Did You Have A Happy Huckabee Christmas?

The source for this article is cited as this Arkansas government website. You can search for Janet or Mike Huckabee and see the long list of financial disclosure documents. Here are some of the items listed as gifts by Huckabee during his tenure as governor. I don't imagine he really needs Hillary to play Santa, as she did in her recent campaign ad.

In 1999, Mrs. Huckabee received $ 23, 000 for her inaugural wardrobe from medical lab entrepreneur Jennings Osborne and his family. The colorful Osborne touts his ties with famous friends and politicians on a Web site that boasts that his is "one of the most celebrated families in Arkansas"with two "palatial"houses and 40 luxury cars.

... here are few things (Huckabee) might not need: Custom-made cowboy boots, a canoe, fishing rods and tackle, a gun for him ($ 800 ), a gun for his wife, Janet ($ 450 ), his-and-her watches ($ 595 each ), and an all-expensespaid trip to Las Vegas to see a prize fight.

Those items - and hundreds more adding up to tens of thousands of dollars - have already been lavished on Huckabee and his family during his decade in relative obscurity as governor of Arkansas.

... an avid outdoorsman who received not only fishing and hunting gear but the use of private lodges and cabins as well as free use of motor boat with free supplies and fuel.

Known for playing in a rock band, he also received the occasional guitar.

In addition to a gun she received, his wife got fishing lessons and a parasailing adventure.

The governor reported gifts of suits and shoes in addition to more than $ 19, 000 for clothes from Osborne in 1999 alone, as well as free eye care and eye wear, free car repairs, free fuel, gift certificates to Wal-Mart, movie passes and 50 percent off any meals at Wendy's.

The list is "really stunning," said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies, which tracks ethics issues in state governments.

However, even as he was leaving office and preparing to move into a new house last year, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported bipartisan grumbling when Huckabee and his wife turned up on gift registries at Target and Dillard's department stores amid housewarming parties hosted by their friends.

The episode appeared to follow a pattern set by another Arkansas couple, Bill and Hillary Clinton, when they registered for gifts as they left the White House.

The last official listings for 2006 show that the Huckabees received a $ 300 mixer, a $ 110 juicer, and Lenox Christmas china costing $ 200.

Comments

[seekeronos]

This begins to look more and more like a "Pass the Loot" PTL ponzi scheme. However, I wonder if the Flip Flop Romninny has amassed such "unofficial" contributions as the Huckananny.

[TheSpartan]

This has been floating around for ages Dan, what took you so long to pick up on it?

[JustADude]

After this election series besides the group that is in the no more Clintons / no more Bush camp we may also have the no more Arkansas and no more New Yorker camp to add to the no more Massachusetts camp.

[Fred Beloit]

Hey, common now. What's the sense in getting elected if you can't take a few bribes, er, donations?

[Fred Beloit]

If you've ever been to Parris Island, South Carolina, you must have seen the sign near the bridge "We make Marines". Ever since Bill Clinton there should be a sign over the White House entrance "We make millionaires".