Huckabee Clueless After Bhutto’s Death, Says Pakistan Has ‘Eastern Borders’ With Afghanistan
Huckabee Clueless After Bhutto’s Death, Says Pakistan Has ‘Eastern Borders’ With Afghanistan
Forced to respond to the tragic assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has spent the last 24 hours constantly fumbling and apologizing for his cluelessness and incompetence on a key foreign policy issue.
This morning on MSNBC, Huckabee said that Musharraf was unable to control Pakistan’s “eastern borders” with Afghanistan:
People who questioned my view of foreign policy probably need go back and read the speech that I delivered back in Washington in September. … What we’ve seen happen is that in the Musharraf government, he has told us that he really does not have enough control of those eastern borders near Afghanistan to be able go after the terrorists. But on the other hand, he doesn’t want us going in because it violates his sovereignty.
Watch it:
Note to Huckabee: Pakistan shares its “eastern border” with India, not Afghanistan.
Huckabee also seized on the Bhutto assassination to tighten up his hard-line anti-immigration stance. Yesterday, he said the U.S. should be on heightened alert from the threat posed by Pakistani immigrants:
[F]ormer Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee suggested that after the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the United States should, “have an immediate, very clear monitoring of our border, and particularly to make sure, if there’s any unusual activity of Pakistanis coming into the country. We just need to be very very thorough in looking at every aspect of our own security internally.”
Also yesterday, Huckabee addressed Bhutto’s death after “[striding] out to the strains of ‘Right Now’ by Van Halen.” He said the U.S. should weigh the impact Bhutto’s death would have on Pakistan’s “continued” martial law. But President Pervez Musharraf formally lifted the emergency rule in Pakistan on December 15th, nearly two weeks ago.
Huckabee also told an Orlando crowd that he offered his “apologies” for what happened in Pakistan. The campaign quickly recanted the statement, saying he actually meant “sympathies.”
Huckabee’s muffed and embarrassing responses to Bhutto’s death underscore his glaring foreign policy incompetence.
UPDATE: A “senior aide” to Huckabee admitted Friday that Huckabee has “no foreign policy credentials,” explaining why he pivoted to the immigration comment.
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I agree with pretty much everything said about Huckabee, the man is a fool.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:01 pmBut Huckalujah did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:04 pmIgnorant? Totally clueless? Hey – he’s just like Bush!
December 28th, 2007 at 1:05 pmAgain, TP STUPIDLY smearing a candidate that may very be the best person to get the Republican nomination… because he will be an easy target in the general election.
Real smart.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:07 pmHuckalujah seems to have about as much foreign policy knowledge as a Texas governor had 7 years ago. Yeah, that worked out well too.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:07 pmTP is only pointing out the stupid things the Huckster says. Your objection to it JPV is a shoot the messanger mentality.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:09 pmJPV: “TP STUPIDLY smearing a candidate that may very be the best person to get the Republican nomination…”
- – Stupidly? Oh, like Republicans will come to TP to pick their candidate. And smearing implies a false accusation. All of us aren’t smearing Huckster, we’re mocking his ineptitude.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:10 pmNow if only we could get Hillary to answer questions about the assassination. Or answer questions period.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:10 pmwell, at least i know david lee roth won’t be voting for huckabee
December 28th, 2007 at 1:10 pmOne would ordinarily chalk up such a mistake to a slip of the tongue. However, Huckabee knows his reputation has suffered from showing a lack of foreign policy expertise. One would think that he either would have been aware of the location or made simple statement without referencing east/west border.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:11 pmForgive the Huckster, he knows not his geographical east from west, is west left or right, or up or down? He should ask for guidance before making such utterances.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:11 pmShhhh! Wait till he’s nominated!
December 28th, 2007 at 1:13 pmThere are a few statements in Huckabee’s prattle that have me scratching my head; besides the “Eastern border” idiocy, that is….
But on the other hand, did he not want us going in so what do we do?
Here, Huckabee seems surprised at the discovery that Pakistan is exerting control over its own sovereignty. Can you imagine the outcry in the US if, say, the Chinese or the Russians had asked to “go in” after the Oklahoma bombings to “chase after the terrorists”?
if there’s any unusual activity of Pakistanis coming into the country.
Wha? This is complete non sequitur. What does immigration control have to do with Bhutto’s assassination?
And this man is a presidential candidate? I fear for the world….
December 28th, 2007 at 1:13 pmShhhh! Wait till he’s nominated!
Comment by clb72
Yep, that’s what I say.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:14 pmhttp://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/27/a_campaign_pause_to_mourn_bhut.html
Maybe you should read or learn how to do the googles, Lobes…
December 28th, 2007 at 1:14 pmHuckleberry thinks running for president is an “Adventure.”
December 28th, 2007 at 1:15 pmif there’s any unusual activity of Pakistanis coming into the country
Anyhow…I thought the big bad terrorist threat was that cells of bloodthirsty Islamofascists were ALREADY HERE! In small-town America! Ready to strike at a moment’s notice! So now, they’re going to start hitting the borders? For what? To open restaurants? Tell us, Huck–what are these suspicious Pakistanis suddenly coming here to do? Maybe study medicine and economics at our major universities? If you’re going to fear-monger, at least be plausible.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:18 pmMost Americans should love this moron…for most are as clueless as he.
Can someone please give me back my country???
December 28th, 2007 at 1:22 pmAt lease Hillary knows where Pakistan is and the other Middle Eastern countries of the World. The rest of the field of candidates are clue less about foreign affairs and even where a country is on the map. Americans can now see who knows what. We have a choice either pick another unqualified President or pick Hillary. It’s that simple. With any other candidate the United States is hosed.
