[traditional1]

"Maybe we should close up ranks and prepare for Fred vs. Hillary."

Good idea. Begin prep now for a Thompson/Hunter ticket, which would be formidable AND Conservative.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Take a look at the website, if you haven’t already. Those generational numbers are interesting.

[Jim Noble]

Begin prep now for a Thompson/Hunter ticket, which would be formidable

Formidable how?

Of John Kerry's 254 EVs, which states can a Thompson/Hunter ticket win?

Can it win Ohio, Missouri, and Florida?

Ohio, which just elected a radical leftist Senator? Missouri, which retired the moderate Jim Talent?

Florida, with its RINO economic fantasist governor?

What is the FDT/Hunter plan for victory?

[NurdlyPeon]

Good idea. Begin prep now for a Thompson/Hunter ticket, which would be formidable AND Conservative.

It would just be a dream come true, wouldn't it? (See the tag line.)

[toddlintown]

“Begin prep now for a Thompson/Hunter ticket”

That would be a winning combo, though I can’t get the thought out of my head that if you switched names, you’d get the name of “gonzo” journalist Hunter Thompson.

[ExSoldier]

Begin prep now for a Thompson/Hunter ticket, which would be formidable AND Conservative.

THAT would be the conservative dream ticket. Unfortunately, it's not politically realistic. He has to be able to draw large numbers of DEMS and independant moderates in order to win. Kennedy picked Johnson solely because he could deliver Texas. Otherwise they had almost nothing in common and actually rather disliked each other. If Hunter could reliably be predicted to deliver California, then it's a lock. But no 'Pubbie can guarantee The Republic of Kalifornia. Thompson will choose somebody moderate and who can deliver votes. I love Fred, but I know he's a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and so I recognize that his vp and entire cabinet will be first vetted by them as it's been since 1929. Fact of life. Scrutinize every administration since FDR and you'll reach the same conclusion.

[counterpunch]

Begin prep now for a Thompson/Hunter ticket

Don't make me laugh.
Why would Fred Thompson pick a guy from the bottom of the pile for his running mate?
I highly doubt he will pick anyone from the GOP presidential competition, and if he does, believe me, it will be Giuliani.
Historically, it is extremely rare, though.
When it does happen, it is a strong runner-up often chosen for the sake of party unity and diversity, as was the case with Reagan choosing Bush. Likewise Edwards was a strong runner-up, too, though I can't explain the reasoning for Kerry choosing Edwards, other than he thought he was pretty and yearned to be near him, and political insiders thought they made a cute couple.

Hunter, however, is a proven loser, with being in dead last place and everything. He wouldn't be uniting a divided party if it's Thompson that gets the nod, he doesn't expand the GOP's electoral appeal, and he doesn't bring any sort of “gravitas” or star power to the ticket — two things Fred Thompson certainly has no shortage of himself. In a word, Duncan Hunter would bring nothing to the ticket, not a single extra vote.
And that's why he won't even make the short list of possible running mates.

 

[TheThirdRuffian]

I love Hunter. I like his son even more -— BUT, alas, in politics one “balances” the ticket.

Look for a popular Mid-West RINO to “balance” the ticket, the more Ohio-based, the better.

Preferably one that would be too old in 8 years to run for office.