Ping!
Fred Ping!
...who are you and why should I care about your political opinions?
This just shows the MSM bias against conservatives.
Their afraid because Thompson would beat Hilldog by a landslide.
IMO, Fred’s decline in the polls seems to have begun when he said of the Schiavo case (on 9/13)
“I can’t pass judgment on it. I know that good people were doing what they thought was best,” Thompson said. “That’s going back in history. I don’t remember the details of it.”
It certainly took the wind out of my sails. :(
Excellent post. Thank you.
I think you were able to put into one set of understandable words what many of us were saying in bits and pieces.
Again, great post.
Great work! :)
I think Thompson is in a good position as well. I think there are going to be a lot of pundits with egg on their face.
WOW! Since FDT enjoys the company of so many of the current administration, and of the Rockefeller Republicans, how can it be said the establishmeent is against him? All candidates sink or swim under their own weight if they are given fair air time, IMO.
I was on the Thompson bandwagon but outside of FR I havent heard of anything on him lately. Im beginning to wonder if this silence could occur again during a general election campaign if he were to win in the primaries. Im debating whether or not I should also go silent on Thompson and look for another possibility.
It's low-key and I'm not sure how it will work in the end -- we'll see soon enough.
I remember not long ago on Hannity/Colmes one of the democratic strategist to say this: “A Fred Thompson campaign is the only fear we have of losing”. He expressed how many dems worried about that.
It looks to me like you're not seeing the real Thompson but are projecting onto him all the things you want him to be.
Is Fred really an "insurgent candidate"? He started out late, so he's not an established candidate, but is he really anti-establishment in any deeper way?
Did Fred make any of the populist appeals that you identify him with today, during his earlier career? Did he really show much concern about immigration when he was in the Senate?
Second, the barrage against Fred reflects a not very subtle anti-Southern bias in the elite. They despise the south in general and Fred's signature principle, Federalism, in particular. It stands in the way of their plans, which have been underway without interruption since Reagan left office in 1988, to concentrate power in Washington, D.C. This anti southern bias also plays into Thompson's hands, because it contains all the ingredients for a backlash among southern GOP primary voters. This backlash is magnified in importance because the South (having voted Republican so faithfully over the years) is apportioned relatively more delegates than its population would call for. Fred, as the only major southern candidate, would be the natural beneficiary of regional pride. His regional advantage will, in my opinion, be magnified by the not so subtle anti-southern bigotry of the elites.
Has there really been a "barrage" against Fred? He's the new boy trying to break in between candidates who've been at it for a year. Consequently, he doesn't always come off as well as they do, but what evidence do you have that he gets more criticism than the other candidates?
Was federalism really an important principle for Fred when he was in the Senate? Or is it something he's latched onto recently, to create a niche for himself in the market or to duck national issues?
And is Fred really the kind of regional candidate you make him out to be? What if you're mistaking an accent for a program or a philosophy?
Moreover, can you have it both ways? Can you make Fred a symbol of regional pride and attack others from other regions for being lukewarm or ice cold towards him?
Can you expect him to be your own property and blame others when they don't vote for him? "Vote Southern" is a slogan that won't travel well.
This is all about the ebb and flow of primary politics and the all important, momentum, or as Bush41 use to say --- "BIG MO" . Political momentum can rise up and evaporate in no time.
Obviously, Fred has experienced a dip in the polls. While Fred likes to say, he's playing by his rules and not rules made up by others. His cautious dealings with the media have opened the flood gates of excessive criticism and rapid ridicule. Fred still needs to get his message out, off setting commentary from the talking heads as much as possible. So far, Fred seems hesitant to meet that challenge head on, thus adding to his diminishing bottom line.
While Reagan routinely went over the heads of the media and talked directly to the people. Reagan also realized it wasn't in his best interest to distance himself too much from major sources of free communication. Political propaganda is critical in winning. Truth in advertising aside. The media has the ability to spread a politicians message far and wide. However, its up to the candidate to mold that message.
IOW. No matter how much we conservatives may hate the media, they do serve a purpose. Especially in politics. Fred should take his cue from Reagan and not the current occupant of the White House.
This remains a wide open race. Rooty`s divide and conquer strategy is working, so far. Rooty still holds the lead, but its tenuous at best, with 65%-75% of the GOP opposing his candidacy. Fred is still in an advantageous position, holding down 2nd place in most polls. There is plenty of time left for him to shift gears and regain momentum. IMO, Fred remains the best candidate available. He's the most reliable and viable conservative running. So far, Republicans aren't sold on Fred, leaving his job far from finished.
I don't know how well known it is yet, but there's an effort under way for a Fred Thompson money-bomb on 11/21 similar to the one just carried out by Paul Bots. I have to wonder what kind of numbers Fred's supporters can pull out...
AM read bump
You analysis seems only to reflect your personal feelings, and your sense of the National mood. You may have some experience with Thompson’s media appearances, but do you know of his personal appearances on the campaign trail? In my experience, from what I have seen, the man is not competitive with the other top tier men.
I am interested in informed opinion, not media driven vanity.
I know not who you are ‘Masked-Man’...but that is one great article!
