Today on Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace interviewed former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee, running for the 2008 presidency on the Republican ticket. I was impressed by Huckabee at the Fox GOP debates, and the more and more I hear from him, the more I like him. Especially on his support for the Fair Tax.

Here’s a portion of the transcript:

WALLACE: Let’s start with one of the centerpieces of your campaign. You say you want to put the IRS out of business and to replace the income tax with a national sales tax, which you call a fair tax. How would that work?

HUCKABEE: It works primarily by replacing the current very complicated tax structure, that is not only burdensome but is extremely expensive — and it’s also filled with hidden ways in which Americans pay tax and never think about it.

I’d love to say April 15th become just another beautiful spring day. I’d like to be the president that nails the going-out-of- business sign on the Internal Revenue Service doors, a $10 billion a year industry.

We spend half a trillion dollars on compliance, and the real issue is that many folks at the bottom of the economic scale — they don’t have 35,000 lobbyists in Washington working for them like other people do, working over 535 members of Congress.

Here’s how the fair tax works. You get rid of income tax. You get rid of all the withholding. You get rid of corporate taxes completely, totally, because those taxes are not really paid by the corporations. They’re passed on to the customer with a 22 percent embedded tax in the system.

You eliminate that, which means the prices of what you purchase will go down. You replace it with a 23 percent consumption tax. Now, that sounds expensive, but here’s what happens. You only pay when you purchase something new, whether it’s a product or it’s a service.

And the point is it’s a completely transparent tax system. It doesn’t increase taxes. It’s revenue neutral. But here’s what it will do. It will bring business back to the United States that’s leaving our shores because our tax laws make it impossible for an American-based business to compete.

I also like what he has to say about Fred Thompson and the GOP gallery in general:

HUCKABEE: Fred Thompson certainly will have a real presence in the race. You know, and I don’t know enough about his record in terms of the issues but, you know, I think any of us who are running have to recognize that there’s going to be room even for more than the 10 who are already on the stage.

Now, I can go for a Thompson/Huckabee ticket 100%! That’s got a real nice ring to me.

Watch the interview here.

Tony just looks really pleased, doesn’t he?

Good news, indeed!

John Edwards was on the season premier episode of Real Time With Bill Maher tonight on HBO. What came out of Edwards’ mouth was nothing short of both jaw-dropping and boorish at the same time. Contradiction after contradiction; taxes, war, security, free health care, energy independence, etc. All talk about a new direction, but no plans to discuss - that is except for cut-and-run from Iraq and let the jihadists win.

Oh, and talk about dancing around issues!?!? Even Maher calls him on it a couple of times. You’ll have to see it to believe it.

Watch the Edwards folly here.

Folks, sometimes nobody can say it like Neal does. I can only share it with my readers who don’t get Neal in their markets. So, here’s what Neal has to say from Neal’s Nuze today:

TUESDAY WAS GOOD NEWS FOR …. WHO?

I notice that the newspaper and broadcast pundits are telling us who the winners and losers are in Tuesday’s startling elections. Well … I might as well get in the game here with everyone else.

The envelope please.

And the winners in this year’s midterm elections are:

Islamic Fascists

Accepting the award for the Islamic Fascists will be Osama bin Laden

The focal point of the war against Islamic fascism was Iraq. The jihadists were sending their fighters to Iraq, there to be killed in gratifying numbers by American and coalition troops. What was once American resolve is now American weakness. The people have listened to the politicians — one group that wanted to finish the job, another that didn’t — and gave the nod to the quitters. Today America is weaker in the eyes of those who would destroy us. Not a cause for celebration.

Slackards

Accepting the award will be Shirley Sternfaulter, a young mother of three who wants the government to pay for her child care.

A huge percentage of the people who went to the polls on Tuesday went there to vote for a living. They feel that the purpose of government is to make sure that the basic necessities of their lives are paid for, while they spend their own money on the newest technology in flat-screen televisions, gadget-filled cell phones and subscriptions to People Magazine.

