I hope your readers have read "the other side" to the Arkansas situation. Here's a quote from HSLDA.
"The political reality, however, was that the homeschoolers were going to have to give the opposition something or they were going to get something much worse. As far as Governor Huckabee was concerned, it was a bill the homeschoolers wanted. It was sponsored by a homeschooling father in the legislature and had the support of the Arkansas Family Council."
Here's the rest of the HSLDA article on Huckabee's record in AR.
In my continued turmoil over who to vote for tomorrow, I've found a letter Mike Farris wrote to be helpful. I've put a copy of it on my family blog. Here is a link to the post.
http://theodonnellclan.blogspot....from-
hslda.html
Jim, I posted this comment on your blog, but I wanted to post it here as well.
You said, ""What I'm struggling with is whether I should follow the advice of Mike Farris, a man that teaches constitutional law and is involved daily with Washington concerning Home School Issues, or a mom in Michigan that can dig through the news and separate the meat from the bones. Both share my convictions, and both have proven valuable resources over time."
There is also the opinion of Ned Ryun who was the director of HSLDA-PAC at the time of the endorsement and not told about it until after the fact. Why would HSLDA-PAC make an endorsment without consulting its own director? (links on my blog) Keep in mind Ned Ryun's credentials as well. He served in the Bush (43) adminstration and started Generation Joshua. He has confirmed much of my research and and has now since left HSLDA offer concerns with their direction and this endorsement. So there are lots of people, lots of opinions, and lots of factors.
I also found it ironic that HSLDA didn't even know about the IBO/UN establishing roots in our nation's schools including Arkansas under Huckabee. Farris is strongly opposed to the UN Rights of the Child, but this organization is already in place and eroding our national citizenship in place of global citizenship. So while the UN Rights of Child is of concern is HSLDA ignoring the real "elephant" in education?
Mamalion, I'm not hiding the "rest of the story." I linked to that article a few days ago. It is actually HSLDA that is not including the whole story. They talk about the compromise but have not told their members or readers what Huckabee said was the cause of the 1999 legislation. Nor have they told their readers about the IBO/UN involvement in Arkansas schools that was implemented under Governor Huckabee. My post is an attempt to provide the infomration that HSLDA seems reluctant to provide. I've linked to all their articles, but for some reason they seem to be ignoring the obvious and legitimate concerns of homeschoolers about Mike Huckabee. That includes Ned Ryun who I mentioned in the comment above was the HSLDA-PAC director and not told of the endorsement until AFTER the fact. So there wasn't even agreement within HSLDA about who the best choice for homeschoolers should be. So if anyone is not telling the "whole story" it's HSLDA.
My blog is open for comments and other opinions, but you won't find any of that on HSLDA's site.
I wasn't trying to imply that you were hiding information. Sorry if it sounded that way.
You are much more informed than I am. When I read political commentary like yours, I always have questions that come up but I'm not motivated enough to spend the time researching all of the answers. One, for example, involves the whole Ned Ryun thing. Wouldn't he have an ax to grind if his ego was hurt when he wasn't told of the endorsement? I'm not saying it was the right thing for HSLDA to do, but might Ned Ryun be disgruntled enough to make HSLDA look worse than they are? Just a question that lurks in my mind.
I probably shouldn't even ask because there is just so much I don't know. There are just things that don't add up for me and I wonder about them.
"Wouldn't he have an ax to grind if his ego was hurt when he wasn't told of the endorsement? "
Ned Ryun has a very strong reputation both politically and among homeschoolers, the fact that he boldly made the statement saying he was not informed and Farris who also has a lot of credibility has not offered a substantive reply, tells me there must be some merit to the claims of Ryun. Further, Ryun may have an ax to grind, but even if that is true, it doesn't negate the truth of what he says. It just speaks about his personal motives for sharing it.
" might Ned Ryun be disgruntled enough to make HSLDA look worse than they are? Just a question that lurks in my mind."
If Ned Ryun is intentionally making HSLDA look worse than they are, the easiest way to discredit him is with substantive evidence that contradicts his assertions.
Mamalion, there is much I don't know as well and I see plenty that doesn't add up. It concerns me too! That's why I blogged about what I know. so that I could hold myself accountable and others can ask questions and contribute what they know. I didn't write these articles knowing Ned Ryun and what he would share. That came after my posts. It's new information that helps all of us figure it out.
I didn't know Jim O'Donnell would talk to the homeschool mom appointed by Huckabee. But his thoughts and her answers allowed us to get added perspective and context for what went on in Arkansas. I took what she said and added my own thoughts and opinions. That's what makes blogging so helpful for those looking for answers and threatening to those trying to hide them. One person looking for all the answers is time consuming. But many who are looking for the same answers can contribute to finding out the truth.
There are two new voters guides out that some readers may find helpful.
http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBi...les.asp?
id=5386
http://www.frcaction.org/get.cfm...t.cfm?
i=AL08A01
Blessings.
In Governor Huckabee's words:
"In fact, if somebody came to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we'd tell 'em what to do with the pole, that's what we'd do," Huckabee said yesterday. (http://tinyurl.com/yofu85)
Do we really want a president who talks like this?
Here are some other choice things Huckabee has had to say in the past.
In 2001, when conservative Republican lawmakers opposed higher sales taxes and fees the governor supported, he began calling them "Shiite Republicans."
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/...te-republicans/
The day after the Fox News debate in which Fred Thompson pointed out a number of important issues where Huckabee is at odds with most conservative Republicans, when asked about it, Huckabee said: "I think Fred needs some Metamucil, I think it would help a lot...He was in a bad mood last night."
In 2006, he supported President Bush's immigration plan and claimed that opposition to Bush's proposal was driven by "racism or nativism."
http://www.standardnewswire.com/.../
742931899.html
When Republican state senators in Arkansas proposed legislation modeled after Arizona's Proposition 200 [to require proof of citizenship for voting and public benefits], Huckabee described it as 'inflammatory ...
race-baiting ... demagoguery.' He said the bill, which seeks to forbid public assistance and voting rights to illegal immigrants, 'inflames those who are racist and bigots..."
http://www.standardnewswire.com/.../
742931899.html
After cracking the following joke about his own lack of foreign policy experience: "I may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night," Huckabee later went on to attack the Bush administration's foreign policy as "arrogant bunker
mentality."
http://
article.nationalreview.co...DQ2OGEyMzRkZmU=
Then after the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, Governor Huckabee offered "our sincere concern and apologies for what has happened in Pakistan." He later stated that he actually intended to extend his deepest sympathies to the people of Pakistan when he used the word 'apologies.'
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/
200...ry3650191.shtml
It's significant to me that many of these derogatory comments made by Huckabee were directed at the those in the Republican party.
Spunky,
Congratulations! I awarded you the Excellent Blogger Award. Here's hoping it will help you spread the important information about the 2008 elections.
Pick up your award at http://HeartofWisdom.com/heartathome
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