There is an adage which warns against kicking a man when he’s down, but what is one to do when that man paints a target on himself and begs for it?

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee today gave what can only be termed as the most bizarre press conference of 2007. Given that today is New Year’s Eve, that’s quite an accomplishment.

To believe Huck, you have to believe that he spent a chunk of cash (which is no doubt in short supply) creating a “negative ad” with which he was planning on pummeling Mitt today starting at noon. Then – and one can only venture a guess as to why – Huck had an epiphany this morning and decided to keep his campaign on a “positive” track rather than stooping to mudslinging.

This would all be fine and good with the glaring exception of his Bizarro Press Conference where he showed his negative ad to a room packed with reporters. The ad basically accuses Mitt of being a bold faced liar. If ever there was a case of the pot calling the kettle black, this is it. The New York Times link has video I’m sure will be plastered across the net. You’ll note the raucous laughter of the reporters as Huck tells the story of his epiphany.

No, Huck, they aren’t laughing with you. Neither am I. I’m laughing at you.

You see, I don’t buy Huck’s story. Not in the least. I think he’s being disingenuous. In short, I think he’s lying.

Political ads don’t just grow on trees. They take time to make and cost a wad of cash to generate. I don’t know the full extent of Huck’s finances, but I think it’s a safe bet he doesn’t have cash to throw down the rat hole by creating hit ads he’s never going to use. In my not so humble opinion, Huck’s Bizzaro Press Conference was part of a seriously flawed strategy that has now blown up in his face.

Huck wanted to throw down a hit ad on Mitt and still come away smelling like a rose. He wanted the people of Iowa specifically, and Americans in general, to believe he had Mitt lined up in his sights and his finger on the proverbial trigger and then at the last moment decided to be merciful and positive. The only problem with his plan is the number of people who believe his epiphany story can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Iowans know hypocrisy when they see it, and right now they see it personified by Mike Huckabee.

Huck has spent the better part of the past two days whining about comparison ads run by Mitt in Iowa and New Hampshire. Methinks the Gov doth protest far too much. Mitt’s ad barrage is devastatingly accurate and Huck knows this. He also knows he doesn’t have the resources (or the record) to go toe to toe with Mitt in the last few days leading up to the Hawkeye Cauci. Huck knows if he loses Iowa people will be chasing him down trying to jab him in the hindquarters with a huge fork because he’ll be way past done.

While Huck’s Bizarro Press Conference won’t eclipse Howard Dean’s spectacular Iowa implosion, I’m beginning to think it might come in as a close second.

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The campaign trail is getting to the AP’s Glen Johnson. His piece on Mitt’s “candor gap” was immediately dissected by Powerline’s John Hinderaker who I believe was being generous by calling Johnson’s evidence “remarkably thin”. To use a software salesman’s analogy, Johnson’s hit piece is little more than “vaporware”.

Houston Home Journal’s Larry Walker takes a look at the role of faith in politics and, unlike most columnists, makes sense. Well said, Larry. Amen to your Amen.

Here’s a stunning revelation: Huck doesn’t take kindly to criticism. Both he and McCain are bristling at comparison ads Mitt is running in Iowa and New Hampshire. Mitt’s ads are decried as “dishonest”, though the ads focus on Mitt’s record versus those of his opponents. Crying foul is what candidates do when they can’t refute the facts and don’t have the funds to run contrarian spin ads. See for yourself and be the judge:

 Why has Huck started whining? Well, the polling data is not good for him and is looking better for Mitt. Recent events have refocused the race on issues with which Huck is altogether unfamiliar. The Devil really is in the details. (HT EFM). It really can’t help much when CNN runs an entire segment with “NO FOREIGN POLICY CREDENTIAL” under Huck’s repeated flubs.

Sorry, Huck. Even the Holiday Inn Express can’t fix that one.Enough about the Huckster.Somebody’s gonna be in hot water over this dirty trick. Just how low do you have to sink to send out a thinly veiled, racially bigoted Christmas Card? Add to that an 11-page “letter” making the rounds in Florida and you have the makings of a movement driven by middle aged guys still living in their parents’ basement rec-rooms. Get a life, people. Now would be a good time.At least there is hope someplace in Florida academia. Thank you, Amanda Starling.