Illegal Aliens

Putting down his leaf blower to accept the award is Pedro Lopez-Garcia-Menendez-Gonzalez, who pays no taxes in the U.S., and sends 80% of each paycheck back to Vera Cruz to take care of his wife and children.

Yesterday President Bush as much as said that amnesty would be the order of the day. Now that those pesky Republicans have been kicked out of the majority in the House of Representatives, the president and the Senate will have clear sailing on their plan for amnesty for the 20 million plus illegal aliens now residing in this country. Oh .. and the border? Nothing will be done to stop the Mexican invasion, so as soon as Pedro has his paperwork Maria and the kids will be on a bus.

Those who want a weaker America

Accepting the award will be Dominique Marie François René Galouzeau de Villepin, sometimes known as Dominique de Villepin, the Prime Minister of France. Dominique was the leader of the Axis of Weasels before he became Prime Minister.

A poll earlier this year said that something like 58% of Europeans wanted a weaker America. They got their wish on Tuesday. Who is going to be there to pull their candied asses out of the oven when they finally wake up and realize the great strides that have been made in the Islamification of Europe? Hello Eurabia.

The first blow to be struck in the weakening of America will be for the Democrats to get rid of John Bolton as the Ambassador to the United Nations. They’ll replace him with someone who will not stand up to UN corruption and the forces who want to weaken us.

The Libertarian Party?

I would be happy to accept this reward, but they don’t like me all that much because I believe that we need to defend this country from both the Islamic fascists and the Mexican invasion.

Tuesday’s vote showed that a lot of conservatives and libertarians in this country are completely fed up with the Republican Party. If ever there was a time for the emergence of a third party that would adhere to conservative and libertarian values — without an obsessive allegiance to religious fundamentalists — now is the time. The Libertarian Party could be just that party. We’ll see if they’re up to the task.

The leftist media.

Accepting the award for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, The Boston Globe, Time Magazine, Newsweek Magazine and too many more to mention will be Dan Rather

Ninety percent or more of these people vote Democrat. They engaged in a six-year campaign of demonization of George Bush. It worked.

Washington Lawyers

Accepting the Award will be the President of the D.C. Bar Association

Get ready for two years of investigations, subpoenas, hearings…you name it. Everything will be investigated, then investigated again. But the Republicans did it to themselves…every last bit of it.

Sometimes the truth hurts, and you just have to get out the first aid kit. Please take heed folks, because Neal may be being facetious, but it’s not too far from the scary damn truth. Nobody seemed to vote like their life depended on it; we just need to move forward as though it does.

Tonight, Sean had the Rev. Al Sharpton on to discuss the earlier radio ad released by the local election committee for John Eaves here in Fulton County, Atlanta, GA for county commission chair. The transcript of the audio goes like this:

“This is Congressman John Lewis.”

“And I’m Mayor Shirley Franklin”

“And I’m Andy Young”

(John Lewis) “On November 7th we face the most dangerous situation we ever have. If you think fighting off dogs and water hoses in the sixties was bad, imagine if we sit idly by and let the right-wing Republicans take control of the Fulton County Commission.”

(Shirley Franklin) “The efforts of Martin and Coretta King, Hosea Williams, Maynard Jackson and many others will be lost. That’s why we must stand up and we must turn out the vote for the Democrats on Election Day.”

(Andy Young) “And especially for John Eaves for Fulton County Commission Chairman. Unless you want them to turn back the clock on equal rights and human rights and economic opportunity for all of us, vote for John Eaves as Fulton County Chairman”

(Lewis) “Your very life may depend on it.”

(John Eaves) “This message paid for by the committee to elect John Eaves.”

How unbelievable is this? Is this threatening if you don’t elect a black official to be the Fulton Co. Chair then blacks in Atlanta will be hosed down or have to fend of police dogs? Geez, people! This is a race-baiting ad if ever I heard one! I was not shocked at Young’s or Lewis’ participation, but Mayor Shirley Franklin’s input really surprised me. She’s all about moving forward in Atlanta; not moving backwards.

