What’s Mike Huckabee Up To?

I admit that I haven’t been writing much about Governor Huckabee lately. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to, I’ve just been tied up.

But today is Vertical Day 2.0, and this seems like it’s about time to get back to looking at the good governor and man that the Republicans should have nominated for President.

HuckPAC is looking for ideas from normal people as part of the Vertical Day concept. For those who don’t remember, Vertical Day last year was a celebration of reaching higher and getting things done, rather than getting bogged down in the politics of Right and Left. Republicans who think that they don’t need to listen to Democrats are shutting out nearly half of the thinking in this nation … Democrats who think that they don’t need to listen to Republicans are shutting out much of what’s left. Partisans who think that they don’t listen to listen to us independents are shutting out the rest.

Vertical politics has the goal of getting past that nonsense. Not throwing out cute little zingers at each other, really trying to find solutions that matter and which last. Not compromising values, but finding ways to work together. For several years, politics has been devolving into name-calling and partisan squabbling. It looks a lot like my children fighting. Vertical politics calls us to grow up, basically.

The various candidates being supported by HuckPAC are invited to post on the HuckPAC blog today, and Bob Clegg’s piece is particularly touching. I’m glad that I live in NH and have the opportunity to have this man represent my state, if not my district. There are other great posts from Lamar Alexander, John Cornyn, and other candidates, as well.

Meanwhile, Mike Huckabee has been in Rwanda. I’m not sure how many Americans even know where Rwanda is, much less what’s been going on there lately. But Gov. Huckabee is there, seeing what’s happening and what the people of Rwanda are experiencing, and thus what we can do to help.

For Vertical Day, though, he’s allowing the candidates to blog about the issues that matter most to them. Interestingly, the rules include:

No fundraising appeals, no calls to action, just a simple link to their website will be added to each blog post in case you want further information.

Yes, folks, it’s a major event in politics, and it’s not marked by overwhelming appeals for your money. That alone makes it worthy of note.

I differ with HuckPAC, as I’ve said, on its Presidential pick. I’m backing Joe Schriner as the best candidate, as I see it. I can’t get behind John McCain, though I understand John Cornyn’s case for why I should. If anything was going to convince me to back Sen. McCain, it would be the issue of judicial appointments.

However, one of the biggest hallmarks of Governor Huckabee and his politics, and one of the great reasons why I supported him in the GOP primary, is this idea of thinking vertically, about the things that matter to everyone.