Fred Thompson withdraws
It’s over:
McLean, VA – Senator Fred Thompson today issued the following statement about his campaign for President:
“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people.”
***
Yesterday, I noted the first of many defections. It’ll be interesting to see where the rest of the Fred operatives scatter.
Speaking of scattering, where will the 12 percent of voters favoring Thompson in Florida go?
Bob Krumm took heat for his post-mortem. Looks like he’s owed some apologies.
I’ll repeat what Fred said in South Carolina after his disappointing showing:
“…we need to deserve to lead. That’s what this is all about. Deserving to lead…We’ll always stand strong. Stand strong.”
***
For what it’s worth to you (not much to me), Thompson supporter Al D’Amato goes to McCain.
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- BobKrumm.com » Pay to stay
- Fred Thompson drops out | The Anchoress
- Fred Thompson out! Keyboard related forehead trauma at all time high amongst bloggers. « Mr. Skulduggery
- Liberty Pundit
- UrbanGrounds » Blog Archive » Fred Thompson Drops out of Race
- The Radio Patriot
- This ain’t Hell, but you can see it from here » Fred’s out
- Neocon News » Better make that casket fit for a Fred
- Fred! Withdraws. Who Do I Support Now? — Pirate’s Cove
- Sierra Faith
- Werner Patels - Ideas and Issues
- Plumb Bob Blog » Fred Bows Out
- House of Eratosthenes
- Neocon News » Thompson continues to light up blogosphere, even in exit
- Church and State
- bows
- Huckabee: The Most Reaganesqe « What Is Your Worldview?
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What?!
I’m somewhat surprised…
This country has missed a great opportunity.
I’m not surprised, but I’m worried. I just hope he doesn’t support McCan’t.
I would die.
That’s too bad.
Perhaps he’ll show up as a VP candidate? A McCain/Thompson, Romney/Thompson or even Huckabee/Thomspon would be okay…
I’m very sad he didn’t go as far as I thought he would.
Hope his mother recovers. And I hope he supports Romney.
Well, this truly makes me sick.
There is no one else to vote for….
May God have mercy on us…..
Man, he didn’t even put any effort into his withdrawl speech.
Noooooo!! There goes the only true conservative in the race. *sigh* I’ll still hold out hope for a Romney/Thompson ticket, and I’ll continue to pray that his mother recovers soon.
Is it at all possible to encourage Fred to back Mitt? What would be the best way to go about that? Is there an email or fax or some other way for us to get his attention?
People are over-emphasizing the role of the VP. Thompson as VP would do about as much as Dick Cheney does now….nada.
Sad day for conservatisim, that’s for darned sure.
According to Geraghty, Fred’s not endorsing anybody, which is good IMO (although I’d cut him slack for endorsing Mitt).
It’s a damn shame, but Fred missed some opportunities early on (starting with his failure to jump in when anticipation of his campaign was at fever pitch), and he never recovered. And sad to say, voters want to be pandered to, which to his credit, he never did.
I’ll pull for Mitt now as the bulwark against McVain or Huckabee. If one of the latter two end up as the nominee, I bet there’s going to be a lot of people wondering why they didn’t give Fred a longer look.
Well…crap.
With Fred out of the race, this may be the first election in my life that I sit out. Particularly if the “Republican” choice is McVain or Huckabee…
…because if we’re going to have a Democrat running the country, it might as well be a declared Democrat.
And I simply can’t bring myself to vote for any Democrat, even the ones who call themselves Republicans.
Much as I like Fred!,I think it was the right thing to do.Hopefully,whoever wins does take council from Fred;and yes,I think the country has benefited from his having been in the race.
Bummer.
I just posted a blog notice myself about this and had these thoughts.
Did he start too late? I don’t think so.
Did he want it bad enough? Not sure, I kind of like the fact he has not planned the last 20 years of his life around running for president some day.
Who will his support go to. I hope not McCain, but what if he does not officially support any candidate?
My hope, I think our best hope, looks to be Romney at this time.
Now we only have rinos in our primaries. I still plan on voting for Fred.
mICHELLE, WHERE’D THE “STATEMENT” COME FROM?
It’s frustrating because I feel he could have continued to gain momentum and possibly win the election… I don’t believe these primaries and caucuses are balanced enough to predict the eventual outcome…
Thank you, Fred Thompson, for both having served our nation as a Senator and your reminding us what conservatives stand for.
