Huckabee Does Not Exist

Mike Huckabee does not exist. It's just not possible. At least not the version presented to us by his detractors.

We are to believe that Mike is, at once, both Bill Clinton and Pat Robertson. He is a knuckle-dragging caveman and a hillbilly in one breath, and a Rovian genius, churning out brilliant ads choked with subliminal message for true believers only, in the next breath. He is Pat Buchanan and John Edwards. He's Jimmy Carter & Jerry Falwell. He is left of Dennis Kucinich and right of Jesse Helms.

It's dizzying.

There's an old adage in both politics and journalism that if you're being attacked from both sides, you must be doing something right. FDR also supposedly was quoted along those lines back in the mid-30s, right before he went out and won another term with over 60% of the popular vote, and a landslide % of the electoral college (97%), losing only 2 states (Maine & Vermont).

I'm also reminded of a 70s rock tune "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Stealers Wheel. (And not because someone's gonna get their ear cut off, a la Reservoir Dogs, a movie I haven't seen.) I amended the lyrics for Huck…

Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am
Huck in the middle with you

It's time for a re-read of The Party of Sam's Club. It's time for a Grand New Party. Or just understanding the party we already have. The coalitions that already exist. So even if a pundit-created Mike Huckabee does not exist, the real Mike Huckabee does, and he best fits with where America is today.