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WWFD - What Will Fred Do?
RedState.com ^ | January 20, 2008 | Josh Painter

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Politics/Elections; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: fl2008; fred; fredthompson; gop; primaries; sc2008
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To: Clintonfatigued

fred only has himself to blame for being in this position. He has run a DREADFUL campaign. Just abysmal.


61 posted on 01/20/2008 2:39:13 PM PST by stuck_in_new_orleans
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To: Josh Painter
In my opinion, Fred doesn't want the Presidency. He has demonstrated that his decision to delay entering the fray was a poor decision.

His lackluster efforts in SC and the commensurate lackluster showing prove to me that his heart is not in the race. His decision to go home to his mother rather than go to Florida and begin to campaign for the 9 days remainging until that primary shows that he is not interested in winning enough and, I suspect from the speech he gave last night, he will bow out shortly.

If you can't make up your mind to run in the first place, then you fail to decide by the date that you have at least implied you are going to announce, July 4th, when you finally do announce, you waste a bunch of time fiddling around before you get started, and lastly the effort you put in is only half-hearted (it was reported that McCain was making 3 campaign stops for every 1 of Thompson's), then maybe you aren't the right person for the office.

If Fred had entered the race when he first implied that he would, he would have probably already locked up the nomination. Fred has repeatedly demonstrated poor judgment in this race.

He began thsi entire charade acting as though all he had to do was announce and he would be annointed Republican nominee. I'm not certain I would vote for Fred now. We don't need a half-hearted President, we've already had one of those in Bill Clinton, who only wanted the perks and cared nothing for the job. Fred looks as though he cares for the job, but is unwilling to put forth the effort to win it.

It now falls to Mitt to take up the mantle of Conservatism and run with it. Rush seems to have no problem in supporting him, as he has with Huck and McQueeg. Hannity doesn't seem to have a problem with Mitt either. I'm certain that both would have preferred Fred, but I believe that they, as I will now, support Mitt.

I have seen no Ronald REagans waiting in the wings to take up the Conservative mantle after 4 years of a Hillary socialist dictatorship or an Obams-sama caliphate. If I did, I might agree with the Jimmy Carter Republican strategy and let the Republicans suffer, but is see no one with the charisma and strength of character waiting to lead the charge.

I'm voting for the lesser of two evils, the Republican who wins, whether it be Mitt, John, Mike or Rudy...or yes if by some miracle even if it is Fred.

Personally, I think you can stick a fork in Fred.
62 posted on 01/20/2008 2:39:40 PM PST by Sudetenland (Mike Huckabee=Bill Clinton. Can we afford another Clinton in the White House...from either party?)
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To: Josh Painter
I think Fred should stay in it, even if he can't win. What he CAN do is gather delegates, which would give him some sway at the convention.

That's about my only hope for forcing the GOP back on a more conservative track - that deals will be struck in Saint Paul, with delegates as leverage.

63 posted on 01/20/2008 2:40:42 PM PST by Yossarian (Everyday, somewhere on the globe, somebody is pushing the frontier of stupidity...)
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To: luckystarmom

No truer words have been said here.


64 posted on 01/20/2008 2:43:35 PM PST by Sudetenland (Mike Huckabee=Bill Clinton. Can we afford another Clinton in the White House...from either party?)
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To: Invincibly Ignorant
Disagree. Huck, Romney and Thompson share voters. Therefore McCain the beneficary.

That's simply not how nominating conventions work. There are multiple rounds of voting until someone gets a majority. If nobody has a majority going in (a situation that is virtually certain, if 4 or 5 candidates stay in the race this year), the delegates will have to shift support until they find someone who is mutually acceptable.

Fred has been creating less antipathy than his opponents, and this may well be his strategy. The only thing that can kill him, is his just giving up, or millions of his supporters getting stupid and deciding that they are wasting their votes, because he's not one of the top two candidates.

65 posted on 01/20/2008 2:46:18 PM PST by 3niner (War is one game where the home team always loses.)
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To: Rudder

“The GOP is not our party, it courts moderates, center-right progressives and sheeple.”

Can you imagine the Dems courting conservatives with promises?


