REM's Michael Stipe Charmed by Huckabee: "It's the end of the world as we know it..."

[CorpGovActivist]

... and the reporters love that http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&q=stipe+huckabee&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d">line.

Huckabee is the most worrisome candidate I see on the GOP side.

- Dave

[Kucinich4America]

1. Gotta agree with Stipe

Unlike Chimpy, whose image of a "common man" was always complete orchestrated horseshit, Huckabee really is a likeable guy you could drink a beer with. As long as you didn't talk religion or politics.

I don't think the Repuke establishment is going to allow a Huck nomination, but if they do, then that's all the more reason why we need a candidate who can debate real issues.

[CorpGovActivist]

2. No Argument Here...

... I know full well that Huckabee endangers purplish states, especially.

He speaks in a pulpit code that many strategists in the DNC and some top campaigns just don't get. He might as well be singing in whale song.

- Dave

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

3. I think we can beat Huck too but he shouldn't be underestimated. He truly DOES have a

disarming ability to project warmth and humor that is utterly lacking in all the other Republican candidates.

Mitt and Rudy are candidates who, the more you actually see and hear them, the more you dislike them on a visceral level.

Not so with the Huckster. He comes across to me (unlike shrub) as a guy I actually WOULD enjoy spending time chatting with.

I just don't want him anywhere near the presidency, is all.


I do agree with the other poster that shrub's "folksy guy I'd like to have a beer with" persona" is as much orchestrated horseshit as the movie set in Crawford, he's never come across as remotely likeable or genuine to me, especially since 2000.

[CorpGovActivist]

7. Amen to All, and Pass the Plate! n/t

[AndyTiedye]

30. That Ability is Lacking in Our Own Candidates As Well

disarming ability to project warmth and humor that is utterly lacking in all the other Republican candidates

and our own.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

31. Actually I disagree with this, except in one instance.

[CorpGovActivist]

32. Which Dem Would You Like to Get Sloshed with?

: )

- Dave

[radfringe]

58. any of them...

at this point with the level of flaming going on here regarding all the dem candidates - I just like to get sloshed...

but I'm settling for a glass of milk and some freshly made chocolate chip cookies...extra crispy...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[CorpGovActivist]

61. Heresy

"chocolate chip cookies...extra crispy"

I like chewy, gooey cookies. Chips: extra crispy; cookie: nice 'n chewy!

How are ya today?

- Dave

[radfringe]

64. chewy gooey don't dunk well

crispy does...soaks up the milk better

I'm doing ok, just got done hauling in wood for woodstove. battening down the hatches for the rain/ice/snow/winterymix storm coming in tonight

made a nice roast chicken for dinner with mashed potato, gravy, carrots and brussel sprouts.

my sweetie is watching the giants-cowboys.. so I'm playing on my laptop, having some milk and cookies. later I will go play Civ-4 and take over the world - :evilgrin: it will be more peaceful doing that than trying to have a sane discussion about candidates.

how you doing?

[radfringe]

65. well, I'm off to play Civ-4

think I'll attack Spain - Queen Isabella is starting to tick me off and I have to work off a chocolate chip cookie rush

[CorpGovActivist]

66. NUH-UH!

SWEET! Love Sid Meier's games!

: )

Wanna do a network game sometime?

:rofl:

- Dave

[radfringe]

75. I'm only at a chieftan level

you'll probably mash me into the ground, make me eat gooey cookies and won't let me up until I sing I love the yankees... lol... but sure that would be great!

[CorpGovActivist]

77. No, There's Only One Poster on Here...

... that I treat to noogies and such.

- Dave

[radfringe]

87. last night's battles...

I usually play Elizabeth of England. Gender bias on my part - prefer playing a female persona.

I loaded up the game with the intention of building up my forces, placing them around Spain, and sending workers to the borders to build cottages, farms and such to cause some encroachment on Spain's territory.

Scoped out Spain's forces, there were just spear-men, archers and catapults while I had grenadiers, riflemen and cannons.

so while I was moving units around to my western borders - Saladin of Arabia gets pissy and declares war on me and he's right on my southern borders. (he also declares war on Mansa Musa to the east) Well, Mansa Musa's territory is pretty far to Saladin's west - and to get there he has to pass through Roosevelt and America. Meanwhile, I switch production of the majority of my cities to building troops.

