"JUST SIMPLY LUDICROUS"

 

 

Secretary of State Rice Comments On Gov. Huckabee's Attacks HUCKABEE'S PLAYGROUND DIPLOMACY "ON FOREIGN POLICY, HIS VIEWS ARE WRONG, AND HE'S PRETTY INEXPERIENCED AND IT'S SHOWING."

 

Secretary of State Rice Comments On Gov. Huckabee's Attacks

 

The No Laughing Matter!: A serious look at Gov. Mike Huckabee's record and policy beyond the one-liners. As in:

 

• Gov. Mike Huckabee: "And the ultimate thing is, I may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night." ("Imus In The Morning," 12/4/07)

 

• National Review: "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate." "In sum, conservatives should have worries about the depth and soundness of Mike Huckabee's foreign-policy views. And staying at a Holiday Inn Express is not going to be enough to allay them." (Editorial, "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate, National Review, 12/10/07)

 

 

To watch Secretary Rice's comments, see below: here:

 

 

 

ABC News

"Rice: Huckabee Foreign Policy Criticism 'Ludicrous'"

Jonathan Karl

December 21, 2007

 

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Friday said criticism of Bush administration foreign policy by Republican presidential candidate former Gov. Mike Huckabee was "simply ludicrous."

 

...

 

After first saying "I don't have time to comment on other people's comments", Rice took on Huckabee, head-on during an end-of-year State Department press briefing.

 

"The idea that this is a go-it-alone policy is just simply ludicrous. And one would only have to be not observing the facts, let me say that, to say that this is now a go-it-alone foreign policy," Rice said.

 

...

 

To read the full article, please see: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/rice-Huckabee-f.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, Dec 15, 2007

HUCKABEE'S PLAYGROUND DIPLOMACY

 

Blames Bush, Copies Clinton & Obama Talking Points

 

The No Laughing Matter!: A serious look at Gov. Mike Huckabee's record and policy beyond the one-liners. As in:

 

• Gov. Mike Huckabee: "And the ultimate thing is, I may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night." ("Imus In The Morning," 12/4/07)

 

• National Review: "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate." "In sum, conservatives should have worries about the depth and soundness of Mike Huckabee's foreign-policy views. And staying at a Holiday Inn Express is not going to be enough to allay them." (Editorial, "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate, National Review, 12/10/07)

 

PLAYGROUND DIPLOMACY

 

COME ON, EVERYBODY, BE NICE!

 

Gov. Huckabee's Foreign Policy: Be Nice And Follow The Golden Rule. "Huckabee also said that nations deserve the same kind of treatment that individuals do. 'You treat others the way you'd like to be treated,' he said. 'That's to me the fundamental issue that has to be re-established in our dealings with other countries.'" (Lisa Rossi, "Huckabee: Restore U.S. Ties Around World," The Des Moines Register, 12/4/07)

 

Gov. Huckabee Says The U.S. Shouldn't Act Like An Arrogant High School Student. GOV. HUCKABEE: "The United States, as the world's only superpower, is less vulnerable to military defeat. But it is more vulnerable to the animosity of other countries. Much like a top high school student, if it is modest about its abilities and achievements, if it is generous in helping others, it is loved. But if it attempts to dominate others, it is despised." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, "America's Priorities In The War On Terror," Foreign Affairs, 1-2/08)

 

Gov. Huckabee Wants The U.S. To Negotiate With Iran Because We Should Be Nice To Our Friends. GOV. HUCKABEE: "Yet we have not had diplomatic relations with Iran in almost 30 years; the U.S. government usually communicates with the Iranian government through the Swiss embassy in Tehran. When one stops talking to a parent or a friend, differences cannot be resolved and relationships cannot move forward. The same is true for countries. The reestablishment of diplomatic ties will not occur automatically or without the Iranians' making concessions that serve to create a less hostile relationship." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, "America's Priorities In The War On Terror," Foreign Affairs, 1-2/08)

 

FOREIGN POLICY PLAYBOOK CRIBBED FROM DEMOCRATS

 

Huckabee/Democrat Talking Point #1 – Blame Bush Foreign Policy:

 

Gov. Huckabee: "The Bush Administration's Arrogant Bunker Mentality Has Been Counterproductive At Home And Abroad." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, "America's Priorities In The War On Terror," Foreign Affairs, 1-2/08)

 

• Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) Said The Bush Administration Was In "Bunker Mode." KERRY: "Attempting to prevent the Senate from investigating only prolongs the toxicity and further isolates a White House in bunker mode." (Sen. John Kerry, "Sen. Kerry Says White House Stonewalling Disservice To Democracy," Press Release, 7/9/07)

 

• Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Said The Bush White House Was "In A Bunker Mentality." "Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, suggested that 'the White House is in a bunker mentality * won't listen, won't change.'" (Carl Hulse and Sheryl Gay Stolberg, "U.S. House Panel Authorizes Subpoena For Rove And Others," International Herald Tribune, March 21, 2007)

 

Gov. Huckabee: "After President Bush Included Iran In The 'Axis Of Evil,' Everything Went Downhill Fast." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, "America's Priorities In The War On Terror," Foreign Affairs, 1-2/08)

 

• DNC Chairman Howard Dean Said The Axis Of Evil Was A "Foolish Phrase." MATTHEWS: "When you hear the phrase, axis of evil, is that a convincing phrase, a useful phrase, or a dangerous phrase? How do you hear it?" HOWARD DEAN: "I think it's a foolish phrase." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 1/26/04)

 

Huckabee/Democrat Talking Point #2 – Have Tea With Ahmadinejad:

 

Gov. Huckabee Is Calling For Negotiations With Iran. GOV. HUCKABEE: "We have substantive issues to discuss with Tehran. ... We have valuable incentives to offer Iran: trade and economic assistance, full diplomatic relations, and security guarantees. ... Another way to contain Iran is through diplomacy. We must be as aggressive diplomatically as we have been militarily since 9/11. We must intensify our diplomatic efforts with China, India, Russia, South Korea, and European states and persuade them to put more economic pressure on Iran." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, "America's Priorities In The War On Terror," Foreign Affairs, 1-2/08)

 

• Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Would Negotiate With Iran "With No Conditions." "But campaigning in New Hampshire this week, Clinton said, 'I would engage in negotiations with Iran with no conditions.'" (Margaret Talev, "Clinton's Position On Iran Under Fire," The Miami Herald, 10/13/07)

 

• Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) Said He Would Meet With Leaders Of Rogue Nations Like Iran. OBAMA: "And I think that it is a disgrace that we have not spoken to them. We've been talking about Iraq -* one of the first things that I would do in terms of moving a diplomatic effort in the region forward is to send a signal that we need to talk to Iran and Syria because they're going to have responsibilities if Iraq collapses. ... And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -* which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration -* is ridiculous." (CNN/YouTube Democratic Presidential Debate, 7/24/07)

 

Huckabee/Democrat Talking Point #3 – Attack Your Allies:

 

Huckabee Suggests Attacking Targets In Pakistan Without Pakistani Approval. "Despite the Bush administration's continued claims that the U.S. military will pursue 'actionable targets,' according to a July 2007 article in The New York Times based on interviews with a dozen current and former military and defense officials, a classified raid targeting bin Laden's top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in Pakistan was aborted in early 2005. Then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called off the attack at the very last minute, as Navy Seals in parachutes were preparing in C-130s in Afghanistan, because he felt he needed Musharraf's permission to proceed. Why did Rumsfeld, instead of President Bush, call off the attack? Did he ask for Musharraf's permission or assume he would not get it? When I am president, I will make the final call on such actions. ... Rather than wait for the next strike, I prefer to cut to the chase by going after al Qaeda's safe havens in Pakistan." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, "America's Priorities In The War On Terror," Foreign Affairs, 1-2/08)

 

• Sen. Obama Recently Suggested Attacking Inside Pakistan Without Pakistani Approval. "Obama said if elected in November 2008 he would be willing to attack inside Pakistan with or without approval from the Pakistani government, a move that would likely cause anxiety in the already troubled region. 'If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will,' Obama said." (Steve Holland, "Tough Talk On Pakistan From Obama," Reuters, 8/1/07)

 

Wednesday, Dec 19, 2007

"ON FOREIGN POLICY, HIS VIEWS ARE WRONG, AND HE'S PRETTY INEXPERIENCED AND IT'S SHOWING."

 

The No Laughing Matter!: A serious look at Gov. Mike Huchabee's record and policy beyond the one-liners. As in:

 

• Gov. Mike Huchabee: "And the ultimate thing is, I may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night." ("Imus In The Morning," 12/4/07)

 

• National Review: "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate." "In sum, conservatives should have worries about the depth and soundness of Mike Huchabee's foreign-policy views. And staying at a Holiday Inn Express is not going to be enough to allay them." (Editorial, "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate, National Review, 12/10/07)

 

Former White House Adviser Pete Wehner

MSNBC's "Morning Joe"

December 19, 2007

 

To watch, please see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC0PRgnAF4Y

 

Former White House Adviser Pete Wehner Discusses Huchabee's Attacks On Bush Foreign Policy:

 

MSNBC's JOE SCARBOROUGH: "Welcome back. We got Jim Cramer to stay because he's mad. He's mad for life brother and he's number one with a bullet. Let's bring in right now Pete Wehner. He's former deputy assistant to the President, senior fellow right now at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Pete, thanks so much for being with us."

 

PETE WEHNER: "Nice to be with you. Thanks for inviting me, Joe."

