[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The numbers aren't adding up for Fred Thompson guys. I know he's the man on this Forum but there's reality too.

McCain is surging and he's digging into both Fred and Romney's support. The Huckster has the religious right votes locked up.

All of the rest of the Republicans are fighting over 3rd place besides Romney and Huckster are fighting for 3rd place. There's only room for one person, and it sure in the Hell ain't going to be Fred, who has to fight McCain, Giuliani, and Hunter for the national security wing portion of the already diminished GOP base.

Cue Law and Order narrator and theme song

"In the presidential election primaries, there are those who campaign, and there are those who declare late and don't meet expectations. This is the story of the latter. Da-DA!"

[maine-iac7]

The numbers aren't adding up for Fred Thompson guys. I know he's the man on this Forum but there's reality too.

McCain is surging and he's digging into both Fred and Romney's support. The Huckster has the religious right votes locked up

and at this time in the campaign of 04, Dean had the lock!

YEEEEeeeeHAHHHHhhhhh

Good try tho' - complete with unflattering photo. (these tactics are shop worn)

[ellery]

Here’s my view: I haven’t supported Thompson for six months just to give up a day before the real race actually starts. In most of the elections in my life, I’ve had to vote for the lesser of two evils because I wasn’t really pleased with any of the candidates. This election is different: for once I am finally excited to vote *for* a candidate, Fred Thompson. He’s not perfect (no one is), but frankly I think he’s pretty great in a whole lot of different ways — *including* the fact that he hasn’t lusted after the office since he was in short pants.

For 20 years I’ve been bemoaning the fact that we don’t have good presidential candidates. It would be *insane* of me to walk away from a candidate I actually think is great, just because of some naysaying.

The principle is this: if you want to see more of something, reward it. All I have is one little vote, but I’m going to use it to reward what I want to see more of in the future. I’m voting for Thompson this primary; the rest is just noise.

Best freegards to you and happy new year!

[xjcsa]

McCain is surging and he's digging into both Fred and Romney's support. The Huckster has the religious right votes locked up.

The McCain "surge" in Iowa is a myth. He is not well-liked here. I was at two Thompson events in the past two weeks; both were packed out and had enthusiastic crowds.

I'm predicting Romney-Thompson-Huckabee-Paul as the top four, in that order, with an outside chance for your guy to take third over the Huckster.

[dsutah]

I’ll tell you what, why don’t you let those who support Fred Thompson decide that, eh? He hasn’t backed out yet. Just let us decide whether to continue to support him; you just support who you want to support. How does that sound, hmmm?

[John Valentine]

I’m pretty sure Romney is looking at a third place finish in Iowa and panicked.

This WILL be traced back to the Romney camp, but before the caucuses? Probably not. Politcs can be brutal and dishonest, especially when practiced by someone both desparate and ruthless. Cue Ed Rollins.

[Eroteme]

The Huckster has the religious right votes locked up.

The religious part, maybe. The right part, no. Huckabee supporters may be religious, but they're not conservative. The one-note tune is playing so loudly, they can't hear the the rest of the sorry, liberal song.

[ravingnutter]

Forget your trivia?

In November 1979, Ronald Reagan publicly announced his candidacy for President in the 1980 election. By this time in 1980, he was running behind in Iowa and lacking funds and lost the Iowa caucus to George Bush on Jan 21st. All the pundits at that time said he was too lazy and too old and out of touch.

Sound familiar so far?

As we know, Reagan ended up winning that election, ousting a sitting president. Four years later, running for re-election, he carried 49 states and won the biggest electoral-vote landslide in the nation's history.

Don't count Fred out just yet.

[MEGoody]

The Huckster has the religious right votes locked up.

Correction - he has the votes of SOME members of the religious right locked up.