I start moving the closest troops south, since Mansa Musa is already at war with Saladin I try to form an alliance with him. He turns me down. So I get Roosevelt to declare war on Saladin in exchange for the Divine Right technology.

I fend off Saladin for a few moves, by then my troops are massed just inside his borders within striking distance of a couple big cities. I upgrade my cannons to artillary - just fortunate I was researching that technology and it was completed as the cannons moved through my southern most city.

With a couple of turns of artillary bombardment, I knock down Saladin's defenses, mass into that city and take over. I send more troops south, leave a few in the city to defend it. Then split my forces to attack two neighboring cities. Meanwhile the Americans are reeking havoc on Saladin's western border pretty much keeping the bulk of Saladin's forces tied up there.

Then Alexander of Greece gets pissy and declares war on me. Greece is to my far south west, but his troops are coming into my territory from my northwest. I attempt to form a few alliances against Alexander but no one is interested. I send enough troops north from nearby cities to fight Alexander off there, beat him back and start heading towards his territory.

Meanwhile, in Arabia - I take over another city and move towards a 3rd. Saladin petitions for peace. I accept but make him pay a hefty price. Leaving enough troops to hold the cities I have captured, I move send the rest west towards Greece, and the my troops in the north start marching south towards Greece.

I get within striking distance of Sparta, and Alexander petitions for peace. I let him off the hook for a hefty price.

In the interim - I have Spain pretty much boxed in - no available territory for Spain to build new cities, my workers have been busy building cottages and other improvements. My 'culture' is expanding closer to one of Spain's cities which hold a couple of valuable resources. I send in a few missionaries to do some conversions (religion is useful this way :snicker: ) and I manage to expand my territory into the blocks containing those resources.

Phew, I was tired. Moved my troops back into my own territory, switched production to more domestic projects, hit the save button and went to bed.

so how was your evening? lol

sidenote: sometime when I am playing and it's pretty clear I've won as it's jsut a matter of a playing out the turns to reach one of the victory conditions (I turn off the 'turn limits' condition)
I'll do what I call "bushing" or "do a bush"

I'm at a point where I have the most money, the biggest army, the highest level of technology and culture - "...top of the world, Ma!"

for giggles - I see how fast I can crash my country - declare myself a despot, spend money like crazy, invade those around me and piss off the rest enough so they 'unite' against me. doesn't take long before I've lost cities either to my 'enemies' or my own cities revolt and join someone else.

[CorpGovActivist]

89. Famous Last Words: "Just one more turn, then I'll go to bed."

"Just the next technological advance, and then I'll go to bed."

"Just the next Age change, and then I'll go to bed."

:rofl:

"I usually play Elizabeth of England. Gender bias on my part - prefer playing a female persona."

Me too! Or Alexander. Anglophile who isn't afraid to gussy up like Bess if it means kicking some "AIss", and the Greeks are not only historically cool, but come with a tech advantage that I wield effectively.

"Phew, I was tired. Moved my troops back into my own territory, switched production to more domestic projects, hit the save button and went to bed."

LOL. Why in the world would you tell me your methodology?

:rofl:

You just saved me a whole bunch of spy production.

"so how was your evening? lol"

Well, I dealt with some Hillaryite friends who are trying to bring me back into the fold. So I guess you could say I kicked some AIss, too.

"sidenote: sometime when I am playing and it's pretty clear I've won as it's jsut a matter of a playing out the turns to reach one of the victory conditions (I turn off the 'turn limits' condition)
I'll do what I call 'bushing' or 'do a bush'"

Too funny!

Think the next Civ lets you pick W as a "Great Leader"?

:rofl:

- Dave

[radfringe]

93. Think the next Civ lets you pick W as a "Great Leader"?

WELL, if more customizing is allowed, where a copy/paste is permitted and then change the name of country/leader, you can always have: Dubya Bush, leader of FUCKEDUPtopia



-- LOL. Why in the world would you tell me your methodology?

my methods change according to opponents and situations - unlike Dubya Bush, leader of FUCKEDUPtopia I'm not afraid of changing course.. ;)



-- Well, I dealt with some Hillaryite friends who are trying to bring me back into the fold.

