WHY McCAIN AND HUCKABEE SHOULD UNITE, WITHOUT HUCKABEE LEAVING THE TICKET

Mitt Romney, at the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) meeting, dropped out of the presidential race. John McCain has wrapped up the GOP Nomination. Good for John McCain, a man that had endured more pain and anguish than most people ever do in a lifetime, for sealing up the republican presidential nod. He is a good man, regardless of any policy differences and choices he has with the far right, and has an 84% republican rating and voting record.

The democrats are far from picking their nominee. The coronation of the next democrat nominee for president, may go thru march and even to the Democratic National Convention, depending on who is behind. Where Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will have to squabble for delegates, keep on the campaign trail, and maybe, just maybe distinguish policy discrepancies. John McCain will not, and has a rare opportunity.

McCain should announce, in the next week, that Mike Huckabee will be his vice presidential nominee, even if he "doesn't win the presidential nomination." Huckabee could stay on the ticket, primaries and debates would continue, and then after four to six weeks Mike Huckabee can "officially drop off of the ticket and become the vice presidential candidate." John McCain and Mike Huckabee could explain differences to the republican party, getting the Christian and Evangelical right focused, and make some history. All the while, creating a huge media buzz for the GOP.

Why John McCain wants Huckabee to on the GOP ticket and announce his plans for making him VP?

1. John McCain has the nomination wrapped up, with a bow, BUT he does not have the "far right" (Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Brent Bozell, Dr. James Dobson, Laura Ingram, and other media figures, plus voters) in his corner now. However, when it comes to the actual election, republicans are going to vote for John McCain, rather than voting Hillary, or for Obama. Therefore, John McCain can use the "Huckabee to the White House" symbol, to go to debates [town hall meetings and the primaries], get the American public, the far right and republican base, to get to know more of both Huckabee and McCain. Proving to the base, that they are not only decisive and have a plan, but more than republican enough.

2. Huckabee and McCain have not got in the mud, smeared each other to date, and will not start anytime soon. Therefore, they should go into every primary and debate talking about how their previous records, future policies, and plans "in detail" for the country. All the while, hammering home differences between the GOP candidates and the democratic hopefuls. Huckabee was a hit and won states/delegates, the more people got to know him, his humble background, and he had a huge like ability factor. Every media and public situation will be free advertising and more air time, for them. Plus, the more people and "the right" get to know the intentions of the McCain/Huckabee ticket (thru pundits, talk shows and radio, debates and interviews), the faster the base will come back to them.

3. Announcing Huckabee as a VP candidate, while he is technically running on the ballot for president, shows that McCain is thinking of "change." Change, has been the catch phrase of Obama, Hillary, and Romney, though they have not actually put into exact words what and how they would be changing. If McCain (like I actually predicted, three weeks ago, in this blog) goes this route, while they are both running for president (technically), combining debates into actual stump speeches and primaries into polling data, there is nothing to lose. He is not going to find a huge conservative candidate, bring him into the public eye, and get momentum in time, so this could be a great decision. However, it has to be planned and timed correctly.

If John McCain makes Mike Huckabee, into "Huckaveep," while Mike is still "running for president," it would be a flashback to the days of "the "Maverick" John McCain. McCain and Huckabee would be utilizing every minute they have together, by forming fresh ideas and policies (while the democrats are still battling), to show both republicans and independents, their agenda. The "Straight Talk Express" (McCain) would have a VP candidate, that has only gained in popularity and won states that McCain hasn't. It would also allow the republican party to reunite, and maybe have a rebirth. Both candidates get their message across, through most of the primaries and media debates, and roll into the Republican National Convention together. They would be gathering steam, approval ratings, most of the dirt on them would be dug up, and democrats would still be duking it out, not laying a glove on them.

A "SUPER TUESDAY" STORY, NOT A PROGNOSTICATION, OR ANALYSIS

Like the wave to the beach, the highly touted and mainly biased, "SUPER TUESDAY" week and primaries have now come and gone. Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama are both claiming victory, for the delegates and states won. McCain won nine states, Mitt Romney six states, and Mike Huckabee won five states. Yet, their analysis of "Super Tuesday" was vastly different. Rather than going thru tortured details of "Super Tuesday" (like every media outlet in the world), the Oprah and California voting scandal(s), or anything that may be construed negative, ambiguous rhetoric, a witnessed story begs to be told, instead.

