I like Mike Huckabee as a candidate I can vote for by writing him in on my New Hampshire Democratic Ballot, as I did a few weeks ago. His reputation as an extremely able Governor in Arkansas preceded his arrival on the national scene, running for the high office of U.S. President. He is intelligent, witty, down-home familiar, pleasant, he has great good sense and good policy positions -- especially as regards pro-Life and defending against pro-Abort policies -- which some cannot tolerate, but which I strongly appreciate. And he is electable. So tell me, which is it, Slate - You don't like Huckabee, because he thinks, as most reasonable scientists and people will conclude, that "Life begins at conception" or that maybe he is not a "Fundamentalist" in his approach or in his proven governance? The truth is that only those who favor extreme pro-Abort and pro-Feminist policies are the extremists in our American society today. They are extreme, in part, because they base their positions purely in their crocked ideologies. They are extreme, because their positions are profoundly anti-religious, anti-family and anti-personhood. And they are extreme, because they cannot listen to, comprehend, understand or accommodate people like myself, with a differing point of view that is more Catholic, more Christian, more Italian, more Western Civilization and more American traditional than their own misbegotten and beknighted positions on these issues of life and death for unborn children. I am very greatful for Mike Huckabee making himself available for my vote and the votes of my fellow Americans during this interesting and diversified electioneering season. Many fine candidates have already dropped out; Mike Huckabee is still standing. Maybe some people should ask themselves, "Why?" <link>

Perhaps, Michael, you ought to consider that there are a plethora of other issues facing this country - issues far more important than the essentially unresolvable one of abortion. The focus on abortion accomplishes nothing but distract us from what is truly crucial, and prevent us from actually uniting to solve our real problems.

With our air, water, and soil polluted, our climate changing, our sons and daughters and brothers and sisters dying in Iraq, our jobs going overseas, and 50% of American adults unable to locate New York state on a map, perhaps there are things to be concerned about other than abortion.

Perhaps all you "reasonable" people could agree to spare us, for just a few years, your hooting and hollering about when life begins, so that the rest of us could actually focus on averting the series of enormous disasters our country is facing.

"he thinks, as most reasonable scientists and people will conclude, that "Life begins at conception""

Bullshit. References.

FYI - I am a scientist. There is not (and I don't think there ever will be but I certainly could be wrong on that) a clear cut answer as to when life begins. Most people in the medical profession consider a woman pregnant after the embryo attaches to the endometrium. No implantation, no fetus/baby, no pregnancy.

The medical and scientific community has a great deal to fear from a Huckabee presidency. He doesn't believe in evolution for starters. The US is falling behind in innovations and science. Keeping kids stupid is ill advised. That also covers the abstinence only education mess. He will pack the President's Council on Bioethics with a bunch of wingnuts who ALL think an embryo is a full human; no discussion needed when you appoint people who are essentially ditto heads just like now. He will, like Bush, interfere in the process of drug approval for medications he considers "immoral" (ie. Gardasil and Plan B). A vaccine that prevents cancer? That is great! Wait, this cancer is usually communicated sexually? NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I will NOT allow my daughter to be vaccinated against cancer that she would deserve to get if she does not marry as a virgin (the husband not being a virgin and communicating HPV is never discussed). These types of people are terrified of the consequences of presenting the facts and letting people use their brains to THINK for themselves.

Husbands will have to sign off for their wives to get a pap smear and the results go straight to him, of course, so he can decide the appropriate treatment if any. He and he alone will decide what birth control methods (if any) will be employed. He will have full access to all of her medical records and final say in all decisions regarding her treatment. Remember, Huckabee believes that wives must submit to their husbands.

"And they are extreme, because they cannot listen to, comprehend, understand or accommodate people like myself, with a differing point of view that is more Catholic, more Christian, more Italian, more Western Civilization and more American traditional than their own misbegotten and beknighted positions"

Actually I have no issue with your beliefs as long as your accommodations end where mine begin and I am not cornered into listening to one of your rambling diatribes. I'll make you a deal. I'll leave you alone when you live me alone. You won't allow that to happen. You believe you have to impose your beliefs on everyone else. That is why more and more people are getting angry and vocal. Feel attacked if you like but you and people like you brought this upon yourselves. Those of us in the middle are tired of people like you.

I'm going to get dinner but I think you get my drift.

Mike Huckabee is a batshit lunatic Christer fundamentalist theocrat, and if he was able to pull off what he says he wants to do, we may as well chuck the Constitution and hand out Bibles to every social studies student in America.

Not to mention the fact that if you are a conservative, you cannot possibly believe he would be good for this country.

Mr. H. is a Southern Baptist. As a recovering SB, I can assure you that, by definition, he is a fundamentalist. He believes every word of the Bible is literally true, inspired by the Holy Spirit, therefore inerrant.

Your thoughts on politics, etc. are what they are, you are welcome to them.

However, intelligent and sensible people do not all agree on when life begins.Yours is a religiously inspired view, not a scientific one.Perhaps looking at the question from the other end might be illustrative. When do we die? When does life end?

My understanding is that when brain activity ends, life ends.The term "brain dead"; indicating bodily functions continue, usually by artificial means. That person is dead.

So, if a brain functions, even at a rudimentary level ( the unfortunate Mrs. Schiavo comes to mind) the person is alive.

Returning to the original question, it seems to me a person becomes alive when his/her brain starts functioning.