Video: Luntz on Fredmania and the McCain implosion
posted at 12:09 am on June 7, 2007 by Allahpundit
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It’s a double dip today thanks to H&C. He touched on McCain’s meltdown this morning during his appearance on Fox & Friends but here’s where he puts some meat on the bone. Or rather, the focus group does — it’s their withering comments about McCain, not Luntz’s, that summon the reaper. He also pays due homage to the new conservative godhead from Tennessee and to the lone emerging standout from the second tier of candidates. I had to cut the latter part in the interests of fair use but suffice it to say they were as impressed as we were. I’m starting to think a Thompson/Huckabee ticket might not be too regional after all.
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Thompson/Hunter… I won’t vote for Huckabee
SilverStar830 on June 7, 2007 at 12:13 AM
Can McCain suck any worse? The guy has lost his mind.
roninacreage on June 7, 2007 at 12:13 AM
Stephen M on June 7, 2007 at 12:15 AM
I wonder how much Arkansas dirt the Clintonistas have on Huckabee…and vice versa.
SouthernGent on June 7, 2007 at 12:16 AM
One thing we can say about all the GOP candidates is that they do not talk down to us like we’re all 3rd graders. McCain gets close.
roninacreage on June 7, 2007 at 12:18 AM
See, that focus group is why I think the whole pick your VP for a state/region strategy thing is BS. Communications are now good enough that you can access someone at all times, between TV (24 news cycles in particular), radio, newspapers, magazines, and the Interwebs, you just need to be an effective messenger more than being from a certain area, you can get to know a guy quickly. Picking someone simply because of geography makes less and less sense anymore, people care about ideology more than where someone’s from.
A good example would be when Gore lost his own state of TN in 2000, or picking Silky Pony to try and pull a southern state and Kerry getting nothing for the trouble other than Cheney ripping ol Silky a new one in the debates like the hairsprayed dunce he is.
Bad Candy on June 7, 2007 at 12:22 AM
Heh.
I will say again, I agree with Allah and hope Fred doesn’t go totally overboard with the folksy good ‘ol boy stuff. My Yankee ears can tolerate it and it’d be a mild annoyance at worst, but I know it’ll drive some people nuts…like Allah.
Bad Candy on June 7, 2007 at 12:26 AM
Got to break with you on this one. Two southerners on the ticket for the GOP might be no big deal with us but CA, NY, MA, PA, OH? It is going to take more then the GOP to get our man (whoever it is) in the WH. As a Texan I can honestly say that if there was a Texan on the ticket it would be 8 years of Billary for sure. Not a lot of love left for the Lone Star. We watch and listen but not most people. Most won’t make up their minds until Sep 08 and if we put up two John Deere owners the left is going to make hay about it.
Limerick on June 7, 2007 at 12:34 AM
That was a classic moment during the 2004 election. Cheney isn’t a real out front sort of guy, so to see him take Silky down in a debate really iced the cake.
jaleach on June 7, 2007 at 12:40 AM
I’ve been hearing the immigration is a divisive issue for the GOP, and always with this ominous, big trouble ahead, kind of tone. Bush is on the wrong side of it, McCain is on the wrong side, and every time they say it’s not amnesty–it’s amnesty. Luntz’s quicksand analogy was great. But it’s divisive for the GOP only because Bush and the Washington insiders are on one side and the base is on the other. As long as we’re in the primary season it’s divisive. But if the bill is defeated, which looks not just possible, but likely, and if the base succeeds in nominating an anti-illegal immigration candidate, then it’s no longer divisive for the GOP, because Bush by then will have gone from lame duck to irrelelvant, and the division will be between the GOP seal-the-borders candidate and the Democrat amnesty and let’s give illegal immigrants the right to vote candidate. That’s a division I can live with! If I heard the polls on the immigration issue correctly as they’ve been coming out on a lot of talk radio shows–not only the GOP base, but a substantial portion of the political center is also up in arms about the immigration problem. And here is where region does matter, Bad Candy. I bet Democrat support for comprehensive immigration reform isn’t too strong in Arizona or Texas, like it is in New York. Isn’t it somewhere in the neighborhood of 60% of the country who want some kind of dam put on the tide that’s coming over from Mexico? Help me out someone on this number. As long as the GOP nominates a strong seal-the-borders candidate–don’t we kick ass in 08? Where am I off on this?
smellthecoffee on June 7, 2007 at 12:43 AM
F. Thompson/Hunter is reasonable. But a better choice would be F. Thompson/Nethicus.
Or, dare I say it– Thompson/Thompson– the Thompson Twins! “In the Name of Love”….