Don't knock Hillary - you could end up playing her as a great leader in Civ-5

[CorpGovActivist]

94. "Don't knock Hillary - you could end up playing her"

There isn't enough http://www.patronspirits.com/">Patron on the planet.

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

67. Double Stuffs Are Good Too

"I'm doing ok, just got done hauling in wood for woodstove. battening down the hatches for the rain/ice/snow/winterymix storm coming in tonight"

I just hauled in the balcony plant and battened down the condo.

:rofl:

"made a nice roast chicken for dinner with mashed potato, gravy, carrots and brussel sprouts."

I just relished mojito salmon, green beans with almonds, and spelt. He's making pumpkin bread with gooey icing now. Mmmmmmmm. Yours sounds good, too.

"my sweetie is watching the giants-cowboys.. so I'm playing on my laptop, having some milk and cookies. later I will go play Civ-4"

Not sure which game he's watching, but he's watching one. I'm in here with the PoliTivo, slicing and dicing the shows and DUing. We should do a networked Civ4 game sometime.

"how you doing?"

I'm minus a beer.

; )

- Dave

[salin]

35. the first time I saw him (on more than a computer vidclip) was at

the NH primary debate. He worried me. He was good - and disarming, and seemed a whole lot less smarmy than the rest of the crew (well Paul didn't come off smarmy, but he is never going to get out of the GOP primaries with the nomination.)

[mitchum]

4. Stipe is right; despite Huckabee's flat tax loving, fetus worshipping...

snake handling and all around nutjobbery...he is oddly charming. Dave, I agree with you that he is the most worrisome candidate.
I would never vote for Huckabee in a million years, but I fear...hell I know...that many would.
And that is indeed worrisome.

[CorpGovActivist]

9. You Nailed My Meaning of the Word "Worrisome" ...

... and I agree with your analysis 100%.

I think Establishment Republicans - if push comes to shove - will decide that they can put a leash (if not a muzzle) on Huckabee, even without a majority in either house.

- Dave

[MilesColtrane]

5. This just in: Stipe Invites Huckabee to Join Band

REM to be Renamed DOA

[CorpGovActivist]

10. Gallows Humor Helps! n/t

[cali]

6. not worried about huck. he splits the party big time

evangelical wingnuts love him. social moderates/ficscal conservatives loath him. Thus the considerable angst about huck that's evidenced across the conservative internet world, and in artice after article from establishment rethugs. The big money side of the party can't stand him- and it's not even because of his free spending, tax raising ways as much as the huge cultural gap. Do you really think rethugs in Saddle River or Greenwich or other like communites across the country will vote for him let alone support him financially? They won't.

[CorpGovActivist]

11. Can You Name One Red State in 00 or 04 That Huckabee Would Lose...

... were he the nominee?

- Dave

[cali]

15. sure. Iowa where poll show him losing to any dem candidate

by double digits, New Mexico, possibly CO, Ohio and your own state of VA.

Fiscal conservatives/social moderates simply will not vote for him. He's the flip side of Giuliani who loses the fundy crowd.

[CorpGovActivist]

16. If He's the GOP Nominee, I Hope You're Right n/t

[lancer78]

86. I am sure

that is what you said about GWB as well. Never underestimate americas' weakness for "aw shucks" candidates.

[CoffeeCat]

8. Huckabee is charming...

...he's very likable and funny.

He's a good conversationalist too, and he's always throwing out interesting
quotes and real-life examples.

I imagine that you could have a very nice time, sitting down and talking
with Huckabee.

I don't find anything outrageous about this.

[CorpGovActivist]

12. "I don't find anything outrageous about this." Me Either, Hence the Worrisome...

... nature of his candidacy.

- Dave

[Cha]

36. Yeah, it's like huckster is

the silver tongued devil a la reagun.

[CorpGovActivist]

37. Reagan Dems Will Flock...

... to him as their "good shepherd," I fear.

- Dave

[Cha]

38. I don't know about reagun

dems..you'd think they would have a sense of history and how they were fooled up the yinyang if they were really dems?

But, people who are sick of the bushits but don't want a Dem will fall for his smooth chatter masking an evil that only those who pay attention are aware.

