Losing the Base

Read the following. I've redacted the name of the candidate because I want you to guess who said/wrote these words:

"American foreign policy needs to change its tone and attitude, open up, and reach out," ... "The Bush administration's arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad. My administration will recognize that the United States' main fight today does not pit us against the world but pits the world against the terrorists."

In one specific criticism, ... said Bush did not send enough troops to invade Iraq. And he accused the president of marginalizing Gen. Eric Shinseki, the Army chief of staff, who said at the outset of the war that it might take several hundred thousand U.S. troops to control Iraq after the invasion. "I would have met with Shinseki privately and carefully weighed his advice,"...

Okay, let's play name the candidate. The Bush administration is "arrogant" and "counterproductive at home and abroad", that sounds a lot like John Kerry in the 2004 campaign. In this election, I would say that it sounds very Edwardsesque.

But no, the writer is Mike Huckabee, the newly-minted front runner.

Many conservatives and Republicans have disagreed with Bush on the immigration issue and uncontrolled spending but have never wavered in their support for his anti-terror policies, which have prevented a further terror attack. Huckabee is playing a dangerous game going against Bush on this and trying to gain Democrats and Independents. He seems pandering and it's only going to harm him in red state primaries.

Huckabee is a horrific candidate for the GOP, his evangelical views aren't going to win this time around and he's got way too much baggage from the past. Christian Conservatives may support him but without grabbing a sizable amount from the secular middle, he'll get crushed. There's two issues that are of the highest importance to Conservatives: the War on Terror and immigration; with these statements, Huckabee fails on the former and his actions in pushing for taxpayer-paid college for illegals while governor means he failed on the latter.

Here's to hoping that the pounding from the right that has started will lift Thompson and sink Huckabee.

Update: Romney calls him out and ABC gets the quote wrong saying in their headline "Huckabee Running From the Wrong Party", Romney actually said for.

Update: Jeez, it gets worse, NBC is calling Huck the "next Reagan". Reagan is rolling over in his grave and NBC is so misguided.