Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

CATO Institute

2008-04-03T22:20:13Z

Tash: removed repeat

[[Image:134 3406.JPG|thumb|190px|The Cato Institute's building in [[Washington D.C.]].]]
'''The Cato Institute''' is one of the [[United States of America|America]]'s most prominent nonprofit public policy research organizations. The foundation is generally viewed as holding a [[libertarian]] approach to public policy, advocating less [[United States Government|government]] involvement. Its research and reports cover numerous issues; such as [[defense spending]], [[social security]], [[monetary policy]], natural resource policy, [[international trade]]. Cato's current president is co-founder [[Edward Crane]]. The organization has approximately 95 full-time employees, 20 fellows, and 70 adjunct scholars, plus interns. <ref>http://www.cato.org/about/about.html</ref>

==History==
In 1977, [[Edward H. Crane]] and [[David H. Koch]], formed the Institute with a $500,000 grant from Koch Industries, a [[chemical]] and [[petroleum]] company. They based the foundation in [[Washington D.C.]] and named it the Cato Institute, after essays written in the 18th century called the [[Cato Letters]]. Cato stated that “Cato’s Letters… presented a vision of a society free from the tyranny of excessive government power. Those same ideals inspired the architects of the [[American Revolution]] and continue to inspire the work of the Cato Institute today."<ref>http://www.cato.org/about/reports/annual_report_2005.pdf</ref>

==Goal==
According to the Cato Institute's website, it[http://www.cato.org/],
{{Cquote| Seeks to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets and peace. Toward that goal, the Institute strives to achieve greater involvement of the intelligent, concerned lay public in questions of policy and the proper role of government.<ref>http://www.cato.org/about/about.html</ref>}}

==Political Orientation==
Although many of the Institute's political positions are shared by [[social conservative]]s, the Institute's brand of [[conservatism]] leans more [[libertarian]]. The Institute takes a [[laissez faire]] approach to marriage, calling the federal marriage amendment “unnecessary, anti-federalist, and anti-Democratic.<ref>http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6379</ref>”

The Institute also supports the total abolishment of several federal agencies including the agencies of [[Department of Commerce| Commerce]], [[Department of Education| Education]], [[Department of Energy| Energy]], [[Department of Agriculture| Agriculture]], [[Department of Labor| Labor]], [[Department of Interior| Interior]], [[Department of Transportation| Transportation]] and [[Veteran]]s Affairs. Cato also supports the privatization of several federal services, including [[Social Security]].

The [[Washington Post]] referring to Cato’s policies stated, “"A soup-to-nuts agenda to reduce spending, kill programs, terminate whole agencies and dramatically restrict the power of the federal government.<ref>http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9261 </ref>"

==Funding==
In 2005, the Cato Institutes revenues amounted to over 22.4 million, with approximately 80 percent of the funding coming from individual donations, and another 8 percent from cooperations. It is classified as a tax-exempt educational foundation, falling under Section 501(c)3 of the [[Internal Revenue Code]].

==References==
<references/>
==External Link==
*[http://www.cato.org/ The Cato Institutes official website]
*[http://www.cato.org/people/directors.html Cato Board of Directors]
[[Category:Organizations]]

Mike Huckabee

2008-03-01T15:07:36Z

Tash: /* Quotes */

[[Image:Hdyute7.jpg|right|thumb|Mike Huckabee]]
'''Mike Huckabee''' (born August 24, 1955) is a [[Baptist]] minister and is a candidate for the 2008 [[Republican]] presidential nomination. He is known to be [[conservative]] on the issues of [[abortion]], [[gun control]], [[homosexuality]] and [[evolution]]. He was the governor of [[Arkansas]] from 1996 to 2007.

Throughout the presidential primary, Huckabee has been viewed favorably by conservatives and [[Christian]] organizations such as the [[Homeschool Legal Defense Association]]. Former Speaker of the House [[Newt Gingrich]] predicted that Huckabee will catch on with Republican primary voters, calling him "the most interesting dark horse".<ref>http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6899608</ref>

==Recent Performance in Caucuses and Primaries==
A candidate for President in 2008, Governor Huckabee's campaign took off after the [[Ames Straw Poll]], where he came in 2nd place (with 18% of the vote) to Mitt Romney, despite far less name recognition and far less spending - he spent about $35 per vote, whereas Romney spent more than $500 per vote. His second surge began after the Republican [[YouTube]] debate, where he was seen as calm, reasonable and positive next to the other candidates, many of whom attacked each other.

[[Poll]] numbers show that Huckabee's strong debate performances, communication skills and likability have him steadily moving up in key primary states. He was victorious in the Republican Caucuses at the [[Iowa Caucuses]]<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/21/s.c.straw.poll/index.html</ref>, and came in third place in the New Hampshire Primary, where he personally expected to not even place in the top three.<ref>http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/08/hillary-clinton-john-mccain-take-early-lead-in-new-hampshire-primary/</ref> He was the winner of the straw poll after the Sept. 17th "values debate".<ref>http://www.earnedmedia.org/kg0918.htm</ref> With far less money than his competitors, Huckabee finished second in the high-profile [[Iowa Straw Poll]] with 18% of the vote, in front of [[Sam Brownback]] (15%) and behind [[Mitt Romney]] (32%). His victory has placed him in the top tier of Republican primary candidates.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/12/ftn/main3159786.shtml</ref><ref>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=22081</ref><ref>http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/</ref>
He came in third in the [[Michigan]] primaries and a close second to [[John McCain]] in [[South Carolina]].

In October 2007, Huckabee overwhelmingly won the high-profile Family Research Counsel's Value Voter Summit straw poll. Out of those attending, Huckabee received more votes then all other candidates combined.<ref>http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/10/romney_camp_stacking_the_value.html</ref>

== Record as Governor ==
As [[Governor]] of [[Arkansas]], Mike Huckabee cut and raised taxes. For example, during his ten years in office, the Arkansas [[legislature]] enacted increases in tobacco, sales, and [[fuel]]s taxes; however he also signed into legislation tax cuts over 90 times during that period. During his tenure as Governor welfare rolls declined by nearly half, and last year the state's economy grew 4.4%, beating the national average of 4.2%.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

In 1997 he introduced ARKids First, a health care plan which cut the number of Arkansas uninsured children in half.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

Throughout his tenure he also supported and helped pass pro-life bills through the Democrat controlled legislature.

In 2005 [[Time Magazine]] declared him one of "America's 5 Best Governors".<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

== Political Beliefs ==
===Taxes===
As governor, he signed the first broad-based tax-cut in state history and cut taxes over ninety times. Huckabee believes that the United States should enact a tax system known as the [[FairTax]], this system replaces the income tax with a voluntary consumption tax. Recently he signed the Presidential Taxpayer Protection Pledge to Americans for Tax Reform which promises to not raise taxes if elected president.<ref>http://www.atr.org/content/html/2007/march/030207pr-huckabeesignspledge.html</ref>

===Spending===
During his tenure, state spending rose 65.3% between 1996 and 2004, which was 3 times the rate of inflation. This has led to strong criticism from conservative groups like the [[Club for Growth]]. However, when he left office there was a surplus of over $800 million.<ref>http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/01/a_report_on_mike_huckabees_fis.php</ref> Huckabee has called on Bush to veto more spending bills by the democrat controlled congress.<ref>http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/cobb/stories/2007/09/08/huckabee_0909.html</ref> In August 2007, Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, stated "Gov. Huckabee recognizes that the challenge is to rein in spending and reduce taxes."<ref>http://www.atr.org/content/html/2007/march/030207pr-huckabeesignspledge.html</ref>

===Abortion===
According to ''[[National Review]]'', as Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee signed a bill requiring parental consent for [[abortion]], and mandating notification by abortion providers to prospective parents that the unborn baby may feel pain, he also helped pass a bill through the Democratic-controlled legislature which stated that life began at conception.<ref>http://www.explorehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_ID=11</ref><ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NmNjMmI1ODhjNGVlZWFmNTlmMGNiZTVjYTg1NTUzMTk=</ref> He also signed the Fetal Protection Act. He is known to be strongly pro-life.

He would favor [[Roe v. Wade]] being overturned and the federal governments recognition that life begins at conception.

===Marriage===
Huckabee is opposed to same sex marriage and civil unions. He also is a strong advocate for fathers' participation in child-raising.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Huckabee.htm</ref>

===Second Amendment Rights===
As governor, he signed bills blocking frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and removing restrictions on concealed handgun permit holders. He became the first governor in the nation to have a concealed handgun license.<ref>http://www.explorehuckabee.com</ref>

===Immigration===
Huckabee opposed the McCain-Kennedy [[immigration]] bill because he stated it had problems with "credibility; secrecy; and spending".<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Huckabee</ref> He believes the United States should seal the border first and deportat illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.<ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=4</ref>

==Vertical Politics==
While campaigning, Huckabee has referred to what he calls Vertical Politics - politics aimed at making America stronger rather than festering [[Partisan politics in the United States|partisanship]]. Huckabee said, "Everywhere I go on the campaign trail, I meet voters with a real thirst for a healthy discussion of the issues. Ultimately, people don't care whether an issue comes from the left or the right. What they want to talk about are ideas that lift America up and make us better. It's what I call 'Vertical Politics'." <ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=verticalday.home</ref>

== Personal ==
[[Image:HuckabeeBand.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Huckabee playing with his band, ''Capital Offense'', during the 2007 [[Iowa Straw Poll]]]]
Huckabee was born in Hope, [[Arkansas]], the same town where former president [[Bill Clinton]] was born. This coincidence led to one of Huckabee's campaign slogans, "give [Hope] one more chance."
Huckabee lost 110 pounds while governor of Arkansas and documented his weight loss and set out a 12-step plan for weight loss in his book ''Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork.''<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7752179/site/newsweek/</ref> He has also made childhood obesity a major platform issue. He became the first person in his family to attend college when he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Fort Worth, [[Texas]], before becoming a [[Baptist]] pastor for twelve years in Arkansas. Because of his income situation, Huckabee graduated in only two and a half years.

The 52-year-old former governor and his wife live in [[Little Rock]] and have three grown children. Huckabee enjoys playing in his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense, which has played at the House of Blues in [[New Orleans]], the Red Rocks Amphitheater in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]] and for two presidential inauguration balls.

==Quotes==
* "We've had a [[congress]] that's spent money like [[John Edwards]] at a beauty shop."<ref>''GOP presidential debate'' May 2006 [http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=456 The Loft] Accessed 3 January 2008.</ref>
* "…my [[faith]] is my life. It defines me. I see no separation between my faith from my personal and professional lives."<ref>''Faith and Politics'' [http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=9 mikehuckabee.com] Accessed 3 January 2008.</ref>
* "When it comes to the red tape in government, I don't think I can part the Red Sea but I believe I can part the red tape."<ref>''GOP presidential debate'' Iowa, 12 December 2007.</ref>
* "[Some of my opponents] do not want to change the Constitution, but I believe it's a lot easier to change the constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God, and that's what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards."<ref>''http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/15/579265.aspx''[http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/15/579265.aspx]</ref>
* "To think that we're going to go lock up 12 million people, or even round them up and drive them to the border and let them go, might make a great political speech, but it's not going to happen." ''[[Washington Post]]'', May, 2006.
* "(I) propose to provide all illegal immigrants a 120-day window to register with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services and leave the country." ''Secure America Plan", December, 2007.

==Endorsements==
====Organizations====
For the first time in the organizations history, the [[Homeschool Legal Defense Association]] Political Action Committee endorsed a political candidate. The organization, which consists of 90,000 members, stated that they decided to endorse Huckabee because of he was, "[[conservative]], a friend of [[homeschooling]], a man of character, and a man with a mature faith in [[Jesus Christ]]".<ref>http://huckabee08.blogspot.com/2007/06/huckabee-on-roll-endorsements-and-polls.html</ref>

===South Carolina===
Huckabee has received some key endorsement during the course of his primary race. One such endorsement came from former [[South Carolina]] Governor, [[David Beasley]], who had before planned on staying on the sidelines throughout the [[Republican]] primary.<ref>http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/27/news_pf/Opinion/Huckabee_s__a_maratho.shtml</ref>

Huckabee received another South Carolina endorsement from Iris Campbell, the former South Carolina First Lady and wife of former governor, the late [[Mike Campbell]].<ref>http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/02/endorsement_wat.html</ref> During Mike Campbell's time in office, from 1987 to 1994, his endorsement of [[Ronald Reagan]] boosted the underdog's presidential primary race.

===Virginia===
In August 2007, Huckabee received a key endorsement from [[Virginia]]'s House of Delegates Speaker [[William J. Howell]]. Howell has been a member of the Board of Directors of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council ]](ALEC), the nation’s largest bipartisan, individual membership association of state legislators.<ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.PressRelease&ID=216</ref>

===New Hampshire===
Huckabee has picked up some key endorsements in the very significant primary in [[New Hampshire]]. In August 2007, New Hampshire's former Senator, Russell Prescott, and former Executive Councilor David Wheeler endorsed Huckabee.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007/08/huckabee_endors.html</ref> Both figures remain very popular with social conservatives in the state.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007/08/huckabee_endors.html</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Huckabee, Mike}}
[[Category:Political people]]
[[Category:2008 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:United States Governors]]

== External Links ==
* [http://www.mikehuckabee.com/ Mike Huckabee (official)]
*[http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.Home Huckabee Campaign Blog]
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/ Grassroots Website]
*[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDA2NzhkZGI2ZjA4NWI2NmMyYzNkNjY1Y2QzMzlmYzA=Governors Win, The case for Mike Huckabee.], [[National Review]], S. T. Karnick, August 2007
*[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24068 There’s a Huckabee Born Every Minute], [[Ann Coulter]], [[Human Events]], 12/19/2007

==External Videos==
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php Huckabee online video collection]
===Supporter Videos===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILPcnn9Sf94&eurl=http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.Home Huckabee - Cinderella Man]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwfzk5RSQy4&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=we_like_mike_huckabee We Like Mike - Huckabee]
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=i_heart_huckabee_colbert_stewart I heart Huckabee]
===Personal Story===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3YR3grKJ3Q&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=story_of_mike_huckabee Part 1]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8aBVYKpZNQ&feature=related Part 2]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VZufUe0HGs&feature=related Part 3]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tXZKfUg97o&feature=related Part 4]
===Ads===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYv2YW6azE&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=chuck_norris_huckabee_facts "HuckChuckFacts"]

===Speeches===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysdguwpgNZ0&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=huckabee_family_research-01 FRC's Value Voter Summit Speech Part 1]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af5qyUzRT68&feature=related Value Voter Summit Speech Part 2]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5v_qB0VDNI&feature=related FRC's Value Voter Summit Speech Part 3]

{{2008_presidential_candidates}}

Mike Huckabee

2008-03-01T15:06:00Z

Tash: /* Recent Performance in Caucuses and Primaries */

[[Image:Hdyute7.jpg|right|thumb|Mike Huckabee]]
'''Mike Huckabee''' (born August 24, 1955) is a [[Baptist]] minister and is a candidate for the 2008 [[Republican]] presidential nomination. He is known to be [[conservative]] on the issues of [[abortion]], [[gun control]], [[homosexuality]] and [[evolution]]. He was the governor of [[Arkansas]] from 1996 to 2007.

Throughout the presidential primary, Huckabee has been viewed favorably by conservatives and [[Christian]] organizations such as the [[Homeschool Legal Defense Association]]. Former Speaker of the House [[Newt Gingrich]] predicted that Huckabee will catch on with Republican primary voters, calling him "the most interesting dark horse".<ref>http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6899608</ref>

==Recent Performance in Caucuses and Primaries==
A candidate for President in 2008, Governor Huckabee's campaign took off after the [[Ames Straw Poll]], where he came in 2nd place (with 18% of the vote) to Mitt Romney, despite far less name recognition and far less spending - he spent about $35 per vote, whereas Romney spent more than $500 per vote. His second surge began after the Republican [[YouTube]] debate, where he was seen as calm, reasonable and positive next to the other candidates, many of whom attacked each other.

[[Poll]] numbers show that Huckabee's strong debate performances, communication skills and likability have him steadily moving up in key primary states. He was victorious in the Republican Caucuses at the [[Iowa Caucuses]]<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/21/s.c.straw.poll/index.html</ref>, and came in third place in the New Hampshire Primary, where he personally expected to not even place in the top three.<ref>http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/08/hillary-clinton-john-mccain-take-early-lead-in-new-hampshire-primary/</ref> He was the winner of the straw poll after the Sept. 17th "values debate".<ref>http://www.earnedmedia.org/kg0918.htm</ref> With far less money than his competitors, Huckabee finished second in the high-profile [[Iowa Straw Poll]] with 18% of the vote, in front of [[Sam Brownback]] (15%) and behind [[Mitt Romney]] (32%). His victory has placed him in the top tier of Republican primary candidates.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/12/ftn/main3159786.shtml</ref><ref>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=22081</ref><ref>http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/</ref>
He came in third in the [[Michigan]] primaries and a close second to [[John McCain]] in [[South Carolina]].

In October 2007, Huckabee overwhelmingly won the high-profile Family Research Counsel's Value Voter Summit straw poll. Out of those attending, Huckabee received more votes then all other candidates combined.<ref>http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/10/romney_camp_stacking_the_value.html</ref>

== Record as Governor ==
As [[Governor]] of [[Arkansas]], Mike Huckabee cut and raised taxes. For example, during his ten years in office, the Arkansas [[legislature]] enacted increases in tobacco, sales, and [[fuel]]s taxes; however he also signed into legislation tax cuts over 90 times during that period. During his tenure as Governor welfare rolls declined by nearly half, and last year the state's economy grew 4.4%, beating the national average of 4.2%.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

In 1997 he introduced ARKids First, a health care plan which cut the number of Arkansas uninsured children in half.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

Throughout his tenure he also supported and helped pass pro-life bills through the Democrat controlled legislature.

In 2005 [[Time Magazine]] declared him one of "America's 5 Best Governors".<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

== Political Beliefs ==
===Taxes===
As governor, he signed the first broad-based tax-cut in state history and cut taxes over ninety times. Huckabee believes that the United States should enact a tax system known as the [[FairTax]], this system replaces the income tax with a voluntary consumption tax. Recently he signed the Presidential Taxpayer Protection Pledge to Americans for Tax Reform which promises to not raise taxes if elected president.<ref>http://www.atr.org/content/html/2007/march/030207pr-huckabeesignspledge.html</ref>

===Spending===
During his tenure, state spending rose 65.3% between 1996 and 2004, which was 3 times the rate of inflation. This has led to strong criticism from conservative groups like the [[Club for Growth]]. However, when he left office there was a surplus of over $800 million.<ref>http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/01/a_report_on_mike_huckabees_fis.php</ref> Huckabee has called on Bush to veto more spending bills by the democrat controlled congress.<ref>http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/cobb/stories/2007/09/08/huckabee_0909.html</ref> In August 2007, Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, stated "Gov. Huckabee recognizes that the challenge is to rein in spending and reduce taxes."<ref>http://www.atr.org/content/html/2007/march/030207pr-huckabeesignspledge.html</ref>

===Abortion===
According to ''[[National Review]]'', as Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee signed a bill requiring parental consent for [[abortion]], and mandating notification by abortion providers to prospective parents that the unborn baby may feel pain, he also helped pass a bill through the Democratic-controlled legislature which stated that life began at conception.<ref>http://www.explorehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_ID=11</ref><ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NmNjMmI1ODhjNGVlZWFmNTlmMGNiZTVjYTg1NTUzMTk=</ref> He also signed the Fetal Protection Act. He is known to be strongly pro-life.

He would favor [[Roe v. Wade]] being overturned and the federal governments recognition that life begins at conception.

===Marriage===
Huckabee is opposed to same sex marriage and civil unions. He also is a strong advocate for fathers' participation in child-raising.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Huckabee.htm</ref>

===Second Amendment Rights===
As governor, he signed bills blocking frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and removing restrictions on concealed handgun permit holders. He became the first governor in the nation to have a concealed handgun license.<ref>http://www.explorehuckabee.com</ref>

===Immigration===
Huckabee opposed the McCain-Kennedy [[immigration]] bill because he stated it had problems with "credibility; secrecy; and spending".<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Huckabee</ref> He believes the United States should seal the border first and deportat illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.<ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=4</ref>

==Vertical Politics==
While campaigning, Huckabee has referred to what he calls Vertical Politics - politics aimed at making America stronger rather than festering [[Partisan politics in the United States|partisanship]]. Huckabee said, "Everywhere I go on the campaign trail, I meet voters with a real thirst for a healthy discussion of the issues. Ultimately, people don't care whether an issue comes from the left or the right. What they want to talk about are ideas that lift America up and make us better. It's what I call 'Vertical Politics'." <ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=verticalday.home</ref>

== Personal ==
[[Image:HuckabeeBand.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Huckabee playing with his band, ''Capital Offense'', during the 2007 [[Iowa Straw Poll]]]]
Huckabee was born in Hope, [[Arkansas]], the same town where former president [[Bill Clinton]] was born. This coincidence led to one of Huckabee's campaign slogans, "give [Hope] one more chance."
Huckabee lost 110 pounds while governor of Arkansas and documented his weight loss and set out a 12-step plan for weight loss in his book ''Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork.''<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7752179/site/newsweek/</ref> He has also made childhood obesity a major platform issue. He became the first person in his family to attend college when he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Fort Worth, [[Texas]], before becoming a [[Baptist]] pastor for twelve years in Arkansas. Because of his income situation, Huckabee graduated in only two and a half years.

The 52-year-old former governor and his wife live in [[Little Rock]] and have three grown children. Huckabee enjoys playing in his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense, which has played at the House of Blues in [[New Orleans]], the Red Rocks Amphitheater in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]] and for two presidential inauguration balls.

==Quotes==
* "We've had a [[congress]] that's spent money like [[John Edwards]] at a beauty shop."<ref>''GOP presidential debate'' May 2006 [http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=456 The Loft] Accessed 3 January 2008.</ref>
* "…my [[faith]] is my life. It defines me. I see no separation between my faith from my personal and professional lives."<ref>''Faith and Politics'' [http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=9 mikehuckabee.com] Accessed 3 January 2008.</ref>
* "When it comes to the red tape in government, I don't think I can part the Red Sea but I believe I can part the red tape."<ref>''GOP presidential debate'' Iowa, 12 December 2007.</ref>
* "[Some of my opponents] do not want to change the Constitution, but I believe it's a lot easier to change the constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God, and that's what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards."<ref>''http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/15/579265.aspx''[http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/15/579265.aspx]</ref>
* "To think that we're going to go lock up 12 million people, or even round them up and drive them to the border and let them go, might make a great political speech, but it's not going to happen." ''[[Washington Post]]'', May, 2006.
* "(I) propose to provide all illegal immigrants a 120-day window to register with the [[Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services]] and leave the country." ''Secure America Plan", December, 2007.

==Endorsements==
====Organizations====
For the first time in the organizations history, the [[Homeschool Legal Defense Association]] Political Action Committee endorsed a political candidate. The organization, which consists of 90,000 members, stated that they decided to endorse Huckabee because of he was, "[[conservative]], a friend of [[homeschooling]], a man of character, and a man with a mature faith in [[Jesus Christ]]".<ref>http://huckabee08.blogspot.com/2007/06/huckabee-on-roll-endorsements-and-polls.html</ref>

===South Carolina===
Huckabee has received some key endorsement during the course of his primary race. One such endorsement came from former [[South Carolina]] Governor, [[David Beasley]], who had before planned on staying on the sidelines throughout the [[Republican]] primary.<ref>http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/27/news_pf/Opinion/Huckabee_s__a_maratho.shtml</ref>

Huckabee received another South Carolina endorsement from Iris Campbell, the former South Carolina First Lady and wife of former governor, the late [[Mike Campbell]].<ref>http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/02/endorsement_wat.html</ref> During Mike Campbell's time in office, from 1987 to 1994, his endorsement of [[Ronald Reagan]] boosted the underdog's presidential primary race.

===Virginia===
In August 2007, Huckabee received a key endorsement from [[Virginia]]'s House of Delegates Speaker [[William J. Howell]]. Howell has been a member of the Board of Directors of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council ]](ALEC), the nation’s largest bipartisan, individual membership association of state legislators.<ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.PressRelease&ID=216</ref>

===New Hampshire===
Huckabee has picked up some key endorsements in the very significant primary in [[New Hampshire]]. In August 2007, New Hampshire's former Senator, Russell Prescott, and former Executive Councilor David Wheeler endorsed Huckabee.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007/08/huckabee_endors.html</ref> Both figures remain very popular with social conservatives in the state.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007/08/huckabee_endors.html</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Huckabee, Mike}}
[[Category:Political people]]
[[Category:2008 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:United States Governors]]

== External Links ==
* [http://www.mikehuckabee.com/ Mike Huckabee (official)]
*[http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.Home Huckabee Campaign Blog]
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/ Grassroots Website]
*[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDA2NzhkZGI2ZjA4NWI2NmMyYzNkNjY1Y2QzMzlmYzA=Governors Win, The case for Mike Huckabee.], [[National Review]], S. T. Karnick, August 2007
*[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24068 There’s a Huckabee Born Every Minute], [[Ann Coulter]], [[Human Events]], 12/19/2007

==External Videos==
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php Huckabee online video collection]
===Supporter Videos===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILPcnn9Sf94&eurl=http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.Home Huckabee - Cinderella Man]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwfzk5RSQy4&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=we_like_mike_huckabee We Like Mike - Huckabee]
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=i_heart_huckabee_colbert_stewart I heart Huckabee]
===Personal Story===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3YR3grKJ3Q&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=story_of_mike_huckabee Part 1]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8aBVYKpZNQ&feature=related Part 2]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VZufUe0HGs&feature=related Part 3]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tXZKfUg97o&feature=related Part 4]
===Ads===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYv2YW6azE&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=chuck_norris_huckabee_facts "HuckChuckFacts"]

===Speeches===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysdguwpgNZ0&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=huckabee_family_research-01 FRC's Value Voter Summit Speech Part 1]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af5qyUzRT68&feature=related Value Voter Summit Speech Part 2]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5v_qB0VDNI&feature=related FRC's Value Voter Summit Speech Part 3]

{{2008_presidential_candidates}}

Mike Huckabee

2008-03-01T15:04:56Z

Tash:

[[Image:Hdyute7.jpg|right|thumb|Mike Huckabee]]
'''Mike Huckabee''' (born August 24, 1955) is a [[Baptist]] minister and is a candidate for the 2008 [[Republican]] presidential nomination. He is known to be [[conservative]] on the issues of [[abortion]], [[gun control]], [[homosexuality]] and [[evolution]]. He was the governor of [[Arkansas]] from 1996 to 2007.