[CorpGovActivist]

39. His Economic Populism Track Record in Arkansas...

... will resonate in some very important purplish border states, and SE Ohio.

- Dave

[Cha]

40. Oh, huckster had economic

populism! his dog killing son won't neutralize that? Everybody likes dogs.

[CorpGovActivist]

41. If He's the Nom, GOP Will Re-Write It as Old Yeller n/t

[Cha]

44. And the m$$$$$$$$$$m that

will try and smooth over any failures in the goperve candidate just like they will excoriate anything a Dem has accomplished.

What a fuck-up power system our country has.

[CorpGovActivist]

46. That's about the Size of It! n/t

[JVS]

13. Norris+Stipe= major hasbeen celebrity endorsements

If horshak endorses him, we're screwn

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. Stipe has not endorsed Huck. Read the articles. He simply said the man is charming, which he is.

He goes on to say they are in opposite universes, politically, with no shared beliefs.

[JerseygirlCT]

54. Thank you

Good grief - the very idea that Stipe could be endorsing Huckabee! Yeesh!

[Warren DeMontague]

51. Oh, for fuck's sake. Read the link.

Stipe didn't "endorse" him, and his liberal credentials are impeccable. The guy has done more for our side than practically anyone else. For fuck's sake.

And R.E.M.'s catalog stands up against just about any other band out there. Good fucking grief.

[CorpGovActivist]

53. Thanks! I Didn't Mean to Denigrate Stipe or REM...

... and assumed others would actually read.

They still have some of the most masterful videos ever produced, too.

- Dave

[Warren DeMontague]

55. New album on April 1st.

I've heard some of the material, which they played in Dublin a few months ago. Sounds rockin'- we're overdue for a rockin' R.E.M. album.

I've been a fan since Reckoning was the "new" album. :hippie:

[CorpGovActivist]

56. Are You Yanking Our Chain?

April 1st?

*raises eyebrow*

I hope it is as good as the old stuff. Tears for Fears disappointed with their last one.

- Dave

[Warren DeMontague]

59. No, despite the April Fools date, I'm serious.

Here:

http://remhq.com/index.php

[CorpGovActivist]

68. Sweet! Thanks for the Heads-up! n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

57. I hadn't heard anything - very exciting news! nt

[SmellsLikeDeanSpirit]

17. The header on this thread worried me.

Michael Stipe is nothing but liberal, so it's good he's not supporting him. Mike is charming and doesn't seem like a bad guy, but I would never vote for him in a million years. Oh and R.E.M. kickass.

[CorpGovActivist]

18. "Oh and R.E.M. kickass." You Know It!

That's what grabbed my attention about the stories in the first place: "STIPE for HUCKABEE?!?"

Then I read the stories.

Still: if lefties are "charmed," where do moderate and moderately conservative voters come in?

- Dave

[Muttocracy]

19. Maybe it will be seen as liberal endorsement of him?

And that will hurt him?

I can't make heads nor tails of the GOP side at this point. I think the coalition is crumbling but not sure what it all means.

(edit for typo)

[CorpGovActivist]

20. "I can't make heads nor tails of the GOP side at this point."

Tomorrow, I'll dig up some e-mails I exchanged with a friend in '97, predicting the GOP nominee in '00. It was all but a foregone conclusion that Gore would be running as the nominee.

"May it will be seen as liberal endorsement of him?"

LOL. That would certainly be a fun boomerang to watch come home to roost!

"I think the coalition is crumbling but not sure what it all means."

I see peel-away persuadables in some key swing states. Much will depend on the outcome of the Democratic nomination race.

Tonight, I got some initial, rough thoughts down on the worst case fallback scenario: divided government, with the GOP retaining the White House.

- Dave

[Muttocracy]

21. a lot depends on things beyond our control in coming months

I hate everything being decided this far ahead of November. I don't see how it helps us at all.

I am very afraid of some "crisis" somewhere allowing the GOP to duct tape their coalition back together at the last minute. And Dems not having time to respond/clarify.

[CorpGovActivist]

22. "allowing the GOP to duct tape their coalition back together"

If the GOP race ends up the way I think it will, I'm more worried about Reagan Democrats crossing over.

