A Thompson operative in Georgia moves to Romney
For what it’s worth, via the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Fred defections have begun (hat tip – reader Rosebud):
The Fred Thompson lifeboat in Georgia just a little lighter.
Senate President pro tem Eric Johnson of Savannah, the ranking Republican in that chamber and one of the leaders of the draft-Fred movement last year, is switching to presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Johnson said he’s got no special knowledge of whether Thompson, who finished third in South Carolina on Saturday, will be pulling out of the Republican contest.
“I don’t know if he’s pulling out today or tomorrow or not at all,” Johnson told us from Savannah. “But clearly Fred Thompson is not going to be the nominee.”
Expect more defections. “All of the campaigns are reaching out to the Thompson people,” the senator said.
Allah’s got a poll asking: “Would a McCain/Thompson ticket make you more likely to vote for McCain?”
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Categories: Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney
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Ouch, that’s going to leave a mark.
USA is going to be a lot worse off if Fred gets out. He is the only person who is a ‘c’. My wonderful country is going down the tubes.
L
And this is why my oldest wants to move to Austrailia. Mind you socialism growing there too, but at least she can still have an honest brawl between folks over there as Russel Crowe has shown us.
In the meantime, if Fred doesn’t get the nomination, I’ll be hiding in my bunker praying for the Rapture, thank you….
He won’t be the nominee, (too bad) But I’ll take a Romney/Thompson ticket in a heartbeat.
I’ve changed my mind on McCain, I was a “hold my nose” person, now I’ll never support a ticket that McCain is on.
If the country is gonna be destroyed, let Hillary and the Democrats take the rightful blame for it.
After all of the wonderful endorsements this man has received as of late it is sad to see reporting on ‘defectors’. Until Thompson makes that statement of withdrawal, valid supporters should never think of ‘bailing’. Phfffffttttt to Eric Johnson. I will remember his name should he ever seek some office worthy of my vote.
as far as a mccain/thompson, hell no. if thompson is truly a conservative he will NOT endorse nor would he run alongside McPain. i know many of you fred heads think he is the one true conservative, but as a conservative he would steer clear of the McPain.
truly the end of the conservative movement if McPain wins nomination.
Problem with Allah’s poll is it seems to be geared to the general election. I’ll probably show up to vote against Hillary, even if McCainger is the nominee, regardless of whether Fred is his running mate.
But if Fred drops out and throws his support to McCain, it won’t make me any more likely to vote for McCain in the primary.
Go Mitt!
Stay in Fred!
We can do this!
good bye super tuesday, who could hang a name on you…
Fred is a good conservative, but he sn’t going to be the nominee. The longer it takes Fred holdouts to come over and support Romney, the greater the likelihood of a McAmnesty nomination.
Fred Thompson in Trouble: Are All Other Republicans as Well?
——————————————————————————–
By JB Williams
Jan 21, 2008
Fred Thompson was drafted by the conservative base of the Republican Party for two very simple reasons. One, the Republican National Committee offered no other viable conservative choice and two, only a true traditional conservative can challenge today’s Democratic Socialists. Thompson was not planning on running for an office he never aspired to hold. He was asked to put his personal life on hold, and answer the call to serve his fellow conservatives in desperate need of real conservative leadership.
Fred Thompson in Trouble (Image: Wenn)
Thompson didn’t enter the race late. The other eight eager beavers entered the race a year early, throwing the nomination process into a confusing tailspin and the nation into unwanted perpetual campaign mode. Those who claim Thompson’s late entry cost him the nomination need to answer why the early “front-runner” Rudy Giuliani, is in worse shape than Thompson in the polls?
No conservative including Thompson, had any chance of winning in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan or Nevada, all heavily liberal, which delivered three different winners in four primaries. So Thompson bet his farm on South Carolina, where conservative candidates normally do best.