The Ledger’s religion editor, Cary McMullen, has some interesting predictions for the 2008 race, one of which includes a Mitt vs. Huck cage match on the Washington Mall. Mitt would eviscerate Huck without even so much as wrinkling his starched white shirt.

Signs of intelligent life in Vermont.

Editor and Publisher carries a column by Joel Campbell (a Mormon) who takes a look at the level of negative rhetoric about Mitt’s Mormonism. Well said, Brother Campbell.

The Hawkeye Cauci is scheduled for this Thursday. It’s gonna be a cold one. Bundle up and bring jumper cables!

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I’ve been on a self-imposed blogging blackout for the past few days and so other than dealing with a cowardly commenter, I haven’t had much to say. I’ll be back to my normal News Roundup duties shortly, but I couldn’t let this Huck Whopper slide by without comment.

Early this morning reports started coming out of Pakistan about the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. She was a courageous woman who was taking the point in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism in Pakistan. She said what she thought and ended up paying for her political stand with her life. I’m not an expert on Pakistan by any stretch of the imagination, but this woman had a lot of guts to do what she was doing where she was doing it.

The issue of terrorism will dominate the upcoming election. Either a candidate has the chops to deal with it or they don’t. It’s that simple. The way each campaign reacted to Bhutto”s murder speaks volumes about each candidates foreign policy chops. Most of the candidates did a decent job with the glaring exception of one – Mike Huckabee.

Here’s what Huck originally said to a crowd of 150 supporters at Orlando Executive airport – as told by CBS News’ Nancy Cordes:

…Mike Huckabee strode out to the strains of “Right Now” by Van Halen and immediately addressed the Bhutto situation, expressing “our sincere concern and apologies for what has happened in Pakistan.”

The Huck campaign has since called Cordes to “revise and extend” his remarks, but the slip is out. Huck is dangerously naïve when it comes to foreign policy in general and terrorism specifically. He’s sending apologies for an action committed by Islamofasicts in a Muslim country.

Sorry, Huck. There are no mulligans in politics. Apology is not and cannot be policy. End Memo.

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Forget a religious test, the Columbus Dispatch’s Joe Blundo has the Asteroid Test.

 

Vladamir Putin – Time Magazine’s Person of the Year?  Disgusting is right.

 

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has an Op-Ed piece on the Mormon Question.

 

The Financial Times’ Andrew Ward profiles Mitt as a troubleshooter.

 

Confederate Yankee Bob Owens tries to parse Mitt’s statements on guns.  Short answer, Bob, Mitt supports the 2^nd Ammendment but doesn’t think assault rifles should be proudly displayed in your Pick Up Truck gun rack.  I think you’ll find his views mirror those of most of the American people.

 

I’m sure the Washington Post’s Dana Milbank has a point.  I just wish it was something about politics rather than religion.

 

The New York Times’ Michael Luo chronicles Mitt’s Iowa stump speech.  He also went to Mitt’s Iowa Christmas Party.

 

The Phoenix’s David Bernstein tries (and fails) to call into question George Romney’s record on civil rights in the 1960s.   Memo to David:  you have just redefined “non-story”.  End Memo.

 

Blogfather Hugh’s money is on Mitt in the home stretch.

 

Huckabee tries (and fails) to defend his record on clemency.  Face it, Huck.  You pardoned far too many scumbags.  Americans don’t like scumbags on their streets regardless of what you see in them.  Your judgment is flawed and it calls into question your ability to judge a person.

 

South Carolinians for Mitt has uncovered what could be a very disturbing tactic.  Do keep us posted.    

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Here’s the latest Mitt ad running in Iowa.  What’s the message?  Mitt knows what matters most and isn’t afraid to focus on it at the expense of other less important priorities.  HT Marc Ambinder.

 

Chris Raasch sees a religions test brewing in Iowa.

 

The AP’s Liz Sidoti chronicles the brouhaha over a picture of Mitt at a Planned Parenthood event in 1994.  Two words – So What?

 

Southtown Star’s Allison Hantschel has made a New Year’s Resolution to not focus on the sex lives of presidential candidates.  I, for one, am relieved.