The interesting think about how stupid Rev. Huck is, most Americans don’t know were Pakistan is on the map either. So it makes since with some comments to support Rev. Huck and the other stupid candidates. When you don’t know and don’t bother to read you’ll follow any idiot just as the US has in the pass two election. Bush can’t read people read for him. When he visits a country he doesn’t know where he’s at. Just as any American to name the 4 Oceans of the world and I have proved my point.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:23 pmIt seems to me that the more ignorant and dumb you are, the greatest chances you have in order to be President of the US.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:25 pm“Note to Huckabee: Pakistan shares its “eastern border†with India, not Afghanistan.”
Yes, that is true if you view the earth from far above the Equator. Our boy Huckabee has a different view from WITHIN the earth, at the side of God.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:28 pmJuan ~ Ouch, sad but true. At least for the current incumbent. I don’t think Bill Clinton would fall into that category, except for getting skull from an intern, duh.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:29 pmCan someone please give me back my country???
Comment by Ms_Joanne — December 28, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
We are very sorry to inform you that your country has been sold to China.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:29 pmHuckabee clueless? But he’s got GAWD and JAYZUS on his side! HA! Another republiscum fool. His cluelessness is exactly what could get him the nomination. Republiscums like ‘em stupid. Just like Bush. Dumb as hair.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:31 pmActually, RU, I think you have had extremely capable and intelligent Presidents. Almost all of them: WARMONGERS, but that’s understandable as almost all England Queen’s were Pirate Commanders, Thieves and Drug Dealers. It’s what superpowers do.
My fav: FDR.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:33 pmI do not plan on voting for Huckabee, but Pakistan is on the eastern border of Afghanistan.
Comment by good_golly
Huckabee was referring to Pakistans reference point – not Afghanistan’s. Pakistan shares an eastern border with India. Pakistan shares a western border with Afghanistan. Most folks running for President would know this.
Attempting to minimize his error is not what our country needs. If Huckabee cannot take the time to understand the very important issues – and the locations of the very dangerous part of the world – then he should pack it in and go home.
We already have a dunce in the WH, we don’t need to elect another one.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:35 pmAnd this man is a presidential candidate? I fear for the world….
Comment by Gregor Samsa — December 28, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
I think he and Richardson should form a coalition ticket.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:35 pmAttempting to minimize his error is not what our country needs. If Huckabee cannot take the time to understand the very important issues – and the locations of the very dangerous part of the world – then he should pack it in and go home.
Agreed and as soon as possible.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:36 pmOf course, good_golly wasted no time in getting it wrong, once again…
December 28th, 2007 at 1:40 pmStratrat, he referred to the borders NEAR Afghanistan. Not Afghanistan’s eastern border with Pakistan. That seems pretty obvious. Still, it’s a simple mistake. Either he didn’t know or spoke mistakenly.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:42 pmI’ve been watching the media coverage of this assasination on cable news. Does anyone else find it ironic to see Fox News pundits, who CONSTANTLY attack the American left as “evil secularists” instead PRAISING Bhutto for her secular principals? It’s so wrong when American liberals take a secular approach politically, yet they praise Bhutto when she does it. Do they not see the hypocrisy?
December 28th, 2007 at 1:43 pmI didn’t mean to direct that at StratRat…
December 28th, 2007 at 1:44 pmHow near are those eastern borders with Afghanistan? Maybe the width of the whole country?
December 28th, 2007 at 1:45 pmThe only direction Huckleberry needs to know is UP so he can go with Jeebus when the Rapture comes. You people don’t get the big pitcher.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:45 pmBrianFL, it’s not hypocrisy because Christians are good and Muslims are bad.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:45 pmPardon me, I have to shower after writing that.
I can see the headlines on Fox now – -
Pistol Packin’ Pakis Poised to Attack US!!!!
December 28th, 2007 at 1:46 pmDo they not see the hypocrisy?
Comment by BrianFL — December 28, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
Probably not. It’s only good to be secular if the majority of your citizens aren’t christian you see. If the majority of your citizens call themselves christian then religious extremism is definitely the way to go in your government!
December 28th, 2007 at 1:46 pmWe already have a dunce in the WH, we don’t need to elect another one.
Comment by StratRat — December 28, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
In our defense, StratRat, I’d like to point out that perhaps we actually didn’t elect him, either time.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:48 pmOuachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, must be very proud. Until Huckabee came along its most famous graduate was Susan McDougal (of Whitewater fame).
December 28th, 2007 at 1:53 pmYa know, they could have stopped after the first two words of the headline…
December 28th, 2007 at 1:53 pmhappy new year,people of Iowa! we US American have no maps at home, remember? go forward and vote for Huckabee and prove that Iowa matters in this country. where is Jesus when we need him….
December 28th, 2007 at 1:57 pmMike Huckabee suggested that after the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the United States should, “have an immediate, very clear monitoring of our border, and particularly to make sure, if there’s any unusual activity of Pakistanis coming into the country. We just need to be very very thorough in looking at every aspect of our own security internally.â€
—————————————————————–
Absolutely. Just like we monitored Swedes very closely following the assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme in 1986.
Oh what’s that? We DIDN’T monitor Swedes coming here in 1986? We WEREN’T especially afraid of them? Gee — why is that? Because we didn’t assume that whoever murdered the Swedish Prime Minister would just automatically cross the Atlantic Ocean and start offing people here?