It is six o'clock in the morning, at a primary spot in a small elementary school (in a smaller suburb of Kansas City, Missouri), there are just four people working the site. After explaining that they were expecting a massive rush, people trying to vote before work, they were pleasantly surprised. There were only four people waiting to vote. The first three voters made it thru the process, without a hitch. The fourth person made it to get his ballot, when a silver haired woman spoke, "Republican, Democrat, or Libertarian?" There is a tone of sarcasm and disdain, in the woman's voice (who was obviously there for her $100, not to "volunteer"). The man asked to see the Libertarian ticket, rather than just picking one of the three, making her job just thirty seconds faster. After a brief exchange of words, the lady refused once again to let him check the ballot (to see who was on the Libertarian side). However, she did not bank on the man knowing his voting rights and things were resolvedthe was resolved, but only after he demanded to see the "Missouri Voting Process Book", the elderly woman thrusting a ballot into his hands, and sending him to the booth to vote.

During the uncomfortable and unnecessary display, several more people had filed into the education building. Waiting in line, a Caucasian, elderly lady was next to an Asian man. He volunteered his place in line, to her. [The gesture was in stark contrast, to the vulgar display of power, the elderly volunteer had shown to the man a minute before. Yet, that choice enabled the two strangers to start an unbelievable and telling exchange.] She declined, stating that she was not in any hurry, "at her age." Her name was Ruth. She was seventy-eight years old. His name was Carlos, and was fifty-seven years younger (thirty-one years old). Carlos asked her if she had always lived around the area and made small talk. Ruth's response was remarkable:

"It is very nice to meet you and be cordial, to one another. [she smiled, because of the semi-fight in front of them] I have lived in this area my whole life, for seventy-eight years. [Carlos said, "I bet things have really changed."] I remember everyone I voted for in the last fifty years, some winners and losers. However, times were different and people were different, back then. I was a registered republican, until 2000, but in my sixties it seemed to me like world and people changed, so much. I have been more concerned with how the city and people have become hardened, or like the world revolves around individuals. I registered as an Independent, for the elections between 2000 and 2006. I voted for George W. Bush both times. After over fifty years of being a voting republican, an independent voting for republicans, I am now a registered democrat and I will be voting for Barack Obama."

The man (Carlos), commented about being a registered democrat, himself. He also stated that he was going to vote for Barack Obama. Carlos and Ruth were then pushed thru to the registry process, while more people began to file in. However, they parted company with kind words and moved into the booths, to place their respective votes.

Every choice in life counts. In just a brief ten minutes, it looked like the people of the United States was in, a sixteen by sixteen, foot petry dish. Three people cast a vote for president, a man and an elderly woman had a heated discussion over looking at a piece of paper (because the lady was either lazy, or did not care enough to do her job), and two strangers (who were nearly three generations apart, from different ethnic backgrounds, and were also from very different economic backgrounds) having a conversation. Some people are fighting, others of all persuasions and backgrounds in positive dialogue (sharing their past, the present, future, and dreams), and still some just stand on life's sidelines doing nothing. Life in a nutshell.

This election season, when votes have been cast and the new President of the United States decided, the free world hangs in the balance. The world's biggest "Super Power" will have a new leader, brought on by individual's gathering together, believing in one human being. After the visit to the primary destination this morning and the end of "Super Tuesday," only one statement by any pundit, media outlet, or nominee had sustenance for the country.

From Obama's celebration speech, in Illinois:

"What started out as a whisper [on the steps of the courthouse, in Illinois], has now become a chorus of millions of people. However, this (election) is not about me, but it is about you (the individual voter)!"

Barack is a spectacular orator. However, speaking may not mean that he should be the "leader of the free world," has the vision and policies to lead, and this is not in any way an endorsement. However, one thing rings true, in his quote and thru the story above. Every single person in America and the world, must start thinking of the collective (rather than "individuality"), which breeds the right choice. When a person eliminates themselves out of the equation, it forces outward thinking, to the choices that effect the people around them. America will only become the great nation it was, when people start participating and demanding truth, thru individual choice for the betterment of society.

HUCKABEE SHOWS UP BIG, EARLY ON "SUPER TUESDAY"

HUCKABEE SHOWS UP BIG, IN THE EARLY PRIMARIES

At six o'clock AM, at small schools, VFW's, and small convention halls around the 24 states, on "Super Tuesday," were filled with potential voters. However, there was one thing that was certain at the beginning of the voting day, Mitt Romney was not happy. Mitt Romney had his machine using phone calls, the media and cable outlets, and was even screaming from the hills of Utah, "A VOTE FOR MIKE HUCKABEE IS A VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN! MIKE HUCKABEE SHOULD JUST DROP OUT OF THE RACE, FOR A TWO PERSON RUN DOWN!"