But Thompson finished a distant 3rd instead of 1st or even 2nd, after pundits had been painting Thompson as “lazy” – “no fire” – “slow” and “disinterested” since the day he announced his campaign. And now, Thompson’s campaign is in real trouble coming out of South Carolina a distant 3rd.
But, every Republican emerges from South Carolina in trouble. John McCain thinks he emerged from South Carolina a victor. But what did he win? McCain won South Carolina the same way he won New Hampshire, with Independent votes, not Republican votes. So what did he win and how can he turn that into a national victory in November?
The answer is – he can’t turn it into a national victory in November, no matter how much he tells himself he can. He’s simply running on ego, ignoring an overtly obvious reality.
NO Republican can win in November without the support of the Republican base of the party. And none of the new front-runners, McCain, Romney, or Huckabee will enter November with the base of their party intact. Thompson is the only Republican candidate who can bring all Republicans into the voting booth in November, yet too many Republicans choose to ignore this reality.
Only one candidate consistently wins the conservative vote in every state he competes in…Mitt Romney!
Bummer. I think I’ll still write in Fred’s name, if The Huckster or McPain gets the nomination. That way I will have voted my conscience, and as another poster said, better to have the country suffer under a DemocRAT and them get the blame than suffer under a RINO liberal wolf in sheep’s clothing.
My country has been going down a socialist road for some time now. At least we had a good detour under Reagan even if we didn’t get back on track for long.
If the American people still read and understood the Constitution, there’s no way someone like McVain or Huckleberry could even be considered for the nomination and the Presidency, much less any of the socialists running as DemocRATs.
If and/or when Fred drops out I hope he doesn’t throw his support and delegates behind his good friend McCain.
You know, just check the comments on pretty much every news article about Fred Thompson. His support doesn’t seem to be drying out at all.
We’ve had 6 electoral events with 3 different front runners. We’ve allocated a grand total of 156 delegates, and it takes 1191 to win… with the last event in JUNE.
Fred’s campaign manager in TN has said the latest round of “considering dropping out” rumors are 100% media fabricated… AGAIN.
I see zero reason why Fred should be counted out from being able to win it all.
Like I’ve stated before, start burying your money in the backyard.
I still in the “I’d rather be waterboarded” category.
On balance,everybody is better served if Fred stays in the race….rank and file Republicans,the GOP as a whole,and not least the entire ongoing field of candidates…if only to keep the rest of them intellectually honest and to contrast the higher tone of the Republican campaign with that of the Clintons….thereby giving whoever our nominee ultimately is the high road by default going into the fall campaign….Fred’s continuing to vie for the nomination on the same retail basis he has employed so far will serve to ensure all of that
If Fred Thompson could not win in South Carolina where can he make a stand. No other state was more perfect for him and he came in a distant 3rd.
In Florida it is race between Rudy McCain and Mitt. If McCain or Mitt wins Florida they will be the nominee. If Rudy wins I expect it to be a delegate hunt on Super Tues. with a 50/50 chance of a brokered convention.
Also to reiterate a point I made several times. I will not vote for McCain. Rudy I would hold my nose and vote for him while a little piece of my soul dies. Mitt I will proudly vote for him.
Where did we get this insane notion that candidates have to “make a stand or quit” in any single state? What happened to running the campaign… the whole campaign… on the issues, and then seeing who’s won the most delegates overall?
Why do we allow ourselves to be swept up in this media meme that “momentum” should somehow have ANY influence over voting for the BEST candidate?
I’m sorry, Fred was the best candidate when he didn’t win in Iowa, and he’ll still be the best candidate when he doesn’t win in CA (too many Paul-bots), but I’m still going to vote for him here.
This is so media driven.. gad I despise the mainstream media in the country – it’s the most vile, biased, unethical den of soulless snakes imaginable.
If we could get the “illegals’ and all their supporters marching in the streets waving the Mexican flags again, FDT would perhaps have a chance. Not that the immigration issue is his only strong suit, but it is a major issue where he differs from most of the others. But I suspect the Progressive/Socialists have sent the message to LaRaza and the other pro-illegal groups to keep their minions “in the shadows” awhile longer until the Dems can get hold of the White House. Come to think of it, McCain’s people have probably sent the same message to those groups also. Can’t hurt to cover all the bases.
