[AFreeBird]

But I think the point about Fred is that many perceive him not to have "fire in his belly" ideologically. I think we saw that (magnified) in WJC and are seeing it now in Bush--no ideological underpinnings at all.

Promoting, taking the country back to its Federalism roots isn't an ideological underpinning?

So believing in and supporting the Constitution doesn't count either?

Fred is skrewed.

It's not that he doesn't have any ideological underpinnings; its just that, apparently, no one believes in, or doesn't care about them anymore?

[jammer]

You've got it exactly backwards--some people DO care, and they don't think Fred much cares. I don't have an opinion on Fred one way or the other, so your argument isn't with me. I was giving the perception.

But you (inadvertently) restated the argument, that he stands for those things. I maintain that the perception is that he doesn't have the "fire in the belly."