Jump To » Mobile / Confirm Them / Right Shelf / Sports / State Blogs / About / Contact / Help / Posting Rules / Conservative Book Club / Human Events
Just a Company of American paratroopers, a guitar plugged
into the outpost's PA system, and a whole lot of demolitions.
Not with a bang, but a whimper
A campaign haunted by the hollow words "What might have been....?"
By Jeff Emanuel Posted in 2008 | Fred Thompson | Presidential Primary | Republicans — Comments (387) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
So long, Fred; we hardly even knew ye.
Well, that's not entirely accurate -- we knew you far better than we've known many a politician who's thrown his hat in the Presidential ring in years past (or even this year; see "Hunter, Duncan" or "Gravel, Mike" for examples).
We knew you well enough that, when it seemed that the Republican field needed a White Knight to ride in on a shiny steed and save it (and us) from itself, we didn't call on Newt Gingrich or Jeb Bush; we called on you.
We supported you through the flirtations with running for office. At first, it was understandable. After all, you're a family man, with young children and a comfortable day job, and it would have been far too much to ask for you to simply shelve all of that for the high-stress life of the Presidential candidate without giving the matter a second thought. Whatever your decision, though, you knew that rank-and-file Republicans the country over were calling out your name, and were ready to pledge their support to you should you agree to throw your hat into the ring for the nation's highest office.
We waited with bated breath, as expected announcement date after expected announcement date passed by, with little or no action on your part. As the summer wore on, and gave itself over to autumn, though, the game became a bit less enjoyable for the rest of us.
Like the townspeople who tired of hearing the young sheepherder cry "Wolf!" over and over again when there was no such threat to his flock, those who had supported you wholeheartedly at the beginning of this process began to waver in their commitment, and the field of "FredHeads," as so many of those enthusiastic supporters called themselves, began to dwindle.
Read on.
During the run-up to your candidacy, you said all of the right things. Appearing on ABC Radio, on the Sunday shows, and at speaking engagements, you spoke to the parts of us on the conservative end of the spectrum that weren't being spoken to by the other candidates. Immigration reform, strength in prosecuting the war on terror, a return to Federalism -- all issues for which you were the most articulate, and (it appeared) most viable, spokesman.
Finally, in September, you made the announcement that so many had been dying to hear in April, in May, even in July. At that point, though, it was too late for any but the most dynamic of campaigners to make up the ground lost to the rest of the field in this longest primary election in my memory.
You still had a chance, though. You continued to say so many of the right things that, had you been able to build and manage a campaign staff that was worthy of the ideas of which you spoke, you still could have risen through the ranks to share frontrunner status. The endorsements and stamps of approval you received speak to the power of those ideas. The National Right to Life; Human Events; Rush Limbaugh; even Pejman Yousefzadeh, this site's most eloquent classical liberal -- all saw what you had to offer in the realm of policy and ideas, and either selected you as their representative in this race, or at least bade the Republican Party keep you in their minds as the conservative alternative to the greatly flawed field we have found ourselves, for better or worse, stuck with this election cycle.
Unfortunately, the campaign itself never came together. Despite the fact that it was built around the people's chosen White Knight candidate, and around the most solid slate of conservative ideas in the race, the Fred Thompson for President campaign suffered from being one of the most lackluster, disorganized, and uninspired electoral efforts that I can remember. For whatever reason, you as the candidate never quite took the ownership of your own campaign that was necessary to make it successful -- and, as a result, it foundered before ever really getting out of the harbor.
It is not with glee that I bid adieu to the campaign that Fred Thompson for President. While your departure will not have a large effect on who succeeds in this race from this point on, due to the disappointingly low number of overall supporters you ended up with, losing you from this race means that, once again, we have no option who speaks to the entirety of our conservative selves. Though you weren't the perfect all-things-to-all-people candidate (take the disappointment on the part of some SoCons with your support for Federalism over a Human Life Amendment as one example, or your poor numbers with female voters as another), you remained somebody that the entirety of the Big Red Tent could have comfortably supported as our party's nominee.
Unfortunately, in order to become that nominee, one must win the primary election -- and, whether it was because you got some bad campaign advice, because you weren't experienced enough at running for office, or simply because you really didn't want the job and care if you got elected or not, you never even put up a real fight in the primary.
