Posted on 01/18/2008 10:08:32 PM PST by pissant
T-minus 24 hours and counting until, in all likelihood, his political career’s over. I can’t resist one last poke at the Fredhead beehive for old time’s sake.
The argument comes from Patrick Ruffini: Since Huckabee probably doesn’t have the money or organization to run the table on Super Ultra Mega Tuesday but McCain does, shouldn’t South Carolina’s Romney, Giuliani, and Thompson supporters defect tomorrow and vote for Huck to blunt Mac’s momentum heading into Florida? That’s an easy yes in the first two cases but in Fred’s case it would mean the end. Has the time come to take Ol’ Yeller out back? Ruffini says … yes:
If you’re a Romney or a Rudy guy, this is a relative no-brainer. This will be tougher for FredHeads, since their guy has made a stand in the state. But with less than 24 hours to go, and Fred running no better than a weak third, it is probably time to face facts. It’s too bad, because conservatives deserve Fred Thompson as a choice, but it just doesn’t seem to be happening.
John Tabin at Reason likewise fears the Reaper:
Alas, Thompson has hardly taken the race by storm. Glenn Reynolds wrote last month that he might have joined Volokh et al. in endorsing Thompson if he hadn’t observed how poorly Thompson’s campaign is run behind the scenes. That poorly run campaign has yielded poor results. Thompson’s low-key affect and introverted personality made him ill-suited to the hands-on retail politicking that Iowans expect, and he edged out John McCain for third place in the Iowa caucuses by just three tenths of a percentage point despite spending much more time than McCain stumping in the Hawkeye State (McCain focused on New Hampshire, where he won). He made almost no effort in the New Hampshire and Michigan primaries, where he got less than 2 percent and less than 4 percent of the vote, respectively…
Perhaps something will change the dynamics of the race in the remaining hours before South Carolina Republicans go to the polls tomorrow, and Thompson will catch a break. But at the moment, his prospects don’t appear to give fans of smaller government any reason to abandon the pessimism that has by now become all too familiar.
Re: how poorly run Fred’s campaign is/was, be sure to see this Mark Steyn item at the Corner if you missed it last night. Has the time come, ‘Heads? If the polls hold and Fred finishes fourth with less than half of McCain’s vote, Romney’s going to be your guy anyway come Sunday morning. Why not vote strategically tomorrow?
I offer you this to remember the man by. Meanwhile, here’s the state of conservatism in 2008: A RINO touting the kind words of another RINO in, of all places, South Carolina. Between them they’ve got 50% of the vote. Good lord.
As I have said all along, many conservative seem more interested in settling scores than actually winning in 2008. I guess to be a ‘real’ Republican, you have to have complete “clerical” purity. Or, if you don’t, you have to spend months apologizing and claiming you’ve changed. If the GOP loses handily in November, don’t say you weren’t warned.
I am wondering if a ticket THOMSON/HUCKABEE wouldn’t be awful for the demtards.
But ANYWAY FRED T. must make a big surge now in SC and i think HE WILL
Ya know, there was a time in this country when naked lust for power was frowned upon, now we condemn a man who refuses to display it.
There was a time in this country when the criteria for being a president was the ability to BE a good president....not to be a magnetic candidate.
There was a time when true patriots valued a man’s character more than the deftness of his ability to pander.
To quote Merle Haggard: “Are the good times really over for good?”
my mother in law keeps calling him huckleberry.
Why stop there? I'm voting Hillary. < /sarc>
I agree. Hunter would probably be my first choice, but I voted for Fred. (Absentee ballot for CT sent in.)
well what’s the difference between McCain and Chucklberry?
Both can’t win in November. Both love the illegal alien. Other than the
fact that McBlame is stronger on National defense, I see no difference.
RINOS, both of them!!!!!
Fred Thompson ‘08!
COME ON CAROLINIANS!!!
You and your anti-FRed vendetta. Skunk!
Complete purity is not a requirement, but a modicum of conservatism outside the national defense arena would be nice. The stench of McCain Finegold and McAmnesty still lingers strongly. "I've changed" doesn't ring true for recently held positions when the change is so diametric. We'll give John the benefit of the doubt that he's changed since the Keating five, but that's it.
If Fred’s conservative rhetoric matched his record, you’d be right. Unfortunately, he was a bald John McCain.
Morning Clara. GO Fred.
Someone supporting a committed nanny-state liberal just because he carries a Bible in his pocket (or Flip Romney, I forget which) has the nerve to compare Thompson to McInsane. I’m sure Thompson’s McCain like record is the reason that every conservative organization / pundit in the country is supporting Fred and trashing McInsane and the Dope from Hope. Again, get off the crack. Also,
Fred Thompson has blasted more people in the face with a shotgun than even Dick Cheney.
But, but,........we DID contribute a sizeable sum to Fred and I ain’t gonna let him quit without a fight.:)
You do not know his record very well. He talks a good game, but he was a moderate. Period.
And look at my tagline.
No nanny staters for this boy; or ROad to Des Moines conservatives like Fred.
Should Huckabee supporters abandon him today for ... Thompson? Yes!
Ok, I am sure I am gonna get flamed for this, but...
To me, I am looking at the big picture. I am looking beyond one Presidential election.
Even if I don’t get my number one choice of candidates, I can support others, but not Hucklebee and not McCain.
That is how I feel, YMMV.
Really? I hadn’t noticed the venomous bile ooozing out of certain people whenever FRed’s name is mentioned. :P
I was thinking that perhaps I was wrong.
I don’t think he really wants Hunter.
I think that’s just cover to trash FRed because he really wants Huckabee.
I’ve noticed a lot of these so-called “Hunter supporters” go ballistic when you blow their cover and point out that Hunter is closest to Huckabee out of all the candidates and will probably endorse Huckabee and give him his delegate.
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