Synopses & Reviews
"We need a simple government. Don't get me wrong; I know that many of the nation's problems are highly complex. But I also know that the governing principles that can solve them, if we work together, are simple."
Armed with little money but a lot of common sense, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee surprised the nation by coming in second during the 2008 Republican presidential primaries. He connected with millions of voters by calling for a smaller, simpler government that would get out of the way when appropriate. (Unfortunately, there weren't quite enough of those voters to prevent the election of Barack Obama.)
Since then, President Obama's message has morphed from "hope and change" to "tax and spend" and "borrow and spend" and "over-regulate and spend." The stimulus failed to stop the recession, the deficit exploded to unimaginable heights, and the Democrats jammed through Congress a financial "reform" bill that didn't really reform anything and a healthcare monstrosity that gave the government more power over our personal lives than ever.
Meanwhile, Huckabee has continued to be the voice of common sense conservatism, through his television talk show, his radio commentaries, and his lectures around the country. Now he's written a book that sums up the twelve things we really need from Washington to get the country back on the right track.
These twelve essential truths will have you nodding in agreement, whether you're a Republican, an Independent, or even an open-minded Democrat. They can help us put aside our differences, tone down the partisan rancor, and return to the simple principles of the Founding Fathers: liberty, justice, personal freedom, and civic virtue. And they can help us tackle even the most seemingly complicated of today's problems. For instance:
* You can't spend what you don't have; you can't borrow what you can't pay back. Families, businesses, towns, cities, and states all have to balance their budgets or face dire consequences. Why shouldn't the federal government be held to the same standard? And if that means making some hard choices now, it's a far better alternative than saddling our kids and grandkids. * The further you drift from shore, the more likely you are to be lost at sea. The Founders expected the federal government to be subordinate to state and local governments. How can politicians in DC know the best way to help farmers in Iowa, autoworkers in Michigan, or teachers in California? They can't. So every problem should be solved at the most local level capable of solving it.
* Bullies in the playground only understand one thing. There's a time and place for diplomacy, but we can't protect the country just by negotiating with our enemies. We need a strong national defense and a counterterrorism policy that focuses on effectiveness, not political correctness.
* The most important form of government is the family. In the long run, the only way to ensure prosperity, safety, and equal opportunity is to make sure we raise our children to be ethical and productive citizens. No bureaucracy can replace parents in that essential role, so we have to do everything possible to help parents do their job.
A Simple Government will inspire any American looking forward to a better future.
Review
“Mike Huckabee has written a book that touches all the bases, from hilarity to profundity. I loved it and so will you.”
—BOB BARKER “As grandparents, we want to leave something behind to our grandchildren, ensuring that our memory lives on. Governor Huckabees book is a perfect example of what we will do in order to preserve our legacy so that future generations will continue to feel our presence.”
—NEIL SEDAKA “It is so very important to always have ones eye on the young—to nurture them and rear them in the most loving and intelligent of ways. Mr. Huckabee understands this and acts accordingly. He does it with grace and with wisdom. Thank you, sir.”
—ROBERT DUVALL “Chandler and Scarlett are lucky to have a grandfather as thoughtful and caring as Mike Huckabee. This series of heartfelt and deeply personal letters speaks not only to his grandchildren but also delivers a universal message of hope and love—life lessons that any parent or grandparent would want to pass on.”
—JOAN LUNDEN “
Dear Chandler, Dear Scarlett is refreshing and uplifting—with simple and rare life lessons that we can all learn something from. Mike Huckabee is full of class and humbly shows it off in this book!”
—JOSH TURNER “As a grandfather of eleven, I clearly understand Governor Huckabees great expectations for his grandchildren. These love letters will inspire every reader to love not just in word but in deed. You will see how to communicate love, offer wisdom, and enjoy special time with your grandchildren, while helping to protect their future.” —JAMES ROBISON
Synopsis
When Governor Mike Huckabee entered the Republican presidential race, he was the ultimate dark horse, with almost no money, no consultants, and no name recognition beyond Arkansas. The so-called experts were highly amused by this former small state governor from blue-collar roots who also played bass in a rock band. He wouldnandrsquo;t have a prayer against the well-connected and financially wired pros like Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson.
But Huckabee had one big advantage: a common sense message that connected with millions of people, and not just his fellow evangelical Christians. He spoke about family values, fair taxes, and helping hard-working, middle-class Americans in a tough economy. And to the dismay of some Republicans, he talked about fighting Wall Street greed and K Street corruption.
Huckabee shocked the country by winning the all-important Iowa caucuses and seven other states, while spending far less than the other major candidates. He created an army of passionate volunteers and small donors, transforming his campaign into a true movement that will endure long after Election Day.