Though South Carolina may not even be the official final nail in the coffin of your candidacy, for those who took the realistic view -- unencumbered by their support of your bid for office -- the proverbial handwriting had long since been on the wall. After the third-place Iowa finish, there still may have been hope, even though your assured place among the frontrunners had been taken by another out-of-nowhere candidate, Mike Huckabee. However, after the abysmal performances in New Hampshire and Wyoming -- not to mention Michigan and, today, Nevada -- it became abundantly clear that any talk of Fred Thompson, Republican Nominee for President was, at best, a non-starter.
So, as the results come back in South Carolina, with exit polls showing it a McCain-Huckabee race with Thompson a nonfactor, it seems to be as good a time as any to thank you profusely for your time and for your ideas, to wish you luck in all of your future endeavors, and to turn out the lights once and for all on the Fred Thompson for President experiment.
We all wish that the end had been scripted differently, and had taken place much later than this. In the end, though, your campaign seems best described not by a phrase, but by a question: "What if?"
What if you had entered the race in the spring or early summer, when your popularity and support were at their highest? What if you had picked a competent campaign staff at the beginning of the race -- and stuck with it throughout? What if you had really taken ownership of that campaign, and executed it more effectively? What if you had done what we were all dying to see after seven years of President Bush and the "new tone," and refused to let the media define you?
What if you had acted like you actually wanted the job?
As the Thompson campaign finishes its several months of winding down, "what might have been" is a compelling -- but ultimately futile -- game to play.
Perhaps, in the end, the answer is as simple as "it just wasn't meant to be." We'll never know.
So, Fred Dalton Thompson, as you ride slowly and quietly off into the sunset, not a hollow man but -- most unfortunately -- the owner of one of the most hollow campaigns that I can recall, the words of T.S. Eliot come to mind:
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
So long, Fred; we hardly even knew ye.
« Walking Back The Cat — Comments (3) | Hoping to *win*, betting against the *House*? [Updated and bumped.] — Comments (4) »
Not with a bang, but a whimper 387 Comments (0 topical, 387 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
That's gonna leave a mark.....n/t
by SteveLA
______________________________________
Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
Absoulutely a little tact. Couldn't he have gotten
by Joliphant
A picture of Fred with a better haircut ?
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Jeff
by Hooah Mac
This is the first time I've seen a true lack of class from you. It is terribly unforutnate.
Hooah Mac, that was sincerely *not* my intention.
by Jeff Emanuel
I've found FDT the most appealing ideas candidate since he first flirted with entering the race last Spring, and have no personal animus toward him whatsoever.
I am committed to being as realistic as possible, and this is intended to be as sincerely, politely, and respectfully realistic as possible.
I am sorry that it has come across to you -- and I'm sure you're not the only one -- as "classless."
It seemed some what bitter.
by Vegas Rick
It seemed some what bitter. And I guess I can understand why you might feel that way.
Not the intention. "Disappointed," yes.
by Jeff Emanuel
"Bitter," no.
I don't think your blog was classless
by JSobieski
It was hard to take, but that is due to the disappointment of the day---a bitter disappointment in many ways and levels.
Yes.
by No King but God
They that are with us are more than they that are against us.
if you really found him the most appealing...
by dba31498
Why don't you support him?
Ha!
by No King but God
They that are with us are more than they that are against us.
Fred going home
by recon79
REPORT on Fox Fred going to see his mother Sunday. could he be at the end
Been saving this
by SteveLA
I'd have preferred the Dandy Don Meridith version, couldn't find it, but this one's not bad.
Sorry Fred Heads, the song says it all.
______________________________________
Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
I don't know what's worse..
by Commodore
The fact that Fred lost or the fact that some people here are glad about it.
If McCain or Huckabee get the nomination, the party will no longer represent my values to any meaningful degree, and I will not support it.
it was Fred who scared them the most
by David Hinz
each of their candidates has huge weaknesses -- and they all know it. That is why they insult Fred, because they feared him the most.
Before you would start to fear him. As things stand he was perfect for the single issue ideologues that wanted the general/more than one issue conservatives split.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
I never insulted Fred. I'm
by swamp_yankee
I never insulted Fred. I'm just trying to beat Hillary Clinton. I'm trying to find the strongest most viable conservative candidate to do that. Just becasue Fred ran a poor campaign doesn't mean that other candidates do not like federalism. That is silly.
