Mike Huckabee Speaks Out On Blog: We're In WWIII

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee failed to generate rave reviews at CPAC last week, and nobody knows how it went behind closed doors with Focus on the Family in Colorado. But the socially conservative Republican is on his blog today explaining why he's running for president, saying he's in to stop the "Islamic fascists who have launched World War III." Huckabee is barely registering in any polls, and there is speculation in his home state that he really will end up running for a U.S. Senate seat.

But today there was none of that. The Baptist minister was full of fire and brimstone and even summoned the image of the Iron Lady, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

"We face a real threat from Islamic fascists who have launched World War III and have vowed to literally annihilate every last one of us all in the name of devotion to an impersonal god to whom they have sworn the blood of their children. They do not fight a conventional war and are not a conventional enemy, and we will not defeat them with a conventional military response and certainly not by negotiation because they believe their mission is not over politics, property or personality, but is the direct order of their god to give their last breath to take our last breath. This is no time for America to (in the words of the great former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher) 'go wobbly.'"

The entire text of Huckabee's statement is HERE. It is interesting that he used a lower case "g" when he wrote the word god for the deity Muslims worship. Was that meant to convey an insult to all Muslims? Or just the Muslims who are fascists?

Huckabee did capitalize "Islamic." Does that mean the religion deserves more respect than the deity.

Or it might not be an insult at all -- it could be a typo.

Huckabee's blog post is his first, and represents his push to get a wider public to take a glance at where he stands. He's fiery, but is not direct about what he thinks about the big question on Iraq at the moment: More troops or less?

Sen. John McCain's Conservative Evolution: By Intelligent Design?

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Arizona Sen. John McCain was due in Ohio today for private meetings and fundraisers with GOP heavyweights in Cincinnati, but it's a week out that his schedule takes a far more interesting turn. He's going to speak at an event in Seattle co-sponsored by the Discovery Institute, a West Coast think tank that is openly skeptical about Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection. This raises a question: Is McCain's reputation as a moderate Republican evolving; is he becoming a hardshell conservative?

Officially, McCain will speak Feb. 23 about the role of the U.S. in the global community during a luncheon co-sponsored by the Discovery Institute, the CityClub of Seattle and the Seattle World Affairs Council. But it is the Discovery Institute's involvement that is raising some eyebrows. The organization says it "supports research by scientists and other organizations developing the scientific theory known as intelligent design."

Ohio was the scene of a flare-up in the state board of education last year over evolution, and there was an unsuccessful and highly controversial push to encourage doubts about Darwin's ideas. The people on the losing side no doubt are encouraged to learn that Sen. McCain doesn't view the some of the most outspoken proponents of their viewpoint as kooks to be avoided at all costs.

The Discovery Institute is aggressive in challenging Darwinism. It has an online statement for scientists to sign that say: "We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged."

McCain probably won't have a word to say on the subject of evolution. He's more likely to stay on topic, which is how the U.S. should position itself to confront expected challenges around the world during the next decade. Information about the Discovery Institute is HERE.

This online manifesto describes a little of the Ohio debate, though it was not published by the Discovery Institute, whose own Dissent From Darwin is worth reading.

A stimulating DEBATE about Darwin's theory was published online by Natural History Magazine, and there is discussion about the flap over Ohio's teaching standards. As for McCain, the transformation may be taking place right before our eyes.

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Rasmussen On GOP '08: Everbody Loves Rudy Today

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Most Republicans view Rudy Giuliani as "politically moderate," a label that is supposed to be the kiss of death in a GOP presidential primary. But Rasmussen is out with polling data this Valentine's Day showing hizzoner has widened his lead over Sen. John McCain, No. 2, and everybody else on the right. In fact, the pollster says America loves the mayor and if the election were held today he'd beat every Democratic contender as well.

Romance and Rudy are in the air. But how long might it last? Hearts break and sweeties do separate -- as the mayor knows all too well.

The February 5-8 national telephone survey of 507 likely Republican primary voters is the latest in Rasmussen's weekly tracking polls, and it gives the former New York mayor a five point jump . He holds a "solid, double digit lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination," Rasmussen reported. The numbers are Giuliani, 32%; McCain, 18%; Gingrich, 10%, and Romney, 8%. Republicans were surveyed before Romney announced this week, and before Giuliani made his speech to the California GOP state convention last Saturday that seemed to indicate he was officially a candidate. Or maybe the speech didn't imply that. Nobody is exactly sure, including the mayor.

Rasmussen Reports said perceptions of McCain have shifted among Democrats and independents, with more saying he is a conservative than in December. McCain is pushing for more troops in Iraq. Among Republicans, McCain is seen as a moderate. And so is Giuliani, an ideological tag that has not hurt him in his own party. In fact, Rasmussen said 66% of Republicans view hizzoner as an ideological moderate.

"These perceptions help explain why Giuliani consistently outperforms McCain in general election matchups against leading Democrats. Giuliani leads against every Democrat including Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, former Senator John Edwards and former Vice President Al Gore," Rasmussen said.

The entire Rasmussen Reports is HERE.