I’m sure grateful that we had George Washington and not Fred Thompson commanding our revolutionary troops at Valley Forge.
Fred Thompson’s abrupt announcement, while leaving no doubt as to its finality, leaves every question as to his rationale.
Frankly, I don’t understand it, especially when the announcement comes on the very morning that Huckleberry gives up on Florida, eliminates most staff pay, and no longer keeps the press around. Huckleberry’s campaign is running on the fumes from an oily rag. Basically, it’s as dead as Fred’s.
Rudy Giuliani is also failing badly in Florida and is just days away from his own denoument.
The field is already winnowing, and Fred’s time was coming. All of us who had volunteered, sent money, made phone calls, talked up our friends, were still there with him, and we let him know it, too. All he had to do was live up to his own words.
He was funded and finding his voice.
And he quits. Just like that.
Speaking for myself, I’m questioning the kind of man Fred Thompson really is. From here, today, as I type, he looks like a very different man to who I thought he was.
Just the kind of man we DIDN’T have at Valley Forge.
Thank God.
I’m as disappointed with Thompson’s exit as everyone. I almost maxed out the amount I could contribute to the man. However, reality is reality. Fred wasn’t going to finish in the top 3 in Florida. He may have one a few on Super Tuesday but it was becoming pretty clear that Fred wasn’t going to secure the nomination under any scenario. Fred’s decision not keep asking for money when he no longer had a realistic chance is understandable. Fred was unwilling to stay on simply to feed his own ego, like Paul and Keys.
Instead of trashing the man, who at least gave conservatives a choice, you should be thanking him for sacrificing as much as he did and save your criticism for the sheep that dutifully did the media’s bidding and voted for McCain and Huckabee.
“Frankly, I don’t understand it, especially when the announcement comes on the very morning that Huckleberry gives up on Florida, eliminates most staff pay, and no longer keeps the press around.”
I liked Fred....
consider this.
Fred also put his staff on half salaries at the beginning of January.
Fred didn’t like the press around, either - he was praised for this on FR.
Fred didn’t win a single primary - if he couldn’t win SC, where could he win? He didn’t even come in 2nd. Or 3rd.
Honestly JV, I don’t know how he’d have had the energy to do a come-from-behind campaign and take care of an extremely ill mother. That’d stretch anyone very thin. For some people, family comes first before all else.
I think your analysis is correct though. Fred kept his powder dry, and Rudy and Huck are almost done. McCain is pretty thin too. Fred had a very motivated core, and I think if he’d of stayed in it would have been him and Romney in short order. It’s unfortunate things went down like they did.
I still respect the man, and hope he continues speaking out for conservatism. Maybe it will raise the bar for the remaining candidates.
How many times did we hear someone on FR say that Fred was their first choice but they wanted their vote to count for stopping someone else, or they just wanted to vote for the poll perceived winner?
I understand and feel all the disappointment. I wish he had stayed in as well. But to criticize him to this extent now makes us no better than the other half that dumped on him for stupid reasons last year.
The fair weather conservatives let him down. We can’t blame this on one the RINO’s.