A lot of young people, especially if they are fans of hip-hop music, think the best car speakers are the ones with the biggest subsonic boom….

http://www.pinnaclecascade.com/

They’re close… “Thompson is bully” as old T.R. would say.

Last night Fred was Roosevelt-esque, and I mean Teddy “walk-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick” Roosevelt.

I don’t give a rat’s butt if Fred lacks the serpent’s tongue, as long as he continues to think seriously before opening his mouth, and continues to take the BIG-STICK and open a can of whoop___ only when it’s necessary.

Last night, it was necessary. I applaud that performance, and I will also applaud him if he decides to return to a more reserved demeanor until his ire is merited once again.

Last night was the first time I’ve donated to ANY politician’s campaign in ANY race in my admittedly short decade of voting eligibility. He keeps it up, and there will be a second.

governmentdrone said:
He’s ready to show the Republican party voters why he’s the best man for their vote.

Something you have to keep in mind, GD, is Fred’s own evaluation of the importance of a win in South Carolina, which he termed his “firewall”, as being determinative whether he stays in or not -

“There’s no question about it. It could prove at the end of the day that South Carolina is determinative as far as I’m concerned, but we’re not there yet,” he said.
“It’s been about getting to South Carolina the whole time. South Carolina is the gateway to the rest of the country”
“It’s been all about getting here and this has got to be considered my firewall,” he continued. “I’ve got to do very well here if not win here. And, you know, there’s no question about that. And I will stake my ground in South Carolina.”
Yahoo News

I’d like to see him win it, but if he doesn’t it may be the end of the road, by his own estimation.

…

Could be, but I don’t think so.

I think Fred has been crazy like the proverbial fox. Consider this: Fred stayed out as long as he possibly could. Then he basically remained silent until this last debate. Why?, you ask. Maybe it was to leave the field ample time to espouse their views and expose themselves for what they truly are to the conservative base. He had to wait a little while for the Huckster to do it, but do it he did in Iowa.

Once all the other candidate’s cards were on the table, and the conservatives and fence straddlers were wondering if there was a person they could vote for, the real Fred goes to work.

It started in the last debate with the (needed) deconstruction of the Huckster. The rest of the candidates – including McCain – probably won’t need the slapdown in conservative’s eyes that the Huckster so desperately needed. Rudy and Mitt’s records will continue to expose them for the moderate-to-liberal Republicans they are.

Ron Paul is nuttier than a fruitcake – no deconstruction needed.

McCain is an old friend to Fred. It’s hard to bad-mouth your friends, especially when you know their record is unpalatable to the voters you are trying to get in the primaries. Besides, Fred knows that McCain does well early, but just doesn’t play to the Republican party at large.

IMHO, Fred has played it right. His timing is good. He’s ready to show the Republican party voters why he’s the best man for their vote.

Conservatism works every time it’s tried. Fred knows this.

My disappointment is that the evengelicals have a confused idea of what “love” and “compassion” is about. True conservative compassion enables people, it does not make them dependent upon Government.

Fred is starting to make his case and he will be standing come super tuesday.

SheetAnchor said:
after his obviously winning debate performance in South Carolina, it is too late.

I believe the critique that he might have waited too long to “come alive” as he did in this one debate is valid. The question on my mind is if he can sustain the “oomph” beyond that debate. I would hope that he can, but time is running out – he’ll need a win somewhere soon.

There have been 3 primaries to date: Iowa; New Hampshire; and Wyoming. Senator Thompson finished 3rd in one, second in one, and made a strategic decision not to compete in the other, that is, New Hampshire. Strategic decisions not to compete in certain states during primaries is most reasonable.

This commment continues here:

http://sheetanchor.wordpress.com/2008/01/11/too-late/