Look out, Huck, Ron Paul's people are gonna be furious

OK, Disciples of Paul, here's the chance you've been waiting for to get Mike Huckabee, the only remaining contender between your guy, Rep. Ron Paul, and the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, that nobody senator from Arizona, John McCain.

Do you know what Huckabee wrote on Tuesday? You won't believe it. Seriously.

Because he needs the publicity and doesn't have the money to buy much advertising to convince the rapidly growing number of Republicans who see the former Arkansas governor as a lingering nuisance who can't take a hint that his presidential hopes are over, smoked, done, dashed, cooked, fried, kaput, finished, completed and hopeless, Huckabee has challenged McCain to a debate. Hey, it only cost a stamp.

Huckabee's letter says: "I believe a Lincoln-Douglas debate so that voters can better understand our views on critical issues such as health care, education, energy independence, terrorism and national security is just what we need."

Of course, the Lincoln-Douglas debates occurred in....

a U.S. Senate race. There were seven of them, each three hours long. (That was in the 1850s before commercials for bathroom breaks.) And, also, the Republican lost that race.

But nevermind, Huckabee wants the spectacle of a debate before next Tuesday's March 4 primaries, when his campaign hopes could become absolute cinders. He'd also like your online signature on the letter for publicity.

But here's the real outrage that will rock the Internet in the next few hours. After paying the now-required tribute to Sen. McCain as "an American hero," Huckabee writes:

"Now that the race for the Republican nomination is down to just the two of us, I believe this is the time for a real discussion about our vision for the future of this great country."

The two of us? As in 2? One more than one and one less than three? Huckabee has no idea what he is in for, dissing the party's other remaining candidate. Just watch the comments section below for a taste. He's completely disregarded the existence of the 10-term libertarian-like congressman from Texas. Who may not have a realistic chance of beating McCain either, but don't tell that to members of the Ron Paul Revolution.

Paul, by the way, has consistently raised more campaign donations than Huckabee for the last year -- five times Huckabee's total in the third quarter of 2007 alone and more than any other Republican last quarter, nearly $20 million.

Paul has been spending a good deal of time recently in his home 14th District where, like Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich, he's facing a serious party primary challenge next Tuesday because he's been spending a lot of time not in his home 14th District.

But that doesn't mean Paul's countless thousands of fervent followers are tied up. Huckabee doesn't know the meaning of evangelical until he runs into Paul proselytizers. First, they will spread word of this Huckabee outrage within their chatrooms, meet-up groups, phone chains and message boards.

They will start leaving hundreds, then thousands of comments on blogs like this. They will, of course, politely remember that this blog has resisted the mainstream media ignorance and written often about their man. So they will direct their displeasure at the Huckmeister.

If the Paulunteers can discover Huckabee's e-mail, he'll get an electronic earful. And once they find Huckabee's campaign schedule on his website and realize that the former governor is also in Texas these days, they will march on Huckabee's campaign events as they did Rudy Giuliani's.

And remember what happened to Giuliani's candidacy.

--Andrew Malcolm

         Typical Ron Paul supporter

Comments

[TPMalone]

They are all fully aware of the fact that 3 people are left in the race.
They have to ignore Ron Paul because he will ABSOLUTELY DEMOLISH them in a debate.
They do not want to sway the tide too much. This debate would be all fluff anyway.
I hope this is adjusted and Dr. Paul is allowed to be on the stage with them, and get a fair say like everyone should.

[TJD]

Ron Paul's candidacy is more than a run for president, it is a revolution. With media outlet's other than the MSM, people can see what is going on. The influence peddling that has become commonplace, the cycle of funneling money to your district to get reelected. No wonder our country is going broke. If you could get every person to hear or know what Ron Paul actually stands for, 70% of the people would vote for him or his policies. The other 30% are the craddle to grave socialists.

[Carlo C]

One thing. When you start this article "O.K., Disciples of Paul, here's the chance you've been waiting for "... you should change it to "O.K., Disciples of Liberty, The Constitution and Freedom, here's the chance you've been waiting for"

WE ARE NOT DISCIPLES OF RON PAUL, BUT OF HIS MESSAGE, THE MESSAGE OF AMERICA... A MESSAGE OF PEACE, FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY.

(Good point. Will remember that for next time. Thanks.)

[jen]

That is a debate that wont happen. The McCain FIX is IN.
Huck may as well drop out. Just offering another choice in the primaries is not the best of reason's to waste what little money he is getting from his supporters.
BUT, what we do have from Ron Paul's persistance to stay in this race is a real Message of Peace, Prosperity and Liberty, which is a revolution in this day and age.
THAT is meaningful.
Hey, check out this fun Video~Ron Paul Goes to the Zoo! Ha!
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/32443

[cons3rvative]

Paul supporters should be angry at Mccain and the media if anything.
I'd like to see a debate. This is America right? What's wrong with hearing for ourselves what they stand for? I for one, want to know that Mccain, the "presumptive nominee" as the press has labeled him, stands for more than war, slack immigration and gay marriage. All of which are important issues we face, and yet Mccain only addresses war, war, war.
Huckabee is being ignored by the Mccain camp to debate. you can sign the petition at www.mustdebate.com

This election isn't over till WE say it's over!

[Larry]

You guys are cool.

[RonBot]

I surely won't vote for a candidate who can't count beyond two!
Huckster should stick to tele-evangelics and rock n roll. What a combination. Good vs EVIL. He plays for both sides. I guess that is being safe. He'll always have a home in the after life.

[Anonymous Ron Paul Supporter]

Dear Mr. Malcolm. Thanks yet again for lambasting our candidate in that sarcastic tongue in cheek way you are so artfully skilled in. Let me inform you of something. The gravy train is over. The temporary super-popularity of your blog is over. If our candidate, sadly, drops out, of necessity or choice, this blog will no longer be popular and no-one will care what you have to say. So keep milking the good dr.'s name while you still can. When this presidential race is over and/or you fail to mention the dr.'s name I for one will not be returning. Indeed the only thing that brought me here was that your article has "Ron Paul" in it which the google search engine picked up.

BTW Good luck with those "thousands of comments". You'll need it.

PEACE!

[Katie]

Actually, Ron Paul has publicly stated on his website that he is scaling back his run for president to run for his Texas 14th district Congress seat. Basically, technically he's still running, but practically he is not because his campaign's efforts are directed towards a congress run. I don't think it's innapropriate at all for Huckabee to challenge McCain. His beef is with McCain, not Paul or his supporters. He thinks McCain is the one who needs to explain himself on issues such as embryonic stem cell research, his record on vets, his stance on border security, etc.
Ron Paul has made his opinion known to voters, and voters will choose him if they agree with him.
The gauntlet has been thrown to McCain and has not grazed Paul's cheek. I think that communicates respect to Ron Paul that he doesn't need to debate to get his word out.

[Carl Buschmann]

Good morning Andrew. Sounds like the start of a brush fire in Texas.

We need Ron Paul sitting in the White House for sure, although the chance of that happening is chancy for sure. If he does not sit in the White House he needs to be right where he is.

The three leading CFR members are certainly making "much ado about nothing". Somewhat on the level of the rag sheets we could read.

Mr. Huckabee is not really aware of this countries true condition from these statements you wrote about. Really sad. He shows how strong he is by making nice to John McCain. This talent show we are presently having does not even come close to measuring up to American Idol.

It matters not which of the three major contenders becomes president as they are all puppets of big money. The big money buys these people and then we pay for it.

If I spent my household money the way the government spends our tax money I would have had to declare bankruptcy many moons ago. (Note: Our inflation tax is rising dramatically.)

These politicians are supposed to represent us but such is not the case as has been shown by their voting records, lies, assumption of powers they do not have, and complete disregard for the voters/constituents.

We the people need to wake up fast and start correcting these problems or as I have said before - welcome to slavery with injustice to all.

One piece information - The Fort Worth Star Telegram allowed an opinion letter on Ron Paul in this mornings issue where the writer says to Vote for Ron Paul and gives the reasons.

Thanks again for giving us a place to share views about the state of our country and the current political scene.

Regards, Carl

[JC]

Well, naturally Malcolm, you have become my journalistic hero. I love your missives about Paul and all the candidates. Reading this on the LA Times (blog or not) is like stepping through the looking glass for a few fleeting moments. Thank you, good, kind sir.

[Jason]

You are absolutley correct. This posted 28 minutes ago and it was sent straight to my pda. There are several thousand like me and the Huckster just blew it. I hope he has fun in Texas; because we sure will. This article will be sent to 10's of thousands of Ron Paul supporters within a couple of hours. Thank You L.A. Times for catoring to the interest of millions of Americans.

(Send the link pls so they can come see for themselves.)

[BMH]

Hey Huck may not be doing real well, but we can all admit he's doing better than Ron Paul. Yeah, he still needs a miracle and it's a longshot but at least Huck is getting more votes than Ron Paul. It seems that Ron Paul is consistently getting around 5% and has not won any states. Huck has won a few and came really close in a few others.

[WritingontheWall]

You say all this like we didn't know already.
The other candidates have always been claiming Ron Paul has left the race, regardless of the truth in the matter. This is all scripted theater. We all know that it doesn't matter what Huckabee or Obama or anyone else says or does. The next President has already been decided for us, and if anyone still thinks their vote actually counts... just watch the HBO special "hacking democracy". We have lost our country. I hope we can find a way to peacefully bring back the rule of law to America, but I fear the only way we will ever regain our Bill of Rights is by an outright violent militia style revolution. I will be at the March on Washington for Ron Paul as a last ditch effort to peaceably show our masters that I want my freedom back. However, after November all bets are off...