66 posted on 01/20/2008 2:51:25 PM PST by donnab (don't blame me ...I support Fred.)
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To: Yaelle
Thinking on history… In 1860 the candidate chosen to be the nominee at the Republican convention was fourth in delegates and only won one state (his home state)… He won at the convention because he was the only candidate that was acceptable to all the wings of the party. This candidate later became President… his name was Abe Lincoln. A case can be made that only Fred Thompson is acceptable to all wings of the party. I think this is why he should stay in until the convention…”

We tried it in 96 and got Bob Dole...
67 posted on 01/20/2008 3:02:02 PM PST by GovernmentIsTheProblem (We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a featherbed. - Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Clintonfatigued
That’s not a bad option, considering 30% or so of the FL vote has already been cast. Using resources to campaign there seems a waste. Giuliani should do very well there since so many native New Yorkers now reside there. That will serve to keep things going.
68 posted on 01/20/2008 3:10:00 PM PST by isrul
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To: squidly
He (Fred) can if he gets some solid financial support. Might just as well send the bucks to him since there is no other acceptable choice.
69 posted on 01/20/2008 3:14:47 PM PST by isrul
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To: Clintonfatigued

No Fred, stick a fork in this party. We are done. I’ll have no reason to vote in November.


70 posted on 01/20/2008 3:15:43 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (~~~Jihad Fever -- Catch It !~~~ (Backup tag: "Live Fred or Die"))
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To: fieldmarshaldj

There may be a brokered convention. The GOP is far from settling on any one choice.


71 posted on 01/20/2008 3:18:25 PM PST by Clintonfatigued (You can't be serious about national security unless you're serious about border security)
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To: Invincibly Ignorant
So why not work to help Fred outlast Huckabee and solve the problem. Brother love will pass before Fred if Fred’s supporters show some loyalty. Assuming that Fred does not choose to withdraw.
72 posted on 01/20/2008 3:19:09 PM PST by isrul
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Went to Denver for the weekend to see the family. However, I picked a hell of a weekend to go to homes that don’t even know who is running. Didn’t want to talk about...blah, blah...McCain. Whatever!

That just about sums up what happed while I was gone. FRED lost a scrimmage, not the war. I just stopped by and added to the Red Truck to let FRED know...we are still here. This is not over. I wish I wasn’t so much of a lady and could tell you what is really on my mind.

McCAIN? HUCKABEE? DIDN’T ANYONE LISTEN TO RUSH THIS WEEK? RUSH all but said go to your local polling place, sign in and vote for FRED THOMPSON. I actually heard one caller say that RUSH had endorsed Mitt Romney. Folks, Conservatives have theirs _____ on the line here. South Carolina fell for the Huckabee crap and gave McCain the “well, it’s his turn” vote. This is our Country people, are you going to stand by and let it be run by another RINO?

FRED THOMPSON - NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERIENCE (I’ll protect the American people and American values, whatever it takes to stop the Islamic-Fascists including water-boarding!) - 2ND AMENDMENT ADVOCATE (“Individual” rights to protect their homes and property!)

INCREASE THE MILITARY’S STRENGTH AND SIZE (Diplomacy through Strength and verification!)

SECURE AND SEAL THE BORDERS (Don’t give sanctuary anywhere to illegal’s; don’t employ illegal’s; don’t rent to illegal’s; don’t extend credit to illegal’s; don’t give illegal’s rights they have no right to; report all crimes committed by illegal’s to ICE and immediately deport those illegal’s who have already committed crimes against America!) LAW AND ORDER (Enforcement of our current laws regarding illegal immigration!) – DENY FEDERAL DOLLARS TO SANCTUARY CITIES (Enough is enough!)

CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES FOR SUPREMES (Great progress has been made on the Supreme Court in Bush’s term. FRED was asked by President Bush to spirit Justice Roberts through the confirmation process. The next President will probably have the opportunity to seat two additional Justices. This is huge folks. FRED will nominate Justices who will interpret the Constitution, not create rights that simply do not exist and legislate from the bench!) – PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE (will strive to nominate superior Justices with the eventual goal of overturning Roe vs Wade)

THOMPSON PLAN TO REDUCE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING (Check out his detailed plan to reduce Federal spending!)

SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMER (Social Security is an entitlement program that will soon overtake the budget. The program can’t sustain itself and will bankrupt future generations; FRED has detailed proposals to save Social Security and provide the added benefit of private savings accounts for younger workers!)

DEFEAT ANY DEMOCRAT OR RINO (Close your eyes and imagine the first debate between FRED THOMPSON and ANY liberal DemocRAT they put up?)

