[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.

[fieldmarshaldj]

This is called standing on principles. Rush can end this farce and stand strong and endorse Fred, or he can just become another member of the RINO herd. I know what the right thing to do is. I hope he does, too.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"If not, then we are going with Romney, and the rest of us must pull up our socks, salute, and serve as good soldiers."

I will never be a footsoldier for that gutless, no-good, sleazy, lying, bribing, liberal RINO turd sandwich known as Joe Isuzu Romney. That scumbag will set this party back decades and will do to it from a national standpoint exactly what he did to the one in MA. Bury it. He wouldn't get my vote at gunpoint.

[reasonisfaith]

I agree with your comments on Rush.

Fred Thompson has gained traction with me. The question is how many in Iowa have paid attention to him? I think it will be more than expected. I don’t want to fall on my sword for Romney.

[reasonisfaith]

That is, I agree that Rush faces a great risk if he endorses Thompson.

I would still like to see him do it.

[foobarred]

This is something that has bothered me about Fred ever since he decided to enter the race. He is a senator.

Hannity has made repeated attacks on Obama and Hillary based on the fact that none of them have ever run anything. Fred is not immune to this criticism either. He is an ex-Senator/Actor. He says himself that a candidate isn’t a stack of position papers. I agree. Unfortunately, a senator’s voting record is essentially that... a stack of position papers.

I wish that Fred would have stepped it up during his campaign instead of Huckabee, but it hasn’t worked that way. He hasn’t been able to run his campaign effectively enough to overcome his perceived weaknesses.

With his track record limited, how else can we judge his ability to oversee or run such a huge enterprise other than how he runs his campaign?

It would be nice to have a candidate that espouses all the conservative priciples that FReepers hold dear, but if that’s all that qualifies somebody has president, I would imagine that would qualify any average FReeper as president as well.

[underbyte]

“”Fred Thompson has done nothing to indicate that he can gain traction.””

Fox news and the other MSM’s have ignored FT’s message and have marginalized all true conservative candidates.

Those that control what you hear(MSM) are determining who is elected. The New Media (RUSH is prime) has to find a voice in the process. It reminds me of Bush’s passivity in the face of a constant barrage of criticism. The result is a greatly weakened presidency. The conservative movement is on it’s last legs in part due to Bush in part due to it’s own passivity.

The MSM is afraid of another strong Ronald Reagan type presidency, Reagan broke the democrat 50 year hold on government. I doubt that Reagan could get nominated in today’s climate, too old, to far right, maybe lazy?

All the newspapers, all the public schools, all the collages, all the cable tv stations sending a constant stream of leftist liberal messages contrasted at best with a few token RINOS nods from FOX. Even TV and Movies being made today cram leftist’s propaganda in the story somewhere. This is a social cascade, a belief system that becomes ingrained into mass thinking.

The conservative movement is losing the battle, Republicans are talking about global warming, universal health care, they are going green and taking up the liberal agenda. Hilliary care resoundingly rejected in the 90’s looks like a real possibility today less than 15 years later.

The conservative movement is trying to fight a battle with one hand tied behind their back by not responding due to some principle? Let the chips fall where they may? We lose this election (we lose even if RHINO’s Romney or Guliani wins) and the conservative agenda is going to suffer a crushing blow.

Rush could support the best conservative candidates at any given time and not having it impact his image, he is too big and this is really trivial to his image. It will probably hurt him more if the leftists win. If conservatives become marginalized what is the point of being an activist if activism has no effect? Look at the whole EU I do not see conservative voices at the table.

Rush is a wimp, you have to take stands for what you believe in. Bush was a compromiser, fence straddler,wishy washy on many issues and ended up drifting aimlessly through the last years of his presidency.

Rush has made a career based on conservatism and he is going to look like a real hypocrite supporting Romney or Guliani in the general election which will be the equivalent of supporting universal health care, supporting illegal immigration and gun control and I for one will not bother listening to him at point.