Tom Tancredo’s exit; Update: Endorses Romney
Update 6pm Eastern. Much, much more at HA, plus video.
Update 4:35pm Eastern. Tancredo tells Cavuto that Romney’s immigration plan is “viable, that he’ll stick with it, and that he has the best shot.”
Update 3:10pm Eastern. A source tells me Tancredo has endorsed Romney. Still checking.
Yep. More from the Des Moines Register:
U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo announced today he’s ending his long-shot bid for the White House.
The Colorado Republican made his exit from the race official at a press conference this afternoon in downtown Des Moines. He’ll throw his support behind GOP candidate Mitt Romney, he said.
And via Allah, Rep. Tancredo will be on Neil Cavuto’s show today at 4pm Eastern to talk about his decision.
Will be interesting to see how he squares his endorsement now with his campaign’s criticism of Romney for supporting amnesty in July.
Rep. Steve King endorsed Thompson when Romney expected it. Rep. Tancredo endorsed Romney defying some expectations that Thompson would get his vote.
Lots of interesting back stories to be told someday.
Update 3:03pm Eastern. Tancredo speaks. Despite his warning about the clear and present danger of open borders, his message “has fallen on deaf ears in the highest office of the land.” He’s ecstatic about the fact that great progress has been made during his presidential campaign. “The Tancredo campaign has already won,” he says, quoting Newsweek’s assessment.
***
It’s expected that GOP Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado will drop out of the GOP presidential race this afternoon. The “major announcement” will be made in Des Moines at 2pm Central time.
Some observers suggest that Tancredo, like friend and fellow immigration enforcement advocate Iowa GOP Rep. Steve King, might throw his support to Fred Thompson. Would Tancredo’s supporters follow? It’s not a given. Three other candidates–Duncan Hunter, Mitt Romney, and Ron Paul– rank higher than Thompson in Numbers USA’s assessment of the candidates’ proven records on immigration and border security (as opposed to their election-year promises).
Tancredo has led immigration enforcement forces in recent years, but he’s more than a single-issue lawmaker. Among presidential candidates, he scored the highest on the American Conservative Union’s lifetime record ratings. And as National Review former editor John O’Sullivan put it in October when Tancredo announced his retirement from the House:
But immigration is not the sole issue of concern to Tom. He is a conservative across the board. And conservatives who differ with him on immigration can still rest assured that his voice and vote will support their general issues. When the immigration debate took off for the second time two years ago, some on the “open borders” side quietly dismissed Tom as one of the Yahoos who were supposedly the main opponents of the legislation. Tom may occasionally have misspoken, as we all do. But the barnstorming talk he gave to the “values voters” showed that there was real political talent in this modest American. So does his command of his constituency. With almost the entire national, state, and media establishment against him, he still racks up overwhelming victories at home. If he had not decided to retire Congress of his own accord, he could have held the seat until death supervened.
Tancredo’s exit comes as Congress guts the border fence, the Border Patrol remains under siege, and shamnesty proponent John McCain rebounds. Where do conservatives who take homeland security seriously turn?
I don’t need a candidate with whom I agree on 100 percent of the issues. At the very least, however, I’d like a candidate who doesn’t share the Left’s utter contempt for, apathy, or sheer condescension toward grass-roots Republicans and immigration enforcement activists. Character counts. Steadfastness counts. A spine would help. So would genuine passion and energy.
Tom Tancredo has all of that. He’ll continue to play an important role in American life, perhaps in the U.S. Senate. Because of his relentless crusading for secure borders and restoration of the rule of law, immigration will not disappear from the presidential race’s radar screen after his exit–despite the GOP elite’s fervent desire that the issue die down and noisy activists go away.
For that, we owe him great thanks.
***
Here’s Thompson on the campaign trail today, sounding Tancredo-esque.
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- Right Wing Nut House » NOW’S THE TIME TO COME OUT FOR FRED
- Tancredo to drop out of Presidential race?
- Let Freedom Ring » Blog Archive » Tancredo Ending WH Bid
- California Conservative » Tancredo To End WH Bid
- Tel-Chai Nation
- Hot Air » Blog Archive » Tancredo endorses Romney
- Tom the Tanc Thanks and Tanks Out « Blogs 4 Brownback
- Romney receives Tancredo endorsement | Infidels Are Cool
- Sister Toldjah
- OnePoliticalVoice Blogs » Blog Archive » Talking Illegal Immigration in Carroll, IA
- Stop The ACLU » Blog Archive » Tancredo to Drop Out?