/sarc off
Huckabee is just another idiot using the tragic Bhutto case to ramp up more fear here without waiting to hear all the facts. And it’s a pity that innocent Pakistani Americans who have nothing whatsoever to do with the assassination will be the ones to get the backlash.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:58 pmHuckabee don’t need no stinkin maps… after all he is running for President of Jesus States of America where everyone is a Christian, White, and never travels outside of the country.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:01 pmWe already know that most progressives hate Christians and Jews, but do you need to spew your hatred, over and over and over?
Comment by good_golly — December 28, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
Oh, shut up. You can do your poor man’s Bill O’Reilly, Ann Coulter shtick somewhere else. If you can’t stop lying about progressives, please take it to redstate.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:13 pmThe Rethugs have spent a generation’s worth of hot air and blather trying to get all of the Bubbas to agree with them that we shouldn’t have “elites” run the government. As for myself, I would much prefer having the best and brightest running things. The G.reedy O.ld P.erverts have raised stupid to the level of a virtue.
“Stupid is as stupid does.” -Forrest Gump
December 28th, 2007 at 2:15 pmWhat’s this “we” shit good golly. You got a mouse in your pocket?
December 28th, 2007 at 2:15 pmDo you really need to turn this into yet another in the long line of anti-Christian threads. We already know that most progressives hate Christians and Jews, but do you need to spew your hatred, over and over and over?
Comment by good_golly — December 28, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
As a Christian myself, I don’t hate Christians. I don’t hate Jews either — neither do I hate Muslims. How can I? We all worship the same God, after all.
No, my resentment is reserved for those who would exploit religion to gain political power, pervert the teachings of Jesus and Moses to fit their own agenda, and make claims about “returning this country to Christ” when this country was founded on the principle of religious freedom (among others).
Just because we point out shameless hypocrisy and exploitation when we see it doesn’t make us “anti-Christian.”
December 28th, 2007 at 2:16 pmI would also like to know who “we” is. A little slip there perhaps?
December 28th, 2007 at 2:17 pm45–good_golly-what-a-fool strikes again. I think you know, moron, that most Christians practice hate on a daily basis. I think the “Christian” faith is based on hate and intolerance. So all you’re doing now is what is called “projection.” Blaming others for your own shortcomings. It’s very easy to say progressives hate Christians, isn’t it? Oh that makes you feel so high and mighty like you’ve really made the one point no one can argue with. Yet, like you, your argument empty. You see, we’ve seen what you purported “Christians” have done to this country. You are no better than the religious fanatics in the Middle East. All you do is hate hate hate in the name of God and Jesus. You people have no shame, yet you cry foul when people just plain get sick and tired of your nonsense. If you don’t want people to hate Christians, then I suggest you purported Christians get out there and do the work necessary to turn that hate into love. And let me say, you all have got a lot of work to do to undo the bad reputation you all have made for yourselves. You did it to yourselves. You are a sad, pathetic excuse for a human being. Go away. No doubt you’re late for your KKK meeting.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:17 pmO.k. but try to stay on topic. This thread is not about the Clintons.
Comment by good_golly — December 28, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Right the Rhodes Scholar is a dunce. But goofy “have” indicates the present tense and there presently is no Clinton in the White House.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:21 pm53–and you’ve been added to the list of traitors to the United States. Traitor traitor traitor traitor traitor traitor traitor traitor. You should be imprisoned for your treason. As far as bigotry goes, you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, fool. Cut the crap, a$$hole. Sick to death of you and yours who would trade the well-being of this beautiful country in a New York minute in order to subjigate its citizens to your brand of religious intolerance and bigotry.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:22 pmThe adherants of a faith are not the same thing as the faith itself. I think that what people are tired of here are the people, not the faith. Zionists and Neo-cons are not the same thing as Judaism. Al-Qaida and the Taliban are not the same thing as Islam. And by the same token, ChristoFascists are not the same thing as Christians.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:23 pmgg, you lump people together. there are many different views given here. No need to say that most poster are anti christian. You use 5 posts as examples, yet there are 54 posts and counting. Did you take math lessons from Rove?
December 28th, 2007 at 2:24 pmIn an interview with David Frost, Bhutto explained that these groups were being used by those inside the government to create unrest and fear.
She named three people she thought were behind it and said she had told Musharref that she intended to get Scotland Yard’s help with an investigation…
She also said one of the people she suspected aided Omar Sheikh, “the man who murdered Osama bin Laden”.
http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2007/12/28/bhutto-names-obl-murderer-and-gives-motive-for-her-asssasination/
December 28th, 2007 at 2:24 pmWe already know that most progressives hate Christians and Jews, but do you need to spew your hatred, over and over and over?
Comment by good_golly — December 28, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
Here’s a clue, nimrod. Most progressives ARE either Christians or Jews as are their families. And if you want to dictate what thread should be on a blog go start your own, you don’t work here. Oh and ghouly, this site isn’t for people like you. You need a brain to be progressive and you are clearly lacking the equipment.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:24 pmGo away. No doubt you’re late for your KKK meeting.
Comment by Tender Chicken — December 28, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
Great post Tender Chicken.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:26 pmAdd 51 to the list of anti-Christian bigots.
Comment by good_golly — December 28, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
Just because we despise you christofascists doesn’t mean we hate Christians.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:27 pmIT SHOULD BE COMPULSORY FOR ANYONE WANTING TO FILL A PUBLIC OFFICE, TO TRAVEL AND SPEAK SOME OTHER LANGUAGE. OTHERWISE… THEY LISTEN TOO MUCH WHAT FANATIC CHRISTIAN EXTREMISTS…
December 28th, 2007 at 2:30 pmNow if only we could get Hillary to answer questions about the assassination. Or answer questions period.
