i'd be interested in the names of the political press corps who high-fived one another upon huckabee's surprise placing, as reported by noam scheiber:

"A final thought: The political press is absolutely head over heels for Huckabee. (There were high-fives all around when it became clear he'd finish second.) He's a genuinely endearing guy who can banter with the best of them--watching him with reporters brings to mind the old black and white footage of Babe Ruth jawboning with sportswriters. When you add that to the political media's general affinity for underdogs, you can see how Huckabee's about to enjoy some serious media afterglow, which will only further boost his profile."

He came in second when Giuliani, Thompson and McCain sat out. Is that really that much of an accomplishment? Let's face it, if everyone competed, he would have come in 5th at best.

you had to write something, Michael.

but there has to be better ways to justify an Iowa per diem.

And you went there why exactly?

COMING IN SECOND TO THE MIT-WIT.WOW WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT!!!

"Not only did many of the top Republican contenders not compete, but the turnout dropped considerably, from 23,685 votes cast in 1999 to just 14,302 votes on Saturday."

really does separate Huckabee from the rest of his field.

I was surprised a few days ago, when I saw video a clip of him delivering that part of his stump speech.

Huckabee doesn't have any other positions that I agree with, but that alone may be enough to make him the most "likable" of the GOP candidates, who so far, seem to be competing to see who can be the meanest.

The rest of his platform, though, will not play well in the general election.

I think what we have here is something the press always loves, a come from behind guy. He is also down to earth compared to Romney. However the most important thing is that he is NOT Mormon, like Romney. He is not pro-choice, like Guiliani. He is not old, like McCain. The religious right love him. What must a Republican do to win the primary? Get the support of the religious right.

Having the support of the religious right and being anti-abortion doesn't mean a candidate cannot win the general election. Bush won (sort of). Twice. Democrats must remember that the rest of the nation are NOT liberal.

The religious right does not just want to be able to home school...it wants the rest of Americans to pay for the religious education of its children. It's joined in the endeavor and funded by the corporate right that doesn't want to pay any taxes, personified by Charles and David Koch, big time Brownback backers. Here in Kansas, the RR took over the state Board of Education, twice. It wanted to eliminate not only the teaching of evolution, but also any sex education, world history, geology, physics, etc.

Huckabee may dodge this question but the truth is that his supporters vigorously support the Iraq war because it is, in their minds, a holy war against non-Christians. Many support the Israeli war against Palestinians because they believe that it is necessary for Jews to achieve a temporary triumph in order to pave the way for Armageddon and the rapture.

Huckabee's Christianity is hardly benign, no matter how he might cloak it in an air of populism. Salon can surely do better than this in covering this threat to democracy and human rights.

What's with this quote: "I think 'Free Bird' is what did it. When 'Free Bird' can play to the voters up north, you know you have a winning combination."

Is there something I don't know? Is Freebird supposed to be something that only southerners like? What world have I been living in all these years?

and far, far away from the White House. He's nuts. He believes the Earth is 4000 years old. I have rocks in my driveway that beg to differ. Plus, we already have a President who believes he's on a mission from God--how's that workin' out?

I am proud to be an American when I see the way the straw poll seemed to cut through some of the hype created by the media that was in favor of the over financed candidates.

Back about 1915 or so we had a politician named Woodrow Wilson that accepted a bribe to create the Federal Reserve. They were a group of very powerful bankers and businessmen from around the world at the time. Through the monopoly of being the source of our money and by being outside of our government, or paying any taxes, they have built up a fortune that, I believe, includes owning most of the politicians of the world.

It is going to take a determined, We the People, to restore law and order in our government before we can restore law and order in our once great nation.

"I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the civilized world. No longer a government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men."

-Woodrow Wilson

In a poll in which people weren't allowed to vote for Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry.

I've said it before, but I'll repeat it here because I never get a good answer - who is the heir apparent to Bush? Who is incurious, pious but amoral, affably stupid yet pettily truculent, and above all easily manipulated by less palatable powermongers? Whoever that is, it is they who will be placed on the ticket by the neocons and no one else.

Only a little more than half the folks show up in this oh so important straw poll than did last time around. Of those that do, hundreds lied to their benefactors to get a seat at the table (and possibly because it meant more comfortable buses and tents than the one they were in favor of).

The republicans have no un-flawed candidates, declared or undeclared in this round. Their usual base is unenthused. It doesn't matter who ends up candidate; there will be surprising support but, still, if the democrats are willing to use the knife early and often, they can be dispatched.

Are the democrats willing to bring out the knife? I hope so. I hate dirty politics but the future of our nation is at stake.