This explains the issue so well:
This post is the personal opinion by HucksArmy Director David Schmidt.
Let me first start by saying that the killing of the four police officers in the state of Washington was a revolting and horrific act. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with all those who are grieving and we trust that justice will be swift and strong.
The following are the details connecting Clemmons and Huckabee:
Maurice Clemmons is wanted for questioning by police in connection to the killing of four officers in Lakeland, Washington
Maurice Clemmons was sentences to a 108 year prison term for his actions in 3 incidents as a 16 year old youth. These actions appear to be the:
Robbery of cell phone and house appliances from unoccupied house
Robbery of purse off of a women without the use of a weapon
Possession of a firearm
Huckabee On May 3, 2000, Gov. Mike Huckabee commuted (lessened) Clemmons’ 108 year sentence to 47 years, 5 months and 19 days, which made him eligible for parole that day.
The Parole Board granted his parole July 13, 2000.
He was released Aug. 1, 2000.
In light of what appears to be Clemmons killing of 4 officers, would anybody want this guy to ever be free to do that? No.
Is it excessive to sentence a person to a 108 year sentence for 3 serious but non-violent crimes as a 16-year -old youth? I think so. You may disagree.
Did Huckabee know that Clemmons was going to apparently kill four police officers 9 years after his parole from prison? No.
The question in regards to Huckabee is whether he showed negligent judgment in commuting the sentence of Clemmons.
It is my opinion that Huckabee did not show a serious lack of judgment for allowing Clemmons to be eligible for parole after serving for 11 years. When considering that the crimes were non-violent and committed at the age of 16, I don’t believe that it is unreasonable to allow a person to be eligible for parole after serving 11 years.
We can’t blame Huckabee for a decision that he made without knowledge of future crimes although we can blame him for poor judgment based on what he already knew. Based on that, I think his judgment was well within the bounds of reason. You may differ in your opinion and you are welcome to do that.
Download official Arkansas court and clemency documents behind this post at:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2009/11/30/2010388798.pdf
DISCLOSURE: I like Huckabee. I have met him a few times and have found him warm and consistent. I also am a leader of a grassroots group called HucksArmy that supported Huckabee in 2008 and helps advocate for conservatives and common-sense government. While this association may make you think that I only want to defend Huckabee because I like him, I encourage you to make your judgement based on the soundness of this post and not who I am.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving message from Huckabee
Thanksgiving is a special day for our nation. It is a day to give thanks for the bounty we have been so blessed to receive. It is also a day to give thanks and offer prayers for our military. As I sit down to enjoy Thanksgiving with family and friends, I find myself thinking of all the things we have to be thankful for.
I give thanks that I am an American, free to live and worship as I choose, free to speak my mind on important issues and free to travel where I choose when I choose. We truly are a land of plenty. Our nation and our people have been blessed with a standard of living unprecedented in the history of mankind.
Although we recognize that these are challenging times, and that millions of Americans are suffering from unemployment, let us gather together on this special day, enjoy our families and friends and say a special prayer for our country and its people. May we remain the land of freedom.
I give thanks that I am an American, free to live and worship as I choose, free to speak my mind on important issues and free to travel where I choose when I choose. We truly are a land of plenty. Our nation and our people have been blessed with a standard of living unprecedented in the history of mankind.
Although we recognize that these are challenging times, and that millions of Americans are suffering from unemployment, let us gather together on this special day, enjoy our families and friends and say a special prayer for our country and its people. May we remain the land of freedom.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Huckabee on Palin and his Own Pro-life Views
Some folks have tried to balme Mike's supporters for a hit piece put out on Palin and her pro-life views. This clip makes it clear how he feels about her.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Superficial reporting?
Our local newspaper ran a syndicated story from the Associated Press by Liz Sidoti ("GOP hopefuls begin jockeying for 2012").
Who are mentioned in the lead? Palin, Pawlenty and Romney. Huckabee is buried deep in the article along with the "others."
I posted the following on the newspaper's forum:
I read the AP story in the 11/15 issue ("GOP hopefuls begin jockeying for 2012") with interest - and then disappointment.
The article seems prompted by Palin's book tour and the media attention she is getting - which is fine. I like Palin.
But then as the writer analyzes the Republican hopefuls, she sticks Mike Huckabee at the tail end as an afterthought.
Huckabee currently leads in all the recent GOP polls. He is also is out on a book tour of his own with a bestseller, and has the highest rated cable show on weekends. His radio commentaries are carried on hundreds of stations. Why is he stuck at the end? Did someone not do her research?