Comment by Lobishomen
Looks like Jason was finally banned and reappeared as this useless troll. Oh well, we’ll have to put up with that until TP starts banning based on IP address rather than e-mail address.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:33 pmIT SHOULD BE COMPULSORY FOR ANYONE WANTING TO FILL A PUBLIC OFFICE, TO … SPEAK SOME OTHER LANGUAGE.
Comment by sacopenapa — December 28, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
The current occupant of the White House speaks Bushspeak. Does that count?
Sorry — just couldn’t resist! ;-)
December 28th, 2007 at 2:33 pmThere are no maps in the bible, the only book the Reverend has ever read.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:34 pm21, 24, 34, 35, 44. All anti-Christian comments, with more to come.
Comment by good_golly — December 28, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
How are any of these anti-Christian? They may be anti-Huckabee, anti-hypocrite, and anti-people-who-call-themselves-Christians-while-acting-decidedly-un-Christian, but they are not anti-Christian.
That having been said, please feel free to add this to your list. You know you want to.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:35 pmDoes a lack of geographic knowledge really matter? After all, the Commander in Cocaine on June 17, 2001 in Sweden stated that “Africa is a large nation with a lot of disease and poverty.” And in 2004 he was allowed to steal the election again.
Just because Huckleberry can’t tell up from down or east from west should not disqualify him from being the standard bearer for the party of god in 2008.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:37 pm“Of all bad men, religious bad men are the worst.” C.S. LEWIS
December 28th, 2007 at 2:38 pmPakistan Is ‘Central Front,’ Not Iraq
By Robert Parry
…Through repetition of this claim – often accompanied by George W. Bush’s home-spun advice about the need to listen to what the enemy says – millions of Americans believe that Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders consider Iraq the key battlefield.
However, intelligence evidence, gathered from intercepted al-Qaeda communications, indicate that bin Laden’s high command views Iraq as a valuable diversion for U.S. military strength, not the “central front.â€
For instance, as the Iraq War was heating up in 2005, a letter attributed to al-Qaeda’s second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri asked if the embattled al-Qaeda operatives in Iraq might be able to spare $100,000 to relieve a cash squeeze facing the group’s top leaders in hiding, presumably inside Pakistan near the Afghan border.
Instead of money going from Pakistan to Iraq, the cash was flowing the opposite way. U.S. intelligence analysts recognized that this was not the way one would normally treat a “central front.â€
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/122707.html
December 28th, 2007 at 2:41 pmThat’s OK, Hillary Clinton said that she feels bad for her “good friend” Bhutto’s 2 children. She has 3.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:41 pmThe current occupant of the White House speaks Bushspeak. Does that count?
Sorry — just couldn’t resist! ;-)
Comment by missmolly — December 28, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Grunts, mumblings and babbling doesn’t constitute a language. At least a human one.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:42 pmThere are no maps in the bible, the only book the Reverend has ever read.
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — December 28, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
MY bible has maps in it! Quite a few, actually — of the Middle East showing ancient Egypt, Canaan, Babylon, and all the places where the Tribes of Israel went, of the land where modern day Israel is to show the path of the ministry of Jesus, and the eastern Mediterranean area where St. Paul conducted his ministry.
Maybe Huckabee just needs a different edition of the bible. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt him to crack open an atlas every now and then. Or at least look at a globe.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:43 pmComment by willyloman — December 28, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
Very interesting willyloman. That man’s name (Omar Sheikh) just keeps popping up eh? Isn’t he the guy that Musharraf claimed was recruited by British intelligence? But who then was convicted of killing Daniel Pearl and who is also connected to 9 11 via M Att a? I doubt he’ll be around long! (I know that his death sentence is under appeal but we’ll see.)
Do some research on that name if you feel like making your head spin!
December 28th, 2007 at 2:45 pmMaybe Huckabee just needs a different edition of the bible. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt him to crack open an atlas every now and then. Or at least look at a globe.
Comment by missmolly — December 28, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
Thanks for the correction. The bible is not my specialty. I think a globe, however, would scare the Huckster. He still believes the world is flat.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:47 pmThis is conclusive: Huckabee is an uneducated moron who certainly doesn’t deserve to be vying for the highest office in this country with his abysmal lack of foreign policy knowledge. But I guess this bespeaks the dire straits of the GOP. They, quite literally, have no one qualified and capable of handling the job.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:49 pmHey #5 – you call it attacking a candidate – I call it pointing out his ignorance. Maybe running for the Christian in Chief is a little bigger job than Huckabee is cut out for. Unless, you’re a typical rightie that prefers their presidents to be morons. If he’s the best your party can do, I’d say the gop is in a whole heap o’ trouble. (Nice job shootin’ the messenger.)
December 28th, 2007 at 2:49 pmOmar is a common islamic name and Sheik means “Chief”. So I figure that it’s a very common name among the 1 bilion muslims in the world.
Just imagine the uninimaginably mangled records at the CIA, with thousands of the equivalent of “John Smith” sightings all around the world…
No wonder so many “Al Qaida #2″ who have been killed.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:51 pmO.k. but try to stay on topic. This thread is not about the Clintons.
Comment by good_golly
I guess that was funny to you. I don’t know why.