…or that he could have won the nomination at least.
Yeah, Fred was the perfect candidate, and had massive support – I have no idea why he dropped out.
And we’d be better off with President Clinton II or President Obama than John McCain.
What are you people smoking?
The enemy… perfect… good… something. Whatever that saying is.
#7 John Ansell hit it just right.
I liked Fred but it just didn’t seem like he was even trying. He could stand up at the debates and his resolution in the face of the globaloney digital question was great, but ideology needs execution.
Well then it is official. We will have a democrat in the white house now. McCan’t, Rommney, Guilliani are all socialists to a large degree.
I am totally sick now. What is left of conservatism seems to be disapearing.
It’s getting scary. There are two major candidates I can’t vote for and the third I have trouble mustering any enthusiasm for. It could be write-in time again.
let’s hope that he can be a goldwater figure, inspiring other conservatives.
Thank you Senator Thompson. I was pulling for you.
Now I am back to “none of the above” again.
With Tancredo, Hunter, and now Thompson out of the race, Mitt is the ONLY chance to defeat Shamnesty ‘09. We have all got to get behind Mitt because of this single issue.
Tax policy and government programs can always be reversed by the next Congress or administration, but if and when up to 30 million illegal aliens are awarded PERMANENT residency and a ‘pathway’ to citizenship, it will be the single biggest transformational mistake this century.
In a single business day, Z visa applicants gain permanent residency with no time for a background check nor health check. And if you think that will ’solve’ the problem, look out for the NEXT 30 million, packing their duffel bags and starting the hike north, to take their places. No fence, no matter how high and wide, will ever stop the flood if we keep offering enticements, rewards, and benefits.
Attrition by enforcement is working; we must let it continue to work before Sahmnesty.
McCain, Huck, or Rudy will give us more of this.
Oh, I forgot Huckabee! That’s a no-go showboat too.
Nuts. I was really looking forward to voting for Sen Thompson in the upcoming primary here in Missouri. None of the candidates are perfect but he was darn close.
I heard somewhere that his mother is ill. That would be hard to deal with on it’s own without a grueling campaign thrown in. I wish him well.
Well, it’s official. I don’t like ANY of the canidates. I could stomache ROmney, but not by much.
Looks like I’ll be voting a Bauer/MacLean ticket this year…
I’m bummed. He was the only guy in the race I cared for. I think I’m sitting out the rest of this BS.
Truly disappointed. I had really hoped that Fred would do better. It seemed to me the fire was never really there, except for that debate where he creamed the Huckster.
I am hoping he will get the VP position. I have no clue who I will vote for now, just who I won’t…McCain or the Huckster.
Fred Thompson turned out to be the biggest disappointment of the 2008 race. Although was there a resounding groundswell of support before he entered the race, he entered the race late and took all the way up to the SC debate before he acted like a real candidate.
Yes, Fred proved to be a DUD. The only thing he really had going for him was an extremely HOT wife. If he trotted her out more often, he would have gotten at least a 10 percentage point boost.
Too bad. We desperately need a conservative in this race.
As of today, I will no longer identify myself as a Republican. I am a conservative. It appears the Republican Party has strayed too far from the conservative principles which attracted me in the first place.
Republican candidates may or may not get my vote, depending on how well they demonstrate allegiance to sound conservative principles. If I find another party which is as conservative as the Republican Party is supposed to be, I will join it.
I am not inclined to cast a vote for anyone on the basis of “at least they’re not a Democrat.”
Well, it didn’t seem like he had much of a chance anyway.
Michelle, you should put up a new poll so we can see what your site’s visitors’ distribution of votes across candidates is now.
Who am I gonna go for now? I think I’m gonna have to reluctantly say Romney. Rudy’s not too bad, but he’s obviously got no chance. Huckabee’s a no. Paul’s a big no. McCain’s a huge no.
Hey, that reminds me… doesn’t McCain’s wife look like and act like a freaking “rhymes-with-witch?”
Your name suits you. Apparently you’ve never heard his wife speak, because she’s probably the most intelligent of the canidate-spouses.