Nethicus on June 7, 2007 at 12:48 AM
You’ll never get NY MA and CA. OH and PA are possible. I live in PA, and I think if Fred is as good as we might think he is, and give off that Reaganeque vibe, he could take the state, I think Bush could have taken the state in both 2000 and 2004, but he seemed to ignore it completely.
PA will be tough, we have a lot of old people (2nd oldest state) that get real squeamish at the mere mention of senior entitlement reform, Fred’ll really have to be damn good, and be able to bypass all the demagoguery that the left will engage in of he’s gonna stay on that message.
Plus there are leftists moving here from NY and NJ to escape the Liberal nightmares created by their own hands, and of course, trying to impose the same failed ideas here.
He’ll have to focus heavily on existing voters, and try to bypass the old MSM to get to the voters (as thats what most old people rely on for news), and work bigtime on voter turnout. Plus, who knows how many dead people vote in Philly…
Bad Candy on June 7, 2007 at 12:51 AM
I think McCain is definitely showing his age too. He just looks and sounds like a tired man who is ready for bed at 8pm.
As for Fred!….He’s my man. Oh my god I would love it if he went against Hillary. Imagine them debating!! Her shrillness up against his Americana-speak. It’d be a bloodbath.
SillyRyno on June 7, 2007 at 12:53 AM
Drudge: IMMIGRATION BILL ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE IN SENATE
Oh mighty, please do not be wrong about this one…
WisCon on June 7, 2007 at 12:54 AM
Fred may have to rely heavily on his own supporters in PA, I don’t think the state GOP is very effective, plus they seem RINOesque to me, and more interested in passing pork dollars around tan advancing a conservative agenda.
Bad Candy on June 7, 2007 at 12:56 AM
God, let this be true!
Bad Candy on June 7, 2007 at 1:03 AM
Let’s keep hoping.
Go Phred!
Mojave Mark on June 7, 2007 at 1:09 AM
I’ll believe it when I see it. Lots of cigar smoke on the Hill tonight, for sure.
Limerick on June 7, 2007 at 1:16 AM
Me, too, but we can hope. Cigars are a good idea, haven’t had a good cigar in a long time. Seeing this wretched bill die would be more than enough cause to celebrate.
Bad Candy on June 7, 2007 at 1:22 AM
smellthecoffee on June 7, 2007 at 12:43 AM
Not a rhetorical question.
smellthecoffee on June 7, 2007 at 1:23 AM
I’ll vote for FDT and who ever he wants for a VP but I think his chances of pulling in some damyankee states will be better with someone like Michael Steele as a running mate.
bdfaith on June 7, 2007 at 1:34 AM
Steele would be a very good choice too. Question is, would he take it, would Fred even pick him, and is he ready?
Bad Candy on June 7, 2007 at 1:36 AM
Illegal immigration is the issue for the GOP nod, but in the general I believe it will still be the war. How that turns between now and Nov 08 will decide it all.
Limerick on June 7, 2007 at 1:51 AM
She’d try to out-accent him, y’all.
Mallard T. Drake on June 7, 2007 at 1:56 AM
Limerick on June 7, 2007 at 12:34 AM
You might be surprised just how well a Thompson/Hunter ticket will fly in CA. Hunter is very popular here as is Thompson.
doriangrey on June 7, 2007 at 2:02 AM
Umm didnt we see a democratic Arkansas/Tenessee team win the Presidency and the Vice Presidency ?
So why would a Tennessee/Arkansas GOP be harder to achieve that ?
William Amos on June 7, 2007 at 2:03 AM
Point to add. NO non southern presidentual Candidate has won the Presidency since JFK. And he had a Southern VP.
Southerners on the Dems side. John Edwards
So exit question is can the dems win without the south ?
William Amos on June 7, 2007 at 2:06 AM
Interesting input about Hunter’s popularity in CA. If I could wave my magic wand and put him in the Oval Office I would, but there’s no way he’s going to be elected at the top of the ticket. He’d definitely make a good VP and if he can really bring in CA maybe he should be on the ticket. He’d bring in the older vet vote; retired SEAL CPT Larry Bailey, the same guy who pulled the Gathering of Eagles together, is campaigning hard for him and where Larry Bailey leads a lot of vets follow (Been a while since I heard from Larry, probably because I won’t use the team site he contributes to now and then to campaign for Hunter). OTOH, if Fred’s going to be competing with the first woman or first African-American to run for President having Steele as a running mate could be very helpful, aside from the fact he’d actually be a good man for the job.
bdfaith on June 7, 2007 at 2:39 AM
I can’t wait for that first “There you go again.”
bdfaith on June 7, 2007 at 2:44 AM
A ticket that normally talk like Jeff Foxworthy? Not like that “multi-lingual” faker on the democrat side? Be still my beating heart!