Bill Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar. Can your idiot in chief top that? No, he cannot. Your lame attempts at distraction are useless.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:51 pmhis name is huck.
huck huckabee.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:51 pmThough I do believe he is a complete idiot, I don’t think attacking him for this is worth the time or space this article took. So what he mistook the eastern and western borders of Pakistan in one interview. Lets all take a quiz on world geography see how well we do.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:52 pmMary: Thanks for the allusion to Omar Sheikh. Everyone needs to google and learn more about this man who, along with Sibel Edmonds, hold a good piece of the 911 puzzle; that is, the parts which this group on cons right here don’t want the public realizing.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:54 pmComment by cma12 — December 28, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
The difference is: you and me will not be asked “Should we bomb the eastern border or the western border, Mr. President?”
December 28th, 2007 at 2:55 pmcma12: I do hope you’re jesting here. Here we have a man attempting to convince us that he is qualified to become president of this country and doesn’t have a clue about Pakistan? How low of a bar are we now going to set and accept in terms of cluelessness for our commander in chief?
This has nothing to do with personally attacking him; it has everything to do with pointing out that he’s totally and unequivocally “clueless” on everything from what the NIE means to now the geography of Pakistan.
I do hope you’re kidding.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:55 pmHow about no one is allowed to run for president unless they pass a basic geography and poly-sci test?! Bush didn’t even know the difference between Shites and Sunnis before he’d already decided to take down Hussein. I think even the trolls have to admit that that kind of ignorance is dangerous!
December 28th, 2007 at 2:56 pmAs I see it this is far from an ad hominem attack; rather, every time Huckabee opens his mouth on something other than the bible, he outdoes himself in terms of stupidity and being totally unqualified for the job.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:57 pmMary: It’s the intentional “dumbing down” of america – all part of the neofascist wet dream to conquer each of us.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:58 pmOmar is a common islamic name and Sheik means “Chiefâ€. So I figure that it’s a very common name among the 1 bilion muslims in the world.
Comment by Evil Spaniard — December 28, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Yes, but in this context – Pakistan and the al-Qa’ida/ISI connections – the name refers specifically to Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh
December 28th, 2007 at 2:58 pmThough I do believe he is a complete idiot, I don’t think attacking him for this is worth the time or space this article took. So what he mistook the eastern and western borders of Pakistan in one interview. Lets all take a quiz on world geography see how well we do.
Comment by cma12 — December 28, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
I’d actually do pretty well, and I’m not running for President. And maybe if you would take the time to actually read the post, you’ll see that the geography error was not the only mistake, or dumbass comment, he made. Do you really want a President who thinks that Pakistanis will be storming the borders of this country and assassinating leaders (maybe Arkansas governors, I don’t know)?
December 28th, 2007 at 2:59 pmLets all take a quiz on world geography see how well we do.
Comment by cma12 — December 28, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
Bring it on.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:59 pmMSNBC also stated that “liberal forces” in the Pakistani government have been thwarted. Since when did the MSM frame liberalism as being a good thing?
December 28th, 2007 at 2:59 pmAnyhow, I’m with Juan C. at
Comment by Juan C. — December 28, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
The USA ellections are far more of a PR campaing than a meritocratic decission.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:59 pmHi Ms Joanne! Good to see you here. Yes, the sad fact is that among everything else that Bush has done to jeopardize this democracy, he’s also sold us to China – that would be “Red” (for communist) China. Can you believe that we’re even doing business with a communist country or that a communist country owns well over 1/3 of us at this point with our unprecedented national debt? Fact is that a good percentage of the worthless paper sold during our “sub prime scheme” has infuriated our new “landlords” and you know they will continue to “get even” – poisoning us and our children through toys is one way, killing our pets is another, and god only knows what we’ve been ingesting since Bush has been in office.
Seven years of being slowly poisoned to death is not a laughing matter which is precisely what we will all soon discover, thanks to China.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:01 pmI guess Liberalism is only good in other countries.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:02 pmBy the time the people really get the picture of everything from 911 forward and how Bush has relaxed standards so we’ve been poisoned by our food, he will be sunning his fat a$$ on some Paraguay plantation.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:02 pmHey guys – cma’s comments are beginning to sound all too familiar. I think it’s the same demented troll with yet a new moniker.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:04 pmLets all take a quiz on world geography see how well we do.
Comment by cma12 — December 28, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
We’re not all running for president, ARE WE?
December 28th, 2007 at 3:04 pmLets all take a quiz on world geography see how well we do.
Comment by cma12 — December 28, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran have been in the news -with big headlines- for a few years now. There have been lots of reports about the Taliban and how they have taken refuge in Pakistan among the Pashtun tribes there, near the border.
Several newspapers have printed maps along with the news, in order to give readers an idea of what the region looks like, with handy arrows highlighting the cities mentioned in the articles. I recall seeing such maps in USA Today and on CNN.
There is no excuse for a presidential candidate, whom I expect to be more aware of this than the average citizen, not to know that Pakistan is snuggled between Afghanistan to the West and India to the East. People might not know what other countries Pakistan borders, but any half-informed person should know at least those two.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:07 pm“The religious factions . . . are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent . . . Just who do they think they are? I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of conservatism.”
- Barry Goldwater, 1981, archconservative five-term Republican Senator from Arizona and author of “The Conscience of a Conservative”
December 28th, 2007 at 3:08 pmYes, but in this context – Pakistan and the al-Qa’ida/ISI connections – the name refers specifically to Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh
Comment by toasterhead — December 28, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
Guess you’re right, toasterhead, but I was simply being skeptic as a good approach to learn the truth.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:08 pm“I think the number one issue people should make [in the] selection of the President of the United States is, ‘Will this person carry on in the Judeo Christian principled tradition . . .’”