 

The Boston Globe has yet another in their seemingly endless series of hit pieces on Mitt’s business practices.  Evidently Mitt set up some off shore holding companies which enabled his business clients to avoid some US taxes.  While the Globe does make somewhat clear this business practice was and is completely legal, the overall tone of the article is meant to convey a message that Mitt helped greedy capitalists loophole their way out of paying their “fair share” of US taxes.

 

What the Globe doesn’t understand is that Bain Capital, like so many other companies, is in the business of making money.  If there is a legal way to avoid paying taxes, company executives are duty bound to find and use it to the best of their abilities.  To do otherwise would violate their duty to company shareholders.  Mitt did the best job he could to make money for his clients – it’s that simple.

 

As long as I’m trolling the web for hit pieces, I bring you again to Townhall’s Frank Pastore.  I’ll let Article VI’s John Schroeder hit Pastore over the head with a brickbat because frankly I’m tired of writing about Pastore’s thinly veiled anti-Mormon bigotry.  Schroeder took issue with a few paragraphs of Pastore’s tripe, I take issue with this one:

 You can bet Romney supporters would be leading the charge with Mormon theology if they believed it could help Romney’s presidential bid.   

Memo to Frank:  Actually, no we wouldn’t be leading any pro-Mitt charge with “Mormon theology”.  We never have.  The LDS Church is notoriously neutral when it comes to politics, with very few exceptions and even then it doesn’t endorse one candidate over another.  You don’t like Mormons.  You don’t like Mormonism.  Just come out and say it and quit trying to use Mitt as a lightning rod for your vitriol.  End Memo.

As a side note, I’d love to have an ecclesiastical debate with Frank Pastore, but I’m afraid he’d bring the equivalent of a knife to a gunfight.

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Fox News begins its series of articles on the presidential candidates with a Kelley Beaucar Vlahos profile of Mitt and the “perfect candidate image”.  Vlahos relies on RedState’s Erick Erickson for much of her article.  RedState leans heavily for Big Fred, but Erickson does a good job of playing it straight.

 

Note the lack of any mention of Mormonism in Vlhaos’ work.  Fox didn’t ask Mitt about it, they went to the source.  What a novel concept.

 

First Amendment Center Intern Josh Tatum takes a look at Mitt’s record as it relates to the various parts of the aforementioned Amendment.

 

Various MSM outlets are carrying the story of Mitt’s recounting his emotional reaction as he watched a soldier’s casket being unloaded at Boston’s Logan Airport.  Here’s the bottom line – Mitt is a human being, a man, a husband, and a father.  If you can somehow manage to look on a similar scene and not feel and show some emotion, You. Are. Not. Human. 

Atlantic’s Ross Douthat has some advice for the GOP field.  Memo to Ross:  Mitt doesn’t panic.  He showed that during Russert’s Sunday Morning grill session.  End Memo.

 

Blogfather Hugh had UVa’s Larry Sabato on his show yesterday.  The Huck got blindsided by reaction to his Holiday Inn Express Foreign Policy speech in addition to the hit piece put forth by NBC’s Lisa Myers.  Huck is so not ready for prime time.  His plan?  Whitewash the backlash with a Christmas commercial.  Good luck with that Huck.

 

Eugene Robinson doesn’t think Huck is behaving himself quite like he should.  I can’t argue with him.

 

Mitt took exception to a heckler in Londonderry, New Hampshire yesterday.  This should be a lesson to all anti-war foaming hecklers.  Mitt doesn’t back down when confronted with cowardly stupidity.  He takes the bull by the horns and this time the bull turned out to be little more than a piece of fluff.  Kudos to the Telegraph’s Kevin Landrigan for reporting the whole story.

 

Townhall’s Matt Lewis considers the difference between organization and insurgency in Iowa.  Which one will win?  In my opinion, I believe the adage “You Get What You Pay For” will prove true yet again.

 

Stuart Rothenberg says Mitt can’t solve his “Mormon Problem”.  Mr. Rothenberg’s political analysis is usually pretty solid.  His religious analysis – not so much.  Article VI’s Lowell Brown takes issue with Rothenberg’s assertions.

 

RCP’s John McIntyre thinks Huck might actually be helping Mitt.   Stranger things have happened.

 

Mitt took a shot at Huck on his questionable record on crime.  Huck’s answer was to whine about the world needing “a little good will and peace on earth a little more than they can some tit for tat in the political arena.”  Papering over the crime issue with empty platitudes doesn’t work.

 

American Spectator’s Shawn Macomber chronicles Mitt’s visit to Marion, Iowa’s Linn-Mar High School.

 

Mitt is surging in South Carolina.

 

And finally, Rick Moran peers into his crystal ball and writes about what a brokered convention would look like.  Let’s not do this, people.  Let’s settle this by February and train our sights on the real targets.    

  

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Back to the grind after an extended weekend.  What can I say?  I have a life outside of political commentary.

 

Mitt had an encounter with NBC’s Tim Russert on Sunday’s Meet the Press.  Here’s a good summary for you – Mitt was Mitt and Russert was his own predictably biased liberal self.  ‘Nuff said.

 

It looks like The Huckster has done a bit of résumé fudging.  So, what is it Huck?  Either you have the theological chops or you don’t.  I’m afraid it’s the latter.  He’s also violated the Glass House Rule by attacking Bush as being “arrogant” and having a “bunker mentality” when it comes to foreign policy.  This coming from a guy who wouldn’t know a National Intelligence Estimate unless it came up and smacked him between the eyes – which, by the way, one did.  Mitt rightly shot back at Huck as being “un-republican.”

 

Lawrence O’Donnell, having completely ignored the First Rule of Holes, cues the steam shovel and just keeps plumbing the depths of bigoted ignorance.  I knew there was a reason why I stopped watching The West Wing – I just couldn’t put a finger on it till now.

 

The Weekly Standard’s Kenneth Anderson pens a piece which is better left to the Article VI Boys’ Theo Nerd section for analysis.  

 

Atlantic Free Press’ Robert Weitzel wins today’s award for the worst Photoshop job.  Beyond the picture, the article isn’t worth much.  Memo to Mr. Weitzel:  If you want to win a war, you deal with people who know how to fight it.  End Memo.

 

K-Lo makes sense.

 

Feel free to read the first and last sentences of Helen Thomas’ latest “I’m still alive” column.  Everything between those two sentences is a waste of space. 

 

The Quad-City Times’ Dan Gearino profiles Mitt and declares him “relentlessly upbeat”.  You takes the compliments you gets.

 

I think Kevin McCullough is facing the same challenge as many primary voters.  Memo to Kevin:  If you’re going to support a GOP candidate in 2008, support one who has the possibility of winning the race.  Huck can’t – and won’t – and we both know it.  End Memo.

 

Bloomberg’s Jonathan Salant investigates how Mitt pries cash from fellow Mormons.  Nothing new there, really.

 

Townhall’s Mona Charen says its time to take a second look at Mitt.

 

Here’s a retranslation of the Des Moines Register Debate, courtesy of The Southern’s Kathleen Parker.  Well, isn’t that just special?

 

I can only say one thing to this Eagle-Tribune editorial.  Amen.  Despicable campaign tactics by the Huckabee campaign are beginning to seriously irritate me – and many others for that matter.  And no, Huck, this “so-called” apology is much too little and far too late.

 

This brings me to an important point.  Huck’s throw away line to the New York Times Magazine reporter accusing Mormons of believing something they do not (that Jesus and Satan are brothers) isn’t something you just pick up off the street.  Huck is an ordained Southern Baptist Minister (albeit a non-degreed one) and even though there aren’t a whole lot of Mormons in Arkansas, Huck has had enough experience in the religion field that I’m pretty sure he’s read his fair share of anti-Mormon literature.

 

What does this mean?  It means Huck knew what he was doing when he dropped that line.  He knew it would stir the pot a little and give him a little more unearned press while at the same time stirring up anti-Mormon sentiment.  Yes, he apologized to Mitt, but you can’t un-ring that bell.

 

This is the kind of “despicable campaign tactics” the aforementioned editorial speaks of.  Huck has now taken this campaign from the political and plunged it into the deeply personal – a big mistake on his part.

 

There is a Proverb with which Huck is no doubt familiar.  It reads

  He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. 

Memo to Huck:  The wind is coming.  End Memo.

 

American Thinker’s James Lewis gets it.  Lake Expo’s Henry Waters doesn’t.

 

Former Bay State Governor Bill Weld is with Team Mitt.

