Well, hello. The statements below, and the title above are a copy of an earlier article posted on my blog at Red State. I think my sentiments and understanding need no elaboration. So I hope they are encouraging to those who should be, and thought-provoking to the rest.

I am watching the way this selection process is going, like everybody else. What I think is going to happen is nothing less than miraculous. On Saturday morning, the Rasmussen Poll, which normally releases composite results based upon a 4-day tracking process, used only the two days beginning Thursday and the day Mitt Romney suspended his campaign, to post a lead of 55%-24% by Senator McCain over Governor Mike Huckabee. On Sunday morning, Rasmussen revealed that the 3-day composite poll showed that the nationwide margin had changed to 49%-29%. And this morning the numbers had narrowed to 46%-34% McCain, using the entire 4 days of polling. In order for that to happen, the following two days would have to look like this:

Saturday:
McCain-37%
Huckabee39%

Sunday:

McCain-37%
Huckabee-49%

Similar surges are being indicated in the Survey USA, AP, and Newsweek polls, both nationwide, and in the Potomac primary, particularly in Virginia. There is no indication of how the numbers are changing, if at all, today, or how it will go tomorrow. But with a smaller percentage of early voters compared to some of the Super Tuesday states, particularly California, the turnout and the sentiment of that turnout on Primary Tuesday will tell us much of whether the calls will be louder for Mike Huckabee to withdraw, or whether it will be a day even more like Saturday, or the Tuesday before that. A day on which the American political environment becomes completely turned on its head.

In my belief that Governor Michael Huckabee will create that surprise, and will become the leader of a new restructuring of the Republican Party, and the conservative movement in particular. I show myself as either an utter fool, standing in the way of all the conventional political wisdom of all American political experts, of all persuasions, or, as the successful proponent of an extremely fortunate guess.

Based upon what I’m beginning to see, and considering the fact that at least 10% of voters no doubt have voted early, and that the endorsements of the party and its opinion leaders are overwhelmingly for McCain, mostly unwillingly, that McCain has a huge lead among delegates (although Louisiana and Washington may yet slightly alter that), and that the wealth of fundraising is totally on McCain’s side, the odds are completely against me. And I am completely assured that I will have great reason to rejoice tomorrow at this time.

Mike Huckabee will eventually be able to describe the victory he will achieve in the words of Mohandas Gandhi, as he described his lead of India’s victory over British rule with the following:

“First they ignore you. Then they disdain you. Then they mock you. Then they condemn you. Then they fight you.
…..Then you win.”

Let’s see the fun.

—The Old Alcalde—

Why I LIKE MIKE HUCKABEE

Supports Israel
Man of Faith
Stood By His Wife During Spinal Cancer
Will Appoint Conservative, Pro-Life Judges
Against Judges Legislating from the Bench
Supports Pro Life
Supports Marriage Amendment
Supports Vertical Politics vs Left Against Right
Will Secure America’s Borders
Endorsed by Jim Gilchrist-Founder of Minutemen
Supports Building Border Fence
Opposes Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants
Wants to Provide a Path to Citizenship For Illegal Aliens
Supports the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Believes in Well Rounded Education
Set Up Tax-Free Savings Accounts For College Tuition
Took Arkansas Schools from below average to 8th in Nation-Quality Counts
Implemented Smart Start, Smart Step & Next Step In Schools
Significantly Raised School Test Scores
Believes in High Standards for Schools, Tough Tests, Strong Accountability
Promotes Financial Transparency
Promotes School and Teacher Accountability
Rewards Excellence in Teachers
Holds Parents and Students Accountable For Performance
Supports Homeschoolers
Author of 3 Inspirational Books – Co-authored 3 Books
Supports Fair Tax
Faced ALL His Duties as Governor-Including Carrying Out 16 Executions
HIS Constituents WANT HIM BACK
Wants Energy Independence
Wants Agricultural Independence
Wants Defense Independence
Wants to Put America to Work on Infrastructure
Welfare rolls Declined by Half
For Eminent Domain-Protection of Personal Property
Supports Castle Doctrine Law-A Man’s Home is his Castle
Public Official of the Year 2005-Governings
One of Nations Best Governors-Time Magazine
Dist Public Health Legislator of the Year-Amer Public Health Assoc
AARP Impact Award-2006
Honoree-Government Technology Magazine
Leader of Leaders-Chairman of National Governors Assoc
Uninsured Children fell from 18% Down to 9%-Time Magazine
Wants to Promote Health Care vs Disease Care
Established Tax Free Savings Accounts For Medical Care
Has Personal Discipline to Loose 110 lbs and Trains to Run Marathons
Can Rise to Emergency Situations-Op K.A.R.E-75,000 Katrina Victims-WSJ
Good Financial Steward
AR Rds from “Worst Roads-1999″ to “Most Improved-2004″- Overdrive Mag
Revenue Stabilization Law-Prevents Deficit Spending
Took $200 Million Dollar Deficit to $850 Million Dollar Surplus
REPEALED a Tax When No Longer Needed-Short Term Save After Sept 11th
Balanced His State’s Budget 5 Times
During 10 Years as Gov, AR Taxes Rose ½ as Much as Other States Rose
Got Voter Approval For 1/8 Cent Tax Increase For Parks and Recreation
Friend of the Taxpayer-Americans for Tax Reform
Signed Presidential Taxpayer Pledge
Eliminated Capital Gains Tax for Sale of a Home
Lowered Capital Gains Rate
Expanded the Homestead Exemption
Indexed Income Tax to Inflation to Prevent Move to Higher Tax Brackets
Supports Making Bush Tax Cuts Permanent
Doubled the Child Care Credit
Doubled the Standard Deduction
Eliminated Marriage Penalty
Supports Limiting Earmarks
Wields a Tough Veto Pen
Helped Nursing Homes
Champions Families and Traditional Marriage
Reaffirmed Marriage Vows
Has Been Married to the Same Woman For 34 Years
Sold His Guitar Collection to Buy His Young Wife a Washer and Dryer
Nursed His Wife Himself
Helps His Wife Up Steps Instead of Running on Ahead-Pres Campaign
Against Racism
Against Centralized Power
Against Gun Control
Lifetime member of the NRA, member for over 15 years
First Governor to have concealed-carry permit
Removed restrictions on carry permit holders
Protected gun manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits
Opposes reauthorization of the Assault Weapon Ban
Opposes expansion of the unconstitutional “Brady Bill”
Opposes waiting period for purchase of firearms
Opposes background checks on private firearms transactions at gun shows
An avid hunter and conservationist, and a member of the Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and BASS.
Won’t Pull Our Troops Without Honorable End
Supports Veterans Bill of Rights
Supports Veterans Health Care
Supports Spelling Out Veterans Rights and Then Giving Them to Veterans
Supports Processing Veterans Claims Within 6 Months
Supports Fullest Accounting by Government Relative to POW/MIA Status
Supports Giving Same Rights to National Guard and Reserves
Supports Giving Vets Military Returement and VA Compensation
Endorsed by Calif Rep Duncan Hunter, Now a Senior Advisor-Huckabee Campaign
The Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act (1997 Act 984)
The Fetal Protection Act (1999 Act 1273)
The Physician Assisted Suicide Ban Act (1999 Act 394)
The Woman’s Right to Know Act (2001 Act 353)
The Safe Haven Act (2001 Act 236)
The Choose Life Specialty Plate (2003 Act 344)
The Human Cloning Ban (2003 Act 607)
The Right to View Ultrasound Test (2003 Act 1189)
The Right to Receive Nutrition & Hydration (2003 Act 1322)(Terry Schivo Case:Endorsed by her brother)
The Parental Consent for Minor Abortion Act (2005 Act 537)
The Unborn Child Pain Awareness & Prevention Act (2005 Act 1696)
Unborn Victims of Violence Act
VOTE ONLY FOR MIKE HUCKABEE

—The Old Alcalde—