At the start of his first term, Huckabee took a special interest in the Dumond case and had plans to commute his sentence. When an irate public stopped that, the new governor effectively lobbied the pardon's board. Just four months after they'd denied a Dumond parole request, the board ruled favorably. These events and a broader narrative of the case were well documented by investigative journalist Murray Waas.
Dumond was released on parole in 1999. Just months after the parole, he bound, gagged, and suffocated a Missouri woman. He was convicted of that murder and a suspect in another by the time he was confined to a Missouri state prison where he died in his cell.
Huckabee continues to deny his role in the pardon despite the evidence amassed by Waas and others. On Aug. 31, 2007, Associated Press (AP) reported that the Wikipedia entry on Huckabee was edited to delete critical references to the Dumond pardon. AP traced the source of the edits to Arkansas state government computers.
First Arkansas, then the World - Better World War III than "Lose" in Iraq
Huckabee "shocked and awed" voters in his first campaign visit to New Hampshire. He announced that we're already in the midst of World War III with "Islamic fascism."
"We need to understand that this is, in fact, World War III. Unlike any other world war we've ever fought, this one is one we cannot afford to lose. Because losing it does not mean we lose some land or some geopolitical influence. It means we give up our own lives, because no less than that is the goal of the jihadists." AP, Feb. 10, 2007 Video
Just a few weeks ago he argued that his version of World War III is even more ominous than World War II: "I don't think we've ever faced a threat like we are facing now. I don't even think Germany is the threat that we're facing right now. We're facing, I believe, our possible annihilation as a country..." CNN Oct. 19, 2007
What is Huckabee talking about? Have we missed something?
One of his strongest supporters, millionaire TV preacher Rev. John Hagee, agrees with Huckabee on the urgency of fighting Islam. Hagee also offers a version of the "End Times" from the Book of Revelations, one shared by other Huckabee supporters on the religious right. These include the influential publisher of apocalyptic prophesy Strang Communications. The Strang newsletter, New Man, endorsed Huckabee saying, "When it comes to faith, he is truly one of our own."
The key action starts when Russia invades Israel. The United States fails to defend Israel and is punished by seeing both coasts nuked. A European anti-Christ emerges and does battle with the second coming of Jesus. There's death and destruction on a global scale. All but a very few are cast into Hell. Hagee's Jesus then rules a world of true believers in an earthly paradise despite the bi-coastal U.S. nuclear holocaust.
When asked about the "End Times" scenario, Huckabee indicated that "every generation" prepares for the End Times, which "could be" occurring right now.
The son of the late Jerry Falwell, Jerry Falwell Jr., Chancellor, Liberty University, offered the candidate his endorsement just days ago. Huckabee told Liberty's ultra right wing student body that divine intervention is behind his presidential campaign.
A student asked Huckabee to explain his recent "surge" in the race. His response indicated that he'd experienced nothing less than an apotheosis: "There's only one explanation for it and it's not a human one. It's the same power that felt that ... two fish and five loaves could feed a crowd of 5,000 people. ... There literally are thousands of people across this country who are praying that little would become much and it has." Liberty JournalMatthew: 18: 17-19 ("two fish and five loaves") Oct/Nov 2007
The New Dark Ages
Does Huckabee really believe this nonsense? Probably. But he also has a record of killing mentally ill people by lethal injection, working diligently to free a rapist who murdered once freed then denying involvement, and a Giuliani-like record of taking liberties with government funds.
Perhaps he's ripe for an "all this can be yours" deal from the same donors that propelled Bush in the 2000 primaries. He campaigns as "the values guy" who is concerned about the workingman; a "just plain Huck" trying to help.
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