Do The Right Thing is Huckabeeandrsquo;s amazing story, in his own wordsandmdash;from making commercials with Chuck Norris to meeting a Michigan woman who insisted on donating her wedding ring. But this is more than just a campaign memoir. Itandrsquo;s a vision for a smarter, fairer type of politicsandmdash;andldquo;vertical politicsandrdquo;andmdash;that focuses on common sense solutions for education, health care, the economy, and many other issues. Itandrsquo;s not about right versus left; itandrsquo;s about taking America up rather than down.
Huckabee also shows how the Republican Party can heal its divisionsandmdash;between social and fiscal conservatives, the wealthy and the middle class, the religious and the secularandmdash;and become a true majority party again.
Synopsis
The New York Times bestseller by the former governor and presidential candidate-an instant classic, reissued for 2010. Christmas has become synonymous with shopping, overindulging, and stress. But according to Mike Huckabee, that was never God's intention. Going back to the Nativity, Christmas is supposed to be about simple things: faith, love, family, and hope. The hard part, in today's crazy world, is remembering that those simple things are the most precious.
Huckabee recounts twelve Christmas memories that range from his childhood in Arkansas to his years as a young husband and father to his time as a governor and then a presidential candidate. These true stories will help you smile, take a deep breath, and maybe slow down your own holiday treadmill.
For instance, as kids, Mike and his sister would sneak open their gifts before Christmas, play with them, then rewrap them so their parents wouldn't notice. The plan worked great until one Christmas when young Mike unwrapped a brand-new football...that was covered in mud. That led to a powerful lesson about patience and a reminder that the best Christmases are the simple ones.
Synopsis
“I wrote these letters so that long after I’m gone, you’ll know that I loved you, had great hopes for you, and wanted to give you my best advice on living in this tough world. If I can’t be there with you, I hope my letters will act as a sort of reminder of me—as if I’m standing there beside you, whispering in your ear, and putting my arm around your shoulder.” Mike Huckabee has worn many hats throughout his life: pastor, politician, governor, presidential candidate, talk show host, rock bassist, pundit, husband, and father. But since his first grandchild was born, he’s found that the role of grandfather is more satisfying than just about any of the others. Huckabee wanted to give something to his grandson, Chandler, that would last forever. He began drafting a series of letters to Chandler recounting heartwarming stories from his past and the bittersweet lessons learned along the way. With the birth of his granddaughter, Scarlett, just a year later, Huckabee was further inspired to convey his love and wisdom.
Dear Chandler, Dear Scarlett touches on the timeless topics of faith, love, family, overcoming adversity, and staying true to your values in the face of failure and temptation. For instance, Huckabee tells how being forced to pick up pecans from the trees in his yard taught him the value of hard work. (“We were told that if we wanted to eat that night and sleep in a bed instead of in the yard, we’d pick up the pecans.”) Years later he learned the real meaning of love after watching a friend care for his dying wife who could no longer recognize him. (“He loved her not because he enjoyed it or found pleasure in it, but because he had promised that he would never leave her until death parted them. And here he was, keeping that promise, faithful to the end.”) Like his bestseller
A Simple Christmas, Dear Chandler, Dear Scarlett isn’t about politics. It’s a deeply personal, heartfelt, inspirational book that can be enjoyed by anyone. As Huckabee writes: “Although my advice comes from my personal experience and I’m writing with my grandkids in mind, I hope any parent, grandparent, child, or grandchild can take away something valuable from these letters. I’ll try not to be too obnoxious, but don’t worry, if you ever sit next to me on a plane, I’ll still be happy to show you all the photos of Chandler and Scarlett I have on my phone.”
Synopsis
"We need a simple government. Don't get me wrong; I know that many of the nation's problems are highly complex. But I also know that the governing principles that can solve them, if we work together, are simple."
Armed with little money but a lot of common sense, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee surprised the nation by coming in second during the 2008 Republican presidential primaries. He connected with millions of voters by calling for a smaller, simpler government that would get out of the way when appropriate. (Unfortunately, there weren't quite enough of those voters to prevent the election of Barack Obama.)
Since then, President Obama's message has morphed from "hope and change" to "tax and spend" and "borrow and spend" and "over-regulate and spend." The stimulus failed to stop the recession, the deficit exploded to unimaginable heights, and the Democrats jammed through Congress a financial "reform" bill that didn't really reform anything and a healthcare monstrosity that gave the government more power over our personal lives than ever.
Meanwhile, Huckabee has continued to be the voice of common sense conservatism, through his television talk show, his radio commentaries, and his lectures around the country. Now he's written a book that sums up the twelve things we really need from Washington to get the country back on the right track.
