Oh, You Mean That Federalism.

Flip.

“As a governor, I led our state to become the first state in the South to have a statewide ban on smoking anywhere indoors and I’m proud of that and it wasn’t the easiest thing in the world to get done…It was hard. And I’ll tell you something, Chris, it takes the personal involvement of the chief executive to make that happen”

Flop.

“At a Lance Armstrong cancer forum last August, Governor Huckabee said that if Congress presented him with legislation banning smoking in public places, he would sign it, because he would not oppose the overwhelming public support that such a congressional vote would reflect. However, since such sentiment for federal legislation doesn’t exist at this time, and since he has said that the responsibility for regulating smoking initially lies with the states, the governor believes that this issue is best addressed at the local and state levels”.

Apparently, getting whacked atop the head by Fred Thompson on national television like the albino got his memory jogged by Fezzik seems to have knocked loose a long-repressed memory. It seems now that Mike Huckabee suddenly remembered that Federalism is one of those pesky little things that Republican presidents should have.

Wait, I don’t really mean “things”. What’s the phrase I want…ummm…oh. Yes. I remember now. Remove “thing” and insert: IMPORTANT FREAKING PRINCIPLES THAT YOU JUST DON’T FIND ONE DAY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL LIKE A SET OF CAR KEYS!!

Well…wow…sorry about that. I don’t know what came over me. Anyway, it’s nice that Huckabee discovered this guiding principle of keeping the government’s nose out of your business unless we all specifically ask it to be there. Perhaps there’s a slim chance of hope for him after all.

Michael van der Galien made me chuckle today. He says, “Ah, yes, he didn’t want to, but if he was forced…” and “Huckasaint, some advise: when you flip-flop, do so before the campaign.”

“Huckasaint”. Not bad, Michael. Not bad at all!

(Updated with a quick edit)