Throughout the presidential primary, Huckabee has been viewed favorably by conservatives and [[Christian]] organizations such as the [[Homeschool Legal Defense Association]]. Former Speaker of the House [[Newt Gingrich]] predicted that Huckabee will catch on with Republican primary voters, calling him "the most interesting dark horse".<ref>http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6899608</ref>

==Recent Performance in Caucuses and Primaries==
A candidate for President in 2008, Governor Huckabee's campaign took off after the Ames Straw Poll, where he came in 2nd place (with 18% of the vote) to Mitt Romney, despite far less name recognition and far less spending - he spent about $35 per vote, whereas Romney spent more than $500 per vote. His second surge began after the Republican [[YouTube]] debate, where he was seen as calm, reasonable and positive next to the other candidates, many of whom attacked each other.

[[Poll]] numbers show that Huckabee's strong debate performances, communication skills and likability have him steadily moving up in key primary states. He was victorious in the Republican Caucuses at the [[Iowa Caucuses]]<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/21/s.c.straw.poll/index.html</ref>, and came in third place in the New Hampshire Primary, where he personally expected to not even place in the top three.<ref>http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/08/hillary-clinton-john-mccain-take-early-lead-in-new-hampshire-primary/</ref> He was the winner of the straw poll after the Sept. 17th "values debate".<ref>http://www.earnedmedia.org/kg0918.htm</ref> With far less money than his competitors, Huckabee finished second in the high-profile [[Iowa Straw Poll]] with 18% of the vote, in front of [[Sam Brownback]] (15%) and behind [[Mitt Romney]] (32%). His victory has placed him in the top tier of Republican primary candidates.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/12/ftn/main3159786.shtml</ref><ref>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=22081</ref><ref>http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/</ref>
He came in third in the [[Michigan]] primaries and a close second to [[John McCain]] in [[South Carolina]].

In October 2007, Huckabee overwhelmingly won the high-profile Family Research Counsel's Value Voter Summit straw poll. Out of those attending, Huckabee received more votes then all other candidates combined.<ref>http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/10/romney_camp_stacking_the_value.html</ref>

== Record as Governor ==
As [[Governor]] of [[Arkansas]], Mike Huckabee cut and raised taxes. For example, during his ten years in office, the Arkansas [[legislature]] enacted increases in tobacco, sales, and [[fuel]]s taxes; however he also signed into legislation tax cuts over 90 times during that period. During his tenure as Governor welfare rolls declined by nearly half, and last year the state's economy grew 4.4%, beating the national average of 4.2%.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

In 1997 he introduced ARKids First, a health care plan which cut the number of Arkansas uninsured children in half.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

Throughout his tenure he also supported and helped pass pro-life bills through the Democrat controlled legislature.

In 2005 [[Time Magazine]] declared him one of "America's 5 Best Governors".<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

== Political Beliefs ==
===Taxes===
As governor, he signed the first broad-based tax-cut in state history and cut taxes over ninety times. Huckabee believes that the United States should enact a tax system known as the [[FairTax]], this system replaces the income tax with a voluntary consumption tax. Recently he signed the Presidential Taxpayer Protection Pledge to Americans for Tax Reform which promises to not raise taxes if elected president.<ref>http://www.atr.org/content/html/2007/march/030207pr-huckabeesignspledge.html</ref>

===Spending===
During his tenure, state spending rose 65.3% between 1996 and 2004, which was 3 times the rate of inflation. This has led to strong criticism from conservative groups like the [[Club for Growth]]. However, when he left office there was a surplus of over $800 million.<ref>http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/01/a_report_on_mike_huckabees_fis.php</ref> Huckabee has called on Bush to veto more spending bills by the democrat controlled congress.<ref>http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/cobb/stories/2007/09/08/huckabee_0909.html</ref> In August 2007, Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, stated "Gov. Huckabee recognizes that the challenge is to rein in spending and reduce taxes."<ref>http://www.atr.org/content/html/2007/march/030207pr-huckabeesignspledge.html</ref>

===Abortion===
According to ''[[National Review]]'', as Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee signed a bill requiring parental consent for [[abortion]], and mandating notification by abortion providers to prospective parents that the unborn baby may feel pain, he also helped pass a bill through the Democratic-controlled legislature which stated that life began at conception.<ref>http://www.explorehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_ID=11</ref><ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NmNjMmI1ODhjNGVlZWFmNTlmMGNiZTVjYTg1NTUzMTk=</ref> He also signed the Fetal Protection Act. He is known to be strongly pro-life.

He would favor [[Roe v. Wade]] being overturned and the federal governments recognition that life begins at conception.

===Marriage===
Huckabee is opposed to same sex marriage and civil unions. He also is a strong advocate for fathers' participation in child-raising.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Huckabee.htm</ref>

===Second Amendment Rights===
As governor, he signed bills blocking frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and removing restrictions on concealed handgun permit holders. He became the first governor in the nation to have a concealed handgun license.<ref>http://www.explorehuckabee.com</ref>

===Immigration===
Huckabee opposed the McCain-Kennedy [[immigration]] bill because he stated it had problems with "credibility; secrecy; and spending".<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Huckabee</ref> He believes the United States should seal the border first and deportat illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.<ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=4</ref>

==Vertical Politics==
While campaigning, Huckabee has referred to what he calls Vertical Politics - politics aimed at making America stronger rather than festering [[Partisan politics in the United States|partisanship]]. Huckabee said, "Everywhere I go on the campaign trail, I meet voters with a real thirst for a healthy discussion of the issues. Ultimately, people don't care whether an issue comes from the left or the right. What they want to talk about are ideas that lift America up and make us better. It's what I call 'Vertical Politics'." <ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=verticalday.home</ref>

== Personal ==
[[Image:HuckabeeBand.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Huckabee playing with his band, ''Capital Offense'', during the 2007 [[Iowa Straw Poll]]]]
Huckabee was born in Hope, [[Arkansas]], the same town where former president [[Bill Clinton]] was born. This coincidence led to one of Huckabee's campaign slogans, "give [Hope] one more chance."
Huckabee lost 110 pounds while governor of Arkansas and documented his weight loss and set out a 12-step plan for weight loss in his book ''Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork.''<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7752179/site/newsweek/</ref> He has also made childhood obesity a major platform issue. He became the first person in his family to attend college when he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Fort Worth, [[Texas]], before becoming a [[Baptist]] pastor for twelve years in Arkansas. Because of his income situation, Huckabee graduated in only two and a half years.

The 52-year-old former governor and his wife live in [[Little Rock]] and have three grown children. Huckabee enjoys playing in his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense, which has played at the House of Blues in [[New Orleans]], the Red Rocks Amphitheater in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]] and for two presidential inauguration balls.

==Quotes==
* "We've had a [[congress]] that's spent money like [[John Edwards]] at a beauty shop."<ref>''GOP presidential debate'' May 2006 [http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=456 The Loft] Accessed 3 January 2008.</ref>
* "…my [[faith]] is my life. It defines me. I see no separation between my faith from my personal and professional lives."<ref>''Faith and Politics'' [http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=9 mikehuckabee.com] Accessed 3 January 2008.</ref>
* "When it comes to the red tape in government, I don't think I can part the Red Sea but I believe I can part the red tape."<ref>''GOP presidential debate'' Iowa, 12 December 2007.</ref>
* "[Some of my opponents] do not want to change the Constitution, but I believe it's a lot easier to change the constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God, and that's what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards."<ref>''http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/15/579265.aspx''[http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/15/579265.aspx]</ref>
* "To think that we're going to go lock up 12 million people, or even round them up and drive them to the border and let them go, might make a great political speech, but it's not going to happen." ''[[Washington Post]]'', May, 2006.
* "(I) propose to provide all illegal immigrants a 120-day window to register with the [[Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services]] and leave the country." ''Secure America Plan", December, 2007.

==Endorsements==
====Organizations====
For the first time in the organizations history, the [[Homeschool Legal Defense Association]] Political Action Committee endorsed a political candidate. The organization, which consists of 90,000 members, stated that they decided to endorse Huckabee because of he was, "[[conservative]], a friend of [[homeschooling]], a man of character, and a man with a mature faith in [[Jesus Christ]]".<ref>http://huckabee08.blogspot.com/2007/06/huckabee-on-roll-endorsements-and-polls.html</ref>

===South Carolina===
Huckabee has received some key endorsement during the course of his primary race. One such endorsement came from former [[South Carolina]] Governor, [[David Beasley]], who had before planned on staying on the sidelines throughout the [[Republican]] primary.<ref>http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/27/news_pf/Opinion/Huckabee_s__a_maratho.shtml</ref>

Huckabee received another South Carolina endorsement from Iris Campbell, the former South Carolina First Lady and wife of former governor, the late [[Mike Campbell]].<ref>http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/02/endorsement_wat.html</ref> During Mike Campbell's time in office, from 1987 to 1994, his endorsement of [[Ronald Reagan]] boosted the underdog's presidential primary race.

===Virginia===
In August 2007, Huckabee received a key endorsement from [[Virginia]]'s House of Delegates Speaker [[William J. Howell]]. Howell has been a member of the Board of Directors of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council ]](ALEC), the nation’s largest bipartisan, individual membership association of state legislators.<ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.PressRelease&ID=216</ref>

===New Hampshire===
Huckabee has picked up some key endorsements in the very significant primary in [[New Hampshire]]. In August 2007, New Hampshire's former Senator, Russell Prescott, and former Executive Councilor David Wheeler endorsed Huckabee.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007/08/huckabee_endors.html</ref> Both figures remain very popular with social conservatives in the state.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007/08/huckabee_endors.html</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Huckabee, Mike}}
[[Category:Political people]]
[[Category:2008 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:United States Governors]]

== External Links ==
* [http://www.mikehuckabee.com/ Mike Huckabee (official)]
*[http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.Home Huckabee Campaign Blog]
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/ Grassroots Website]
*[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDA2NzhkZGI2ZjA4NWI2NmMyYzNkNjY1Y2QzMzlmYzA=Governors Win, The case for Mike Huckabee.], [[National Review]], S. T. Karnick, August 2007
*[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24068 There’s a Huckabee Born Every Minute], [[Ann Coulter]], [[Human Events]], 12/19/2007

==External Videos==
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php Huckabee online video collection]
===Supporter Videos===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILPcnn9Sf94&eurl=http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.Home Huckabee - Cinderella Man]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwfzk5RSQy4&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=we_like_mike_huckabee We Like Mike - Huckabee]
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=i_heart_huckabee_colbert_stewart I heart Huckabee]
===Personal Story===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3YR3grKJ3Q&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=story_of_mike_huckabee Part 1]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8aBVYKpZNQ&feature=related Part 2]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VZufUe0HGs&feature=related Part 3]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tXZKfUg97o&feature=related Part 4]
===Ads===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYv2YW6azE&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=chuck_norris_huckabee_facts "HuckChuckFacts"]

===Speeches===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysdguwpgNZ0&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=huckabee_family_research-01 FRC's Value Voter Summit Speech Part 1]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af5qyUzRT68&feature=related Value Voter Summit Speech Part 2]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5v_qB0VDNI&feature=related FRC's Value Voter Summit Speech Part 3]

{{2008_presidential_candidates}}

Roberta McCain

2008-02-19T21:58:41Z

Tash: Citation Needed need for the "She has long been outspoken and more conservative than her son John, whom she has even publicly criticized" sentence

[[Image:John and Roberta McCain.jpg|thumb|right|220px|John and Roberta McCain]]
'''Roberta McCain''' (Oklahoma? 1912- ) is the mother of Senator [[John McCain]], a [[Republican]] candidate for president in 2008. She has long been outspoken and more [[conservative]] than her son John, whom she has even publicly criticized{{fact}}.

In early 2008, despite John McCain having just won the [[New Hampshire]] and [[South Carolina]] primaries, Roberta McCain declared that she did not think her son ''"has any"'' support by the Republican base. [[CNN]] senior political analyst Gloria Borger observed that ''"now we know where McCain gets all the straight talk from. We think it's his mother."''<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200801280010 CNN's Borger on McCain's mother]</ref>

She is shy around publicity and her son John largely omitted her from his best-selling book. She told [[Time Magazine]] in 2000, when [[John McCain]] first ran for president, that:

:''"I am so shy and so nervous that I couldn't tell you anything. I can't think on my feet. I would have a heart attack or jump out this five-story window. I'm worried that whatever I would tell you would be true."
''
She was 88 years old then; as of 2008 she is 95 years old. She has been presented to the media by [[John McCain]] as a way of defusing questions about his age of 72, which would make him the oldest person to be elected president for the first time.

In 2008, as it became apparent that [[John McCain]] would be the [[Republican]] nominee, his mother Roberta declared that [[conservatives]] would have to ''"hold their nose"'' while they vote for him. John was asked about this in an interview on the [[CBS]] Evening News:<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/04/eveningnews/main3789119.shtml One-On-One With John McCain]</ref>

:[[Katie Couric]]: ''They'll support you even if, as your 95 year old mom, Roberta, said, they have to hold their nose while they're doing it?''

:McCain: ''Well, you know, I mean ... in all due respect ... my 95-year-old mother, I think, is very much entitled, and has earned her right to her views. The fact is I am uniting the party. The conservatives are coming along -- in very large numbers.''

Roberta McCain's husband, Admiral John S. McCain, Jr., died in 1981.
{{cquote|
''He's backed Bush in everything except Rumsfeld. Have you heard other senators and congressmen backing Bush over eight years? Find me it--give me a name. I've not seen any public recognition of the work that he's done for the Republican party.'' <ref>[http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/01/mccains-mom-pop.html McCain's Mom Pops Off]</ref>
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== See also ==
*[[2008 Presidential Election]]
*[[John McCain 2008 Presidential Campaign]]

[[category:politics]]

FairTax

2008-01-21T16:13:09Z

Tash:

[[Image:FairTaxRally.jpg|thumb|350px|A pro FairTax rally in Florida]]
'''The FairTax''' is a tax proposal that replaces all federal income taxes, including; corporate [[income tax]]es, gifts, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, [[Social Security]], [[Medicare]], and self employment taxes, with a federal retail [[sales tax]]. <ref> Americans For Fair Taxation, “About the FairTax,” http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main</ref>

Instead of being taxed on what citizens earn, the Fair Tax taxes on what citizens buy, this is known as a voluntary consumption tax. The estimated rate for the Fair Tax is 23 percent<ref> "Embedded Taxes Change Fair Tax Analysis",http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/wb/xp-51569</ref>. One main proponent of the FairTax is [[Republican]] presidential primary contender and former [[Arkansas]] Governor, [[Mike Huckabee]].

==Proposal==
The basic Fair Tax system includes the following<ref> American For Fair Taxation, http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main</ref>;

*Abolishment of the [[Internal Revenue Service]] (IRS).
*Abolishment of personal income taxes.
* Removal of the [[16th Amendment]].
* A probate to cover those under the federal poverty level<ref> Just how fair is the ‘Fair Tax’ CNN Money, September 2005, http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/06/pf/taxes/consumptiontax_0510/</ref>..
* Closes all loopholes and brings fairness to taxation
* Reimburses the tax on purchases of basic necessities
* Enables retirees to keep their entire pension
* Enables workers to keep their entire paycheck

==History==

===1986-2005===
[[Image:FairTax vs. Tax Code 2.jpg‎ |thumb|300px|Congressman [[John Linder]], one of the strongest proponents for the FairTax, illustrates the size of the current tax system vs the FairTax method]]
The Fair Tax was originally the brain-child of the [[Scientologists]], as part of their ongoing battle with the IRS. The most popular of initial plans for the Fair Tax was designed by [[Americans for Fair Taxation]] (AFFT), which is led by businessman Leo Linbeck<ref> Just how fair is the ‘FairTax’ CNN Money, September 2005, http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/06/pf/taxes/consumptiontax_0510/</ref>. Linbeck stated that Americans have to pressure the government to come up with a better way of taxation, he said, “It is painfully obvious that [[Washington, D.C.]] insiders so closely linked with the status quo cannot be trusted to overturn the corrupt system of federal taxation. This effort will have to be driven by the American people<ref>Americans For Fair Taxation http://boortz.com/nuze/200510/10132005.html</ref>." The organization hired experts to look into an idea for a better tax system, they spent 23 million dollars in coming up with the idea of the Fair Tax. Their findings were combined into a book, “The FairTax Book: Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS,” which Linbeck co-authored with Republican Congressman John Linder<ref> “The Fair Tax Book”,2005, http://www.amazon.com/Fair-Tax-Book-Saying-Goodbye/dp/0060875496/ref=sr_1_1/102-3275846-3467353?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184106196&sr=1-1</ref>.

The Fair Tax became popular among free market [[conservative]]s, [[libertarian]]s, and some economist in recent years. The complication and wasted bureaucracy of the [[Internal Revenue Service]], government pressure on citizens to reveal information and records, and the loopholes in the current tax system created the incentive to look for a new way of taxation in the United States. Some [[Democrats]] also sought a tax system that would rid them current income tax, which they claim to be discriminate.

In the last 20 years the [[United States]] tax system has been changed over 14,000 times, this has led to an abundance of complexities which lead to its being an inefficient system. In 2003, United States Senator [[Saxby Chambliss]], a [[Republican]], and Senator [[Zell Miller]] a Democrat; introduced a by-partisan version of the Fair Tax. Although the bill had some support in the [[Senate]], it eventually lost in a 50-50. Senator [[Sam Brownback]] later stated the challenges of tax reform, “When you take (the tax code) on straight on, you take on every lobbyist,"

===2005-2007===

Former Federal Reserve Chairman, [[Alan Greenspan]], called for a federal sales tax to replace the broken income tax in 2005. "Since the exemplary 1986 reform, the tax code has drifted back to be overly complicated and burdened by higher marginal rates and by many special provisions that have undesirably narrowed the tax base," Greenspan stated at a Presidential Advisory counsel<ref>Greenspan: "Consumption Tax COuld Help Economy",http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,149298,00.html</ref>.

In 2005 congress created a bill to enact the Fair Tax (H.R. 25; Senate Bill 1943), it had the support of more then 54 co-sponsors, and both Senate and House minority leaders [[Dennis Hassert]] and [[Tom DeLay]]<ref>“The FairTax: A Trogan Horse For America,” Jews For Preservation of Firearms Ownership, http://www.jpfo.org/fairtax.htm#fn1</ref>. Although the bill received the most support ever for any fundamental tax reform bill, it failed to pass. After the elections of 2004, Georgia Republican Congressman, [[John Linder]], reintroduced the FairTax on the first day of the 109th congress<ref> “Linder Reintroduces FairTax Legislation”, http://www.johnlinder.com/News_Details.asp?NewsID=128</ref>. Congressman Linder stated before congress, “The time is ripe for fundamental tax and a completely new Federal tax regime. I am pleased to reintroduce my Fair Tax proposal today reform, and look forward to the Congress creating a fairer, simpler tax system that advances our core goals of lower taxes and more freedom for our citizens."<ref> “Linder Reintroduces FairTax Legislation”, http://www.johnlinder.com/News_Details.asp?NewsID=128</ref>.”

In 2007 support for the FairTax bill has grown to include 60 co-sponsors<ref>FairTax Gains Support, http://www.fairtaxblog.com/20070508/record-sixty-co-sponsors-for-fairtax-bill-hr-25/</ref>.

One of the most outspoken supporters for the Fair Tax is Republican presidential primary candidate, [[Mike Huckabee]], he stated that the Fair Tax, "would put the IRS out of business, but put Americans in business<ref> Massachusetts For Mike Huckabee, http://massachusettsforhuckabee.blogspot.com/search/label/Tax%20Plan</ref>."

== Support==

[[Image:Fairtaxb.jpg|right|thumb|200px| A FairTax bus during a rally at the 2007 [[Republican]] [[Iowa Straw Poll]].]]
The main support for the Fair Tax comes from the [[Republican Party]] as well as [[Libertarian]]s. [[Conservative]]s have continued to push for Republican presidential candidates to support the congressional Fair Tax bill, one such group was set up in Indiana, ‘Hoosier for Fair Taxation’<ref>”Fair Tax Supporters Vent Frustration”, June 2007, http://www.theindychannel.com/news/13651607/detail.html</ref>. <ref>”FairTaxer's continue to “flex their muscles”, July 2007, http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_feature</ref>.

All Democrats’ presidential primary candidates have said that they do not support the Fair Tax proposal currently in congress. [[Mike Huckabee]] has made a national sales tax as one of his main platforms. Economist, such as [[Alan Greenspan]], have also shown support for the FairTax.<ref>Greenspan: Consumption Tax could Help Economy, Fox News, March 2005, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,149298,00.html</ref>

==Criticism==

Republican presidential candidate, [[Rudy Giuliani]], criticized the Fair Tax when addressing a group at the [[University of Florida]] in July, 2007<ref> “Giuliani Jeered For Opposing Flat Tax”, Associated Press, July 2007, http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/07/ap3891710.html</ref>. The former mayor stated that although he had to “study it some more I don't think a fair tax is realistic change for America. Our economy is dependent upon the way our tax system operates<ref> “Giuliani Jeered For Opposing Flat Tax”, Associated Press, July 2007, http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/07/ap3891710.html</ref>.."

Proponents of the tax argue that the Fair Tax would be more practical than the current income tax, which includes over 60,000 pages of tax code documents that lobbyists have worked through Congress<ref> 67,204-Page Code Confounds Taxpayers, Yet Congress Sits By, USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2007-04-03-edit_N.htm?csp=34 </ref>.

==External Links==

*[http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer Americans for Fair Taxation]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category: Politics]]

Fair Tax

2008-01-21T16:12:51Z

Tash: redirect

#REDIRECT [[FairTax]]

FairTax

2008-01-21T16:12:35Z

Tash: create with proper name

[[Image:FairTaxRally.jpg|thumb|350px|A pro FairTax rally in Florida]]
'''The FairTax''' (FairTax) is a tax proposal that replaces all federal income taxes, including; corporate [[income tax]]es, gifts, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, [[Social Security]], [[Medicare]], and self employment taxes, with a federal retail [[sales tax]]. <ref> Americans For Fair Taxation, “About the FairTax,” http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main</ref>

Instead of being taxed on what citizens earn, the Fair Tax taxes on what citizens buy, this is known as a voluntary consumption tax. The estimated rate for the Fair Tax is 23 percent<ref> "Embedded Taxes Change Fair Tax Analysis",http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/wb/xp-51569</ref>. One main proponent of the FairTax is [[Republican]] presidential primary contender and former [[Arkansas]] Governor, [[Mike Huckabee]].

==Proposal==
The basic Fair Tax system includes the following<ref> American For Fair Taxation, http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_main</ref>;

*Abolishment of the [[Internal Revenue Service]] (IRS).
*Abolishment of personal income taxes.
* Removal of the [[16th Amendment]].
* A probate to cover those under the federal poverty level<ref> Just how fair is the ‘Fair Tax’ CNN Money, September 2005, http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/06/pf/taxes/consumptiontax_0510/</ref>..
* Closes all loopholes and brings fairness to taxation
* Reimburses the tax on purchases of basic necessities
* Enables retirees to keep their entire pension
* Enables workers to keep their entire paycheck

==History==

===1986-2005===
[[Image:FairTax vs. Tax Code 2.jpg‎ |thumb|300px|Congressman [[John Linder]], one of the strongest proponents for the FairTax, illustrates the size of the current tax system vs the FairTax method]]
The Fair Tax was originally the brain-child of the [[Scientologists]], as part of their ongoing battle with the IRS. The most popular of initial plans for the Fair Tax was designed by [[Americans for Fair Taxation]] (AFFT), which is led by businessman Leo Linbeck<ref> Just how fair is the ‘FairTax’ CNN Money, September 2005, http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/06/pf/taxes/consumptiontax_0510/</ref>. Linbeck stated that Americans have to pressure the government to come up with a better way of taxation, he said, “It is painfully obvious that [[Washington, D.C.]] insiders so closely linked with the status quo cannot be trusted to overturn the corrupt system of federal taxation. This effort will have to be driven by the American people<ref>Americans For Fair Taxation http://boortz.com/nuze/200510/10132005.html</ref>." The organization hired experts to look into an idea for a better tax system, they spent 23 million dollars in coming up with the idea of the Fair Tax. Their findings were combined into a book, “The FairTax Book: Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS,” which Linbeck co-authored with Republican Congressman John Linder<ref> “The Fair Tax Book”,2005, http://www.amazon.com/Fair-Tax-Book-Saying-Goodbye/dp/0060875496/ref=sr_1_1/102-3275846-3467353?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184106196&sr=1-1</ref>.

