Posted on 01/20/2008 1:08:35 PM PST by Josh Painter
What will Fred do? That's the big question around the Fredosphere on this day following the South Carolina GOP primary.
Many are calling for him to stay in the race. After all, Fred's third place finish beat out Mitt Romney, who had invested considerable time and millions of dollars in SC. Rudy's not getting out, and Fred has finished higher than America's Mayor in five of the six primaries that Republicans have contested so far.
Some have even mapped out strategies for him - skip Florida and concentrate on the Southern states that will figure so prominently in Super Tuesday. Hold out for a brokered convention.
Still others are saying that as the only conservative left in the race, Thompson must stay in to represent conservative principles. Pardon my skepticism, but the Republican Party doesn't seem to be concerned much with conservative principles this election cycle.
In fact, the Republican party has been consistently giving moderates the gold mine and conservatives the shaft ever since the day Ronald Reagan packed his bags and left the White House to return to his beloved California ranch.
Im my opinion, the GOP has turned its back on conservatives too many times, and now it's time for conservatives to turn their backs to it. This was done on a relatively small scale in 2006, and the Democrats took both houses of Congress away from the Republicans. That was a warning shot fired across the bow of the U.S.S. RNC, and it went largely unheeded. Perhaps they need a less subtle message.
I don't know if conservatives will ever be able to regain control of the Republican party again without it having to be taken apart and put back together, but I somewhat doubt it. Maybe with the Clintons back in the White House the Grand Old Party will learn once again to embrace the conservative principles which made it a winner in the Reagan years - maybe not.
Some would like to see Sen. Thompson remain in the race to keep Mike Huckabee from getting the nomination. Although Fred has performed a valuable service to his country by pointing out that The Huckster isn't exactly what he appears to be, now the race is moving on to more states where the other guy from Hope can't depend on identity politics to keep pulling in big vote totals.
So, what will Fred thompson do? The only thing we can be sure of right now is that he will do what he thinks is right. He cannot carry the conservative burden for a party that won't even give him water. He didn't get in the race to stop any one particular rival candidate. Sen. Thompson got in the race because he was concerned about the kind of country that his children and grandchildren would have to grow up in. He was concerned that none of the GOP canidates were talking about federalism or entitlements or some of the other issues that were on his mind.
But things have changed. The other Republican candidates have adopted many of Fred's issues and made them part of their own campaigns. This is a good thing if they do more than just pay lip service to these issues and the first principles which are their foundation. I'm certain that one thing that is weighing heavily on Fred's decision is just how much can he depend on these big-government Republicans to hold true to Fred's own principles after which one of them is given the nomination. Perhaps his friend John McCain can convince him. Perhaps even Mitt Romney, who doesn't have a history of being consistent on the issues, can persuade FDT that he has seen the light and will faithfully be guided by it. It's up to them to make the sale to Fred.
Whatever Fred decides to do, I'm supporting him. If he stays in, I'll continue to blog for him, defend him and talk him up. If he decides to return to the good life, surrounded by the family he so adores, how could I blame him? He worked hard for that good life, and the Lord knows he deserves to be able to enjoy it. He certainly received shabby treatment from the party that he's tried so hard to save from itself.
So I don't know what Fred will do. But I do know what I will do. I'm a conservative, not a Republican. I gave that particular political party up when it took a sharp left turn and left me behind in 2006. So I'll go to the polls, vote in the GOP primary (my state allows it) and in the general election, and if his name isn't on the ballot either time, I'll write it in for president. I'll also write in Duncan Hunter's name for vice president for good measure. Then I'll sleep well that night knowing that I voted my convictions.
- JP
Here, here....! Bully!
I dont see HRC wanting him on the ticket. He would be a bigger star than her thighness.
She will pick some limpd**k who she can control and wont upstage her, like the one she married.
Disagree. Huck, Romney and Thompson share voters. Therefore McCain the beneficary.
When the going gets tough...the tough get going.
I will fight kicking and screaming all the way to the general election. Its time conservatives all across the country stopped saying oh ok..he will do. I will NEVER vote for Huck or McCain.
If that gives us Hillary so be it. It wasn’t me that voted him as the candidate. So those of you who are so willing to be led to the liberal candidates ..go for it.
Would he have a shot at VP?
Using your logic, the longer Romney stays in, the more states McCain is going to win.
Fred will do what Fred will do.
But. I think he will stay through Super Tuesday. Where a number of states have the opportunity to baffle the MSM.
I think this:
(1) McCain can’t rally the base. He will sink on Super Tuesday.
(2) Huckleberry Hound will deflate. The hillbilly fundamentalist moron vote is not deep.
(3) Romney, like Kerry, can buy the nomination. That may happen.
(4) Julie Crossdresser is going no where after Florida.
(5) Thompson, if he stays in, will have a shot. Ultimately, if Romney doesn’t get enough delegates, will have to deal with Fred. They will cut out both the Huckster and Julie Crossdresser.
Not true. Romney is the front runner. Thompson, who himself drew line in the sand in SC, has none.
Probably, but Fred’s not interested. IMO, he would turn it down.
....Otherwise we will end up with either a Muslim or a Dyke in 08...
The Shrilda will put Osama Barama on the ticket so we’ll end up with both.
The same can be said for any of them at the expense of the other....so why not Huck and Romney get out to clear the path for Fred? Fred would take out McCain easily...more easily than Huck and Romney both of whom have circumspect conservative creds.
Exactly. Unless Fred is wiling to attack McCain more vigorously than he went after Huck he needs to get out. Fred only speaks against McCain if he is asked a direct question and even then he reminds the questioner that they are friends. If Fred really wants the job he needs to put his loyalty to conservative principles over his friendship to McCain.
And mega dittos!
1. Realizing of course that Lincoln was just about the ultimate 'big government' candidate and president.
2. That said, I agree that Fred is the only republican in the running that all factions could vote for...otherwise the party is destined for minority status in just about a year.
3. That said, today's pubby party wouldn't give Fred the nod short of a general uprising at grass roots, and that ain't gonna happen.
He should most definitely stay in the race. Remember, Florida is the first state that is a closed primary. Up until now, we’ve had all open primaries, meaning that the spineless moderates could vote for whom they choose.
That all starts to change with Florida, and on Super Tuesday, a number of states in the voting block have closed primaries. All the more reason he should stay in. A third place finish in South Carolina was not a defeat. Remember, they originally had him coming in fourth, including in exit polling until the end.
You'd be surprised....IMO, it's already started.
Ask the RNC how contributions are running these days....the conservatives are the people with deep enough political beliefs to make reaching deep into their pocket for meaningful contributions palatable. Do you really think all these 'Pubbie moderates are that committed? Or are they just looking for a passing ship in the night?
The RNC either knows that they are in trouble or are just plain ignorant.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.