Wow, I never did trust poll’s, MSM’s and I still don’t. I don’t think a few State’s constitute’s a winner or loser at this time, now when you get about half way down the road then I could say you can pick a winner for the GOP. For myself I’ll wait till Fred say’s I withdraw to count him out otherwise I’ll take the wait and see position. When did it get to the point that people’s position’s come thru a 7 year old’s perspective that every year’s World Series Champ or the NFL Super Bowl Champ was there favorite until the next year when some other team won and that was there favorite. Baaahhhh how annoying that it has’nt come down to conservitive ideology instead of a popularity contest. and by the way I like the Royal’s, Chiefs, Eagles since about the age of 7 and have never waivered from them as crappy as they’ve been in the past or present.
Fred-heads fret not. Romney’s appeal is only skin deep, inside the perfect exterior he’s just another rich successful businessman creep. Big difference between this and what makes for a good leader.
Considering the number of elite, rich, successful business folks who’ve sought high office, I can’t identify any who left a positive legacy without vastly enriching themselves and their friends. Jay Rockefeller, John Corzine, Harry Reid come to mind. When public service has such big pay offs, why do they continue to call it public service? That is unless it literally translates into the public servicing these goof balls…
No. Because everyone knows the VP does not govern the country (only if the president dies). Look at our current VP, Cheney. When was the last time you even saw the guy? Remember Algore? How often did you see/hear him during the Clinton administration?
It’s a non-issue. Now if it’s was Thompson/McCain, I might take another look.
If it’s Romney/Thompson, then I’m definitely looking!
I heard on Brit Hume tonight that Fred has pulled out of the debate this week. Don’t know if that is true. If so, I am sorry he did as I really like the guy and what he says.
I do hope he does not support McCain just because they were in the Senate together. If he does I will lose a lot of respect for Thompson.
Fred Heads, get over it!
A man that understands capitolism like Gov romney does is as good as a conservative.
Romney is the man of the day. Now all he needs is Ducan Hunter as VP who happens to be young enough to inherit the potusa…
While pondering yet another example of the media throwing dirt on a not-yet-declared dead candidate the following random rumination occurred:
If Teddy Kennedy passes for what may be called “Intelligent life form,” how may I ask can we not agree that there MUST be extraterrestrial life on other planets?
For the love of humankind and all things good in this universe, we aren’t alone.
We can try harder…..
http://blogsforfredthompson.com/urgent-send-your-emails-fred-telling-him-you-want-him-president#comment-2070
I support Fred Thompson and think he would make a good President. He is not a Saint, particularly disturbing for me was his association with the Haitian maniac Aristide. The argument that McCain or Giuliani are weak candidates because they have appeal outside the Republican base is irrational. My hope is that we can get the strongest candidate who will fight the war, shrink the government, secure the borders, encourage talented legal immigrants and appoint judges or justices who believe the legislature should do the legislating. That is the strongest candidate who can do as much of that as possible by winning the actual election in November. Fred would have been the best at these. Hunter and Tancredo are also good men. As Classical Liberals, that is Republicans, we are supposed to believe in the market. Well the market isn’t giving the answers we like. We can complain about process and mutter about conspiracies while threatening to pick up our marbles and go hide in cave or we can leave the temper tantrums to the extremists of the left (many Democrats unfortunately) and the right (Ron Paul’s crowd) and get to work. Any questions?
A very interesting article about the voting…. http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24560
Only woefully uninformed “conservatives” would vote for the liberal Romney.
No conservative would ever be elected Gov. of MA.
No conservative would appoint 64% democrats to the bench.
No conservative would raise “fees” and spending in an already overtaxed state.
No conservative would support the Brady Bill or would want to ban certain dangerous-looking guns.