Wow, this makes me sick. I am so disappointed. My son (a Navy officer currently deployed in the War on Terror) says most of his buddies on his ship are disappointed, too. Let’s see…I don’t like the Huckster or McCain…Ron Paul is downright scary…Rudy would probably do okay, but his momentum is tanking (and there’s that pesky matter of his pro-abort/pro-gay marriage thing)…that leaves Romney? I’m going to need some convincing.
Fear not Fred-heads. You are still loved.
I just called a campaign “operative” in SC to do just that. If I hear back and get info, I will post.
Otherwise, watch out for Shamnesty ‘09.
Well, that’s too bad. The only real conservative left in the race has dropped out. Makes me wonder about the Republican party and the Conservative movement nowadays. Seems as though it isn’t really the party of Ronald Reagan anylonger. About all that’s left now are RINO’s
I suppose I’ll just have to hold my nose and vote for Romney now.
none of us conservatives can sit on our butts and whine come Nov. 2008. Write in who you want…yourself maybe…does not matter, but we do have to vote for local, state and fed rep’s. It is most important we regain control of congress.
Now that’s a scary thought losing congress and the WH which we are awfully close to now with Bush…so think before getting all pissy and sitting out the election next yr.
The last conservative has left the race.
I dont know why Fred would back Mitt ? Mitt’s WOT policy is almost the same as Kucinich’s
http://www.mittromney.com/Issues/confronting-radical-jihad
Look for the media to rev up the McCain engines…
The one candidate that both the media and the democrats were truly afraid of in a head to head debate. congrats to the media for not even acknowledging his candidacy because he didn’t enter the foray on their terms. congrats to the democratic party because they now will have a president elected from their party. think the economy is sinking now? wait till socialism 101 goes into effect.
Sadly, this is the culmination of a half hearted, poorly run campaign.
Many people were excited to have Fred join the race myself included he added Federalism to a Federalism lacking GOP field.
There’s just more to running for Pres. than Fedspeak, its a helluva lot of work, organizing and no missed opportunities.
As much as I wanted Fred to come on and get it done, it just wasn’t to be.
Perhaps now Mitt will gain Fred’s votes and zoom to the kind of lead he should have.
Mitt is the hard working, excellent CEO we desperately need to get our fiscal issues in hand, I hope, I believe he’s honest and forthright in the policies he will institute regarding our many other serious issues.
Huckabee and McCain are unacceptable.
Go Mitt!
#44 I wouldn’t look for too much revving from McCain’s engine. Remember he’s a hybrid (RINO)!
Bwahahahahaha.
Well, I’m disappointed. I thought he should have stayed in the race until Super Tuesday. That would have been the first indication of how the Republican Party voted.
I understand he wanted go with money in the bank so his campaign staff would not have to go without pay. It says a lot about the man, caring for his people where others may not.
So, life goes on. Who is left. Lets see, the ex-governor of taxichussetts, hmmmm.. maybe, the ex-mayor of New Pork… hmmmm.. possible.. the Clinton relief pitcher from Arkwhitewater.. hmmm.. naahhh.. and of course the Republican impersonator from open boarders… blah.
On the flip side, I could toss my support behind the Goebals twins.. wonder what type of VP Bubba will make?
Then there is always the brother of a guy, who knows a guy, that is trying to take over Kenya.
And those are our (laughing) conservative choices. Will one be any worse than the other?
The only choice comes down to defense. It is the only dividing issue.
Who will protect this great nation. We know the Dims will not. We think Romney, McCain, and Giuliani will be strong on defense. Their records suggest they will be liberal on many other issues.
If defense of this nation is the only defining issue. I have to support/vote for whoever is nominated.
Today we lost the talent of a great conservative. Hopefully, there will a spot for him in the next administration. For now, conservatives will have to wait another four years.
Tancredo, Hunter and Thompson the 3 I could vote for and not be voting for the least damaging to the country.
Originally there were four candidates that stood for border security and no form of amnesty/rewards of residency: Tancredo, Hunter, Thompson, and Romney, in descending order. We shut down the Capitol switchboard last year on this issue. A Zogby poll, the first to offer all three choices, was overwhelmingly in favor of attrition through enforcement by both Republicans AND Democrats!
It was a winning issue in the general election. This is a giant failure of the candidates to frame this issue in terms of “rewards and benefits” for illegal aliens versus the rule of law.