- John McCain, Barry Goldwater’s successor, interview with BeliefNet
December 28th, 2007 at 3:09 pmWe cannot tolerate another provincial pinhead in the White House who never learned geography in elementary school, and doesn’t educate himself in adulthood.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:10 pmLets all take a quiz on world geography see how well we do.
Comment by cma12
What a completely silly thing to propose.
To prove Huckabee is not stupid, WE all have to take a test. You don’t ask Huckabee to know geopolitical realities, but you want US to take a test?
I am grasping for an adjective to adequately describe your proposition. I cannot find one which is dis-respectful enough.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:14 pmGuess you’re right, toasterhead, but I was simply being skeptic as a good approach to learn the truth.
Comment by Evil Spaniard — December 28, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
Understood – it is a good approach. I’m still a bit skeptical about the whole murdering UBL bit, and have been Googling like mad to find anything else confirming it.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:15 pmTo prove Huckabee is not stupid, WE all have to take a test. You don’t ask Huckabee to know geopolitical realities, but you want US to take a test?
I am grasping for an adjective to adequately describe your proposition. I cannot find one which is dis-respectful enough.
Comment by StratRat — December 28, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
To be fair, ALL Americans need to be better at geography and foreign affairs. We need to expect better from our leaders, yes. Agreed. But we also need to expect much more from the people who vote to elect our leaders.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:18 pmSorry for the O/T everyone!
Comment by Veritas — December 28, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
Oh yes oh yes my fellow truthseeker. Not only that but it’s possible he was framed for Pearl’s death and meanwhile there’s talk that Pearl was about to reveal some inconvenient information about Pakistan’s ISI’s involvement in 9 11 – this after karachipage.com had published an article on Sept 10, 2001 speculating about the head of ISI’s agenda while in Washington the previous week! Willyloman brought up his name and also relayed that apparently Bhutto had plans to involve Scotland Yard in investigating whether this particular Omar Shiekh had anything to do with stirring up unrest in Pakistan.
The idea of Scotland Yard being involved to investigate the actions of a possible British intelligence recruit…it’s enough to make one’s head spin. Well mine anyway. : \
Link on that Karachi News article – scan down to bottom:
http://www.karachipage.com/news/Sep_01/091001.html
Don’t go there unless you are able to deal.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:20 pmOff topic:
Hey, Evil, where have you been? Barca looks like crap now that Messi got injured. Damn.
On topic:
Good golly, I don’t base my opinions and judgements on the name of a group in this case, Christians, as I don’t base my opinions and judgments based on the name of groups.
I base my opinions on individual actions and words. So, from this, a Christian can be as a piece of filth as a Nazi, and a Nazi (unlikely) a good person as a Christian.
The group designation means nothing when you have to do a moral evaluation of a person.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:24 pmI knew that the Huckster didn’t believe in Science. But What I didn’t know was that he must not believe in History or Geography either.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:30 pmHuckabee also told an Orlando crowd that he offered his “apologies†for what happened in Pakistan. The campaign quickly recanted the statement, saying he actually meant “sympathies.â€
Interesting. Very interesting.
I don’t count you among the Christian-haters miss molly. You are different from most of the progressive posters here.
Comment by good_golly, I’ve changed my posting name, again. — December 28, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
Really. Like myself, PatriotLiberalChristian, and BARTLEBEE, among others? Well, that blows your absurd theory right out of the water!
December 28th, 2007 at 3:36 pmProjection, my ever name changing poster, does not befit you well!
Though I do believe he is a complete idiot, I don’t think attacking him for this is worth the time or space this article took. So what he mistook the eastern and western borders of Pakistan in one interview. Lets all take a quiz on world geography see how well we do.
Comment by cma12 — December 28, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
I agree that Huckabee may have merely misspoken. It’s entirely possible that he meant the eastern border of Afghanistan and got his message garbled. It’s also possible that he meant the eastern border of Pakistan and was wrong. I am far more concerned with his statement about being more afraid of Pakistani immigrants than any other kind. Exploiting the situation to ramp up the fear in this country is obvious political BS anyway — and even more so when doing it before sorting out what really happened over there.
As far as your proposal for a geography test — bring it on. I know a fair amount of world geography, and what I don’t know I’m willing to look up before I go around spouting statements to the press. I expect the same from anybody I plan to vote for to lead this country.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:37 pmSorry, my above paragraphs would have made alot more sense if I would have italicized the poster, and correctly spelled PLC’s moniker
Like this….
I don’t count you among the Christian-haters miss molly. You are different from most of the progressive posters here.
Comment by good_golly, I’ve changed my posting name, again. — December 28, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
Really. Like myself, PatrioticLiberalChristian, and BARTLEBEE, among others? Well, that blows your absurd theory right out of the water!
December 28th, 2007 at 3:40 pmProjection, my ever name changing poster, does not befit you well!
“The religious factions . . . are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent . . . Just who do they think they are? I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of conservatism.â€
- Barry Goldwater, 1981, archconservative five-term Republican Senator from Arizona and author of “The Conscience of a Conservativeâ€
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — December 28, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
“I think the number one issue people should make [in the] selection of the President of the United States is, ‘Will this person carry on in the Judeo Christian principled tradition . . .’â€
- John McCain, Barry Goldwater’s successor, interview with BeliefNet
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — December 28, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Barry Goldwater deplored the hijacking of the GOP by the evangelical right — McCain appears to have embraced it. What a difference a generation makes. Barry is probably rolling in his grave.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:44 pmAs far as your proposal for a geography test — bring it on. I know a fair amount of world geography, and what I don’t know I’m willing to look up before I go around spouting statements to the press. I expect the same from anybody I plan to vote for to lead this country.
Comment by missmolly — December 28, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
Ok, this one’s pretty good: http://www.mentalfloss.com/geographyzone/
December 28th, 2007 at 3:49 pmHere we have a man attempting to convince us that he is qualified to become president of this country and doesn’t have a clue about Pakistan? How low of a bar are we now going to set and accept in terms of cluelessness for our commander in chief?
Comment by Veritas — December 28, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
Um…I think that bar has already been set pretty low, considering who’s sitting in the Oval Office at the moment.
I was hoping that we could set the bar HIGHER next time around.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:50 pm60% on my first try. :( Friggin Oceania!
December 28th, 2007 at 3:52 pmOk, this one’s pretty good: http://www.mentalfloss.com/geographyzone/
Comment by toasterhead — December 28, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
You’re right — that one was pretty good. I confess I only got 9/10 — I missed Mauritius (I picked the Maldives instead).
And I always get the two Congos mixed up — I was lucky and guessed the right one.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:55 pmIsn’t this the clown that Darryl’s god has preordained the next president of the USA?
December 28th, 2007 at 3:56 pmAnd I always get the two Congos mixed up — I was lucky and guessed the right one.
Comment by missmolly — December 28, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
Ok, I’m up to 80%. I missed Nauru and Palau. Not bad.
As for the Congos – the Republic is the small one, the Democratic Republic is the big one. Interesting fact – capitals Brazzaville and Kinshasa are across a river from each other – the only two world capitals that are so close together. Neat, eh? :)
December 28th, 2007 at 4:05 pmevery time Huckabee opens his mouth on something other than the bible, he outdoes himself in terms of stupidity and being totally unqualified for the job.
Comment by Veritas — December 28, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
May I amend that to read ‘opens his mouth on anything, especially the bible, ‘
December 28th, 2007 at 4:13 pmahhh, but the Huckster is always one step ahead of all the rest. If you look at Pakistan from the United States THROUGH the Earth instead of from above Pakistan, then in fact Afghanistan is on Pakistan’s eastern border. This according to the Hucklebee advanced theory of relativity.
December 28th, 2007 at 4:15 pm.
every time Huckabee opens his mouth on something other than the bible, he outdoes himself in terms of stupidity and being totally unqualified for the job.
and this is one of THE great things about religion and why its so attractive to so many ignorant fools: you can say just about any damn thing you want and be considered serious and sound like you know what you’re talking about…almond 2 dat.
December 28th, 2007 at 4:20 pm.
Where the hell is Tuvalu? Geez. a 50, need to get back to African and SA geography myself.
I do, however know where Pakistan and Afghanistan are, relative to one another…
P.S. Don’t tell my 10th grade Geography teacher, he’ll kick my ass!
December 28th, 2007 at 4:21 pmTuvalu is in Oceania.
I scored 80% in my first try: I couldn’t locate Samoa, and mistook Cameroon for Nigeria… oh well….
December 28th, 2007 at 4:29 pmHuck was right. Afghanistan is East of Pakistan if you add about 300 degrees or so of longitude.
December 28th, 2007 at 4:30 pmWhere the hell is Tuvalu?
Comment by RUCerious — December 28, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
Don’t feel bad. Atleast you know it exists. The GW deniers aren’t even aware of islands going under water.
December 28th, 2007 at 4:35 pmWell, taking as a given that Huckabee is a MISERABLE prospect for POTUS I could actually see both the “Compass problem” and the “apologies” as an honest mistake.
I’d consider myself at least as smart a man as 80% of both party’s candidates running and just the other day I said to a coworker leaving for her grandmother’s funeral: “Enjoy!”…
People say dumb crap by accident all the time. I’m much more concerned with Huck’s contextual crazy.
December 28th, 2007 at 4:36 pmPeople say dumb crap by accident all the time. I’m much more concerned with Huck’s contextual crazy.
Comment by deebaser — December 28, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
If the guy was just a co-worker, I’d laugh it off, but I expect a lot more from someone wanting to take on a job as serious as this. Especially after suffering through Lord Dumbass for the last seven years, the country needs someone in the White House who isn’t an average joe, prone to saying thoughtless things.
December 28th, 2007 at 4:55 pmI’m curious as to exactly which of OUR borders he thinks these Pakistanis will be coming across. Does he think the US borders Pakistan, too? Where should we be building more fences? And, how does the assassination of an opposition leader in that country translate to an immigration threat to US?
And – just having been a Baptist preacher DOES NOT make him an expert on the Bible, in fact it belies the idea…
December 28th, 2007 at 5:07 pmComment by judyinnm — December 28, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
I dunno — maybe a very high fence running down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, and up the Indian Ocean? Nah — those crafty Pakistanis would just go the other way, across the Pacific.
Or maybe he just wants to place an impenetrable dome over the entire United States.
Yeah, yeah — I probably read too many silver age comic books as a kid…
December 28th, 2007 at 5:15 pmInteresting fact – capitals Brazzaville and Kinshasa are across a river from each other – the only two world capitals that are so close together. Neat, eh? :)
Comment by toasterhead — December 28, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
And Beijing and Buenos Aires are the two furthest apart — in fact, they are almost exactly on opposite sides of the world from each other. Equally neat, eh? :-)
December 28th, 2007 at 5:17 pmI wish it was only geography the this idiot is about. I would love to tag him a buffoon (a gross and usually ill-educated or stupid person), but that would be naive. He is kind of gross though.
