The Shining Star of Shingle Creek

In case you missed tonight's GOP debate here in Orlando, here's a re-cap.

Once again, Governor Mike Huckabee outdid everyone else in the crowded field, looking like the only adult on the stage.

As usual, the debate moderators started things off by focusing on Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani, almost encouraging them to begin their tired old personal attacks on one another. But, when they finally turned their focus to Governor Huckabee, he got thunderous applause and cheers for this line:

"I'm not interested in fighting these guys. I want to fight FOR the American people!"

He further elevated the tone of the debate by quoting the Declaration of Independence. He reminded the audience of the inalienable rights enumerated in that venerable document are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness . . . but, LIFE comes FIRST.

The one statement Huckabee made last night that is most likely to stick in folks' minds was his response to a question on health care. He argued that we do NOT have a health care "system," but rather a health care "crisis." He cited the fact that we spend 80% of our 2 Trillion health care dollars each year on chronic disease when we should be focusing more on prevention. And, he warned that more and more Boomers are enrolling in Medicaid/Medicare, adding to our costs.

He quipped, "When all the old hippies find out they get free drugs, wait to see what that costs us!"

Always quick with a good line, Huckabee became somber at one moment to remind Republicans there is one subject that just isn't funny. And, that is the possibility of Hillary Clinton becoming president. If that happens, he pointed out, our taxes would go up, our health care would be taken over by the federal government, and our military morale would plummet when we need them to continue to confront Islamofascism.

If, like me, you agree the prospect of another Clinton presidency is not funny, I encourage you to visit Mike Huckabee's website and support his campaign to make sure that bad joke doesn't become a reality:

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/