The Fair Tax became popular among free market [[conservative]]s, [[libertarian]]s, and some economist in recent years. The complication and wasted bureaucracy of the [[Internal Revenue Service]], government pressure on citizens to reveal information and records, and the loopholes in the current tax system created the incentive to look for a new way of taxation in the United States. Some [[Democrats]] also sought a tax system that would rid them current income tax, which they claim to be discriminate.

In the last 20 years the [[United States]] tax system has been changed over 14,000 times, this has led to an abundance of complexities which lead to its being an inefficient system. In 2003, United States Senator [[Saxby Chambliss]], a [[Republican]], and Senator [[Zell Miller]] a Democrat; introduced a by-partisan version of the Fair Tax. Although the bill had some support in the [[Senate]], it eventually lost in a 50-50. Senator [[Sam Brownback]] later stated the challenges of tax reform, “When you take (the tax code) on straight on, you take on every lobbyist,"

===2005-2007===

Former Federal Reserve Chairman, [[Alan Greenspan]], called for a federal sales tax to replace the broken income tax in 2005. "Since the exemplary 1986 reform, the tax code has drifted back to be overly complicated and burdened by higher marginal rates and by many special provisions that have undesirably narrowed the tax base," Greenspan stated at a Presidential Advisory counsel<ref>Greenspan: "Consumption Tax COuld Help Economy",http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,149298,00.html</ref>.

In 2005 congress created a bill to enact the Fair Tax (H.R. 25; Senate Bill 1943), it had the support of more then 54 co-sponsors, and both Senate and House minority leaders [[Dennis Hassert]] and [[Tom DeLay]]<ref>“The FairTax: A Trogan Horse For America,” Jews For Preservation of Firearms Ownership, http://www.jpfo.org/fairtax.htm#fn1</ref>. Although the bill received the most support ever for any fundamental tax reform bill, it failed to pass. After the elections of 2004, Georgia Republican Congressman, [[John Linder]], reintroduced the FairTax on the first day of the 109th congress<ref> “Linder Reintroduces FairTax Legislation”, http://www.johnlinder.com/News_Details.asp?NewsID=128</ref>. Congressman Linder stated before congress, “The time is ripe for fundamental tax and a completely new Federal tax regime. I am pleased to reintroduce my Fair Tax proposal today reform, and look forward to the Congress creating a fairer, simpler tax system that advances our core goals of lower taxes and more freedom for our citizens."<ref> “Linder Reintroduces FairTax Legislation”, http://www.johnlinder.com/News_Details.asp?NewsID=128</ref>.”

In 2007 support for the FairTax bill has grown to include 60 co-sponsors<ref>FairTax Gains Support, http://www.fairtaxblog.com/20070508/record-sixty-co-sponsors-for-fairtax-bill-hr-25/</ref>.

One of the most outspoken supporters for the Fair Tax is Republican presidential primary candidate, [[Mike Huckabee]], he stated that the Fair Tax, "would put the IRS out of business, but put Americans in business<ref> Massachusetts For Mike Huckabee, http://massachusettsforhuckabee.blogspot.com/search/label/Tax%20Plan</ref>."

== Support==

[[Image:Fairtaxb.jpg|right|thumb|200px| A FairTax bus during a rally at the 2007 [[Republican]] [[Iowa Straw Poll]].]]
The main support for the Fair Tax comes from the [[Republican Party]] as well as [[Libertarian]]s. [[Conservative]]s have continued to push for Republican presidential candidates to support the congressional Fair Tax bill, one such group was set up in Indiana, ‘Hoosier for Fair Taxation’<ref>”Fair Tax Supporters Vent Frustration”, June 2007, http://www.theindychannel.com/news/13651607/detail.html</ref>. <ref>”FairTaxer's continue to “flex their muscles”, July 2007, http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_feature</ref>.

All Democrats’ presidential primary candidates have said that they do not support the Fair Tax proposal currently in congress. [[Mike Huckabee]] has made a national sales tax as one of his main platforms. Economist, such as [[Alan Greenspan]], have also shown support for the FairTax.<ref>Greenspan: Consumption Tax could Help Economy, Fox News, March 2005, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,149298,00.html</ref>

==Criticism==

Republican presidential candidate, [[Rudy Giuliani]], criticized the Fair Tax when addressing a group at the [[University of Florida]] in July, 2007<ref> “Giuliani Jeered For Opposing Flat Tax”, Associated Press, July 2007, http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/07/ap3891710.html</ref>. The former mayor stated that although he had to “study it some more I don't think a fair tax is realistic change for America. Our economy is dependent upon the way our tax system operates<ref> “Giuliani Jeered For Opposing Flat Tax”, Associated Press, July 2007, http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/07/ap3891710.html</ref>.."

Proponents of the tax argue that the Fair Tax would be more practical than the current income tax, which includes over 60,000 pages of tax code documents that lobbyists have worked through Congress<ref> 67,204-Page Code Confounds Taxpayers, Yet Congress Sits By, USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2007-04-03-edit_N.htm?csp=34 </ref>.

==External Links==

*[http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer Americans for Fair Taxation]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category: Politics]]

Mike Huckabee

2008-01-04T18:08:55Z

Tash: Undo revision 364210 by Special:Contributions/Jljb2 (User talk:Jljb2) Pure opinion. The FairTax has a rebate which would solve for that problem. Also it eliminates "hidden taxes"...

[[Image:Hdyute7.jpg|right|thumb|'''Mike Huckabee''']]
'''Mike Huckabee''' (born August 24, 1955) is a [[Baptist]] minister and is a [[conservative]] candidate for the 2008 [[Republican]] presidential nomination. He is known to be [[conservative]] on the issues of [[abortion]], [[gun control]], [[homosexuality]] and [[evolution]], but less [[conservative]] on [[economic]] issues like funding [[public schools]]. He was the governor of [[Arkansas]] from 1996 to 2007.

Throughout the presidential primary, Huckabee has been viewed favorably by conservatives and [[Christian]] organizations such as the [[Homeschool Legal Defense Association]]. Former Speaker of the House [[Newt Gingrich]] predicted that Huckabee will catch on with [[Republican]] primary voters, calling him "the most interesting dark horse". <ref>http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6899608</ref>

[[Poll]] numbers show that Huckabee's strong debate performances, communication skills and likability have him steadily moving up in key primary states of [[New Hampshire]], and [[South Carolina]] and contributed to his win in the [[Iowa Caucuses]].
<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/21/s.c.straw.poll/index.html</ref> He was the winner of the straw poll after the Sept. 17th "values debate."<ref>http://www.earnedmedia.org/kg0918.htm</ref> With far less money than his competitors, Huckabee finished second in the high-profile [[Iowa Straw Poll]] with 18% of the vote, in front of [[Sam Brownback]] (15%) and in back of [[Mitt Romney]] (32%). His victory has placed him in the top tier of Republican primary candidates<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/12/ftn/main3159786.shtml</ref><ref>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=22081</ref>
<ref>http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/</ref>.

In October 2007, Huckabee overwhelmingly won the high-profile Family Research Counsel's Value Voter Summit straw poll. Out of those attending, Huckabee received more votes then all other candidates combined. <ref>http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/10/romney_camp_stacking_the_value.html</ref>
== Record as Governor ==

As [[Governor]] of [[Arkansas]], Mike Huckabee cut and raised taxes. For example, during his ten years in office, the Arkansas [[legislature]] enacted increases in tobacco, sales, and [[fuel]]s taxes; however he also signed into legislation tax cuts over 90 times during that period. During his tenure as Governor welfare rolls declined by nearly half, and last year the state's economy grew 4.4%, beating the national average of 4.2%.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

In 1997 he introduced ARKids First, a health care plan which cut the number of Arkansas uninsured children in half.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

Throughout his tenure he also supported and helped pass pro-life bills through the Democrat controlled legislature.

In 2005 [[Time Magazine]] declared him one of "America's 5 Best Governors". <ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

== Political Beliefs ==

'''Taxes''':
As governor, he signed the first broad-based tax-cut in state history and cut taxes over ninety times. Huckabee believes that the United States should enact a tax system known as the [[Fair Tax]], this system replaces the income tax with a voluntary consumption tax. Recently he signed the Presidential Taxpayer Protection Pledge to Americans for Tax Reform which promises to not raise taxes if elected president.<ref>http://www.atr.org/content/html/2007/march/030207pr-huckabeesignspledge.html</ref>

'''Spending''':
During his tenure, state spending rose 65.3% between 1996 and 2004, which was 3 times the rate of inflation. This has led to strong criticism from conservative groups like the [[Club for Growth]]. However, when he left office there was a surplus of over $800 million. <ref>http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/01/a_report_on_mike_huckabees_fis.php</ref>. Huckabee has called on Bush to veto more spending bills by the democrat controlled congress.<ref>http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/cobb/stories/2007/09/08/huckabee_0909.html</ref> In August 2007, Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, stated "Gov. Huckabee recognizes that the challenge is to rein in spending and reduce taxes."<ref>http://www.atr.org/content/html/2007/march/030207pr-huckabeesignspledge.html</ref>

'''[[Abortion]]''':
According to ''[[National Review]]'', as Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee signed a bill requiring parental consent for [[abortion]], and mandating notification by abortion providers to prospective parents that the unborn baby may feel pain, he also helped pass a bill through the Democratic-controlled legislature which stated that life began at conception.<ref>http://www.explorehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_ID=11</ref><ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NmNjMmI1ODhjNGVlZWFmNTlmMGNiZTVjYTg1NTUzMTk=</ref> He also signed the Fetal Protection Act. He is known to be strongly pro-life.

'''Marriage''':
Huckabee is opposed to same sex marriage and civil unions. He also is a strong advocate for fathers' participation in child-raising.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Huckabee.htm</ref> He would favor a nation-wide [[Roe v. Wade]] being overturned and the federal governments recognition that life begins at conception.

'''Second Amendment Rights''':
As governor, he signed bills blocking frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and removing restrictions on concealed handgun permit holders. He became the first governor in the nation to have a concealed handgun license.<ref>http://www.explorehuckabee.com</ref>

'''[[Immigration]]''':
Huckabee opposed the McCain-Kennedy bill because he stated it had problems with "credibility; secrecy; and spending".<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Huckabee</ref> He believes the United States should seal the border first and deportation of illegal immigrates that have committed crimes.<ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=4</ref>

==Vertical Politics==
While campaigning, Huckabee has referred to what he calls Vertical Politics - politics aimed at making America stronger rather than festering partisanship. Huckabee said, "Everywhere I go on the campaign trail, I meet voters with a real thirst for a healthy discussion of the issues. Ultimately, people don’t care whether an issue comes from the left or the right. What they want to talk about are ideas that lift America up and make us better. It’s what I call ‘Vertical Politics." <ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=verticalday.home</ref>

== Personal ==
[[Image:HuckabeeBand.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Huckabee playing with his band, ''Capital Offense'', during the 2007 [[Iowa Straw Poll]]]]
Huckabee was born in Hope, [[Arkansas]], the same town where former president [[Bill Clinton]] was born. This coincidence led to one of Huckabee's campaign slogans, "give [Hope] one more chance."
Huckabee lost 110 pounds while governor of Arkansas and documented his weight loss and set out a 12-step plan for weight loss in his book ''Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork.'' <ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7752179/site/newsweek/</ref> He has also made childhood obesity a major platform issue. He became the first person in his family to attend college when he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Fort Worth, [[Texas]], before becoming a [[Baptist]] pastor for twelve years in [[Arkansas]]. Because of his income situation, Huckabee graduated in only two and a half years.

The 52-year-old former governor and his wife live in [[Little Rock]] and have three grown children. Huckabee enjoys playing in his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense, which has played at the House of Blues in [[New Orleans]], the Red Rocks Amphitheater in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]] and for two presidential inauguration balls.

==Campaign==
Governor Huckabee's campaign took off after the Ames Straw Poll, where he came in 2nd place (with 18% of the vote) to Mitt Romney, despite far less name recognition and far less spending - he spent about $35 per vote, whereas Romney spent more than $500 per vote.

His second surge began after the Republican [[YouTube]] debate, where he was seen as calm and positive next to the other candidates, many of whom attacked each other.

He has also gained a lot of press for his humorous ad featuring Chuck Norris.

==Quotes==
* "We've had a [[congress]] that's spent money like [[John Edwards]] at a beauty shop."<ref>''GOP presidential debate'' May 2006 [http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=456 The Loft] Accessed 3 January 2008.</ref>
* "…my [[faith]] is my life. It defines me. I see no separation between my faith from my personal and professional lives."<ref>''Faith and Politics'' [http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=9 mikehuckabee.com] Accessed 3 January 2008.</ref>
* "When it comes to the red tape in government, I don't think I can part the Red Sea but I believe I can part the red tape."<ref>''GOP presidential debate'' Iowa, 12 December 2007.</ref>

==Endorsements==
====Organizations====
For the first time in the organizations history, the [[Homeschool Legal Defense Association]] Political Action Committee endorsed a political candidate. The organization, which consists of 90,000 members, stated that they decided to endorse Huckabee because of he was, "[[conservative]], a friend of [[homeschooling]], a man of character, and a man with a mature faith in [[Jesus Christ]]".<ref>http://huckabee08.blogspot.com/2007/06/huckabee-on-roll-endorsements-and-polls.html</ref>

===South Carolina===
Huckabee has received some key endorsement during the course of his primary race. One such endorsement came from former [[South Carolina]] Governor, [[David Beasley]], who had before planned on staying on the sidelines throughout the [[Republican]] primary<ref>http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/27/news_pf/Opinion/Huckabee_s__a_maratho.shtml</ref>

Huckabee received another South Carolina endorsement from Iris Campbell, the former South Carolina First Lady and wife of former governor, the late [[Mike Campbell]]<ref>http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/02/endorsement_wat.html</ref>. During Mike Campbell's time in office, from 1987 to 1994, his endorsement of [[Ronald Reagan]] boosted the underdog's presidential primary race.

===Virginia===
In August 2007, Huckabee received a key endorsement from [[Virginia]]'s House of Delegates Speaker [[William J. Howell]]. Howell has been a member of the Board of Directors of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council ]](ALEC), the nation’s largest bipartisan, individual membership association of state legislators <ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.PressRelease&ID=216</ref>.

===New Hampshire===

Huckabee has picked up some key endorsements in the very significant primary in [[New Hampshire]]. In August 2007, New Hampshire's former Senator, Russell Prescott, and former Executive Councilor David Wheeler endorsed Huckabee<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007/08/huckabee_endors.html</ref>. Both figures remain very popular with social conservatives in the state<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007/08/huckabee_endors.html</ref>.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Huckabee, Mike}}
[[Category:Political people]]
[[Category:2008 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:United States Governors]]

== External Links ==
* [http://www.mikehuckabee.com/ Mike Huckabee (official)]
*[http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.Home Huckabee Campaign Blog]
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/ Grassroots Website]
*[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDA2NzhkZGI2ZjA4NWI2NmMyYzNkNjY1Y2QzMzlmYzA=Governors Win, The case for Mike Huckabee.], [[National Review]], S. T. Karnick, August 2007
*[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24068 There’s a Huckabee Born Every Minute], [[Ann Coulter]], [[Human Events]], 12/19/2007

==External Videos==
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php Huckabee online video collection]
===Supporter Videos===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILPcnn9Sf94&eurl=http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.Home Huckabee - Cinderella Man]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwfzk5RSQy4&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=we_like_mike_huckabee We Like Mike - Huckabee]
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=i_heart_huckabee_colbert_stewart I heart Huckabee]
===Personal Story===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3YR3grKJ3Q&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=story_of_mike_huckabee Part 1]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8aBVYKpZNQ&feature=related Part 2]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VZufUe0HGs&feature=related Part 3]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tXZKfUg97o&feature=related Part 4]
===Ads===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYv2YW6azE&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=chuck_norris_huckabee_facts "HuckChuckFacts"]

===Speeches===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysdguwpgNZ0&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=huckabee_family_research-01 FRC's Value Voter Summit Speech Part 1]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af5qyUzRT68&feature=related Value Voter Summit Speech Part 2]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5v_qB0VDNI&feature=related FRC's Value Voter Summit Speech Part 3]

{{2008_presidential_candidates}}

Mike Huckabee

2008-01-04T17:57:59Z

Tash: Undo revision 364199 by Special:Contributions/Tash (User talk:Tash)

[[Image:Hdyute7.jpg|right|thumb|'''"God dude, i'm a big fat dick. I mean, i'm reeeeaaaally a big fatass dick."''']]
Mike Huckabee is a big ol' fat dick witha lazy eye and will mean death of the republican party.

Mike Huckabee

2008-01-04T17:56:10Z

Tash: Undo revision 364198 by Special:Contributions/Jakeybakey (User talk:Jakeybakey)

Mike Huckabee

2008-01-04T17:39:04Z

Tash: Undo revision 364190 by Special:Contributions/Jljb2 (User talk:Jljb2) proof please?

Iowa Straw Poll

2008-01-04T15:29:01Z

Tash: /* Winners */

[[Image:IowaStrawPoll3.JPG‎|thumb|250px|Thousands of Iowa Straw Poll attenders gather in the [[University of Iowa]] convention arena.]]
The '''Ames Straw Poll''', known more widely as the '''Iowa Straw Poll''', is the most prominent [[Republican]] presidential [[straw poll]]. The Straw Poll, sponsored by the Iowa GOP, is held at [[Iowa State University]] the August before any Republican presidential primary. Although it is a non-binding political activity; it has been used as a measuring stick of the viability of candidates presidential bid. Since it began in 1979, the winner of the poll has gone on to win the Republican nomination two out of four times.<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref>

The Ames Straw Poll also acts as a fund raising event for the Iowa Republican party, in 2007, the Republican Party of Iowa raised over $900,000 by selling 26,000 tickets for $35 each<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref>. Voting is open to all party affiliations.<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3460114&page=1</ref> Along with the straw poll, attendants are invited to somewhat of a carnival; including barbecues, inflatable playground equipment for kids, music, and supporters rallying for their candidates.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/08/live_from_the_s.html</ref>

Because of the significance of the straw poll, primary candidates have spent large sums of money purchasing pre-paid ballots for supporters. In 2004, [[Steve Forbes]] and [[George W. Bush]] each spent over $2 million on tickets and activities for the Iowa Straw Poll.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE6D91039F936A2575BC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print</ref> The Iowa Straw Poll has also been a hive for media, with over 250 news organizations on hand during the 1999 straw poll.

The Iowa Straw Poll has acted as a means of narrowing down Republican primary contestants. Lower tier candidates are forced to place high in the straw poll in order to keep up funding from supporters. In 1999, [[Lamar Alexander]] ended his primary campaign just two days after the Iowa Straw Poll. In October of the same year, Elizabeth Dole also cut short her campaign after not living up to her supporters' expectations in the Iowa Straw Poll.<ref>http://www.iowagop.net/straw.poll.asp</ref>

Members of any state could participate up until 1999 when organizers decided to allow only Iowans to vote in the poll. Before this procesure changed, candidates bused supporters in from other states to vote.<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref>

The 2007 Iowa Straw Poll was won by former [[Massachusetts]] Governor [[Mitt Romney]]. Conservative [[Mike Huckabee]], the former [[Arkansas]] governor, placed second in the straw poll of over fourteen thousand Iowa voters. In 1999 the first and second place finishers at the Iowa Straw Poll went on to receive over 70% of the vote in the [[Iowa Caucuses]].<ref>http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=50794</ref>

==2007 Iowa Straw Poll==
[[Image:2007IowaStrawPollLogo.jpg‎ |thumb|240px|The Official logo of the 2007 Iowa Straw Poll]]
The 2007 Iowa straw poll was on held August 11th and consisted of Republican primary candidates [[Mitt Romney]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[Tom Tancredo]], [[John Cox]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Duncan Hunter]], [[Tommy Thompson]] and [[Sam Brownback]].<ref>http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070625/NEWS/70625033/1001</ref> Presidential primary candidates [[John McCain]] and [[Rudy Giuliani]] decided not to participate in the straw poll<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-06-06-iowa-straw-poll_N.htm</ref> allegedly because of time and resources constraints. Organizers expected a crowd of 40,000 Iowa Republicans at the 2007 straw poll but estimates showed a sharp decline from the 1999 straw poll with just 14,000 Iowans casting straw ballots, compared to 23,500 voters in the 1999 straw poll.<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref> Conservative talk show host [[Laura Ingraham]] served as Master of Ceremonies. <ref>http://www.iowagop.net/downloads/Straw.Poll.Info.pdf</ref>

Some [[Republican]] primary candidates stated that they would not remain in the primary race unless they had a good showing at the straw poll. [[Mike Huckabee]], who finished second, before said he would reconsider his race if he did not get in the top half of the straw poll finishers. Tommy Thompson stated he would step down from the race if he did not finish in the top two straw poll spots, one day after finishing sixth he withdrew.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293012,00.html</ref>
The three House members competing, Representatives [[Duncan Hunter]] of [[California]], [[Ron Paul]] of [[Texas]] and [[Tom Tancredo]] of [[Colorado]], vowed to stay in the race regardless of their placement in the straw poll.<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ap55FE7Ol9O8&refer=us</ref>

[[Mitt Romney]], who held a significant lead in the Iowa polls as well as a large amount of funds, came into the straw poll with a huge advantage.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/08/group_attacks_r.html</ref> Because McCain and Giuliani did not attend the straw poll, Romney was predicted to easily win. In an effort to gain support from [[Iowa]] [[conservative]]s, [[Sam Brownback]] campaigned heavily against Romney's past stance on [[abortion]] and alleged that fellow Republican candidate, Tom Tancredo, gave money to a "founder of a [[Planned Parenthood]] network" in a negative advertisement days before the straw poll. <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/07/26/VI2007072601105.html</ref><ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/07/26/brownbacks_robocallshit_romney.html</ref>

The Tancredo campaign stated that they do not share values with all their funders and that Tancredo's voting record shows he is clearly pro-life. Former [[Arkansas]] Governor, [[Mike Huckabee]], stated that while he believed Romney's current beliefs on abortion, electing Romney would lead to accusations of a "flip-flop", which he says could lead to a Republican loss in the presidential race.<ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/08/posttalk_huckabees_tough_talk.html</ref>
[[Image:Strawpoll2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Mitt Romney's location at the 2007 Iowa Straw Poll]]
Tancredo attacked fellow candidates Romney, Brownback, and Huckabee on the issue of [[illegal immigration]]. Former governor Mike Huckabee stated that Tancredo's ad claiming Huckabee held a pro-amnesty position was "blatantly dishonest", and that Tancredo's campaign either did sloppy research or deliberately mischaracterized his position.<ref>http://www.rightwingwatch.org/individuals/john_tanton/index.html</ref> Tancredo has used strong opposition to Illegal immigration as a central position of his campaign in Iowa, officially calling it “The Army Against Amnesty.”<ref>http://race42008.com/category/tom-tancredo/</ref> He stated in a speech during the Iowa Straw Poll, "This is our culture, Fight for it! This is our nation. Take it back." <ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>

Most candidates offered free straw poll tickets to supporters, with exception of [[Duncan Hunter]]. The Tancredo, Romney and Brownback campaigns used numerous buses to get supporters to the straw poll but<ref>http://race42008.com/category/tom-tancredo/</ref> former [[Arkansas]] Governor Mike Huckabee's campaign provided no transportation.

