Thompson 2008 - Now What?

As you already know, Fred is out. The big question many are asking now is who will the Fredheads support now? The media seems to be hoping that we'll now all blindly move over to either McCain or Huckabee. I find that highly unlikely. As for myself, I know more who I won't support than who I will.

For starters, Giuliani is not an option. I wrote about my problems with him here. Then there is Huckabee, who as Fred (Thompson) commented is pursuing a Democrat agenda, making him equally unacceptable. (Not to mention his whoring of religion for votes)

I'm left with Romney and McCain.

My first thought is to write in Thompson. No, that's not right. Not unless there is some sort of massive write-in organized, and that will never happen. So I guess I will vote for Romney. Now I just need to get excited about it. Well it will be excitement enough if he beats whoever the Democrats push forward. And when that happens, there will be no shortage of lost marbles on the left. That has to be worth a good laugh.

Rusty at The Jawa Report expresses a strong case for supporting Romney in his post "Fredheads, It's Time to Support Mitt". Thanks Rusty.

I can already see one immediate benefit. There is no way I'm going to donate any campaign money his way being the millionaire that he is. To bad it's illegal for him to buy my vote. Not that I would sell it, but it would be nice to get an offer. Well, stopping earmarks would be nice payback. If not, then how about earmarking some funds for FFI.

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More 2008 election posts here including:

Giuliani 2008 - Here's Your 'Lazy' Presidential Candidate - 6 Jan 08
Giuliani 2008 - 24 Aug 07


Previous Fred Thompson:
Thompson 2008 - 28 Dec 07
Thompson 2008 Update - "doing it for the right reasons" - 29 Dec 07
Thompson 2008 - Go Fred - 5 Jan 08
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Thompson 2008 - Go Fred

So Fred Thompson has placed third in Iowa, which I think is pretty damn good for a person labeled 'lazy' by the press. For a lazy guy, he managed to tie with John McCain who has done anything but run a lazy campaign.

I think Fred should do better in the upcoming states simply because the winner of Iowa, Mike Huckabee, will not be able to play the 'God card' as effectively as he did in Iowa. It might even harm him if he gets pegged as a religious candidate, which I think he will if he has not already. (As apposed to him being harmed by his lousy record, which for some reason is not getting any press-play and won't until the general election, if he gets that far.)

The person who I think will benefit the most will be Fred Thompson. With that said, I answered Fred's funding plea with a second $25 donation, thus breaking my 'Never Donate to politicians' rule for the second time. Fred is looking for $540,000 by next Friday. So far he is off to a good start. Here is the total from 10:18 A.M., the time when I made my donation:

($127,480 raised by 10:18)


($131,908 raised by 11:18)


($142,734 raised by 1318)

In three hours this morning, Fred received over $15,000 in donations from 156 people who gave an average $98 each. That's not bad for a Saturday afternoon and it is encouraging to me to see other 'small people' like myself supporting Fred. So go here and signup to become a Friend of Fred (to get on the email list) or click on the images above to go to his homepage where you can donate money, learn how to donate time, buy some swag, or simply become a 'friend', which Costs Nothing.

Previous:

Thompson 2008 Update - "doing it for the right reasons" - 29 Dec 07

Thompson 2008 - 28 Dec 07

Thompson 2008 Update - "doing it for the right reasons"

I wrote this just yesterday:

Along with the complaints about his Senate record are some concerns that Senator Thompson has been lazy in running his campaign. This too does not wash with me. We have been dealing with an early election campaign for months now and when one of the candidates refuses to play the same game (due to laziness or not) it is seen as a flaw. That is total BS and leave no alternative for candidates other than to play follow the leader. - FFI

Now take what I wrote with CNN's Saturday's story on Presidential Candidate Thompson:

Thompson took heat for not jumping into the White House race until September — significantly later than every other candidate — and has since been criticized for his lax campaign style and often-times light schedule.

The former actor has criticized his rivals for launching their presidential bids months ahead of his, and continually touts the fact he hasn't harbored presidential ambitions his whole career. - CNN

So there you go.

Now there is an additional comment in here that makes Thompson even more of a candidate of choice, the fact that he has not had a life-long ambition for the job:

"I am not consumed by personal ambition," Thompson also said Saturday. "I'm offering myself up."

