Fox News Channel and The Drudge Report are both reporting that Fred Dalton Thompson is dropping his bid for the GOP Nomination for President of the United States. One of the reports on television suggests that his mother is gravely ill. Before I drop my official support for Fred and Fred only, I am awaiting confirmation from the campaign directly. One of my blogging compatriots is currently attempting to phone his contact in the campaign for official word.
UPDATE 2:48pm EST:
My contact has official confirmation that Fred is out of the race.
Officially, I now am undecided. I’m leaning heavily toward Mitt Romney but am reserving an official endorsement for the time being. There is no word on who Fred will endorse. If he should officially back Gov. Romney, I will follow. If he should endorse anyone else, I will continue to reserve my endorsement.
Let the nose holding begin because to be honest, the whole field stinks.
“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people,” Thompson said in a statement.
Speculation still remains that he may be a second seat on a Presidential ticket. We’ll see what happens soon I guess.
The real King of All Media Rush Limbaugh, not that moron on satellite radio, is being cagey about endorsing a candidate for President. Most talk radio types are refraining from making formal endorsements. Neal Boortz for example gushes about Mike “The Huckster” Huckabee because The Huckster recently came out for The Fair Tax in spite of Huckster’s real economic record. But no formal endorsement from Neal.
That said, Rush has been featuring a lot of commentary about the “drive-by” media’s writing off of the Thompson campaign. On today’s show he re-capped Fred’s performance and lit into the “drive-by media”. [*Note: I didn't get a chance to listen today]
For someone who is non-committal on endorsing candidates before the primary process is completed, Rush is sounding an awful lot like a ‘Fred Head’. Not that I’m complaining.
Speaking of waiting to endorse candidates until after the primary process plays out, the Republican Nominee may not be selected by our party until the convention. So what does that mean for people like Rush, Neal, Sean Hannity, and others? That’s a question that can only be answer in the course of time I guess.
Rudy Giuliani has come out with his tax plan in an effort to glamor up his Conservative credentials. Problem is, I’ve heard the plan or something resembling it before. Then I got to thinking, where?
Republican U.S. presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani has proposed what he called a multitrillion-dollar tax cut that would trim the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent and cut the capital gains tax from 15 percent to 10 percent.
Reduce the Corporate Tax Rate. The United States has one of the highest rates of tax on businesses of the industrialized nations, second only to Japan. EvenJapan is currently considering reducing its corporate tax rate. Economic studies suggest that the U.S. Treasury is actually losing tax revenue by keeping the corporate tax rate so high. In order to increase the competitiveness of U.S. companies in the global marketplace, the Thompson plan would reduce the U.S. top corporate tax rate (including the corporate capital gains tax rate) from 35 percent to no more than 27 percent, which is the approximate average of the world’s leading economies & the nations of the Organization on Economic Cooperation and Development. This tax reduction will promote U.S. competitiveness, encourage companies to keep their operations (and jobs) in the U.S., and spur continued economic expansion and growth. SOURCE
The report on Rudy’s plan via Reuters is a summary of Fred’s plan with an additional 2% reduction in the tax. And then Fred says, “from 35 percent to no more than 27 percent.” Rudy’s plan calls for a definitive 25% rate on Corporations.
The proposal, unveiled by the campaign on Wednesday, would preserve the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts enacted by President George W. Bush, eliminate the estate tax and give taxpayers the option of choosing a simplified tax form with three tax brackets with a maximum bracket of 30 percent.
Giuliani proposed a simplified, one-page tax form that would reduced the current six income brackets to three with a 30 percent top rate.
Hmmm, that too sounds a bit familiar. What does Fred’s plan say?
Permanently Extend the 2001 and 2003 Tax Cuts. Tax relief enacted in 2001 and 2003 has proved critical to generating a strong economy that has experienced growth despite the war on terror, the collapse in the housing market, and other economic challenges over the last six years. Unless action is taken, every American taxpayer will see a massive tax increase after December 31, 2010. Allowing this tax hike will impose an enormous financial burden on American families, slow economic growth, cost America jobs, and make it more difficult to address the country’s long-term budget, economic, and security challenges. The Thompson plan ensures the following:
* Reduced individual income tax rates, saving every tax-paying family a minimum of $600.
* Preserving the $1000 child tax credit, which was doubled from $500 per child.