No conservative would raise their hand to agree with Gorebull Warming.
Romney (Dec 2007, MTP): “My own view is consistent with what you saw in the Lowell Sun, that those people who had come here illegally and are in this country–the 12 million or so that are here illegally–should be able to stay sign up for permanent residency or citizenship,”
Ya know, I keep waiting for the Romney and McCain supporters to answer the charges against their boys.
All we ever hear is crickets chirping.
I keep waiting for NBF to quit trolling around telling lies about how Romney would govern and all I hear is crickets chirping.
Now I know you’re not actually a conservative. Why the class warfare?
It’s a shame, when you consider that Republicans have not even had a chance to make their preferences known yet, what with all these open primaries and caucuses. I hope Fred hangs in there, he is the best conservative of the bunch.
Devenp35 proves my point. He’s got nothing.
Mitt’s record is not a “lie about how he would govern”. Mitt’s record is the most accurate indicator of his future.
Do you disagree with any of the points I’ve brought up?
I guess NBF knows more about Mitt than Ann Coulter.
Talk show host Mark Levin just stated that he “knows Senator Thompson’s mother is gravely ill.” He further stated he does not know anything about whether the Senator will or will not continue in the race.
All of them actually because they aren’t bourne out of logic. I didn’t respond with specifics because I think most other people know you don’t know what you’re talking about as evidenced by all the polls I have seen saying if Fred pulls out, the majority of his backers would support Romney. Most of what Mitt has changed on position wise happened years age. Was Reagan not pro-choice originally? Who would govern most in the mold of a good conservative between Romney, Huckabee, McCain, Obama, and Clinton? The choice could not possibly be more clear.
Fred Thompson’s campaign has reached the end of the road. If Thompson stays in the race after tomorrow, it will be a result of (1) his ego or (2) a backdoor deal with McCain.
For the sake of conservatism in America, the man should gracefully bow out. Now.
Romney/Thompson is the only way I’d vote that way.
And McCain will never get my vote – if Fred! endroses him, then I’l consider it the ultimate backstab.
Sorry to hear that. We need to keep things in perspective.
#42 – you missed one other possibility.
Many of us have called and emailed and faxzed Fred to stay in at least through 5 Feb. This way he can gain the Tenn delegates (favorite son)and pick up percentage based ones in GA, MISS, Louisiana and other places. This give him powerful bargaining chips.
And he can also stay as a clear and loud voice for traditional full-spectrum conservatives in the debates.
Will he win? Probably not. But if he can push romney, McCain or whoever to the right, then thats good enough reason to stay in, as is knocking out the despicable Huckabee.
Ditto!
Ordinary Coloradan,
If you think Fred Thompson will “push” a future President John McCain to the right, then you are overly optimistic.
John McCain voted against Bush’s tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. McCain-Feingold. McCain-Kennedy. Any of these ring a bell? Do you really think Fred Thompson’s candidacy can somehow magically change John McCain’s decades-long habit of pandering to liberals?
Keep dreaming.
Fred Thompson’s continued presence in the race will only divide the conservative vote and ensure that McCain or Huckabee gets the nomination.
Exactly!
I trust Thompson to veto Shamnesty ‘09, and Mitt if it’s Mitt/Fred or Mitt/Hunter.
Any other combination we have 30 million more permanent “legalized” residents in 2009, followed by 30 million more border crossers to take their place.
The vast majority of Americans want strict law enforcement, attrition by enforcement, and no rewards/benefits for illegal aliens. We shut down the Capitol switchboard last year.
It WAS an important issue last year. Why not now? Personality, not a major issue, is what people vote on, apparently.