TwinkietheKid on June 7, 2007 at 7:51 AM
Saw Luntz on H&C. I like the way he presents his analysis….Here’s the deal, and here’s some facts to back it up, good or bad.
Hope we see more of him over the course of the election cycle. He’s for sure much better than that dumbass Sabato.
BacaDog on June 7, 2007 at 7:54 AM
VERY ASTUTE Mr. Amos>>> and something THIS little girl from South Carolina has been saying since before CPAC.
The South counts and BOTH PARTIES KNOW IT, even if they deny it until the last minute. (The Sliky Pony will show, if not place, in the DNC horse race for the SAME reason.)
A FRED!/ Huckabee ticket *sniffsniff* smells an AWFUL LOT LIKE the math of a Clinton /Gore ticket…hate it though they did…the DNC threw those two together for the pure karma of it all. The RNC COULD DO WORSE…
KERRY was convinced he didn’t need the South and said as much. Do I need to remind y’all that he (blessedly) lost?
seejanemom on June 7, 2007 at 8:04 AM
CA, NY, and MA are as good as gone, no? Fred!/Huck sounds like a good ticket to me, as does Fred!/Duncan. I will say this, though. If anyone other than Fred! gets the nod, Huck HAS to be the running mate in order to have a chance to win, no?
Kid from Brooklyn on June 7, 2007 at 9:14 AM
Fred!
I hope Fred! comes up against Hillary? in the general election and gets a chance to say, “My southern accent is real, ya’ll.”
unamused on June 7, 2007 at 9:42 AM
Only when McLettuce/McStain (thanks again Bruce Jacobs @ KFYI) uses the “my friends” comment. Every time he said that my displeasure with him rose.
VikingGoneWild on June 7, 2007 at 11:04 AM
KelliD on June 7, 2007 at 11:11 AM
I really don’t get the Huckabee appeal at all. If you want to know at what he’ll really end up bringing to the ticket, just look at where the discussion on the Huckabee Impresses thread went. McCain didn’t call him “Pastor” Huckabee by mistake.
JM Hanes on June 7, 2007 at 11:30 AM
I’m wondering what it’s gonna take for Sean to get his lips off of freds? a$$. But, to be fair, Sean does that for all the republicans (except McCain).
One thing going for fred? is that he’s an actor and can communicate? What a friggen dope! Actors are experts at pretending to be something they are not. And freddie boy certainly has that down pat.
fred? isn’t going to give her a line? ALL fred? has done is give lines! And he isn’t going to let her even ask him a question! fred? isn’t a politician? Having to fake out your potential supporters (in the year that the reps sweep into congress because a “D” next to your name was poison) with a phoney red pickup truck schitck is the tactic of politicians. Groupies. Oh. My. Goodness.
Dr. Luntz, please get the names of those two tools and we’ll see what they say after freddie boy has to open himself up for scrutiny and falls flat on his face.
csdeven on June 7, 2007 at 11:32 AM
I’d rather see fred? pick himself as a candidate first. And apparently even fred? isn’t ready.
csdeven on June 7, 2007 at 11:35 AM
John Deere and hay in the same sentence? Did you do that on purpose, cause it is funny.
csdeven on June 7, 2007 at 11:37 AM
Wow, the fake-conservative troll must really be getting worried about Fred! now, his idiotic rants are degenerating into incoherent rage. Good news for Fred! if he’s got his opponents that scared.
Hollowpoint on June 7, 2007 at 11:42 AM
Yeah, that would be nice. They’re about even in the empty rhetoric, lack luster performance, fakery, and unqualified to hold the position categories. After that, Hillary has the edge because she has at least debated and can think on her feet waaaaay better than freddie boy can.
Yeah. Bloodbath describes it perfectly.
csdeven on June 7, 2007 at 11:44 AM
The discussion seems to be right on the mark with regard to McCain and Fred!
McCain leaves a definite impression of, literally, a fool who is trying to advocate a hidden agenda. His actions do not seem consistent with his words, and he appears to be advocating a position of amnesty for the illegal alien.
Fred! is probably the most exciting presidential candidate to appear in decades. His common sense, honest, competent approach to the issues is a breath of fresh air. I really hope that Fred! is our next president.
omegaram on June 7, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Honestly, how can this discussion be on the mark when fred? is not a candidate?
How do we know he is honest when he faked out Tennessee voters with his fake red pickup schtick?
How do we know he is honest when he blamed his pro-choice position on a staffers clerical error when I have a direct quote right from his mouth?
And lastly, how do we know he is competent? His record in the senate is dismally weak, he failed to nail the clinton/china connection, and he has zero executive, foreign policy, or fiscal experience?
