Jan

A Sad Day for Fred Heads

Posted by: Mike's America @ 11:59 am in Fred Thompson

Visited 317 times, 3 so far today

It’s official: GOP Presidential candidate Fred Thompson withdraws from the race!

Fred Thompson introduces his grandson at a visit to Mike’s America in October, 2007. Mike’s America photo.

It’s hard to put so much of yourself into a campaign and a candidate even if you never met the man. We invest our hopes and dreams in a candidate and when he withdraws, or worse yet, loses, it’s painful.

But that’s the reality of the game called politics. I remember that the first vote I cast for President was for Gerald Ford in 1976 and Carter won. But four years later, I voted for Ronald Reagan and he won. Three years after that, I was a paid staffer on the Senate campaign of conservative founder John Ashbrook when he died suddenly before the Ohio primary.

Politics can be a wild ride from victory to defeat. And certainly, Fred Head friends today can permit themselves a brief moment of disappointment and sadness.

But the game is never over and the best way to overcome the sting of defeat is to get back out there and WIN!

I know that many of you are less enthusiastic about second choices. But each of those choices is better than the Democrat alternative. Not only CAN we win in 2008, we MUST win. There is just too much at stake for the long term future of our nation than to sit and watch Democrats destroy our economy, undermine national security and discard traditional American values.

Fred’s departure from the race means that the conservative vote which was split in South Carolina allowing John McCain to win, will now be much more focused as the Florida primary looms on Tuesday, January 29th.

Rest, regroup and come back to the game as soon as you can my friends. We need you! We need ALL of you!

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34 comments so far

bbartlog

That’s too bad. I liked Fred.
On balance, I think this works to Romney’s advantage - I think he will get more of Fred’s voters than anyone else. But we’ll see; I’ve seen a number of Thompson supporters whose second choice is Giuliani. McCain and Huckabee don’t seem likely to pick up a lot of votes from Thompson’s base. Likewise, while Paul might get a few, I don’t think it will be enough to be noticeable.

January 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm

Curt

Good words Mike. While I’m saddened I will move on to ensuring that two of the worst Socialists don’t become President.

January 22nd, 2008 at 12:37 pm

DirtCrashr

Aw crap! I hate Romney, Giuliani is anti-gun and Hucakaboob is just Jimmy Carter in drag - and I don’t trust McCain much either.
And Ron Pual is just bonkers, as much as space-traveler Kucinich.

January 22nd, 2008 at 12:52 pm

MariesTwoCents

Thank’s Mike,

It is a sad day for FredHeads but we have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and figure out who can defeat those Liberal Lunatics!

Like you said, just regroup and figure out our next move.

January 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm

Scott

I think this’ll help McCain the most.

January 22nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm

stix1972

Yes. But we must not give into the thought that if we loose tis one we sill win the next one. Look what happened in Congress. We get Pelosi and Reid, and if they have a Socialist Defeatocrat as PResidne, think of what they could do.
Guilianin is my second choice, and he may have some warts but i think he is the next best thing than Fred, but whoever wins the Republican nominstion will be better than Billary or Obama or the Silky Pony if he gets in there. Don;t give up, pressure the rest of the candidats to go away from the center.

January 22nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm

Curt

Gotta disagree Scott. I can’t see any Fred supporter moving to the liberal McCain, rather I see most of them moving to Romney.

January 22nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm

John Ryan

Gee after consistently poling <10% who could have seen this coming ?

January 22nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm

RHJunior

Great, a choice between a First Amendment violator, a Carter-esque religious huxter, a New York leftist, and a cultist from the 19th century’s version of Scientology. RINOs and no-accounts all.
The Republican party is a worthless pit of compromisers, wafflers, foot-shooters and nutless wonders. Electing them is little better than just voting Democrat anyway, because the instant they get in power they bend over, grab their ankles, and let the Democrats get what they came for. And whenever they get a man who might actually be a LEADER and stand for the platform they campaigned, they kick him to the curb.