How soon we forget.
it is time for Fred to get out. I was so excited about him, then he made no real effort to get out and show us his energy and get our votes. He is an actor, ACT with energy, be a go getter! Don’t give me the stuff about if someone wants to vote for me, they will. I love what Fred stands for (and I hope he really does), but he also is not good at talking and I think people do not want another Bush who says “uhh..” after every few words. Sorry. I was a Fred supporter but I don’t think he is cut out to be Pres. Maybe VP. IF he endorses MCCain, then all my respect for him will be gone. How can a conservative EVER endorse a liberal. I am a Romney supporter now. Just ordered my bumper stickers. With this economy, we need someone who can help us fix it. Also, any conservative who can fool libs to vote for him, as in Mass, is good in my book. I want more clever people like that. After all, the Bible teaches us to be meek as doves and clever like snakes. Too many people forget the clever part and just focus on meek and confuse it for passive. WE need more fighters. That is the only reason I can hold my nose and possibly vote for Rudy as well. He is a fighter.
As you can tell from the comments, too many people don’t know what conservatism is. They say Fred shouldn’t endorse a liberal, then endorse a Planned Parenthood donator, and socialized medicine advocate Mitt Romney.
8 years of Bush and people have forgotten what conservatism means. This, if for no other reason, is why Fred needs to stay in…to educate people on what conservatism is.
NO! Anyone so spineless and void of self-respect as to be John McCain’s running mate is equally unworthy of my vote as the Amnesty-Restrict Free Speech-Buddy-Up-With-Hillary Traitor McCain himself!
It is not irrational to say a republican is weak for appeal outside the party. What is irrational is to call McCain, and to a lessor extaint Rudy, republicans. When a majority or a plurity of your base of support comes from independants or democrats you are a rino or at best a weak republican.
There is one potential plus to a McCain/Thompson ticket. Though I dislike McCain — a RINO if there ever was one — I hate to say it, but I don’t think we would survive eight years in the world’s most stressful job. He’s 72; he’s had multiple cancer surgeries — melanomas, lymph nodes, salivary glands — starting as far back as 1993; he appears to have an enlargement on the left side of his neck. Frankly, he is very lucky to have survived this long.
The good/bad news, of course, is that if McCain doesn’t make it, then Fred would take his place. and depending upon the timing, could be in a position to serve for 8 to 11+ years. Even if McCain doesn’t succumb, Thompson would be in a perfect position to run for president after McCain finishes his term(s). For this reason, I would be happy to see Fred as VP, whichever RINO we get stuck with.
That said, it is still too early for Fred to give up!
Romney-Thompson or Romney-Hunter
MCCain as BAD as Hillary NO Thanks!!!
Unfortunately, Fred (like Rudi) played coy coming in just a little way too long, which I much regret. More and more it looks like there might be another “C” in the big house and socialism will finally be here. I pray ALL Republicans and Conservations will chuck the sour grapes factor and don’t stay home and just hold their noses and stand behind our nominee or simply surrender your wallets and culture to the Dems!
James Greenidge
Queens NY
If anyone feels the need to send a FAX or Email to Fred Thompson, urge him to endorse Mitt Romney so we can have a Romney-Thompson ticket.
Romney-Thompson 2008! The ticket that can sink Hillary.
Romney-Hunter sounds like a very potent ticket to me.
Mitt does not advocate socialized medicine. I’ll look up the Planned Parenthood stuff.
Remember Reagan and even Bush initially appealed to Independents. That’s where presidential elections are won, in the middle. The far right and far left just cancel each other out. I see no combination of Republican candidates, without McCain, that can satisfy that requirement.
Fred is my man. If he was on a McCain ticket, I would vote for that ticket.
I’m a Mitten.
ent~
A little civic lesson:
A VP who became President without benefit of an election can serve no more than 10 year: they can serve the unfulfilled term of their predecesor up to two years and then be elected for 2-4 year terms of their own. If a VP serves more than 2 years (even by a day) of an unfulfilled term, they can only be elected for one additional 4-year term. This is what the 22nd Amendment did (Source).
