Desiring Machine

Kos once mentioned when thinking about the 2008 presidential race that Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee was the one potential GOP candidate that would cause him to lose sleep. I agreed with Kos when I first read this and the more I see of Huckabee the more I think he is the person to watch out for in the 2008 race. Huckabee has a dramatically effective camera presence and easy political style about him. On the surface of things he reminds me of Bill Clinton in a lot of ways. He has as a very affable and confident but not arrogant air about him. Just recently saw him on C-SPAN at the annual governor’s association meeting in Charlston SC. He has got political skills. His communication style is disarming. Frankly, I don’t know a lot about him. But I think it would be wise for bloggers to get ahead of the curve on this candidate.

The thing is that in a presidential race presentation style seems to hold more significance than any other attribute. And Huckabee has this in spades. The danger is that this actually works and helps win elections. I think there is ample evidence that this is what gave Bush his strength in 2000. The race was Gore’s to lose, but Bush came out with a personability and flat out lies about the future of his presidency. In fact the reality is Bush has always been the pawn. He puts a good face on things but the real destruction comes from who he appointed. In 2000 the Wolfowitzs, Rumsfelds, Rices, and Cheney Dark Side were not on parade. It was all about Bush the person, not the machine behind him. Same problem with Huckabee. He may be a very likeable guy with a fair amount of integrity and common sense but everyone brings baggage with them. And beware of baggage.

The Bush years have been a disaster on the political body politic and its psyche. I think by the time 2008 rolls around people will be looking for a new face that does not represent the fracturous and bitter political atmosphere that Bush has fostered. In this sense I think McCain is already damaged goods. This cycle seems to happen frequently. And that is what gives state governors their political edge in presidential campaigns. They are relatively unknown and the political machine behind them mostly unseen. In the late 90s everyone was so caught up on Kenneth Starr, but why could we not see Karl Rove? This is the problem. Next time around we need to focus on the machine and expose the underbelly of the popular affable candidate. If Huckabee runs he will be hard to attack directly but we will need to be astute about who works for him and press him on what kind of people he will appoint. The presidency is not about the the president but the entire administration.

In 2000 Bush campaigned on a isolationist, “non-arrogant” foreign policy, but then began to proceed with one of the most arrogant, unilateralist foreign policy agendas in our history. This is not because of Bush the man but because of the people he brought along with him to the White House. We must be vigilant of Huckabee and other smooth talkers like him in the coming campaigns. Next time it will be important to ask deep and penetrating questions about what the actual White House administration will look like.

I have been to Arkansas. It is a beautiful state, with very nice, and friendly people. Maybe it is something in the water, but the state sure does seem to breed people friendly politicians. And Huckabee is another one of those politicians. Beware.