The Tolbert Report

If you have ever thought to yourself, “Man, I would love to go watch Michael Gravel have a serious debate with Ron Paul,” then you - one probably read this blog several times a day and - two you are in for a major treat tonight in Little Rock. Progressive Democrat (which mean really liberal) Drew Pritt will take on 80’s Democrat turned today’s gaffe prone Republican Kim Hendren in a debate at UALR.

I know about this debate as Pritt has emailed me at least half a dozen times. Somehow they wrangled Arkansas News Bureau David J. Sanders into serving as the ring master for this circus. The debate will begin at 7:00 tonight in the Donaghey Student Center, Room C but if you want to have your photo taken with the candidates get there for the meet and greet at 6:30.

Now I am wrestling with the decision of whether I go get some quality flip cam of this event or stay home and watch the undefeated New Orleans Saints take on the New England Patriots (who ‘dat!) on Monday Night Football.

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UPDATE – I went to the event and I must admit that I was wrong. It was not a circus. It was much worse; it was boring. About 10 people gathered in the large UALR meeting room to hear from Pritt and Hendren. It appeared to be mainly Pritt friends and Hendren’s wife. The above video gives you a little bit of flavor for how it went (youtube is down – video forecoming.) About half the time was spent discussing how horrible the rest of the field was for not coming and the other half on how wonderful the two of them are for meeting with the ten people in the room instead of focusing on money. Oh, and Hendren defending raising taxes. More on that later.

The above audio clip is from Mike Huckabee’s radio program “The Huckabee Report” on Monday, November 30, 2009.

According to reports breaking late Sunday, Maurice Clemmons is being sought by police in the killing of four Washington state police officers.  Clemmons had been sentenced to prison in Arkansas for armed robbery but had his sentence commuted in 2000 by then Gov. Mike Huckabee.  The story is developing fast but has the potential to be damaging for Huckabee after the criticism he received for the parole of convicted rapist Wayne DuMond by the Arkansas parole board during the time Huckabee was governor.  DuMond was accused of rape and murder after being released but died in prison before standing trial. 

….

“The senseless and savage execution of police officers in Washington State has saddened the nation, and early reports indicate that a person of interest is a repeat offender who once lived in Arkansas and was wanted on outstanding warrants here and Washington State,” said Huckabee in a statement tonight. “The murder of any individual is profound tragedy, but the murder of a police officer is the worst of all murders in that it is an assault on every citizen and the laws we live within. “

”Should he be found to be responsible for this horrible tragedy, it will be the result of a series of failures in the criminal justice system in both Arkansas and Washington State. He was recommended for and received a commutation of his original sentence from 1990, making him parole eligible and was paroled by the parole board once they determined he met the conditions at that time. this commutation made him parole eligible and he was then paroled by the parole board once they determined he met the conditions at that time. He was arrested later for parole violation and taken back to prison to serve his full term, but prosecutors dropped the charges that would have held him. It appears that he has continued to have a string of criminal and psychotic behavior but was not kept incarcerated by either state. This is a horrible and tragic event and if found and convicted the offender should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our thoughts and prayers are and should be with the families of those honorable, brave, and heroic police officers.”

…….

“I think I can speak for colleagues in the other judicial districts, the other prosecuting attorneys around the state and say that Gov. Huckabee was reckless, wanton, and unaccountable for it,” Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley said in a statement this evening. “I hope to God it is not the same fellow…it will be my worst nightmare realized.”

UPDATE - First interview following the story braking…

“If I could have known nine years ago, looked into the future, would I have acted favorably on the parole board’s recommendation? Of course not,” commented Huckabee in an interview Monday morning with Todd Starnes of Fox News Radio. “One of the things that is horrible and one of the realities confronting the criminal justice system is that it is far from perfect and in this case it failed miserably of all sides.”

UPDATE II – Joe Carter, director of research for Huckabee for President shares some interesting insight on the clemency issue. The whole thing is worth a read but here are some highlights…

After reviewing hundreds of cases and interviewing numerous people involved in the process, I concluded to my own satisfaction that the governor’s actions and judgment were generally defensible. Yet there remained about a half-dozen situations in which even after reviewing all of the information I was unpersuaded that justice had been served. Although I was sympathetic with some of the justifications offered for making the decisions, I found them inadequate for a number of reasons.