Mike Huckabee had other ideas, and so did the people voting for him. Early on "Super Tuesday's" polls closing, Mike Huckabee has not only won delegates, but he has won four full states (and not just Arkansas). Obviously, a vote for Governor Huckabee was not a vote for McCain, but it was a vote for Huckabee. There was no media people, papers, or really anyone that I personally read/watched, that wanted anything to do with Mike Huckabee over the weekend (except my humble self). However, Mike Huckabee now will have more power than anyone ever thought with his newly won delegates. Mitt Romney should have used his vast political knowledge, that he boasted so early and often about, to not make an enemy of other candidates. The liberal, flip flopping, Governor of Massachusetts must have never heard the quote, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." It is really to bad for Mitt, because he will not be getting a whiff of any of those delegates Huckabee worked hard to get.

COVERAGE OF "SUPER TUESDAY," ON SUNDAY, A DISGRACE

One might say, being just one day out from "Super Tuesday," that the pundits, media (both print and television), and all of the people in the "Blogosphere" would want to have as many candidates still alive. By having all four of the republican candidates and both democrats (Hillary and Obama), the whole coverage system wins. Due to ratings, actual advertising dollars, and the sense that some media outlets are "in the bag, biased, or just don't care," they should not be negating Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, or where John Edwards' delegates are going to go.

After the Patriots got the shock of their lives, with their first loss of the season to the Giants, Fox News and CNN both had major time slots just for the "Super Tuesday" clash. However, both of the major cable news outlets took major looks at the "McCain vs. Romney" and "Hillary and Obama" showdowns, but they left out Mike Huckabee (who has almost as many delegates as McCain and Romney), Ron Paul (who has virtually no shot, but is still in the race), and did not even mention the "delegate factor" (for Huckabee, or Edwards). Both coasts and the majority of the elites in America, think that Fox News is a shill for the republican party. In the coverage on Sunday, Fox News has eliminated all of the "extras," (Huckabee, Paul, and Edwards, not to mention Alan Keyes and the possibility of Mike Bloomberg coming into the race), tossing all ideas and possibilities as yesterdays garbage.

What the country does, in voting, is the essence of our democratic process. By discounting any candidate prematurely, the outlet covering the elections (at whatever level) is doing the country and the candidates a complete disservice. On "Meet the Press," "Chris Wallace's Fox News Show," ABC's "News with George Stephonopolus," and the two CNN and Fox News shows (focused only on the election), had Obama, Clinton, Romney and McCain on them, with "FULL INTERVIEWS." However, there was little coverage, no interviews, or actual time on the networks with Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, or John Edwards (where he could discuss his electoral votes). When the media bets on the middle and lower class of people in America to not follow the politics of the media, the candidates, and the actual third parties who are making call after call to their homes, because they have to raise a family and work (not actually having time to research two to four hours a week, to get the truth), it is a sad day. Although, that is exactly what is happening, as of now. Not only are the candidates not getting the same coverage, but the "third parties shill" are blanketing America with inflammatory emails, lies, and calls smearing the majority of the candidates running.

After the "Super Bowl," both CNN and Fox News were brutal in their coverage on the upcoming "Super Tuesday," where twenty-two states will cast their votes. Watching Fox (especially), one would have to assume that there is only two candidates in each party, John McCain and Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama. Nothing could be further from the truth, when a person sits down and looks at the electoral map, which actually decides who will be the candidates for their respective parties. Only 12% of the electoral map is decided, and even after "Super Tuesday" there is not actually a certainty that there will be one candidate, for either party. When Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, and John Edwards' (who is out of the campaign, but has gathered delegates, before his departure from campaigning) drop out of the campaign and are no longer a factor, then coverage should stop on the perspective candidates. Until then, the fact that ALL candidates are not getting the same amount of time in debates, in overall coverage in the print and Net media, and most of all in the cable and other news media outlets is a complete disgrace to our media and all that are behind the coverage.