Defense? Have you checked out the defense budget lately? Have you seen the number of defense facilities we have domestically here and abroad? Have you counted the number of nuclear-tipped missiles we have in North Dakota alone? FYI: over 150 missiles each with a 370 kiloton warhead. Hmmm? I don’t think you need to worry about our Military.
Romney’s Spanish Commercial
They’ll go to Romney. The idiot Al D’Amato notwithstanding, your basic Florida Republican is smarter than old Al, Romney is the only one left with a smidgen of conservatism in him. So, pray for a Guiliani or Romney win in Fla so that the media finally “shuts up” about McCain being the frontrunner. Its getting nauseating.
If you want them to shut up about McCain, Romeny is the one you want to win FL, since it’s Rudy’s goto state. If Romney wins, both of the other two are in for some hurt.
Sorry to see Fred leave the race he will be missed. I guess it will be time to hold my nose and vote for Romney come supper Tuesday. McCain and the Huckster will be disasters as the RINO nominee and Rudy doesn’t stand a chance.
Fred was my conservative choice, and, had he remained in the race, I would have voted for him, but it is time to have a “youthful” presidential AND vice-presidential candidate—a pair we can promote in the 2012/16 elections. I’d prefer a Romney/Hunter or Romney/Tancredo. I agree with many others who would be severely disappointed if Fred supports McCain.
Now it looks like my only option in Nov 2008 is to hold my nose while I cast my vote for the chosen Republican…
Come back Fred. Fred come back…
Glad I didnt fill my ballot out yet and just received a letter in the mail for some defective ballots going out to us here in Ca. mine was one of them if you fold it it breaks at the seam. I have no idea what happens to the ones that were already mailed seeing that I got it a week ago.
Sorry Fred didnt get enough support, I liked his Ideas and principals.
I totally agree with #53. As I said in another post, I already voted today (in Florida) for Romney.
I want to see McCain squashed by real Republicans without his cushion of Independent voters. I want the media to shut up the facade of support for McCain or Huckabee—no Republican paying attention last summer/fall would vote for McCain–no way. I believe that McCain is the Trojan Horse of the GOP–as all RINOs are.
Still hoping for Romney/Thompson in November!
Thank you, Fred Thompson.
I had been a Thompson supporter from the beginning – but Fred was “The Candidate That Wasn’t”.
He never truly acted ( pardon the pun ) as if he really wanted it. He waited too long to enter, and once in, he was a non-factor for a long, long time.
While other candidates were out there on a daily basis – you could go for days without seeing him campaign.
While his ideals were more in line than the other candidates with what I wanted to support – he seemingly lacked the internal motivation to really take this country back and move us forward.
Too bad. Perhaps a daily regimen of Red Bull would have helped….
Damn! That really sucks. I just hope that whomever gets the GOP nod, has enough smarts to pick him as a running mate.
I’m split between (a) to the polls, to vote for Fred anyway (he’ll still be on the ballot) and (b) to therapy.
With Fred officially out, it seems that there is no chance I’ll be voting for a Republican in November. Write-in time!
Instead of VP Fred I think I would prefer DHS Sec Fred in a Romney Administration.
Re: #7
That’s the most I’ve laughed at a misspelling in a long time. Classic. Own it and say it was intentional.
fox just had a responce from Romney but they’re flippin audio was somehow nothing but blips….perfect, but Romney did say he would make a fine VP.. HMMMM???? FOX GET YOU’RE S___ TOGETHER!
Just read on the Corner National Review that Thompson will not be making any endorsements.
“Speaking of scattering, where will the 12 percent of voters favoring Thompson in Florida go?”
a quick skim thru this thread is showing alot of Fredheads going to Romney. He’s been my 4th choice, now my first. Let’s get behind Mitt folks. He is our last hope.
Go Mitt! (gawd that was hard to say)
Sorry to hear this, i think it’s a real mistake. IMHO the msm has driven this drumbeat that he was to late getting into the race when the reality is that (with our new improved and absurdly early primaries) every one else was in far to early. The voters aren’t interested in a year of presidential campaign (as much as the wonks and politicos can’t hear that) and I think Thompson would have been a -great- general candidate. The only other acceptable candidate from a 2a perspective is very far back in the pack.
Hey AJ, from your lips to God’s ears regarding a VP slot for Thompson.
I am sad he is dropping out but trying to be realistic in my vote and support now for Mitt Romney.