Yes, I'm hardened, cynical, thick-skinned and I like too laugh. I am a New England country boy turned Boston lwayer. I live, eat and breath Boston liberals, so I have to laugh and have a thick skin.
The whole Fred thing became an unhealthy diversion after a while. Jeff's post says it all - the writing's been on the wall for some time. Not every state's primary was a joke. The magic was a myth. He was a poor candidate, even if he was a good conservative. A lot of good conservatives make lousy politicians.
Running a campaign is the first real test of executive decision making and leader ship. If you can't do that, it's difficult to assume you would make a good president. Senators don't run things. You can be a good Seantor and a lousy executive.
It's not just about pondering conservative principles. It's about running things and leadership. Politics is raw blood sport. It's they type of arena where machines like the Clintonistas chew up and spit out their opponents. Guys like Romney may not be warm and cuddley, but they are aough effective politicians. Fred is not.
Like I said, I just want to get back on track and find the best way to beat Hillary. Propping up the failed Thompson campaign isn't going to do that.
Fred Thompson. Good conservative. Good guy. Bad politician. Bad executive. End of story. Now lets move on and elect someone who can run a good conservative campaign and is not afraid to punch the Clinton machine in the teeth.
Yes YES YES 5^9 n/t
by SteveLA
______________________________________
Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !
There is no such animal...absurd to think there is.<nt>
by R.E. Finch
Better be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident security. --Edmund Burke
Blog: TMYN
5 -
by WOSG
"The whole Fred thing became an unhealthy diversion after a while. Jeff's post says it all - the writing's been on the wall for some time. "
Yes. We have a race now down to Romney, Huckabee, and McCain (and someone please put the Rudy campaign out of its misery as well????).
"Running a campaign is the first real test of executive decision making and leader ship. If you can't do that, it's difficult to assume you would make a good president."
Absolutely. Thompson was *leading* in national polls *before* he even announced. To blow a lead like that, with a candidate who had far fewer warts than every other top candidate, shows how badly the campaign was handled.
Romney or McCain there is no Huck
by Born Ready
Huck didn't win in his strongest state. If he doesn't win in SC he doesn't win anywhere. Rudy is still around until FL, but unless he pulls off something special he's toast too.
It is coming down to McCain or Romney, and at his point in time I think McCain has the edge. But I support Mitt because I think he's the best choice.
That sounded almost Yoda'ish (n/t)
by Eyriq
"Go ahead, make your jokes, Mr. Jokey... Joke-maker. But let me hit you with some knowledge. Quit now". -White Goodman
Fred's out. Not a good time for negativity about him.
by No King but God
They that are with us are more than they that are against us.
Insulted Fred or not,
by BillG
I think you just made another good point. McCain is a lousy undependable GOP senator; and he will not make a good EXECUTIVE in the White House. He has made some BAD DECISIONS the past 2 years and I don't think he would be elected because he is TOO OLD, like good ole boy BOB DOLE in 1996! So if Fred goes away, in my book it is Rudy in Florida and if Rudy goes away, it is Romney. Why Romney? Well he seems sincerely trying to court the Reagan voters of 1980s; and he seems honestly ready to be the Chief Executive in the White House. But if he gets to Georgia, I'm going for Rudy. If not then it is Mitt. Perhaps Fred can be the head of the RNC and help the GOP get some House seats and keep at least 40 seats in the Senate.
Some people just hate federalism I guess (nt)
by Neil Stevens
I have mixed feelings when it comes to Fred.
by Thunder
Me, I have mixed feelings. I support Romney, but thought Fred would be a good second choice. But now it looks like I loose my #2 choice. On the other hand, I believe it takes a lot of his votes from Romney, so I think it that way it helps Romney. On the other hand, if he didn't quit and he goes to Georgia and takes the fight to Huckabee, then I will be rooting him on.
Ditto
by peg c
I will not vote for McCain or Huck. Period.
You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.
Ditto, ditto, ditto
by BillG
I can't vote for McCain because I DON'T TRUST HIM, based on his past record in the Senate. I see Huck and I see another JIMMY CARTER, and I can't live through that again!
In an interview with Frank Pastore on FM 99.5 KKLA, Richard Land said that it is unfair to equate Mike Huckabee with Jimmy Carter. Jimmy is theologically liberal while Mike Huckabee is very conservative in his theology.