After an hour of delay due to a voting machine malfunction, which led to the recount of over 1,500 ballots,<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/08/ames_a_partial_recount_confirm.php</ref> Mitt Romney won the 2007 Ames straw poll, receiving 4516 votes, or 31%. Former conservative governor [[Mike Huckabee]], whose poll numbers had been steadily rising around the nation, finished second with 2587 votes at 18.1%.<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>

Huckabee's second place finish was somewhat of a surprise to political analysts because of his lack of funds and transportation to the straw poll as well as a late start in Iowa. Huckabee ended up spending the equivalent of $58 for vote, a small fraction of what Romney ($442.87 to $1,000 per a voter) and Brownback ($148.27 for each voter) spent.<ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDhhNTUxODM5NjIyMjhjNGMwN2Q5MGRlMzNhZGJhODE=</ref><ref>http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/08/straw-poll-fall.html</ref> [[Image:MikeHuckabeeIowaStrawPoll.JPG‎ |thumb|240px|[[Mike Huckabee]], speaking in this photo at the Iowa Straw Poll, finished in second place with 18.1% of the vote]]He said after the victory, “We had two fish and five loaves and it fed 5,000.” Although Romney won the event at great cost, many political analysts believed that Huckabee's strong second place finish made him the biggest winner at the straw poll.<ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/08/ames_straw_poll_what_it_means.html</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Votes
! Percentage
|-
|[[Mitt Romney]]
|4,516
|31%.
|-
|[[Mike Huckabee]]
|2,587
|18.1%
|-
|[[Sam Brownback]]
|2,192
|15.3%
|-
|[[Tom Tancredo]]
|1,961
|13.7%
|-
|[[Ron Paul]]
|1,305
|9%
|-
|[[Tommy Thompson]]
|1,009
|7.3%
|-
|}

==Winners==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Name
! Result
|
|-
|2007
|[[Mitt Romney]]
|Placed second in the Republican [[Iowa Caucus]]'s with 25% of the vote. With 34% of the vote, [[Mike Huckabee]] took first place.
|-
|1999
| [[George W. Bush]]
| Won the [[Republican]] primary, and went on to become [[President of the United States]].
|-
|1995
|[[Bob Dole]] and [[Phil Gramm]] (tie)
|Bob Dole went on to win the Republican primary after tying for first place in the [[Iowa Caucus]].
|-
|1987
|[[Pat Robertson]]
|Lost Republican primary.
|-
| 1979
| [[George H.W. Bush]]
| Lost to [[Ronald Reagan]] in Republican primary and becomes vice president candidate
|-
|}

==Also See==
*[[Iowa Caucus]]
*[[2008 Presidential Election]]
==External Links==
*[http://www.iowagop.net/straw.poll.asp Iowa Straw Poll Official Site]
*[http://www.iowagop.net/downloads/Straw.Poll.Info.pdf Schedule and Information Regarding the 2007 Straw Poll]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Politics]]

Iowa Straw Poll

2008-01-04T15:28:34Z

Tash:

[[Image:IowaStrawPoll3.JPG‎|thumb|250px|Thousands of Iowa Straw Poll attenders gather in the [[University of Iowa]] convention arena.]]
The '''Ames Straw Poll''', known more widely as the '''Iowa Straw Poll''', is the most prominent [[Republican]] presidential [[straw poll]]. The Straw Poll, sponsored by the Iowa GOP, is held at [[Iowa State University]] the August before any Republican presidential primary. Although it is a non-binding political activity; it has been used as a measuring stick of the viability of candidates presidential bid. Since it began in 1979, the winner of the poll has gone on to win the Republican nomination two out of four times.<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref>

The Ames Straw Poll also acts as a fund raising event for the Iowa Republican party, in 2007, the Republican Party of Iowa raised over $900,000 by selling 26,000 tickets for $35 each<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref>. Voting is open to all party affiliations.<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3460114&page=1</ref> Along with the straw poll, attendants are invited to somewhat of a carnival; including barbecues, inflatable playground equipment for kids, music, and supporters rallying for their candidates.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/08/live_from_the_s.html</ref>

Because of the significance of the straw poll, primary candidates have spent large sums of money purchasing pre-paid ballots for supporters. In 2004, [[Steve Forbes]] and [[George W. Bush]] each spent over $2 million on tickets and activities for the Iowa Straw Poll.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE6D91039F936A2575BC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print</ref> The Iowa Straw Poll has also been a hive for media, with over 250 news organizations on hand during the 1999 straw poll.

The Iowa Straw Poll has acted as a means of narrowing down Republican primary contestants. Lower tier candidates are forced to place high in the straw poll in order to keep up funding from supporters. In 1999, [[Lamar Alexander]] ended his primary campaign just two days after the Iowa Straw Poll. In October of the same year, Elizabeth Dole also cut short her campaign after not living up to her supporters' expectations in the Iowa Straw Poll.<ref>http://www.iowagop.net/straw.poll.asp</ref>

Members of any state could participate up until 1999 when organizers decided to allow only Iowans to vote in the poll. Before this procesure changed, candidates bused supporters in from other states to vote.<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref>

The 2007 Iowa Straw Poll was won by former [[Massachusetts]] Governor [[Mitt Romney]]. Conservative [[Mike Huckabee]], the former [[Arkansas]] governor, placed second in the straw poll of over fourteen thousand Iowa voters. In 1999 the first and second place finishers at the Iowa Straw Poll went on to receive over 70% of the vote in the [[Iowa Caucuses]].<ref>http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=50794</ref>

==2007 Iowa Straw Poll==
[[Image:2007IowaStrawPollLogo.jpg‎ |thumb|240px|The Official logo of the 2007 Iowa Straw Poll]]
The 2007 Iowa straw poll was on held August 11th and consisted of Republican primary candidates [[Mitt Romney]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[Tom Tancredo]], [[John Cox]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Duncan Hunter]], [[Tommy Thompson]] and [[Sam Brownback]].<ref>http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070625/NEWS/70625033/1001</ref> Presidential primary candidates [[John McCain]] and [[Rudy Giuliani]] decided not to participate in the straw poll<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-06-06-iowa-straw-poll_N.htm</ref> allegedly because of time and resources constraints. Organizers expected a crowd of 40,000 Iowa Republicans at the 2007 straw poll but estimates showed a sharp decline from the 1999 straw poll with just 14,000 Iowans casting straw ballots, compared to 23,500 voters in the 1999 straw poll.<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref> Conservative talk show host [[Laura Ingraham]] served as Master of Ceremonies. <ref>http://www.iowagop.net/downloads/Straw.Poll.Info.pdf</ref>

Some [[Republican]] primary candidates stated that they would not remain in the primary race unless they had a good showing at the straw poll. [[Mike Huckabee]], who finished second, before said he would reconsider his race if he did not get in the top half of the straw poll finishers. Tommy Thompson stated he would step down from the race if he did not finish in the top two straw poll spots, one day after finishing sixth he withdrew.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293012,00.html</ref>
The three House members competing, Representatives [[Duncan Hunter]] of [[California]], [[Ron Paul]] of [[Texas]] and [[Tom Tancredo]] of [[Colorado]], vowed to stay in the race regardless of their placement in the straw poll.<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ap55FE7Ol9O8&refer=us</ref>

[[Mitt Romney]], who held a significant lead in the Iowa polls as well as a large amount of funds, came into the straw poll with a huge advantage.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/08/group_attacks_r.html</ref> Because McCain and Giuliani did not attend the straw poll, Romney was predicted to easily win. In an effort to gain support from [[Iowa]] [[conservative]]s, [[Sam Brownback]] campaigned heavily against Romney's past stance on [[abortion]] and alleged that fellow Republican candidate, Tom Tancredo, gave money to a "founder of a [[Planned Parenthood]] network" in a negative advertisement days before the straw poll. <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/07/26/VI2007072601105.html</ref><ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/07/26/brownbacks_robocallshit_romney.html</ref>

The Tancredo campaign stated that they do not share values with all their funders and that Tancredo's voting record shows he is clearly pro-life. Former [[Arkansas]] Governor, [[Mike Huckabee]], stated that while he believed Romney's current beliefs on abortion, electing Romney would lead to accusations of a "flip-flop", which he says could lead to a Republican loss in the presidential race.<ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/08/posttalk_huckabees_tough_talk.html</ref>
[[Image:Strawpoll2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Mitt Romney's location at the 2007 Iowa Straw Poll]]
Tancredo attacked fellow candidates Romney, Brownback, and Huckabee on the issue of [[illegal immigration]]. Former governor Mike Huckabee stated that Tancredo's ad claiming Huckabee held a pro-amnesty position was "blatantly dishonest", and that Tancredo's campaign either did sloppy research or deliberately mischaracterized his position.<ref>http://www.rightwingwatch.org/individuals/john_tanton/index.html</ref> Tancredo has used strong opposition to Illegal immigration as a central position of his campaign in Iowa, officially calling it “The Army Against Amnesty.”<ref>http://race42008.com/category/tom-tancredo/</ref> He stated in a speech during the Iowa Straw Poll, "This is our culture, Fight for it! This is our nation. Take it back." <ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>

Most candidates offered free straw poll tickets to supporters, with exception of [[Duncan Hunter]]. The Tancredo, Romney and Brownback campaigns used numerous buses to get supporters to the straw poll but<ref>http://race42008.com/category/tom-tancredo/</ref> former [[Arkansas]] Governor Mike Huckabee's campaign provided no transportation.

After an hour of delay due to a voting machine malfunction, which led to the recount of over 1,500 ballots,<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/08/ames_a_partial_recount_confirm.php</ref> Mitt Romney won the 2007 Ames straw poll, receiving 4516 votes, or 31%. Former conservative governor [[Mike Huckabee]], whose poll numbers had been steadily rising around the nation, finished second with 2587 votes at 18.1%.<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>

Huckabee's second place finish was somewhat of a surprise to political analysts because of his lack of funds and transportation to the straw poll as well as a late start in Iowa. Huckabee ended up spending the equivalent of $58 for vote, a small fraction of what Romney ($442.87 to $1,000 per a voter) and Brownback ($148.27 for each voter) spent.<ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDhhNTUxODM5NjIyMjhjNGMwN2Q5MGRlMzNhZGJhODE=</ref><ref>http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/08/straw-poll-fall.html</ref> [[Image:MikeHuckabeeIowaStrawPoll.JPG‎ |thumb|240px|[[Mike Huckabee]], speaking in this photo at the Iowa Straw Poll, finished in second place with 18.1% of the vote]]He said after the victory, “We had two fish and five loaves and it fed 5,000.” Although Romney won the event at great cost, many political analysts believed that Huckabee's strong second place finish made him the biggest winner at the straw poll.<ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/08/ames_straw_poll_what_it_means.html</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Votes
! Percentage
|-
|[[Mitt Romney]]
|4,516
|31%.
|-
|[[Mike Huckabee]]
|2,587
|18.1%
|-
|[[Sam Brownback]]
|2,192
|15.3%
|-
|[[Tom Tancredo]]
|1,961
|13.7%
|-
|[[Ron Paul]]
|1,305
|9%
|-
|[[Tommy Thompson]]
|1,009
|7.3%
|-
|}

==Winners==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Name
! Result
|
|-
|2007
|[[Mitt Romney]]
|Placed second in the Republican [[Iowa Caucus]]'s with 25% of the vote. With 34% of the vote, [[[Mike Huckabee]]] took first place.
|-
|1999
| [[George W. Bush]]
| Won the [[Republican]] primary, and went on to become [[President of the United States]].
|-
|1995
|[[Bob Dole]] and [[Phil Gramm]] (tie)
|Bob Dole went on to win the Republican primary after tying for first place in the [[Iowa Caucus]].
|-
|1987
|[[Pat Robertson]]
|Lost Republican primary.
|-
| 1979
| [[George H.W. Bush]]
| Lost to [[Ronald Reagan]] in Republican primary and becomes vice president candidate
|-
|}

==Also See==
*[[Iowa Caucus]]
*[[2008 Presidential Election]]
==External Links==
*[http://www.iowagop.net/straw.poll.asp Iowa Straw Poll Official Site]
*[http://www.iowagop.net/downloads/Straw.Poll.Info.pdf Schedule and Information Regarding the 2007 Straw Poll]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Politics]]

Iowa Straw Poll

2008-01-04T15:28:18Z

Tash:

[[Image:IowaStrawPoll3.JPG‎|thumb|250px|Thousands of Iowa Straw Poll attenders gather in the [[University of Iowa]] convention arena.]]
The '''Ames Straw Poll''', known more widely as the '''Iowa Straw Poll''', is the most prominent [[Republican]] presidential [[straw poll]]. The Straw Poll, sponsored by the Iowa GOP, is held at [[Iowa State University]] the August before any Republican presidential primary. Although it is a non-binding political activity; it has been used as a measuring stick of the viability of candidates presidential bid. Since it began in 1979, the winner of the poll has gone on to win the Republican nomination two out of four times.<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref>

The Ames Straw Poll also acts as a fund raising event for the Iowa Republican party, in 2007, the Republican Party of Iowa raised over $900,000 by selling 26,000 tickets for $35 each<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref>. Voting is open to all party affiliations.<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3460114&page=1</ref> Along with the straw poll, attendants are invited to somewhat of a carnival; including barbecues, inflatable playground equipment for kids, music, and supporters rallying for their candidates.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/08/live_from_the_s.html</ref>

Because of the significance of the straw poll, primary candidates have spent large sums of money purchasing pre-paid ballots for supporters. In 2004, [[Steve Forbes]] and [[George W. Bush]] each spent over $2 million on tickets and activities for the Iowa Straw Poll.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE6D91039F936A2575BC0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print</ref> The Iowa Straw Poll has also been a hive for media, with over 250 news organizations on hand during the 1999 straw poll.

The Iowa Straw Poll has acted as a means of narrowing down Republican primary contestants. Lower tier candidates are forced to place high in the straw poll in order to keep up funding from supporters. In 1999, [[Lamar Alexander]] ended his primary campaign just two days after the Iowa Straw Poll. In October of the same year, Elizabeth Dole also cut short her campaign after not living up to her supporters' expectations in the Iowa Straw Poll.<ref>http://www.iowagop.net/straw.poll.asp</ref>

Members of any state could participate up until 1999 when organizers decided to allow only Iowans to vote in the poll. Before this procesure changed, candidates bused supporters in from other states to vote.<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/articles/13258</ref>

The 2007 Iowa Straw Poll was won by former [[Massachusetts]] Governor [[Mitt Romney]]. Conservative [[Mike Huckabee]], the former [[Arkansas]] governor, placed second in the straw poll of over fourteen thousand Iowa voters. In 1999 the first and second place finishers at the Iowa Straw Poll went on to receive over 70% of the vote in the [[Iowa Caucuses]].<ref>http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=50794</ref>

==2007 Iowa Straw Poll==
[[Image:2007IowaStrawPollLogo.jpg‎ |thumb|240px|The Official logo of the 2007 Iowa Straw Poll]]
The 2007 Iowa straw poll was on held August 11th and consisted of Republican primary candidates [[Mitt Romney]], [[Mike Huckabee]], [[Tom Tancredo]], [[John Cox]], [[Ron Paul]], [[Duncan Hunter]], [[Tommy Thompson]] and [[Sam Brownback]].<ref>http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070625/NEWS/70625033/1001</ref> Presidential primary candidates [[John McCain]] and [[Rudy Giuliani]] decided not to participate in the straw poll<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-06-06-iowa-straw-poll_N.htm</ref> allegedly because of time and resources constraints. Organizers expected a crowd of 40,000 Iowa Republicans at the 2007 straw poll but estimates showed a sharp decline from the 1999 straw poll with just 14,000 Iowans casting straw ballots, compared to 23,500 voters in the 1999 straw poll.<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref> Conservative talk show host [[Laura Ingraham]] served as Master of Ceremonies. <ref>http://www.iowagop.net/downloads/Straw.Poll.Info.pdf</ref>

Some [[Republican]] primary candidates stated that they would not remain in the primary race unless they had a good showing at the straw poll. [[Mike Huckabee]], who finished second, before said he would reconsider his race if he did not get in the top half of the straw poll finishers. Tommy Thompson stated he would step down from the race if he did not finish in the top two straw poll spots, one day after finishing sixth he withdrew.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293012,00.html</ref>
The three House members competing, Representatives [[Duncan Hunter]] of [[California]], [[Ron Paul]] of [[Texas]] and [[Tom Tancredo]] of [[Colorado]], vowed to stay in the race regardless of their placement in the straw poll.<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ap55FE7Ol9O8&refer=us</ref>

[[Mitt Romney]], who held a significant lead in the Iowa polls as well as a large amount of funds, came into the straw poll with a huge advantage.<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/08/group_attacks_r.html</ref> Because McCain and Giuliani did not attend the straw poll, Romney was predicted to easily win. In an effort to gain support from [[Iowa]] [[conservative]]s, [[Sam Brownback]] campaigned heavily against Romney's past stance on [[abortion]] and alleged that fellow Republican candidate, Tom Tancredo, gave money to a "founder of a [[Planned Parenthood]] network" in a negative advertisement days before the straw poll. <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/07/26/VI2007072601105.html</ref><ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/07/26/brownbacks_robocallshit_romney.html</ref>

The Tancredo campaign stated that they do not share values with all their funders and that Tancredo's voting record shows he is clearly pro-life. Former [[Arkansas]] Governor, [[Mike Huckabee]], stated that while he believed Romney's current beliefs on abortion, electing Romney would lead to accusations of a "flip-flop", which he says could lead to a Republican loss in the presidential race.<ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/08/posttalk_huckabees_tough_talk.html</ref>
[[Image:Strawpoll2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Mitt Romney's location at the 2007 Iowa Straw Poll]]
Tancredo attacked fellow candidates Romney, Brownback, and Huckabee on the issue of [[illegal immigration]]. Former governor Mike Huckabee stated that Tancredo's ad claiming Huckabee held a pro-amnesty position was "blatantly dishonest", and that Tancredo's campaign either did sloppy research or deliberately mischaracterized his position.<ref>http://www.rightwingwatch.org/individuals/john_tanton/index.html</ref> Tancredo has used strong opposition to Illegal immigration as a central position of his campaign in Iowa, officially calling it “The Army Against Amnesty.”<ref>http://race42008.com/category/tom-tancredo/</ref> He stated in a speech during the Iowa Straw Poll, "This is our culture, Fight for it! This is our nation. Take it back." <ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>

Most candidates offered free straw poll tickets to supporters, with exception of [[Duncan Hunter]]. The Tancredo, Romney and Brownback campaigns used numerous buses to get supporters to the straw poll but<ref>http://race42008.com/category/tom-tancredo/</ref> former [[Arkansas]] Governor Mike Huckabee's campaign provided no transportation.

After an hour of delay due to a voting machine malfunction, which led to the recount of over 1,500 ballots,<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/08/ames_a_partial_recount_confirm.php</ref> Mitt Romney won the 2007 Ames straw poll, receiving 4516 votes, or 31%. Former conservative governor [[Mike Huckabee]], whose poll numbers had been steadily rising around the nation, finished second with 2587 votes at 18.1%.<ref>http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/</ref>

Huckabee's second place finish was somewhat of a surprise to political analysts because of his lack of funds and transportation to the straw poll as well as a late start in Iowa. Huckabee ended up spending the equivalent of $58 for vote, a small fraction of what Romney ($442.87 to $1,000 per a voter) and Brownback ($148.27 for each voter) spent.<ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDhhNTUxODM5NjIyMjhjNGMwN2Q5MGRlMzNhZGJhODE=</ref><ref>http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/08/straw-poll-fall.html</ref> [[Image:MikeHuckabeeIowaStrawPoll.JPG‎ |thumb|240px|[[Mike Huckabee]], speaking in this photo at the Iowa Straw Poll, finished in second place with 18.1% of the vote]]He said after the victory, “We had two fish and five loaves and it fed 5,000.” Although Romney won the event at great cost, many political analysts believed that Huckabee's strong second place finish made him the biggest winner at the straw poll.<ref>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/08/ames_straw_poll_what_it_means.html</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Votes
! Percentage
|-
|[[Mitt Romney]]
|4,516
|31%.
|-
|[[Mike Huckabee]]
|2,587
|18.1%
|-
|[[Sam Brownback]]
|2,192
|15.3%
|-
|[[Tom Tancredo]]
|1,961
|13.7%
|-
|[[Ron Paul]]
|1,305
|9%
|-
|[[Tommy Thompson]]
|1,009
|7.3%
|-
|}

==Winners==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Name
! Result
|
|-
|2007
|[[Mitt Romney]]
|Place second in the Republican [[Iowa Caucus]]'s with 25% of the vote. With 34% of the vote, [[[Mike Huckabee]]] took first place.
|-
|1999
| [[George W. Bush]]
| Won the [[Republican]] primary, and went on to become [[President of the United States]].
|-
|1995
|[[Bob Dole]] and [[Phil Gramm]] (tie)
|Bob Dole went on to win the Republican primary after tying for first place in the [[Iowa Caucus]].
|-
|1987
|[[Pat Robertson]]
|Lost Republican primary.
|-
| 1979
| [[George H.W. Bush]]
| Lost to [[Ronald Reagan]] in Republican primary and becomes vice president candidate
|-
|}

==Also See==
*[[Iowa Caucus]]
*[[2008 Presidential Election]]
==External Links==
*[http://www.iowagop.net/straw.poll.asp Iowa Straw Poll Official Site]
*[http://www.iowagop.net/downloads/Straw.Poll.Info.pdf Schedule and Information Regarding the 2007 Straw Poll]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Politics]]

Rodney Harrison

2007-12-29T18:02:05Z

Tash: link

'''Rodney Harrison''' (born December 15, 1972 in Markham [[Illinois]]) is a [[National Football League]] safety for the [[New England Patriots]]. He is known as one of the greatest safety's and hardest hitters in NFL history. He is also one of the most fined players in [[NFL]] history<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2005/02/03/theyll_pay_if_hes_not_paid_respect/</ref>. In his NFL career he has made the [[Pro Bowl]] twice, in 1998 and 2001, and has also made the [[All Pro Team]] twice (2003 first team, 2004 second team). He is the first and only NFL player to have at least more then 25 career sacks and [[interception]]s.

==NFL Career==
===1994-2006===
Harrison entered the [[NFL]] in 1994 when he was drafted in fifth round of the [[1994 NFL Draft]] by the [[San Diego Chargers]]. He would play with the Chargers until he was released by the them on February 27, 2003. He was signed by the [[New England Patriots]] on March 12, 2003<ref>http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=3628&pcid=41</ref>. In his first two years playing with the Patriots he was a key part in leading the Patriots to consecutive [[Super Bowl]] victory's in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, he was injured in the third game of the regular season and forced to miss the rest of the season on the Patriots injury reserve list<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2005/09/27/knee_injury_kos_harrison_for_rest_of_year/</ref>. In 2006 he played in ten games with the Patriots, missing six games to injury<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2653435</ref> before returning at the end of the season and being injured again<ref>http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=22343&pcid=41</ref>.

===2007===
After two injury filled seasons, many thought that Harrison would retire from the NFL but he instead opted to play for another season and took a (approximate) 700,000 pay cut<ref>http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1013835</ref>. On August 31, 2007, just a week before the begining of the 2007 regular season, Harrison announced that the NFL had suspended him for the first four games of the 2007 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy<ref>http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d801fd1d3&template=with-video&confirm=true</ref><ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2999994</ref>. Harrison stated regarding the violation, "I want to make it clear that not once did I ever use steroids. I did admit to the commissioner that I did in fact use a banned substance. My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge. Rather my use was solely for the purpose of accelerating the healing process of injuries I sustained while playing football."<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/08/rodneys_stateme.html</ref>

In his entire NFL career he has played in 168 games and made 1,113 total tackles, 28.5 sacks, 32 interceptions, forced fourteen fumbles and recovered nine.

==References==
<references/>
==External Links==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/rodneyharrison/profile?id=HAR637919 NFL Stats]
*[http://www.rodneyharrison.com/ Official Website]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=14695 Patriots Bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Rodney}}
[[category:New England Patriot Players]]

Rodney Harrison

2007-12-29T18:01:38Z

Tash:

'''Rodney Harrison''' (born December 15, 1972 in Markham [[Illinois]]) is a [[National Football League]] safety for the [[New England Patriots]]. He is known as one of the greatest safety's and hardest hitters in NFL history. He is also one of the most fined players in NFL history<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2005/02/03/theyll_pay_if_hes_not_paid_respect/</ref>. In his NFL career he has made the [[Pro Bowl]] twice, in 1998 and 2001, and has also made the [[All Pro Team]] twice (2003 first team, 2004 second team). He is the first and only NFL player to have at least more then 25 career sacks and interceptions.

==NFL Career==
===1994-2006===
Harrison entered the [[NFL]] in 1994 when he was drafted in fifth round of the [[1994 NFL Draft]] by the [[San Diego Chargers]]. He would play with the Chargers until he was released by the them on February 27, 2003. He was signed by the [[New England Patriots]] on March 12, 2003<ref>http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=3628&pcid=41</ref>. In his first two years playing with the Patriots he was a key part in leading the Patriots to consecutive [[Super Bowl]] victory's in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, he was injured in the third game of the regular season and forced to miss the rest of the season on the Patriots injury reserve list<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2005/09/27/knee_injury_kos_harrison_for_rest_of_year/</ref>. In 2006 he played in ten games with the Patriots, missing six games to injury<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2653435</ref> before returning at the end of the season and being injured again<ref>http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=22343&pcid=41</ref>.

===2007===
After two injury filled seasons, many thought that Harrison would retire from the NFL but he instead opted to play for another season and took a (approximate) 700,000 pay cut<ref>http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1013835</ref>. On August 31, 2007, just a week before the begining of the 2007 regular season, Harrison announced that the NFL had suspended him for the first four games of the 2007 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy<ref>http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d801fd1d3&template=with-video&confirm=true</ref><ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2999994</ref>. Harrison stated regarding the violation, "I want to make it clear that not once did I ever use steroids. I did admit to the commissioner that I did in fact use a banned substance. My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge. Rather my use was solely for the purpose of accelerating the healing process of injuries I sustained while playing football."<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/08/rodneys_stateme.html</ref>

In his entire NFL career he has played in 168 games and made 1,113 total tackles, 28.5 sacks, 32 interceptions, forced fourteen fumbles and recovered nine.

==References==
<references/>
==External Links==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/rodneyharrison/profile?id=HAR637919 NFL Stats]
*[http://www.rodneyharrison.com/ Official Website]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=14695 Patriots Bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Rodney}}
[[category:New England Patriot Players]]

Randy Moss

2007-12-29T18:00:19Z

Tash:

'''Randy Moss''' is an [[National Football League]] (NFL) [[wide receiver]] for the [[New England Patriots]]. He has also previously played professional [[American Football|football]] for the [[Minnesota Vikings]] (1998 - 2004) and [[Oakland Raiders]] (2005 - 2006). He was born on February 13, 1977 in Rand, [[West Virginia]].

