1.) Not Polly A (politics, Arkansas) See #10.
2.) I live near Van Buren, AR, but I was born grew up in S. Texas near the Mexico border.
3.) Unemployed pastor's wife.
4.) Reading; playing piano, guitar, cornet; hiking
5.) I was a debater in HS.
6.) Lincoln, Reagan, both Bushes
7.) made calls for Huckabee
8.) He thinks for himself and is witty and intelligent, though at times he can be crude and unrefined.
9.) Streamline/downsize as much as possible. Make sure our intelligence/security agencies are the best they can be. Submit a balanced budget.
10.) The reason I don't get more involved in politics is because our church is very divided politically and my husband thinks it best we keep our politics to ourselves. Most of the democrats are pro-life and more conservative than the republicans on some things, but there is such bitter history between the parties that they would never switch even though they agree with the republican platform more that the democrat.

Good to know you, Polly A, and have you commenting here. I hope your pastor husband finds a church. You sound like an interesting person with some of my interests also, such as guitar. Also, could you explain who the "he" is in # 8?

It is difficult speaking of politics within the church fellowship, and the tendency is to withdraw from the subject. And yet, it is such an important field because our leaders are given a "ministry," from God, too, to protect society from crime and corruption. I am interested in what others here may say on the subject of politics and religion. How do you handle the conflicts? Or do you experience them?

Question #8 is Why do you follow Mike Huckabee?

OK, I get it. For the past several weeks, I have been unable to view much of HA because of our location (not reliable internet access). It looks like several of you are following this format to introduce yourselves. I'm looking forward to knowing others better, too.

Thanks guys for explaining. As to Huckabee, I lived in AR while he was governor and I think he did a good job here. He certainly knows how to get things done even with a Dem. legislature. I trust his judgment - he's not afraid to make the hard choices. As to the clemency problems - at least he used his judgment, others simply say no regardless.

I especially appreciate your perspective on the job Huckabee did as governor of Arkansas. One question--How do you think he did it, getting a much larger portion of the black and minority vote than other conservatives?

Polly, this seems like such a strange statement.

From what little I've researched, I would guess most Arkansans had never even met a Republican in their lifetime. Unless, you're talking about grudges from RECONSTRUCTION!! (Note: I'm not meaning to "yell" here I'm only using caps for emphasis.)

Not counting re-elections, according to my calculations there have been exactly six Republicans elected statewide, since... well, since forever:

1966 Winthrop A. Rockefeller Gov.
1966 Maurice Lee "Footsie" Britt, Jr. LtGov.
1980 Frank White Gov.
1993 Mike Huckabee LtGov.
1996 Winthrop Paul Rockefeller LtGov.
1996 Tim Hutchinson U.S. Sen.

Justgrace: I think the fact that he was Baptist and had grown up in S. Ark made him accessible to the black community. And also he was/is a very likeable, unpretentious man who sincerely cares about helping people whether as a pastor or talk show host or governor.

As to the bad feelings between the parties here, I am going totally on what my husband and I have seen in churches we have pastored. It's why we never talk politics around our church members. We have poll workers from both parties who attend and we decided to keep our affiliation private.

What we find funny is that there is not much disagreement in their fundamental political beliefs. Politics is local. Even though the Dems vote Dem. for local and state, the Rep. presidential nominee has won the state of AR 6 of the last 8 elections. The only 2 times it went Dem was when Clinton was the nom.

Maybe it has something to do with Republican frustration of not being able to break through.