- Dave

[AndyTiedye]

24. That isn't Nearly Worst Case

Tonight, I got some initial, rough thoughts down on the worst case fallback scenario: divided government, with the GOP retaining the White House.

Divided government is better than all Repiglickins. Not a lot better, but better.

If they take the White House, they almost certainly get the Senate back too.

If you're talking worst case, the people fall in love with the telegenic Huckabee and they sweep the House too. It could happen. None of our candidates have Fuckabee's charisma, and he would have all the TV airtime he wants to put that on display if he is the candidate.
I think THAT is the worst case.

Well, Bush** declaring martial law and calling off elections might be worse.

I'd call it a tie, since both end up turning the USA into a "Christian" version of Saudi Arabia.

[CorpGovActivist]

25. By Inserting "Fallback"...

... I was drawing a line between a full-out rout, and a workable defeat. You're right, there are worse imaginable outcomes than the one I stated.

"If they take the White House, they almost certainly get the Senate back too."

With the particular one-third of the Senate seats up for election this year, it would have to be a cataclysmic rejection of the Democratic ticket for that to happen, I think.

"If you're talking worst case,"

I wasn't. I was talking about worst "fallback" scenario.

"the people fall in love with the telegenic Huckabee and they sweep the House too."

I see the House as more vulnerable than the Senate, for a variety of reasons.

Best,

- Dave

[AndyTiedye]

23. It Will be the End of America as We Know it if Fuckabee Gets in the White House

Huckabee is a Talibornagain nightmare.

He will probably sweep the primaries in the South, and could very well be the Repiglican nominee. He'd sweep the South in the general too.

It's either going to be him or McCain, and McCain might end up picking Huckabee as VP. The stresses of the Presidency would kill McCain in a year, and we'd be Fuckabeed.

Is it worth crossing over to vote for Mittens? He's relatively harmless, and the most beatable Repiglican.

[CorpGovActivist]

27. For Many Americans, Huckabee Would Be a President They'd Be Proud to Pray for Each Sunday...

... and therein lies the rub.

- Dave

[Eurobabe]

26. Huckabee is Jim Jones reincarnate

The charm, the kool-aid...

[CorpGovActivist]

28. ... and a Lot of People Lining up ...

... for a sip.

: /

- Dave

[Eurobabe]

29. for that yummy GOP koolaid

[CorpGovActivist]

33. NICE!

Needs to be bursting through a wall tho.

; )

- Dave

[IdesOfOctober]

34. That's me in the corner.

I lost more than my religion.

:hangover:

Ides

[CorpGovActivist]

47. LOL...

... poor baby.

- Dave

[AlCzervik]

42. Well it's been said that Ted Bundy was charming too.

[ChiciB1]

43. As Long As He Keeps Singing For Democrats * Don't Care!! But I

do feel if Huckabee becomes the nominee he will screw up in some way! He talks a good talk, but he makes some real gaffs too!

[lumpy]

45. Stipe, as well as Huckabee, lost his religion.

x

[CorpGovActivist]

49. No, Stipe Is Still OK...Read the Articles n/t

[fujiyama]

48. It's difficult to hate him the same way I hate the other republicans

He has a quick wit and is pretty laid back.

I wouldn't underestimate him, though I think McCain would still be the harder of the two to beat. I think once people find out about his extreme positions on social issues, Huckabee's charm starts wearing thin.

[krabigirl]

50. I find Huckabee as charming as a box of nails.

[CorpGovActivist]

72. LOL...I Would Never Have Pegged You for Crabby n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

52. Let's stop pretending this means Stipe "supports" Huckabee. Bill Maher laughed & joked with him

and Bill Maher is hardly a bible-thumping creationist nutter.

I think the salient point, here, is that Huckabee comes off as a relatively friendly chap, at least until you read the fine print about how he wants to outlaw the birth control pill..

BTW, New R.E.M. album is due on April 1. :thumbsup: :headbang:

[Warren DeMontague]

60. Context is everything: First, Stipe called him "self-defecating". Link to actual interview here.

http://download.wbr.com/remhq/janeradio.mp3

[CorpGovActivist]

62. Wait, Wait: Was He Talking about Huckabee, McCain, or Thompson? Clarify?

:rofl:

Depends could sponsor the next debate!