This is a good read over at “Townhall.com”
The Case for Rudy Giuliani
By Dennis Prager
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Fred will be sorely missed in the campaign. Hope his mother will be OK.
Grab your anti-nausea meds, folks:
This quote from the Corner at National Review that Katheryn Lopez posted at 2:52:
I just wrote a note on facebook about this very topic, and I even used the same title!
Maybe that’s why the media kept saying he was going to quit. Every speech he made was with drawl.
Pure BS.
aj, i heard the same thing and was on the phone with someone saying they saw and heard the same thing from Mitt.
This is my dream ticket and has been ever since July or earlier Mitt POTUS and Thompson VPOTUS.
I think that was the beginning of Mitt’s overture to Thompson. Hopefully, we will hear in the next few weeks something like Thompson backs Mitt or something even better.
Dear Mookie, I don’t think Katheryn Jean Lopez often posts information of excrement. Are you a McCainst fan?
I’m hoping the same Romney/Thompson but we will see. To bad the people who already have voted have been McCained in the head and Hucked in the rump. Uniformed and mislead, they fell right into their BS. idiots.
I’m going to write Fred in for both the California primary and general elections. To hell with the RINOS, we need to force the Republican Party to get with our program. If it takes pain and loss, then so be it… better than the Hobson’s choice being crammed down our throats.
I haven’t decided who I’m supporting yet. Regardless, the idea is so far-fetched that it’s laughable. I’m sure we’ll hear any moment now that “anonymous sources” reveal that John McCain will nominate Bill Clinton to be Secretary of State and Karl Rove as his Chief of Staff.
Romney will be on Hannity this hour.
If Mitt would announce intention to offer Fred and Hunter VP and SecDef slots, in either order, Huck and McCain can be had – easily.
And Shanesty ‘09 can be stopped – the only way to do it.
Where’s the stamina?
I feel your pain. I donated to Tancredo, Hunter, and Thompson, and I’m a declared Hunter delegate.
But if you stand on that principle alone, here is what you get - in the whole country. The pain of Shamnesty ‘09 is permanent. Mitt is the only anti-amnesty candidate still standing.
He is on Hannity NOW.
Sigh…oh, well, there is alway 2012 to look forward to, and maybe a lasting candidate I can get excited about.
whats a hannity…..lol.
Disappointing.
Special thanks to South Carolina for showing us they are a “conservative” state in the same way that Hooters is a “family” restaurant.
Mitt & Fred, enough said.
Damn you Fred….*sigh*
Fred #83, thanks for that video.
More good news on how attrition by enforcement is working just fine in four states so far. Only 46 to go before Shamnesty ‘09.
And this poll shows why the issue of illegal immigration should be a winner in the general election. This is the only poll I’ve ever seen that doesn’t offer just the tired old false dichotomy of “We can’t deport 12 million illegals, THEREFORE we have to make them citizens.”
Hey you Fredheads, buck up! He was way behind in the polls, got in too late, didn’t have enough cash and didn’t show enough outward resolve. He may have been a true conservative, but POTUS needs to be more than just that.
Mitt is my man because I know there’ll be no surprises. He won’t embarrass us on the world stage and he won’t doink any interns. He has the energy and the dignity to do the job.
People are going to get tired (if they haven’t already) with HuckaNorris. Amnesty will eventually sink McCain. Rudy is to hedonistic.
POTUS doesn’t have to be “more than just conservative.” That’s all we’ve ever needed.
We just haven’t had one since, oh… probably Ike. Reagan was close enough.
There’s not a remaining candidate who holds a candle to Thompson.
Right now I would withold my vote, even if that means letting the Evil Empire run things for awhile.
Give the people what they want, right?
To Those Who Plan To Sit Out November: Please Be a MAN/WOMAN and Sincere To Your Principals and Vote Democrat!
No If, Ands or Buts. If you want to chew sour grapes because your man or pol philosophy didn’t get nominated, at least prove that you’re not crippled or too damn lazy to vote by voting for Hill and make your apathy HONEST instead of hiding your temper tantrum in the tall grass! Make your animus official and vote Hill unless you don’t believe it’s not cowardly to shoot your party in the back by staying home!
Tired of fair weather idealistic Repub/ Conservatives!
James Greenidge
Queens NY