 

By now this is old news, but the NRO Editorial Board endorsed Mitt last week.  Good call, guys. 

 

The Louisiana Weekly published a diatribe from Henry Alford where he basically concluded that Mitt is a racist.  Memo to Mr. Alford:  After having read your sorry excuse for a column, I’ve come to the conclusion that between you and Mitt, there’s only one racist – and it’s not Mitt.  End memo.

 

And finally, from the “It’s About Damn Time” category comes PoliticalDerby’s Jason Wright with the Holiday Edition of his Power Rankings.  He’s got the candidates wish lists.   I don’t know what’s up with Jason and this incredible time lag in Power Ranking postings.  It’s not like he has a national book tour to do or anything.

 

Somebody pinch me – Patrick Ruffini has seen the light.

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Evidently the DNC is salivating at the prospect of a Huckabee candidacy in the general election.  Glass jaw, thin skin.  Yep, that’s Mike.  Their reasoning is grounded in polling data.

 

The hits just keep on coming.

 

Townhall’s Matt Lewis says us Mittbloggers are “pushing” the negative Huck narrative.  Memo to Matt:  Cheap Shot Sam’s “senior aide” is full of sour grapes.  We’re not pushing a negative Huck narrative.  We’re pointing out facts and returning fire.  It’s called politics and it’s a contact sport.  End Memo.

 

The Philly Inquirer’s Dick Polman does great satire.

 

NewsBusters’ Brent Baker has a critique of Mitt interview conducted by Her Royal Perkiness, Katie Couric.

 

Mitt has taken the gloves off where Huckabee is concerned.

 

More humor, this time from Argus Hamilton.

 

I like the fact that Aaron Maloy has endorsed Mitt.  I don’t believe his premise that America is in decline.  Check your history books, Aaron.  People were saying that in the 1970s and roughly every other decade prior to then.  It’s called optimism, Aaron.  Try some.

 

Speaking of history, HuffPo’s Chris Weigant takes a look at the arduous history of Mormons having been raked over the coals for no other reason than they wanted to represent their people.  Surprisingly well researched piece.

 

Townhall’s Bill Murchison applauds Mitt’s taking on the secularists.

 

And finally, I’m pretty sure the NRO Editorial Board’s branding of Mike Huckabee as the “Holiday Inn Express Candidate” isn’t a compliment.  Want a better translation?  He also garnered the title of “Dangerously Naïve”.  Says the Board:

 In sum, conservatives should have worries about the depth and soundness of Mike Huckabee’s foreign-policy views. And staying at a Holiday Inn Express is not going to be enough to allay them.   

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Good morning, Governor.  Can you tell us where these nine convicted murderers are?

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Today’s “Raging Religious Bigot” Award goes to none other than the McLaughlin Group’s Lawrence O’Donnell. Memo to Larry: If you’re going to rage at a particular religion, at least make an attempt to base your rage in facts. You failed. You’re a bigot. Here’s your sign.

The Washington Post’s Eli Saslow writes perhaps what may be the best article tying Mitt’s LDS missionary service to his current campaign. Well done, Eli. Would that others would emulate your style.

The New York Times’ Laurie Goodstein really needs to update her Rolodex with people who aren’t bigoted against Mormons.

Politico’s Leroy Chapman has a story on Mitt’s solid support in South Carolina. No, I really don’t care what Cyndi Mosteller has to say. Big Fred needs to take her to the woodshed and ‘splain the facts of politics to her.

Article VI’s Lowell Brown runs down the highlights of Mitt’s “Faith In America” speech.

Peggy Noonan’s reaction to the speech.

The Washington Post’s Perry Bacon reports on the stress caused by increased scrutiny of the Huckabee campaign. It’s only going to get worse.

Mitt sounds off to the Detroit News’ editorial board on Huck’s record and the dangers it contains. Don’t let Mitt’s nice guy exterior fool you. He’s got opposition research just like the rest of the crowd.

The Beehive Standard Weekly’s Rob Graham knows why Bush 41 gave Mitt the location for his speech last week.

Politico’s Jonathan Martin talks Iowa Man Power vs. Mojo. I can only say one thing: You get what you pay for.

The Washington Post’s Robin Givhan is obsessed with Mitt – well at the very least she’s obsessed with his hair.

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