==High School Football==
In his senior year at DuPont High School in Rand, [[West Virginia]], Moss was named the West Virginia High School Football Player of the Year.

== College Football ==
Randy Moss attended and played college football at the wide receiver position for [[Marshall University]] for two seasons. He was then and still is today considered one of best wide receivers to play college football ever. In his two seasons at Marshall, Randy had 174 receptions for 3,529 yards and a school record 53 touchdown receptions.

==NFL Career==
Moss is known as one of the greatest and most explosive players to play in the history of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). In his entire NFL career, he has played in 138 games and had 676 receptions for 10,700 yards (15.8 avg) and 101 touchdowns and also has thrown two career touchdown passes. He is the only player in NFL history to have at least 1,000 receiving yards in his first six seasons. However, along with being very talented, Moss has been a very troubled off and on the football field. In his professional career, he has been fined at least 95 thousand dollars for his antics<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1998159</ref> and in 2002 he bumped a traffic control officer with his car. He has also admitted to smoking marijuana during his NFL career<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2005/09/08/which_route_will_moss_take/</ref>. When asked about his past in a interview in 2007 Moss stated, "Anything that you've heard about me, good or bad, some are lies. Some are true. Hopefully the true stuff will come out and then hopefully the bad will stay back there."<ref>http://www.patriots.com/mediacenter/index.cfm?ac=audionewsdetail&pid=25857&pcid=81</ref>

===1998 - 2003===
In 1998, the [[Minnesota Vikings]] drafted Moss in the first round (21st overall) of the [[1998 NFL Draft]]. In his rookie season, one of the greatest rookie season's by any player in NFL history, he played in all sixteen of the Vikings games and started eleven. He easily won the [[NFL]]'s Rookie of the Year award and was also named a NFC Pro Bowl starter as he caught 69 passes for an amazing 1313 yards and 17 touchdowns. For the next five seasons (1999 - 2003) Moss did not miss a game and was a very consistent player (NFC Pro Bowler 1998 - 2000, 2002 - 2003); finishing every season with at least 77 receptions, 1233 yards, or with the exception of 2002 season when he caught seven touchdowns, ten or more touchdowns. In total, from 1999 to 2003, Moss caught 456 passes (32 of those receptions went for 40 yards or more) for 7,062 yards and 60 touchdowns.

===2004 - 2006===
Moss's 2004 season was a down year for him as he played though a nagging hamstring injury all season long. For the first time in his pro career he failed to play in all 16 regular season games or finish a season with over a thousand receiving yards (767 in 2004). He also set career lows for receptions with 49 and also receptions for a first down with 43. Moss who had for some time been discontent with his situation in Minnesota and his frustration with the consistently playing for a losing team was traded on March 2, 2005 to the [[Oakland Raiders]] for Oakland linebacker [[Napoleon Harris]] and two seventh round picks<ref>http://football.about.com/b/a/148977.htm</ref>.

Although he was expected to thrive in the Raiders long ball offensive system, Moss for one reason or another seemed unable to reach his pre 2004 production. He still did show that he was a threat to catch the deep pass early in his Raider career though when on the opening night game of the 2005 NFL season vs the [[New England Patriots]], he caught a 73 yard pass for a touchdown. Three weeks later in the season he would catch 79 yard pass. Moss finished the 2005 season with 60 receptions for 1005 yards and eight touchdowns however the Raiders finished the 2005 season with a 4 & 12 record.

In 2006, everything fell apart for Moss as he had the worst season of his career and set personal lows for himself in every major statical category. He also missed the last three games of the season due to an ankle injury. His offensive coordinator, Tom Walsh, told the [[Boston Globe]] after the 2006 season in an interview that Moss's receiving skills and hunger to play football had severely diminished. Walsh said, "Randy Moss is a player whose skills are diminishing, and he's in denial of those eroding skills. Randy was a great receiver, but he lacked the work ethic and the desire to cultivate any skills that would compensate for what he was losing physically later in his career"<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2871527</ref>. The Raiders situation did not improve at all either in 2006. They finished the 2006 season with a league worst 2 & 14 record. with their only two wins coming vs the [[Cleveland Browns]] and an upset victory over the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]. Moss commented on his frustration with the Raiders losing ways saying, "losing sometimes can get contagious, but as a player I can't let that settle in, and I think that's one of the things that bothered me [in Oakland]. I didn't want it to set in and it didn't set in. It was just really nerve-racking that it was hard for me to win."<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2871527</ref>

===2007===
With Moss unhappy again with his situation once again, the Raiders began looking for possible teams to trade Moss to. On the morning of April 29, 2007, just before the second day of the [[2007 NFL Draft]] began, the Raiders traded Moss to the [[New England Patriots]] for the Patriots 2007 forth round draft choice<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/news/story?id=2853116</ref>. He said after the trade, "I was very overwhelmed. I'm still in shock at the same time and I can't believe I'm a Patriot... Let’s put it this way…The Moss of old is back."<ref>http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=25032&pcid=41</ref>. In his first game as a Patriot vs the the [[New York Jets]], Moss caught nine passes for 183 yards and a touchdown<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=3012178</ref>; the third highest receiving yardage total for a game in his career. It had been uncertain before the game whether or not he would actually play since he had missed all four of the Patriots preseason games after suffering a hamstring injury early in the [[Patriots Training Camp|Patriots training camp]]<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/09/09/randy_moss_thomas_jones_active_for_patriots_jets_game/ Boston Globe, Dennis Waszak Jr, AP Sports Writer, September 9, 2007, "Randy Moss, Thomas Jones active for Patriots-Jets game"]</ref>. In the week two regular season game vs the [[San Diego Chargers]], Moss caught eight passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/09/17/unstoppable_brady_leads_patriots_over_chargers/ Boston Globe, Mike Shalin, September 17, 2007, "Unstoppable Brady leads Patriots over Chargers"]</ref>. The following week, in the Patriots third regular season game vs the [[Buffalo Bills]], Moss set an NFL record by becoming the first player in NFL history to have over 100 yards in his first three games with a new team.<ref>[http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=27894&pcid=47 Patriots.com, September 23, 2007, "Patriots vs. Bills: Game Notes"]</ref> In the game, Moss had 5 receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns. In the Patriots 34 to 10, regular season week four victory over the [[Cincinnati Bengals]], Moss caught nine passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage totals made Moss the first player in the Patriots history as a team to have four consecutive 100 yard receiving game<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/10/02/moss_sticks_with_pattern/ Boston Globe, Gregory Lee Jr., October 2, 2007, "Moss sticks with pattern"]</ref>. Patriots quarterback [[Tom Brady]] praised Moss after the game stating "He doesn't drop any balls. He's a great receiver. He commands double coverage quite a bit and finds ways to beat double coverage. If they double-cover him, he's always a threat to go deep. If they play deep, we can throw it underneath. He has deceptively quick moves on the line of scrimmage. He's a great threat out there."<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/10/bills_take_103.html Boston Globe, October 2, 2007, "Bill's take"]</ref>

==References==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references/>
</div>

==External Links==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/12576 NFL Stats]
*[http://www.therealrandymoss.com/rmoss/ Randy Moss's Official Website]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=6243 Patriots Bio]
*[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/4262/ SI Bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moss, Randy}}

[[Category:New England Patriot Players]]

Randy Moss

2007-12-29T17:59:56Z

Tash:

'''Randy Moss''' is an [[National Football League]] (NFL) wide receiver for the [[New England Patriots]]. He has also previously played professional [[American Football|football]] for the [[Minnesota Vikings]] (1998 - 2004) and [[Oakland Raiders]] (2005 - 2006). He was born on February 13, 1977 in Rand, [[West Virginia]].

==High School Football==
In his senior year at DuPont High School in Rand, [[West Virginia]], Moss was named the West Virginia High School Football Player of the Year.

== College Football ==
Randy Moss attended and played college football at the wide receiver position for [[Marshall University]] for two seasons. He was then and still is today considered one of best wide receivers to play college football ever. In his two seasons at Marshall, Randy had 174 receptions for 3,529 yards and a school record 53 touchdown receptions.

==NFL Career==
Moss is known as one of the greatest and most explosive players to play in the history of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). In his entire NFL career, he has played in 138 games and had 676 receptions for 10,700 yards (15.8 avg) and 101 touchdowns and also has thrown two career touchdown passes. He is the only player in NFL history to have at least 1,000 receiving yards in his first six seasons. However, along with being very talented, Moss has been a very troubled off and on the football field. In his professional career, he has been fined at least 95 thousand dollars for his antics<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1998159</ref> and in 2002 he bumped a traffic control officer with his car. He has also admitted to smoking marijuana during his NFL career<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2005/09/08/which_route_will_moss_take/</ref>. When asked about his past in a interview in 2007 Moss stated, "Anything that you've heard about me, good or bad, some are lies. Some are true. Hopefully the true stuff will come out and then hopefully the bad will stay back there."<ref>http://www.patriots.com/mediacenter/index.cfm?ac=audionewsdetail&pid=25857&pcid=81</ref>

===1998 - 2003===
In 1998, the [[Minnesota Vikings]] drafted Moss in the first round (21st overall) of the [[1998 NFL Draft]]. In his rookie season, one of the greatest rookie season's by any player in NFL history, he played in all sixteen of the Vikings games and started eleven. He easily won the [[NFL]]'s Rookie of the Year award and was also named a NFC Pro Bowl starter as he caught 69 passes for an amazing 1313 yards and 17 touchdowns. For the next five seasons (1999 - 2003) Moss did not miss a game and was a very consistent player (NFC Pro Bowler 1998 - 2000, 2002 - 2003); finishing every season with at least 77 receptions, 1233 yards, or with the exception of 2002 season when he caught seven touchdowns, ten or more touchdowns. In total, from 1999 to 2003, Moss caught 456 passes (32 of those receptions went for 40 yards or more) for 7,062 yards and 60 touchdowns.

===2004 - 2006===
Moss's 2004 season was a down year for him as he played though a nagging hamstring injury all season long. For the first time in his pro career he failed to play in all 16 regular season games or finish a season with over a thousand receiving yards (767 in 2004). He also set career lows for receptions with 49 and also receptions for a first down with 43. Moss who had for some time been discontent with his situation in Minnesota and his frustration with the consistently playing for a losing team was traded on March 2, 2005 to the [[Oakland Raiders]] for Oakland linebacker [[Napoleon Harris]] and two seventh round picks<ref>http://football.about.com/b/a/148977.htm</ref>.

Although he was expected to thrive in the Raiders long ball offensive system, Moss for one reason or another seemed unable to reach his pre 2004 production. He still did show that he was a threat to catch the deep pass early in his Raider career though when on the opening night game of the 2005 NFL season vs the [[New England Patriots]], he caught a 73 yard pass for a touchdown. Three weeks later in the season he would catch 79 yard pass. Moss finished the 2005 season with 60 receptions for 1005 yards and eight touchdowns however the Raiders finished the 2005 season with a 4 & 12 record.

In 2006, everything fell apart for Moss as he had the worst season of his career and set personal lows for himself in every major statical category. He also missed the last three games of the season due to an ankle injury. His offensive coordinator, Tom Walsh, told the [[Boston Globe]] after the 2006 season in an interview that Moss's receiving skills and hunger to play football had severely diminished. Walsh said, "Randy Moss is a player whose skills are diminishing, and he's in denial of those eroding skills. Randy was a great receiver, but he lacked the work ethic and the desire to cultivate any skills that would compensate for what he was losing physically later in his career"<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2871527</ref>. The Raiders situation did not improve at all either in 2006. They finished the 2006 season with a league worst 2 & 14 record. with their only two wins coming vs the [[Cleveland Browns]] and an upset victory over the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]. Moss commented on his frustration with the Raiders losing ways saying, "losing sometimes can get contagious, but as a player I can't let that settle in, and I think that's one of the things that bothered me [in Oakland]. I didn't want it to set in and it didn't set in. It was just really nerve-racking that it was hard for me to win."<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2871527</ref>

===2007===
With Moss unhappy again with his situation once again, the Raiders began looking for possible teams to trade Moss to. On the morning of April 29, 2007, just before the second day of the [[2007 NFL Draft]] began, the Raiders traded Moss to the [[New England Patriots]] for the Patriots 2007 forth round draft choice<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/news/story?id=2853116</ref>. He said after the trade, "I was very overwhelmed. I'm still in shock at the same time and I can't believe I'm a Patriot... Let’s put it this way…The Moss of old is back."<ref>http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=25032&pcid=41</ref>. In his first game as a Patriot vs the the [[New York Jets]], Moss caught nine passes for 183 yards and a touchdown<ref>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=3012178</ref>; the third highest receiving yardage total for a game in his career. It had been uncertain before the game whether or not he would actually play since he had missed all four of the Patriots preseason games after suffering a hamstring injury early in the [[Patriots Training Camp|Patriots training camp]]<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/09/09/randy_moss_thomas_jones_active_for_patriots_jets_game/ Boston Globe, Dennis Waszak Jr, AP Sports Writer, September 9, 2007, "Randy Moss, Thomas Jones active for Patriots-Jets game"]</ref>. In the week two regular season game vs the [[San Diego Chargers]], Moss caught eight passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/09/17/unstoppable_brady_leads_patriots_over_chargers/ Boston Globe, Mike Shalin, September 17, 2007, "Unstoppable Brady leads Patriots over Chargers"]</ref>. The following week, in the Patriots third regular season game vs the [[Buffalo Bills]], Moss set an NFL record by becoming the first player in NFL history to have over 100 yards in his first three games with a new team.<ref>[http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=27894&pcid=47 Patriots.com, September 23, 2007, "Patriots vs. Bills: Game Notes"]</ref> In the game, Moss had 5 receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns. In the Patriots 34 to 10, regular season week four victory over the [[Cincinnati Bengals]], Moss caught nine passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage totals made Moss the first player in the Patriots history as a team to have four consecutive 100 yard receiving game<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/10/02/moss_sticks_with_pattern/ Boston Globe, Gregory Lee Jr., October 2, 2007, "Moss sticks with pattern"]</ref>. Patriots quarterback [[Tom Brady]] praised Moss after the game stating "He doesn't drop any balls. He's a great receiver. He commands double coverage quite a bit and finds ways to beat double coverage. If they double-cover him, he's always a threat to go deep. If they play deep, we can throw it underneath. He has deceptively quick moves on the line of scrimmage. He's a great threat out there."<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/10/bills_take_103.html Boston Globe, October 2, 2007, "Bill's take"]</ref>

==References==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references/>
</div>

==External Links==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/12576 NFL Stats]
*[http://www.therealrandymoss.com/rmoss/ Randy Moss's Official Website]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=6243 Patriots Bio]
*[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/4262/ SI Bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moss, Randy}}

[[Category:New England Patriot Players]]

John Chancellor

2007-12-29T17:59:09Z

Tash:

'''John William Chancellor''' (1927-1996) was a broadcast journalist for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). Chancellor served 40 years at the network, anchoring some of its main news programs including, [[NBC Nightly News]] and [[The Today Show]]. He also worked as a NBC correspondent in [[Vienna]], [[London]], [[Brussels]], [[Berlin]] and [[Moscow]]. During his journalism career, he interviewed every president since [[Henry Truman]], every British prime minister since [[Clement Attlee]], and reported from over fifty countries until his death in 1996<ref>http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9113102/Chancellor-John-William</ref>.

==Television Career==
After working for some time as a reporter at the ''Chicogo Sun-Times'', Chancellor's major television journalism career began when he worked for [[NBC]]'s ''[[NBC Nightly News|Huntley-Brinkley Report]]''. During his job as a correspondent, the Report led television rating's with over 20 million viewers. Impressed by Chancellor's correspondent work, NBC promoted him to the networks morning show, ''[[The Today Show]]'', in 1961. He later said about his job at the as anchor of the morning show, "[It] was awful. I found myself introducing musical acts at 7:45 in the morning, and that was, that was just too much for me. I wanted to get back to work."<ref>http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/john_chancellor.html</ref> He worked at this job for one year, until he was placed back as a [[NBC News]] correspondent.

While covering the 1946 [[Republican National Convention]] he was arrested for refusing to cede his spot on the floor to supporters of [[Barry Goldwater]]. This arrest happened when Chancellor was reporting to NBC News. While being forced out of the convention by police, he ended his coverage by stating, "I've been promised bail, ladies and gentlemen, by my office. This is John Chancellor, somewhere in custody." Because of the bad press caused by the incident, he resigned from the network.

He then served as director for ''[[Voice of America]]'', a job he was assigned to by future president [[Lyndon Johnson]]. During his time at the ''Voice of America'', Chancellor covered the [[John F. Kennedy| Kennedy]] and [[Richard Nixon| Nixon]] administrations. In 1965, he returned back to NBC, and was assigned as the networks [[White House]] Correspondent. At this job, Chancellor covered president [[Lyndon Johnson]]. He and Johnson had known each other from their previous work at ''Voice of America'', Chancellor stated he, “ quite a good relationship when he was president. I was fascinated by the [[White House]]. I loved working there as a reporter.” <ref>http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/archives.hom/oralhistory.hom/Chancellor/chancellor.pdf</ref> During his time covering the White House, Chancellor covered the [[Vietnam War]] from the prospective of the president.

Chancellor returned to NBC in 1968. In 1970 he became an anchor for the predecessor of the ''[[Huntly-Brinkley Report]]'', ''[[NBC Nightly News]]''. Although he was an anchor he also worked with commentator [[David Brinkley]], and it was not until 1980 when he became sole anchor of the thirty minute news broadcast. In 1982 he retired from head anchor and was succeeded by co-anchors [[Roger Mudd]] and [[Tom Brokaw]].

Although not anchor of ''Nightly News'', Chancellor continued working for the network; giving editorial commentaries on the nightly news show. After moving to [[New England]], Chancellor died of stomach cancer in 1996, at the age of 69.<ref>http://www.nndb.com/people/886/000115541/</ref> Although Chancellor was known nationally for quality and insightful reporting, much of his work with NBC was overshadowed by [[Walter Cronkite]]'s work with [[CBS News]].<ref> http://www.brainyencyclopedia.com/encyclopedia/j/jo/john_chancellor.html</ref> [[David Brinkley]], a well known news commentator, stated that Chancellor was, "On the air he was very relaxed. He always talked as if he were talking to a good friend at the table or at a bar, or whatever. And I think that was one reason he was as successful as he was."<ref>http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/john_chancellor.html</ref>

==Film==
In 1994 Chancellor was narrator for an award wining documentary, [[Baseball]]. The over eighteen hour documentary chronicled the history of the sports greatest player and teams.

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chancellor, John}}

{{Template:NBC Nightly News Anchors}}

[[Category:Broadcasters]]

Antwain Spann

2007-12-29T17:50:46Z

Tash: not a notable player anymore

'''Antwain Spann''' is a [[National Football League]] cornerback for the [[New England Patriots]]. He was born on February 22, 1983 in Oceanside, [[California]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spann, Antwain}}

[[Category:New England Patriot Players]]

Antwain Spann

2007-12-29T17:48:22Z

Tash:

[[Image:ASpannPatsCB31.jpg|thumb|200px|Patriots defensive back Antwain Spann (#)signing autographs for fans after a 2006 training camp practice]]
'''Antwain Spann''' is a [[National Football League]] cornerback for the [[New England Patriots]]. He was born on February 22, 1983 in Oceanside, [[California]].

== External Links ==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/554241 NFL Stats]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=31805 Patriots Bio]
*[http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=37962 NFL Players Bio]
*[http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=345&p=8&c=1&nid=2349597 Scout.com Draft Profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spann, Antwain}}

[[Category:New England Patriot Players]]

Laurence Maroney

2007-12-29T17:45:28Z

Tash:

'''Laurence Maroney''' is a [[National Football League]] running back for the [[New England Patriots]]. He was born on February 5, 1985 in [[Saint Louis]], [[Missouri]]. He is "5-11" and weighs 220 pounds.... Wears number 39 with the Patriots.

== High School Football Career ==
From 1999 to 2002, Maroney attended Normandy High School, in [[Saint Louis]], [[Missouri]]. In his four years playing football he was an all conference selection each year and a all state selection two years. In his senior (2002) season he rushed for 1,948 yards on 210 attempts (9.3 avg) and had 25 touchdowns. Also in his senior year he had 15 sacks while playing on defense.... His overall career statistics in his high school football career were 4,808 yards 608 rushing attempts for 56 touchdowns.

== College Football Career ==
Maroney played [[college]] football with the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers]] for three season (years 2003 through 2005). He was know as a big and fast running back with breakaway speed. In his freshman season he backed up starting running back [[Marion Barber]] and ended up being a essential part of a one-two Minnesota rushing attack with Barber running for 1196 yards and 17 touchdowns and Maroney rushing for 1121 yards and 10 touchdowns. His total of yards in his freshman year was the best total of any freshman running back in the nation. Laurence moved in his sophomore year from backup running back to co started with [[Marion Barber]]. He began the 2004 season with six straight games of 100 yards plus rushing yards including one vs the number four defense in college football, Iowa, at the time. Laurence ended 2004 leading the Golden Gophers with 217 rushing attempts for 1348 yards (6.2 avg) and 12 touchdowns and was named co MVP of the team with [[Marion Barber]]. After Barber graduated and was drafted in the [[2005 NFL Draft]] by the [[Dallas Cowboys]], the running back duties fell solely in the hands of Maroney. Although he struggled with injures throughout the 2005 junior season he managed to establish himself as one of the nations top running backs. In 2005 he had 1464 yards on 281 rushing attempts (5.3 avg) and 10 touchdowns. He also had the best game of his career when he rushed for 258 yards in a game against Wisconsin.... Deciding to enter the [[2006 NFL Draft]] rather then stay at the [[University of Minnesota]] for a senior season Maroney ended his career with the Gophers as one of the schools greatest running backs. In total he had 3,933 yards and 32 touchdowns on 660 attempts, and is second in the schools history for all-propose yards with 4,797.

== NFL Career ==
In 2006 the [[New England Patriots]] drafted Maroney in the 1st round of the [[2006 NFL Draft]] with the 21st overall pick. In his rookie season with the Patriots Maroney played in 14 games. In week three of the regular season vs the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] he had his best game when he rumbled for 125 yards and two touchdowns - including one 25 yard touchdown run that was named by the [[NFL Network]] as one of the top ten runs of the 2006 season. He also playing a huge role on the Patriots as a kickoff returner, Maroney returned 28 kicks for 783 yards (28 yard avg). In week 13 in a game vs the [[Detroit Lions]] Maroney was hurt on a kickoff return in the first quarter of the game. He didn't return to play in the game and also ended up missing the next two weeks while recovering from the injury. Returning from the injury induced inactive list in weeks 16 and 17 he ran for key touchdowns in both games. He ended the 2006 NFL season with 745 yards on 175 attempts (4.3 avg) and 6 touchdowns. He also had an surprisingly effective year in the receiving game as well with 22 receptions for 1941 yards and a touchdown.

Maroney is currently signed with the Patriots to a five year deal that extends till the 2011 season. Heunderwent shoulder surgery in early 2007<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/03/27/hell_be_up_and_running/</ref> but is reportedly going to be ready to assume the New England starting running back job for the 2007 season.

== References ==
<references/>

== External Links ==

* [http://www.nfl.com/players/laurencemaroney/careerstats?id=MAR273311 NFL Stats]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=146107 College Stats]
* [http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=3642 Rotoworld - Maroney News]
* [http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=63&p=8&c=1&nid=2540062 Scout.com - Maroney News]
* [http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=32009 Patriots Bio]
* [http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=38349 NFL Players Bio]
* [http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?id=10306&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfldraft%2fdraft%2ftracker%2fplayer%3fid%3d10306 ESPN Draft Profile]
* [http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2006/maroney_laurence NFL.com Draft Profile]
* [http://football.about.com/od/nationalfootballleague/p/laurencemaroney.htm About Football Draft Profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maroney, Laurence}}

[[Category:New England Patriot Players]]

2008 YouTube presidential debates

2007-12-28T23:11:25Z

Tash:

The '''2008 YouTube presidential debates''' happened in 2007 before the 2008 [[Republican]] and [[Democrat]] primaries. People were aloud to send in video's asking the candidates questions. The Democratic YouTube debate included the following candidates:
* Senator [[Joe Biden]]
* Senator [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]]
* Senator [[Chris Dodd]]
* Fmr. Senator [[John Edwards]]
* Fmr. Senator [[Mike Gravel]]
* Representative [[Dennis Kucinich]]
* Senator [[Barrack Obama]]
* Governor [[Bill Richardson]]
The Republican YouTube debate included the following candidates:
* Fmr. Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]]
* Fmr. Governor [[Mike Huckabee]]
* Representative [[Duncan Hunter]]
* Senator [[John McCain]]
* Representative [[Ron Paul]]
* Fmr. Governor [[Mitt Romney]]
* Representative [[Tom Tancredo]]
* Fmr. Senator [[Fred Thompson]]
The debate generated alot of criticism for allowing Democratic supporters to ask the candidates questions. Most notably Keith Kerr, an advisor to Hilary Clinton.

[[Category: 2008 Presidential Candidates]]

Corey Mays

2007-12-28T00:14:35Z

Tash:

'''Corey Mays''' (born on November 27, 1983) is a [[National Football League]] (NFL) linebacker for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]. He is "6-1" (tall) and weighs 245 pounds.

