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When I first was inspired by Governor Huckabee I submitted this site to his blog roll. I let the campaign and my visitors know that I was not decided on Governor Huckabee but was leaning his way. They not only included me, but mentioned American Elephant on Huckabee’s blog. I was honored at the time and a bit humbled. It said a lot to me about a campaign that would include someone who wasn’t in the bag, but was publicly on the fence and critical of Huckabee and was openly still deciding on a candidate.

Times have changed. The more I have learned the more I have backed away. I announced my decision to fully support Fred Thompson on January 3rd. But my change has gone even further. I have not just chosen the better of two candidates…. I am fully committed to one and feel betrayed by the other. It is with that sentiment that I sent the following letter to the Huckabee campaign, asking for them to remove American Elephant from their blogroll. I have never hidden my struggle with choosing a candidate, and I was admittedly very pleased when the Huckabee campaign linked to this blog. Therefore I find it only appropriate to also publicly display the e-mail I just sent their campaign asking to now be removed from that very blogroll.

Please remove my blog, American Elephant Blog (elephantusa.blogspot.com) from your Blogroll. I have been waffling about Governor Huckabee for a while, but his latest comments over the last few weeks have given me no choice but to completely withdraw my support. Governor Huckabee doesn’t seem to stand on any of his principles (like another former Governor from Arkansas). I expect more from my Presidential candidate and from a Baptist Minister. Huckabee should be a beacon of character and principles, someone we can all be proud represents us. But his latest change on the Constitution as a living document, his intellectual inconsistency on illegal immigration, his change in stance on a national smoking ban, wanting to close Gitmo, etc all leave me unable to honestly support the man who does not have the strength to maintain his convictions.

I feel lied to and betrayed by the man who portrayed himself as a conservative Christian with principles. I don’t question his faith but I do question his courage, character, conservatism and consistency. I can not support him for the Presidency and request that my link be removed from his blog roll.

Thank you.

American Elephant
elephantusa.blogspot.com

Read the whole thing.

Buford Pusser in Washington. I can see that.

If you have followed this blog, you have seen a metamorphosis from a man who struggled which of two candidates to support to a man who only believes in one. Those two candidates were Governor Mike Huckabee and Senator Fred Thompson. The later of the two has my utmost support to this day. The former has lost my support and is beginning to lose my respect.

I said that something about Governor Huckabee just didn’t feel right… and the more I listened and learned about him the more uneasy I felt. That uneasiness has been gaining intensity as of late to the point that it has officially boiled over today. Instead of being the slightly lessor of two candidates, Governor Huckabee is now officially someone I could not and will not support. In a general election between him and one of the two democratic challengers I honestly don’t know if I would hold my nose and vote for Mike or write in someone else. Governor Huckabee is not the conservative he claims he is… the more he talks the more he sounds like another former Arkansas Governor who changed his message based on his audience and polling data. I have no respect for someone who is running for office and has no consistency in their principles. As a Baptist minister I never thought that could be applied to Mike Huckabee… but today he proved there is no doubt… consistency is not in his vocabulary.

Today on CNN, Governor Huckabee said that the Constitution was a “living, breathing document” (about 3:55 into the video).

While on his campaign website, Governor Huckabee completely disagrees.

I firmly believe that the Constitution must be interpreted according to its original meaning, and flatly reject the notion of a “living Constitution.”

Calling the Constitution a “living” document is liberal-speak for saying that it can be changed, modified or adopted to reflect polls or public opinion. Calling it a “living” document makes way for activist judges to interpret the Constitution as they see fit instead of being “faithful adherents of originalism and textualism.” (also a quote from Mike Huckabee’s website that contradicts his CNN interview today).

Make no mistake, the “living” document argument is what liberals use to justify abandoning the second amendment… certainly the framers didn’t anticipate semi-automatic weapons. The “living” document argument is what liberals use to justify abortion… certainly the framers weren’t thinking about abortion when the guaranteed the protection of “life” and “liberty”.