January 22nd, 2008 at 1:23 pm

crosspatch

I am going to put my support behind Rudy. I gave Fred some of my heard earned but I don’t see Romney standing a snowball’s chance in hell against Clinton or Obama in the general election and that is really what it is all about. Rudy polls better than Romney against those two in the overall electorate. He is only single digits in points behind Hillary. Romney would lose in the general election by a wide margin. I doubt he would get a single Independent vote, they would all go Democrat. Independents will vote for Rudy.

January 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm

bbartlog

Great, a choice between a First Amendment violator, a Carter-esque religious huxter, a New York leftist, and a cultist from the 19th century’s version of Scientology

You forgot the crazy uncle with the tinfoil hat! I’m offended.

Independents will vote for Rudy

I know a number of people who would consider some other Repub, but not Rudy. For example, my wife would support McCain over Hillary, but wouldn’t ever vote for Rudy. In a similar vein, I’d support any Republican *except* Rudy. The course of the Republican race to this point also lends support to the theory that people like Rudy less the more they learn about him (I’m referring here to his weak showing in the early states, once people started paying attention). So I wouldn’t put too much trust in the polling that shows him beating some Dem candidate.
If you’re really all about having the best chance in the general election, I think McCain would be a much more logical choice.

January 22nd, 2008 at 1:37 pm

Will Winters

Thank you for your efforts, I always thought you would have been a great candidate.

It’s too bad his campaign peaked before it really even started. =(

January 22nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm

CentFla

Great, a choice between a First Amendment violator, a Carter-esque religious huxter, a New York leftist, and a cultist from the 19th century’s version of Scientology. RINOs and no-accounts all.

You guys have to start picking something besides campaign reform for hating McCain. Disagree with him because of a real issue like Immigration or something.

If you hate the condition the Republican party is in today you can lay the blame squarely at the feet of the President. It is in this shape today completely and totally due to his efforts. The American people want a Republican to be president - Even Obama is a Reagan supporter. But our current president has ruined this party.

Get back to basics and pick a prolife, anti gay-marriage, fiscal and military conservative. Stop taking it personally that John knew Bush was a whack job before the rest of the country figured it out.

Having said that I do not believe we have heard the last of Fred. Ten bucks says he throws his support to McCain within two weeks.

January 22nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm

CentFla

by the way RH - your web comics are fantastic dude!

January 22nd, 2008 at 2:54 pm

jainphx

I’m very disappointed, but I’d never under any circumstance vote for McCain. My support goes to any one (except Huckabee). Either Rudi or Romney must now be my choice.

January 22nd, 2008 at 3:35 pm

marinetbryant

I want to say something against the man but it’s his life. Yet he kept a lot of us on tenterhooks, took more than one person’s hard-earned money(He had more $250 or less donors than any other candidate) and gave more than a few hope of a better future. Federalism, conservatism, patriotism- hollow words from a hollow man.

Tom

January 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 pm

jainphx

By the way if he endorses John McCain, then he wasn’t the man I thought he was. In that case it is better we find out now.

January 22nd, 2008 at 3:42 pm

Mike's America

“Silky Pony” John Edwards! Great line Stix!

RH Jr. said: “The Republican party is a worthless pit of compromisers, wafflers, foot-shooters and nutless wonders. Electing them is little better than just voting Democrat anyway”

You couldn’t be more wrong. Without Republicans, in both the White House and Congress, we would have surrendered in Iraq, handcuffed the federals agents who are trying to keep us safe from terrorists, no patriot act, no spying on the overseas communications of terrorists, no aggressive interrogations of terrorists.

Thousands of Americans would now be DEAD if there was no difference between the GOP and Dems. The fact that the Library Tower in L.A. still stands is due to the leadership of REPUBLICANS!

CentFla said: “You guys have to start picking something besides campaign reform for hating McCain. Disagree with him because of a real issue like Immigration or something.”