- Tancredo drops out…to stop Huckabee?
- Tancredo Drops out and Endorses Romney
- Mark My Words
- Ray Robison: Pointing out the obvious to the oblivious
- docweaselblog makes its presidential endorsement for ‘08: Big Tits! « docweaselblog
- politicalpartypoop.com » Blog Archive » Tancredo pimps for Romney, WTF!?
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Categories: 2008 campaign, Immigration, Tom Tancredo
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Tom who?
I knew it was coming, but I am sorry to see him leave the race.
Thank-you, Tom, for your eye into the storm of immigration malfeasance. I dare say, that hopefully, Tom will run for the Senate seat made available in Colorado. It would be nice to have a sound voice in that part of the legislative body, too.
I do wish that candidates in the same state as Tom finally drop out from the race, as well. It would be nice to see then where the numbers really are within the GOP my guess is that it may go to Thompson or Romney. Doubtful that they will go to McCain or Rudy. I can’t imagine McCain’s numbers going up as they have especially with his attitude towards immigration. but, think that those numbers are skewed to say the least.
the race is on..
How about the next head of the Department of Homeland Security? Maybe in the next Republican administration?
I always liked Tancredo.
If not the Senate, at least head up DHS or INS in a Republican Administration.
VP maybe
Tancredo for V.P.
To mirror uhangtight’s comment, I hope Tom runs for the Senate seat. Tom was my first choice for President, with Hunter second. Neither will get enough air time from our media to be realistic winners. I’m thankful for Tancredo’s continued service and unwavering stance.
Tancredo is a great advocate for us out here who believe in the rule of law. I suspect whomever he backs will pick up that same advocacy.
I am for Fred but I don’t want Tanc to just pick anyone like Gilchrist did with Huckabee without making sure they are truly for a SECURE BORDER and no AMNESTY!
I think Fred is that guy but Mr. Tancredo has to choose. I think whomever is the Republican President should seat him right where Chertoff is today DHS.
Once again, the liberal media chooses all the most liberal republican candidates for us…..the true conservatives are given no face time and their candidacies are short-lived. Wonder when the social conservatives are gonna wake up……………….
and Michelle, you should have endorsed Tancredo, or Hunter for that very reason. You and Laura have the media spotlight and need to USE IT, at least to bring the disparity to light (at Fox and on your other media outlets). Not blaming you…well…come to think of it, I guess I am……
You could’ve and you didn’t……….
sigh……….now I get to pick from someone who was for abortion before he was against it, someone who passed a law muzzling my first amendment rights, a jimmy carter wannabee and some loon from texas…..swell….
Sad to see him drop out of the race. Tancredo and Hunter where the only candidates that truly represented the conservative movement and would have defended our borders and constitution. Maybe his support could help out Hunter or Thompson?
I agree with Michelle. Thanks Tom for taking the fight to the enemy (open border liberals). If he runs for Senate, and wins, that would be the next best thing. We need a real conservative in the Senate as much as in the White House.
Conservatives need to support Fred so he can name Tancredo to a cabinet post. The RINOs won’t use Tancredo in their administration.
A tree fell in the forest and nobody heard it. Jim Gilmore, Tommy Thompson, and now Tom Tancredo will leave the race. The electoral impact is…zero.
Giuliani, McCain, Romney, Thompson, and Huckabee will continue to have adult discussions.
As for Tancredo, he should be a security guard at Guantanamo Bay, making sure Ron Paul does not escape.
Respectfully,
eric http://www.blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com
THE PERFECT STORM:
Usually when one talks about the perfect storm he is discussing a unique weather phenomenon. There is, however, another type of perfect storm and the world is watching it unfold in Europe. This social storm occurs when an out of control cradle-to-grave welfare state meets uncontrolled immigration.
Take for example, Denmark. The Danes embraced liberal socialism in the late 1920s, and created a welfare system where virtually no one had to struggle to survive. Many Europeans saw the Danes as free-thinking, progressive and generous. For decades, Denmark boasted low crime rates, devotion to the environment, a excellent education system and a generosity that extended to anyone regardless of citizenship. As the model socialist welfare state, Denmark provided new immigrants with a financial subsidy and additional support in transportation, housing and education. Denmark was tolerant, inclusive and multicultural. But the storm clouds were brewing.