Thankfully there is a true conservative in the race today who believes in conservative principles and desires to uphold the original context of the Constitution. Thankfully, real conservatives have a choice. Fred Thompson is the only man in the race who believes in the strength of the Constitution and the guarantees within it. Fred Thompson will protect the Constitution and its ideals of limited government and appoint judges who will do the same. Fred wrote today:

I do not believe the Constitution is a living, breathing document. I am committed to appointing strict constructionist judges to the bench if I am elected President, strict constructionists who believe the Constitution has a fixed meaning that can be applied to cases that come before the courts today. They do NOT believe the Constitution is a “living, breathing document,” whose meaning, constantly changing with the sifting sands of our culture, can be determined and applied by unelected judges.

I fear that this loose language about our Constitution calls into question Governor Huckabee’s appreciation and understanding of the issue of judicial activism and raises questions as to what kind of judges he would appoint were he to become President.

We can not afford to have another Arkansas Governor in the White House who has no core principles and neither can our Constitution. Baptist Minister or not, Governor Huckabee is continuing to prove my uneasiness was right and that he is not the right man to become our President.

Conservatives have a choice. Someone who will fight to stop abortion and protect the Constitution from liberal activist re-writes. Support Fred Thompson, thankfully there is one consistent conservative to stand with us.

It is no secret that Governor Huckabee supports a federal smoking ban… or at least he did. He said so publicly this past August at an event with Lance Armstrong moderated by Chris Matthews. And he gleefully signed legislation in Arkansas banning smoking in indoor spaces. Just read this quote from 2007:

As a governor, I led our state to become the first state in the South to have a statewide ban on smoking anywhere indoors and I’m proud of that and it wasn’t the easiest thing in the world to get done,” Huckabee said. “It was hard. And I’ll tell you something, Chris, it takes the personal involvement of the chief executive to make that happen,” he said.

Fred Thompson has been hitting Huckabee hard on this issue because it falls in stark contrast with his limited federal government ideals (i.e. Federalism). At best this is a state issue, the federal government has more important things to deal with than enacting or enforcing smoking bans.

And apparently Governor Huckabee now agrees. Taking a page out of John Kerry’s book, Governor Huckabee has flip-flopped on this issue and now calls it an issue for individual states to decide. Like the rest of America, it sounds like Governor Huckabee is coming over to Fred’s way of thinking.

I don’t disagree that smoking is a health hazard, but I really don’t want the Federal government or even the state government involved in any ban. Its not their place. Local governments have the right and the duty to pass laws the fit their township. If my city or county wants to ban smoking in restaurants or all public places, that’s fine. Let’s let the Federal Government worry about what the Federal Government should be worrying about… and that’s not the Capitol’s cafeteria menu… the Federal Government should be concerned with securing our sovereignty and protecting our God given rights. Anything else is an abuse of power.

I’m glad Governor Huckabee is now starting to see things our way. Congratulations on joining the rest of right-thinking Americans and Flipping For Fred!

Fred Thompson’s Campaign Manager, Bill Lacy, released this statement following the Michigan Primary. I’m glad he has the guts to articulate what many conservatives are feeling. We need to make the differences clear, if you pay attention only one man in this race is consistent with their ideals. Don’t we need someone like that in Washington?

Bill Lacy’s Statement:

Tonight’s results in Michigan make two things clear: First, the Republican campaign for President remains wide-open. Our party faithful are still looking for someone who meets all the qualifications they seek: A true consistent conservative with the experience to keep the country safe. Second, Mike Huckabee’s campaign to be John McCain’s Vice President has hit a snag. He has gone from the mid-thirties in Iowa to 11% in New Hampshire and now about 15% in Michigan.

On higher taxes and looser immigration, Huckabee has been done his best these past few weeks to mimic McCain. But this is nothing new. In fact, while John McCain was leading the Senate charge to grant amnesty for illegal immigrants, Mike Huckabee was one of the loudest cheerleaders. And at the same time McCain was voting against the Bush tax cuts, Huckabee was in Arkansas increasing taxes some 21 times.