If you read about my head to head meeting with McCain in November:

http://mikesamerica.blogspot.com/2007/11/john-mccain-visits-mikes-america.html

You’ll know that I asked him directly why Conservatives should support him after his 1. participation in the gang of 14 on Judicial nominations, 2. His stand on immigration and amnesty with Ted Kennedy and 3. His rasing of the “torture” issue directly before the 2006 elections weakening the GOP.

I didn’t even mention the McCain-Feingold bill, but still consider that a MAJOR disqualifier for McCain.

McCain is all about McCain. Not the GOP.

January 22nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm

Igor R.

The Maverick won’t make it. His whole strength is the independents. It doesn’t matter who he choses as his VP.

January 22nd, 2008 at 4:15 pm

bbartlog

Yet he kept a lot of us on tenterhooks, took more than one person’s hard-earned money(He had more $250 or less donors than any other candidate) and gave more than a few hope of a better future. Federalism, conservatism, patriotism- hollow words from a hollow man.

Bitter much? You make it sound like the guy went out and lost on purpose. Did his words suddenly turn hollow because he realized he couldn’t win? You’re being unreasonable.

And for what it’s worth I doubt Fred had more $250-or-less donors than Obama, Paul, and maybe even Romney. Maybe if you look only at Q3 2007 that claim would hold up.

January 22nd, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Scott

I could see support going to Romney, Curt. I like McCain’s service. His bit with not supporting the tax cuts seems misrepresented to me, and as for the amnesty/immigration bit…I think he found the centerpoint that can get something done while still getting passed by Dems.
Think of it like this guys…
Hillary vs Romney
Hillary vs Rudy
Hillary vs McCain
Hillary vs Huckabee

Obama vs Romney
Obama vs Rudy
Obama vs McCain
Obama vs Huckabee

Huck’s probably the next to drop out unless he pulls off something big soon.

Romney’d be ok, but I think Obama’d crush him.

Anyone But Hillary (ABH) will be the battle cry after 2/5.

January 22nd, 2008 at 4:50 pm

A sad day, indeed.
It sucks when the real conservative pulls out. My Fred ‘08 sticker didn’t even get here yet! What a bummer. I could support Romney, as he was my second choice. I would not vote for Benedict McCain if my life depended on it. And Huckleberry is out of the question. Rudy is too liberal and Paul is nuts.

January 22nd, 2008 at 5:53 pm

CentFla

Mike I quoted another poster and was replying to him. I have read your post and know what your problems with McCain are. You and I have had this conversation before, I agree with McCain on all of those issues that you hate him for including the Bush backed amnesty bill, and his working with six other Republicans on breaking up the filibuster over judicial appointments. And if the torture issues bothers you think about how much it bothers McCain, a guy who was tortured to the extent that he still can not raise his arms over his head.

January 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm

Mike's America

CentFla: I don’t “hate” McCain. If I did, I never would have gone to see him TWICE!

I do however, profoundly disagree with his approach on those issues and more. I’ve been upset that President Bush compromised so much with Democrats for the sake of the new tone. McCain would compromise what I veiw as fundamental conservatives issues in a way that even Bush would never attempt.

And let’s not try and make the “torture” question an emotional one. Not even McCain tried to play that card when I raised the issue with him.

His arguement was that military commanders did not want to use waterboarding on captured prisoners. Had I followed up, I would have pointed out that it was NOT the military that was using this technique (something which McCain knows well) but the CIA and only in at most THREE instances where the technique saved thousands of American lives.

The bottom line: I do not trust John McCain. He does what is good for John McCain, not for conservatives.

January 22nd, 2008 at 6:02 pm

CentFla

I respect your reasons for disagreeing with me on this. I have told you that many times.

I believe torture IS always an emotional issue. But that was not my point. The point is that I don’t think anybody should question his viewpoints on torture quite frankly. I think the guy gets a pass on that.

Ironically the reason I am so strongly in his corner is because I too have not changed over all these years. I will not change my positions simply because the party does. Now many of my GOP friends will face the same questions I had when Bush beat McCain in 00.