By the 1990’s, the Danes were forced to come to grips with a growing urban Muslim population that was unwilling to integrate into Danish society. Muslims congregated in exclusive enclaves and increasingly protested the decadence of Denmarks’ liberal way of life. (Notably, while Muslim immigrants constitute about 4% of Denmark’s population of 5.4 million people, they consume 40% of the welfare spending. Muslim leaders harass and attack Jews. Muslim converts to Christianity have been murdered. Even some of Denmark’s elected politicians have been attacked. In a sinister cultural twist, Muslims make up a majority of the nation’s convicted rapists.) Denmark was suddenly faced with a clash of cultures and a looming financial crisis.
Looking at the broad sweep of European history, the Danes had put concerns about human rights ahead of concerns about the Danish nation and its heritage and culture. Suddenly, the question for Denmark, and England, France, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and other European nations was what to do. Liberal socialism was failing. The Danes reacted by electing a more conservative government, and now Denmark has the strictest immigration policies in Europe. To become a Danish citizen, an immigrant must attend three years of language classes, and pass a test on Denmark’s history, culture, and language. An immigrant must also live in Denmark for 7 years before applying for citizenship, and demonstrate an intent to work or have a job waiting. An immigrant bringing a spouse into Denmark must meet an adult age requirement and will not be able to freely bring in the rest of the family. Islamic children have a choice of some 30 Arabic culture and language schools in Denmark, but they are encouraged to assimilate into Danish society. The law prohibits mosques from being built in Copenhagen.
Has any of this quelled the perfect storm? Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it. Islam’s leaders are not about to give up the beachhead they have established on the territory of the crusaders, and Islam’s followers are aggressive and often violent in defending their right not to assimilate. (Frankly, the legal restrictions on immigration are more in the nature of accommodation and control rather than confrontation. Looking closely at the Danish approach, it does not actually stop immigration. It merely places some limits on obtaining citizenship. The role of enforcing immigration law falls on a police force that operates in an open liberal society that does not enforce its borders.)
Europe’s attempts to grapple with uncontrolled immigration and self-alienating immigrants provides a good lesson for America. American politicians are constantly creating new welfare benefits with little or no restrictions as to who can use them. For example, Virginia’s Governor Kaine (D) supports tuition breaks for the children of illegal aliens, even though this comes at the expense of Virginia taxpayers and the educational opportunities for children of Virginia’s citizens. The Congress has recently gutted the funding and requirements associated with the Southern border fence. It appears that America’s leaders have not learned that appeasement is dangerous and potentially ruinous. To some extent, America is fortunate. The uncontrolled immigrants who come here have at least a similar religious heritage. Nevertheless, the perfect storm is on the way, and the lessons from Europe’s Islamic problem had best be examined, understood and acted upon.
Tancredo needs to be in a leadership position in the House. I’d love to see him be the minority leader and constantly rail on Pelosi.
Hopefully he’ll get a cabinet level position.
I would love to see Tom as the DHS head. He would actually do something that lettuce head Chertoff refuses to do, protect or borders while enforcing the immigration laws on the books. Wouldn’t that be a novel idea?
Best of luck to Tom. I’ve met him, and heard him speak several times over the years. Usually, at the Memorial Day ceremonies, at Ft Logan National Cemetery. The guy isn’t just a steadfast protector of our boarders, but a strong, true conservative. That’ why he never had a prayer running for president. He’s not a liberal disguised as a conservative. Like most republicans in government these days.
Tom, has a solid base of support in the district he represents, but the race for the Senate in the third district would be a tough fight for him. That district includes the heavily hispanic southeast, and very liberal mountain resorts and western slope. It is mostly rural, and somewhat conservative, but his stands on immigration would probably not serve him well in Pueblo, and the San Luis Valley. Although, I’m sure he would win Colorado Springs, southern Denver suburbs, and the farmers and ranchers.
Tancredo would give John Salazar a good race, but I don’t know if he can beat Salazar. I guess we’ll see, because I do think he is planning on running for the Senate.
Tom Tancredo…
hyphenatedAmerican.I loved how Tancredo was the only person to say that the threat of nuking Mecca and Medina is a reasonable deterrent to terrorists doing something here. The number of liberal whose heads popped was staggering.
Yeah, We need him in Congress. He knows how to talk up. He also knows how important his ideas are.
Indeed . . .did you view the Video of dissent depicting the protest at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the occasion of the signing of the “Charter of Fundamental Rights”? The protesters held up banners and chanted “Referendum! Referendum!”
