In a discussion of the GOP Presidential field (with a chart) commenter Ken Mitchell has this to say:
OK, this graph is CLEARLY bogus. Huckabee is a religious populist, and isn’t ANY kind of a conservative. He’s a big spending big government guy, and the only difference between Huckabee and Obama is what they plan to do with the power.
I think that fits a lot of “Conservatives” out there. Their attitude is: “I’m totally for small government except when it conflicts with my pet projects.” Any one got a cite for the Drug Prohibition Amendment? Anyone? Anyone at all? Bueller?
H/T Instapundit
Cross Posted at Power and Control
Comments
2 responses to “The Difference”
Even Ken overstates the difference.
Obama’s plan and Huckabee’s plan are the same plan. They even sell it in the same mass-redemptive religious terms. Their policy differences are marginal and unprincipled, so they work as trust signals sent to certain electoral blocs: “My plan for you is a plan for you.” The difference between the two is which audience is receptive to their pitch–for the same product.
Huckabee’s popularity among the GOP’s most dedicated voters is such a bad sign for our political future, I think it offsets the whole Tea Party phenomenon. We’re screwed.
I have been called a Republican. Which I am. I have been called conservative, which I am. I have been called a libertarian, which I am. I am rarely called a liberal. Which I am.
I’ve had a problem with Huck being called more conservative than Guiliani. Guiliani has a respect for the Constitution that verges toward my respect for the Constitution. Yet, Guiliani is called, what, a moderate?
Priors are important. Language is important. Rule of law is dependent upon a respect for both language and priors. Guiliani has this respect.
It is true that Guiliani and I believe that the decision to have an abortion should be rare, and the product of a family, doctor and clergy. But, as you know from your expose of this ridiculous drug war, you can inflame a part of the populace based upon scary thinking, but not from clear thinking.
Huckabee is the second coming of Bush 43. Yes, in a lot of ways preferable to Obama 44. But only in degree, not in type.
Nice post.
.