January 22nd, 2008 at 6:08 pm

Mike's America

CentFla said:“The point is that I don’t think anybody should question his viewpoints on torture quite frankly. I think the guy gets a pass on that.”

I could not possibly disagree more!

I have nothing but respect for John McCain. But to say that I can’t question his position on torture because he was tortured (and it was REAL torture, not dripping water in his nose) is as ridiculous as the Chicken Hawk fallacy.

P.S. I almost forgot to remind you of that McCain has gotten sucked into the Global Warming scam in a BIG WAY! And he was too busy campaigning to even know that the latest energy bill (he missed the vote) requires us all to change to those dim compact flourescent bulbs.

Global warming is the mask for world socialism and McCain would be their patsy!

No thanks!

January 22nd, 2008 at 6:17 pm

CentFla

If you believe the hyperbole about World wide socialism then Ron Paul has a tin hat for you Mike. McCain wants nuclear power plants not carbon offsets. He called ethanol a boondoggle and everybody roasted him. He belives in energy independance, not world wide socialism. Things like that and Aztlan and other wacko conspiracy theories don’t keep me up at night.

January 22nd, 2008 at 6:28 pm

Indigo Red

For the reasons listed by Mike at 26, which I’ve published at my blog, I agree with Curt at 7 that Fredheads will gravitate to Romney. I am.

Also, I have it on good authority that Fred is not endorsing anyone - a big blow to McCain.

January 22nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm

Mike's America

CentFla: You can deny that the underlying motive of the global warming scam is to promote the agenda of worldwide socialism, but that would only indicate you are either unaware of what underlies much of the issue or choose to ignore it.

And I would ask you to re-read the last line of my comment at #26: “Global warming is the mask for world socialism and McCain would be their patsy!” In no way do I accuse McCain of being an agent of worldwide socialism. Merely their patsy!

Again, you are doing an artful job of trying to spin my words into something I did not say.

That doesn’t inspire or encourage me to support McCain.

January 22nd, 2008 at 7:11 pm

SoCal Chris

It is a sad day for America. I don’t regret for one second my support for Fred Thompson, and am proud to have done so.

I also appreciate how much Flopping Aces did for Fred Thompson…thank you is not enough to say.

I, personally, could not ever endorse Romney, Huckabee, or McCain to anyone, nor could I vote for them. I think that leaves Rudy. He was my pick before Fred entered the race, and so am now leaning his way. I believe Fred Thompson raised the bar on conservative principles, so pray that Rudy will follow suit.

Godspeed to you, Fred, and look forward to seeing you again soon!

Thank you, again, Flopping Aces.

January 22nd, 2008 at 7:11 pm

Melissa

I too have heard he will not be endorsing anyone nor does he want office of any kind including VP or a cabinet position. Right now, with TN’s primary 2 weeks away, I’d say Fred’s name is already on the ballot, I’m still going to vote for him. Come November, when all the knee jerk reaction is over I’ll vote whomever is on the Republican ticket, maybe not. I just feel that it’s going to be another 8 years of Clinton’omics on estrogen regardless of who the republican candidate is.

January 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 pm

David

It’s unfortunate that Fred dropped out. He probably could have stayed through Super Tuesday. And, stay away from the debates. They do little for voters anyway. If you need a debate to help you make up your mind …

As to CentFla’s premise that it’s the President’s fault for the disarray in the GOP, I think not. The larger problem for the party is that it didn’t stay true to the core value of keeping the budget items, particularly the non-military items, under tighter control. They spent foolishly. It’s more the Congressional Republicans squandering the President’s capital coming off the 2004 victory.

The other part is the lack of Republican bench strength. Beyond the President, Jeb Bush, Rudy, and Fred, there isn’t much left. Better to say, those who are willing to step up, state their beliefs, stick with those beliefs, and forget the polls.

January 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 am

bbartlog

Speaking of endorsements, did you see that Hunter just endorsed Huckabee? Strange indeed - but then I think and endorsement for any of the others would also have been strange, just in a different way…

January 23rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm