Comments on: David Brooks Describes the Two Earthquates in Iowa http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=2644 Defending Liberty and Enlightened Thought Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:46:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Ron Chusid http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=2644&cpage=1#comment-159376 Ron Chusid Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:01:53 +0000 http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=2644#comment-159376 "And can he survive the coming attacks from the Clinton machine? " They've already been attacking him quite a bit, but not very effectively. I think that many of their attacks actually helped Obama as it reminded people why they dislike so many other politicians. Agree about Huckabee's problems in the GOP. The question is whether the evangelical support in the party is an even greater percentage than it appears. Huckabee is also a smooth politician and I can see him bringing in support from other Republicans. We will have to wait until Super Tuesday to see how Giuliani does, but I suspect that going through the first month of primaries without a win will hurt him badly. Paul did just what I predicted after the straw poll. He did well as a message candidate, but never had a chance to win as many of his supporters have claimed. If he can do well in New Hampshire I could see him picking up some votes in Michigan since Clinton is essentially running unopposed in the Democratic primary. I know some Democrats are planning to vote for Paul either as a protest against the war or as a means to mess up the Republican primary. “And can he survive the coming attacks from the Clinton machine? ”

They’ve already been attacking him quite a bit, but not very effectively. I think that many of their attacks actually helped Obama as it reminded people why they dislike so many other politicians.

Agree about Huckabee’s problems in the GOP. The question is whether the evangelical support in the party is an even greater percentage than it appears. Huckabee is also a smooth politician and I can see him bringing in support from other Republicans. We will have to wait until Super Tuesday to see how Giuliani does, but I suspect that going through the first month of primaries without a win will hurt him badly.

Paul did just what I predicted after the straw poll. He did well as a message candidate, but never had a chance to win as many of his supporters have claimed. If he can do well in New Hampshire I could see him picking up some votes in Michigan since Clinton is essentially running unopposed in the Democratic primary. I know some Democrats are planning to vote for Paul either as a protest against the war or as a means to mess up the Republican primary.

]]> By: The Charters Of Dreams http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=2644&cpage=1#comment-159373 The Charters Of Dreams Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:44:12 +0000 http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=2644#comment-159373 The race is far from over, but Obama has shown that his upbeat message of change and opportunity resonates with voters. Bad news for Hillary. However -- two big questions remain: What will happen when scrutiny moves beyond his positive generalities to his very liberal record? And can he survive the coming attacks from the Clinton machine? She has the money, organization, and determination to fight back. There is no more ruthless politician in America. Obama had better be ready. Huckabee is also a winner, but -- remember built his win almost entirely on a turnout by evangelical Christians who ignored his <a href="http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=8838" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">big-government positions</a> . It’s hard to see how he can compete in anti-tax New Hampshire or socially moderate states like California that vote on Super Tuesday. Remember also Pat Robertson surprised everyone by finishing second in the Iowa Caucuses in 1988. I think this was Huckabee's last hurrah because I don't think Giuliani is really failing -- rather it may be that Giuliani’s strategy of playing rope-a-dope until Florida and the Super Tuesday primaries, and we may see a surge. You may have misgivings about Dr. Paul, some deserved, but a 10 percent of the vote is very good for a previously unknown congressman from Texas with minimal media exposure -- and for good reason: his <a href="http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=8828" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">limited government message</a> clearly touched a chord and has inspired a new generation of libertarian activists. It’s hard to see where he goes after New Hampshire, but he (& libertarian activists) can take satisfaction in what he had already accomplished. The race is far from over, but Obama has shown that his upbeat message of change and opportunity resonates with voters. Bad news for Hillary. However — two big questions remain: What will happen when scrutiny moves beyond his positive generalities to his very liberal record? And can he survive the coming attacks from the Clinton machine? She has the money, organization, and determination to fight back. There is no more ruthless politician in America. Obama had better be ready.

Huckabee is also a winner, but — remember built his win almost entirely on a turnout by evangelical Christians who ignored his big-government positions
. It’s hard to see how he can compete in anti-tax New Hampshire or socially moderate states like California that vote on Super Tuesday. Remember also Pat Robertson surprised everyone by finishing second in the Iowa Caucuses in 1988. I think this was Huckabee’s last hurrah because I don’t think Giuliani is really failing — rather it may be that Giuliani’s strategy of playing rope-a-dope until Florida and the Super Tuesday primaries, and we may see a surge.

You may have misgivings about Dr. Paul, some deserved, but a 10 percent of the vote is very good for a previously unknown congressman from Texas with minimal media exposure — and for good reason: his limited government message clearly touched a chord and has inspired a new generation of libertarian activists. It’s hard to see where he goes after New Hampshire, but he (& libertarian activists) can take satisfaction in what he had already accomplished.

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