- Dave

[Warren DeMontague]

63. Then we'll know who has Senator Vitter's endorsement, at least. nt

[CorpGovActivist]

69. Touche! LOL n/t

[progressoid]

83. "self-defecating"

Ha! But aren't we all?

[MasonJar]

70. Baptists do NOT drink beer, and neither does W allegedly.

[CorpGovActivist]

71. MasonJar - Come on...

:rofl:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=mason+jar+moonshine">I'm just sayin', that's all.

My great-grandfather (Superintendent of Pike County Schools in KY) moonshined on the side during Prohibition. The mason jars were stored under the kitchen floorboards, and my grandmother recently admitted that her father paid her a nickel to retrieve his orders once a week.

- Dave

[Elidor]

73. We'll mop the floor with Huckabee

That rube stands as much chance in the GE as a honey-coated mouse in a cage full of rabid wolverines.

[CorpGovActivist]

74. "That rube": Mind If I Ask Where You Live? n/t

[Elidor]

84. In the Deep South

[CorpGovActivist]

85. Do You See Your State Flipping Blue This Election? n/t

[Elidor]

95. My state is fairly purple

43% for Gore in 2000. I don't recall what percentage Kerry got in 2004, but it was probably less. But while the Huckster might play well in my state, he won't do so good elsewhere. His astonishing lack of knowledge about world affairs is going to remind too many people of Bush, and his foibles like Dumond are going to turn off too many people.

[CorpGovActivist]

96. While My Hope Is with You...

... my gut instinct is not.

- Dave

[NewJeffCT]

90. If DU had existed in January of 2000

I bet a lot of us would have been happy if Bush got the nomination over the more moderate McCain.

[CorpGovActivist]

91. Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! n/t

[sendero]

76. I never could stand Stipe...

.... I guess now I know why.

[CorpGovActivist]

78. Read the Articles First n/t

[lukasahero]

88. geezuz people READ!!!!

The rest of the quote: "I can't think of probably a single issue in which I am even remotely in the same universe as that guy ... "

[NewJeffCT]

92. You should know by now that

that at least half the people don't go beyond the snippet posted in the OP?

[The Gunslinger]

79. I gotta question anyone that can get suckered by a little charm.

I always thought a lot better of Stipe. Unfortunately there are a whole lot more of him out there.

[CorpGovActivist]

80. Read the Articles ... He Doesn't Support Him on the Issues n/t

[MagickMuffin]

81. Real Charmer that Huckster, Releasing imprisoned rapists to go and rape and kill

Yeah, what a Sweetheart.

Death penalty to the black criminals, Full pardons for the white Rapist.

I would hope we could bring this to the surface. Will the Huckster release all rapist and killers ((( as long as they are white ))) while the rest of the prisoners have to finish out their sentences???

We need to expose the Huckster for the rapist pig he is. A Charmer, I don't think so.


Autorank has done an excellent job bringing this to DUers. Read more about it here.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0712/S00059.htm

I have never thought the Huckster is charming, or that likable. He gives off a totally different vibe to me altogether.

[CorpGovActivist]

82. Thanks for the Link n/t

[renate]

97. Huckabee IS charming, and the Democratic nominee is going to have to deal with that

... if he's the Republican nominee, of course.

He scares me as a nominee because people so often do vote for the person they like, not for the one who keeps up with world events and knows what he/she is talking about. But I must admit that after watching an interview with him (was it with Jon Stewart? I can't remember) I thought he seemed to be a nice, funny guy. I honestly can't remember the last time I thought that about a Republican (except for Lincoln Chafee, who doesn't count as a Republican to me).

I think the Democratic nominee is going to have to face up to the fact that Huckabee is likeable by reminding voters that "Charm is not enough." Fake charm got us a clueless president last time; we certainly don't need to go down that path again.

[CorpGovActivist]

98. What Really Concerns Me...

... is that not only is he likable, but - after the criticisms about his lack of knowledge - he seemed to dig deep into the discipline well, and came back with fairly articulate thoughts.

On the intellectual curiosity scale, he appears to me to be above 43 and Reagan, definitely, and maybe even ahead of 41.

- Dave