"I'm only consumed by a few things and politics is not one of them." - CNN

This is a good thing because those who have had a life-long ambition for the White House also have a lifetime's worth of IOUs they have doled out to everyone who has helped them climb the political ladder in pursuit of their all-important-lifelong-goal of getting into the White House. Our Mr. Thompson has not suffered from a life-long dream of getting into the White House and as a result has not been burdened with political connections that will effect good decision making by a Chief Executive. You see, that is what happens in politics; Good choices are not picked, because some of the people who are responsible for getting you where you are, don't want you to make those choices. That can be see everywhere in our Government and most clearly in the thousands of earmarks Congress just showered on behalf of their 'friends'.

All the more reason to pick a candidate who says something like this:

“I’m not particularly interested in running for president," the former senator said at a campaign event in Burlington when challenged by a voter over his desire to be commander-in-chief.

“But I think I’d make a good president," Thompson continued. "I have the background, capability, and concern to do this and I’m doing it for the right reasons." - CNN

Now he could have stretched the truth, or outright lied when answering the question, but he gave a truthful answer. He didn't deflect it, or ignore it, or tried to spin it without giving an answer. another nice thing about Thompson is that if you asked him this question again, I bet he would give the same answer.

Now others will take the quote and use it out of context. At least the press has not been to competent lately too do much damage with it.

Thompson 2008 - FFI 28 Dec 2007

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Thompson 2008

Thompson. Fred Thompson.

As I see it, Mr. Thompson is the most appealing candidate running for President of the United States.

Sure, there are complaints out there that he has an undistinguished Senate record, but come on, have you seen the crap coming out of the US Senate? His excuse was that he was busy killing bad legislation. Sounds good to me. We need more of that. Anyway, maybe the next President of the US should take things a little slower. The world is expert at inaction and constantly hounds us for not only intervening, but intervening the wrong way. Fine, let them not deal with the world's problems.

Along with the complaints about his Senate record are some concerns that Senator Thompson has been lazy in running his campaign. This too does not wash with me. We have been dealing with an early election campaign for months now and when one of the candidates refuses to play the same game (due to laziness or not) it is seen as a flaw. That is total BS and leave no alternative for candidates other than to play follow the leader. So let's play devil's advocate for a second and say that Fred Thompson is lazy. So what. As I mentioned above, isn't the US always being criticized for being the one to overreact? Doesn't the Government mess up everything it gets involved in at home? So maybe we would be better off with a President who is a little 'lazy'. This might actually give us time to fix what is wrong and give the laws in place time to have an effect on what they were passed for in the first place.

Now the timing of this post has been driven by a call for a Blogburst in support of Fred to open up the flow of money to help get Fred's message out. I am not one for donating to politicians, and at the moment 'donating' $100 towards retiring some of my debt will do more good to me than giving it to a politician. However, everyone's situation is different and you are welcome to follow the links below to donate to the cause. [UPDATE: See the donation widget below. I have just done a first and donated $25 to Fred's cause.] Oddly enough, it is the lack of massive amounts of major donors that is a strong selling point in that he has not sold himself out to special interests, at least not yet. Sure, that kind of money is sure to follow later provided he does well in the opening states, but in that case the influence of the donations is much diminished.

The Republicans seems to have a pretty poor lineup this go around. Fred, while not the media machine like Clinton, still marches forward, appears to be the real deal and that is good enough for me because in the end he will make decisions on what is best, not what the polls say he should. I guess Romney could be an OK backup choice with McCain (Who is also real but nobody seems to like what he stands for) as a safety. Some people seem to have a problem with voting for a Mormon, but I have more of a problem voting for the fake Gun Rights Advocate (Giuliani) and the fake Bible Thumper (Huckabee). I am no fan of the Mormans but don't see why one can't be elected President. Plus it pisses off the anti-Morman block, which is one thing that Thompson's vote does not provide. However, that palls in comparison to the benefits I think a Fred Presidency will bring (as pissing off the religious right will not make this a better country) if for no reason other than to put the brakes on bad Government.

(Note: Donation widget removed on 22 Jan 08)


More here:
Why Fred’s the Best - California Conservative

BLOGBURST FOR FRED: JOIN THE MARBLEHEADERS - RightWing Nuthouse

UPDATE: 29 Dec 2007
See my new post here.

Also, click on the label below for more on 2008: