Comments on: Huckabee Gets Attention in Iowa (Updated)

By: DRJ

DRJ — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:56:05 +0000

I have a problem with Huckabee’s statement that “we incarcerate people we are mad at” because, like David E. said, it is so vague. It makes the criminal justice system sound random and arbitrary, and I suspect that’s exactly what Huckabee wants voters to think.

Politicians that run as your best friend want you to think they are the only thing that can protect you from the big, bad government.

By: JRM

JRM — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:41:59 +0000

I think incarcerating people we’re mad at - not just afraid of - is a really good idea.

Let’s take Lyle and Erik Menendez. I’m not afraid of them; they killed their parents to get the money so they didn’t have to work. (If you believe it was primarily for some other reason, feel free. The point still holds.)

Let’s say that I don’t think poor Lyle and Erik will kill again. I’m certainly not afraid of them killing me.

And yet, I want to incarcerate them! Not because they are a danger - I don’t think they are! But because I’m mad at them! What a crummy human being I must be.

Today’s word for the day is: “Deterrence.” Not just deterring Lyle and Erik, but deterring the next Lyle and Erik. We do that to people we’re mad at so the next selfish jackass doesn’t kill anyone because there are consequences to actions.

It’s not that complicated.

Given that, I think David Ehrenstein’s comment 5 is well-taken.

–JRM

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 06:46:43 +0000

So Huckabee’s message is, basically, “I’m above negative politics, so I’m not going to run this negative ad. Now pay attention, reporters, as I play this ad that I’m not going to run. You’ll of course report what you saw in this ad, thus giving my ad lots of free press and saving me the expense of running it with my campaign’s money. So I get to look like I’m above the fray even as I’m maneuvering to disseminate the message communicated in the ad.”

What a slimeball. Not that I expected anything different from the Huckster. Dishonesty has defined his campaign right from the beginning. Hopefully this two-faced faux abstention from negative campaigning will mark the beginning of the end of the Huckasnake’s campaign. May this RINO’s campaign die quickly; its death has been far, far too long in coming.

And could someone please tell me what the **** is wrong with the people of Arkansas? They elected Bill Clinton eight times (one as attorney general, five as governor, two as president), and elected Huckabee four times (twice as lieutenant governor, twice as governor). It was bad enough that they elected J. William Fulbright and Orval Faubus, but for cryin’ out loud, after all this time, can’t they break their habit of electing these moral midgets?

By: Edward Cropper

Edward Cropper — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:47:22 +0000

Richard Nixon ( of all people) once said you usually get the elected official you deserve.
If Huckabull is elected Nixon’s words will have real meaning.
I say this as an evengelical Christian, so I am not coming from some anti-religious position.
Has anyone thought that this is an Ed Rollins stunt?

By: Another Drew

Another Drew — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:02:03 +0000

If MJ was legalized, and taxed, what makes anyone think that the “Revenooers” wouldn’t be busting illegal pot farms just as they busted illegal stills. In fact, I think they would have a greater determination to do so as there would be a large amount of uncollected tax revenue at stake.
As it is now, they’re just busting some pot-heads, etc., for breaking the law on commerce in drugs. Then, after a conviction, they can go after them for Income Taxes, but they’ve already confiscated/forfeited all of the available assetts.
If it was legalized, they’ld get you for back fees and taxes, but force you to buy a license so that you would have an income to pay your fines with. You’re just another business trying to operate under the radar, and they’ll force you onto the screen whether you like it or not.
Sure beats sitting in a slam somewhere.

By: voiceofreason

voiceofreason — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:17:53 +0000

Unless it is to be the only tax-free commodity in the country, the black market will remain.

Very true. Eastern Kentucky produces the bulk of the nation’s domestic pot and have started branching into meth labs now. The small size of the communities practically guarantees undercover operations fail and for these very poor communities it is the major source of income.
Legalizing it won’t change the Appalachian folks practices.

By: Patterico

Patterico — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:42:37 +0000

chaos,

In California, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is a 100 dollar fine with no jail time.

Peddling a ton of weed, like our dope peddler friend above, is different. You’ll go to prison. If it’s federal, it could be for a long time.

You correctly identify why decriminalizing drugs won’t magically solve the problem, as so many libertarians think it will. Unless it is to be the only tax-free commodity in the country, the black market will remain.

Why are libertarian principles different for cocaine than for pot?

By: trentk269

trentk269 — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:37:44 +0000

I don’t know what Huck’s thoughts on drugs are, but I do know that he’s a dope.

By: Cory

Cory — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:34:56 +0000

Huckabee is a disaster. I’m glad Iowa is starting to realize what a sham he is.

By: David Ehrenstein

David Ehrenstein — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:33:58 +0000

“We lock up a lot of people that we’re mad at, not the ones we’re really afraid of,”

is extremely, deliberately, vague. Someone shoudl ask him precisely who he is talking about.