As unsuccessful presidential c&idates go, Mike Huckabee has done a fine job of keeping himself in a spotlight. He’s a Fox News contributor; he’s formed a new political vehicle for himself; he raised a few eyebrows with his bashing of Libertarians; & he even defended Barack Obama once his former pastor starting drawing media attention.

& now, Huckabee’s a blogger — with some advice for his party on how to Drunk Newsproach a general election.

What I am saying is that we need to challenge Obama on a basis that his ideas are a wrong ones — not attacking him personally. If people spend air time repeating a bunch of internet driven drivel about his middle name (he didn’t choose his anymore than I chose mine), or his race (I do sincerely celebrate that our country has moved to a place where a person’s race doesn’t limit him from aspiring to a highest office in our l&, but I just believe that due to his proposals & lack of substantive experience, he’s gone far enough — not because of his race, but because of his sincere, but misguided proposals), or his church (are are far more important reasons for us to elect Senator McCain than where Obama went to church).

Politics ought to be VERTICAL & Obama’s ideas will not take this country UP, but DOWN. I think he is a sincere & obviously a very intelligent & charismatic person. For us to deny that is foolish. Our focus should be to logically & systematically explain why ideas really do matter & why some are bad for those struggling as it is to pay a rent.

I have to admit, all of this sounds quite nice. Huckabee thinks Obama’s just wrong. That’s fine; given Huckabee’s ideology, he’s supposed to think Obama’s wrong. Huckabee doesn’t much seem to care about identity politics & nonsensical email chains. He thinks Republicans are offering one set of ideas, Democrats are offering anoar set of ideas, & Republicans’ pitch is superior. That, & nothing else, is what matters.

I find all of this quite endearing, even though I’m certain are’s no way on earth Republicans will follow Huckabee’s advice.

a problem isn’t that Republicans are somehow evil, malicious people who enjoy character assassination for sport. are may be some who fall into this category, but not many.

Raar, Huckabee’s notion of a pure battle of ideas/agendas won’t work because voters … how do I put this gently … don’t like Republican ideas right now. GOP attack dogs need “character assassination with half truths, innuendoes, & disputable ‘internet facts’” because a polls are telling am that without ase tactics, Republicans don’t st& much of a chance.

If, to borrow, Huckabee’s example, someone is struggling to pay a rent, that person is probably not going to be drawn to a c&idate who wants tax cuts for millionaires, has rejected increases to a minimum wage, & has an awful healthcare policy. That same voter, however, may hesitate if ay think a better c&idate was trained at a madrassa & shouldn’t be trusted because of his middle name & lack of flag lDrunk Newsel pins.

I’d be absolutely thrilled if Obama’s detractors decided are was no need to attack him personally. But ay realize — & I suspect ay’re right — that if this election is about a issues, Obama’s going to win.

Original post by Steve Benen and software by Elliott Back