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!!!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
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.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Kucinich has seen UFOs: Why Democrats Lose Elections
Well, I spent two hours tonight watching the Democratic Debate. To be completely honest, I was impressed with some of the responses, especially from John Edwards on education. Additionally, Joe Biden made some good points about disparities that exist between urban and suburban/rural schools in America today. Chris Dodd made a great point in regards to the immigration debate and NOT allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses in New York.
Still, for all that might have been good about this debate, it was all overshadowed as it hit me tonight why Democrats tend to lose important elections. All it took to make this debate the laughing stock of enlightened people everywhere was for Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich to admit on national TV that he had personally seen a UFO and that his sighting had inspired some deep reflection within him. Kucinich, laughed at by many in the audience and thousands nationally watching on television, stuck by his comments. What had been a respectable debate quickly became laughable, with Hillary soon trying to make some sense out of her multipe, contradicting answers regarding illegal immigrants and driver's licenses. Even MSNBC commentators, includling Mr. Liberal=Chris Matthews, were laughing and questioning what they had heard and seen after the debate.
For Kucinich, the UFO sighter himself, if he doesn't pull out of the race soon because of this rediculous joke of a performance tonight, he cannot help but be discouraged with recent national polls. These polls, all conducted by reputable firms, show Kucinich and Ron Paul as being the two candidates that would fail to beat Stephen Colbert, a funnyman comedian, in a Presidential election conducted tomorrow.
In the future, Kucinich and Mel Gibson can begin work on Signs II. But for now, Kucinich can work as another example of the type of candidate that loses Democrats elections.
Still, for all that might have been good about this debate, it was all overshadowed as it hit me tonight why Democrats tend to lose important elections. All it took to make this debate the laughing stock of enlightened people everywhere was for Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich to admit on national TV that he had personally seen a UFO and that his sighting had inspired some deep reflection within him. Kucinich, laughed at by many in the audience and thousands nationally watching on television, stuck by his comments. What had been a respectable debate quickly became laughable, with Hillary soon trying to make some sense out of her multipe, contradicting answers regarding illegal immigrants and driver's licenses. Even MSNBC commentators, includling Mr. Liberal=Chris Matthews, were laughing and questioning what they had heard and seen after the debate.
For Kucinich, the UFO sighter himself, if he doesn't pull out of the race soon because of this rediculous joke of a performance tonight, he cannot help but be discouraged with recent national polls. These polls, all conducted by reputable firms, show Kucinich and Ron Paul as being the two candidates that would fail to beat Stephen Colbert, a funnyman comedian, in a Presidential election conducted tomorrow.
In the future, Kucinich and Mel Gibson can begin work on Signs II. But for now, Kucinich can work as another example of the type of candidate that loses Democrats elections.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
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