The Brody File readers have been flooding my inbox with their thoughts on the candidates and quite frankly, anything else on their mind. Below are some random thoughts about what has transpired the last couple weeks in the GOP race.
From Bobby:
Karl Rove - on FOX news tonight (Hannity & Colmes), along with others, may be taking the votes right out of the hands of the American citizens… Saying "there is no way that Huckabee can win."
Is this not the same as giving the exit poll results to voters on Election Day before the polls close.
It is still obvious to thinking people, that manipulation of American voters to give up on being heard or to hand over their vote without more purpose than "it's over for Huckabee", are said by the same who continue to say "Huckabee surprised us all" , all in the same breath!
From Pam:
I'm convinced that the MSM, the GOP establishment, and anti-Mormonism combined to take Romney out. He was always the biggest target from day one. The Mormon factor was always listed in every article about him, but not his spectacular resume or record. The flip-flop charge was too, and nary a mention of all the flip-flops of both Huckabee and McCain who both actually have more! I don't think there's any doubt that Romney was by far the most conservative, excepting Fred. His rhetoric as a candidate was suspect, but his record as governor was straight-up conservative. McCain and Huck's records simply are not, it's not even arguable when you look at the actual facts.
From Carol:
I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN DOBSON AND THE WAY HE IS HANDELING MCCAIN AS THE CQNDIDATE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. I HAVE ALWAYS ADMIRED HIM AND DEFENDED EVERYTHING HE STOOD FOR. I BELIEVE THAT MCCAIN IS NOT THE CQNDIDATE BY CHANCE. I TRUST GOD AND HIS PLAN FOR OUR COUNTRY. WE SHOULD NOT BE NEGATIVE AND CREATE MORE DISHARMONY IN AN ALREADY DIVIDED COUNTRY. TRUST GOD TO KNOW WHAT IS BEST AND PRAY FOR EVERY LEADER WHATEVER BE HIS PARTY. GOD WILL HONOR THOSE ACTIONS. 'THEY WILL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTTIAND BY OUR LOVE' WE SHOULD NOT ACT LIKE SPOILED CHILDREN WHO DIDN'T GET THER WAY. WJAT WOULD JESUS DO?
From Jerry
I recognize that Gov. Huckabee doesn't have the military, foreign policy experience; but all the candidates, including Gov. Romney who, I feel, was also weak in this area, have their strengths and weaknesses. I am a born-again believer and this is what has bothered me so incredibly much about this election year. I feel that most of the media has swayed public opinion by skewing facts. Why did Gov. Romney receive so many free passes and become anointed the "conservative" when he clearly had been all over the place on so many conservative issues? I don't feel, with the exception of some who will always be derogatory toward those of other faiths, that people ruled out Romney because of his Mormonism (I have two born again friends who voted Romney.) He simply tried to be what he wasn't, or, at least, what he hadn't walked out in the public arena for long enough. I have done independent searches on Gov. Huckabee and have tried to research some of the negative things about him, and I find that those things don't have much substance. What I have found is that he did do some great things in Arkansas and, according to Dick Morris, was a fiscal conservative. Education improved, roads did improve, and his own people voted for him in the primary by a much larger margin than either McCain or Romney won in their own states. Has the media bias I have witnessed really been "evangelical" bigotry? Have they alienated many who would have voted for him originally by marginalizing him so much through labels and attacks? The truth is that there is still hope for Huckabee and I am holding out for a brokered convention, like the one in which Lincoln won on the 3rd ballot because I truly want a conservative in the White House. I just wish I could truly get to the bottom of why things have been the way they are. He is a great communicator, has run a campaign on a dime, hasn't waivered on Christian values, and has had so much executive experience.
From John:
Fox, Rush, Sean and the rest have revealed their blatant bias against Huckabee and their lack of any semblance of objective reporting. I believe Dobson has done the right thing. As you said recently the Evangelicals would put Huckabee in office if they showed up to vote their convictions. With God all things are possible!
From busybee:
Dobson's endorsement is too little too late, BUT I believe will help even at this date.to some degree. I don't think Dobson has the clout he used to. I cannot believe he didn't support the TRUE conservative, pro-life, pro-marriage/family candidate all along! So disappointed in Dobson.
From Phyllis:
I was disappointed in how the evangelicals did not rally around Mitt Romney just because he was a Mormon. I will not vote for Mike Huckabee as I do not believe he is the great evangelical he tries to portray himself as. The incident in West Virginia sealed it for me. While it may have been legal, it was unethical. So now we have 4 people, who in my opinion, are unethical trying to run this country. Two of them claim to have conservative values. I don't think so. So this year, after having voted for over 30 years, I will sit this one out and let the chips fall where they may. I cannot go against my conscious and a no vote is better than supporting someone that is not qualified. Mike Huckabee may proclaim he is a Christian, but with his attack ads, his planting anti-Mormon rhetoric, his back room dealings, he certainly not someone I can support
From Jeff:
As a Huckabee volunteer, I can tell you that I am pretty energized since Gov. Romney suspended his campaign. I like Romney well enough, but here's the opportunity that exists now:
Conservatives who oppose McCain can help Huckabee get lots of delegates. If he gets a lot (enough that McCain doesn't have an outright majority), who knows what could happen with Romney's delegates (to the extent that they are free to make decisions about who they support - I'm not a convention expert).
Anyway, for folks in Kansas, Louisiana, Washington State, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, Texas, and Ohio who don't want to just hand the nomination to McCain, there is every reason to support Huckabee. At the very least, they can perhaps give him enough leverage to make sure that there is a pro-life, pro-family watchdog running mate. I for one would be much more enthusiastic about voting in the general election if such a person is on the ticket (preferably on the top spot, but still...)
From Victoria:
I noticed that Joe Lieberman was backing Mr. McCain. I also noticed that "change" seems to be the buzz word of the election as well. Most people do want change but what better way to show people that there is going to be change with a McCain/Lieberman ticket for the Presidential race. Change is UNITING the people which means uniting the parties.that's real change not just another Democrat or Republican promising it. McCain's campaign could be that the best change is coming together as a nation for the best interest of all people not matter their political party.
From Tim:
As a Romney supporter, I don't think I could vote for either McCain or Huckabee. Its more than just the issues--its personal. I think there's a good chance that Utah will vote democratic in the upcoming election.--