Replies

Jim,
Sorry. Nothing personal. Thanks for not pulling the plug on the thread. Shows that you’re a big man.

It pains me that an otherwise personally charismatic and attractive a candidate as Fred has what can only be called chinks in his armor. Darn it, it’s hard NOT to like the guy. I wasn’t aware of the full record until a friend emailed me the Viguerie piece. Fred’s close connection with Howard Baker is very troubling.

Having said that, someone somewhere along the campaign trial is GOING TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS and Fred will have no choice but to deal with them. That trail gets rockier every day and the rocks get really big. Despite what some posters have written, I DO NOT expect perfection in a candidate — just honest answers to honest queries.

I’d hate to see us all invest capital and energy in his campaign just to have it fold close to the finish line because he can’t give us answers that supporters can accept.

I'll admit up front, there is a lot about FDT that sticks in my gullet. I am a hardcore grassrooter, though, a political grunt--no more, no less. I'm the type who knocks on doors in the rain, in the sweltering heat, anytime I can; I am not only the phone banker many of you hang up on, I am the idiot who organized the phone bank party to begin with. I am in touch with the little guy who never misses a voting opportunity because I am that little guy. Allright, gal, whatever. I have come to know the little guy very well, and I believe I have come to know how he votes very well.

What the little guys want most of all is a GOP candidate who will stand a chance at beating Obama or Clinton (us little folks know one of them will be the dem candidate. Our Magic 8 balls concur). Right now, only two GOP candidates come close to that--Giuliani and Thompson. The sad fact is, when it comes to the bigger races--national seats, POTUS--electability is far more important than stance on the issues. Thompson and Giuliani are far more electable than the other GOP candidates, for the plain and simple fact that they are so well known both within and outside of their parties. You won't find me saying a word against the other guys (well, McCain...). The GOP needs more men like Hunter and Paul.

Unfortunately, those men do not have a chance of winning the primary, let alone the general. They don't. It won't happen, and you can bookmark my saying so. That leaves us with two possibilities for the GOP ticket.

This little gal, and most of the little guys and gals like me--the grunts, the grassrooters, the hardcore voters--will not lift a finger to get Giuliani elected POTUS, even if it means sitting back and watching Obama or Clinton win. There's almost no difference between the three of them! Thompson is the man who can beat the opposition, and most of us can vote for him without regurgitating. Personally, I'll go further: I actually like the guy.

M2c, fwiw