Andrew Jones for America – The current state of the Republican Primary

Many of us “bloggers” are finding out what a strong force Ron Paul has become on the internet. This is partly due to the unprecedented citizen access to the political table made possible because of sites like this one and YouTube. Increasingly, we are seeing traditional media sources adopt and partner with these new marketplaces of ideas; we need look no farther than the CNN/YouTube debates and the MTV/myspace.com presidential dialogue series for proof. Because of this, we would expect to see Ron Paul surge up in the polls and make a place for himself among the top tier candidates for the Republican nomination for president. Yet, alas, this has not happened.

While I am a political science major and a political junkie to boot, I can’t figure out exactly why this is. Perhaps the people are put off by the fact that Ron Paul rallies tend to look more like a drug-induced sleezefest of dirty youth reminiscent of the 1960’s. Perhaps it is because Ron Paul’s foreign policy is to not have a foreign policy. Perhaps it is because his supporters are the most annoying bunch of people ever to be granted access to a Republican debate. Or, maybe, it’s because America has had enough presidents from Texas for a while. I’m not sure and it’s not relevant. Ron Paul doesn’t stand a chance of winning and giving money to him is like paying a farmer for an old chicken and hoping to get a steak out of it.

Another Republican dark horse has stolen the attention away from Paul and run with it, all the way to the front of the pack. Governor Mike Huckabee is now the frontrunner in Iowa, and he is even running number one in some national polls. This phenomenon is much easier to understand. With little money and even less national organization, the little pastor (who used to be the HUGE pastor) that could, is steadily chugging his way to the Oval office on the steam of principled conservatism, compassion, wit and common-man appeal.

There is no secret to his recent success. As more and more Republican primary voters saw more of the former Arkansas governor at the debates, the more they liked him. Huckabee’s ability to tell a clever joke and still give the best, most appealing answer on almost every issue is a talent that lends itself to political success and its something Americans haven’t seen since Ronald Reagan (meaning this blogger has only seen it on film).

As we watch these debates and campaigns jockey for position in the early primary votes, its important to listen to the tone of the rhetoric. While Mitt Romney takes a hyperactive and negative approach to dealing with Huckabee’s recent capturing of a large section of Mitt’s voters, Huckabee remains calm, level headed and patient. While Rudy Giuliani franticly pleads with his cash-cows to fork over more money to an already expensive campaign, John McCain goes from town halls to college campuses connecting on a personal and honest level with the voters of New Hampshire and South Carolina. And lets not even get into Ron Paul’s crazy blimp flying up the east coast, with a stop in Boston to throw some tea out the window.

As the Republican ticket begins to take shape next month, I really do hope the voters will keep one simple creed in mind; principles before promises. It is very easy for politicians to promise to work for the interests of certain voter blocks in a desperate attempt to buy votes. It’s quite another thing to stand on principles and leave yourself to the supposedly honesty-loving voters of the early primary voters.

I would rather see an honest and principled president I agree with 65% of the time than a president who panders to my wants and desires with nothing but polls and election cycles in mind. We have enough lobbyists; we don’t need one in the White House. This is why I ♥ Huckabee. This is why I support Senator John McCain. These men stand on their beliefs, experience and honest opinions and leave themselves open to criticism from both the far right and far left. To my mind, the fact that mentioning my support for McCain garners strange looks and strong reactions from my leftist and extreme right wing friends indicate that I’ve found my guy!

With McCain’s foreign policy and military background leading the nation and Huckabee’s domestic expertise as a governor and pastor, I believe the Republicans have the dynamic duo needed to overcome the dismal approval rating of our current president. And, my Republican friends, make no mistake about it, this election is going to be about Bush. Elections in America are always a retrospective look back, rather than a true look to the future. We cannot run away from the policies of Bush and expect to fool the people; they know better and, like it or not, they won’t vote for another demagogue.

In closing, let me summarize the Republican field of presidential candidates as I see it today, December 11, 2007.
· We have two house members running just to show people they aren’t dead.
· We have another congressman who is the Republican’s Dennis Kucinich, only he has more money, so we get to be annoyed by him until he grows some smarts or runs out.
· We have a former mayor who embodies none of the social values we conservative Americans hold dear and has shown a great lack of professional judgment in the people he associates himself with in the workplace.
· We have an actor and former senator who is asleep at the helm, despite having a screaming infant in the room (that has many meanings, take it however you want).
· We have a former one-term governor from a blue state with a business background and no gumption or consistency on core issues. Oh, not to mention his Ivy League education, hair style, choice of clothing and recreation. He truly is John Kerry playing to a different, hopefully smarter base.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE REAL CANDIDATES
· A true American hero. A 4-term senator from a red state with a red record. Principled stances and the ability to appeal to the moderates and some liberals.
· A principled, compassionate former governor and pastor, who guided a poor blue state with conservative principles and direction for over 10 years

If we are as wise a group as we think we are, this will become a two person race and a no brainier ticket. If we want to win in 2008, I fully expect us to put up a McCain/Huckabee or Huckabee/McCain ticket to go against whatever liberal “progressive” (codeword for “hide your wallets”) the Democrats put up.

I welcome any comments or ideas you readers have. I won’t censor them; if you read that whole thing, you deserve to be able to say whatever you want.