The initial video posted at YouTube was pulled .. .but backups immediately reposted it.
I am saddened that Tancredo is pulling out. He was my first choice candidate for ‘08. I wish him well.
As others have mentioned above, Tancredo would make a great VP, or replacement for Chertoff.
Perhaps conservative ‘powers that be’ are paying attention.
Threatening to Nuke Mecca and Medina is irresponsible, and frankly, insane.
The goal is to kill all the terrorists, not all Muslims.
If somebody threatened to blow up Jerusalem, it would be just as awful.
Respectfully,
eric aka the Tygrrrr Express
I hope that bigger things await Tom. We need more people like him who stand up for what the believe, regardless of the consequences.
I will not follow. As a Tancredo financial supporter I have been very disappointed in his campaign. He did not communicate to his based, sure he talked to it a lot, and exploited the hell out of it. His internet folks just don’t get it. His effect would have been much the greater if he had a second killer plank. For instance, an energy plank that would make America a net exporter of equivalent $30 oil, provide all our gas and jet fuel needs, enable free college for those who so merit, paid up Social Security for all, and free medical benefits/coverage. Would that have gotten him elected. You bet. But impossible to get past his fire wall to let him know how.
It’s not insane for a congressman to suggest it. It’s not like he could have given the order anyway. And it’s no more insane than threating to wipe the entire U.S.S.R off the map.
How would we go about doing that? Seriously I want to know and get on this at the ground level.
I sent him money early on…but no regrets as he,Buchanon,Malkin , all helped bring this subject of open border anarchy to the forefront…..I am disturbed by McCains rise….wonder if it is corporate based,mainstream media PR campaign to further their own open border agenda…I said it before and I’ll say it again…I wouldn’t vote for him even if they waterboarded me!!!
Endorsing Romney? dang. Shakes head.
Darn. My first choice candidate is dropping out. Where to go from here?
Hopefully this puts Mitt ahead of Huck for good. I wonder if he thought about someone else (Hunter, maybe Thompson) but thought endorsing Mitt was the best way to prevent an open borders fiasco that would happen with Huck.
Big deal. The guy in last place endorses the plastic Romney bobble-head conservative politicians character.
Supporting “Shamnesty State” Romeny! Tancredo’s lost all credibility with me!
there may be many reasons that tancredo endorses romney, that we may never know about. thompson lovers seem to think he is the true conservative. i can’t see that he is any different than any of the others (excluding huck the schmuck). and, too, it maybe that he and romney have ‘a deal’ that tancredo be appointed to a position that would ensure border enforcement. One can only guess.
Now, if and when Hunter drops and backs Romney and Romney chooses Hunter as his VP, well one can dream …
i am waiting…
hey reagan’s legacy is amnesty, let us not forget the great conservative of our generation.
and, where is the proof that the under Romney his state was a shamnesty state? Lest we forget, cities and local communities do govern themselves. unless you pass a state law like arizona and oklahoma. but, that wasn’t going to happen with a democrat controlled state legislature..
I’m very very sorry to see Tanc go. He was never to be a truly viable candidate, he had one issue and one issue only. Granted it is a very important issue and one that may well be THE most important issue, but it was still just one issue. As a result, he served more as a goad to push the other candidates in the right direction. He would serve very well as the head of DHS. God only knows it needs someone like him to clean house. I truly thank Tom for his candidacy. Had he not entered the race, the other candidates would have not made immigration the issue it has been.
That said, I have to ask: ROMNEY? Have you gone off your nut Tom? Seriously, have you gone freakin BONKERS!? The only three candidates worse on immigration in the race were McCain, RuPaul and Giulliani! ANYBODY ELSE would have been a better person to endorse. Why not Fred? or Duncan Hunter? Or even god forbid, the lying sack of caca Huckster? Both are far closer to your positions than Romney is. And Romney is the guy that claims to have had NRA endorsements while the NRA says not in a million years would they endorse the freakin idiot. He’s from freakin Massachusetts for crying out loud! He has no concept of the Second amendment. This is the guy that had illegals mowing his freakin lawn on TV!
Michelle, you hold a lot of sway amongst the blogosphere, and Conservatives. Frank J. endorsed Thompson, Rick Moran endorsed Thompson, I endorsed Thompson, Jay from Stop the ACLU endorsed Thompson. You know he’s the best man in the race. Help build Fredmentum and just ENDORSE.