For example, in a number of the cases—and almost always in the most controversial requests for commutation—there was sense that the petitioners were attempting to redress injustices committed by the “Clinton machine.” The disdain for Bill and Hillary Clinton and their associates that peaked among conservatives in the early 1990s remains palpable among Republicans in Arkansas. Many of the petitioners and supporters of the commutations and pardons were truly convinced that they were simply rectifying injustices committed by the former Democratic governor and his cronies. (This was especially true in the infamous Wayne DuMond case where the victim was a second cousin of Bill Clinton.)
…
Ironically, what makes Huckabee such an appealing Presidential candidate—his empathy for all people and genuine belief in the individual—is also the trait that will prevent him from ever reaching the White House. His experiences and intuitions that served him well as a minister of the gospel were not always applicable in of governor of a state. The unfortunate reality is that for politicians, unlike pastors, there are limits to compassion.

UPDATE III – Here is the Gov. Huckabee interview with O’Reilly tonight.  Several people have asked me my opinion on this whole affair.  I plan to share these tomorrow.  As a long time Huckabee supporter, it will be painful.

Over the weekend speculation grew that Kim Hanke of Hanke Brothers was considering jumping into the race for Lieutenant Governor as a Republican. The news first broke on twitter from Bradley Phillips and then spread to the Arkansas Blog with Max Brantley posting…

Kim Hanke has reportedly revived his long-standing interest in breaking into political life with a run for lt. gov. (Republican; he once employed Janet Huckabee, remember?). I know from talks with him of his interest in times past. I bet he’d get interested plenty, along with a gaggle of others, if the incumbent lt. gov., Bill Halter, aimed for something else.

I called up Hanke, who is a fellow Saline County resident where he serves on the Saline County Quorum Court. He told me that plans are not currently in the works for anything political above Justice of the Peace.

“No serious plans at this time,” Hanke told me. “It (running for office) has been discussed for years but my concern right now is for my family and keeping my commitment to my employees and customers.”

As for the report from Max Brantley over the weekend, Hanke said, “Max and I are good friend but he has a vivid imagination.” Hanke believes that this speculation began when he briefly hired Janet Huckabee to work for him that he must have political aspirations.

Hanke said that for now he is content supporting conservatives such as his friend Jeremy Hutchinson both financial and as a volunteer and in serving the people in his district as a Justice of Peace. He did leave the possibility open to change his mind in the future but said that unless things drastically change, he would not be doing so in 2010 because of his family and business commitments.

At the same time, news comes in from the only announced Republican candidate Mark Darr that he plans to go from the exploratory phase to the official candidate phase this next week. A friend tells me that Darr just sold his Larry’s Pizza business in west Little Rock and expects him to be putting some of this money into his campaign soon.

I asked Darr about this and told me that he is planning on using some of his personal funds to kick-start his campaign. He tells that he has been visiting with folks around the state and expects to increase his focus on fundraising soon. “People are ready for new leadership in Little Rock,” said Darr. “They want a conservative alternative and someone who is not a career politician.”

Appearing today on Fox News Sunday, Gov. Mike Huckabee debated health care reform with Howard Dean but he also indicated for the first time that he is currently leaning against running for President in 2012. Huckabee cited several factors that will be influencing his decision.

Host Chris Wallace showed several polls from Iowa and nationwide showing Huckabee leading the field of 2012 hopefuls included Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney. Wallace then asked Huckabee “why wouldn’t you run for President in 2012?”

“The reason I wouldn’t is because this Fox gig I have right now is really really wonderful,” said Huckabee. “It is easy to say ‘Oh don’t you just want to jump back in it.’ But jumping into the pool, you have to make sure there is some water in it. And there is a whole different deal between some folks taking a poll and whether there is the financial support.”

He went on to say regarding the chance of him running again, “It is less likely rather than more likely just because I would have to see that the Republicans would be willing to united behind me. The last time out my biggest challenge was with the establishment Republicans.”

He also said that he would be watching the 2010 congressional elections and the result of these would weigh heavily in his decision whether or not to run.

Conrad Reynolds spoke earlier this month and offered some interesting insight into his campaign strategy. He indicated first that he believed it was not necessary to nominate someone who had raised a lot of money but that Republicans should stay away from anyone who has held elected office.

“This is a cheap Senate seat,” said Reynolds. “You will see more money flow into this state to beat Blanche Lincoln. They will match anything she has got I guarantee you. It will be matched and she will be beaten. Don’t let somebody tell you if you don’t have the money you are not going to win. That is ridiculous. We are only talking about 60,000 votes are going to win this primary election. Don’t worry about it; we are going to beat her; she is going to be gone and we are going to change the course of this country.”

Previously Reynolds told me he believes it will take appropriately $500,000 to $700,000 to win the Republican Primary.  Through the end of September, he had raised only $13,265.

As to how Reynolds says he plans to win, he points to the tea party movement. “The people that are going to change this election are those independents, that is those folks going to the tea parties,” pointed out Reynolds. “They are not really associated with any of the political parties. But they’re upset and they’re going to vote. And there is about 17% or 18% of them. And that is going to determine who gets this election. And they do not want somebody who has already held office. And if we elect somebody like that, we are going to lose them; they are not going to go vote. And then Blanche Lincoln benefactors and we can’t allow that.”

Translation – nominate me instead of state Sen. Gilbert Baker.

UPDATE - Someone from Reynolds’ Campaign wanted me to add that Reynolds also put up $30,000 of his own money to bring his FEC total to $43,265 at the end of September.  Also, someone from Baker’s Campaign pointed out that Reynolds once worked on Baker re-election campaign so it is “political hypocrisy” to attack him now.

Editor of the Arkansas Times Max Brantley slices up a nice piece of Senatorial politics in this week’s publication. He has tough words for Sen. Blanche Lincoln who is getting it from all sides right now. Brantley writes…

Several political professionals knock Lincoln for not spending enough time in Arkansas. She can be excused somewhat by the demands of the Senate and young children. But you can’t do enough laying on of hands on home soil, particularly when poll after poll puts your favorability rating below 50 percent. The Lincoln campaign seems more obsessed with money than people, apparently thinking that a huge treasury alone will guarantee success. They are wrong. Whoever wins the Republican nomination will have ample money, in either direct or indirect support, to get out a message.

Lincoln’s supporters gripe that she’s a victim of sexism. They think Sen. Mark Pryor, politically indistinguishable in many ways, gets an easier ride. Tough. Lincoln must man up. She’s on the ballot. Mark Pryor isn’t.

Max also seems to be encouraging Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter to jump in the race. I can’t tell if the thinks he actually will.  Conservative columnist David Sanders visits with Bill Halter as well as blogger buddy Blake Rutherford tonight on Unconventional Wisdom.

And if that is not enough Senatorial political reading for your Friday afternoon take a look at Matthew Bigg’s article on the race for Reuters. I had the opportunity to visit with Bigg while he was in town. Nice guy.

In the second part of my interview with state Sen. Gilbert Baker, we discuss his thoughts on the Republican primary, specifically he answers my question as to why someone should support him instead of one the other candidates.

“First of all, I am thrilled that all these folks are running,” said Baker. “It shows first that folks are fired up and wanting to make a difference in the process. The only way democracy fails is if folks sit home and are not involved.”

Baker went on to discuss what distinguishes himself from his fellow Republican opponents. “I say the two things that I bring to the race is really not so much me as really what folks have helped me do,” said Baker. “Specifically in 2008, I face a very difficult reelection campaign.” He highlighted the fact that he was able to win in a swing district in a tough campaign where he successfully faced down the Democrat establishment. “Everybody from Bill Clinton to Gov. Beebe on down come after me,” said Baker. “And when the dust settled because so many people got behind me, got behind my conservative message, we won.”

As for raising money, Baker is not shy about pointing this out either. “I am determined that our conservative message has enough resources behind to get that message out,” said Baker. “It is one thing to have a conservative view of the world but if you don’t buy some TV ads, do some mailers, get out there in the newspapers, and take advantage of all the social media opportunities, then the conservative message is not going to get a hearing. I am committed that the conservative message get a hearing and that requires money. And I am not a bit ashamed that I am going to go out and raise as many dollars as I can to make sure that conservative messages gets a hearing because in Arkansas if the conservative message gets a hearing, it wins.”

As far how much he has raised, he told me “in the first two and a half months, we have raised almost $700,000.” Baker reported on his first quarter report raising $500,000 in the first month, which means this past month he has raised around $200,000.

We also discussed how Baker believes he measures up as a conservative. “I just believe that government is not the answer,” said Baker. “Now look, government has got a role in our society. I mean somebody has got to build the roads and take care of services. So I am not one of these guys that says government has got to just disappear. There is a pragmatism there that says government has a role but there is a balance there.”

He went on to point out that he believes the government has a role to play in protecting the unborn and in our second amendment rights to keep and bear arms, earning him endorsements from both Arkansas Right to Life and the NRA in 2008.

He then turned his attention to his legislative record on fiscal matters as a state senator. This is the area often criticized by his opponents. He discussed the constraints of having to balance a budget. “I was thrilled to say no to the income tax surcharge a few years back…I have been thrilled with the opportunities I have had to vote against taxes.”

He spoke specifically about his vote for the tax increase that he did vote for as part of the school funding issue. “The 2003 education tax when Gov. Huckabee was governor in a special session, trying to get ourselves out of court. The federal government was about to take over our court system. I really do believe that. The state supreme court said our court system was unconstitutional. In hindsight, I wish we could have cut the budget and try to find some money to take care of the education need. But at that time, that really was not an option before us. And I support Gov. Huckabee’s proposal to bring the more money into the educational system to get us out of court. The good news is the system is out of court.”

