Could and Shoulda....Where do "Fredheads" go now?

Youtube.com ^ | 8/24/2009 | Brewferr

[brewferr]

So here we were in 2007 worrying about who would take the Reagan "mantle of conservatism" forward. John McCain, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul and others were already in the race to become the next GOP nominee for president. And you know what? Conservatives were freaking out! Was this really the crop we had to choose from? None of these guys, with the exception of maybe Duncan Hunter or to an extent Ron Paul, really understood what conservatism was.

Then a grassroots draft campaign was initiated to bring someone into the race that really understood American exceptionalism. That individual was the former U.S. Senator from Tennessee - Fred Thompson. In Fred Thompson, conservatives had a real candidate to back. Thompson understood that government should be limited so that it could not tread on our natural God-given rights. He was a champion of low taxes, free-enterprise, traditional American social values, and a strong national defense. It just made sense to back Thompson.

So, in late 2007, Senator Thompson entered the race to become the next president. However, his campaign was attacked by the left-wing media and the other GOP presidential campaigns from the beginning. They accused Thompson of being "lazy like a fox", too radical, too old, etc. These ideas sank in and the Thompson campaigned left the field in early 2008.

That being said, McCain became the next GOP nominee. Conservatives felt betrayed until a little-known governor from Alaska, Sarah Palin came along. She electrified the base and undoubtedly gave the McCain campaign a much needed boost.

Fredheads, where do we go from here? Is Sarah Palin in fact the next person to bear the "mantle of Reagan"? I believe that she will be a force to be reckoned with in the future, but I still hold onto the hope that Senator Fred Thompson will one day be president.

In 1976, Governor Ronald Reagan decided to challenge a sitting president of his party for the GOP nomination. Reagan was repeatedly accused of being lazy, too old, and too radical. Those ideas sank in and Reagan narrowly lost the nomination to Gerald Ford that year. However, Ronald Reagan's campaign wasn't over. He would return in 1980, win the GOP nomination, and lead America into the largest peacetime economic expansion in recent years.

Even with the conservative Sarah Palin in the fray, I believe that there is still a role for Fred Thompson to play. We've pulled him out of political retirement before, and I believe that we can do it again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeVi2KF7hA4

[AuntB]

“None of these guys, with the exception of maybe Duncan Hunter or to an extent Ron Paul, really understood what conservatism was.”

The others still don’t.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

" ALWAYS REMEMBER SARAH WAS PICKED BY JOHN MCCAIN."

The truism about blind pigs and truffles comes to mind. Or the one about stopped clocks.

You're not going to get much McCain praise out of me, that much is certain. He's a fine human being--his tenderness towards Mo Udall in that fine man's last days attests to that--but he's a lousy Republican. Let's face it, if he'd been elected, we'd be bellowing in outrage way too often. Not as often as under the Obamanation, but way too often. This is an unfortunate truth.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"Tom McClintock"

Good guy, but no executive experience. And let's put it this way: if anyone needs a charisma transfusion more than Jindal, it's McClintock.

[jellybean]

You’re on the list. :)

[CommerceComet]

I like Fred Thompson. However, other than the former-actor angle, I was never convinced of the Reagan linkage. Thompson’s politics seemed more Bob Dole than Ronald Reagan. In terms of politics: Thompson > McCain >>>>>>>>>>>>>Obama.

[NonValueAdded]

Sarah! no question, no doubts. No one else even comes close.

[ellery]

I love Thompson — but none of the 2008 presidential candidates was able to unite the party. We need someone fresh.

So far, I like DeMint the best. However, that’s just an initial impression — I haven’t done in-depth research on anyone yet.

My number one priority is taking back Congress in 2010.

[mission9]

Let us try, with a sober poker face, to play a game of good cop, bad cop for a couple of years.

Good Cop, Sarah
Bad Cop, Ron Paul

If any Pubbie comes to me with a “what about ... (Fill in the blank with a RINO - Romney, Huck, etc...)

Then we should say, “Well you know, Ron Paul had it right about the banking collapse. Being right about the most important issue of 2008 and more going forward should count for something... What is your strategy for getting out the Ron Paul independent vote?”

Now we play coy, making goo-goo eyes after our crazy old uncle Paul, the RINOs will continue to attack Paul, or suck up to him, whatever. Sarah can then just be Sarah, and they will not notice her new dress, or hair, or children.

Then after a year or two of this, we say, “OK, you win, You win, Ron Paul is not a nationally viable candidate, I guess I we will all have to support Sarah...”

[ImpBill]

Thanks for the ping.

I would back Fred Thompson again in a heart beat.

I am very impressed with Sarah Palin, but I am not very certain she really is up to the job, at present. Perhaps in 2 more years.

But then again, since I haven't been a Republican for quite some time, it really isn't up to me is it? ;-)

[SE Mom]

Fred was my guy- he still is my favorite. He’s got the right stuff.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sarah Palin/John Bolton 2012

or

Sarah Palin/Fred Thompson 2012

Either works for me!

[supercat]

SARAH WAS PICKED BY JOHN MCCAIN.

Alan Keyes was picked by the Illinois machine to run against Obama. Alan Keyes is conservative; does his selection imply anything about the Illinois machine?

[elizabethgrace]

Future leadership should include:

U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter, (R) MI

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, (R) WI

[MayflowerMadam]

“I still hold onto the hope that Senator Fred Thompson will one day be president.”

I don’t think he wants it enough. If he did, I think he could’ve been our guy in ‘08. Really... ya gotta wanna.

[Clintonfatigued]

We haven’t even gotten to the 2010 elections yet. Let’s concentrate on making gains in Congress first.

[trisham]

Fred would make an exceptionally good president. I would love to see him as our nominee.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

” I love Thompson — but none of the 2008 presidential candidates was able to unite the party. We need someone fresh. “

Thompson looks and acts so much more relaxed and enervated since the 2008 primary.
I think he’s more comfortable being a blogger and commentator than a candidate.
Jerri Thompson has completely rehabbed her phony DNC image from a trophy wife
to a serious conservative commentator.
She’s been very impressive, as has Michelle Bachmann and Liz Cheney.
McCain was labeled too old and senile by the media and the Democrats,
our 2012 candidate has to be fresh and vigorous and completely untainted by false media and Democrat libel and slander.
Right now, I like General Tommy Franks .
But, I have no idea if he’s even interested.
At this point in the run up to the 2008 election, few people had even heard of Obama or Sarah Palin.
But, you are correct-2010 is our first priority.

[E Rocc]

Thompson, like Reagan, was quietly culturally libertarian. Remember his comment about feeling that God had no problem with his low key approach to religion, so no one else should either.

This was one of the keys to Reagan’s success: he stood for *protecting* the ability to live (and raise kids) according to traditional values but stood against the idea of *imposing* them. If the GOP remembers this it will swamp BHO and his ilk...if its forgotten it will not.

[papasmurf]

Ping me after we win back the Congress in ‘10. Cause’ if we don’t, this discussion is moot.

We really do need to stay focused on winning in ‘10. NOTHING, at this point, is more important. Well, that and a long form BC...LOL

[FTJM]

I felt letdown by Fred’s effort in the campaign. Not sure who to back now...won’t be Palin. Will wait and see who emerges.