Posted on 01/05/2008 8:29:07 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
Eight years ago, Fred Thompson came for an editorial board visit after we had already endorsed George Bush, to tell us how wrong we were. We should have backed John McCain, he told us. I knew that, of course, but I sat still for his gruff advice as a sort of penance for my failure. I had tried hard (more about that in my Sunday column), but the consensus on our board had gone against me.
As futile as his gesture was at that point, I still appreciated Sen. Thompson's position, as bad as it made me feel. McCain had been the man, and it was the nation's loss that he was not elected in 2000.
Since he knew that then, and Sen. McCain is the same man he was, I've wondered all year why in the world Mr. Thompson even thought of running. As I said back in this column, he forgot to do one thing when he jumped in late: Tell us what it was he brought to the campaign that the candidates already running did not already offer.
Now, it's my turn to return the favor and tell Fred Thompson something that he should already know: It's time for him to do the principled thing again, and assert what he knew to be true back then: He should bow out, and support McCain. And he should do it now; now is when he can make a difference.
Sen. McCain is tied for first place in New Hampshire polls with a damaged Mitt Romney; Mr. Thompson is in single digits. By the time he comes South, all he will be able to do is be a spoiler, to pull just enough voters away from another candidate (and I suspect that candidate would most likely be his longtime ally McCain) to throw the victory to the surging Huckabee.
Nothing against Huckabee on my part; I just don't see him as the alternative Mr. Thompson himself would prefer. Meanwhile, he has continued to express his continuing respect for Sen. McCain; this would be a chance to show he means it.
Speaking of Gov. Huckabee, his victory is his own. But he was not in a position to begin that rise, he was not in striking distance, until Sam Brownback gracefully departed from the race. They had both been drinking from the same well of voters, and Sen. Brownback clarified matters for them.
Quitting when he did was Sen. Brownback's greatest contribution to this campaign, and was the best thing he could have done to serve the values and ideas he espouses. If Sen. Thompson wants to advance his own values, if he wants to make a difference and serve the country -- or if he simply wants the gratification of being a player at all -- he should get behind McCain now.
I hope to God that whoever drops out first:
Romney or Thompson
Endorses the other. They are our two bests hopes of putting a conservative in the White House.
I do not like to see this attacking of Romney going on in the debate. He is the frontrunner, so it’s going to happen. Giuliani needs him to lose. McCain needs him to lose. Thompson could benefit from him losing, though I think Huckabee is his main competition.
Strange year, folks. Strange year.
“What I’d like to know is—should Thompson drop out of the race, would he back McCain?”
That’s exactly what I fear. You’ll note everyone is attacking Romney right now. Granted, everyone needs him to lose, but does it bode well for conservatives?
I would hope Romney or Thompson would endorse the other if one backed out. I guess it depends on how the race unfolds.
So who are you offering up as a candidate? None of the current crop seems to match your criteria. Fred Thompson would be a great president, however.
They are our two bests hopes of putting a conservative in the White House.
It’s on Jan 19th
Opps, my bad, the SC primary will be on the 19th.
If he wanted to make a difference, then he should stop telling jokes, that was a joke wasn't it, no one seems to know, and endorse a real conservative -- Fred.
If McPain wins, I am going fishing, Obabma would be a lot of fun, until he crashes.
“There is one thing I wish he would do though, on the Immigration issue, he should be emphasizing every time this issue comes up in the clearest and simplest terms possible that his plan’s emphasis is on self-deportation. Make it impossible for illegal aliens to work and they will self deport.”
Unfortunately, I think this was the worst part last night for Fred. When Charlie Gibson asked Fred what he thought, it was almost like Fred wasn’t ready for an answer. He didn’t answer as strongly as he normally would. We all knew what he would say.. but he didn’t say it well. If a viewer didn’t already know his position on this, then after his answer, they still didn’t because his response was not clear.
Was McCain the same man? I was for McCain at one time because of his strong military stance and because he had some strong conservative principles, but then he began to become unglued and showed his true ideals. He has gotten worse since 99 and 2000 because he is trying so hard to get the media behind him. I believe even Fred has said that McCain is a good man, good on military but he is not a true conservative.
Fred must really scare the media for them to repeatedly go after him like this.
You said,”Right. Does anyone rally believe Tancredo thinks Mitt is the best? And how many Tancredo supporters are going to vote for Mitt? I know- two. That’s all. I just don’t think Fred would be intellectually dishonest and vote for someone whose beliefs and stances are so different. I would bet Fred would endorse Mitt before he’d endorse McCain.
I for one have voted for Romney, by absentee ballot in Florida based on Tancredo. I have watched Tancredo for a long time and he was my first choice. I think he is honorable man and knows much more about politics and what can be done than I do. I take offence of those that accuse Tancredo of endorsing Mitt for some personal gain. I think that says more about the accusers than about Tancredo
I’m in agreement with you concerning Thompson. He’s the best candidate, the one for whom I’ll vote. I’d love to see a Thompson/Hunter ticket.
I’m also in South Carolina and I do not subscribe to The State. Gave that up a few years back.
Why on earth would a sensible conservative endorse McCain ???
There’s our problem. The candidates with the sorts of experience necessary have liberal or perniciously random records. The only thing they really have going for them is better attitude on the war(except possibly Huck and him— who knows?). The guys with the right and consistent ideas have no executive experience and are way back in the pack anyway.
If McCain were truly an honorable man and could put the welfare of the nation above his own desires he would humble himself, withdraw from the race and throw all his support to Thompson.
We would then see the full measure of the patriot he professes to be.
As of Saturday, McCain was #1 nationally at 20%(Rasmussen) and #1 in NH (the next primary). Fred was in 5th place at 11%
Now why in the world would McCain back out?
McCain 20%
Huck 18%
Rudy 16%
Mitt 16%
Fred 11%
Quit spreading known falsehoods.
Thompson came in 2nd in Wyoming.
You can comment quite easily. I have been doing so at the State newspaper the past few days. You don’t have to sign up. You can put any name you like in the name box but you do need to put in an email address, it does not show anything other than the name you put in the name box (it can be a nickname or a first name only) and your comment, so it doesn’t reveal your email.
Please folks, especially FRed Heads, post something positive on this guys blog, it is from the “State” which is South Carolina’s largest newspaper.
If Fred bows out, I too bow out of the Republican Party.
Pretty quiet actually.
The Aiken County GOP sent me an email saying Fred was going to visit here, but had no details.
I have a Fred08 bumper sticker on my truck and it hasn't been keyed yet :) I've got a Fred08 yard sign out by the road and it hasn't been defaced yet :)
People I talk with seem to be for Mitt or Fred. McCain and Huckabee don't seem to have much support.
I just spread the word about Fred. And hope for the best.
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