Were Huckabee's clemency and pardon decisions influenced more by pastors than prosecutors?
Can anyone say “Willie Horton.” These cases were a terrible mistake on Huckabee’s part. Convicted criminals should serve their time. If he triest to shift the blame or spin this, I will be highly disappointed in him and in his lack of character.
One of the reasons I never supported Huckaby—maybe the only one—was that he showed a strong propensity toward populist and sentimental thinking. He was frequently slipping into class warfare language and casting government as the helping hand for the needy… and—like all the other candidates—trying very hard to paint himself “an ordinary guy.”
And in the pardons case, he appeared to me to be operating on a sentimental view of forgiveness rather than a biblical view (I don’t remember the particulars now of what he said that gave me that impression). Biblical forgiveness never requires that we seriously endanger other people. Showing mercy (which is something else) is an option, but a leader has to make a judgment call about the consequences to others and not just the potential benefit for the one receiving mercy. So in this case, he should say “I opted for mercy. I misjudged what the consequences would be.”
And in the pardons case, he appeared to me to be operating on a sentimental view of forgiveness rather than a biblical view (I don’t remember the particulars now of what he said that gave me that impression). Biblical forgiveness never requires that we seriously endanger other people. Showing mercy (which is something else) is an option, but a leader has to make a judgment call about the consequences to others and not just the potential benefit for the one receiving mercy. So in this case, he should say “I opted for mercy. I misjudged what the consequences would be.”
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010392869_shootingjust… Four days in May set stage for Sunday’s tragedy
Huckabee appeared on the Bill O’Reilly show Monday night to answer questions about this. You can watch the clip online or read the transcript. Apparently this case is much more complex than the Huckabee-haters would like it to be.
As one who has always supported Huckabee — which candidate in 2008 was better?? — it will be interesting to see if/how much this hurts him.
He had seemed to be doing all the right things to get ready for a run in 2012. In fact, he was a guest on Fox News Sunday just this past Sunday morning.
As fast as things move in politics — and as little real thought as people usually give to things, two things are likely to happen:
- the public perception of this will be based on a surface-level understanding of the situation.
- ultimately, it will be long forgotten by 2012.
(These comments are in no way meant to minimize the sacrifice of the four slain police officers. I am sorry for their families’ loss.)
As one who has always supported Huckabee — which candidate in 2008 was better?? — it will be interesting to see if/how much this hurts him.
He had seemed to be doing all the right things to get ready for a run in 2012. In fact, he was a guest on Fox News Sunday just this past Sunday morning.
As fast as things move in politics — and as little real thought as people usually give to things, two things are likely to happen:
- the public perception of this will be based on a surface-level understanding of the situation.
- ultimately, it will be long forgotten by 2012.
(These comments are in no way meant to minimize the sacrifice of the four slain police officers. I am sorry for their families’ loss.)
Church Ministries Representative, serving in the Midwest, for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
interesting clip
youtube(DOT)com/watch?v=F4PyFTRLFk4
who knows how much of it is really true, but it sounds convincing right now :)
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youtube(DOT)com/watch?v=F4PyFTRLFk4
who knows how much of it is really true, but it sounds convincing right now :)
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Good riddance to “Gomer Pyle” Mike Huckabee as far as politics are concerned. And so with him out of the way and Palin clearly an inappropriate candidate (though understandably likable but not appropriate at this point for a serious consideration as POTUS), an opportunity for the eventual rise of a genuinely Reaganesque candidate presents itself, namely Gov. Mitt Romney who will run laps around the amateur we now have.
Alex,
You can’t be serious…
You cannot be talking about pro-special gay rights, pro-abortion Mitt Romney, the man who was derailed in ‘08 by Jan Mickelson of WHO because he could not give a straight answer on the radio.
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5sXcdiL1wE
You can’t be serious…
You cannot be talking about pro-special gay rights, pro-abortion Mitt Romney, the man who was derailed in ‘08 by Jan Mickelson of WHO because he could not give a straight answer on the radio.
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5sXcdiL1wE
Church Ministries Representative, serving in the Midwest, for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
For once I think I’m with Alex on this one. ;) Mitt flipflopped but at least he flopped prolife. He is soft on several of the social issues, no doubt about it. Wish we had better choices. But in the leaderly competence department, I like him a lot. He also tries to sing the populist song but he looks ridiculous doing it. He’s not a regular blue collar guy and shouldn’t even try to be. He should give up on the whole pretense and be what he is: an expert in financial policy. We could use one of those right now. (Though his health care idea isn’t working as well as it once appeared to). I wouldn’t call him Reganesque myself, because I don’t think he is conservative in the bone marrow, but right now he wins the least of evils prize on my list. (Palin is just too tabloidy for me… uberpopulist… but so you know I’m not sexist about the presidency, I’d vote for Maggie Thatcher in a heartbeat)
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
I think Romney forgot to flop after he flipped. The deeper I have heard people dig into his political background, the less I want them to keep going. :)
I would also have trouble personally voting for someone who is tied so thoroughly to such an amazingly skewed spiritual system — not that his beliefs have dramatically affected his politics, as the Mickelson interview revealed.