Would my endoresement help
This is a BIG endorsement for Mitt! He is now the clear anti-illegal immigration candidate. Who is left that can get votes from ALL types of conservatives…fiscal, defense, and social? Mitt is the man!
#31 (from me, Taylork
Now from the Politico
Dang I’m good.
He threw his support to someone who can win and thats what we need to do.
Exactly!!!…and the sooner the better.
Thank you Tom for bringing this invasion crisis to the forefront. It’s now a very important issue in the presidential election, right where it should be.
I’m sure no matter what he decides to do in the future it will be at the service of the country he loves.
Now the same people who marginalized Tancredo are sorry to see him go? Figures.
If those who style themselves “conservatives” and believers in the rule of law would have actually put some effort into supporting Tancredo — as they now could with Hunter, but won’t — he might have been more than an also-ran.
Let’s not forget that Tancredo — like Hunter — was in the vanguard of the attempts to get Jorge Boosh to free Ramos and Compean.
And we can see how much that effort didn’t resonate with the people who should have been there.
The most vocal supporters of Islam have threatened to destroy Western civilization, including Europe, the USA, and Israel. Tancredo’s threatening to destroy Medina and Mecca is a clear reminder to the theocratic barbarians of Islam that destruction goes both ways.
At some point, and Europe will probably be the canary in the mine of Western civilization, Islam will have to be confronted and suppressed. Exactly what situation will cause this to happen is yet to fully unfold. However, I would remind everyone here that Churchill warned Europe about Hitler and was called just about everything in the liberal appeasement playbook before reality set in. Is Tancredo Chruchill - no, but the situation is always different and you never know who the hero will be who sounded the call loud and clear for all to hear.
I have the utmost respect for Tom Tancredo, but his endorsment of Romney, if true, is a real disappointment. I have heard a couple of interviews of Romney in the last few days, and his position on illegal immigration is essentially one of amnesty when you take away all the legalities and flowery language. When asked if he would pardon Ramos and Compean, he beat around the bush (no pun intended) for almost five minutes. If he is elected, we will have to exert the same pressure that we did during the summer to get positive results, and he will be dragged kicking and screaming.
#41 I don’t know what people up in your neck of the woods have been smoking, but I can tell you this, Romney will NOT carry Texas. Count on it.
Wow, he endorsed Romney? How bizarre and disappointing. Now I’m doubly-glad he dropped out.
The other half of my gladness, of course, is that more conservatives can fall in line behind Thompson.
Mr Scribbler, I’m sorry to see him go because it takes the pressure off the other candidates that have a broader set of issues to address. Now the mantle of “the immigration candidate” falls to either Hunter or Thompson. I like both of them a lot. Thompson is in a better position than Hunter to win the nomination, but neither are kicking asses and taking names right now. The field is still too polluted with Giulliani and the Romney and McCain the two Hucksters (both the one from Arkansas and the one from Texas. God I am ashamed to say RuPaul is from Texas.). The field is too fragmented and fractured to coalesce into a solid campaign yet.
It sounds like there’s a position waiting for Tancredo in Romney’s administration. I’m shocked at his endorsement. It’s almost as bad as Gilchrist’s endorsement of Huckabee. I don’t have anything against Romney except his flip-flops so I’m not sure he can be trusted to govern as a conservative anymore than Bush did.
I really expected Tancredo to endorse Thompson. I don’t get this at all.
orlandocajun
Mitt is ranked higher than Fred for his strong anti-illegal immigrant RECORD by most anti-illegal immigrant groups.
Maybe Tancredo’s dad marched with MLK and Mitt’s dad.
/sarc
Davenp35
“Mitt is ranked higher than Fred for his strong anti-illegal immigrant RECORD by most anti-illegal immigrant groups.”
NumbersUSA ranked Fred just behind Tancredo and Hunter. Their ranking is the one that I trust. Nevertheless, Mitt would be my second choice behind Fred for the nomination.
It is snowing like crazy…
the majority of buses running were
‘OUT of SERVICE’
I just walked in w/ soaking wet feet
from a day that went nowhere to THIS!!
NO!
Thompson/Hunter
where is fred’s immigration ‘record’? i do not see his record of performance on immigration from his past. i do know what he is saying, now, but that doesn’t mean anything to me. is romney the best for immigration, maybe not, but thompson is going to be out of the race by the time it gets to South Carolina. By that time it will be a two man Race…let’s just hope it isn’t huck the schmuck who has the same opinion on immigration as Hitlery
I am sad to see Tom go so early, it would have been good if he could have hung on till a few of the early primaries were over so as to keep the issue in the forefront.