These twelve essential truths will have you nodding in agreement, whether you're a Republican, an Independent, or even an open-minded Democrat. They can help us put aside our differences, tone down the partisan rancor, and return to the simple principles of the Founding Fathers: liberty, justice, personal freedom, and civic virtue. And they can help us tackle even the most seemingly complicated of today's problems. For instance:
* You can't spend what you don't have; you can't borrow what you can't pay back. Families, businesses, towns, cities, and states all have to balance their budgets or face dire consequences. Why shouldn't the federal government be held to the same standard? And if that means making some hard choices now, it's a far better alternative than saddling our kids and grandkids. * The further you drift from shore, the more likely you are to be lost at sea. The Founders expected the federal government to be subordinate to state and local governments. How can politicians in DC know the best way to help farmers in Iowa, autoworkers in Michigan, or teachers in California? They can't. So every problem should be solved at the most local level capable of solving it.
* Bullies in the playground only understand one thing. There's a time and place for diplomacy, but we can't protect the country just by negotiating with our enemies. We need a strong national defense and a counterterrorism policy that focuses on effectiveness, not political correctness.
* The most important form of government is the family. In the long run, the only way to ensure prosperity, safety, and equal opportunity is to make sure we raise our children to be ethical and productive citizens. No bureaucracy can replace parents in that essential role, so we have to do everything possible to help parents do their job.
A Simple Government will inspire any American looking forward to a better future.
Synopsis
When Governor Mike Huckabee entered the Republican presidential race, he was the ultimate dark horse, with almost no money, no consultants, and no name recognition beyond Arkansas. The so-called experts were highly amused by this former small state governor from blue-collar roots who also played bass in a rock band. He wouldnandrsquo;t have a prayer against the well-connected and financially wired pros like Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson.
But Huckabee had one big advantage: a common sense message that connected with millions of people, and not just his fellow evangelical Christians. He spoke about family values, fair taxes, and helping hard-working, middle-class Americans in a tough economy. And to the dismay of some Republicans, he talked about fighting Wall Street greed and K Street corruption.
Huckabee shocked the country by winning the all-important Iowa caucuses and seven other states, while spending far less than the other major candidates. He created an army of passionate volunteers and small donors, transforming his campaign into a true movement that will endure long after Election Day.
Do The Right Thing is Huckabeeandrsquo;s amazing story, in his own wordsandmdash;from making commercials with Chuck Norris to meeting a Michigan woman who insisted on donating her wedding ring. But this is more than just a campaign memoir. Itandrsquo;s a vision for a smarter, fairer type of politicsandmdash;andldquo;vertical politicsandrdquo;andmdash;that focuses on common sense solutions for education, health care, the economy, and many other issues. Itandrsquo;s not about right versus left; itandrsquo;s about taking America up rather than down.
Huckabee also shows how the Republican Party can heal its divisionsandmdash;between social and fiscal conservatives, the wealthy and the middle class, the religious and the secularandmdash;and become a true majority party again.
Synopsis
The New York Times bestseller by the former governor and presidential candidate-an instant classic, reissued for 2010. Christmas has become synonymous with shopping, overindulging, and stress. But according to Mike Huckabee, that was never God's intention. Going back to the Nativity, Christmas is supposed to be about simple things: faith, love, family, and hope. The hard part, in today's crazy world, is remembering that those simple things are the most precious.
Huckabee recounts twelve Christmas memories that range from his childhood in Arkansas to his years as a young husband and father to his time as a governor and then a presidential candidate. These true stories will help you smile, take a deep breath, and maybe slow down your own holiday treadmill.
For instance, as kids, Mike and his sister would sneak open their gifts before Christmas, play with them, then rewrap them so their parents wouldn't notice. The plan worked great until one Christmas when young Mike unwrapped a brand-new football...that was covered in mud. That led to a powerful lesson about patience and a reminder that the best Christmases are the simple ones.
Synopsis
The New York Times bestseller thats perfect for any parent or Grandparent
A few years ago, Mike Huckabee began drafting a series of letters to his grandchildren, Chandler and Scarlett, about the things that matter most: faith, love, family, overcoming adversity, and staying true to your values in the face of failure and temptation.
Those letters are collected in this charming and inspirational bestseller, full of personal stories. They are nonpolitical and have universal appeal, no matter what your age, religion, or personal situation. We can all benefit from what Huckabee wishes he had known during tough times, rather than learning the hard way.
About the Author
MIKE HUCKABEE hosts the popular talk show
Huckabee on Fox News Channel and
The Mike Huckabee Show each weekday on Cumulus Radio and presents “The Huckabee Report” commentary three times daily on six hundred radio stations. He served as lieutenant governor of Arkansas from 1993 to 1996 and as governor from 1996 to 2007. During the 2008 presidential race he came in second place for the Republican nomination. His previous books include the
New York Times bestsellers
Do the Right Thing, A Simple Christmas, and
A Simple Government. He and his wife of thirty-eight years, Janet, have three grown children and three dogs.
Visit www.MikeHuckabee.com