How I wish we might see 8-10 years of Thompson as President. Alas, I don’t think that will is going to happen. Too many people seem to be chosing what they view as “most electable” over “best of the job as a real conservative”.
flenser~
When you are checking, verify any date of PP donation against the timing of Romney’s change of position. Having known non-politicians who have become anti-abortion after being pro-abortion, I know people can have genuine conversions on the issue. And, unlike some who claim to have never held non-conservative views (like McCain claiming Shamnesty wasn’t Amnesty), Romney justifies his change of position, and I believe his explanation.
~~~
All this being said, if Thompson pulls out, I would hope he’d throw his support to Romney and that we’d get a Romney/Thompson ticket. I think that pairing could take either of the Dem frontrunners.
As much as I like Thompson, he simply doesn’t have the infrastructure to compete competently, and the blame for that can only be laid with one person. Thompson. We’ve seen this for a while now. As it has been said, he should have done much better in South Carolina. He just hasn’t been getting his message out there. The lack of belly fire seems to be true. He just isn’t inspiring enough to draw the voters/supporters in beyond the internet.
If the primaries are still relevant by the time mine rolls around, I might have to go for Romney, just to make sure that Straight Talk doesn’t get it.
Funny.
Yes!
I cannot help wonder what Fred’s qualifications are for running for President in the First Place. We’re hiring a President. If the ad says, “Wanted: Male or female to be executive and commander in chief of the United states of America”, what on his resume would convince anyone to vote for him?
The trouble is we’ve all (meaning the country) gotten into the habit of basing our votes on stump speeches with little regard to experience. Indeed, what experience do any of the Senators have when it comes to executive political leadership and decision making? When does bloviating cut it?
Would anyone here like to pick their candidate and cite that candidate’s tangible accomplishments relevent for the job of President of the United States? Hopefully, we haven’t become a nation of gullible chumps, nodding like bobble-heads whenever someone says something we like to hear, regardless of the critical issue of proven experience.
As far as not voting if someone who “isn’t conservative enough” becomes the R nominee, I’d regard that person as fundementally unpatriotic, prepared to put their own selfish and unrealistically idealistic temper tantums before the good of the nation. Any Republican candidate likely to be nominated is miles more conservative than Hillary or Obama, even the admittedly detestible Senator McCain.
I would vote for Fred in a heartbeat, but never for McCain/Fred. I don’t think Fred would accept Shamnesty either.
Sounds like a winning plan. They are the only remaining candidates, of either party, with the proper plan on illegal immigration. And this is a winning issue across both parties, according to Zogby.
If Thompson doesn’t get on the ticket, I may have to look at a 3rd party candidate. Either that or take a swig from my Pepto-Bismol bottle before voting.
I held my nose in 2006 and voted, but I’m going to have a tough time doing it in 2008.
I’m beginning to think about it like a night at the bar when I was (piggishly) single. How many beers would I have to drink to… abandon my principles and vote for them.
It’s not looking good.
By the way, I meant “I’m going to have a tough time doing it in 2008″ assuming McCain, Romney, Rudy, or Huckster gets the nod.
It’s clear that Thompson should bow out. He should then be followed by a steady run for the door led by other also-rans Romney, McCain, Huckabee and Giuliani.
Let Ron Paul take his rightful place as the Republican standard-bearer.
/sarc
Spot on SilverCat…good post.
Never listen to ‘pundits’ or the media. Make your own decisions & stick to them.
The media is dead
‘The Red Queen’s on her head’
& the pundits are waiting to see which way the wind blows.
NO. Fred’s continued presence in the race will insure that the REAL issues are on the table & being debated.
“DEFY THE SCOFFERS!”
Because negativity is EASY!
but conviction counts for something!
The failure of Republicans to have nominated Fred Thompson ends my association with the Republican Party.
To quote Rush: “Maybe we need a Carter to get a Reagan.” Apparently Republicans must learn the hard way.
You helped do this Ms. Malkin. The articles speaking of how tired he is, and posting the day before Iowa that he was going to bail. You were part of the problem.
From now on I show up at the polls and do a write-in vote. Republicans are now just liberals with an anti-abortion obsession.
No.