Having said that, I hope, no I believe, that we have not heard the last from him…
I wonder if Tancredo saw the Romney Debacle on Meet The Press?
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/12/16/romney-on-meet-the-press-gun-rightsimmigration-positions-under-fire/
Tancredo should have denounced Romney on his way out.
I’m really disappointed by Tancredo’s endorsement of Romney don’t understand why he went with the leading RINO. Go Thompson/Hunter the only two conservatives left in the field.
Oh my! These poor folks are in danger of having to work to support themselves!
How could this be in such an affluent society?
It must be a right wing conspiracy… I blame Bush!
Oh my bad… I thought I was on the Katrina post. darn.
What a waste. Border security could be the winning-est issue for the GOP in 2008, especially predicated on the Dems attempts to dissect the (already weak) border fence.
You already know what Clinton/Obama’s response will be when Romney promises border security: what, so your landscaping company won’t have employees? So now you’re against sanctuary policies?
Romney’s wrong on my 3 top issues: immigration, 2nd amendment, and nanny-state policies.
For that matter, so are Huck, McCain and Rudy. Maybe Fred’s not the prettiest or most charismatic fellow, but he’s better for me than the rest.
If the choice is Huck/McCain/Romney/Giuliani, please tell me why I should vote for the GOP, or even vote in 2008? The GOP Congress has already showed us their commitment to conservative principles- short of a few senators and a small, dedicated caucus, the GOP is just Democrat-lite.
I just don’t see why Tancredo made this decision. Sacrificing the anchor of principle for a fair breeze candidate will mean nothing in a storm.
In reading these and many other comments on Michelle’s site, I’ve come to a conclusion that there’s still a number of people out there who feel like both parties have abandoned them because many of us continue to stand firm for that quaint old-fashioned idea of principle. Since I’m one of those people, I know I’m not going to get a whole lot farther in politics than I am but at least I sleep soundly at night.
This is why Tancredo’s move surprises and disappoints me. If you look at where Romney stands on immigration, it doesn’t seem to match up with where Tancredo stood. And given this article’s reference to Tancredo’s stellar ACU ratings, it doesn’t make sense that he’s endorsing a governor who mandated everyone in his state carry health insurance, among other big-government ideas.
Tancredo’s fallen victim to the “lesser of evils” syndrome. He thinks that Romney is the candidate who can win because the conventional wisdom is that the pro-amnesty Mike Huckabee and John McCain are gaining momentum at Romney’s expense and Tom’s endorsement is an attempt to combat that. But as far as the base of Tancredo voters goes, can they really support Mitt Romney when there’s much more conservative alternatives out there like Duncan Hunter or Fred Thompson? It’s the party regulars who vote in the primaries, and for the GOP those people probably see issues the way a Duncan Hunter or a Fred Thompson do, not necessarily how Mitt Romney does.
I look at it this way - while the GOP establishment here in Maryland backs Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani, the grassroot voters mainly look for candidates who are more conservative. My choice is Duncan Hunter, but others like Fred Thompson. Moreover, the media doesn’t cast a vote, we do. (Like most of them really want to help the Republican cause anyway.) And going against principle as Tancredo appears to be doing could negatively impact him in future races, something we’ll have to look for.
All I want from Tom Tancredo is a good reason.
Michael Swartz
http://www.monoblogue.us
Push aside all the rhetorical whirl, shelve the starched shirts, listening to all these blowhard dolts makes my head hurt.
I like Ron Paul, he’s fairly easy to know.
The President, not to be confused with Geena Davis, has proclaimed ethanol to be one of the king pins of American’s energy strategy. This is nothing but sand where Bush can put his head. Not too long ago Penn and Teller featured a hungry world on their cable T.V. show. We can only feed two thirds of the world while one third starves. So is using our valuable agriculture to grow gas using this resource to it’s highest purpose. I think not: that’s 69 million acres or 4.5 corn fields the size of Texas. Can you see how Bush’s guest worker program might fit in here.
One thing we do have a hell of a lot, and not eatable, is coal. The U.S. has more coal than any other country in the world. It’s a resource used in a process called Fisher-Tropfsch and produces gasoline or jet fuel (synthesize the “coal gas”/methane into liquid hydrocarbon fuels). The forward looking governor of Montana, Brian Schweitzer, thinks his state could environmentally safe produce total United States gasoline needs for the next forty years (proof not all our elected official are bought and paid for).
