Hang Right Politics

17 Responses to “It’s not just individuals who have a problem with Thompson’s withdrawal.”

1. Kathy Says:
   January 23rd, 2008 at 2:07 pm

   We are the party of the stupid shooting our own standard bearers. This from American Spectator:

   In taking Nevada, Romney garnered only one less delegate than did McCain in capturing South Carolina, and with considerably less fanfare. Romney’s current delegate total (72), in fact nearly doubles that of his closest rival, the senator from Arizona (38). Out of a possible 2,380 national delegates, so far only 156, or just 6 percent, have been chosen; hardly a reason for panic.

   So why are McCain and Huckabee, and once again, Rudy Giuliani, garnering all the ink and airwaves while Romney does not? The answer is simple: conservatism is not dead. If it were truly dying, its opponents would do more to attack its principles and tenets instead of propping up its false practitioners on the basis of their personal magnetism or populist allure.

   IF THE REAGAN Revolution is stalled in this election cycle, it is because those at the head of the movement have stopped emphasizing its personal appeal to the average American. This is not the fault of Limbaugh — who is rightly perturbed that he must constantly spell out a candidate’s conservative bona fides or lack thereof — but of those who forget that conservative ideals can resonate with voters in a way that liberalism cannot.

   While folks who listen to Limbaugh can proclaim their core beliefs from the rooftops, liberal “values” must be slowly indoctrinated into the mainstream. This is why liberal talk radio is such a failure. Except for their radical base, not many people can take the left-wing mantra straight up. To succeed, they must cloak their message in pleasant euphemisms like “choice” and “equal rights.”

   Whatever polls may say, the majority of the American people do not embrace higher taxes, the culture of perpetual victimhood, government intervention in their lives, the taking of innocent life, and the defeat of our military at the hands of those who would see us all dead.

   The first candidate who climbs up on the rooftop with the Rush and the rest of us and shouts these things out loud will be the one who walks away with the prize this summer.

2. Kathy Says:
   January 23rd, 2008 at 2:09 pm

   And he’ll get the National Right to Life endorsement.

3. xsd4tex Says:
   January 23rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm

   John McCain will be the GOP presidential nominee. He has picked up several new endorsements, one of which is former New York Republican Senator
   Al D’ Amato. Nevertheless, I believe John McCain has the national voter appeal and should be able to beat either Hilalry Clinton or Barack Obama head-to-head.

   Fears over the the right-to-life organizations from being denied the free expressions of their political views and positions are unfounded. That case was addressed last summer in a U.S. Supreme Court decision. Here’s the link to the rather lengthy ruling, but it’s worth reading the majority opinions.

   http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06pdf/06-969.pdf

4. Caleb Says:
   January 23rd, 2008 at 2:28 pm

   The only candidate left in the race that is any kind of conservative, with what it takes to run the country is Romney. Damn I hate saying that, but it is true. He, at least, is an economic conservative that has run organizations and made payrolls and turned around failing enterprizes. Huckleberry may be a pro-life social conservative, but he is a one trick pony and a joke. He hasn’t a clue about foreign affairs, international relations, economics, national security, the Washington bureaucracy and how it works, Capital Hill and how to get his ideas passed in Congress if they are at odds with the Dems, and on and on. Jimmy Carter redux. Rudy G and McPain-in-the-rear not only are NOT conservatives, they dispise real conservatives. They get along so much better with liberals, that they prefer to work with the likes of Ted Kennedy and Russ Feingold, and Pat Leahey, etc.

5. Darrell Says:
   January 23rd, 2008 at 2:41 pm

   xsd4tex:

   If the GOP nominates McCain, Conservatives will have no one to vote for in November. Some may vote AGAINST Hillary or Obama, others may just sit this election cycle out and wait for 2012. I personally have not decided yet, but based on Senator McCain’s Senate Record and some of his public statements, a McCain Presidency is likely to raise taxes… Virtually Guaranteed to grant Shamesty to 12 million illegals…. and one who is likely to grant constitutional rights to Terrorists…

   Staying home on election day looks more and more like the option I will be choosing.

6. Midwest Kay Says:
   January 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm

   I just read Duncan Hunter endorsed Huckabee. Kind of surprised me.

7. Stephanie Says:
   January 23rd, 2008 at 3:56 pm

   Shocks me. I would have thought Huckabee would have been his last choice.

8. Midwest Kay Says:
   January 23rd, 2008 at 4:04 pm

   That’s what I’d have thought too, Stephanie.

   Re McCain–I know a lot of people who will not vote for him. My folks live in AZ and as I’ve said more than once, vote for him “holding our noses”..just can’t vote democrat! I would not be happy voting for him but if he was the nominee I would… It would be even more difficult for Huckabee, not at all for Romney or Giuliani…

   This year ought to be interesting.

9. Midwest Kay Says:
   January 23rd, 2008 at 4:14 pm

   http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZGE3MjIzNGViMTE1OTBkNjU2OTdlZWM2ZDVlYTkzYjE=

   Article link on Corner (NRO) re Hunter’s endorsement of Huckabee……….

10. Stephanie Says:
    January 23rd, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    Well, I started to say that was a big ouch but is it really? If Hunter had much pull he wouldn’t be endorsing anybody would he?

11. Stephanie Says:
    January 23rd, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    This is about the most awesome article I’ve seen yet on Thompson’s withdrawal.
    Thompson Campaign Ends By Rich Galen

    At about 2 PM Eastern yesterday, Fred Thompson made it official when he had the campaign press shop issue the following statement:

    “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.”

    Like the campaign itself, the statement was brief, unambiguous, and dignified.

    At the time, I was having lunch Christine Byun, the ABC producer who had followed the Thompson campaign from the beginning. Our Blackberries began to wheeze and buzz at the same time with the news of the statement and we swung back into full work mode immediately: She calling her desk for instructions, me answering calls from reporters demanding to know why I hadn’t told them in advance.

    The answer was: I didn’t know in advance. Fred Thompson is a private man who makes decisions on his own schedule. Following Saturday’s third place finish in South Carolina, I was beset by calls about what he would do and when he would do it.

    I had the same answer for all: You have a deadline to report his decision. He has no deadline on which to make it.

    The next question I got was: Who will he endorse and when will he do it?

    Same answer.

    Thompson never got more than 16 percent of the votes in any of the primaries or caucuses, so his endorsement would not seem to be crucial to any of the remaining candidates. Nevertheless, two of them were gracious in their comments.

    According to Associated Press reporters Dave Espo and Liz Sidoti, John McCain said: “Fred Thompson ran an honorable campaign. He and I will remain close friends, and I wish him and his family the best.”

    Mitt Romney responded to the news of Thompson’s exit: “Throughout this campaign, Fred Thompson brought a laudable focus to the challenges confronting our country and the solutions necessary to meet them.

    “He stood for strong conservative ideas and believed strongly in the need to keep our conservative coalition together.”

    Mike Huckabee, on the other hand, whined that Thompson should have gotten out of the race before South Carolina because “the votes that he took essentially were votes that I would have most likely had.”

    On NPR’s “All Things Considered” yesterday, when I was asked about that, I misquoted Shakespeare: The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, or our opponents, but in ourselves.

    Throughout the week leading up to the South Carolina primary, Thompson told reporters — and those of us on the bus — that he needed to do very well. He wouldn’t specifically define “very well” but it was clear coming in third about 14 percentage points behind Huckabee didn’t fit any definition.

    Here’s a tale out of school which describes the kind of man Thompson is: One day in the week leading up to the South Carolina primary the campaign office in McLean, Virginia, asked if he would record a video thanking supporters for helping to have raised over a million dollars from the day after the Iowa caucuses to that point.

    This video was obviously going to be a veiled pitch to send in more money — a point not lost on Thompson, even though the script I wrote never mentioned it.

    He told me he wasn’t going to record it. Knowing we were facing an uphill climb to stay in the race, and knowing the video would tempt viewers to donate to help the campaign to go onto Florida and February 5th, he said, “I am not going to ask for money under false pretenses.”

    Throughout the campaign, when reporters enquired about Thompson’s commitment to the race because of what Espo and/or Sidoti called his “laid-back style,” I answered the same way: “If you’re looking for a guy who is going to put on a Clarabell wig and a red nose and jump on stage singing show tunes, you’ve got the wrong guy.”

    It is strange that the qualities we are looking for in a sitting President — thoughtful, calm, and serious — are exactly the qualities that we penalize in those running for President.

    It was a great ride. I’m sorry it’s over.

12. Midwest Kay Says:
    January 23rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm

    I think Fred would make a wonderful VP….

13. Kathy Says:
    January 23rd, 2008 at 5:53 pm

    Thanks for posting that Steph, and I agree Midwest Kay, don’t know if it will happen though.

    Not surprised about ‘mr. integrity’s response to Fred’s withdrawal – I think Hunter’s protectionist instincts got the better of his judgment.

    Just another reason I can’t support the Huck.

14. Bruce.....formerly dukeblondie Says:
    January 23rd, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    Kathy, you beat me to it. Hunter is fine on most issues but when it comes to trade he is a Buchananite. His endorsement of Elmer Gantry will not count a whit.

15. Aurora Says:
    January 24th, 2008 at 6:42 am

    I’ve also read predictions that it’s going to be McCain vs. the Hildebeeste and that she will win. Mind you, that was in a Leftist news provider (The Economist).
    There’s absolutely no rationale that out of a nation of 300 million people, many of them moral conservatives, this is the selection of GOP candidates we’ve ended up with. This is not supposed to happen in a democracy.
    That said, I’m behind Romney 100% as he is the ONLY moral conservative left. Giuliani is an abomination. I hope he sinks like a lead balloon.

16. Big Mo Says:
    January 24th, 2008 at 10:02 am

    Bruce…fdb — Huckabee as Elmer Gantry?

17. Dennis McIntire Says:
    January 24th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    Fred is still on the ballot in many if not all states. This is chess not checkers. A unified vote would give Fred the choice at the convention and would prevent second choices from looking more powerful than they deserve. Stick to your guns, vote your principals, GIVE FRED DELAGATES IN THE CONVENTION, no need to waste the signs, keep them up as a symbol of principal.
    The beauty of our right to choose, which I might add was paid for in blood and trauma to our own, is we may choose based on principal. Fred is symbolic of that principal and still on the ballot.
    This is not about Fred, it’s about us and all who share our views.
    Sticking to our guns and strength and standing by Fred now costs one vote. The campaign for the White House was about us, not Fred. The campaign for the White House was about who we chose to lead, not the available choices. Give Fred the delegates in the convention to symbolize our conviction to our principals, not for Fred, for us.
    We can always join the Alamo, Fred is the only candidate that none of the empowered candidates want in the race. Our best choice in this race is still Fred, he has my respect for not denigrating the process into the “American Idol” format. Sanjaya Malakar is not my choice for president.
    The right to choose cost some of our fellow citizens, countrymen and family the ultimate price. The only heroes in this country are dead. Our price for our right to choose based on our principals is one vote.
    VOTE FOR FRED…
    Dennis McIntire, “The Constituent”
    dennismcintire@earthlink.net

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