December 28th, 2007 at 6:00 pmI’m not certain that we should wish for the Huckster to be nominated. McCain, Rudy and, especially, Mitt present difficulties for the hardcore “religious right”. The Huckster, on the other hand, is assured of every last vote from that block.
While I would hope that a majority of voters will recognize his shortcomings; there are a whole lot of well-meaning, misguided, people out there who think we need a “man of God” in the White House.
December 28th, 2007 at 7:30 pmWant to know why she was assasinated? Here it is. http://www.dailypaul.com/node/17925 If you still think the war on terror is legitimate, you need to have your head checked!
December 28th, 2007 at 7:35 pmBenizar Bhutto was an extrodinary woman. Why America didn’t send a single representative to her funeral exemplifies the disaster that is our middle east policy.
She was an American ecudated beacon of democracy in a country in which democracy is in its infancy. It is a muslim country that had the promise of true democracy . . . A Muslim country where women would not only thrive, but would govern. Bhutto promised not only freedom for a country in the middle east but for Muslim nations to shine as a beacon for women’s rights and empowerment.
It’s critical for people all over the world to recognize that the disruption and horror is Pakistan reflects a loss of hope. The men and women of Pakistan had and hopefully still have a dream. . . a dream of freedom, democracy and transparent government that we as a people must embrace.
America truly lost an opportunity for grace, repair and brotherhood by our failure to send a female diplomat to Bhutto’s funeral.
She was destined to become a female Prime Minister in a Muslim nation, a nuclear nation, and one of our most powerful allies. She is a true patriot for freedom. She has died as a mayrter. She no less than any other national leader deserved the respect that we show by our presence at her funeral.
Cowardice at its finest. Thank God she lived with more courage than our government has displayed at her loss.
December 28th, 2007 at 7:47 pmOn Friday, GOP Iowa frontrunner Mike Huckabee suggested Benazir Bhutto was killed because she posed a threat to the fundamentalist vision of the role of women. That vision, it turns out, is not far from his own.
For the details, see:
December 28th, 2007 at 8:05 pm“Huckabee: Bhutto Did Not Graciously Submit to Woman’s Role.”
Not all women thrive in Pakistan, but Bhutto managed to get to Harvard and offer hope to all other Muslim women that they might achieve their dreams.
This is the reason that people riot, not because they fear al Qaeda, but because they fear their governments and the destruction of their dreams.
Remove the Bush family trust funds, political connections, and change their skin color, the Bush family might be dying in shelters for lack of health care, or might be grifters, street thugs or prostitutes. It’s the destiny of people whor lack skills, intelligence or compassion (dub’ya, that would be you and yours) . . . as poor black Americans with your collective skill set and nasty attitudes, you would either fill our prisons or comprise destitutes that we’d readily round up and ship off to Paraguay. (No harm meant to African Americans, just to juxtapoxe the ultra-elite privileged from those not so)
Turn Bush black, take away his privilege . . . where would he be? Then consider all of the black and white women and children who grew up in single family homes, lacking health insurance, relying on public funding . . . i.e., the backbone of America that Bush is breaking. . . I suspect that they/we Americans have the decency to send a representative to the funeral of a valued friend.
Bush, you don’t represent me. God bless Pakanstanis and Benazir Bhutto’s family, friends and supports. Keep the hope. Keep the peace.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:10 pmMaybe he meant the “other” east. :P
December 28th, 2007 at 9:38 pmMaybe the Huckster got his geographical knowledge from Hogan’s Heroes? Everyone should know that the “Eastern Front” is the bad one.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:44 pm“Lets all take a quiz on world geography see how well we do.”
Unless it’s a bad-brain day, put me down for a 100. I learned that stuff in 9th grade , along with the basics of all the major religions, and a few not-so-major ones . Then again I didn’t grow up in Arkansas. Luckily , I had a teacher that taught us in such a way , that I know those things, instead of having to remember it. Mistakes happen, but if the ‘ol Huckster had a clue, he’d have realized the mistake and corrected himself . cma,just admit you bought a lemon , and trade him in for another model.
While we’re revisiting the Bush geography/comedy album , don’t forget “Prime Minister Putine” (of Canada , c. 2000) , ” the Austrian troops” , and that beautiful S. American country of “Australia” . =))))
Btw, Bush speaks passable Spainish . It didn’t help.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:46 pmMary: It’s the intentional “dumbing down†of america – all part of the neofascist wet dream to conquer each of us.
Comment by Veritas
Precisely! Forget History and you become like a gold fish on a fish bow. Going around and around thinking how wonderful everything is! “Turn the TV off and read!” my Grandmother used to say to me! Keep entire population ignorant is easy to deceive and control.
December 28th, 2007 at 11:15 pmToaster: 60%
Missmolly: 90%
Others: 80%
Damned show-offs. (30%) :{
My world is made of those countries that play soccer…
December 29th, 2007 at 12:34 ampoor huck – dumbing himself right out of a shot at the white house
December 29th, 2007 at 1:38 amThere is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground that joins church and state, confuses science and superstition, and it lies between the depth of faith and the summit of ignorance. This is the dimension of fundamentalism. It is an area which we call the Religious Twilight Zone. (Apologies to the Rod Serling Memorial Foundation)
December 29th, 2007 at 11:21 amDoes this mean that Huckabee would put up the fences to fend off those Pakistani no-gooders “UP” near Canada where all those Mexican Immigrants come in to our country?
December 29th, 2007 at 12:47 pmGet “HuckleBush” a GPS so he can locate his foreign policy savvy along with his own rump. http://www.bloggerradio.com/2007/12/somebody-get-hu.html
December 29th, 2007 at 5:26 pm