[reasonisfaith]

How about this idea, suggested to me by another Freeper:

A significant number of Republicans will not vote for Rudy, Mitt, Mike or John, as evidenced by the level of passionate comments against these candidates in the blogosphere. Whether it’s 5% or 25% of total Republican votes, it will be enough to lose.

However, if Thompson is the nominee, all Republicans will vote for him, because he has no significant policy or ideological negatives. Thompson will unite the party like Reagan did, even bringing in many Reagan Democrats.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Bingo !

[jveritas]

Let him win the nomination first, which is as we stand today he is done unless he makes some comeback in South Carolina, if he does not then he is finished for good.

[nathanbedford]

From a purely self-preservation point of view, Rush Limbaugh will not endorse Fred Thompson at this stage, or anyone else for that matter. To do so and to see Thompson not move upward in the polls would be to expose Limbaugh to be ineffectual. There is no upside for Limbaugh. I judge Rush to be first a radio personality and then a truly dedicated conservative. In other words, he knows he has no chance to do good for conservatism if he has no soapbox. His first rule in everything he does on radio is to protect and further his reputation as an important broadcaster.

This is the source of the braggadocio and self-promotion which are the hallmarks of his radio personality and apparently, are 180° in variance to his off air persona. This style has subsequently been copied by many other broadcasters but it was initiated, in my view, by Rush as a matter of personal compensation and also as a matter of compensation for the low esteem in which conservative opinion was held generally. Limbaugh saw the need to tell his listeners that it was respectable to be a conservative.

So Limbaugh has contrived an aura of sagacity and power which he dares not jeopardize. He often refers to as honorary membership in the house class of 1994, and properly so. He is saying to his audience, "look, see how much power I have!"

This is as it should be. This is as it always has been with all radio broadcasters who have survived. The industry is essentially a confection of vaporous unreality. The talk Jockey must manipulate his audience to go along with the shtick. He cannot, for example, permit himself to be exposed as ignorant or misinformed by one of his callers. He certainly cannot afford to permit himself to be labeled a "racist" by his political enemies. Have you observed how vigorously Rush has always defended himself against these kinds of allegations? He cannot be seen to be on the wrong side of an issue which is dear to his listeners. Did you notice how vigorously he defended himself against attacks by the majority leader which distorted his remarks about soldiers? Ultimately, a radio talk host cannot be exposed as being ineffectual.

Fred Thompson has done nothing to indicate that he can gain traction. There is simply no upside for Limbaugh to be gained by falling on his sword for Thompson. This is not to say that Limbaugh has "no influence" only that he does not have infinite influence and cannot at this stage in Iowa anoint a candidate no matter how much we like him or Limbaugh likes him. At this stage in the game, Thompson must do it on his own. I hope Thompson can do it on his own. If not, then we are going with Romney, and the rest of us must pull up our socks, salute, and serve as good soldiers.