Aaron, the cast of oddball characters you name makes me think of a German expression, which translated means, “It is to cry” :(
I would seriously hope the Republicans, who are trusting that 2010 is the second 1994, will also learn the lessons of 1996 and 2008, and this time — oh, I don’t know — maybe, like, NOT FORGET THERE IS GOING TO BE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THREE YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, the current unfortunate circumstances aside, I have never understood why Huckabee did not have wider appeal with conservatives, as per Alex’s post. He is 10,000 miles to the right of most Republicans on many issues, yet I hear true-red conservatives nitpick at him on some item which they are probably taking out of context and then endorse a good-ol’-boy establishment-liberal-Republican in his place.
I must be missing something…
I would also have trouble personally voting for someone who is tied so thoroughly to such an amazingly skewed spiritual system — not that his beliefs have dramatically affected his politics, as the Mickelson interview revealed.
Aaron, the cast of oddball characters you name makes me think of a German expression, which translated means, “It is to cry” :(
I would seriously hope the Republicans, who are trusting that 2010 is the second 1994, will also learn the lessons of 1996 and 2008, and this time — oh, I don’t know — maybe, like, NOT FORGET THERE IS GOING TO BE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THREE YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, the current unfortunate circumstances aside, I have never understood why Huckabee did not have wider appeal with conservatives, as per Alex’s post. He is 10,000 miles to the right of most Republicans on many issues, yet I hear true-red conservatives nitpick at him on some item which they are probably taking out of context and then endorse a good-ol’-boy establishment-liberal-Republican in his place.
I must be missing something…
Church Ministries Representative, serving in the Midwest, for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
I agree with Aaron, Huck tries to be too populist. We need someone responsible in office, not another Bush-type. I can pat myself on the back because the more time goes by the more I feel like I made the right call in voting for Mitt last year.
To me, the worst part is that this article and other media I have seen (or heard) suggests some of the same things—that Huck’s Christianity made him soft on criminals. It really gets me. Shouldn’t those with the strongest theology understand the necessity of proper punishment? I’m not a pastor, but I do have a job that requires me to face deceptive sin each day and, while I have tried to learn how to show kindness and goodness when it is appropriate, I have also learned that EVERYONE claims to be a good Christian who loves God and that you must allow people to suffer the consequences of their actions.
I’ll go to bat for Huck on one thing. The way the media frames the issue is so convoluted. “Did he let his religion influence his decision?” … as though this would be a terrible thing. Let’s get one thing straight—everybody who holds office has something in the “religion” category, a set of answers to the ultimate questions. And every holder of office “allows” that religion to influence him. Since the answers to the ultimate questions shapes everything else you think about human nature, role of government, crime and punishment, war and more, people do not arrive at opinions without recourse to their “faith.”
So Huck. is right to be guided by his faith and he should say so without embarrassment.
(Though I’m still not sure his faith is accurate on a couple of points in the case at hand)
Edit: about populism… Here’s my real gripe with it. The gist is “A guy/gal is a good leader if he/she is just like me.” One of these days I’d like to write a piece on “10 reasons I hope the next the president is not a guy like me.” Really, if it was a good idea to have a pres. just like me, it would be a good idea for me to run for office. No, I want a superior breed of human being (at least in some respects). Ideally, he’d have better people skills than me, better verbal skills, more energy, alot more ‘power of presence,’ a much more thorough knowledge of history, a thousand percent more awareness of international goings-on, a way thicker skin, truckloads more endurance… well, you get the idea. To the candidates: If you want my vote, tell me you’re better than me and why I should believe you are.
So Huck. is right to be guided by his faith and he should say so without embarrassment.
(Though I’m still not sure his faith is accurate on a couple of points in the case at hand)
Edit: about populism… Here’s my real gripe with it. The gist is “A guy/gal is a good leader if he/she is just like me.” One of these days I’d like to write a piece on “10 reasons I hope the next the president is not a guy like me.” Really, if it was a good idea to have a pres. just like me, it would be a good idea for me to run for office. No, I want a superior breed of human being (at least in some respects). Ideally, he’d have better people skills than me, better verbal skills, more energy, alot more ‘power of presence,’ a much more thorough knowledge of history, a thousand percent more awareness of international goings-on, a way thicker skin, truckloads more endurance… well, you get the idea. To the candidates: If you want my vote, tell me you’re better than me and why I should believe you are.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
[Paul J. Scharf]The “Huckster” is not a leader he is a personality which is precisely why Huckabee wanted and got his own television show and Romney is not interested in having a television show and a major reason why many conservatives reject Huckabee as a serious and sober candidate.
I have never understood why Huckabee did not have wider appeal with conservatives, as per Alex’s post. He is 10,000 miles to the right of most Republicans on many issues, yet I hear true-red conservatives nitpick at him on some item which they are probably taking out of context and then endorse a good-ol’-boy establishment-liberal-Republican in his place.
I must be missing something…
You must know something about Huckabee which I don’t, so we will have to agree to disagree — which I do with your reasoning and your conclusion.
Let’s pray the Republicans can get their act together and in 2012 nominate someone who is better then either Romney (for whom I would probably never vote) or Huckabee (who probably has no great chance of winning the presidency).
Let’s pray the Republicans can get their act together and in 2012 nominate someone who is better then either Romney (for whom I would probably never vote) or Huckabee (who probably has no great chance of winning the presidency).
Church Ministries Representative, serving in the Midwest, for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
Well maybe the whole country will get some good sense and everyone will write in Dick Cheney! :)
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