Baker concluded by making a commitment that he challenged his Republican opponents to make as well. “On the day the primary is over, that we all rally behind the nominee…and that the focus has to be on Sen. Lincoln…She has to be replaced with a conservative, and there is an opportunity to do that. So that is where my focus is going to stay.”

I received President Obama’s Thanksgiving message Wednesday evening (on the jump.) It was not sent as an official Office of the President press release but through his Organizing for America list. It included a good positive message of being thankful for his family and for the soldiers fighting oversees. However, one glaring omission was any reference to being thankful to God. He ended the message by saying “With warmest wishes for a happy holiday season from my family to yours.”

This is certainly a far cry from George Washington’s first Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789 when he told the young nation that it is “the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

The Lord has certainly given me a lot to be thankful for this year. I am reminded everyday of the blessings of a loving wife who makes me want to be a better person and of two wonderful sons who bring me more joy than I thought possible. I have wonderful caring family, a great job, and more friends than George Bailey himself. I have made quite a few of them through these crazy new media that makes the world smaller everyday.

I give thanks today to God for all these blessings. I hope you will all take a moment today to say thanks as well.

UPDATE – Here and on the jump is Gov. Mike Beebe’s Thanksgiving message “Giving Thanks in a Tough Year.”

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Today is sort of a slow news day in the lull before Thanksgiving so I thought I would take the opportunity to do what most bloggers do and try to make much ado about nothing by highlighting some interesting twitter conversations from last night.

There were several interesting reactions to the story yesterday that Jim Holt is getting his ducks in a front before making the final decision on whether to run for Senate. Republican State Representative Davy Carter responded to this by saying, “If the Repub stragegy is to lose the general election, then Holt’s our guy.” Marvin Parks who served in the state legislature with Holt agreed. I am not sure if that is the welcome Holt expected.

Also last night Republican candidate Conrad Reynolds’ campaign manager K. Ryan James pushed out a story from the Washington Examiner highlighting where the story said fellow Republican Gilbert Baker “is not an especially conservative candidate.” The article offers little evidence to back this up other than tying him to Mike Huckabee which I guess makes me a liberal as well since I supported Huckabee in his 2008 Presidential bid. This tweet led Baker advisor Clint Reed to fire back that this was “pure silliness” and asked why Reynolds worked on Baker’s state senate re-election campaign “if he is not a conservative.”

Interestingly enough, I actually address this subject in part two of my interview with Baker. Tune in later for that. And Arkansas politicos please keep the tweets coming. This is fun!

We all set breathlessly waiting last Saturday for Sen. Blanche Lincoln to announce her vote on the motion to move the Sen. Reid’s Health Care Bill to the Senate floor. With 59 Senators all lined up to vote for the motion, Sen. Lincoln finally announced in her Saturday afternoon floor speech that while she does not support the bill, she would vote for the motion later that day. However, David Sanders examines today in his Arkansas News Bureau column if she really had her mind made up long before this.

Friday was a scramble with Sen. Dick Durbin accidentally letting the cat out of the bag that Lincoln’s vote was already known, leading to duel press statements from Lincoln and Durbin’s offices retracting this statement and making sure everyone knew Lincoln was still firmly planted on the fence. Sanders also discusses a Friday evening wine sipping fest with Sen. Mary Landrieu where Lincoln assured Landrieu that she wanted to the be the 60th vote.

It is certainly no surprise to anyone that Lincoln had her mind made up. She met with Harry Reed only minutes before he released his bill on Wednesday, when he also said the vote would be coming in 72 hours just as Lincoln had asked. I predicted Lincoln’s Saturday move on Friday with my mock press release.

The real question for me is why would she purposefully position herself to cast the final nail in the motion to move on the bill, especially when polls are showing that the health care reform proposal is not popular in her home state. Sanders suggests take this was a ploy to boost her popularly with her own party where a poll last week showed report had eroded to a mere 43%. Also, the news of her vote dominated the headlines on Saturday afternoon instead of her potential primary rival Bill Halter’s free health clinic.

Perhaps this move sealed the deal that she will not face a creditable primary challenge by boxing Halter out of his biggest potential excuse for jumping in. But the question is what effect if any will this move have on her re-election next November. The short term memories of most voters may or may not recall this vote although I imagine they will her next cloture vote. However, if nothing else, her public indecision down to final minute gave her Republicans opponents the chance to raise money against Mrs. 60.