Today, January 7, 2008, marks the official beginning of Mike Huckabee's campaign in Minnesota with a press confrence at 2:30 in St. Paul. The next month, until the evening of February 5th, marks the potential and opportunity for a grass roots campaign in Minnesota like we probably have not seen in years.
It will be our goal to reach thousands of voters in the span of one month. I will work in particular to reach college aged voters and I will work to enlist college aged supporters of Mike across the state in my effort to prove that Mike is the best candidate for the next greatest generation of Americans. There is no doubt that some of the other campaigns are more entrenched here and, as expected, better financed. None of that mattered in Iowa, however, and hopefully none of it will matter here. We are going to bring Mike's message to people across the state and let them support him on the basis of what he stands for and where he will lead our country.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Join Me, Make a Pledge to support Governor Huckabee
I encourage you to join me in making a pledge to donate $25 to the Huckabee Campaign when 10,000 supporters are reached. You can make this pledge at www.huckabeemomentum.com. Please do so today!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Huckabee - A Man of Hope, The Power of Positivity
"An exciting candidate with an interesting message"
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
A Huckabee Historical Comparison
As I was planning a lesson plan for my future students recently and reviewing the Inaugural Address of John F. Kennedy, it suddenly hit me: JFK had a lot to say that reminds me of Mike Huckabee and his candidacy to lead America today.
For example, consider the following excerpts from that speech:
"We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom...signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe...that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed....
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge—and more."
"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it....The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. "
"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you: Ask what you can do for your country."
Perhaps it is just me, but this historical speech sure seems to convery the energy and enthusiasm I have for Mike Huckabee becoming the next American president. Do you agree?
For example, consider the following excerpts from that speech:
"We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom...signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe...that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed....
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge—and more."
"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it....The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. "
"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you: Ask what you can do for your country."
Perhaps it is just me, but this historical speech sure seems to convery the energy and enthusiasm I have for Mike Huckabee becoming the next American president. Do you agree?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Great Lines in You Tube Debate
Tonight Governor Huckabee had some of the best lines of the campaign so far. Not only does he do a good job of giving pointed answers to the questions asked, but he also, as the following lines indicate, offer a personable approach that most other candidates are unable to rival.
When asked what Jesus would do with the death penalty, Governor Huckabee responded that Jesus was too smart to get into politics in the first place. Certainly, when pressed, many of the candidates might have stuggled wtih a question mixing faith and political practice, but Mike's candid response answered the question and provided a glimpse into his sense of humor and individual approach to this campaign.
His best line of the night, in my opinion, came in response to a question about furthuring the space program and sending a person to Mars. As with other questions, Mike provided a serious answer highlighting the importance of technological innovation and futhuring the space program, but he ultimately qualified his answer in the end by saying that if a person were to be sent to Mars, he would gladly send Hillary. As one might imagine, the audience erupted and Governor Huckabee gained even more as the result of his sense of humor.
As people have reacted to this latest debate from numerous sources I have followed, many are noting how Mike really took advantage of his first real opportunity for more camera/face time in front of a national audience. For us supporters, we can only hope for more of the same!!!
When asked what Jesus would do with the death penalty, Governor Huckabee responded that Jesus was too smart to get into politics in the first place. Certainly, when pressed, many of the candidates might have stuggled wtih a question mixing faith and political practice, but Mike's candid response answered the question and provided a glimpse into his sense of humor and individual approach to this campaign.
His best line of the night, in my opinion, came in response to a question about furthuring the space program and sending a person to Mars. As with other questions, Mike provided a serious answer highlighting the importance of technological innovation and futhuring the space program, but he ultimately qualified his answer in the end by saying that if a person were to be sent to Mars, he would gladly send Hillary. As one might imagine, the audience erupted and Governor Huckabee gained even more as the result of his sense of humor.
As people have reacted to this latest debate from numerous sources I have followed, many are noting how Mike really took advantage of his first real opportunity for more camera/face time in front of a national audience. For us supporters, we can only hope for more of the same!!!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
I'm Thankful
As I have said before on this blog, my initial intent with "Then It Hit Me" was simply to provide a forum for my thoughts, something I would possibly commit myself to from time to time. When I began this blog, I knew I liked what I was hearing from Mike Huckabee, and I knew there was the potential for my interest to lead me to become more than just interested in his message, but eventually to become an active supporter. The level of my "activity" escalated quickly, to the point that people who know me well and interact with me regularly now routinely ask me, "Hey, what's the news on Huckabee, Will?" or "Hey, has Huckabee gained any more support yet?". So, while I find this growing trend somewhat interesting in my personal life now, at least in regards to the fact that so many people know roughtly where I align on many major issues, it is in my professional life that I have learned the most from reflecting about what this all means.