At the moment, the polls show Huckabee, Palin and Romney are the leading contenders for the GOP nomination. A fair article should reflect that.
Who are mentioned in the lead? Palin, Pawlenty and Romney. Huckabee is buried deep in the article along with the "others."
I posted the following on the newspaper's forum:
I read the AP story in the 11/15 issue ("GOP hopefuls begin jockeying for 2012") with interest - and then disappointment.
The article seems prompted by Palin's book tour and the media attention she is getting - which is fine. I like Palin.
But then as the writer analyzes the Republican hopefuls, she sticks Mike Huckabee at the tail end as an afterthought.
Huckabee currently leads in all the recent GOP polls. He is also is out on a book tour of his own with a bestseller, and has the highest rated cable show on weekends. His radio commentaries are carried on hundreds of stations. Why is he stuck at the end? Did someone not do her research?
At the moment, the polls show Huckabee, Palin and Romney are the leading contenders for the GOP nomination. A fair article should reflect that.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Smart move by Huckabee (NY 23)
A few weeks back, Huckabee took some heat for not getting involved in a Congressional race here in New York.
Post election, he looks like he showed good judgement.
Republican conservatives and moderates were caught up in a battle over New York’s 23rd Congressional district. The GOP endorsed candidate, Dede Scozzafava, was pro-abortion and pro gay rights. She was battling the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens, and a Conservative Party candidate, Doug Hoffman, whose views fit in better with Huckabee's on these and other issues.
But despite calls to endorse Hoffman - as did Sarah Palin, and eventually, Tim Pawlenty - Huckabee declined. (So did Mitt Romney.)
Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich endorsed Scozzafava.
Huckabee was reluctant to endorse outside the Party. His policy has been to push conservatives to primary fellow Republicans, not to run in the general election again them (Rubio vs. Crist down in Florida, for example). But he also could not openly support a Republican whose views so differed from his own.
Just before the election, Scozzafava dropped out and endorsed the Democratic candidate. Egg on the face of Gingrich.
Then the Democratic candidate bested Hoffman - giving a normally safe Republican seat to the the Democrats.
That won't make Palin look good - though at least she came in early and was consistent. Pawlenty looked like he was being opportunistic, so that won't help him either, especially since the Republicans lost what had been a safe seat.
In the end, Huckabee showed good political sense without compromising his beliefs - and he did not antagonize GOP leaders. Even if they are not enthusiastic about him, he will seem less of a threat than Palin.
And if it comes down to Romney and Huckabee, at least some of the Romney-leaning leadership will have an easier time backing Huckabee when he wins the nomination.
Post election, he looks like he showed good judgement.
Republican conservatives and moderates were caught up in a battle over New York’s 23rd Congressional district. The GOP endorsed candidate, Dede Scozzafava, was pro-abortion and pro gay rights. She was battling the Democratic candidate, Bill Owens, and a Conservative Party candidate, Doug Hoffman, whose views fit in better with Huckabee's on these and other issues.
But despite calls to endorse Hoffman - as did Sarah Palin, and eventually, Tim Pawlenty - Huckabee declined. (So did Mitt Romney.)
Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich endorsed Scozzafava.
Huckabee was reluctant to endorse outside the Party. His policy has been to push conservatives to primary fellow Republicans, not to run in the general election again them (Rubio vs. Crist down in Florida, for example). But he also could not openly support a Republican whose views so differed from his own.
Just before the election, Scozzafava dropped out and endorsed the Democratic candidate. Egg on the face of Gingrich.
Then the Democratic candidate bested Hoffman - giving a normally safe Republican seat to the the Democrats.
That won't make Palin look good - though at least she came in early and was consistent. Pawlenty looked like he was being opportunistic, so that won't help him either, especially since the Republicans lost what had been a safe seat.
In the end, Huckabee showed good political sense without compromising his beliefs - and he did not antagonize GOP leaders. Even if they are not enthusiastic about him, he will seem less of a threat than Palin.
And if it comes down to Romney and Huckabee, at least some of the Romney-leaning leadership will have an easier time backing Huckabee when he wins the nomination.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
On Huckabee: Former PP director turns pro-life
This clip of Abby Johnson, the Planned Parenthood director who quit and became pro-life after watching an ultrasound of an abortion has been getting wide play. It can only help to cement Huckabee's credentials among pro-lifers.
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