== College Football ==
Attending [[Notre Dame]] from 2001 through 2005, Mays played in 45 and started 11 games as a special teams ace and linebacker. In his senior season Mays started all 11 games at middle linebacker and made 68 total tackles and 4 sacks.

== NFL Career ==
In 2006 Mays entered the [[NFL]] as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent. He was signed by the [[New England Patriots]] on May 8, 2006 to compete for a spot on the team. Due to his solid showing in both training camp and preseason action, Mays beat out several other players (including a 2006 Patriots 6th round draft pick) for a spot at backup linebacker and special teams contributer. He had memorial moment in a training camp drill when he got in a tussle with the Patriots 2006 first round draft pick [[Laurence Maroney]]... In his rookie season he played in eight regular season games mostly on the Patriots special teams coverage units and made 9 tackles. He also played in all three of the Patriots postseason games and had 2 tackles and a forced fumble.

On March 21, 2007, the Patriots resigned<ref>http://patriots.scout.com/2/628815.html</ref> Mays to a one year contract. He was released from the team however on September 1, 2007 in the teams final roster cutdown.<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/patriots_cuts_1.html</ref> After passing through wavers the following day, he was resigned by the Patriots to their practice squad.<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/mays_to_return.html</ref> He was released from the Patriots in late September and signed by the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] on October 2. <ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/10/mays_claimed.html Boston Globe, Mike Riess, October 2, 2007, "Mays claimed"]</ref>

==References==
<references/>
== External Links ==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/coreymays/profile?id=MAY716331 NFL Stats]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=32035 Patriots Bio]
*[http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=91 NFL Players Bio]
*[http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mays_corey00.html College Bio]
*[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2006/draft/players/1478.html SI.com Draft Profile]
*[http://www.nd.edu/~observer/02082001/Sports/2.html Obsever Newspaper Article]
*[http://colts.scout.com/2/518207.html Scout.com Interview]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mays, Corey}}
[[category:NFL players]]

Corey Mays

2007-12-28T00:14:19Z

Tash:

'''Corey Mays''' (born on November 27, 1983) is a [[National Football League]] (NFL) linebacker for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]. He is "6-1" (tall) and weighs 245 pounds.

== College Football ==
Attending [[Notre Dame]] from 2001 through 2005, Mays played in 45 and started 11 games as a special teams ace and linebacker. In his senior season Mays started all 11 games at middle linebacker and made 68 total tackles and 4 sacks.

== NFL Career ==
In 2006 Mays entered the NFL as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent. He was signed by the [[New England Patriots]] on May 8, 2006 to compete for a spot on the team. Due to his solid showing in both training camp and preseason action, Mays beat out several other players (including a 2006 Patriots 6th round draft pick) for a spot at backup linebacker and special teams contributer. He had memorial moment in a training camp drill when he got in a tussle with the Patriots 2006 first round draft pick [[Laurence Maroney]]... In his rookie season he played in eight regular season games mostly on the Patriots special teams coverage units and made 9 tackles. He also played in all three of the Patriots postseason games and had 2 tackles and a forced fumble.

On March 21, 2007, the Patriots resigned<ref>http://patriots.scout.com/2/628815.html</ref> Mays to a one year contract. He was released from the team however on September 1, 2007 in the teams final roster cutdown.<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/patriots_cuts_1.html</ref> After passing through wavers the following day, he was resigned by the Patriots to their practice squad.<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/mays_to_return.html</ref> He was released from the Patriots in late September and signed by the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] on October 2. <ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/10/mays_claimed.html Boston Globe, Mike Riess, October 2, 2007, "Mays claimed"]</ref>

==References==
<references/>
== External Links ==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/coreymays/profile?id=MAY716331 NFL Stats]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=32035 Patriots Bio]
*[http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=91 NFL Players Bio]
*[http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mays_corey00.html College Bio]
*[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2006/draft/players/1478.html SI.com Draft Profile]
*[http://www.nd.edu/~observer/02082001/Sports/2.html Obsever Newspaper Article]
*[http://colts.scout.com/2/518207.html Scout.com Interview]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mays, Corey}}
[[category:NFL players]]

Dante Scarnecchia

2007-12-28T00:13:16Z

Tash:

'''Dante Scarnecchia''' (born February 15, 1948, in Los Angeles, [[California]]) is the [[New England Patriots]] offensive line coach. Since joining the Patriots organization in 1982<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/superbowl/globe_stories/013102/ultimate_team_player+.shtml</ref>, with the exceptions of the 1989-1990 seasons, he has been assistant on the team. He is the longest tenured coach in the Patriots history.

==References==
<references/>
==External Links==
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=510 Patriots Bio]
[[Category:New England Patriots]]

Larry Izzo

2007-12-28T00:10:59Z

Tash:

'''Larry Izzo''' is a [[National Football League]] linebacker for the [[New England Patriots]]. He was born on September 26, 1974 in Fort Belvoir, [[Virginia]]. He is "5-10" tall and weighs 228 pounds.

== College Football ==
Izzo attended [[Rice University]] from 1992 through 1995 and played linebacker for the football team. He started at the position for three years and in his senior season was named the team's defensive captain.

== NFL Career ==
Izzo started his [[NFL]] career with the [[Miami Dolphins]] in 1996. He made the team as a special teams ace and in his rookie season played in all 16 of the Dolphins games and made 12 tackles and also block a punt and deflected two punts. Throughout the rest of the late 90's Izzo continued to play as a backup linebacker and special teams coverage wizard. In 2000, he made the AFC [[Pro Bowl]] Team as the AFC's special teamer. The next year (2001), he joined the [[New England Patriots]] and was voted instantly as a team captain. In part due to his important contributions, the Patriots became [[Super Bowl]] Champions that year. In 2002, Izzo was named AFC Special Teams player of the week twice and once again made the AFC [[Pro Bowl]] Team as the AFC's special teamer. The next year (2003), he made his first career NFL interception when in the last game of the regular season he intercepted a pass in the Patriots endzone to seal a Patriots completed shutout and 31 -0 victory over the [[Buffalo Bills]]... In 2004, Izzo set a career high in tackles with 25 (22 of them solo). On March 6, 2007, Izzo resigned with the Patriots<ref>http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=24362&pcid=41</ref>. Since he joined the Patriots in 2001, he has only missed one game and played in 79.

==References==
<references/>

== External Links ==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/larryizzo/profileid=IZZ474619 NFL Stats]
*[http://www.larryizzosalutetothetroops.com/ Izzo Website on USO Tour]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=9987 Patriots Bio]
*[http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=24206 NFL Players Bio]
*[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/3760/ SI.com Bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Izzo, Larry}}
[[Category:New England Patriot Players]]

Larry Izzo

2007-12-28T00:10:46Z

Tash:

'''Larry Izzo''' is a [[National Football League]] linebacker for the [[New England Patriots]]. He was born on September 26, 1974 in Fort Belvoir, [[Virginia]]. He is "5-10" tall and weighs 228 pounds.

== College Football ==
Izzo attended [[Rice University]] from 1992 through 1995 and played linebacker for the football team. He started at the position for three years and in his senior season was named the team's defensive captain.

== NFL Career ==
Izzo started his NFL career with the [[Miami Dolphins]] in 1996. He made the team as a special teams ace and in his rookie season played in all 16 of the Dolphins games and made 12 tackles and also block a punt and deflected two punts. Throughout the rest of the late 90's Izzo continued to play as a backup linebacker and special teams coverage wizard. In 2000, he made the AFC [[Pro Bowl]] Team as the AFC's special teamer. The next year (2001), he joined the [[New England Patriots]] and was voted instantly as a team captain. In part due to his important contributions, the Patriots became [[Super Bowl]] Champions that year. In 2002, Izzo was named AFC Special Teams player of the week twice and once again made the AFC [[Pro Bowl]] Team as the AFC's special teamer. The next year (2003), he made his first career NFL interception when in the last game of the regular season he intercepted a pass in the Patriots endzone to seal a Patriots completed shutout and 31 -0 victory over the [[Buffalo Bills]]... In 2004, Izzo set a career high in tackles with 25 (22 of them solo). On March 6, 2007, Izzo resigned with the Patriots<ref>http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=24362&pcid=41</ref>. Since he joined the Patriots in 2001, he has only missed one game and played in 79.

==References==
<references/>

== External Links ==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/larryizzo/profileid=IZZ474619 NFL Stats]
*[http://www.larryizzosalutetothetroops.com/ Izzo Website on USO Tour]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=9987 Patriots Bio]
*[http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=24206 NFL Players Bio]
*[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/3760/ SI.com Bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Izzo, Larry}}
[[Category:New England Patriot Players]]

Marquise Hill

2007-12-28T00:09:25Z

Tash:

'''Marquise Hill''' is a [[National Football League]] defense end for the [[New England Patriots]]. He was born on July 7, 1982 in [[New Orleans]]. On the night of May 27, 2006, Hill was involved in a jet ski crash on [[Lake Pontchartrain]] in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], and apparently drowned some time after the incident. According to reports, Hill saved the life the other individual involved in the incident, a female friend of Hill, before he drowned. He was 24 years old.

== High School Football Career ==
Hill attended De La Salle high school in [[Louisianian]], [[New Orleans]]. In his senior season he was rated by some as being the best defense lineman in the country. He had 92 tackles and 8 sacks in his senior season.

== College Career ==
Marquise Hill attended [[Louisianian State University]] and played defensive end for the Tigers (LUS's college football team). In his 38 games he played with the LSU Tigers, Hill made 117 tackles, 10 sacks, a fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and an interception. He was a key part of the 2004 team that won the 2004 BCS National Championship.

== NFL Career ==
Marquise Hill was drafted in the second round of the [[2004 NFL Draft]] by the [[New England Patriots]]. Due mostly to the fact that much of Hill's [[NFL]] career was spent rehabbing from numerous injury's in his three years with the Patriots he only appeared in thirteen games and made three total tackles.

== External Links ==

*[http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/492960: Career Stats]

=== Source Material ===

*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=28460 Patriots Bio]
*[http://football.about.com/cs/playerprofiles/p/marquisehill.htm About.com Bio]
*[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/05/28/hill_missing_after_jetski_accident/ Boston Globe - Hill Found]
*[http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1003500 Boston Herald - Body Found]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hill, Marquise}}

[[Category:New England Patriot Players]]

Caspar Weinberger

2007-12-27T19:47:33Z

Tash: ds

'''Caspar Willard Weinberger''' (18 August 1917 – 28 March 2006), was an [[American]] [[politician]] and served as [[Secretary of Defense]] under [[President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] between 1981 and 1987.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weinberger, Caspar}}

Heritage Foundation

2007-12-27T16:01:43Z

Tash:

The '''Heritage Foundation''' is a [[conservative]] think-tank and educational institute based in [[Washington, D.C.]], in the [[United States]]. It is widely considered the most influential conservative think-tank in the world and one of the most influential think-tanks in the U.S.

The foundation conducts basic research on [[public policy]]. Its stated mission is to formulate and promote [[conservative]] public policies based on the principles of [[free enterprise]], [[limited government]], [[individual freedom]], [[traditional values]], and a strong [[national defense]].

The Heritage Foundation is also known for its influential conservative personnel, many of whom have served, or gone on to serve, in senior governmental roles, including: [[Richard V. Allen]], [[L. Paul Bremer]], [[Elaine Chao]], [[Lawrence Di Rita]], [[Michael Johns]], [[John F. Lehman]], [[Edwin Meese]], [[Steve Ritchie]], and others.<ref name=personnel>[http://www.nndb.com/org/489/000049342/ NNDB - The Heritage Foundation]</ref>

==External links==
* [http://www.heritage.org/ Heritage Foundation Official Web Site].
* [http://policy.heritage.org/ Heritage Foundation Official Policy Blog].
* [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/ ''Index of Economic Freedom'', an annual Heritage Foundation publication].
* [http://www.nndb.com/org/489/000049342/ Heritage Foundation profile at Notable Names Database].

[[category:Heritage Foundation|*]]
[[category:political organizations]]

Kelley Washington

2007-12-25T00:21:42Z

Tash:

'''Kelley Washington''' is a [[National Football League]] wide receiver for the [[New England Patriots]]. Kelley goes by his middle name; his first name is James. He was born on May 1, 1981. He is 6 foot 3 and weighs 218 pounds. Had a Arts and Sciences major at the [[University of Tennessee]].

== High School Football ==
He started at safety, punter and quarterback while attending Sherando High School in [[Stephens City]], [[Virginia]]. He passed for 1,887 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior and on defense had nine interceptions<ref>http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/washington_kelley00.html</ref>.

== Minor League Baseball Career ==
Kelley Washington was drafted in the 10th round of the 1997 baseball draft by the [[Florida Marlins]] and spent four years (1997-2000) playing minor league baseball for them. He played both shortstop (three years) and third base (one year). His career in baseball ended in 2000 when he left the Marlins to attend the [[University of Tennessee]].... His total batting average for 1997 through 2000 was 213<ref>http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/washington_kelley00.html</ref>.

== College Football Career ==
Kelley Washington had a stunning junior season with the [[University of Tennessee]] Volunteers in 2001 when he caught 64 passes for 1010 yards and 5 touchdowns. That year he also a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff award (college footballs best wide receiver award). He was know as one of college football's most explosive wide receivers.... Was hurt in his 2002 senior season and only appeared in four games. Finished his college career with the Volunteers statistical totaling 87 receptions for 1453 yards and 6 touchdowns<ref>http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/washington_kelley</ref>.

== NFL Career ==
In 2003 Kelly Washington was drafted in the third round of the NFL draft by the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]. In his rookie he played in all sixteen games with the Bengals and caught 22 passes for 299 yards and four touchdown. In his second season with Cincinnati he once again played in all sixteen games. He finished 2004 with 31 receptions for 378 yards and 3 touchdowns. However, unfortunately for the Bengals and Kelley, Washington's 2005 and 2006 seasons were marred by injures and his production dropped to a total of 19 receptions for 216 yards and 2 touchdowns. Also as a direct result of his injures he only played in a total of 12 games (out of a possible 32) from 2005 - 2006. After the 2006 season he became a free agent and was signed by the [[New England Patriots]] on March 12, 2007<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/washington_agre_1.html</ref>. The deal he signed with the Patriots is worth seven million dollars over a five year contract period<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/03/wr_deals.html</ref>. He will wear number 15 with the Patriots.

== References ==
<references/>

== External Links ==

*[http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/396119 Career Stats]
*[http://www.kelleywashington.net/ Official Website]
*[http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=34493&section=bio NFL Players Bio]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=30680 New England Bio]
*[http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/washington_kelley00.html College Profile]
*[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/tracker/player?id=7210 ESPN Draft Profile]
*[http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/washington_kelley NFL.com Draft Profile]
*[http://www.houstonprofootball.com/draft/2003/prospects/washington.html Houston Draft Profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, Kelley}}

[[Category:New England Patriot Players]]

Meet the Press

2007-12-23T22:51:29Z

Tash:

[[Image:Meet the press logo.jpg|thumb|right|The original logo of Meet the Press ]]
'''Meet the Press''' is a [[Sunday]] morning political [[television]] show which airs on [[NBC]]. It has interviewed many of the worlds major newsmakers and politicians in its history and is the longest running television show in history.<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb1437/is_200203/ai_n5929381</ref> There have been nine permanent hosts of the show, former [[NBC Nightly News| NBC News]] Washington Bureau Chief, [[Tim Russert]], currently holds the position.<ref> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3403008/</ref> An average of five million [[American|Americans]] watch the one hour Meet the Press show each week.

==Radio==
''Meet the Press'' was founded in 1945<ref> http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1945/october_5_1945_106236.html</ref> by [[Lawrence E. Spivak]] and [[Martha Rountree]] who described the show as “a forum-type program appealing to an audience interested in mechanics of a genuine press conference”.<ref>Meet the Press: 50-Years of History in the Making, by Rick Ball (Author), Nbc News </ref>It began on radio and was based off idea’s that the two journalist had formulated in other shows. The first guest on the program was a reporter from the [[Christian Science Monitor]], [[Henry Wallace]], who had just returned from the [[Soviet Union]]. [[Mutual Network]] offered the show a contract and started airing Meet the Press in October 1945. After the radio program's first year it was receiving praise for revolutionizing the news radio industry. In 1946, A [[Republican]] committee used tape of a ''Meet the Press'' interview with [[Democrat]] [[Senator]], [[Theodore Bilbo]], as proof of him being an alleged [[Ku Klux Klan|Klansman]]. Although the show switched over to television, it went back to radio in 1952, this lasted until 1987 when NBC stopped the radio broadcast.
==Television==
[[Image:Meetthepress.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The original set for Meet the Press, which currently is showcased in the Smithsonian Institution]]
In November 1947,'' Meet the Press'' moved to television and made its debut on the [[NBC| National Broadcasting Company]] although it was only shown on its [[New York]] station (WNBT). The program has interviewed world leaders such as [[Francois Mitterrand]], [[Indira Gandhi]], [[David Ben-Gurion]], [[Golda Meir]], [[Ferdinand Marcos]], [[Jean Monnet]], [[Fidel Castro]], [[Anwar el-Sadat]], [[King Hussein]] of [[Jordan]] ,[[Yitzhak Rabin]], [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], [[Hamid Karzai]], [[Pervez Musharraf]], [[King Abdullah]] of [[Jordan]], [[Tony Blair]], [[Ghazi al-Yawar]], [[George W. Bush]] and many other leaders <ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3403008/</ref>. After [[John Kerry]]'s return from [[Vietnam]], he made his now famous appearance on ''Meet the Press''. In February 1997, the program became the first television program to broadcast with high definition. The same year [[Tim Russert]] took the role of host, which he still holds today. The show currently leads all Sunday news programs with over 5 million viewers.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3403149/</ref>

==Hosts==
[[Image:Imagerussert.jpg|thumbnail||380px|left|Current Anchor, [[Tim Russert]], interviews [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] (CJCS), US Marine Corps (USMC), General (GEN) [[Peter Pace]], in [[NBC]] studio]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Time
|-
|[[Martha Rountree]]
| 1947-1953
|-
|[[Ned Brooks]]
|1953-1965
|-
|[[Lawrence Spivak]]
| 1965-1975
|-
|-
|[[Bill Monroe (Broadcaster)| Bill Monroe]]
|1975-1984
|-
|[[Marvin Kalb]]
|1984-1985
|-
|[[Roger Mudd]]
| 1984-1985
|-
|-
|[[Chris Wallace]]
| 1987-1988
|-
|[[Garrick Utley]]
| 1988-1996
|-
|[[Tim Russert]]
|1996-present
|}

==Trivia==
*Meet the press has interviewed every president since [[John F. Kennedy]] appeared on ''Meet the Press''.
*Every vice president has appeared on Meet the Press since 1952
* Senator [[Joe McCarthy]] brought a gun to his Meet the Press interview.<ref>http://www.amazon.com/Meet-Press-50-Years-History-Making/dp/0070466149</ref>
* The first ''Meet the Press'' program was shot in a hotel in [[Washington, D.C.]], the host of the show, Lawrence E. Spivak, lived in the same hotel.<ref>Meet the Press: 50-Years of History in the Making, by Rick Ball (Author)</ref>
*Bob Dole has made the most appearances on the show with 56.<ref>Meet the Press: 50-Years of History in the Making, by Rick Ball (Author)</ref>
* The ''Meet the Press'' interview with the most requested transcript was an interview with [[Juana Costro]].
*In 1968, [[Lawrance Spivak]] gave the [[Library of Congress]] nearly five hundred disc of ''Meet the Press'' shows. The library continues to update their copies every year.
* The set used by ''Meet the Press'' from 1954 to 1977 was donated to the [[Smithsonian Institution]]<ref>Meet the Press: 50-Years of History in the Making, by Rick Ball (Author)</ref>.
* Former [[Arkansas]] Governor, [[Mike Huckabee]], announced his entrance into the Republican presidential primary on Meet the Press in March 2007.
==External Links==
[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/ Meet The Press Website]

==References==
<references/>

{{Meet the Press moderators}}
[[Category:Broadcasting]]

New England Patriots

2007-12-22T01:16:27Z

Tash:

[[Image:Ptc.jpg|thumb|300px|The New England players at the 2005 [[Patriots Training Camp]].]]
The '''New England Patriots''' are a [[National Football League]] franchise team. The Patriots, also known to their fans as the "Pats", are based in [[Foxboro (Massachusetts)|Foxboro]], [[Massachusetts]]. Since they are located in the eastern region of the United States the Patriots belong to the Eastern Division of [[American Football Conference]] (AFC). Originally known as the Boston Patriots the franchise changed its name in 1971 to the New England Patriots to better reflect its representation of the entire [[New England]] region.

The Patriots have gone to five [[Super Bowl]]s and have won three. Their first Super Bowl trip was in 1985 against the [[Chicago Bears]], which they lost 42 - 10. In 1995 the Patriots made their second Super Bowl trip but fell short against the [[Green Bay Packers]] in a 35 - 21 loss. The Patriots' 2001 season ended in the teams first [[Super Bowl]] triumph when they defeated the heavily favored [[St. Louis Rams]] in a dramatic 21-17 victory. In 2003 and 2004, the Patriots once again were NFL Champions with Super Bowl victory's over the [[Carolina Panthers]] and [[Philadelphia Eagles]].

== Team ==
{|class="toccolours" style="background:white;border:2px solid rgb(193,193,193); text-align: left;font-size:95%;" cellpadding="10px"
|-
!colspan="7" style="font-size:100%; background-color: rgb(4,45,77); text-align:center; border: 2px solid rgb(192,38,32)" | New England Patriots Roster
|-
| valign="top" | '''Quarterbacks'''
* 12 [[Tom Brady]]
* 16 [[Matt Cassel]]
* 7 ''[[Matt Gutierrez]]''

'''Running Backs'''
* 38 [[Kyle Eckel]] FB
* 44 [[Heath Evans]] FB
* 33 [[Kevin Faulk]]
* 39 [[Laurence Maroney]]

'''Wide Receivers'''
* 80 [[Troy Brown]]
* 10 [[Jabar Gaffney]]
* 17 [[Chad Jackson]]
* 81 [[Randy Moss]]
* 18 [[Donte Stallworth]]
* 15 [[Kelley Washington]]
* 83 [[Wes Welker]] WR/KR

'''Tight Ends'''
* 88 [[Kyle Brady]]
* 84 [[Benjamin Watson]]

| valign="top" | '''Offensive Linemen'''
* 65 [[Wesley Britt]] T
* 71 [[Russ Hochstein]] C/G
* 77 [[Nick Kaczur]] T
* 67 [[Dan Koppen]] C
* 72 [[Matt Light]] T
* 70 [[Logan Mankins]] G
* 61 [[Stephen Neal]] G
* 68 [[Ryan O'Callaghan]] T
* 74 [[Billy Yates (football player)|Billy Yates]] G

'''Defensive Linemen'''
* 97 [[Jarvis Green]] DE
* 97 [[Rashad Moore]] DE
* 93 [[Richard Seymour]] DE
* 90 [[Kevin Smith (Football Player)|Kevin Smith]] NT
* 94 [[Ty Warren]] DE
* 75 [[Vince Wilfork]] NT

| valign="top" | '''Linebackers'''
* 52 [[Eric Alexander (football player)|Eric Alexander]] ILB
* 98 [[Chad Brown]] ILB
* 54 [[Tedy Bruschi]] ILB
* 59 [[Rosevelt Colvin]] OLB
* 53 [[Larry Izzo]] ILB
* 55 [[Junior Seau]] ILB
* 96 [[Adalius Thomas]] OLB
* 50 [[Mike Vrabel]] ILB/OLB
* 58 [[Pierre Woods]] OLB

'''Defensive Backs'''
* 23 [[Willie Andrews]] CB
* 21 [[Randall Gay]] CB
* 37 [[Rodney Harrison]] SS
* 27 [[Ellis Hobbs]] CB
* 31 ''[[Brandon Meriweather]]'' FS
* 24 [[Mel Mitchell]] FS
* 22 [[Asante Samuel]] CB
* 36 [[James Sanders (American football player)|James Sanders]] SS
* 26 [[Eugene Wilson (American football player)|Eugene Wilson]] FS
'''Special Teams'''
*  3 [[Stephen Gostkowski]] K
*  6[[Chris Hanson]] P
* 66 [[Lonie Paxton]] LS

| valign="top" |'''Coaches'''
*[[Bill Belichick]] Head Coach
*[[Nick Caserio]] Wide Receivers
*[[Joel Collier]] Secondary
*[[Ivan Fears]] Running Backs
*[[Pepper Johnson]] Defensive Line
*[[Pete Mangurian]] Tight Ends
*[[Josh McDaniels]] Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
*[[Harold Nash]] Assistant Strength and Conditioning
*[[Bill O'Brien]] Offensive Assistant
*[[Matt Patricia]] Linebackers
*[[Dean Pees]] Defensive Coordinator
*[[Dante Scarnecchia]] Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line
*[[Brad Seely]] Special Teams
*[[Mike Woicik]] Strength and Conditioning

'''Players on the Patriots Injury Reserve List (IR)'''
* 35 ''[[Mike Richardson]]'' CB
* 30 [[Chad Scott]] CB
* 49 ''[[Oscar Lua]]'' ILB
* 43 ''[[Justise Hairston]]''
* 86 [[David Thomas (football player)|David Thomas]]
* 34 [[Sammy Morris]]
* 99 [[Mike Wright]] NT

'''Practice Squad'''
* 13 [[Bam Childress]] WR
* 19 [[C.J. Jones (football player)|C.J. Jones]] WR
* 42 [[Gemara Williams]] CB/KR
* -- [[Ray Ventrone]] S
* 92 [[Santonio Thomas]] DT
 
''Rookies in italics''
|}

==Team History==
[[Image:Threetimesuperbowlwinners.gif|thumb|210px|The Patriots have won three [[Super Bowl]]s in the last six years.]]
In the Patriots history as a team they have experienced both sides of being an [[National Football League]] team - the losing - and the winning. In their early history as a team, the Patriots struggled just to get a winning record. Between the years 1960 and 1984 the team only made the playoffs four of those years; and only won one playoff game. The winds of fortunes seemed to be turning for the Patriots in 1985 though when for the first time in the teams history the Patriots won a AFC Championship Game and played in [[Super Bowl XX]] vs the [[Chicago Bears]]. The Patriots lost the game though and for the next eight years without a solid reliable quarterback, the team regressed into their pre-1985 form.

In 1993, the Patriots drafted with the first pick of the [[1993 NFL Draft]], [[University of Washington]] star quarterback, [[Drew Bledsoe]]. With Bledsoe now leading the team, the Patriots improved significantly and in 1996 the Patriots returned to the Super Bowl ([[Super Bowl XXXI]] vs the [[Green Bay Packers]]). Once again the Patriots lost but they didn't fall apart as a team and they continued to be a playoff contender throughout the late 1990's.

In 2000, the history of the Patriots quietly changed forever when [[Bill Belichick]] was appointed as the head coach and the Patriots drafted [[University of Michigan]] quarterback [[Tom Brady]] in the 6th round of the NFL Draft. The following year, 2001, Tom Brady became the Patriots starting quarterback and led the Patriots to their first [[Super Bowl]] victory. Since 2001, the Patriots have been in the playoffs all but one year (2002, 9-7 record) and have won two more Super Bowls. The 2004-2005 Patriots teams also set a NFL record for most consecutive game won with 26 in a row.

==Spying Incident==
In the Patriots 2007 regular season opener vs the [[New York Jets]], a Patriots employee, video assistant Matt Estrella, was caught video taping [[New York Jets]] defensive signals during the first quarter of the game.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012989 ESPN, Chris Mortensen, September 11, 2007, "Sources: Camera confiscated after claims of Pats spying on Jets"]</ref> NFL security officials at the game confiscated Estrella's video camera and the video tape and sent it to the leagues headquarters to determine whether the Patriots were violating the NFL's videotaping policy.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/rules_in_focus.html Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 11, 2007, "Rules in focus"]</ref> Days after the incident, Patriots head coach [[Bill Belichick]] apologized for the episode stating "I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players."<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/09/13/a_sorry_state/ Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 13, 2007, "A Sorry State, Belichick apologizes as probe continues"]</ref>

After a review of the video tape by the NFL's competition committee and commissioner [[Roger Goodell]], Bill Belichick was fined 500,000 dollars and the Patriots organization 250,000 dollars. The leagues verdict also stated the the Patriots would forfeit their 2008 NFL Draft first round pick if they made the playoffs in 2007, and if they failed to make the playoffs, their 2008 second and third round choices.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80251b7e&template=without-video&confirm=true NFL.com, September 13, 2007, "NFL fines Belichick, strips Patriots of draft pick"]</ref>

[[Image:Bill Belichick.JPG|210px|thumb|Patriots head coach, [[Bill Belichick]] was fined $500,000 for his role in the sideline spying incident.]]
NFL commissioner [[Roger Goodell]] wrote in his ruling, "This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field. I specifically considered whether to impose a suspension on Coach Belichick. I have determined not to do so, largely because I believe that the discipline I
am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension."<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/final_ruling.html Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 13, 2007, "Final Ruling"]</ref>

Belichick responded to the leagues verdict in a written statement that he accepted full responsibility for the incident and that he had been incorrect in his interpretation of the NFL's rules regarding sideline video taping.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/belichick_state_2.html Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 13, 2007, "Belichick statement"]</ref>

===Past Alleged Patriots Spying Incidents===
After the incident became public, some NFL players and coaches stated that they believed that the Patriots may have used the same type of taping methods vs their teams. The only confirmed time that it actually happened however was on November 19, 2006, in a game between the New England Patriots and [[Green Bay Packers]]. The Packers claimed that during the game they had caught the same Patriots video assistant as in the Jets game, Matt Estrella, video taping the Packers coaches making defensive signals from the Patriots sideline<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012989 ESPN, Chris Mortensen, September 10, 2007, "Sources: Camera confiscated after claims of Pats spying on Jets"]</ref>. Packers security staff removed Estrella and his camera from the sideline but did not did not file a complaint over the taping because according to a Green Bay official, "everyone does it".<ref>[http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1031230 Boston Herald, John Tomase, September 13, 2007, "Foes questioning Pats’ past"]</ref>

[[Pittsburgh Steelers]] wide receiver, [[Hines Ward]], stated that he believed that the Patriots may have used the NFL violating taping methods against the Steelers in the 2002 and 2004 AFC Championship games. Ward said regarding the 2002 Championship game, "They knew a lot of our calls. There’s no question some of their players were calling out some of our stuff."<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8024a850&template=with-video&confirm=true Associated Press, September 12, 2007, "Steelers' Ward suspected Patriots spying"]</ref>

[[New York Giants]] defensive end, [[Michael Strahan]] said that the incident had tainted the Patriots three [[Super Bowl]] victory's<ref>[http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1031230 Boston Herald, John Tomase, September 13, 2007, "Foes questioning Pats’ past"]</ref> while [[Indianapolis Colts]] head coach, [[Tony Dungy]] compared the Patriots spying to [[Barry Bonds]] alleged use of steroids.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/09/14/dungy_compares_belichick_spy_scandal_to_bonds_steroid_accusations/ Boston Globe, Cliff Brunt, Associated Press Sports Writer, September 14, 2007, "Dungy compares Belichick spy scandal to Bonds steroid accusations"]</ref>

== New England Patriots seasons record==
[[Image:Pats2006RunningBacks.jpg|thumb|300px|The Patriots 2006 running backs unit.]]
[[Image:Patsteam1.gif|thumb|300px|Patriots offense coordinator [[Josh McDainels]] is one of the youngest coaches in the NFL.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Wins
! Loss's
! Ties
! Playoffs
! Notes
|-
| 1960
| 5
| 9
|
|
| The [[Boston Patriots]] become one of eight teams to join the [[American Football League]] (AFL).
|-
| 1961
| 9
| 4
| 1
|
|
|-
| 1962
| 9
| 4
| 1
|
|
|-
| 1963
| 7
| 6
| 1
| 1-1
| Patriots got beat in the AFL Championship game vs the [[San Diego Chargers]] 51-10.
|-
| 1964
| 10
| 3
| 1
|
|
|-
| 1965
| 4
| 8
| 2
|
|
|-
| 1966
| 8
| 4
| 2
|
| Patriots running back [[Jim Nance]] rushes for 1,458 yards.
|-
| 1967
| 3
| 10
| 1
|
|
|-
| 1968
| 4
| 10
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1969
| 4
| 10
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1970
| 2
| 12
| 0
|
| Team moves from playing at [[Fenway Park]] to Boston College's Alumni Stadium.
|-
| 1971
| 6
| 8
| 0
|
|Team moves to [[Foxboro (Massachusetts)|Foxboro]] and changes its name from [[Boston Patriots]] to the New England Patriots.
|-
| 1972
| 3
| 11
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1973
| 5
| 9
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1974
| 7
| 7
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1975
| 3
| 11
| 0
|
| [[Steve Grogan]] becomes the starting quarterback for the Patriots.
|-
| 1976
| 11
| 3
| 0
|
|Patriots cornerback [[Mike Haynes]] wins the [[Defensive Rookie of the Year]] award.
|-
| 1977
| 9
| 5
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1978
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 0-1
| Patriots wide receiver [[Darryl Stingley]] paralyzed in a preseason game vs the [[Oakland Raiders]].
|-
| 1979
| 9
| 7
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1980
| 10
| 6
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1981
| 2
| 14
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1982
| 5
| 4
| 0
|
| Season was cut short by players strike
|-
| 1983
| 8
| 8
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1984
| 9
| 7
| 0
|
| [[Raymond Berry]] named as the Patriots coach.
|-
| 1985
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 3-1
| Lost in [[Super Bowl XX]] vs the [[Chicago Bears]].
|-
| 1986
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 0-1
| Patriots Hall of Fame guard [[John Hannah]] retires.
|-
| 1987
| 8
| 7
| 0
|
| [[Victor Kiam]] buys the team from original owner [[Billy Sullivan]].
|-
| 1988
| 9
| 7
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1989
| 5
| 11
| 0
|
|Head coach [[Raymond Berry]] fired.
|-
| 1990
| 1
| 15
| 0
|
| Worst season in Patriots history.
|-
| 1991
| 6
| 10
| 0
|
|60 year old [[Dick MacPherson]] becomes head coach.
|-
| 1992
| 2
| 14
| 0
|
|Businessman [[James Orthwein]] become the sole owner of the Patriots.
|-
| 1993
| 5
| 11
| 0
|
| Quarterback [[Drew Bledsoe]] is drafted by the Patriots
|-
| 1994
| 10
| 6
| 0
| 0-1
| [[Robert Kraft]] buys the Patriots
|-
| 1995
| 6
| 10
| 0
|
| Patriots third round pick [[Curtis Martin]] wins [[Offensive Rookie of the Year]].
|-
| 1996
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 2-1
| Lost [[Super Bowl XXXI]] vs the [[Green Bay Packers]]
|-
| 1997
| 10
| 6
| 0
| 1-1
| Patriots lose 7-6 in the Division Round of the playoffs vs the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]
|-
| 1998
| 9
| 7
| 0
| 0-1
| Patriots draft [[University of Georgia]] running back [[Robert Edwards]].
|-
| 1999
| 8
| 8
| 0
|
| [[Pete Carroll]]'s last year as Patriots head coach
|-
| 2000
| 5
| 11
|
|
| First season with [[Bill Belichick]] as head coach
|-
| 2001
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 3-0
| Beat the [[St. Louis Rams]] in [[Super Bowl XXXVI]]
|-
| 2002
| 9
| 7
| 0
|
| Could have made the playoffs with a [[New York Jets]] loss, First season in [[Gillette Stadium]]
|-
| 2003
| 14
| 2
| 0
| 3-0
| Won [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]] vs the [[Carolina Panthers]]
|-
| 2004
| 14
| 2
| 0
| 3-0
| Beat [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in [[Super Bowl XXXIX]]
|-
| 2005
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 1-1
| Backup quarterback [[Doug Flutie]] dropped kicks an
extra point in the last game season of the regular season
|-
| 2006
| 12
| 4
| 0
| 2-1
| First 12-4 record in Patriots history
|-
|}
==References==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references/>
</div>

== External Links ==

* [http://www.patriots.com/homepage/ Patriots Official Website]

'''''Patriots News Websites'''''

* [http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/ Boston Globe]

* [http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots.bg Boston Herald]

* [http://www.projo.com/patriots/?tn Providence Journal]

* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/teams/patriots/index.html Sports Illustrated]

* [http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team?statsId=17 Fox Sports]

* [http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/patriots/index.html Sporting News]

== Source Material ==

* [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/nengalnd/patriots.html SportsEcyclopedia.com - Patriots History]

* [http://www.patriots.com/history/ Patriots.com - History Page]

* [http://www.searchboston.com/patriots.html SearchBoston.com - Patriots History Page]

* [http://nflhistory.net/patriots/ NFLHistory.net - Patriots Histoy]

* [http://www.nfl-history.com/patriots.php NFL-History.com - Patriots History]

* [http://football.about.com/cs/2003nflplayoffs/a/playoffhistnewe.htm AboutFootball.com - Patriots Playoff Record]

[[Category:New England Patriots]]

[[category:National Football League]]

Eddie Jackson

2007-12-22T01:14:55Z

Tash: cat change

[[Image:Eddie Jackson (American Football Player).JPG|thumb|140px|Jackson at the 2007 [[Patriots Training Camp]].]]
'''Eddie Paul Jackson Jr.''' is an [[National Football League]] cornerback formerly with the [[New England Patriots]]. He was born on December 19, 1980 in Americus, [[Georgia]]. Jackson is 6 feet tall and weighs 200 pounds.

== College Football ==
Jackson attended the [[University of Arkansas]] and played in 47 games (with 21 starts) as a strong safety and cornerback. In his total playing time there he accumulated 174 tackles, 5 interceptions, 35 knocked down passes, 2 fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

== NFL Career ==
In 2004, Jackson entered the NFL as a undrafted rookie free agent. The [[Carolina Panthers]] signed him to their practice squad and in the seventh week of the 2004 regular season he was activated to the teams active roster. Playing on special teams coverage units and as a backup defensive back for the last 10 games of the Panthers season, Jackson accumulated 13 total tackles and knocked down 2 passes. The following year Jackson was signed by the [[Miami Dolphins]] and he played in 15 games with them and made one start at cornerback. In a week 12 game vs the [[Buffalo Bills]] Jackson recovered a fumbled Bills punt in a 24-23 victory. In 2006 he continued to play a role as a backup defensive back and special teams contributer and made 14 tackles in the 14 games (1 starting) he played with the Dolphins. He injured his leg in the last month of the season and ended the season on the Miami injury reserve list. On March 19, 2007, Jackson was signed by the [[New England Patriots]]<ref>http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=pressreleasesdetail&pid=24520&pcid=47</ref>. He was released from the Patriots on December 19, 2007.<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/12/moore_signed_2.html</ref>

==References==
<references/>

== External Links ==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/eddiejackson/profile?id=JAC159725 NFL Stats]
*[http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=10&p=8&c=1&nid=2448990 Jackson News]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=32265 Patriots Bio]
*[http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=36136 NFL Players Bio]
*[http://patriots.scout.com/2/628158.html Scout.com Article]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Eddie}}

[[Category:NFL players]]

Eddie Jackson

2007-12-22T01:14:40Z

Tash:

Rashad Baker

2007-12-22T01:13:08Z

Tash:

[[Image:Rashad Baker (American Football Player).JPG|thumb|110px]]
'''Rashad Baker''' (born February 22, 1982) is a [[National Football League]] safety for the [[Oakland Raiders]]. He entered the [[NFL]] in 2004 as an undrafted free agent out of the [[University of Tennessee]] and signed with the [[Buffalo Bills]]. In his rookie season he played in fourteen games with three starts as a defensive back and made 22 total tackles and one interception. In 2005, Baker once again played in fourteen games with the Bills and made 18 total tackles, one sack and an interception. Following the 2005 season, the Bills, released him from the team shortly before the beginning of the 2006 season. Just a day after his release, he signed with the [[Minnesota Vikings]]. Baker ended up only playing in single game with the Vikings during his time with the team and was released by them in the middle of the 2006 season on November 4, 2006. On November 7, just three days following his release, the [[New England Patriots]] signed Baker to a contract<ref>http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=22290&pcid=47</ref> due to injury's in their secondary. Finishing off the 2006 season with the Patriots, Baker played in five games and made two total tackles. He also played in the Patriots AFC Championship game loss vs the [[Indianapolis Colts]] and made two total tackles.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d801e7a6e NFL Stats]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=31566 Patriots Bio]
*[http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=36077 NFL Players Bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Rashad}}
[[Category:NFL players]]

Rashad Baker

2007-12-22T01:12:52Z

Tash: cat change

[[Image:Rashad Baker (American Football Player).JPG|thumb|110px]]
'''Rashad Baker''' (born February 22, 1982) is a [[National Football League]] safety for the [[New England Patriots]]. He entered the [[NFL]] in 2004 as an undrafted free agent out of the [[University of Tennessee]] and signed with the [[Buffalo Bills]]. In his rookie season he played in fourteen games with three starts as a defensive back and made 22 total tackles and one interception. In 2005, Baker once again played in fourteen games with the Bills and made 18 total tackles, one sack and an interception. Following the 2005 season, the Bills, released him from the team shortly before the beginning of the 2006 season. Just a day after his release, he signed with the [[Minnesota Vikings]]. Baker ended up only playing in single game with the Vikings during his time with the team and was released by them in the middle of the 2006 season on November 4, 2006. On November 7, just three days following his release, the [[New England Patriots]] signed Baker to a contract<ref>http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=22290&pcid=47</ref> due to injury's in their secondary. Finishing off the 2006 season with the Patriots, Baker played in five games and made two total tackles. He also played in the Patriots AFC Championship game loss vs the [[Indianapolis Colts]] and made two total tackles.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d801e7a6e NFL Stats]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=31566 Patriots Bio]
*[http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=36077 NFL Players Bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Rashad}}
[[Category:NFL players]]

Rashad Moore

2007-12-22T01:12:25Z

Tash:

[[Image:PatsDL63.JPG|thumb|170px|]]
'''Rashad Moore''' is a [[National Football League]] defensive lineman. He was born on March 8, 1979.

== College Football ==
From 1998 through 2002 Moore attended the [[University of Tennessee]]. He played at defensive tackle the last four years (1999 - 2002) during his time there and had the total stats of 95 tackles and 3.5 sacks<ref>http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/moore_rashad</ref>.

== NFL Career ==
In 2003 the [[Seattle Seahawks]] drafted Moore in the sixth round of the [[2003 NFL Draft]]. In his rookie season he played in 14 games and made 30 total tackles and one sack. The next season (2004), he played in all sixteen of the Settle regular season games and made 46 total tackles and two sacks. After the [[Settle Seahawks]] completed their 2005 training camp he was released from the team. Moore ended up not playing for any team in 2005. In 2006, he was signed by the [[New York Jets]]<ref>http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=32536</ref> and he played in thirteen games with the Jets and made ten total tackles. On June 8, 2007 the [[New England Patriots]] signed Moore to a contract<ref>http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=25906&pcid=47&rss=1</ref>. He played with the team in all four of the 2007 preseason games before being released on September 1, 2007<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/patriots_cuts_1.html</ref> in the teams final roster cutdown. On December 20, 2007, The Patriots resigned Moore to fill a vacant defensive tackle spot after Patriots DT [[Mike Wright]] was put on the teams injury reserve list.<ref>http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/12/moore_signed_2.html</ref>

== References ==
<references/>

== External Links ==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/rashadmoore/profile?id=MOO351817 NFL Stats]
*[http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=32536 Patriots Bio]
*[http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/moore_rashad NFL.com Draft Profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, Rashad}}

[[Category:New England Patriot Players]]

New England Patriots

2007-12-22T01:09:58Z

Tash:

[[Image:Ptc.jpg|thumb|300px|The New England players at the 2005 [[Patriots Training Camp]].]]
The '''New England Patriots''' are a [[National Football League]] franchise team. The Patriots, also known to their fans as the "Pats", are based in [[Foxboro (Massachusetts)|Foxboro]], [[Massachusetts]]. Since they are located in the eastern region of the United States the Patriots belong to the Eastern Division of [[American Football Conference]] (AFC). Originally known as the Boston Patriots the franchise changed its name in 1971 to the New England Patriots to better reflect its representation of the entire [[New England]] region.

The Patriots have gone to five [[Super Bowl]]s and have won three. Their first Super Bowl trip was in 1985 against the [[Chicago Bears]], which they lost 42 - 10. In 1995 the Patriots made their second Super Bowl trip but fell short against the [[Green Bay Packers]] in a 35 - 21 loss. The Patriots' 2001 season ended in the teams first [[Super Bowl]] triumph when they defeated the heavily favored [[St. Louis Rams]] in a dramatic 21-17 victory. In 2003 and 2004, the Patriots once again were NFL Champions with Super Bowl victory's over the [[Carolina Panthers]] and [[Philadelphia Eagles]].

== Team ==
{|class="toccolours" style="background:white;border:2px solid rgb(193,193,193); text-align: left;font-size:95%;" cellpadding="10px"
|-
!colspan="7" style="font-size:100%; background-color: rgb(4,45,77); text-align:center; border: 2px solid rgb(192,38,32)" | New England Patriots Roster
|-
| valign="top" | '''Quarterbacks'''
* 12 [[Tom Brady]]
* 16 [[Matt Cassel]]
* 7 ''[[Matt Gutierrez]]''

'''Running Backs'''
* 38 [[Kyle Eckel]] FB
* 44 [[Heath Evans]] FB
* 33 [[Kevin Faulk]]
* 39 [[Laurence Maroney]]

'''Wide Receivers'''
* 80 [[Troy Brown]]
* 10 [[Jabar Gaffney]]
* 17 [[Chad Jackson]]
* 81 [[Randy Moss]]
* 18 [[Donte Stallworth]]
* 15 [[Kelley Washington]]
* 83 [[Wes Welker]] WR/KR

'''Tight Ends'''
* 88 [[Kyle Brady]]
* 84 [[Benjamin Watson]]

| valign="top" | '''Offensive Linemen'''
* 65 [[Wesley Britt]] T
* 71 [[Russ Hochstein]] C/G
* 77 [[Nick Kaczur]] T
* 67 [[Dan Koppen]] C
* 72 [[Matt Light]] T
* 70 [[Logan Mankins]] G
* 61 [[Stephen Neal]] G
* 68 [[Ryan O'Callaghan]] T
* 74 [[Billy Yates (football player)|Billy Yates]] G

'''Defensive Linemen'''
* 97 [[Jarvis Green]] DE
* 97 [[Rashad Moore]] DE
* 93 [[Richard Seymour]] DE
* 90 [[Kevin Smith (Football Player)|Kevin Smith]] NT
* 94 [[Ty Warren]] DE
* 75 [[Vince Wilfork]] NT
* 99 [[Mike Wright]] NT

| valign="top" | '''Linebackers'''
* 52 [[Eric Alexander (football player)|Eric Alexander]] ILB
* 98 [[Chad Brown]] ILB
* 54 [[Tedy Bruschi]] ILB
* 59 [[Rosevelt Colvin]] OLB
* 53 [[Larry Izzo]] ILB
* 55 [[Junior Seau]] ILB
* 96 [[Adalius Thomas]] OLB
* 50 [[Mike Vrabel]] ILB/OLB
* 58 [[Pierre Woods]] OLB

'''Defensive Backs'''
* 23 [[Willie Andrews]] CB
* 21 [[Randall Gay]] CB
* 37 [[Rodney Harrison]] SS
* 27 [[Ellis Hobbs]] CB
* 31 ''[[Brandon Meriweather]]'' FS
* 24 [[Mel Mitchell]] FS
* 22 [[Asante Samuel]] CB
* 36 [[James Sanders (American football player)|James Sanders]] SS
* 26 [[Eugene Wilson (American football player)|Eugene Wilson]] FS
'''Special Teams'''
*  3 [[Stephen Gostkowski]] K
*  6[[Chris Hanson]] P
* 66 [[Lonie Paxton]] LS

| valign="top" |'''Coaches'''
*[[Bill Belichick]] Head Coach
*[[Nick Caserio]] Wide Receivers
*[[Joel Collier]] Secondary
*[[Ivan Fears]] Running Backs
*[[Pepper Johnson]] Defensive Line
*[[Pete Mangurian]] Tight Ends
*[[Josh McDaniels]] Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
*[[Harold Nash]] Assistant Strength and Conditioning
*[[Bill O'Brien]] Offensive Assistant
*[[Matt Patricia]] Linebackers
*[[Dean Pees]] Defensive Coordinator
*[[Dante Scarnecchia]] Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line
*[[Brad Seely]] Special Teams
*[[Mike Woicik]] Strength and Conditioning

'''Players on the Patriots Injury Reserve List (IR)'''
* 35 ''[[Mike Richardson]]'' CB
* 30 [[Chad Scott]] CB
* 49 ''[[Oscar Lua]]'' ILB
* 43 ''[[Justise Hairston]]''
* 86 [[David Thomas (football player)|David Thomas]]
* 34 [[Sammy Morris]]

'''Practice Squad'''
* 13 [[Bam Childress]] WR
* 19 [[C.J. Jones (football player)|C.J. Jones]] WR
* 42 [[Gemara Williams]] CB/KR
* -- [[Ray Ventrone]] S
* 92 [[Santonio Thomas]] DT
 
''Rookies in italics''
|}

==Team History==
[[Image:Threetimesuperbowlwinners.gif|thumb|210px|The Patriots have won three [[Super Bowl]]s in the last six years.]]
In the Patriots history as a team they have experienced both sides of being an [[National Football League]] team - the losing - and the winning. In their early history as a team, the Patriots struggled just to get a winning record. Between the years 1960 and 1984 the team only made the playoffs four of those years; and only won one playoff game. The winds of fortunes seemed to be turning for the Patriots in 1985 though when for the first time in the teams history the Patriots won a AFC Championship Game and played in [[Super Bowl XX]] vs the [[Chicago Bears]]. The Patriots lost the game though and for the next eight years without a solid reliable quarterback, the team regressed into their pre-1985 form.

In 1993, the Patriots drafted with the first pick of the [[1993 NFL Draft]], [[University of Washington]] star quarterback, [[Drew Bledsoe]]. With Bledsoe now leading the team, the Patriots improved significantly and in 1996 the Patriots returned to the Super Bowl ([[Super Bowl XXXI]] vs the [[Green Bay Packers]]). Once again the Patriots lost but they didn't fall apart as a team and they continued to be a playoff contender throughout the late 1990's.

