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 think he will do well here.
vaudine
Yes. But I prefer to let people reach that conclusion on their own. The message is more effective that way.
Understood.
:0)
More delegates were awarded in Wyoming where Fred came in a strong second. He also has the most detailed plan to curb colonization by illegal aliens whereas McVain had the most detailed plan to enable it!
McVain needs to redeem himself by dropping out. If he does so, he still might make a reasonably good Secretary of Defense.
When is the Ga primary?
I think his readers agree.
I should have been more specific.
I think his readers agree with you about his IQ.
He is.
McCain isn't even trying to disguise his kookiness anymore. He realizes that he needs Democrats to come out and steal the Republican primaries away from the Republicans. He sounds like George Soros.
I find myself hoping that Ron Paul stays in the race and out kooks McCain to fragmentize that Democrat crossover vote.
Mine schteelerz got de azwuppin. Bat coachin n plaiz kallin long wit de Roflitzberger goofomz hab me in de Hitlery afta da Monakas mude.
Eyed lika da youran8 on de roopawl rite nahw an kal hymn prettie gierlz namez.
Ga.? I dunno.
NH is chock full of elitist snob pro-gay Republicans and that is why McCain will do well there. Remember the elder Sununu as Bush I’s aide who gave us the likes of David Souter. I dont want anyone from NH choosing the GOP candidate.
I wonder also if McCain might have hurt his chances by focusing on attracting Republicans instead of the independents in NH; Obama focused heavily on his idea of 'coalition-building' which could attract a lot of independents who might have been attracted more to McCain or Paul before tonight.
Go Fred!
In a lot of cases - because they think he can win.
BTW Mc clintoch came out in support of FDT.So rooty tooty wont get that endorsement
btt
I wouldn't be a bit surprised if a rival campaing, heck, McCain's campaign are throwing this rumor out there. There is nothing that Fred has said or done so far during this campaign that would indicate he's going to drop out and back McCain. OK maybe he hasn't gone after McCain so much, but prior to the media resurecting their love fest with John in these past two weeks most thought he was dead in the water and not a contender. So what reason would Fred (or anyone else) have for going after him? Tonight during the debate, Fred did take him on over immigration.
It will be beautiful wont it.
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