Who torpedoed Fred Thompson in Iowa?

Vanity | 27 August 2009 | Question

[TexasGunRunner]

Back during the 2008 Iowa Cacuses, a rumor was circulated the night before that Fred Thompson was going to pull out of the race.

During an interview the next day, Thompson said he knew who was behind it, but refused to discuss beyond saying it cost him "a couple of points".

I understand during the election, nobody was going to admit who did it, certainly not until after November. OK, November came, went, and now the socialist-in-chief has everybody distracted, so, I ask:

who did it?

[svcw]

Speculation - same group that tried to destroy Gov Palin. (Not JM)

[TexasGunRunner]

OK, that makes sense and jives with popular media tale being pushed...it also jives with the “insider” attacks on Palin coming from former Romney supporters in the McCain campaign.

Other then pretty good reasoning, are you privy to anything to independently support this theory?

Thanks,

[Nuc1]

I agree with you. Further, after McCain clenched the nomination, Fred's web site had Mission Accomplished plastered on it. Fred ran to guard McCain from conservatives. All the empirical evidence points that way. Making it is hard to conclude otherwise.

[azcap]

I don’t think Romney or Huckabee had anything to do with Fred quitting. I imagine they just looked at Fred and said “Wow, that is all he’s got?” Fred was my man. I waited and waited for him to get in the race - and after he finally announced I waited and awaited for him to get in the race. Fred, God Bless him, was the Al Capone’s Vault of presidential candidates.

[McGruff]

Yes maybe Fred did get into the race too late but when do you start? 1, 2, 3, 4 years before the Iowa Caucus? Do you move to Iowa and praise the wonders of Ethanol for a year?

Once Fred did get into the race he spent every minute touring the state. As soon as that was over he got on the bus to South Carolina and spent every minute campaigning there. In the debates he questioned Global Warming while the others didn't until he spoke up. So spare me the lazy talking point. Try to think on your own.

If you want to fix something fix the way our candidate is selected. By the time you get to the Republican only primary states the MSM has already picked our candidate. If the RNC pulls the same crap next time they can stick their RINO where the sun don't shine. I'm writing in who I want. I voted for the biggest RINO of all. I won't again. Maybe I'll write in Fred if Palin isn't on the ballot.

[MARTIAL MONK]

Fwed is fixin’ to surge.

[US Navy Vet]

Let’s face it the GOP by in large in 2008 ran a SHITTY campaign from start to finish(Iowa, NH to election day) Sarah was the ONLY bright spot. We definatly ran our scrubs and Second teamers. Bush’s unpopularity did not help either.

[American_Centurion]

Speculation - same group that tried to destroy Gov Palin. (Not JM)

Makes perfect sense. They have a penchant for going after REAL conservatives.

[abb]

Fred ran to guard McCain from conservatives. All the empirical evidence points that way. Making it is hard to conclude otherwise.

That is precisely what took place.

[Dixie Yooper]

With all the dirty tricks that came out of Obama and Hillary's camps, I wouldn't be surprised if one of them did it just to further water down the opposition party's pitiful pool of candidates. Then there's the wonderful media, always ready to make news when there isn't any...

[MilspecRob]

Thompson did.

[TexasGunRunner]

OK, so Duncan Hunter (an awesome person who I admire greatly) stayed in the race too long. What does that have to do with the question?

I’m sure you’re not accusing Hunter of sabotaging Thompson, perhaps you are trying to imply Thompson sabotaged Hunter?

Whatever, I can’t guess what you meant...how about just writing it out directly. I promise not to repeat any of it at your senate confirmation hearings.

[Kakaze]

By the time you get to the Republican only primary states the MSM has already picked our candidate.

Happened to me too,my primary vote had no affect on the presidential election.

If the party wants support, especially money,they had better find a way to make these primaries closed or on the same day.

[TexasGunRunner]

I doubt that...some of Fred’s best zingers and philosophical outakes were directly at McCain.

Whatever, he didn’t start the rumor.

[Charles Martel]

Speculation - same group that tried to destroy Gov Palin. (Not JM)

IMO, that's a very good speculation. Thompson would've been extremely hesitant to say anything which would hurt McCain's chances. Had it been Romney, Giuliani or Huckabee, or anyone involved with them, I think Fred would've called them out.

[Fiji Hill]

The GOP lineup for 2008 amounted to a bunch of has-beens and never-will-bes. Let’s hope they don’t make that same mistake in 2012.

[WillVoteForFood]

Unfortunately, Thompson put a bullet in his own campaign. He never really seemed to want it and I got the sense his wife was really the one who wanted him to be POTUS.

[TexasGunRunner]

Dude, did you even bother to read the post?

This isn’t about his quitting. This was about the rumor he was going to quit.

If you, being the big fan you were, remember, he went on to South Carolina.

Why is it so difficult for people to read a sentence or two?

[Choose Ye This Day]

That’s a good way of putting it. That sums up my feelings perfectly.

[TexasGunRunner]

Great...I agree with everything you just wrote...it was beautiful

...BUT do you know WHO PLAYED THE FRIGGIN DIRTY TRICK ON HIM in Iowa!!!!!!!!!!!!!

arrrrgghghhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!