In 2000, the history of the Patriots quietly changed forever when [[Bill Belichick]] was appointed as the head coach and the Patriots drafted [[University of Michigan]] quarterback [[Tom Brady]] in the 6th round of the NFL Draft. The following year, 2001, Tom Brady became the Patriots starting quarterback and led the Patriots to their first [[Super Bowl]] victory. Since 2001, the Patriots have been in the playoffs all but one year (2002, 9-7 record) and have won two more Super Bowls. The 2004-2005 Patriots teams also set a NFL record for most consecutive game won with 26 in a row.

==Spying Incident==
In the Patriots 2007 regular season opener vs the [[New York Jets]], a Patriots employee, video assistant Matt Estrella, was caught video taping [[New York Jets]] defensive signals during the first quarter of the game.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012989 ESPN, Chris Mortensen, September 11, 2007, "Sources: Camera confiscated after claims of Pats spying on Jets"]</ref> NFL security officials at the game confiscated Estrella's video camera and the video tape and sent it to the leagues headquarters to determine whether the Patriots were violating the NFL's videotaping policy.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/rules_in_focus.html Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 11, 2007, "Rules in focus"]</ref> Days after the incident, Patriots head coach [[Bill Belichick]] apologized for the episode stating "I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players."<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/09/13/a_sorry_state/ Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 13, 2007, "A Sorry State, Belichick apologizes as probe continues"]</ref>

After a review of the video tape by the NFL's competition committee and commissioner [[Roger Goodell]], Bill Belichick was fined 500,000 dollars and the Patriots organization 250,000 dollars. The leagues verdict also stated the the Patriots would forfeit their 2008 NFL Draft first round pick if they made the playoffs in 2007, and if they failed to make the playoffs, their 2008 second and third round choices.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80251b7e&template=without-video&confirm=true NFL.com, September 13, 2007, "NFL fines Belichick, strips Patriots of draft pick"]</ref>

[[Image:Bill Belichick.JPG|210px|thumb|Patriots head coach, [[Bill Belichick]] was fined $500,000 for his role in the sideline spying incident.]]
NFL commissioner [[Roger Goodell]] wrote in his ruling, "This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field. I specifically considered whether to impose a suspension on Coach Belichick. I have determined not to do so, largely because I believe that the discipline I
am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension."<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/final_ruling.html Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 13, 2007, "Final Ruling"]</ref>

Belichick responded to the leagues verdict in a written statement that he accepted full responsibility for the incident and that he had been incorrect in his interpretation of the NFL's rules regarding sideline video taping.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/belichick_state_2.html Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, September 13, 2007, "Belichick statement"]</ref>

===Past Alleged Patriots Spying Incidents===
After the incident became public, some NFL players and coaches stated that they believed that the Patriots may have used the same type of taping methods vs their teams. The only confirmed time that it actually happened however was on November 19, 2006, in a game between the New England Patriots and [[Green Bay Packers]]. The Packers claimed that during the game they had caught the same Patriots video assistant as in the Jets game, Matt Estrella, video taping the Packers coaches making defensive signals from the Patriots sideline<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012989 ESPN, Chris Mortensen, September 10, 2007, "Sources: Camera confiscated after claims of Pats spying on Jets"]</ref>. Packers security staff removed Estrella and his camera from the sideline but did not did not file a complaint over the taping because according to a Green Bay official, "everyone does it".<ref>[http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1031230 Boston Herald, John Tomase, September 13, 2007, "Foes questioning Pats’ past"]</ref>

[[Pittsburgh Steelers]] wide receiver, [[Hines Ward]], stated that he believed that the Patriots may have used the NFL violating taping methods against the Steelers in the 2002 and 2004 AFC Championship games. Ward said regarding the 2002 Championship game, "They knew a lot of our calls. There’s no question some of their players were calling out some of our stuff."<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8024a850&template=with-video&confirm=true Associated Press, September 12, 2007, "Steelers' Ward suspected Patriots spying"]</ref>

[[New York Giants]] defensive end, [[Michael Strahan]] said that the incident had tainted the Patriots three [[Super Bowl]] victory's<ref>[http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1031230 Boston Herald, John Tomase, September 13, 2007, "Foes questioning Pats’ past"]</ref> while [[Indianapolis Colts]] head coach, [[Tony Dungy]] compared the Patriots spying to [[Barry Bonds]] alleged use of steroids.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/09/14/dungy_compares_belichick_spy_scandal_to_bonds_steroid_accusations/ Boston Globe, Cliff Brunt, Associated Press Sports Writer, September 14, 2007, "Dungy compares Belichick spy scandal to Bonds steroid accusations"]</ref>

== New England Patriots seasons record==
[[Image:Pats2006RunningBacks.jpg|thumb|300px|The Patriots 2006 running backs unit.]]
[[Image:Patsteam1.gif|thumb|300px|Patriots offense coordinator [[Josh McDainels]] is one of the youngest coaches in the NFL.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Wins
! Loss's
! Ties
! Playoffs
! Notes
|-
| 1960
| 5
| 9
|
|
| The [[Boston Patriots]] become one of eight teams to join the [[American Football League]] (AFL).
|-
| 1961
| 9
| 4
| 1
|
|
|-
| 1962
| 9
| 4
| 1
|
|
|-
| 1963
| 7
| 6
| 1
| 1-1
| Patriots got beat in the AFL Championship game vs the [[San Diego Chargers]] 51-10.
|-
| 1964
| 10
| 3
| 1
|
|
|-
| 1965
| 4
| 8
| 2
|
|
|-
| 1966
| 8
| 4
| 2
|
| Patriots running back [[Jim Nance]] rushes for 1,458 yards.
|-
| 1967
| 3
| 10
| 1
|
|
|-
| 1968
| 4
| 10
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1969
| 4
| 10
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1970
| 2
| 12
| 0
|
| Team moves from playing at [[Fenway Park]] to Boston College's Alumni Stadium.
|-
| 1971
| 6
| 8
| 0
|
|Team moves to [[Foxboro (Massachusetts)|Foxboro]] and changes its name from [[Boston Patriots]] to the New England Patriots.
|-
| 1972
| 3
| 11
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1973
| 5
| 9
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1974
| 7
| 7
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1975
| 3
| 11
| 0
|
| [[Steve Grogan]] becomes the starting quarterback for the Patriots.
|-
| 1976
| 11
| 3
| 0
|
|Patriots cornerback [[Mike Haynes]] wins the [[Defensive Rookie of the Year]] award.
|-
| 1977
| 9
| 5
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1978
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 0-1
| Patriots wide receiver [[Darryl Stingley]] paralyzed in a preseason game vs the [[Oakland Raiders]].
|-
| 1979
| 9
| 7
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1980
| 10
| 6
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1981
| 2
| 14
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1982
| 5
| 4
| 0
|
| Season was cut short by players strike
|-
| 1983
| 8
| 8
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1984
| 9
| 7
| 0
|
| [[Raymond Berry]] named as the Patriots coach.
|-
| 1985
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 3-1
| Lost in [[Super Bowl XX]] vs the [[Chicago Bears]].
|-
| 1986
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 0-1
| Patriots Hall of Fame guard [[John Hannah]] retires.
|-
| 1987
| 8
| 7
| 0
|
| [[Victor Kiam]] buys the team from original owner [[Billy Sullivan]].
|-
| 1988
| 9
| 7
| 0
|
|
|-
| 1989
| 5
| 11
| 0
|
|Head coach [[Raymond Berry]] fired.
|-
| 1990
| 1
| 15
| 0
|
| Worst season in Patriots history.
|-
| 1991
| 6
| 10
| 0
|
|60 year old [[Dick MacPherson]] becomes head coach.
|-
| 1992
| 2
| 14
| 0
|
|Businessman [[James Orthwein]] become the sole owner of the Patriots.
|-
| 1993
| 5
| 11
| 0
|
| Quarterback [[Drew Bledsoe]] is drafted by the Patriots
|-
| 1994
| 10
| 6
| 0
| 0-1
| [[Robert Kraft]] buys the Patriots
|-
| 1995
| 6
| 10
| 0
|
| Patriots third round pick [[Curtis Martin]] wins [[Offensive Rookie of the Year]].
|-
| 1996
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 2-1
| Lost [[Super Bowl XXXI]] vs the [[Green Bay Packers]]
|-
| 1997
| 10
| 6
| 0
| 1-1
| Patriots lose 7-6 in the Division Round of the playoffs vs the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]
|-
| 1998
| 9
| 7
| 0
| 0-1
| Patriots draft [[University of Georgia]] running back [[Robert Edwards]].
|-
| 1999
| 8
| 8
| 0
|
| [[Pete Carroll]]'s last year as Patriots head coach
|-
| 2000
| 5
| 11
|
|
| First season with [[Bill Belichick]] as head coach
|-
| 2001
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 3-0
| Beat the [[St. Louis Rams]] in [[Super Bowl XXXVI]]
|-
| 2002
| 9
| 7
| 0
|
| Could have made the playoffs with a [[New York Jets]] loss, First season in [[Gillette Stadium]]
|-
| 2003
| 14
| 2
| 0
| 3-0
| Won [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]] vs the [[Carolina Panthers]]
|-
| 2004
| 14
| 2
| 0
| 3-0
| Beat [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in [[Super Bowl XXXIX]]
|-
| 2005
| 11
| 5
| 0
| 1-1
| Backup quarterback [[Doug Flutie]] dropped kicks an
extra point in the last game season of the regular season
|-
| 2006
| 12
| 4
| 0
| 2-1
| First 12-4 record in Patriots history
|-
|}
==References==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references/>
</div>

== External Links ==

* [http://www.patriots.com/homepage/ Patriots Official Website]

'''''Patriots News Websites'''''

* [http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/ Boston Globe]

* [http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots.bg Boston Herald]

* [http://www.projo.com/patriots/?tn Providence Journal]

* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/teams/patriots/index.html Sports Illustrated]

* [http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team?statsId=17 Fox Sports]

* [http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/teams/patriots/index.html Sporting News]

== Source Material ==

* [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/nengalnd/patriots.html SportsEcyclopedia.com - Patriots History]

* [http://www.patriots.com/history/ Patriots.com - History Page]

* [http://www.searchboston.com/patriots.html SearchBoston.com - Patriots History Page]

* [http://nflhistory.net/patriots/ NFLHistory.net - Patriots Histoy]

* [http://www.nfl-history.com/patriots.php NFL-History.com - Patriots History]

* [http://football.about.com/cs/2003nflplayoffs/a/playoffhistnewe.htm AboutFootball.com - Patriots Playoff Record]

[[Category:New England Patriots]]

[[category:National Football League]]

Jonathan Pollard

2007-12-20T19:30:39Z

Tash: added photo and format

[[Image:Jonathan Pollard.JPG|right|thumb]]
'''Jonathan Pollard''' (born 1954) was convicted of spying for [[Israel]] against the [[United States of America]] in 1986. He had been a [[U.S. Navy]] intelligence analyst. After being found guilty of spying, He received a life sentence without parole. The information passed by Pollard to Israel was of such importance that the U.S. Government has never allowed any details of it to be publicly revealed. The Israeli goverment denied for many years that Pollard worked for it but in 1998 the Israelis finally admitted that he had spied on their behalf.

Israeli Prime Minister [[Benyamin Netanyahu]] lobbied President [[Bill Clinton]] for Pollard's release, Clinton was willing to release Pollard, but this was strongly opposed by members of the U.S. military and intelligence communities. As of today, Pollard remains in a U.S. prison.

==Reference==
*[http://www.aci.net/Kalliste/pollard_em.htm Article on Jonathan Pollard by Eric Margolis]
[[Category:Israel]]
[[Category:Espionage]]

File:Jonathan Pollard.JPG

2007-12-20T19:29:02Z

Tash: source

Source:http://www.fbi.gov/hq/ci/cases.htm

File:Jonathan Pollard.JPG

2007-12-20T19:27:36Z

Tash:

Jonathan Pollard

2007-12-20T19:25:46Z

Tash:

'''Jonathan Pollard''' (born 1954) was convicted of spying for [[Israel]] against the [[United States of America]] in 1986. He had been a [[U.S. Navy]] intelligence analyst. After being found guilty of spying, He received a life sentence without parole. The information passed by Pollard to Israel was of such importance that the U.S. Government has never allowed any details of it to be publicly revealed. The Israeli goverment denied for many years that Pollard worked for it but in 1998 the Israelis finally admitted that he had spied on their behalf. Israeli Prime Minister [[Benyamin Netanyahu]] lobbied President [[Bill Clinton]] for Pollard's release, Clinton was willing to release Pollard, but this was strongly opposed by members of the U.S. military and intelligence communities. As of today, Pollard remains in a U.S. prison.

==Reference==
*[http://www.aci.net/Kalliste/pollard_em.htm Article on Jonathan Pollard by Eric Margolis]
[[Category:Israel]]
[[Category:Espionage]]

Jonathan Pollard

2007-12-20T19:24:39Z

Tash: format

'''Jonathan Pollard''' (born 1954) was convicted of spying for [[Israel]] against the [[United States of America]] in 1986. He had been a [[U.S. Navy]] intelligence analyst. He received a life sentence without parole. The information passed by Pollard to Israel was of such importance that the U.S. Government has never allowed any details of it to be publicly revealed. The Israeli goverment denied for many years that Pollard worked for it but in 1998 the Israelis finally admitted that he had spied on their behalf. Israeli Prime Minister [[Benyamin Netanyahu]] lobbied President [[Bill Clinton]] for Pollard's release, Clinton was willing to release Pollard, but this was strongly opposed by members of the U.S. military and intelligence communities. As of today, Pollard remains in a U.S. prison.

==Reference==
*[http://www.aci.net/Kalliste/pollard_em.htm Article on Jonathan Pollard by Eric Margolis]
[[Category:Israel]]
[[Category:Espionage]]

Jonathan Pollard

2007-12-20T19:24:20Z

Tash:

'''Jonathan Pollard''' (born 1954) was convicted of spying for [[Israel]] against the [[United States of America]] in 1986. He had been a [[U.S. Navy]] intelligence analyst. He received a life sentence without parole. The information passed by Pollard to Israel was of such importance that the U.S. Government has never allowed any details of it to be publicly revealed. The Israeli goverment denied for many years that Pollard worked for it but in 1998 the Israelis finally admitted that he had spied on their behalf. Israeli Prime Minister [[Benyamin Netanyahu]] lobbied President [[Bill Clinton]] for Pollard's release, Clinton was willing to release Pollard, but this was strongly opposed by members of the U.S. military and intelligence communities. As of today, Pollard remains in a U.S. prison.

===Reference===

[http://www.aci.net/Kalliste/pollard_em.htm Article on Jonathan Pollard by Eric Margolis]
[[Category:Israel]]
[[Category:Espionage]]

User talk:DrMaine

2007-12-18T17:28:19Z

Tash: question

{{Welcome}} --[[User:Crocoite|Crocoite]] 11:27, 18 December 2007 (EST)
Greetings from a fellow Anglican. I just joined too. I'm a little bemused by the 'Young Earth' thing, but as Wikipedia has such an outrageous anti-Christian bias, I thought I would give it a go. As my main interest (Philosophy and Medieval Latin texts) is almost entirely unrelated to Creationism, I can't see it mattering much. [[User:WilliamofOcham|WilliamofOcham]] 10:53, 18 December 2007 (EST)
==Current Editing==
:Where are you getting the articles that you are posting?--[[User:Tash|Tash]] 12:18, 18 December 2007 (EST)
==Question==
What time is it for you right now--[[User:Tash|Tash]] 12:28, 18 December 2007 (EST)

User talk:DrMaine

2007-12-18T17:18:51Z

Tash: edits

Mike Huckabee

2007-12-14T03:31:14Z

Tash:

[[Image:Hdyute7.jpg|right|thumb|'''Mike Huckabee''']]
'''Mike Huckabee''' (born August 24, 1955) is a [[Baptist]] minister and is a [[conservative]] candidate for the 2008 [[Republican]] presidential nomination. He believes in [[Creationism]] and was the governor of [[Arkansas]] from 1996 to 2007.

Throughout the presidential primary, Huckabee has been viewed favorably by conservatives and [[Christian]] organizations such as the [[Homeschool Legal Defense Association]]. Former Speaker of the House [[Newt Gingrich]] predicted that Huckabee will catch on with [[Republican]] primary voters, calling him "the most interesting dark horse". <ref>http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6899608</ref>

[[Poll]] numbers show that Huckabee's strong debate performances, communication skills and likability have him steadily moving up in key primary states of [[Iowa]], [[New Hampshire]], and [[South Carolina]].
<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/21/s.c.straw.poll/index.html</ref> He was the winner of the straw poll after the Sept. 17th "values debate."<ref>http://www.earnedmedia.org/kg0918.htm</ref> With far less money than his competitors, Huckabee finished second in the high-profile [[Iowa Straw Poll]] with 18% of the vote, in front of [[Sam Brownback]] (15%) and in back of [[Mitt Romney]] (32%). His victory has placed him in the top tier of Republican primary candidates<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/12/ftn/main3159786.shtml</ref><ref>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=22081</ref>
<ref>http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/</ref>.

In October 2007, Huckabee overwhelmingly won the high-profile Family Research Counsel's Value Voter Summit straw poll. Out of those attending, Huckabee received more votes then all other candidates combined. <ref>http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/10/romney_camp_stacking_the_value.html</ref>
== Record as Governor ==

As [[Governor]] of [[Arkansas]], Mike Huckabee cut and raised taxes. For example, during his ten years in office, the Arkansas [[legislature]] enacted increases in tobacco, sales, and [[fuel]]s taxes; however he also signed into legislation tax cuts over 90 times during that period. During his tenure as Governor welfare rolls declined by nearly half, and last year the state's economy grew 4.4%, beating the national average of 4.2%.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

In 1997 he introduced ARKids First, a health care plan which cut the number of Arkansas uninsured children in half.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

Throughout his tenure he also supported and helped pass pro-life bills through the Democrat controlled legislature.

In 2005 [[Time Magazine]] declared him one of "America's 5 Best Governors". <ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html</ref>

== Political Beliefs ==

'''Taxes''':
As governor, he signed the first broad-based tax-cut in state history and cut taxes over ninety times. Huckabee believes that the United States should enact a tax system known as the [[Fair Tax]], this system replaces the income tax with a voluntary consumption tax. Recently he signed the Presidential Taxpayer Protection Pledge to Americans for Tax Reform which promises to not raise taxes if elected president.<ref>http://www.atr.org/content/html/2007/march/030207pr-huckabeesignspledge.html</ref>

'''Spending''':
During his tenure, state spending rose 65.3% between 1996 and 2004, which was 3 times the rate of inflation. This has led to strong criticism from conservative groups like the [[Club for Growth]]. However, when he left office there was a surplus of over $800 million. <ref>http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/01/a_report_on_mike_huckabees_fis.php</ref>. Huckabee has called on Bush to veto more spending bills by the democrat controlled congress.<ref>http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/cobb/stories/2007/09/08/huckabee_0909.html</ref> In August 2007, Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, stated "Gov. Huckabee recognizes that the challenge is to rein in spending and reduce taxes."<ref>http://www.atr.org/content/html/2007/march/030207pr-huckabeesignspledge.html</ref>

'''[[Abortion]]''':
According to ''[[National Review]]'', as Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee signed a bill requiring parental consent for [[abortion]], and mandating notification by abortion providers to prospective parents that the unborn baby may feel pain, he also helped pass a bill through the Democratic-controlled legislature which stated that life began at conception.<ref>http://www.explorehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_ID=11</ref><ref>http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NmNjMmI1ODhjNGVlZWFmNTlmMGNiZTVjYTg1NTUzMTk=</ref> He also signed the Fetal Protection Act. He is known to be strongly pro-life.

'''Marriage''':
Huckabee is opposed to same sex marriage and civil unions. He also is a strong advocate for fathers' participation in child-raising.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Huckabee.htm</ref> He would favor a nation-wide [[Roe v. Wade]] being overturned and the federal governments recognition that life begins at conception.

'''Second Amendment Rights''':
As governor, he signed bills blocking frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and removing restrictions on concealed handgun permit holders. He became the first governor in the nation to have a concealed handgun license.<ref>http://www.explorehuckabee.com</ref>

'''Immigration''':
Huckabee opposed the McCain-Kennedy bill because he stated it had problems with "credibility; secrecy; and spending".<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Huckabee</ref> He believes the United States should seal the border first and deportation of illegal immigrates that have committed crimes.<ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=4</ref>

==Vertical Politics==
While campaigning, Huckabee has referred to what he calls Vertical Politics - politics aimed at making America stronger rather than festering partisanship. Huckabee said, "Everywhere I go on the campaign trail, I meet voters with a real thirst for a healthy discussion of the issues. Ultimately, people don’t care whether an issue comes from the left or the right. What they want to talk about are ideas that lift America up and make us better. It’s what I call ‘Vertical Politics." <ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=verticalday.home</ref>

== Personal ==
[[Image:HuckabeeBand.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Huckabee playing with his band, ''Capital Offense'', during the 2007 [[Iowa Straw Poll]]]]
Huckabee was born in Hope, [[Arkansas]], the same town where former president [[Bill Clinton]] was born. This coincidence led to one of Huckabee's campaign slogans, "give [Hope] one more chance."
Huckabee lost 110 pounds while governor of Arkansas and documented his weight loss and set out a 12-step plan for weight loss in his book ''Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork.'' <ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7752179/site/newsweek/</ref> He has also made childhood obesity a major platform issue. He became the first person in his family to attend college when he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Fort Worth, [[Texas]], before becoming a [[Baptist]] pastor for twelve years in [[Arkansas]]. Because of his income situation, Huckabee graduated in only two and a half years.

The 52-year-old former governor and his wife live in [[Little Rock]] and have three grown children. Huckabee enjoys playing in his rock-n-roll band, Capitol Offense, which has played at the House of Blues in [[New Orleans]], the Red Rocks Amphitheater in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]] and for two presidential inauguration balls.

==Endorsements==
====Organizations====
For the first time in the organizations history, the [[Homeschool Legal Defense Association]] Political Action Committee endorsed a political candidate. The organization, which consists of 90,000 members, stated that they decided to endorse Huckabee because of he was, "[[conservative]], a friend of [[homeschooling]], a man of character, and a man with a mature faith in [[Jesus Christ]]".<ref>http://huckabee08.blogspot.com/2007/06/huckabee-on-roll-endorsements-and-polls.html</ref>

===South Carolina===
Huckabee has received some key endorsement during the course of his primary race. One such endorsement came from former [[South Carolina]] Governor, [[David Beasley]], who had before planned on staying on the sidelines throughout the [[Republican]] primary<ref>http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/27/news_pf/Opinion/Huckabee_s__a_maratho.shtml</ref>

Huckabee received another South Carolina endorsement from Iris Campbell, the former South Carolina First Lady and wife of former governor, the late [[Mike Campbell]]<ref>http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/02/endorsement_wat.html</ref>. During Mike Campbell's time in office, from 1987 to 1994, his endorsement of [[Ronald Reagan]] boosted the underdog's presidential primary race.

===Virginia===
In August 2007, Huckabee received a key endorsement from [[Virginia]]'s House of Delegates Speaker [[William J. Howell]]. Howell has been a member of the Board of Directors of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council ]](ALEC), the nation’s largest bipartisan, individual membership association of state legislators <ref>http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.PressRelease&ID=216</ref>.

===New Hampshire===

Huckabee has picked up some key endorsements in the very significant primary in [[New Hampshire]]. In August 2007, New Hampshire's former Senator, Russell Prescott, and former Executive Councilor David Wheeler endorsed Huckabee<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007/08/huckabee_endors.html</ref>. Both figures remain very popular with social conservatives in the state<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/primarysource/2007/08/huckabee_endors.html</ref>.
== Quotes ==
* "We've had a [[congress]] that's spent money like [[John Edwards]] at a beauty shop."

* "…my [[faith]] is my life. It defines me. I see no separation between my faith from my personal and professional lives."

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Huckabee, Mike}}
[[Category:Political people]]
[[Category:2008 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:United States Governors]]

== External Links ==
* [http://www.mikehuckabee.com/ Mike Huckabee (official)]
*[http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.Home Huckabee Campaign Blog]
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/ Grassroots Website]
*[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDA2NzhkZGI2ZjA4NWI2NmMyYzNkNjY1Y2QzMzlmYzA=Governors Win, The case for Mike Huckabee.], [[National Review]], S. T. Karnick, August 2007

==External Videos==
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php Huckabee online video collection]
===Supporter Videos===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILPcnn9Sf94&eurl=http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.Home Huckabee - Cinderella Man]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwfzk5RSQy4&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=we_like_mike_huckabee We Like Mike - Huckabee]
*[http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=i_heart_huckabee_colbert_stewart I heart Huckabee]
===Personal Story===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3YR3grKJ3Q&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=story_of_mike_huckabee Part 1]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8aBVYKpZNQ&feature=related Part 2]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VZufUe0HGs&feature=related Part 3]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tXZKfUg97o&feature=related Part 4]
===Ads===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYv2YW6azE&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=chuck_norris_huckabee_facts "HuckChuckFacts"]

===Speeches===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysdguwpgNZ0&eurl=http://www.hucksarmy.com/video.php?video=huckabee_family_research-01 FRC's Value Voter Summit Speech Part 1]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af5qyUzRT68&feature=related Value Voter Summit Speech Part 2]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5v_qB0VDNI&feature=related FRC's Value Voter Summit Speech Part 3]

{{2008_presidential_candidates}}