As for Mitt Romney, he has been all over the map on virtually every issue important to conservative voters.

As the contest moves to South Carolina, look for Romney, McCain and Huckabee to face serious questions about their commitment to consistent conservative principles. Their records are in stark contrast to Fred Thompson, who remains the one true steadfast conservative in this race.

The bottom line is that tonight is a whole new ball game and tomorrow morning begins a brand new campaign where Republicans are looking for the clear conservative choice.

Are you like me and scores of other Right-Leaning Americans who were leaning towards one candidate before realizing that Fred Thompson was the only true conservative in the field? My neighbors to the South are starting to realize that Fred Thompson is the best man for the job with a consistent message, sound policies, and strong resolve. How about you?

Visit the Fred File to see South Carolinians who have Flipped For Fred.

Fred Thompson, Aways Conservative. Watch the video.

The FoxNews focus group tonight overwhelming thought Fred Thompson won the debate tonight. I agree, but that is about all we agree on. Then many of them went on to question Fred Thompson’s consistency. What? Obviously these people haven’t been paying attention. Hopefully they’ll get a chance to see Senator Fred and the red truck in South Carolina and do a bit of research on their own. Fred Thompson’s message and ideals have been consistent throughout his career. No one else on the stage can say that. Huckabee on Illegal Immigration? Giuliani on gun control? McCain on many things? Romney on everything? The only person who has a consistent record and whose policies are intellectually consistent is Fred Thompson. Period.

Electing the President is an important privilege of living in a democracy and we have a duty to make an informed decision. An informed decision. I hope this debate will prompt the focus group folks and many others to look into Fred’s record, views, and his policies. When everyone was making sound bytes months ago, Fred had clear policies. Fred has experience, strength, courage, and character. And he is a true conservative. Can anyone else on the stage actually say that? No.

As I watched the debate tonight I felt Fred Thompson commanded this debate. He always rises above and seems much more professional than the rest… he was a bit more antagonistic this time than he has in past debates, but obviously that resonated with voters. Apparently voters agree, at least according the FoxNews’ focus group with Frank Luntz.

Go Fred!

I spent the first 30-45 minutes of the debate talking with my wife who is out of town on business tonight, so I’m going to watch it again before giving any detailed commentary… but I was very pleased with that I saw.

Most often, the more you learn about someone the less impressive they become. The theory is that everyone has skeletons in their closet, blemishes on their face, and puts their pants on one leg at a time. But then you learn about someone like Joe Gibbs, who is completely contradictory to the rule above.

I have never had the pleasure of meeting Coach Gibbs, but if he ever does a lecture circuit or anything public in the triangle, I’ll be there. If I thought I’d get a chance to talk to him at a NASCAR event, you can bet I would attend my first one. Sadly, we won’t see him coaching on the Redskins sidelines any more.

You won’t find a better class act or better coach. You can listen as intently as you want, but you won’t find anyone who knows him saying a bad thing about him. There has been the usual second-guessing of his calls, time-management (or timeouts) like most coaches… but then everyone goes on to praise him for his leadership, devotion, and humility. Look a little deeper and you’ll find a grandfather proud of his “grandbabbies” and an owner who gives out testimonials and has witnessed to people at his NASCAR facility.

When Redskins’ Safety Sean Taylor was killed this year, I couldn’t help but think how awesome it was that Joe Gibbs was at the helm, surely God had a hand in him being there. And what seemed like a lost season and a year full of tragedy and sadness, Joe Gibbs led to one of triumph and respect. They didn’t make it past the first round of the playoffs, but the Washington Redskins became the class of the league this year… a fitting contrast to the Patriots cheating scandal and the Michael Vick dog-fighting case that started the season.

Coach Gibbs said this was his toughest year as a coach, and I don’t doubt it. From injuries, to botched calls, a player’s untimely death, and illness in his family… Joe Gibbs had a lot to deal with. A lessor man could have given up or changed. But Gibbs kept his perspective, kept his faith, and kept his focus. And all of us who got to watch from the sidelines are better for it.