* Protecting Marriage penalty relief.
* Retaining Education tax incentives, including Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 529 college savingsplans, and deductions for higher education expenses.
* Reduced tax rates on capital gains and qualified dividends.
* Increased expensing of investment for small businesses.
Expand Taxpayer Choice. The Thompson plan would give Americans greater choice about how to pay their federal taxes. This plan is based on a proposal developed by the House of Representatives Republican Study Committee that would provide taxpayers the option of remaining under the current, complex tax code or opting for a simplified, flat tax code. The simplified tax code would contain two tax rates: 10% for joint filers on income of up to $100,000 ($50,000 for singles) and 25% on income above these amounts. The standard deduction would be more than doubled to $25,000 for joint filers and $12,500 for singles. The personal exemption amount would be increased to $3,500. Therefore, a family of 4 would be exempt from income tax on the first $39,000 of income. The simplified tax code would contain no other tax credits or deductions. It would also retain the 15% tax rate on capital gains and dividends. This approach would dramatically simplify taxes for tens of millions of Americans. In addition, the larger standard deduction and personal exemption amounts will still provide significant tax relief to families with children. This proposal would serve as a stepping-stone to fundamental tax reform.
Again, Rudy’s plan sounds familiar but lacking detail. Fred is including detail! Imagine that!
“Giuliani’s tax plan makes all the Bush tax cuts permanent, including full repeal of the death tax,” the former New York City mayor’s campaign said in an appeal to fiscal conservatives.
The most telling part of the quote is the qualifier, “… the former New York City mayor’s campaign said in an appeal to fiscal conservatives.”
Permanently Repeal the Death Tax. Current law provides death tax relief, but only through 2010. The death tax is inherently unfair. Under the Thompson Plan, the death tax would be permanently repealed, thus protecting millions of American families, including small business owners and family farmers, from double taxation at rates ranging as high as 55 percent.
Again, sounds like someone jumping on someone else’s plan, trying to make it their own, take credit for being an innovator, and not succeeding. Rudy’s poll numbers from yesterday are down to 9%.
One feature would index the alternative minimum tax to inflation and eventually repeal it, the statement said.
The alternative minimum tax was enacted in 1969 to ensure that the very wealthy had to pay some taxes, but because of the effects of inflation, the tax now threatens to ensnare millions of middle-income families.
That too sounds awful familiar. Now mind you Fred’s plan came out months ago.
Repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax. The AMT is a separate tax system that was intended to ensure that a few high income Americans could not use deductions and credits to eliminate their tax liability. However, because the AMT is not indexed to inflation, it is penalizing Americans it was never intended to affect. While in the U.S. Senate, Fred Thompson authored legislation that would have repealed the AMT. Consistent with that earlier proposal, the Thompson plan will eliminate the AMT as part of broader tax and spending reform. Until comprehensive reform is feasible, the Thompson plan would index the exemption amounts annually so that millions of middle class families will not become subject to this tax.
The proposed capital gains cut would boost the value of 401(k) and IRA retiree savings and investment plans, the statement said, while another feature would replace current tax-advantaged savings accounts with a simplified system.
Fred:
It would also retain the 15% tax rate on capital gains and dividends. This approach would dramatically simplify taxes for tens of millions of Americans.
What about small business concerns (Tax Rates and Depreciation Schedules)?
Permanently Extend Small Business Expensing. Small businesses create two-thirds of all new jobs in America, and employ nearly 59 million Americans — more than half of the nation’s private-sector workforce. Women own a quarter of all small businesses, minorities are nearing the 20% mark, and Hispanic Americans are opening their own businesses at a rate three times the national average. Current law allows small businesses to write-off purchases of equipment of up to $125,000 per year, rather than depreciating those assets over time. Making expensing of equipment and other small business items permanent will encourage greater investment and growth.
Update and Simplify Depreciation Schedules. The current depreciation schedules are outdated and in many cases do not reflect the realistic useful life of an asset. This is particularly true for investments in high technology. For example, computers must be depreciated over three years, even though they become obsolete in half that time. The Thompson plan would simplify and update these schedules to allow American businesses to make the investments they need to compete and create more high-quality jobs.
