"C'mon Kev... show Huck a lil love..."

Regular reader and fellow MuscleHead Jason (in responding to my noting the Trust-Huck pro-Huckabee push polling) takes me to task:

C'mon Kevin... I've read your blog for a long time, and thoroughly enjoyed your book. I've never known you to accuse people of being part of a conspiracy with absolutely no evidence whatsoever. Who knows if it was Huckabee, another Republican candidate, or someone else altogether. I've always known you to be honest and straight forward, and attacking credible Republican candidates for these sorts of things is counter-productive.

Jason, in all fairness you're right I do NOT like to accuse people of conspiracy. Although I have oft imagined what some could be envisioned as and I have publicly speculated about Huck's alignment and what botheringly to me seems to be now covering for Rudy that does, does, does, concern me.

Let me be as transparent as possible. I have not publicly announced who I am pulling for. I have not released an endorsement in the GOP primary. The fundamental reason I have NOT done so is because I want to be as critical as possible until I have as much clarity as I can obtain on who the purest conservative is with a legitimate shot at winning.

My basic mentality is "Anyone but Rudy." There is fundamentally little difference in Rudy's position on a number of issues with Hillary.

They both pose as hawks...
They are both pro-abortion...
They are both pro-gay marriage...
They both seek to limit guns...
They both would see the increase of illegal aliens in the United States as a positive thing...
They both would continue the practice of sanctuary cities...
They both have questionable judgement as has been evidenced in a variety of choices they have made... both personally and publicly.

What is the fundamental difference in screening the women you will allow your spouse to bed, and bedding someone in the Hamptons who is not your spouse - while still married to someone else?

What is the fundamental difference in character between using the IRS to audit your political enemies - and using the police and extremely questionable methods of billing to provide security for a person the state bears no responsibility for - your shag choice of the week?

Rudy is a non-starter for conservatives period. And the possibility that he would work covertly to bring down the most well funded conservative counterpart still fascinates me.

I like Huck. I introduced him at CPAC. I've had him on my show and will have him again shortly. His lack of organization to ultimately beat a Giuliani candidacy from Florida to Michigan to Super Tuesday has me extremely concerned. The better he polls in the later states the more I begin to warm to him.

But it has been Huck's own shading of the story that has also caused me concern. He has been very complimentary of Rudy - and refused to answer a question on This Week on Sunday that last summer he had no problem answering. And the only reason that can come to my mind is that a deal has been made.

Dollar for dollar - I want the conservative that will deprive Rudy the nomination - PERIOD! Even with his impressive surge - the lack of Huck's ground game causes me to think that his short term popularity might be serving the enemies of true conservatism more than we conservatives ourselves.

And on that I am confused and frustrated and sorely out of sorts with the entire process.

If Huck would denounce Rudy - then he would put these conspiracy ideas of a VP slot to bed. But he has yet to do so - and I know because I'm watching closer than anyone.

Convince me that Huck can beat Rudy. Show me how he can in Florida, Michigan, and Super Tuesday where the BIG MONEY pays HUGE PRICES for BIG TELEVISION in New York/New Jersey/California - then you might convince me to take the step and get on the Huck-Wagon.

Right now my ONLY focus is "ANYONE BUT RUDY" and right now at present - with their positions nearly identical. Both good on taxes - but not perfect. Both questionable on immigration - but would likely pull their heads out of the sand and get it together. Both ROCK SOLID on abortion, judges, marriage. Both FIRMLY committed family men. To me the trade off on going Romney vs. Huck, or Huckabee vs. Mitt - is seeming very very small.

Therefore I have to constantly be thinking two to three steps ahead of the game. And right now Huck has NO game after South Carolina.

Show me how he takes it to extra innings - then we can talk...

Until then - my angst continues.