For a second time, Washington has lost its greatest coach and its greatest champion. While I respect Coach Gibbs’ need to move on and take care of what’s important, I’m certainly sad to see him go. A great coach may walk the Redskins sidelines again next year, but our hero will be gone.

Sports fans across the country stayed up to watch the LSU Tigers deny the Ohio State Buckeyes the national title (OSU also made it to the Championship game last year only to lose to Florida). While a large number of us were debating the BCS system and LSU’s two losses this season… the political machine in New Hampshire was entering its fourth quarter. At midnight the first votes were cast, and this very important and historic primary officially began.

There are many assumptions of how today is going to turn out, but a couple things seem clear… Obama is likely to increase his shot at the Democratic nomination, while the Republican field continues to be wide open (contrary to media portrayals).

This whole dance is interesting if a bit disturbing.

Hillary teared up yesterday as she expressed her “heartfelt” desire to protect the country with her ideas of socialism. We always knew when Bill was being fake, he’d bite that bottom lip… but Hillary is a bit more varied. Sometimes she’ll act like its her lone fight against the evil Republicans, sometimes she’ll change her accent to placate an audience, and now she’ll feign tears to get the vote. If the nomination doesn’t work out at least we know she’ll fit right in with her actor friends in Hollywood.

Watching Hillary doesn’t stop being amusing there. She apparently lost her mantle as the heir-apparent, at least with the media who have been comparing Barack Obama with John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (insert audio track: I knew Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine, You Sir are no Jack Kennedy) The Clinton Campaign hasn’t taken that lightly and has began attacking against the crowning of OBama by the media and these larger than life comparisons.

Hillary watching isn’t the only thing that is a bit interesting and unsettling as of late. Just consider the coverage of the GOP field. The media (Fox News included) seem to act like the race is almost over yet by every poll the only thing certain is that the field is wide open. Fred Thompson had a better showing than anticipated in Iowa yet he is completely dismissed. He also had delegates in Wyoming which some of the “front runners” did not… but where is the coverage of that? Huckabee is still high in almost every poll, yet his winning of the Iowa Caucus is treated as more of a fluke than a victory. Romney is fighting for his life… the media seem to get this right… but considering how no one has swooped in to take clear front-runner status… I don’t believe his fight is over. McCain was all but counted out a few months back and now the media is trying to give the crown back to him. And Giuliani, virtually invisible as of late, is promising a strong showing in Florida and other Super-Tuesday states. Ladies and Gentlemen, the field is WIDE OPEN, don’t let the media dictate otherwise. Polls, pundants, and the resulting groupthink should not dictate who the GOP nominee is. Policies, character and results should.

Ahhh… it should be an interesting day… this thing is only just beginning.

At least once every five minutes some commentator mentions how significant it is for a black man to win the Iowa Caucus for the democrats. And that’s on Fox News.

It is historic, but how significant is it really? Maybe its the perception of my red state glasses, but before you crown him king for such a monumental feat shouldn’t the accomplishment be weighed against the competition? Yes an African American man has won the first caucus of the 2008 election, but against who? A former first-lady who is loathed at an almost 3 to 1 margin and claims her experience as wife makes her the perfect Commander-in-Chief, and a former ambulance chasing trial lawyer with a $400 haircut.

Maybe my disgust for Hillary and Edwards is blinding me from seeing the real achievement?

I don’t want to discredit Obama at all, but he didn’t win an open race on his own. Obama was propelled by an anti-Hillary sentiment and the lack of an alternative choice. To put it plainly, in an open field in a general election, I don’t believe Obama gets more than a third of the Iowa vote.

Congratulations to Barack Obama on the win. There is no question that we have come far as a nation when a black man is probably the front runner for the democratic nomination. I think its great, but lets not make more out of it than it is. When he racks up three or four more primaries (which he probably will) then it will be a significant statement. If he get the nomination it will be an even greater statement. And if he wins the election, it would be a clear signal that broadscale racism is virtually dead. But the whole horse race is left, we’ve only just cleared the gates.