[Gmartine]

Very bad form for Huckabee, he should quit the race, nobody is watching him, but we are and continuing to watch Ron Paul and create more Ron Paul republicans.

[Mark]

the hucksters been ignoring Ron Paul's existence all along, in one of the last debates he stood on stage next to Paul and stated that "all the candidates on the stage voted for tax increases" which is incorrect, Paul has never voted to increase taxes (one of his main campaign points). I think the huckster does it on purpose (the poster above is right; Ron Paul would mop the floor with any of them in a real debate) which is dishonest but even giving him the benefit of doubt just means that he's equally clueless, neither is a good trait for a president (look no further than the current one for proof of that)...

[Robert Moore]

Huckabee makes me want to vomit.

[DefendTheConstitution]

Mr. Malcolm,

Thank you very much for the fair coverage of Ron Paul.

"They will, of course, politely remember that this blog has resisted the mainstream media ignorance "

ABSOLUTELY, I am one of the readers, who cancelled LA Times subscription last year after realising how MSM including LA Times blacked out Ron Paul completely and is unfairly biased toward other GOP candidates.

You are a courageous exception in MSM, who is abiding by the ethics of jornalism.

[Keith]

Ron Paul - over

Huckabee - over

The Paulettes and the Hucksters had a great time. Now it's time to go home. Beat it.

[512]

These times will either be remembered one of two ways in history. Ron Paul will lose marking the time democracy was overrun by corruption and greed or as the era when we, the great nation of the United States elected Ron Paul and found our way back to the Constitution.

Huckabee likes to espouse honor, yet he fails to actually live up to his cardboard facade of principles, McCain uses the same tactic. This is exactly why there won't be another GOP debate, Huckabee and McCain don't believe in what they are spewing and it wouldn't stand up to real character.

When McCain and Huckabee speak, they forever are trying to convince the voter/viewer yet it sounds so hollow as if they are trying to convince themselves.

[Bob]

We've had nearly 20 debates already. We don't need another one. You learn nothing new from debates any way. Just a bunch of one liners hoping to show up in the next day's headlines.

Read each candidate's position online and VOTE for who you want and not for who you think is going to win. This isn't a horse race. You don't win by voting for the candidate you think is going to win. You (and America) win by voting for who is the BEST candidate matching YOUR views.

For me that candidate is Ron Paul.

Wake up America. Our biggest battle isn't on the war front in Iraq and Iran. It's here in the US at our borders and with our economy. Are the rising prices of gas, gold and euro of concern to you? Then worry about the sinking US dollar.

If the US gov't doesn't stop printing new money to pay for record deficit spending we are all going to be in big financial trouble.

McCain is for the war even if he spends every dollar you have and kills every young soldier to do it. Clinton and Obama want to increase gov't spending and with a democratic congress they'll get it at YOUR expense.

How much further does America have to sink before it wakes up? Just read the front of the Drudge Report to see how bad America's economy is getting.

[Mary Lucina]

Congressman Ron Paul is honest and wise. No other presidential candidate knows the world economy better than Paul. And no other candidate has the courage to state the truth, as Paul does. He is consistent in his message, and not beholden to corporate interests.

[John]

Keith - over.

Now get lost, loser.

[jkhutz]

Actually, I think Mr. Huckabee only spoke the plain truth.

Other than advertisement in and around his congressional district, the Ron Paul "Presidential" campaign is NOT advertising.

Other than appearances in and around his congressional district, the Ron Paul "Presidential" candidate does NOT do speeches or any other events.

The Ron Paul "Presidential" campaign and candidate are in fact AWOL.

So Huckabee is correct in stating that there are -- de facto if not de novo -- only two candidates left in the GOP race (and having the name "Ron Paul" on the ballots is irrelevant, most states still list "Rudy Giuliani" and "Mitt Romney" as well... in fact in some states I would not be surprised if one of THOSE names actually gets a higher vote count than Ron Paul.)

And what happens to the remnants of the $6 Million? Who knows? Other than spending as much as they can on *ahem* "Presidential" ads near the 14th District, I think Campaign Managers (known colloquially by their nicknames "Baldrick" and "Blackadder") are having a hard time coming up with a cunning plan that allows them to channel as much as possible into their own (or familial) wallets... stay tuned to see what happens.

[greg]

Huckabee is a tool. Mccain is a war monger. I will vote for Paul.... I do like obama but just because he's kennedy esque and would probably stick it to the CFR. RP was never in the CFR.. the only one besides kusinich that isn't. Take back your country!