Anyway, Sean had it out with Rev. Al, and I guess you could say it qualifies for Newsbusters’ “Thursday Night Fights.” You can watch Sean and Rev. Al duke it out here.

Really people… aren’t we past this? Suppressive measures of voter IDs? You have to have an ID to buy alcohol or cigarettes! What is the freakin’ problem to require a photo ID to vote for representatives for our government? I’ll honestly never understand this.

Gotcha, didn’t I? Well, sometimes you just gotta grab someone’s attention. Now that I’ve got it, I’m posting this for a very significant reason - no sane person can disagree with it. I’ve heard a couple of talk show hosts today read this, and have searched the internet to try and find the author so that I can give proper attribution, but I cannot find who wrote this.

By now you’ve all seen the Democrats’ campaign slogan: “A New Direction For America — Vote DEMOCRATIC!”

Let’s analyze this empty and misleading promise.

• The stock market is at a new all-time high and America’s 401K’s are back. A new direction from there means what??
• Unemployment is at 25-year lows. A new direction from there means what??
• Oil prices are plummeting. A new direction from there means what??
• Taxes are at 20-year lows. A new direction from there means what??
• Federal tax revenues are at all-time highs. A new direction from there means what??
• The Federal deficit is down almost 50%, just as predicted over last year. A new direction from there means what??
• Home valuations are up 200% over the past 3.5 years. A new direction from there means what??
• Inflation is in check, hovering at 20-year lows. A new direction from there means what??
• Not a single terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11/01. A new direction from there means what??
• Osama bin Laden is living under a rock in a dark cave, having not surfaced in years, if he’s alive at all, while 95% of Al Queda’s top dogs are either dead or in custody, cooperating with US Intel. A new direction from there means what??
• Several major terrorist attacks already thwarted by US and British Intel, including the recent planned attack involving 10 Jumbo Jets being exploded in mid-air over major US cities in order to celebrate the anniversary of the 9/11/01 attacks. A new direction from there means what??
• Just as Bush had planned and foretold us of on a number of occasions, Iraq was to be made “ground zero” for the war on terrorism — and just as Bush said they would, terrorist cells from all over the region are alighting the shadows of their hiding places and flooding into Iraq in order to get their faces blown off by US Marines rather than boarding planes and heading to the United States to wage war on us here. A new direction from there means what??

Moreover, bear in mind that all of the above occurred in the face of the 1999 tech crash, the epidemic of corporate scandals throughout the 90’s, and the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks on NYC years in the planning which collectively sucked 24 trillions dollars and 7.8 million jobs out of the US economy even before G. W. Bush had time to unpack his suitcases in the White House.

It’s easy for the Democrats to attempt to discredit, disgrace and defame our commander in chief, George W. Bush — that’s what they do. What’s not so easy for them to do is to refute irrefutable facts, no matter how they might try.

Do yourself and this country of ours a favor and don’t be a mindless sheep or a blind liberal lap dog, bent on hate and blame-shifting simply in the name of hate and blame-shifting. Take heed of reality, use your head and cast your vote wisely in the upcoming elections. The stakes are far too high today, as America’s very future, and yes, even its very survival is now at stake.

From what I have found on the internet, it’s just been making the email inbox rounds, but I hadn’t gotten it. Thank you, Neal Boortz, for reading this to your listeners this morning. I’ve displayed my favorite directional sign above especially for tomorrow. No left turns permitted here.

***SCROLL FOR UPDATES***

I heard it on the news briefly this morning. Today at 2PM EST Duncan Hunter (R-CA), is going to publicly announce his national election plans for ‘08. He didn’t exactly say he was going to say “yes” to a candidacy, but what he said and the fact that he’s holding a press conference today at 2 to say it…..well, only a DUmmy could not understand what his intentions are.