Congrats to Barack Obama tonight. I just watched his victory speech, and I’ve got to give it to him, he can deliver a speech and carry an audience. I know its easier when you’ve won… but I was much more impressed with Obama’s speech than tonight’s other winner, Mike Huckabee. Granted I didn’t agree with anything Obama said, but as an orator and politician, he does have something special.

Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” as a closing song? Nice touch.

I worked from the laptop while taking in the Iowa results from my periphery. The Huckabee win is not a surprise, but the margin might be. Same goes for Obama’s win for the donkeys. I’m also not surprised by Fred Thompson’s third (or maybe fourth) place finish… that’s been expected for a while. The only thing that did surprise me tonight was something that also shouldn’t have. Hillary’s post-caucus speech was just another moment of the Clinton-Cameleon effect… something her husband perfected in the White House. When you’ve been beaten, take on the mantle of the victor, claiming the cause and the win as your own. Her husband was a master of that, and she certainly can claim she learned that from him, even if her other “experience” is questionable. It does sit a bit disingenuous when someone claims experience and 35 years of politics (yes that is the number she used) yet claims to be the agent of change. But whatever, the Clintons continue to live in their own private reality.

If you are a political junkie, your adrenaline has been ratcheted up a notch and you probably found a way to watch the news at your desk. If you are like me, you’ve recently moved away from your desk, because the tv mounted to the wall is too distracting. I can’t exactly remove it, so I might as well remove me (or so the theory goes).

In a time where my industry is less than pleasant, politics generally provides a welcome diversion. Diversions don’t pay the bills. So while I’ll rant for a bit here, I can’t exactly give up the day job.

And now that Iowa is upon us, I’ve finally made a choice. Not a bit too soon either (I should have made it some time ago honestly). Fred Thompson is my guy, no question. If you have been keeping score, I’ve been waffling between Fred and Mike Huckabee for months. As a Christian, when I look at America today I can’t help but lean towards the Southern Baptist minister whose monologues remind me of one of those invigorating Sundays in church. When a fire & brimstone sermon is moving, challenging, and a bit funny… you know its a good afternoon. But once you get past Huckabee’s Christian foundation, what’s left? Sadly, something a bit too liberal to coincide with my Christian Conservative convictions.

You see, we agree on abortion and most social issues. But time and time again, Governor Huckabee walks a fine line between Christian Values and Liberal Propaganda. And on Meet the Press this weekend he seemed to want to placate and play politics a bit more than he wanted to stand fast in his beliefs. I found myself yelling at the TV… and while he didn’t fully back down from his beliefs, he did seem to side step a bit. That’s not what I want in my pastor and its not what I want in my President.

Only one man has been consistent on message and has said what needed to be said, politics be damned. Is it odd that the man who has proven to be true to his convictions is the actor and not the pastor in the race? To me that’s very telling.

I like Governor Huckabee. And while I’d enjoy having a glass of sweet tea and discussing the news with him, he is not the consistent conservative voice that can lead us forward. That man is Fred Thompson.

Fred doesn’t back down from a fight, doesn’t placate voters or change his message based on his audience. Fred doesn’t take cheap political shots by showing an attack ad that he’s decided not to run. His accent doesn’t change based on his audience and his policies don’t change based on polls. Fred Thompson is the one man in the race who can take on the tough issues, cut the fat in Washington, and bring us into a better tomorrow while making us stronger in the process. From illegal immigration to taxes and national security, Fred has the most detailed and best conceived plans and he put them out in a time when everyone else just had platitudes and sound bytes.

Strong. Consistent. Conservative. The answer is clear. Fred Thompson is the best choice for America.

I’m not sure how you can be a conservative and not vote for this guy. I would be. Based on the polls, an Iowa victory might be a long shot, but its not too late for a good showing. If the embedded video below doesn’t show up, click here to watch the video.