TAX SIMPLIFICATION (Reform and perhaps eliminate the IRS with a variety of choice for the tax payer!)

EDUCATION (Return education to the States. It is that simple. The NEA is the greatest enemy of our educational system!)

WON’T PUT UP WITH TRUTH MANIPULATION FROM THE DB-MSM (including stupid questions by liberal moderators, and “purchased” political pundits)

FRED THOMPSON IS THE “WE THE PEOPLE” CANDIDATE (We the People asked him to set aside his personal life and step up one more time for his Country…and he stepped up!)

THIRD IN IOWA, SECOND IN WYOMING (MSM still calling it a tie with McCain’s name in the lead…FoxNews won’t even mention his name if they can find a way to avoid it!)

TOTAL DELIGATES TO DATE: 6

WINNER OF SOUTH CAROLINA JANUARY 10, 2008 DEBATE – HANDS DOWN!!! (In lieu of the airtime FoxNews chose to give him…or not give him as the case may be. WE THE PEOPLE notice garbage like that!)

SOUTH CAROLINA BLEW IT, AND WHEN THEY LEARN HOW BIG A MISTAKE THEIR STUPID VOTE WAS, I HOPE THEY FEAL OUR PAIN AS WELL! IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR CONSERVATIVES TO DITCH HUCKELBERRY, McCAIN, AND ROMNEY, IN FLORIDA!

BY THE WAY...LOOK HOW MANY VOTES ARE AGAINST McLAIM?

IT IS TIME FOR REAGAN CONSERVATIVES TO COME OUT OF THE WALLS AND WOODWORK AND UNITE NOW BEHIND THE ONLY TRUE STANDARD BEARER FOR REAGAN CONSERVATISM! A CONSERVATIVE THOMPSON REVOLUTION! PLEASE STOP BY FRED08.COM AND STUDY HIS WHITE PAPERS ON ALL THE MAJOR ISSUES!


73 posted on 01/20/2008 3:25:26 PM PST by Bobbisox (ALL AMERICAN FredHead FREEPER! [FRED ain't DEAD, ENOUGH SAID!])
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To: Abbeville Conservative

Mitt did not do well in SC even with the millions and the organization. He did not hit it off with the South as a gun-grabber, etc. Think of staying with Fred for awhile if he is still in.


74 posted on 01/20/2008 3:32:51 PM PST by 22cal (Forgiven, not perfected)
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To: Clintonfatigued
There may be a brokered convention. The GOP is far from settling on any one choice.

Considering Rudy, McCain, and Huckabee have all been considered front runners in the polls the last couple of months, but yet Romney is in the lead in delegates. Shoot, the current front runner McCain, was considered done just two weeks ago. The race is still fluid and another good debate performance and a mistake by one of the other candidates could completely shake up the race again. It is premature to be dropping out of such a race when you are still competitive. Only 6% of the delegates have been decided. Keep going Fred.

75 posted on 01/20/2008 3:38:16 PM PST by Always Right (Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?)
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To: donnab
Can you imagine the Dems courting conservatives with promises?

WHAT?

76 posted on 01/20/2008 3:39:15 PM PST by Rudder
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To: Yaelle

sounds good to me.......the four headless RINOs running with him all have flaws.....you have to pick the one that is less irritating than the others....tough choice to make.


77 posted on 01/20/2008 3:40:01 PM PST by tioga
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To: Invincibly Ignorant
"Huck, Romney and Thompson share voters. Therefore McCain the beneficary."


The real beneficiary of Fred staying in is conservatism. The longer he stays in, the more the conservative message is put out to the voters. As far as which candidate Fred's presence benefits, I really do not care, as there is not one of them who stands out above the others.
78 posted on 01/20/2008 3:53:25 PM PST by rob777 (Personal Responsibility is the Price of Freedom)
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To: ari-freedom

The more states Fred comes in 3rd in, the more states Fred doesn’t win.

That’s the only important thing.

There are people in this country who think Fred would be the best President in this election.

Those people are a small minority of the Republican party.

Those people are not even the majority of the self-described conservatives in our party.


79 posted on 01/20/2008 4:09:29 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Josh Painter

IF you are not a republican, then don’t lie and pretend that you are one so you can vote in the Republican primary.

Republican primaries are for REPUBLICANS, not for people who publicly declare that they are NOT REPUBLICANS.


80 posted on 01/20/2008 4:11:33 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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