 

SCARBOROUGH: "You have written and we're a little shocked and stunned and deeply saddened because the guy that loves Jesus, generally loves Jesus, Mike Huchabee was on our show earlier. We're friends with Mike. He likes Hendrix. I mean, he's got all the bases covered. But you have gone after him in a National Review article and you say that his Foreign Affairs article where he attacked President Bush for being arrogant and having a bunker mentality was misguided, and you said it was stunningly silly and deeply revealing. In what way?"

 

WEHNER: "Well, it was revealing because the criticisms that he made were with the kind that Jimmy Carter and Al Gore would make, not that usually conservative Republicans would make. He said that the President was at war with the world, which is not true. He spoke about the 'arrogant bunker mentality.' He said that the President really should deal with Iran like you deal with miscommunications between parents and friends. And that's actually not how you deal with Iran. It's not that he criticized the President. I've criticized our policy on Iraq. But the grounds of the criticism, I thought were wrong and, as I said, silly and I think for a Republican running in a Republican primary you don't want to sound like Jimmy Carter or Al Gore or the Daily Kos."

 

SCARBOROUGH: "Do you think, though, that a lot of Republicans are concerned with let's say what Paul Bremer did with the de-Baath-ification plan or what Donald Rumsfeld did by not giving the generals all the troops they wanted. I mean, Republicans, I know you've heard from other Republicans. There are similar concerns about missteps after we got into Baghdad."

 

WEHNER: "I acknowledge those and I accept them, actually. I've got some of the same complaints. Clearly the post-war situation wasn't handled well. We didn't have enough troops. We didn't have the right counter insurgency strategy. We have it now with David Petraeus. That wasn't the grounds of my criticism for the Foreign Affairs article. As I said, it was the nature of his criticisms as they related to this 'arrogant bunker mentality' that we really weren't, that we were having a problem in communications with dictators in the world. Well, sometimes it's actually the nature of the regimes that cause the problems. Its not that you're not being nice enough to them. He was making the argument that if you dominate the world you're going to illicit opposition. We're not dominating the world. We're actually trying to liberate some countries. And sometimes that elicits opposition."

 

CNBC's JIM CRAMER: "Peter, this is Jim Cramer, it seems like that Huchabee is also implying that we are a stingy nation that doesn't do a lot around the world. Isn't it true that we're the most, by far, the most generous nation in the world towards both friend and foe?"

 

WEHNER: "Yeah. That was another criticism that bothered me. Implicit in his argument is that it wasn't a generous nation. If we were generous we'd be well-loved. The reality is that we are generous. We give a huge amount in foreign aid. The President's global AIDS initiative which increased the amount of money to combat global AIDS by five times over the Clinton Administration is one of the great, generous, humane foreign policy achievements ever. And the reality is that we liberated more than 50 million people from two of the most despotic and cruel regimes in modern history and that was an act of generosity. It's come at a lot of cost to us in terms of human lives and in terms of money. It's cost more in lives and money than it should have. But the reality is that the impulse was generous and I think when all is said and done we'll look back on in history as having done the right thing and the generous thing."

 

MSNBC's MIKA BRZEZINSKI: "Peter, pertaining to the Foreign Affairs article written by Governor Huchabee and the words that he used, isn't it also true that we're dealing with an administration that led us into war on faulty intelligence and an administration that brought up the possibility of World War III which appears to be on intelligence that is still sort of hard to decipher at this point. I mean, isn't there something to be said for the 'arrogant bunker mentality' and why can't Republican candidates say that? Is there some rule against it?"

 

WEHNER: "No, there's no rule against it. He said it. But there's no rule against criticizing him for saying it. In terms of the faulty intelligence, I don't dispute that. Of course we went in with faulty intelligence and it was a huge, huge failure. The rest of the world had faulty intelligence. Countries that even opposed our actions in Iraq had faulty intelligence. They believed Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. I would say, that it would be nice if, once in a while, people pointed out that there was a burden of proof on Saddam Hussein to meet the obligations that he had agreed to. He didn't. He intentionally kept the inspectors out, and based on his history we drew conclusions. They were the wrong ones. Again, I don't dispute the idea that the Bush Administration can be criticized or even if it should be criticized. In eight years, you're going to make mistakes. This administration has made some; we've made some big ones. My objection was the nature of the criticisms. I just think Governor Huchabee who is a very smooth and talented fellow – you saw that in your interview with him. He's the best debater in the field. He's a terrific speaker. But, I think on foreign policy, his views are wrong, and he's pretty inexperienced and it's showing."

 

SCARBOROUGH: "Alright, Pete, thank you so much for renewing this. Pete Wehner. He's with The Ethics and Public Policy Center. You can read Pete's critique on the National Review Online and you can also see Governor Huchabee's article in Foreign Affairs."