Carter would never denounce the jihadists. Huck calls them evil and Huck supported the Iraq War and still does. Its not close.
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
www.fred08.com
meh
by absentee
I'm so tired of hearing this one. You don't have a good reason. Note: That wasn't a question.
absentee
5 5 5
by Joliphant
Next we will have a whole round of how its principled to cut off your nose so nobody notices your acne.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Not even going to look (nt)
by Neil Stevens
Goofy Guy in his bedroom wearing shorts and a hat
by Joliphant
Are generally considered some of natures warning signs.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Using a filtering proxy ?
by Joliphant
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
NoScript: Firefox extension (nt)
by Neil Stevens
Makes one wonder why they called this site
by dbecraft
RedState! Seems that too many here are against actual conservatives.
Formally known as Deagle... "Golf is a way of life..."
Watch Out Jeff
by swamp_yankee
Fredheads aren't ready for this type of commentary. They are being a little hypersensitive. I called fredheads deadheads and would of thought that I insulted his mother.
Why don't you try not insulting at all? (nt)
by Neil Stevens
Yes!
by No King but God
Winston Churchill's model -- "In victory, magnanimity."
Or the old Latin tag -- "de mortuus nil nisi bonum", i.e., don't speak ill of the dead. Its classless and it loses you friends.
Sorry to say it but with McCain and Huck in the race
by Joliphant
Fred was one fly too many in the ointment. Toss in the added idiocy of Ron Paul and these primaries have been a disaster.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Romney moving up
by recon79
Romney at 19 Huck at 23 COULD Romney come in 2nd
Doubt it.
by Thunder
Its Possible, but doubtfull. I think the northern areas where Huck is strong may have not come in yet. But, one can still hold out hope.
Saddened
by simpson316
I am truly saddend that I will most likely not be able to vote for my candidate of choice. He may still be on the ballot here in MO, but if he is completely discounted I will now have to restart my journey of deciding who my candidate is.
Sad situation.
by St. Louis Conservative
Fred is hands down the most substantive candidates on either side. He has true conservative instincts, unlike others in our field who espouse conservatives principles, but don't necessarily have the philosophical grounding.
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”
I'll agree with you there.
by CheyennePress
I'll agree with you there. Fred has the foundation down.
I'll disagree with him on tort reform. And I'll disagree with him that marriage should be a state's rights issue. But that's about it.
"Don't ever be afraid to see what you see." ~Ronald Reagan
100% agreed. That's why I
by No King but God
100% agreed. That's why I eventually switched to Fred. Oh, well. Guess I'm back to seeing who checks off my issues best.
Paul.
by han_solo
I would say in fact Ron Paul is the most consistant conservative that has lived and voted in a totally conservative way over decades of being in office.
In fact Ron Paul is actually slightly more conservative than Thompson.
The only difference is Ron Paul was anti-war. You might disagree with his anti-war stance, but I will at least say this Paul has some actual philosophical reasons behind his anti-war stance, not like the Dems who are clueless and chant stuff like "Bush lied, people died"... Ron Paul is anti-war because he believes that his conservative strict-constitutional principles say we should not be in Iraq[screeeeeech...
-and now back to your regularly scheduled pandemonium. -LHW]
Doesn't that need to be in Haiku ? n/t
by Joliphant
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
be seen as driving events and ensure that their preferred narrative be the conventional wisdom, all above real journalistic values including the reporting of useful real news and commentary.
Redstate obviously desires now to be part of the MSM instead of the higher quality alternative media is was when I joined.
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
www.fred08.com
GC, you're the only one here that I'll take the time...
by Jeff Emanuel
...to say this to: there's no animus toward FDT here. I was one of the guys with the "Draft Fred" sticker on at the Georgia GOP convention last May.
Believe me, I took no pleasure in writing this.
and the tone seems a bit mocking, but I admit I haven't read it all. That it appears at this time was enough to sadden me.
Especially from an Iraq imbed with the experience of filing substantial pieces not driven by the puny msm competition to be first about non-fires that need to be responded to.
This zeal to tell candidates that they ought get out of the race is not attractive. I have never called for a candidate to get out. I am clueless as to the desire to do so.
But, as usual, what I read was well written Jeff, and the image, A1.
congrats
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
www.fred08.com
Because full-spectrum conservatives
by Whitfox
can't forever have their votes split without losing power in the primary selection process.
I really wanted Fred to win. While not perfect, Fred's platform is by far the best. IMO, he's the only major Republican candidate who can't be called a moderate.
But it takes more to win than maturity and a good platform. Granted, this should have more appeal to Americans than it does, but it's not the people who are to blame when a politican fails. And let's be frank: Two distant third place finishes are failure.
Time to move on, and focus on the best conservative remaining.
a day or 2 later would have been much more seemly.
I might be a Mitten or I might not, but I will value RedState a lot less either way.
You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.
Let's all settle down
by Neil Stevens
A lot of us are probably going to be very disappointed, perhaps even bitter tonight.
Even if the Fred Thompson haters are already classless about it, those of us (and that includes Jeff) who supported him at one time or another can have some dignity about it.
I haven't noticed many Fred Thompson haters on this site
by Right Again
I think he is the one candidate who almost all of us like. He is #1 or #2 to almost everyone on this site (including me). He is the best true conservative.
I hope he does not drop out. I hope he still has some fight in him for Florida and for Super Tuesday.
The reason I want him to at least remain visible is because I think he would win a brokered convention for the reasons stated in my first paragraph.
Every other candidate has many vocal haters on this site. I think Fred Thompson is the one who does not.
"Go ahead, make your jokes, Mr. Jokey... Joke-maker. But let me hit you with some knowledge. Quit now". -White Goodman
Don't count me in the likers. He creeps me out. <nt>
by MrsNachos
"I'm just beginning...The pen's in my hand...Ending unplanned"
Not I
by CheyennePress
While I'd love to see a Romney/Thompson ticket, I just wish Fred would leave now. He's taking the conservative vote from Romney.
I care about the border and national sovereignty. Thus, I want McCain gone. Romney's the guy who can get that done.
Fred hanging around is just working on McCain's behalf.
"Don't ever be afraid to see what you see." ~Ronald Reagan
I think Fred can remain
by No King but God
I think Fred can remain visible and viable for a brokered convention without staying in the race. In fact, I think he'd probably do better outside the race.
It's been a brutal primary season already. The Huckabee folks hate Giuliani. The Romney backers can't stand McCain. No one can stomach he who cannot be named. If Fred hadn't been so apathetic, he might have engendered a little more animus. But he got a little bit o' hate now and then.
On the other hand, there's nothing but love for Duncan Hunter. Oh wait a minute he just dropped out.
"Be intolerant. Because some things are just stupid"
- Ryan Dobson
I'm not bitter or even disappointed.
by StephC
I'm afraid I'm too cynical and pretty much expected this to happen. Fred tried to run a principled campaign against people who don't care how low they sink to get the nomination.
No matter what, I will not vote for McCain or Huckabee.
I love the picture.
by Brad G
I've always said if Fred grew back the chops and brought out the pipe back in the summer, the other candidates would have dropped out and endorsed him immediately.
Republicans screwed up here.
by Addison
Fred would've been miserable to run against in the general. He might've won because whenever he says anything -- even if you disagreed, and even if it was wrong -- he makes the other side look silly. It's like a magic trick. He was unflappable and clear. Against Obama he would've seemed "experienced" by being old and "serious," against Hillary he would have benefited from being someone who wasn't ambitious to a scary fault.
When you look at the wishy-washy nature of the rest of the Republican candidates, and the degree to which Fred Thompson made them look petty and small, it's amazing he didn't catch on merely by making the other candidates whimper their chances away. Especially Romney, who has all the markings -- personal and political -- of being the GOP's very own John Kerry.
So now that Fred's almost certainly out, I can safely say that Republicans in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Michigan, Wyoming, and South Carolina really screwed up. Hope for McCain/Thompson, that's your best chance.
If you can't get your own party to nominate you
by Joliphant
How are you going to win in the general ??
Plus he might yet be the nominee, if we have a brokered convention.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Winning the nomination isn't necessary aligned with victory
by Neil Stevens
Remember: an R or a D wins his nomination and loses every single time.
Don't say things like
by Vegas Rick
Don't say things like this:
Plus he might yet be the nominee, if we have a brokered convention
I was just giving in to total despair.
He is positively antagonistic to the media and doesn't have Reagan's ability to have them think they are winning while they are going down in flames.
The teflon appellation is something every conservative needs. You get it not because you are corrupt and nothing sticks, but because the media is trying to throw dreck at you and its sliding off.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
There wasn't an anti-Fred vote out there...
by Addison
I don't think Republicans dislike or Fred Thompson, or wouldn't vote for him. There wasn't an anti-Fred vote out there, nor can I imagine one. What issue would it be based around? Republicans just voted for someone else because of single issues, it seems. Immigration. Taxes/ Iraq. Abortion. Etc. But when you look at why people voted for Huckabee, McCain, or Romney, based on those issues it's hard not to see the reasons they voted for those candidates mirrored in Fred's policies, too.
He was like a Mr. Potato Head of policies and positions people liked in other candidates, in a shell of impermeable seriousness. So how would he have lost the Republican vote in the general? However, it's all academic. The point is: too bad for Republicans.
I think Jeff captures that sentiment well
by DGaines
As you said, There wasn't any anti-Fred vote, I think most people just got attached to other candidates before Fred got in and were unwilling to change. It really did become a story of too little too late.
Classless--blame it on the voters.
by No King but God
I think its classless the way people are talking about how terrible Fred is now. But its also classless and bitter for Fred supporters to get angry at the voters because Fred didn't win. There's been some real flaws in his campaign and some bad luck that aren't the voters' fault. Lets not indulge in sour grapes.
Giving us a couple of hours to vent and pine
by JSobieski
is not an outrageous reguest.
We are ripe for appeals from other candidates, except that most supporters seem to prefer spiking footballs at the moment.
As a voter, I count too.
Not sour grapes.
by Addison
Well, it's not sour grapes with me. I'm not a Republican, I don't support any of the Republican candidates. I'm glad Fred's out because it would've been difficult to run against him. Assuming he had gotten a bit better at campaigning, that is.
decides when we must commence being sad about Fred.
At this hour, the event to be sad about is this rubbing salt in wounds blog.
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
www.fred08.com
wow, is this even a conservative site?
by muwarriorsfan
I signed up here to read conservative viewpoints and people are glad Thompson is out of the race?!?! The only Conservative running was Thompson, and you guys are happy that a moderate Dem like McCain will get the nomination?
I've voted straight Republican since 84, but will gladly sit this one out if McCain is the nominee.
Republicans, Conservatives and Realistic
by Young Conservative
It is a conservative site, but I think we're also realists here. Taking a look at Fred Thompson's chances after tonight, things look bleak. I disagree with Jeff on foreign policy stuff, but he's right on the money here. And I disagree with the earlier posts. He's not being anti FDT, just realistic about it.
__________________________________________________________
I was brought up to believe that how I saw myself was more important than how others saw me. (Anwar al-Sadat, President of Egypt, 1970-1981)
Sad but true.
by No King but God
They that are with us are more than they that are against us.
diaries, here -- three months, two months and one month ago. So, please don't come in here and take a dump on the carpet after 13 minutes.
If you intend to stay -- then contribute. Otherwise -- door -- a** -- you know the rest.
So long as you come out to for vote the GOP'ers down ballot ...
by Martin A. Knight
... that's fine. Well, not exactly fine since McCain would be a far better President than Hillary Clinton, but better than sitting the whole thing out.
Welcome to RINOState
by pscblazer20
This is land of McCain shilling, Fred can't win it, Mitt's too perfect, and all comments about Ron Paul are banned.
Here's your vote, take it and go to Canada. <nt>
by MrsNachos
"I'm just beginning...The pen's in my hand...Ending unplanned"
There is more McCain support
by CheyennePress
There is more McCain support here than I've seen on any conservative website. That much is for sure.
"Don't ever be afraid to see what you see." ~Ronald Reagan
Do you even read the site? Seriously.
by No King but God
They that are with us are more than they that are against us.
Substance over style. But ignore style at your peril ...
by Martin A. Knight
It's depressing to think of what might have been ...
the most conservative state in the union!?!?!?! Yet all of those votes for candidate [X] instead of candidate Thompson.
Folks, I vaguely remember the 70s--but I think we are about to try version 2.0.
Skyrocketing oil prices
Enemy that 50% of the country wants to appease
Fundamental changes to the world economy
RHINO Republicans running the show
Until the 1970's...
by Mark Kilmer
INO Republicans were known as Rockefeller Republicans. In Michigan, big government Republicans are often called Millikan Republicans, after a former Governor of the State, Bill Millikan.
