huckabee listed former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton as someone with whom he either has "spoken or will continue to speak." At a Thursday evening news conference, Huckabee said, " I've corresponded with John Bolton, who's agreed to work with us on developing foreign policy." Bolton, however, has a different view. "I'd be happy to speak with Huckabee, but I haven't spoken with him yet ," said Bolton, now a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington. "I'm not an official or unofficial adviser to anyone," said Bolton, who mentioned he'd had conversations with other Republican candidates but declined to name any names. Asked to explain Bolton's comments, Huckabee aides said the former Arkansas governor had e-mailed with Bolton. Bolton did not immediately respond to a request to address Huckabee's e-mailing claims. Huckabee said he had also spoken with former State Department official Richard Haass (now president of the Council on Foreign Relations); military analyst Ken Allard; former national security adviser Richard Allen; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; Frank Gaffney, founder of the Center for Security Policy, a conservative think tank; and a "number of military personnel." A Gingrich spokesman said the two men had spoken, on an unofficial basis, on Friday. Council on Foreign Relations spokeswoman Lisa Shields said Haass has "briefed Huckabee on foreign policy issues as well as [briefing] many other candidates" in both parties. Shields stressed that the relationship was not exclusive and that Haass was not affiliated with the campaign. Reached via e-mail, Allen said an intermediary asked him to speak with Huckabee, but he hadn't yet agreed. "I'm gradually getting older, but am fully capable of recalling with whom I have spoken ," said the former Nixon and Reagan foreign policy campaign adviser. Allard and Gaffney could not be reached for comment. Huckabee argues that foreign policy is less about experience and more about judgment. "The most important thing a president does is to make tough decisions when confronted with a crisis," he said Friday. As a governor, "you've dealt with the unexpected, a crisis, time and time again." The confusion over Bolton, however, is the latest in a growing list of foreign policy hiccups by the Iowa front-runner. And to succeed nationally, Huckabee must broaden support beyond his socially conservative base by proving his competency on issues such as national security. On Thursday, he commented on the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, saying the U.S. needs to consider "what impact does it have on whether or not there's going to be martial law continuing in Pakistan. " Martial law, as it turns out, was lifted two weeks ago. Huckabee clarified the point later that day. "What I said was, you know, it was not that I was unaware that it was suspended two weeks ago, or lifted two weeks ago. The point was continued: ... Would it be reinstated? Would it be placed back in?" he said. Huckabee also raised eyebrows Thursday when he said that Bhutto's death should prompt "an immediate, very clear monitoring of our borders and particularly to make sure if there's any unusual activity of Pakistanis coming into the country. " And earlier this month, Huckabee said he was unfamiliar with the National Intelligence Estimate reporting that Iran hadn't had a program to develop nuclear weapons since 2003. Huckabee's lack of foreign policy experience has fueled a host of critics. On Thursday, rival Sen. John McCain of Arizona said Bhutto's assassination highlights Huckabee's lack of foreign policy experience. "You know, I don't think it's appropriate to respond in a political way," Huckabee said. Last week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice denounced Huckabee's critique of the Bush administration as having a "bunker mentality" when it comes to foreign policy. "The idea that somehow this is a go-it-alone policy is just simply ludicrous," she said at a State Department news conference. "One would only have to be not observing the facts, let me say that, to say that this is now a go-it-alone foreign policy."
TM & © THE POLITICO & POLITICO.COM, a division of Allbritton Communications Company

Fast forward to 2008. Romney runs a contrast ad, with no hyperbole and nothing untrue, delineating the solid differences between himself and McCain. McCain responds with a personal attack ad calling Romney a phony. No substance on the issues, no answer to any of Romney's points, just a personal attack at the man who has led his entire life with honor, conviction and integrity. It's actually beginning to look like McCain is more concerned with personal attacks and labels than talking substance with the voters.

McCain implied in 2000 that attack ads are signs of desperation. Judging his latest commercials with his logic, one could conclude McCain is equally, if not more, desperate. His numbers are still behind Romney despite the MSM working for him and his all-or-nothing New Hampshire gamble. Also, let's not forget that this is certainly his last stand. Should he loose the nomination in 2008, I doubt he will have another chance to run again. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if he retired from the Senate shortly thereafter.

McCain is a war hero, but really needs to think through the logic he is using to justify his campaign tactics.

You know, it is okay to not have a lot of foreign policy experience heading into the White House. Ronald Reagan is a good example of just that. But what is required is a candidate who can consume information about the world quickly, master that information, and approach the problems with competence. In addition, surrounding yourself with good people is a must. Romney has the ability to advance our nation's security, mostly because he has tremendous problem solving and management skills.

Huckabee Fails International Relations 101. On the other hand, Huckabee fails international relations 101. What is interesting to see is Huckabee is failing mostly because of his own doing. What happens when a President says the kinds of things Huckabee does? When it comes to foreign policy, Mike Huckabee would have flunked out of even an elementary course.

Now, I am no foreign policy expert. I do have a degree, with honors, from UCLA in political science, with an emphasis in International Relations, but I have no further education or experience. Having given that disclaimer, I want you to consider a speech Romney gave in Israel back in January.

Romney Brings Creative Ideas to International Relations. In this speech, Romney talks about confronting Iran's efforts to obtain nuclear weapons. He talks about diplomatic isolation. Indicting Ahmadinejad. De-investing American pension plans of Iranian assets. He talks about creative methods to strengthen economic sanctions and to apply pressure to Iranian leadership.

Romney Understands the Risks Involved. In the speech, Romney also approached another subject of many college day discussions for me: Deterrence.