As I have started a student teaching experience this fall, it is from the students I am so privileged to work with that I have learned there really is some reward in the activity I have been able to do this fall while participating in the grass roots workings of American politics. I have been working with 8th grade students in World Geography courses over the past month or so, during which most of our study has focused on Africa. As students have discussed everything from the horrors of Rwanda and Darfur to the epidemics of AIDs and immense poverty, it once again has "hit me" that I am so very fortunate to live as I do, having incredibly few real issues or concerns when compared to people in other parts of the world.
So, as another Thanksgiving approaches, and I reflect on what I am learning alongside the students I teach and work with, I realize that I am fortunate to even be able to talk about the merits of a candidate like Mike Huckabee. For many kids in places around the world, talking about the merits of those who are in power is proscribed, if not criminal. When people talk about corruption among political leaders in the US, it is often for taking the wrong campaign contributions or even taking a few extra days off of work. Rarely do we even begin to think about corrupt regimes and leaders who go as far as to sanction mutilation and genocide, horrors and fears that kids in other parts of the world wake to daily.
People talk about being upset that Governor Huckabee may have allowed the children of illegal immigrants to obtain scholarships and go to school in this country. Imagine how upset many of those same people would be if Governor Huckabee reached even further across the lines and offered aid to kids and families living in unimaginable poverty in places all over Africa, places where the concept of a scholarship is so utopian at this point its beyond preposterous. I use this example because I believe it is absurd for people to call themselves humanitarians and say they care about helping create change for people in one instance, and then in the next instance turning a blind eye to other people exhibiting need of help, hope, and the opportunity to make their lives better.
People tell me all the time that the Republican party has to be "taken back" by younger adherents like myself. To them, and to anyone else who believes the same, my answer is this: The Republican Party does not need to be "taken back" anywhere, it needs to be "taken forward", but even taking the Republican Party forward pales in comparison to the importance of taking America forward.
The way the party and this country begins to move forward is with new ideas that meet the needs the world faces. We certainly need more humanitarians, regardless of which religion, race, ethnicity, ideology, etc. we are of. Mostly, however, and fitting because it is Thanksgiving, we need people to realize just how fortunate we really are so much of the time. We need to be thankful that we are able to live as we do and not face some of the real horrors the rest of the world lives with every day. Further, we need to eventually move beyond being thankful for how good we have it in America. Eventually, we must become thankful for the opportunity we have to offer help and healing to the rest of the world and not cease to be thankful for that opportunity until we have exhausted it (if such a thing is possible), allowing for social justice to take hold in places where it is today merely an afterthought.
As I have started a student teaching experience this fall, it is from the students I am so privileged to work with that I have learned there really is some reward in the activity I have been able to do this fall while participating in the grass roots workings of American politics. I have been working with 8th grade students in World Geography courses over the past month or so, during which most of our study has focused on Africa. As students have discussed everything from the horrors of Rwanda and Darfur to the epidemics of AIDs and immense poverty, it once again has "hit me" that I am so very fortunate to live as I do, having incredibly few real issues or concerns when compared to people in other parts of the world.
So, as another Thanksgiving approaches, and I reflect on what I am learning alongside the students I teach and work with, I realize that I am fortunate to even be able to talk about the merits of a candidate like Mike Huckabee. For many kids in places around the world, talking about the merits of those who are in power is proscribed, if not criminal. When people talk about corruption among political leaders in the US, it is often for taking the wrong campaign contributions or even taking a few extra days off of work. Rarely do we even begin to think about corrupt regimes and leaders who go as far as to sanction mutilation and genocide, horrors and fears that kids in other parts of the world wake to daily.
People talk about being upset that Governor Huckabee may have allowed the children of illegal immigrants to obtain scholarships and go to school in this country. Imagine how upset many of those same people would be if Governor Huckabee reached even further across the lines and offered aid to kids and families living in unimaginable poverty in places all over Africa, places where the concept of a scholarship is so utopian at this point its beyond preposterous. I use this example because I believe it is absurd for people to call themselves humanitarians and say they care about helping create change for people in one instance, and then in the next instance turning a blind eye to other people exhibiting need of help, hope, and the opportunity to make their lives better.
People tell me all the time that the Republican party has to be "taken back" by younger adherents like myself. To them, and to anyone else who believes the same, my answer is this: The Republican Party does not need to be "taken back" anywhere, it needs to be "taken forward", but even taking the Republican Party forward pales in comparison to the importance of taking America forward.
The way the party and this country begins to move forward is with new ideas that meet the needs the world faces. We certainly need more humanitarians, regardless of which religion, race, ethnicity, ideology, etc. we are of. Mostly, however, and fitting because it is Thanksgiving, we need people to realize just how fortunate we really are so much of the time. We need to be thankful that we are able to live as we do and not face some of the real horrors the rest of the world lives with every day. Further, we need to eventually move beyond being thankful for how good we have it in America. Eventually, we must become thankful for the opportunity we have to offer help and healing to the rest of the world and not cease to be thankful for that opportunity until we have exhausted it (if such a thing is possible), allowing for social justice to take hold in places where it is today merely an afterthought.
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