FRED THOMPSON, IN OR OUT? (Mother in hospital)

PowerLine ^ | January 19, 2008

[restornu]

Fred Thompson just spoke to his supporters in South Carolina, where he appears headed for a weak third or fourth place finish. Thompson thanked everyone and then spoke about America and conservatism's contribution to it. He did not talk about Florida or being in the race to stay.

Word is that Thompson will return to Tennessee to visit his mother in the hospital. While he's there, presumably, he'll consider his options. Frankly, and I say this with regret, it's difficult to see the case for him remaining in the race.

Posted by Paul at 7:07 PM | |

[b9]

In spite of all the negativity that the MSM has used to try and show him unelectable, he still came in third and managed to knock the Huckster out of 1st.

You are SO right.

What Fred has managed to accomplish just in the last week alone is phenomenal, and I'll bet Huckamuck is FUMING.

[Rational Thought]

By the time the MSM gets done with McCain, he’d be fortunate to win ten states. They build them up to take them down.

[advance_copy]

You're a Romney supporter, aren't you?

As of tonight, yes. I cannot understand how anyone can place their hope in someone who has not finished 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in any of IA, NH, MI, NV, WY, or SC.

What Thompson has managed to do is throw a wet blanket on the conservative movement. Our opposition to McCain should be enough to stop him. But we will fail if our allegiance remains to one of McCain's friends who has ran one of the poorest primary campaigns ever.

People are scratching their heads wondering how the GOP has slipped so far, after the betrayals by John McCain over the last decade, that McCain would win two very important early primaries (NH & SC). The answer to that is Fred Thompson's lethargic campaign.

[SoConPubbie]

There are currently tens of millions of pissed disenfranchised conservative patriots with guns.Will Justice Roberts push to disarm them in hopes of a peaceful solution to the under-reported and under-estimated unrest currently eating at America? In short,what does the Declaration of Independence say about this scenario and what does the constitution allow as redress?

Now that would be exactly the time to start talking about a revolution!

[jellybean]

A lost chance to differentiate amongst our candidates and to clarify their pros and cons.

He still has time to make a difference, if he chooses to do so, but time is running out!

[SoConPubbie]

What Thompson has managed to do is throw a wet blanket on the conservative movement. Our opposition to McCain should be enough to stop him. But we will fail if our allegiance remains to one of McCain's friends who has ran one of the poorest primary campaigns ever.

Garbage!

What Fred has accomplished so far is to pull ALL of the other candidates to the right.

That has got to be the most ignorant statement of the night!

[b9]

What Fred has accomplished so far is to pull ALL of the other candidates to the right.

YES!!!!!

[Yaelle]

Aw, that is a beautiful photo. Prayers up for a full healing for Fred’s Mama.

[americanophile]

Ridge is useless.

[advance_copy]

Fred Thompson, co-chairman of the McCain campaign for President in 2000, has not pulled any other candidate one iota to the right of where they stood on any issue before he entered the contest in September.

[jellybean]

I cannot understand how anyone can place their hope in someone who has not finished 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in any of IA, NH, MI, NV, WY, or SC.

If I recall correctly, Fred was 3rd in IA and SC and 2nd in WY.

[Route66]

You recall correctly.

Go Fred!

[advance_copy]

Thanks for the correction. But that isn’t going to get Thompson the nomination and it isn’t going to stop John McCain from getting the nomination.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I cannot understand how anyone can place their hope in someone who has not finished 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in any of IA, NH, MI, NV, WY, or SC.

Fred finished 3rd TODAY in SC. He finished 3rd in IA. He finished 2nd in WY. But, yes, he does need to drop out.

[chickpundit]

I’ll be praying for his mother, and that God will give him wisdom in where to go from here.

I hope he goes on and shows everybody what a real conservative looks like, but I want him to do what’s best for him and his family as well.

[americanophile]

Let's hope not indeed, but their close past would suggest otherwise:

[Yaelle]

What kind of a winning scenario can there be for Fred? I want to believe there is still a chance for him to become our next President. But how? He won’t win FL. He won’t have any momentum for Super Tuesday. How could he pull off any wins (except Tennessee)?

We discussed this over Japanese food tonight. Some people believe that even if WE personally do not like McCain, that he could beat Hillary. Also, that Romney could. No one at the table believed that Huckabee could, and that there is no way Huckabee would end up as our nominee. Everyone agreed Thompson could beat Hillary, but no one thought he could win the nomination.

Is there a way that this could play well for Fred? A brokered convention? Something?

[Happy Rain]

Don’t know Rush much do you?
He’s a conservative pushing conservatism and when people hit his radar he exposes the liberals and fake conservatives while recognizing the true conservatives.
No more no less,he simply states the truth and RINOs like Huck and McCain have only themselves to blame if Rush points out their faults and Fred is just as much to blame if Rush mentions his conservative virtues.
From a conservative standpoint,Rush is as objective as they come—the secret to his success.

[Yaelle]

What Fred has accomplished so far is to pull ALL of the other candidates to the right.

Hear, hear!!

[Owen]

There has never been a candidate about to drop out whose supporters did not want to see him or her continue.

The always asked question of WHY DROP OUT is the same asked by all those folks in previous failed campaigns. It is never the right question. The right question is . . . when you no longer believe you can win, why take money from people, why employ staff, why spend on whatever advertising you can.

It’s not a sporting event and it’s not sitcoms. There is a point to it all beyond mere entertainment. When that point disappears, that’s when a candidate has to face the reality that he is spending money people are sending to him that is hard earned money on an exercise that he realizes cannot succeed. That starts to edge towards unethical and no failed candidate ever wants to leave the arena like that.

It’s over. He knows it. He has to work through the process of shutting down the campaign.