"[Some people assume] that it's possible to live with a nuclear Iran. That thinking is based on the theory that Iran, once granted the privilege of joining the nuclear club, will be a responsible actor."

"Neither their words nor their records justify that conclusion."

"[Other people believe] in the logic of deterrence, which served us through the Cold War, and they think it will apply to Iran. But for all of the Soviets' deep flaws, they were never suicidal. A Soviet commitment to national survival was never in question. This assumption simply cannot be made about an irrational regime that celebrates martyrdom."

Here, Romney demonstrates a sound and thorough understanding of the problems with deterrence theory as applied to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Deterrence requires some pre-conditions in order to work. Romney aptly points out that there are serious reasons to be concerned about whether those pre-conditions exist in Iran.

Also, consider this exchange between Hugh Hewitt and Mitt Romney some time back:

HH: "Now Governor Romney, China's been pretty helpful with North Korea. They've done some good things. But with Iran, they have not been helpful at all, and now Iran announced yesterday 3,000 more centrifuges towards uranium enrichment. They're on a path towards nukes. And the question I hope gets asked of every presidential candidate is if George Bush comes before the people of the United States in the next two years and says absent military action, Iran is going to go critical and acquire nukes, and therefore, I'm going to take that action. If he made that statement, would you support him in that, Governor Romney?"

MR: "Well, you know, the challenge with threatening a military strike is that that becomes a headline in and of itself. I think America has to maintain the option of military action, any time its interests are threatened. And certainly, having a nuclear weapon in Iran would threaten not only our interests, but the interests of our friends, and would threaten the entire world. It's a setting which would justify military action. The only time one could ever consider such an action is if every other reasonable option had been exercised to keep from having to use that option, and we're a long way from there at this point. You point out, one of the key ways of influencing and putting pressure Iran, and that is through China. China really is the key, both to the nuclear armament of North Korea, as well as to Iran. They're a huge trading partner with both. And China, of course, wants the oil very badly to keep their economy going, and therefore, they don't want to iritate the Iranians. But we're going to have to build our own type of pressure, to make sure that we get from them the kind of support that we need from someone who we want to become more of a friend in the world, and that is by them putting in place very tough restrictions, and supporting our tough acts against the Iranians, our sanctions against the Iranians, as they develop nuclear weaponry."

Romney understands that how we talk about Iran is almost as important as what we do. We want Iran to think we might use military action but we also don't want to be irretractable from that position. You might call this flexible deterrence.

Words are important, ladies and gentlemen. They project American values and resolve into the international arena. Without understanding the issues involved, America is weakened.

Recently, Mike Huckabee, in response to the brutal assasination of Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto, expressed “our sincere concern and apologies for what has happened in Pakistan.”

What? Our apologies? What did we do wrong Mr. Huckabee?

I wonder what the supporters of Madame Bhutto, the ones who think Pervez Musharaff is behind the murder, would think if President Bush had said something like that? They might use that to argue America is partly responsible for the assasination. Why give them that chance, when you can have a President who understand foreign affairs enough not to say things like that.

Check out more informationa about Romney's foreign policy views on his website. You will see a depth and ability there that is lacking in Huckabee. Frankly, you will see a quality in him that is also missing from McCain. That is, Romney will be Presidential. He won't say, I know more about foreign policy than you and therefore, this is what we are going to do. Romney won't be completely condescending when he has to go before the American people and ask for our support to fight the war on terror. Romney will articulate and explain the best policy options available to America and work hard to implement them the best way possible. In short, Romney aces International relations 101.

From National Review Online, a Judge Robert Bork radio ad:

The Judge and the Governor [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

Judge Bork makes a Romney radio ad to air in Iowa.
Listen here. Text is (here exclusively for a few for NRO readers):

ANNOUNCER: "Robert Bork was Ronald Reagan's conservative nominee to the Supreme Court."

JUDGE ROBERT BORK: "Hello, this is Judge Robert Bork."

"These are very important times, and our next President will be called upon to make decisions on some big issues."

"The National Review endorsed Governor Romney, calling him a 'full-spectrum conservative.' I agree. Mitt Romney is the best person to unite the strong Reagan coalition of social, economic, and foreign policy conservatives."

"We need strong leadership on the economy, taxes, immigration, and foreign policy."

"And our next President may be called upon to make more than one Supreme Court nomination. Governor Romney will appoint judges who interpret the law, not activists who legislate from the bench."

"I admire that Governor Romney stood up to the activist court's ruling on legalizing same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. His strong leadership served as a model for the nation."

"This is Judge Robert Bork. I urge you to join me in supporting Mitt Romney for President."

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "I'm Mitt Romney, and I approved this message."

ANNOUNCER: "To learn more, log onto MittRomney.com. Paid for by Romney for President."

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/

...

This is my 2008 slogan: Reasonable Person for President. That is my hope, what I ask Iowa to produce, and I claim here to speak for thousands, millions. We are grown-ups, we know our country needs greatness, but we do not expect it and will settle at the moment for good. We just want a reasonable person. We would like a candidate who does not appear to be obviously insane. We'd like knowledge, judgment, a prudent understanding of the world and of the ways and histories of the men and women in it.

...

Mitt Romney? Yes. Characterological cheerfulness, personal stability and a good brain would be handy to have around. He hasn't made himself wealthy by seeing the world through a romantic mist. He has a sophisticated understanding of the challenges we face in the global economy. I personally am not made anxious by his flip-flopping on big issues because everyone in politics gets to change his mind once. That is, you can be pro-life and then pro-choice but you can't go back to pro-life again, because if you do you'll look like a flake. The positions Mr. Romney espouses now are the positions he will stick with. He has no choice.

....

Mike Huckabee gets enough demerits to fall into my not-reasonable column.