Here’s just a little bit about Duncan Hunter’s voting record:

ABORTION

• Voted NO on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
• Voted YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
• Voted YES on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. (Feb 2004)
• Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. (Oct 2003)
• Voted YES on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research. (Feb 2003)
• Voted YES on funding for health providers who don’t provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)
• Voted YES on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes. (Apr 2001)
• Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)
• Voted YES on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)
• Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)

CIVIL RIGHTS

• Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
• Voted YES on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
• Voted YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
• Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
• Voted YES on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. (May 1998)
• Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001)
• Rated 7% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)

CRIME

• Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime. (Jun 1999)
• Voted NO on maintaining right of habeus corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
• Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995)
• Voted NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment. (Apr 1994)
• Rated 30% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes. (Dec 2000)
• More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty. (Sep 1994)

HOMELAND SECURITY

• Voted YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)
• Voted YES on federalizing rules for driver licenses to hinder terrorists. (Feb 2005)
• Voted YES on continuing military recruitment on college campuses. (Feb 2005)
• Voted YES on supporting new position of Director of National Intelligence. (Dec 2004)
• Voted YES on adopting the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. (Oct 2004)
• Voted YES on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Apr 2003)
• Voted YES on permitting commercial airline pilots to carry guns. (Jul 2002)
• Voted YES on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill. (Jul 1999)
• Voted YES on deploying SDI. (Mar 1999)
• Rated 11% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record. (Dec 2003)
• No US troops under UN command; more defense spending. (Sep 1994)

IMMIGRATION

• Voted YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment. (May 2004)
• Voted NO on extending Immigrant Residency rules. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on more immigrant visas for skilled workers. (Sep 1998)
• Rated 100% by FAIR, indicating a voting record restricting immigration. (Dec 2003)

And these are just a few items from his voting history. You can read the whole thing here.

FINALLY, a Republican candidate I don’t have to hold my nose to vote for… in fact, I think I’m rather excited about this.

1:32PM EST

I finally found it in print. Duncan’s going to run!

Rep. Duncan Hunter has shown little interest in seeking higher office during his 26 years in Congress. Suddenly, he is positioning himself for a presidential bid.

A Republican official said Hunter, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, planned to announce Monday that he was considering a run for president in 2008. The announcement would allow the lawmaker to begin raising money and organize supporters in early Republican primary states such as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The official didn’t want to be named ahead of Hunter’s announcement.

Hunter spokesman Joe Kasper would not comment on Hunter’s plans, other than to say that he would be holding a news conference in San Diego at 11 a.m. PST Monday regarding electoral plans for 2008.

Hunter told Fox News Channel Sunday,”I’m going to make an announcement about a national campaign in’08.”He didn’t elaborate, other than to say it would be made from the waterfront”where I started my humble career in 1980.”

Oh, and did I mention he’s against NAFTA, CAFTA? More good stuff:

Hunter, 58, became chairman of the House Armed Services Committee in 2003 _ a position he would lose should Democrats take control of the House after the Nov. 7 midterm election. By making an announcement now, he can begin raising money while still heading the committee.

The Vietnam War veteran, the recipient of a Bronze Star, has made his mark in Congress by advocating for a strong military and border security. He played a leading role in the construction of a 14-mile double fence on the U.S.-Mexico border that is nearing completion in San Diego. He co-authored legislation signed by President Bush last week that would extend the border fence to 700 miles.

Hunter voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Central American Free Trade Agreement and opposed most-favored-nation status for China. This year, he was a vocal critic of a deal that gave a Dubai company control of some operations at six American ports.

Folks, I’m telling you right here and right now; I’m backing Duncan Hunter all the way! I’m SO glad we will have a strong candidate who believes in what the majority of America believes in - strong border enforcement and tough on terrorism. He may be a dark horse, but if he does announce today, I’m going to volunteer for his campaign.

Jay at Stop the ACLU is on this, too.