If we were to construct fifteen Fisher-Tropfsch fuel refineries 1,built on strategically located previously closed military bases, we could provide free medical, payed up social security retirement, and a free college education for those who so merit from the profits rendered by our National Energy Foundation. Screw capitalism and big oil, and provide the research and development revenues for the second silver bullet, $30 per barrel shale oil. That’s 1.3 trillion barrels of shale oil or about three times Saudi’s reserves2.
The Fisher-Tropfsch projects will cost in the thirty billion dollar range (Oh, wow! That’s six and a half months cost of the war in Iraq). And who has that kind of money other than big oil, whom I would never again put in a position of trust, is us, the people (the first law of the free market is not supply and demand but charge what the market will bear and that is as close to market price as you’ll ever get). So let’s not get screwed as is the tradition by capitalist. Let’s screw the capitalist, do this ourselves and out-source the corporations. The historic captains of capitalism knew to first gain an unfair advantage and then make that unfair advantage the law. Why do we not see big oil clambering to develop Fisher-Tropfsch fuel refineries. Because they have an unfair advantage and they have made it the law. You don’t believe that, try building a refinery in your back yard. You might think it belongs to a Kennedy.
(Reuters, Tehran, 8/28/06) “Iran has shrugged off the threat of sanctions, (because of continuing uranium enrichment) saying such a move would propel already high oil prices higher still, hurting economies in industrialized countries more than Iran”. What will it take for this do nothing Senate and block head President to act on the Fisher-Tropfsch Silver Bullet Solution (there is some hope for the House but it can not act alone…only the courts can).
1 These refineries would daily produce 375 million gallons of gas for various civilian needs, 54 million gallons of commercial jet fuel, 20 million gallons of military gas, and perhaps 16 million gallons of military jet fuel.
2 Can you now see why our Senate has been bought and paid for. The House has 435 members and somewhat more of a problem to buy but still many have so been acquired.
Yeah, just ask Don Black.
What the Tancredo supporters, like most activists, fail to understand, is that constantly talking to those who agree with them is not the same as popular support.
Virtually every Tancredo supporter is on this message board. Outside of this message board, he is an asterisk. 98% of republicans liked somebody better than him.
In the same way global warming activists cannot understand why others do not share their passion, Tancredo never tried to expand his message beyond those that do not live and breathe the illegal immigration issue.
The Mexicans did not cause 9/11. Tancredo never connected the dots as to why illegal immigration was a national security threat.
He is gone, and will be as memorable as Morrie Taylor, Patricia Schroeder, and every other gadfly that confused loud support from few with popular support from many.
eric aka the Tygrrrr Express
blacktygrrrr
Your analysis is so out there I can only say did you miss your medication today?
Tom Tancredo is a great American and was one of the only conservatives that was running for President.
That comment is so insane all I can say is do you live on this planet?
I live in Southern California and have watched it turn into a third world country shit hole because of illegal immigration.
Where have you been hiding out?
Sadly, we will have to vote for the lesser of two evils again this election now that Tom Tancredo has dropped out.
Tom Tancredo’s exit is a blow to American future in general and this presidential race in particular. Among all Tom is the most patriotic and stands tall among his peers. Those of us who have folled Tom for years and have read his book ‘In Mortal Danger’ feel this is the biggest lost to America. That American people could not stand behind this patriotic statesman, is a reflection on the confusion and de-moralized American electorate. Now what American people get is their own undoing. As they say, in a democracy people get the government they deserve.
Good Luck, America.
I also live in Southern California, and the weather here is gorgeous, the view from my highrise condo is pleasant, and the jacuzzi water is perfect.
I guess I am too happy to spend my time frothing at the mouth like a rabid dog over things that don’t enrage me.
Before all the illegal immigration people get worked up, I could be talking about global warming, animal rights activists, or any other group of people that is so obsessed with an issue that they denigrate anyone who dares not to be obsessed with it as well.
The Canadian border is where terrorists are sneaking in…Buffalo anyone?
Mexico gets the attention…I wonder why?
Tancredoism anyone?
The 2% who backed him think the 98% who didn’t are crackpots…sounds like Ron Paul syndrome to me.
Respectfully,
eric aka the Tygrrrr Express