Why does Rudy find it necessary to “borrow” a plan from a real Conservative? Because he has become a master of Clintonian politics. He is saying whatever he needs to say to sway Conservatives onto his bandwagon. Problem #1, he’s polling at 9% AFTER releasing his plan. Conservatives understand that Rudy is pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, pro-illegal alien, and anti-gun. We’re not stupid Rudy. You can’t pander to us.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you want to vote for a Clinton there is one running in this election. IN THE OTHER PARTY!
If you want what is best for this country vote for a true, proven, Conservative…
Bloggers across this nation put together an effort to give the Thompson campaign a shot in the arm in order to broadcast his ad “Substance” across Iowa just a few short weeks ago. Bloggers helped the campaign raise the needed funds to get Fred the exposure he needed to take a much needed 3rd place in the Hawkeye State.
The goal has always been South Carolina. It will be the Palmetto State which would represent the best chance for a push into Super Tuesday on February 5th. A victory in South Carolina could propel Fred to the top of the Republican polls and have a true impact on the 12 Super Tuesday States.
I’ve gone on record as being opposed to the staggered primary season because of the aura of inevitability thrown at the candidates who do well in the early races. Super Tuesday since its inception has been the make or break point in the primary season. However, this year is beginning to shatter that idea.
It is looking as though we may not know who the Republican Nominee is until the convention which is a welcomed change from previous races. Which also means that none of the top tier candidates are anywhere near out.
The orchestrator of this BlogBurst for the only Conservative in the race is Rick Moran. Rick says:
But Thompson desperately needs to win in South Carolina in order to continue to be a viable candidate. And there are several factors at play in the Palmetto State that makes a Thompson win a realistic goal:
1. Romney has dropped out of the running in SC, having pulled his ads and is transferring staff in order to ambush John McCain in Michigan.
2. That leaves only three candidates with a realistic shot at winning in SC; Huckabee, McCain, and Thompson. Amazingly, none of the three candidates will have an overwhelming advantage when it comes to financing. This levels the playing field considerably.
3. SC voters have made it clear that opposition to illegal immigration is one of the top issues in the state. Looking at the three candidates above, who do you think has the most consistent, conservative record on immigration?
4. Outside factors may play a role in the dynamics of the race. McCain may very well be grievously wounded by a Romney win in Michigan – a state he won in 2000. There would be little time for McCain to right himself following a loss there what with the SC primary 4 days later.
In short, a Thompson win in SC is not only possible but within reach – if Fred has the money for media buys to get his message to the people. – Right Wing Nuthouse
Fred Head type Bloggers such as myself have been hitting you, our readers, rather hard lately for donations. We have to. We believe in this candidate and are convinced that he is the right man at the right time. We need that victory in South Carolina and Fred needs your help in pulling it off.
The campaign has set a fund-raising goal of $540,000 by tomorrow to fund his ad campaign in South Carolina. As of this morning they had raised $420,000 of that amount. He only needs another $120,000 to fund his ads through the South Carolina primary. This BlogBurst raised $251,000 in two days. We can do this. It is only half as much.
Fred isn’t asking you to contribute the $2,300 max. He’s asking for the $25, $50, $75, and $100 contributions. It is us little guys that this man represents and it is the little contributions that make the biggest difference. Please give what you can so that Fred can win South Carolina.
Senator Hillary Clinton had a video taped interview today where she nearly shed tears while saying, “I have so many opportunities for this country”. I? She said I. She didn’t say that America has so many opportunities and if I’m elected I can make those happen. She said, “I have so many opportunities for this country.” If anything in this campaign sounded more self serving I haven’t heard it.
Her little speech started with, “It is personal.” Of course it is. But what she isn’t saying is that it is personal for her because it has been a life-long ambition for her and her hubby of convenience, Billy Bob Bubba, for him to serve 8 years as President and for her to be elected the first woman President effectively giving him a second bite at the apple without fighting the 22nd Amendment. These have been goals of theirs since college.
Now on to Obama…
Mr. Obama is saying that it is because of the Democrats that violence is down in Iraq. That’s right, our troops have nothing to do with it, Iraqis who are tired of dying in the name of radical Islam have nothing to do with it, in his mind, it was Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and a perception of Obama as President that scared Sunnis into negotiating with Shia. What a load of bull!
Obama needs to change his party affiliation and re-introduce the No Nothing Party because that is exactly how he is coming across.
