December 12, 2007 7:14 AM
Last digs
File photo
Today's the day.
If rivals of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee want to stop his sudden momentum in the first caucus state of Iowa, their best hope is this afternoon, when they're on stage with him for the Des Moines Register debate.
Already, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has launched the first real attack ad of the season, contrasting his opposition to in-state college tuition breaks for illegal immigrants to Huckabee's support of it when he was governor.
Huckabee tried to bolster his credentials on that potent immigration issue on Tuesday, when he announced the endorsement from the founder of the Minuteman Project, longtime ally of Rep. Tom Tancredo, Jim Gilchrist. HERE'S THAT STORY from today's Rocky Mountain News.
Already, the chair of Tancredo's national campaign, Bay Buchanan, has pushed back, saying:
"Sadly, Jim Gilchrist has not done his homework. He has endorsed a candidate, Mike Huckabee, who is as pro-amnesty and pro-illegal immigrant as is John McCain. As recently as this year, Mike Huckabee has reaffirmed his support for a pathway to citizenship and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.”
The Register's debate, which has a long and storied history, gives all the contenders -- and Alan Keyes, too -- perhaps their best chance of piling on to the pressure that Huckabee has faced on immigration, taxes, foreign policy and other issues since he went from also-ran to front-runner in a matter of weeks.
So let's get ready to rumble.
We'll be at the Iowa Public Television studio watching the debate, so we won't have the usual live-blogging. But we'd welcome your thoughts before, during and afterwards here.
* * *
The debate begins at 1 p.m. Iowa time (noon Mountain Time, or 2 p.m. Eastern) on CNN. And it also can be seen online HERE (in real time, or afterwards).
January 9, 2008
9:14 PM
betty bopper writes:
bring home the troops, station them a few feet apart across the border, order them to shoot anything that moves. would be no problem rounding illegal immigrants up and sending them home. just give us the word and we'll point them out for you. several of my neighbors are here illegally. and not one of them speaks english.
January 9, 2008
7:04 PM
Myke writes:
Who are all these people voting for the candidates that are for amnesty. I am shocked John Pelosi is still in the running and now he is ahead. Who the hell is voting?
January 9, 2008
7:00 PM
Myke writes:
McCain
What is this amnesty plan of McCains? It isn't amnesty but all the lilegals get to stay here. They just have to pay $5,000. Who has to pay $5,000? Every male or female over 18? Or each head of the household, which will mean all of a sudden they will all be related. And when there are 17 men living in a two bed apt who is the head of the household.
And what is he going to do? Drive up in a truck and ask an illegals "you got your $5,000? No Senor I have no money." So McCain says "okay get in the truck, You are out of here." Instead of a fine make them buy car Ins.
How does he expect them to have $5,000? He wants to do this in a humane way "for the children". Oh yes lay that familiar phase on us for a guilt trip. He isn't so worried about them that it bothered him that they were exploited for years for low wages.
He either hasn't thought this plan thru or is hoping we won't.
Anyway you look at it we are still going to be paying welfare, free med, etc for 12 million illegals.They are still going to be bankrupting our schools, our hospitals and SS.
And at the rate they have babies and are coming across our pourous borders, I figure in a year it should be about 24 million.By the time he gets enough done to the border that will effectively stop anyone, they will all be here because they know they get amnesty.
So why is hell is McCain, the RINO in the lead?
January 9, 2008
6:58 PM
Myke writes:
The amnesty lovers keep telling us it is impossible to "round up 12 million illegals and send them home. But Huckabee can get them all to go home and come back in a few days. What is the point? After all the ways 85% of America has told them we do not want amnesty why do they keep shoving it down our throats. Huckabee is as pro amnesty as John McCain
January 9, 2008
5:50 PM
SOSAFORUS writes:
If Huckabee gets in the whitehouse we will have the same as the last 8 years and i don't think this country can take that much longer.
Please before you vote for anyone find out what they are all about, and immigration is the #1 or 2 issue in the country. between the war and the cost of people who are here illegally it is breaking the back of Americans. Don't wait for it to affect you in your Job or town fight now. elect the best person and do not be fooled.
http://www.alipac.us/index.html
January 9, 2008
4:46 PM
American Citizen writes:
Huckabee is an AMNESTY MAN!! Claims to be a christian...and deceives the voters!! I am sick of dirty politicans that will do or say anything to get elected. We've had enough of TRAITORS!!! It's time to find a candidate with integrity and honesty that will ACTUALLY WORK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!! Huckabee is not that person!!!!
January 9, 2008
2:17 PM
Bart writes:
Gilchrist has been a loose cannon for quite some time now. Huckabee wanted to appear tough on illegals, but nobody is being fooled. Visit www.alipac.us and get the whole truth!
January 9, 2008
12:26 PM
SOSAFORUS writes:
Huckabee and Gilchrist are both liars, they had better get their lies together because getting caught is becoming a daily occurance. check out this story! Huckabee on birthright citizenship!
http://www.alipac.us/index.html
December 13, 2007
1:37 PM
Creeley Bukowski Creeley writes:
What is this?!
Some kind of rock n' roll website?!
(I have trouble w/ headlines too.)
December 12, 2007
9:58 PM
magyart writes:
Fight illegal immigration. Contact your elected reps. and demand they co-sponsor the Save Act. The House bill is HR 4088. The Senate bill is S2368.
Visit NumbersUSA for more details.- http://www.numbersusa.com/actionbuffet
Only vote for candidates willing to support this bill. It forces all employers to verify social security numbers.
Let's take our country back !
December 12, 2007
1:11 PM
Media Lizzy writes:
Giuliani gave a solid answer on "transparency" but missed an opportunity to point to Hillary and the Clinton Papers. He hit a double - but it coulda been a homerun.
December 12, 2007
12:54 PM
Media Lizzy writes:
Alan Keyes is a shockingly tragic, almost crazy figure. This is a total embarrassment. I really hope the Democrat Debate features Gravel and every other nutter.
December 12, 2007
12:37 PM
Media Lizzy writes:
So, Thompson has a nice moment - "No hand shows l climate today" - thanks to the Are humans causing global warming?
Nice little moment butRomney has the best answer - global warming NOT America warming.
Alan Keyes has appeared from nowhere, playing the role of the Ghost of Elections Past.
December 12, 2007
12:14 PM
Media Lizzy writes:
Let the bloodletting begin... I love the Luntz-meter that Fox News has on the screen. Fun stuff. We miss you ME!
December 12, 2007
9:25 AM
DSS writes:
ME-Please be more careful with your teaser headlines.
I thought your posting was going to be about the death and burial of Fred T's campaign.