I know---I'm from Michigan
by JSobieski
and to be fair to the present, the RHINO/Rockefeller% was higher in the 70s.
The bar is now open.
Why be depressed?
by StephC
It is what it is and no amount of depression is going to change that. Sometimes you have to go through the low times to appreciate the good times. We grew complacent and wallowed in that complacency.
It ain't over 'til I say its over!
by David Hinz
was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Well, it ain't over now!
Yes it is
by Neil Stevens
Where's he going to get a majority? He's fluctuated between the bottom and the middle of the pack, while three (!) other candidates have managed to climb to the top at least once.
Just as Romney was supposed to do well in Iowa and New Hampshire, South Carolina was supposed to be the opening roar for Fred Thompson.
Instead, we get a whimper.
lighten up Neil
by David Hinz
it was a f***** joke -- animal house?
Jeff, unless you are a mindless member of the MSM, it's a wee bit premature for post-mortems.
Fred Thompson has been campaigning his heart out. Rush Limbaugh has been on a daily campaign to thwart Huckabee and McCain. And yet -- which two candidates seem to be duking it out for the top spot in S.C.?
I can appreciate your disappointment, but man up, dude. :)
I don't think so.
by mikefisk
If anything, the feel was that it was hard for some people to take Thompson as a serious candidate.
However, the wins by Huckabee and McCain (in addition to Romney's pandering win in Michigan) scare me more than anything, and seem to show an embracing by Republicans of economic populism, destined to give us all the vitality of France. And people don't seem to want to recognize that.
That being said, I'm not the one to speak for the Republican Party, having effectively "left" the party after 2004 (I consider myself a libertarian-leaning independent, and a self-described anarcho-capitalist). I am, however, disgusted by the options I'm being presented from the GOP about sticking our economic heads in the sand, and outraged at the Democrats for just wanting to give up. What I saw in Fred was a willingness to let America fight it out on the world stage, and he was, to many, the most electable libertarian-leaning candidate. But after many states where he fell behind an unelectable sham libertarian in the polls, it did become hard to convince oneself that Thompson still had a chance. Sure, he did well in the debates... just nobody even saw them except for the wonks.
What this is is not an indictment of conservatism, but rather the level of engagement of the American public in the political process.
"No matter how much lipstick you put on the taxation pig, it's still a pig... and it's currently snout-down in your wallet." - Michael Fisk
How can anybody vote for McCain?
by muwarriorsfan
How can any of you support McCain when the guy has taken every opportunity to use the MSM to spit on Conservatives and Republicans?
What does it even mean now to be a Republican if this is the kind of guy who represents us?
Go away
by GreatDarkSpot
Some of us love McCain and have been strong GOP's for a very long time. You don't always get your guy - I had to put up with W - now it the time for those of us who wanted McCain.
Its not that simple.
by JonPrichard
McCain would fit very nicely in the Democrat Party. So would Huckabee. Personally I believe in having two distinct parties in the country. Its best when they are in heated opposition, not in one accord. McCain and Huckabee represent the idea of blending the two parties to the point they nearly agree with eachother. Philosophically I can take a Clinton type in office every now and then as a Democrat but to have one in as a Republican removes all hope for bringing the country to Conservative principles.
So McCain
by roxer
and W are different in what sense? Both pushed that stupid amnesty bill that the majority of the public did not want. Both are buying into the global warming crap. One thing I can say is that Bush wanted more conservative judges than McCain - gang of 14. So not really sure exactly what you are missing by going to McCain from Bush...
Im not arguing for Bush
by JonPrichard
In fact I think he's made great mistakes in terms of immigration and government spending. My point is that the parties should be very distinct from eachother. Bush v. Kerry and Bush v. Gore were fairly distinctive races. McCain v. Clinton, not so much, in fact those two are VERY much alike. Huckabee v Obama? I don't know, that's a pretty Liberal pairing.
"Don't ever be afraid to see
by CheyennePress
"Don't ever be afraid to see what you see." ~Ronald Reagan
And in John McCain I see a self-important windbag who attempted to sell our nation down the river with a bill that had his name written all over it.
I can't fathom what you see in that back-stabbin
Still, I hope Fred is in the next GOP administration in a prominent position... He speaks about conservative ideas so plainly and succinctly and unapologetically...
"Do the day's work."