Comments on: Mike Huckabee’s American History Lesson

By: JD

JD — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:54:02 +0000

Pretty sure he just meant that no democratic incumbent has been defeated since 1868. This statement still isn’t strictly true, but makes more sense if you neglect the case of Grover Cleveland (which is fairly reasonable, I think).

By: John

John — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:55:03 +0000

I gotta go with Brad here, the only name out there at all that isn’t some public nutjob of stupidity is Mr. Johnson. (That doesn’t count Dr. Paul the elder, I’ve written his name in on the ballot the past two prezinut elections).

By: Clacks

Clacks — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:30:42 +0000

I sure do like this Mike Huckabee..hope he runs–

By: Brad Warbiany

Brad Warbiany — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:37:34 +0000

Dan, No, I'm pulling for Gary Johnson. He's about the only Republican around that could get me off my libertarian high horse and actually vote for the R party. You nominate Huckabee, and instead of a secular liberal [Obama], you'll just get a Christian liberal. Huck's own record (as opposed to Johnson) shows that he is not solid in any way, shape, or form on conservative principles. There's a reason he's called Tax Hike Mike.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 03:58:04 +0000

Big deal, he misspoke. At least he hasn’t called any group bitter who cling to their guns and religion or a typical white person. Or claimed America has 52 states. You’re just scared he’ll beat Obama, because when all the hope and change faded, America was left with the realization it needs an executive-governor, not a community organizer.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 03:02:58 +0000

Mike huckabee is an idiot, and he has no chance of beating Obama, and even if he does we would not be moving in the right direction.

By: Stephen Littau

Stephen Littau — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:27:21 +0000

I guess that when he said “once” he really meant “7 times” since 1868.

By: Doug Mataconis

Doug Mataconis — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:47:16 +0000

Stephen,

Ford was an oversight, and although he wasn’t elected he still counts as an incumbent who wasn’t re-elected

By: Stephen Littau

Stephen Littau — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:11:52 +0000

There is also Gerald Ford who was also an incumbent (though he was never elected; I’m guessing that’s why you didn’t include him).

I didn’t mean to suggest that Bush was the only other president to fail to win reelection; I knew there were more (though I didn’t happen to know off the top of my head and didn’t take the time to look it up).

By: Doug Mataconis

Doug Mataconis — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:58:44 +0000

Huckabee got it more wrong that just forgetting Bush 41.

since 1868, the following incumbents lost their re-election bids:

Grover Cleveland (1888), Benjamin Harrison (1892), William Howard Taft (1912), Herbert Hoover (1932), Jimmy Carter (1980), George H.W. Bush (1992)