Really, I’d like some clarification on how you come to your conclusions.
csdeven on June 7, 2007 at 12:20 PM
How do you know what “most old people rely on for the news”? How do you know what most old people do or think about anything? I get so sick of hearing what ‘most’ Americans (or old people or any other group) think or want or do with no facts to backup the statement. This is an old liberal trick to try and convince people that the are not in line with what the ‘majority’ of people are thinking. Neither you nor I know what ‘most’ people do or think about anything. Believe me – I am VERY old and I do not rely on the so called MSM for my news. Actually, the blogs like this one and the Washington Times have become my MSM.
OBX Pete on June 7, 2007 at 12:30 PM
csdeven – Can you stop spamming these threads long enough to rub two brain cells together?
Fred is an exciting candidate who speaks in a common sense manner that appeals to many of us. He admits his shortcomings (McCain/Feingold) and addresses many issues, such as immigration and fanatical Islam, that indicates he truly understands the issues confronting this nation. He has the natural charisma of Reagan that none of the others approach. His no-script, one-take response to Michael Moore was perfect!
Fred was initially cast for “The Hunt for Red October” because THEY COULDN’T FIND AN ACTOR THAT MEASURED UP TO THE REAL MAN… so they decided to approach the real man for the movie, and his career continued from there. He didn’t morph into the image to play a part, the parts came to him because they fit his existing image! So stop spamming these threads about how he’s just acting a part.
Also, there is something to say for someone who is looking to The People as to whether he should run or not. He seems to realize that the true role of President is as a SERVANT of the people, and not for those seeking power.
After Washington served as our first president, there were many who wanted to make him a “king”. Washington set the example by refusing to yield to that temptation and demonstrating the ideals for which he fought, and stepped down, giving that power to another. You have to ask yourself, if tempted as Washington, if term limits didn’t exist, which candidates would volunteer to step down and give up that power…
dominigan on June 7, 2007 at 1:47 PM
FRED MANIA!!
AHHHHHHHHH!
msipes on June 7, 2007 at 2:24 PM
Not jumping on the fred? bandwagon is not spamming or trolling.
Yeah, me too. But TALK is all it is. He’s done nothing. He’s said nothing that hasn’t already been said by actual candidates.
After hearing his former staffers talk about how this guy cannot speak extemporaneously, I seriously doubt the claims he is making about the video. Just like his trip to Israel, the pickup truck fakery, his scripted speeches, and his softball interviews, these are lame attempts to head off the questions that he will face when/if he announces. It’s about convincing the groupies that he is something he never has been so they will unfailingly support him when the critics start stripping his facade bare. Supporting him by ignoring his obvious shortcomings and vehemently attacking anyone who points out freds? glaring unworthiness to be the CinC.
Does anyone except groupies think that what is presented on the screen is accurate to what happens in real life? Why do you think movie makers don’t just save all the production costs and just role film in real life and present that? Because fake is more interesting than real. fred? is a fake and that is why being a fake comes easy to him and he looks no different on screen than he does when he is staging his opinions to the groupies.
Well, I don’t see it that way. I want a leader who wants to be a leader not one that has to be convinced to run. I view what fred? is doing as someone who is only taking a chance on running because he thinks he can fill a role that people want him to fill. He has no original ideas and he is not trying to lead the movement into new directions. He parrots what others say, and only when it’s a position that has already been discussed and scrutinized and is safe.
Thanks for being reasonable. It’s rare.
csdeven on June 7, 2007 at 3:52 PM
techno_barbarian here; proud FRED! Groupie and long time lover of red trucks.
If you haven’t subscribed to FRED!’s podcasts yet, I strongly urge you to do that and have an unfiltered listen to the Man for yourself.
Dispite what our local color rabid anti-FRED!ite commentator continually regurtigates at every friggin’ opportunity (never forget folks that he’s 10, count ‘em!, 10 steps ahead of all us FRED! Groupies), you really should hear things straight from the source.
Personally I cannot find anything that I disagree with FRED! about. That’s just me, and like I say, I’m definitely a proud card-carrying FRED! Groupie.
As opposed to someone so desperately frightened by just the very possibility that FRED! might actually run for POTUS that anyone who expresses even a passing interest in said candidate is branded a mindless Groupie. And any kind of self-defense by said Groupie is responded to with LLL-like whining and attempts at portrayal as the victim. Every. Single. Time.
Personally I can’t wait for FRED! to get out and get some tough questions, if for no other reason than to prove the rabid one’s claims to be as empty as his endlessly repetitive rhetoric.
techno_barbarian on June 7, 2007 at 4:50 PM
Does anybody have any idea what the ‘cs’ stands for?
Maybe it should be ‘FoS’ !!
OBX Pete on June 7, 2007 at 7:09 PM
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