He insists that he can start pulling troops out of Iraq immediately and he can’t. He will shame this nation if he even tries.
And what about the new buzz word – change?
Any Republican elected who is a fiscal Conservative, a true fiscal Conservative so Huckster take a seat, is change. Because George W. Bush isn’t a fiscal Conservative. Democrats are banking on the word change. they want you to think that just because they are Democrats that represents change. They are perpetuating the notion that all Republicans are the same and since there is a Republican in the White House now electing one of them represents change. That’s nonsense.
The Republican 109th Congress spent money like a pack of Democrats and the Republican President didn’t reign in that spending. That made him just as bad as they were on fiscal matters. Electing Democrats to Congress didn’t change that. They proposed more spending. That’s not change. Electing a Democrat President and keeping those thieves in the majority in Congress will make it easier for them to steal more of your money.
Everyone wants change. I want change. I want a true Conservative elected to the Presidency and then we will have change not a bunch of rhetoric based on misguided and/or ignorant perceptions of the definition of change.
This election cycle seems to be based on Clintonian style campaigning. Deception seems to be the rule of the day.
Mike Huckabee claimed to have a degree in Theology. Wrong! He has a BA in Radio and Television Communications and 1 year of Seminary before dropping out to work with a Televangelist. He did later attend another Seminary where he received a BA in Biblical Studies… That’s NOT a Theology degree.
He embraces The Fair Tax… Now… But as Governor of Arkansas he raised taxes on Arkansans 47% and implemented nanny state style restrictions through the use of the tax system. That seems to be liberal tactics. He also increased spending more than Billy Bob did as Governor. But yet he wants you to perceive that he’s a conservative. Sorry… Thanks for playing.
Mitt Romney also claims Conservative credentials in spite of his waffling on abortion. He claims to have been strong on illegal immigration while Governor of Massachusetts in spite of the fact that Boston and Cambridge remain sanctuary cities and illegals were caring for his own lawn.
Rudy Giuliani wants you to believe that his social liberalism is offset by his strong national security credentials. What national security credentials? He was the mayor of a city. He’d like you to believe that being mayor of New York is equivilant to being the governor of a state. Not so. As mayor of New York he did not have to coordinate with mayors of different cities on state policy. He did not command an army (after all, the National Guard forces are a state’s army until federalized by the President of the United States) or state police force. His efforts to gain control of New York’s out of control crime problem and response to the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center aside, that does not reach the level of national security that he might want you to believe.
More important than his crime fighting skills which we would expect him to have as a former US Attorney in the US Justice Department, his social liberalism is a problem. His ideas about gun control conflict with the Party line. His ideas on homosexual marriage conflict with the Party line. And finally his ideas on abortion conflict with Party line. No Republican should be considering voting for this Democrat in Republican clothing.
Ron Paul claims to be a Constitutionalist in spite of the fact that it is obvious that he’s never read the document. He claims that the President has prosecuted an illegal war in Iraq in spite of the fact that Congress authorized the President to use what ever means to bring Iraq into compliance with UN Resolutions. Not to mention that Article II of the US Constitution makes the President of the United States Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States of America. As Commander-in-Chief, he has the ability to deploy his troops as he sees fit. Congress has the power granted under Article I to declare actual war and to either fund or not fund the President’s military operations.
Rep. Paul might be spot on when it comes to pork spending versus the Constitution but he is in left field when it comes to national security.
All three of the Democratic Front Runners are easy to pick apart on their deceptions.
John Edwards runs around the country decrying the need to re-institute “Great Society” style programs that didn’t work the first time they were tried. A trial lawyer who during his career accomplished more to raise the cost of health care in this country than any government policy who now is advocating government controlled and funded national health care. A wealthy individual who owns a nearly 300,000 square foot mansion across the road from a mobile home park which he has never visited but in the same breath as advocating universal health care decries the plight of the poor. If he were so concerned with the poor why then has he not attempted to ease the burden of his poor neighbors? I guess he was too busy getting $400 haircuts and adding on to his enormous house.
Barack Obama claims to have the backing of a few hundred ministers who are now saying that isn’t so. What else is Mr. Obama lying about? Not to mention like John Edwards, Mr. Obama is advocating a return to failed Great Society programs. Why would we want that?
Hillary claims to be the most experienced candidate in either Party. Problem, the New York Times exposed that deception yesterday. She did not have a security clearance. She did not attend any national security briefings. She was not privy to the National Intelligence Estimate. And at one point was barely even speaking the man she now claims that she was an adviser to during his Infestation of the People’s Mansion.
So can you see through the deception?
Only one candidate has not resorted to using deception in order to gain your support. Fred Dalton Thompson.
The man who has been successful at every thing that he’s ever done needs your support. Visit Fred08 and support Fred in his efforts to bring honesty and Conservatism back to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Support for any other candidate returns this nation to the Clintonian Infestation Part II.
Syndicated columnist and former CNN political commentator Robert Novak says that Fred Thompson is the “X Factor” in Iowa. And I agree. So much so that I think that a good showing in Iowa could carry over to a victory in South Carolina and in the majority of Super Tuesday Primary States. Is it certain? No. But it is possible. And since he is the most broadly conservative candidate on the campaign trail, it occurs to me that most economic, social, and national security Conservatives will endorse Fred when it comes down to separating the wheat from the chaff.
Huckabee’s lead in the polls hardly assures a victory, and this race could change dramatically in the next three weeks.
1. The “X factor” in this race is former Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.). Most Iowa Republicans did not even mention his name in discussing candidates they supported or opposed. He simply does not register in the minds of potential GOP caucus-goers, but when asked about him, voters have little negative to say.
2. Thompson has far more upside potential than any other Republican, and he is spending the entire final stretch in the Hawkeye State. Thompson has perhaps the most broadly conservative record of any candidate besides the three congressmen (see below). Many conservative Iowans currently settling for Romney, Giuliani or Huckabee (or planning a protest vote of sorts for one of the congressmen) could certainly jump on board with Thompson. If he defies his reputation as a lazy worker, he could make a spectacular surge here.
3. Huckabee’s high poll numbers and big leads do not guarantee a victory. He has nowhere near the campaign team, organization or money of runner-up Romney. As media scrutiny is finally arriving, he could be in trouble. Still, he is likable, and his openness about his Christianity plays very well among some blocs in the GOP.
4. Many Iowa Republicans like Huckabee because he comes across as genuine, especially in comparison to Romney. This is soft support that could bail to Thompson if he rises or to another candidate if Huckabee’s negatives continue to surface.
5. Immigration is a big issue for Iowa Republicans, and Huckabee’s support of state-subsidized education for illegal immigrants hurts him. His big-government record turns off some voters but is not a factor for some of his core supporters.
6. Huckabee’s dig at Mormons in Sunday’s New York Times magazine has turned off some Republican voters as dirty, bigoted or just politically dumb. This is the sort of thing that could bring him down.
7. Romney, like Giuliani, can afford to lose Iowa, but he still might win. His poll numbers have held steady amid Huckabee’s rise, and a late Romney collapse seems unlikely. Iowa Republicans who back him generally see him as the most electable conservative (in contrast to Giuliani). His healthcare mandate in Massachusetts turns off some conservatives but appeals to some older Republicans who see it as a legislative triumph in a Democratic environment. Romney’s success in business and the Olympics also appeals to potential caucus-goers.
8. Many Iowa Republicans who like Romney, however, consider him a general election liability, either because of his Mormonism or because of his record of flip-flopping. Interestingly, the flip-flops on abortion and other issues don’t directly turn off many GOP voters.
9. Giuliani has some appeal in Iowa, though not much. His personal life — his three marriages, publicly funded trysts — combined with his New York brashness hurt him here in the Heartland. His support for legalized abortion is definitely a net drag, although Iowa Republicans are hardly uniformly pro-life.
10. Giuliani’s main virtue in the eyes of Iowans is his perceived electability. Some see him as the best chance to “beat Hillary.” His particularly hawkish tone does not appeal too much here, as most Republicans do not put foreign policy at the top of their priorities.
11. The three congressmen running for President are broadly understood to be the most conservative, but not electable candidates. Representative Duncan Hunter (Calif.) has the respect of many Republican voters in a state where his brand of protectionism has some cachet. Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.) appeals to Iowa voters’ deep apprehension about illegal immigration.
12. Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.) continues to amaze on many levels, and he had finally started to register on the polls. In last Tuesday’s Midwestern ice storm, almost every Iowa event was cancelled. The exception was a Paul rally, which drew hundreds. His crowds are regularly huge and enthusiastic. He chalked up another record fundraising day on Sunday’s anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, with more than $6 million in online donations in a single day.
13. This battle will hinge on Thompson’s performance down the stretch. If he excels, he could draw down Huckabee’s support significantly, and maybe Romney’s, too. If Thompson is as uninspired as he has been to date, Huckabee will probably win.
14. The most likely result at this point appears to be a slight Thompson surge at Huckabee’s expense, leaving Romney in first place and either Thompson or Huckabee in second.
Fred is THE man. Like Bush is 2000 and Kerry in ’04, the front runner going into the Primary season normally does NOT gain the nomination. This fact is good news from Fred.
Presidential politics should offer a clear choice between the nominees. Giuliani and Romney do not offer a clear choice, Huck’s past tax and immigration policies leave a lot to be desired, McCain successfully alienated enough Conservatives that he’ll never in his wildest dreams be a true contender for the nomination.
With the departure of Tom Tancredo, it was thought that he might endorse Thompson. But he didn’t and some doomsdayers predicted the end of Thompson. To that notion I ask one question -
How can Tancredo’s 1% make or break ANY candidate?
Tancredo endorsed Mitt Romney of all people. The Congressman who has been so staunchly anti-illegal immigration endorses the former governor who had illegals mowing his lawn. That in itself is the most absurd bunch of BS that has come out of this election cycle.
What needs to happen is that Conservative bloggers and blog readers need to get the word out about the qualifications of each candidate. Who is the most broadly Conservative candidate? The answer is Fred Thompson. If you want a return of the Clintonian Infestation? Nominate any of the others. If you want a true Conservative in the White House, something that we haven’t had since 1989 by the way, nominate Fred Thompson.
I’ve heard the name Duncan Hunter and I’ve heard Tom Tancredo. Trouble with Duncan and Tom is that they don’t have the legs to win. As much as I like both, neither have the ability to first gain the nomination nor do they have the ability to run a general election campaign with a broad enough focus to battle it out with Hillary or Barrack. Sorry Hunter fans, he can not win. Sorry Tancredo fans, he’s too focused on one single issue.
What about the Huck? I say it is dangerous to elect a pastor to the Presidency. As a former Baptist Pastor, Mike’s Achilles Heel will be that he is a pastor. That’s right, it can and WILL be used against him. It is my belief that Huck has gotten a “free-pass” in the press in order to gain prestige in the polls thereby would artificially become a possible nominee. Problem… The anti-Christian left will have a field day with Huck in the general. Doubt me, go look at the daily pos.
Mitt has problems explaining away his flip-flopping past. You can’t be pro-choice, pro-life, pro-choice, then pro-life again and expect it to not bite YOU in the hind quarter. Is there something in the water in Mass where you must flip-flop on the issues?!?
I respect John McCain for what he has done for this country. As a young man he endured that which no-one on either side of the political spectrum has the slightest iota about. For this I respect this man. But he is a political maverick. This is why he cannot gain support among Conservatives.
My man Fred has it all. The only problem with his campaign is that he misconstrued the time involved in solidifying his campaign after his announcement. Changes in his campaign have been a distraction and due to his late entry, he lost his initial edge. This said however, he is the only candidate with a consistent Conservative position on all issues.
John Hawkins from Townhall.com had this to say in his breakdown of the Republican candidates:
Fred Thompson: “The Fred” is a peculiar case. He is a consistent, movement conservative whose views match up better with those of the base than any of the other top tier candidates. He’s a fiscal conservative, a federalist, a man with a perfect pro-life voting record, and all the right positions on illegal immigration. He is also, by far, the most popular candidate with conservatives online, quick on his feet, has a good sense of humor, comes across as presidential, and more than any other Republican running, he has put out serious, detailed policy plans. Judging by that, you’d think he’d be dominating the field. So, why isn’t he?
Simple: Because he got in the race too late.
Initially, it may have seemed like a smart move to wait to jump in because Fred’s poll numbers kept going up. But eventually, expectations became so sky high that no one could have lived up to them. So, when Fred got in the race, he was almost destined to disappoint people — and he did. Fred and his campaign took about a month to get their sea legs, but unlike the other campaigns that had their growing pains at the start of the year when no one was paying attention, the Thompson campaign was under the microscope and being examined by people who were practically expecting him to be Reagan reincarnated. Meanwhile, many of the people in the conservative press savaged Fred mercilessly because they had already picked out a candidate to back before he ever got in the race and so they never saw him as anything other than an impediment to “their guy’s” chances of winning. Today, Thompson’s campaign is well run, he’s working as hard as the other top tier candidates, he has proven to be an excellent debater, and he’s still probably the only top tier candidate who has the potential to give the majority of Republicans someone they’d like to vote for, as opposed to someone they’d only vote for out of fear of a Hillary Clinton presidency. However, despite all that, he still has yet to get out from under the shadow of the negative first impression that was left with people when he first entered the race.
Now don’t confuse federalize with federalist. Federalize is what Democrats do. They make everything a federal government problem therefore have to come up with federal government solutions. The Federalist approach is to defer these matters to the states where they belong. Federalist = good; Federalize = socialism.
Rudy….
Give me a second while I try to stop laughing…
Rudy is Hillary in a suit. He may have brought New York back from the abyss created by crime and deficit spending. And he may be the guy everyone looked to on September 11 for strength in the face of terror, but his social liberalism is a major problem. I’d rather nominate Joe Lieberman than Rudy Giuliani.
Add his social liberalism to the scandals already plaguing his campaign and you have a Democrat running as a Republican. He is Slick Willie all over again.
Fox News Channel and The Drudge Report are both reporting that Fred Dalton Thompson is dropping his bid for the GOP Nomination for President of the United States. One of the reports on television suggests that his mother is gravely ill. Before I drop my official support for Fred and Fred only, I am awaiting [...]
The real King of All Media Rush Limbaugh, not that moron on satellite radio, is being cagey about endorsing a candidate for President. Most talk radio types are refraining from making formal endorsements. Neal Boortz for example gushes about Mike “The Huckster” Huckabee because The Huckster recently came out for The Fair Tax in spite [...]
Rudy Giuliani has come out with his tax plan in an effort to glamor up his Conservative credentials. Problem is, I’ve heard the plan or something resembling it before. Then I got to thinking, where? It is Fred Thompson’s plan on a diet. Rudy’s plan sounds great on paper, the problem is that it took [...]
Bloggers across this nation put together an effort to give the Thompson campaign a shot in the arm in order to broadcast his ad “Substance” across Iowa just a few short weeks ago. Bloggers helped the campaign raise the needed funds to get Fred the exposure he needed to take a much needed 3rd place [...]
Senator Hillary Clinton had a video taped interview today where she nearly shed tears while saying, “I have so many opportunities for this country”. I? She said I. She didn’t say that America has so many opportunities and if I’m elected I can make those happen. She said, “I have so many opportunities for this [...]
This election cycle seems to be based on Clintonian style campaigning. Deception seems to be the rule of the day. Mike Huckabee claimed to have a degree in Theology. Wrong! He has a BA in Radio and Television Communications and 1 year of Seminary before dropping out to work with a Televangelist. He did later [...]
Syndicated columnist and former CNN political commentator Robert Novak says that Fred Thompson is the “X Factor” in Iowa. And I agree. So much so that I think that a good showing in Iowa could carry over to a victory in South Carolina and in the majority of Super Tuesday Primary States. Is it certain? [...]
I’ve heard the name Duncan Hunter and I’ve heard Tom Tancredo. Trouble with Duncan and Tom is that they don’t have the legs to win. As much as I like both, neither have the ability to first gain the nomination nor do they have the ability to run a general election campaign with a broad [...]
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: The way to attend Indonesian school without being an Indonesian citizen if there were a law that said that you had to be an Indonesian citizen to atte...
Rosemary: I already knew that and chances are, so do most of the other people. That is why we want it STOPPED. A--hole Obama says it's just dandy. Huh? He is ro...
Fox News Channel and The Drudge Report are both reporting that Fred Dalton Thompson is dropping his bid for the GOP Nomination for President of the United States. One of the reports on television suggests that his mother is gravely ill. Before I drop my official support for Fred and Fred only, I am awaiting confirmation from the campaign directly. One of my blogging compatriots is currently attempting to phone his contact in the campaign for official word.![[del.icio.us]](http://gribbitonline.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
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