|
Posted on 01/20/2008 6:57:25 AM PST by skully
Fred Thompson's distant third in last night's South Carolina primary, has me re-thinking my support. I say this with disappointment, " I don't think Fred can win the nomination". Part of me wants to support him to the bitter end. Another part feels that in doing so I may only be helping McCain or Huckabee; my least 2 favorite candidates. I live in a Super Tuesday state, and my vote may actually matter this cycle, so I want to use it wisely. The only other candidates who seems like they can stop McCain or Huckabee is Romney or Rudy. If McCain wins in Florida, then he's in good shape to be the nominee. Polling analysis, done before Nevada and South Carolina primary; has him in the lead in Florida at around 23% about a 2 point lead over Rudy whose at 21-22%. Romney is around 18%, Hucakabee 15%, Fred 7%, and Paul 5%. Florida is a winner take all state, so whoever wins will have solid delegate count. Romney has the most delegate at this point, counts vary from source to source, but I put him at 72 to McCain's 38. So a win from Romney in Florida would give him a solid lead going into Super Tuesday. A win by Rudy would knock McCain into 3rd in the delegate count. So my quandry is do I continue to support Fred, or put my support behind a candidate who has a better chance of stopping McCain. In the end I will vote for the GOP nominee regardless. This is only because the troops are deployed, and they don't deserve a Commander-In-Chief from the party that tried to lose the war for them. So the primary is where my vote counts the most, and I want to put the "best man possible" for the job on the ticket. Unfortunately it dosen't look like the "best man" for the job will be at the top of that ticket, but there's is another spot on that ticket. Hey it might be wishful thinking, but what's a Fredhead to do??
Sorry, it’s not a pout, but by encouraging LIBERAL candidates, how would things ever change?
My support will stay with Fred until he drops out. I see Rudy and Romney as my other choices. If McCain wins it all I will vote for him in the general unless Huck is his VP.
McCain is who he is, Rudy is who he is, Huckabee is the phoniest and dirtiest candidate running. He also is less of a conservative on fiscal matters and defense than Rudy, Romney and McCain. He give most people nothing to vote for.
Fred gave values voters a pro-life candidate with a proven record and the fiscal/security voters a proven solid candidate. Now this will splinter leaving social conservatives with no one to vote for. They will be replaced with moderates. I will vote fiscal/security which still is the Republican party.
In general the “hanging with while he’s still hanging on” philosophy risks McCain getting Florida. Stopping McCain in Florida is the most important goal, and that won’t happen voting for a candidate who:
1) Cannot win because he has no ability to compete in major media markets in the big states Feb 5
2) Is splitting the anti McCain vote, much too dangerously in Florida
3) Cannot do anything in a brokered convention because in 850 million dollar races the big donors will not tolerate elevating a 50 delegate candidate over a 1000 delegate candidate. And 50 delegates doesn’t buy a VP slot over a 500 delegate candidate. If his glowing principles are to be the reason to be VP, he gets that with or without 50 delegates. So . . . there’s no upside to risking McCain in Florida
In the final analysis it is all about last year. The enormous earthquake of conservative rage at McCain’s Amnesty Bill was the single most profound act of the right wing anger since the 2000 attempt by Gore to steal Florida.
To act now in any way that REWARDS McCain for his treachery last year — for his literal sneering in the face of conservatism — renders that entire event last year nothing more than mere petulance. The shouts were that “he will pay”. ANY act taken now to allow him to escape punishment defiles the dignity of last year’s victory.
And so, the choice is clear. It is not one of voting FOR Romney which is a concept the Thompson folks won’t want to fully embrace. It is, rather, one of honoring last year’s effort and punishing the perpetrator.
His campaign has ended before it started.As long as he continues Mccain will be happy.
Romney has changed on those issues to our delight, and he wants to EXPAND Gitmo.
Go with Mitt Romney now.
If the nominee is McCain or Huckabee, I'm not registering to vote. I un-registered after I voted for Schwartzenegger. He is the same type of bullshitter as McCain and Huckabee.
So did Rush and Ann Coulter call Romney a liberal? Romney may not be a conservative here on FR, but out there, he is considered a conservative. Romney is willing to listen to conservatives, and give conservatives a seat at the table. Romney will make conservatism a part of his administration.
McCain's goal is to destroy conservatism.
It's your choice.
Educate me here. How is Romney less Liberal then McCain?
The only difference I see is Romney is prettier.
Back Romney all the way from this point on.
Exactly right.
Politics is supposedly all about the art of compromise. Do what you think will further your position(s) the most.
Palin?
No, fool, Sarah Palin, -R, AK Gov.
Was floated as Fred’s VP pick last summer.
Rush has made his philosophy clear on this. We will point, wave and point, jump up and down holding a sign, draw you a map, but he will NOT actually come out and say ‘come on people, go out and vote for Candidate X, he has my endorsement’.
But if someone cannot interpret his verbal jumping up and down holding a sign and pointing; well then I don’t see as that person is smart enough to be convinced either way by Rush’s reasoning and will instead vote for Huckabee because he had a glowing white cross behind him and said God told him to run for President.
Romney has no electability in a national election. He will be demagogued as a “big business” CEO (you know, the guys getting millions for sending jobs overseas), that has, shall we say, “out there” religious views (Jews living in the Americas 500 years BC) and whose actions has led to thousands of workers being laid off during his turnarounds.
Throw in some healthy skepticism from pro-life voters on his recent change of heart on that issue and he will go down to sound defeat. His only chance would be if Bloomberg got in and stole some dem votes.
|
LOL!! I was going to say... LOL!
OK, I’ve done other things that blonds with long legs have told me to do.. I might as well vote for Mitt.
I guess for some (not me, because I would vote for Rudy regardless) it truly is down to who do they want out of the race more, Rudy or McCain, because I don't think both of them can survive together.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
