DALLAS MORNING NEWS URGES ITS READERS TO VOTE FOR HUCKABEE

When Bush finally leaves the White House next January he won't be moving to his stage-set ranch in Crawford. He's moving to Dallas. And, no doubt, the paper that will be delivered to his doorstep everyday won't be the hated NY Times or despised Washington Post but the Republican-leaning Dallas Morning News. Today that paper urged it's readers not to vote for McCain but to vote to nominate Baptist minister Mike Huckabee president, not of his church but of the United States... of America. Acknowledging that McCain will win the nomination, the editors are reiterating their position that Huckabee is a better choice than McCain who, they point out, is too old and with a "choleric temperament." To them a vote for Huckabee is an investment in the future of a currently down and out Republican Party, a future McCain isn't likely to have anything to do with.

Win or lose in November, the GOP is destined to spend the next few years redefining itself. For many reasons, Reaganism, which made the GOP the dominant political party of the last generation, no longer resonates as it once did with the American public. The world has changed since Ronald Reagan's election nearly 30 years ago, and the great man's political heirs will have to adjust the GOP's strategy and tactics to new realities.

To that end, Mr. Huckabee, 52, should be a top leader in tomorrow's Republican Party. His good-natured approach to politics-- "I'm a conservative; I'm just not mad about it," as he likes to say-- is quite appealing after years of scorched-earth tactics from both parties. He's a pragmatist more concerned with effective government than with bowing to ideological litmus tests. For example, he has proven himself willing to violate anti-tax dogma to undertake investment in infrastructure for the sake of long-term prosperity.

Mr. Huckabee also is good on the environment, contending that the future of the conservative movement depends on embracing conservation and stewardship of the natural world. And he's a compassionate conservative especially in tune with middle-class anxieties in a globalizing economy.

Though his social and religious conservatism puts him on the wrong side of abortion, gay rights and other key issues, that same deep-faith commitment inspires his dedication to helping the poor and to racial healing. He truly is representative of the next wave of evangelical chieftains and, if nothing else, will emerge from this primary season the leader of one of the most influential factions in the GOP coalition.

We look forward to having him around to help shape and lead the Republican Party beyond November. That's why we encourage Texas Republicans to mark their ballots for Mr. Huckabee in the GOP primary: to demonstrate to the party's elite that Mr. Huckabee and his vision have a solid constituency.

McCain has refused to debate Huckabee in Texas or anywhere else, feeling he has already clinched the nomination. The Dallas Morning News may not be among them, but McCain has a lot of... friends, who are helping him to get what's he's lusted for for so many many decades. Watch:




UPDATE: LIMBAUGH MAKES HIS TEXAS ENDORSEMENT-- AND IT ISN'T McCAIN

Some people detect Republicans would rather go up against Hillary and some say they would rather take on Obama. In my opinion, it doesn't matter that much and either one of them will wipe the floor with him and reduce the GOP to a small, nationally irrelevant regional party of the Old Confederacy (+ Utah and Idaho). Limbaugh urged his Republican listeners-- and what else would a Republican in Texas listen to-- to cross over and vote for Hillary.

He also said Clinton is more willing than the Republican National Committee and John McCain's campaign to criticize Barack Obama.

"We need Barack Obama bloodied up politically. It's obvious that the Republicans are not going to do it, they don't have the stomach for it," Limbaugh continued. "As you probably know we're getting all kinds of memos from the RNC saying we're not going to be critical. Mark McKinnon of McCain's campaign [who was disgusted when he saw the vicious, racist game plan McCain plans to use against Obama in the fall] said he'll quit if they get critical over Obama. This is the presidency of the United States we're talking about. I want our party to win I want the Democrats to lose.”