OBAMA, CLINTON DEBATE; MAKES HISTORY AND LEAVES TEASER

In the Thursday night CNN debate, between democratic candidates Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton, there was little new information to be had. However, CNN's moderator Wolfe Blitzer, at the Kodak Center in Los Angeles, was light years ahead of Anderson Cooper's lackluster performance (the previous evening, for the republican debate). Where "Mr. AC 360" failed to bring out the discrepancies between the republican candidates and almost begged them to duke it out on the stage (at the Reagan Library), Blitzer tactfully poked and prodded with a bevy of questions. Actually separating the two remaining candidates, on at least four issues. Where there have been 17 other democratic debates, the debate before "Super Tuesday" between the first real Afro-American and woman candidate (which one will be the democratic choice to become the President of the United States), was a treat to watch and analyze. From the first words out of the candidates mouths, a middle of the debate that did show a handful of discrepancies and policy differences, to the very last question (a teaser virtually every talk news show host took to endless task and no doubt every media outlet over the weekend will drive into the ground until Tuesday's end) the night was filled quality and possibly history, just as it was billed.

Remarkably, the first words out of Obama's mouth was, "John Edwards." Who he thanked for bringing up, along his trek to gain delegates, his main issues of America's war with poverty, the poor, and the overall war on the middle class. Then, he used the democratic catch phrases, stating, "there is not a choice between black and white, a man or a woman here for president, but the planet is in peril...." Hillary's two minute opening, was a little bit more subtle, "January 20, 2009, I hope that it is one of us, who is taking the oath for the Presidancy of the United States!" However, she also included the newly ousted candidate, Edwards. They both made a huge points, to strategically pander for Edwards electoral votes and a possible endorsement. Although, after the rhetorical openings were over, both were forced to dive straight into actual differences.

First in health care, Obama wanted to give 95% of the people health care, but the other people a choice (15 million people, an estimate by the Clinton campaign). He said would have a choice to pay for a program. Within this choice, "He would repeal the Bush tax cuts to pay for the people not covered, and it would provide an avenue to keep costs down." Where as Hillary's plan would demand a "mandate" on the people, not giving them any choice. However, Clinton quickly came back, stating that she had the experience on this topic and the scars to prove it. Having been a purveyor of health care options for better than a quarter of a century, also that she was "ready to lead on day one, giving the people what they wanted, and that was every single person covered with health insurance."

When prodded about the housing plunge, Mrs. Clinton stated that she would, "set a moratorium on housing rates for at least ninety days, and a five year freeze on interest rates." However, Obama did not really delve into a huge plan on the housing market, rather going into the economy in general. He did say that there would be no interest rate freeze, because it may cause interest rates to spike and crush the economy, making things worse than it is now.

Iraq and foreign policy was the biggest stickler of the night, for the two candidates. Obama pointed out, that he wanted to pull out a portion of the troops immediately and he would also make sure that Iran would be spoken to directly, to bring them into the fold. "Speaking to Iran directly would open up avenues, the Bush Administration has never opened," he said. Although Hillary has completely different views on both Iraq and Iran, she did say that she would try to move as many troops out of Iraq, "as soon as possible." She continued, "the main thing is protecting our troops and those who have helped in the fight, but the Malicki Government has to start making the tough choices, because time is up."

The main difference and biggest jab of the evening was Obama making the point, "he has always been against the war from the start." Which prompted Wolf Blitzer to say to senator Clinton, "Since you have stated that you are the best choice for president, to lead the country on day one if elected president, and because of your experience, isn't a little bit naive that you voted for the Iraq war?" The question alone garnered some boos and hisses from the crowd. However, Hillary handled the question in stride, going back to the talking points, "I voted to give President Bush the option to keep the inspectors in, not George Bush take us to war."

Aside from a few other jabs, or swipes that were far from overt, the night was an overall success and fairly cordial. Although, the last question Blitzer proposed to the candidates will be the most spoken about, thru "Super Tuesday." "Would either of you consider, becoming the other's running mate, for vice president?" The auditorium boomed with both buzz and laughter, as did the candidates. Obama spoke on it first stating, "Obviously there's a big difference between those two," Obama said. "I respect Senator Clinton, I think her service to this country is extraordinary." But he said, "We've got a lot more road to travel" before such a decision. Pressed for an answer, he ended with, "I'm sure Hillary would be on anybody's short list." Then Hillary replied, "Well, I have to agree with everything Barack just said." It was too early to discuss running mates. However, I do not think that the media, pundits, and everyone else who follows politics (for that matter) will have any trouble discussing it at all.