I frankly was amazed when our in-house web guru, Patrick Bove, told me that nearly 8,000 persons had viewed my blog during January. I didn't know that many folks cared about what I had to say. Thanks, for visiting and please come back.
But I found out, based on emails, that a good many of these visitors had opinions about my blog entry last Saturday entitled, "Huckabee the Hypocrite" -- (see next blog entry below).
Here's a sample, some condensed because of length, others my interpretation of email sentiments, followed by my own response.
1) Dan Campbell let me know how he felt: "Just to be "Real Clear" The writer of this article is a "real idiot". Thanks for bringing our Country down with you moronic views."
Bob: I think you attribute far too much power to me, Dan. The America we both love will survive free speech, both yours and mine."
2) European Traveler (who didn't have the courage to sign his or her name, but I think it might be Felsecker) told me: "Mr. Bauman, If you're going to be so low as to start calling a person names (i.e. hypocrite) than you should have the guts to post the comments that follow. "Comments are moderated and will not appear on this weblog UNTIL THE AUTHOR HAS APPROVED THEM". Just goes to show what kind of person you REALLY are, Mr. Bauman!"
Bob: I guess this posting means I am not quite so low as ET suspected.
Moron & Idiot
3) Several emailers (Gil and Ian) defended Huckabee on the same grounds the would-be president himself used as a defense -- he's not a rich man and needs to earn a living.
Bob: But the hypocrisy is in his denouncing offshore tax havens and then running right to one to get his undisclosed cash fee.
4) Lucy Wilson was really POed at me: "Bauman, how can you turn Governor Huckabee's comments about off shore [sic] investments into flat-out lies about his statements? He is the only candidate who does not receive a paycheck from holding a government office, ie, senator or congressman. The man needs to make a living...speaking engagements and writing are what he does to earn his living. Gov. Huckabee is only saying that changing the United States tax structure to the Fair Tax would make the country more attractive to corporations and businesses, therefore helping the United States economy. The last time I looked, helping the US economy was a good thing. He never said he wanted to pull all offshore investments. Stop with the bashing and the lies."
Bob: Dear Lucy -- All I did was report accurately what Huckabee said himself. How can that be a lie -- unless he is lying? As to "bashing" -- that's your opinion which, in its intemperance, could easily be seen as bashing me.
5) Both Brendan and David Shedlock think I missed the point of Huckabee's anti-offshore statements. They say he just wants to keep American money at home and not in offshore tax havens.
Bob: And no man who thinks he should control Americans' freedom to invest when and where they please should be president -- which was and is my point.
6) Classy Sassy sent me a long, convoluted assessment of delegates and primary voting challenging my statement that Huckabee has no mathematical chance of winning the Republican nomination.
Bob: Nice try, Sassy. You should be on CNN or Fox on election night.
7) And Paul Thompson threw in a bit of the old conspiracy theory: "If Huckabee isn't a threat to the power elites...why are they so worried about him and the money they will need to stop him?"
Bob: Who knows? Maybe Wall Street is secretly against Huck. But if so, they seem to have succeeded already.
Thanks everybody for reading and writing. Keep those emails coming.
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