Fred gets ornery with the media: “I owe you nothing” Update: Clips added
posted at 3:08 pm on January 6, 2008 by Allahpundit
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A little whiny for my tastes in the first clip, especially the dubious claim that last week’s dropout rumor cost him two or three points in Iowa, but it’s still top quality Fredporn for the ‘Heads to savor. Enjoy!
Fred’s supporters like to say he’s the only true conservative in the race, but it’s more than that. He’s the only candidate on our side who’s not, essentially, a bulls**t artist. Some would say Huck falls into that category too, but he doesn’t really. He’s simply a bulls**t artist who’s exceptionally good at shoveling his bulls**t. Hence the many comparisons between him and the other man from Hope.
You’ve got the ‘Busters clip up top and then a somewhat testy exchange between Fred and Bill Hemmer from FNC this morning below that. The more horserace questions they ask, the ornerier(?) he gets. Click the images to watch.
Update (bp): Here’s the “I owe you nothing” clip.
Update (bp): And here’s Fred on Fox sparring with Bill Hemmer.
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I disagree Fred, you owe them a serious asskicking.
Bad Candy on January 6, 2008 at 3:11 PM
The only candidate running who doesn’t spin every word he says!
thejackal on January 6, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Oh, dear. I am firmly in the boat for Fred, but this doesn’t play well at all. Especially with the Today Show’s audience, which probably expects a fluffy, happy tone. Maybe the weekend edition is more serious.
This won’t help Fred anymore than John McCain’s demeanor last night helped him. I enjoy it, though.
joewm315 on January 6, 2008 at 3:14 PM
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ornery
“Ornerier” is a word.
Damian G. on January 6, 2008 at 3:17 PM
I don’t think it’s really about helping or hurting him, I think he’s made it pretty clear that he obviously doesn’t rely on the media’s analysis of anything and feels that it is up to him and up to his campaign (and a little bit of luck) to get his message out to the voters. Personally I wish he’d cooperate just a bit more, but then he wouldn’t be Fred.
Fredmentum baby
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 3:19 PM
This probably won’t play well to the average voter, but it’s more reason I think he’s the best. If he takes this attitude with the media, he’ll take the same attitude with Pelosi’s congress.
MadisonConservative on January 6, 2008 at 3:19 PM
If the interviewer only knew that it’s exclusively women who sport a fanny.
Beto Ochoa on January 6, 2008 at 3:20 PM
The difference between McCain and Fred! are that McCain acted like an asshat towards a guy who has only attacked his political decisions, not his personal life.
Fred! just thinks the media assumes too much importance… And he’s right
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Bulls**t. They are all bulls**t artists, every one.
BJ* on January 6, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Fred’s helping me make up my mind.
Kini on January 6, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Wanna bet?
MadisonConservative on January 6, 2008 at 3:23 PM
I think he might be right about costing him something, but it seems more like one or two tops. But since my second choice is Romney, I have to believe that if Novak’s right and it was Mitt who put it out, some of Fred!’s voters jumped ship. Didn’t help
Romneythe Mittbot 2000 much though.John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 3:24 PM
Fred needs to take a hint from AP here and make that the topic of his next campaign ad buy. Might I suggest: “I’m not full of shit, but if you beat these other guys with a stick – well, it’s not candy that’s going to come out.”
This is esentially his greatest strength and source of appeal – and also his greatest liability. I think it was Bryan a couple of weeks ago who keyed in on the idea that as much as the media and the chattering masses SAY they want someone to run a different sort of campaign and talk straight on substance rather than focus on glitz and package, the truth is that most of us balk when confronted with the reality of a candidate trying to live outside of the box.
If Fred wants to make headway with this, he’s going to have to push that Phony Politics button pretty hard and pretty frequently.
ConfigSys.boy on January 6, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Gotta love the porn. Thanks Allah.
Fred!
infidel on January 6, 2008 at 3:26 PM
If it interrupts the money stream it costs points
Beto Ochoa on January 6, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Thomspons does, in fact, owe the media nothing. Politico took the story and ran with it; perhaps they could tell us which campaign fed the story. Frankly, I don’t see how either of these videos show Thompson in a bad light. He called BS when he saw it – how is that bad?
fourstringfuror on January 6, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Can’t type, apparently. Should have only emphasized the they.
fourstringfuror on January 6, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Don’t forget, he needs money.
$540,000 before South Carolina, he’s at ~$190,000 right now.
Donate now
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Amen. Well said and a great idea for strategy.
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 3:29 PM
That’s a funny answer. Irony thy name is Fred. I won’t talk about process stories, but the media should come and ask “me” if, uh, they want to know about a process story. I doubt it cost him 2-3 points, but who knows. I thought that second interview with Hemmer was great though. Fred did well there.
Just to be clear – this is a joke right? If the administration engaged the press on the war in Iraq instead of leaving it up to talk radio and columnists, you think the support for it among the populace would be the same as it is? Bush’s disdain for the press carried from his father’s administration, however legitimate, has handicapped this administration in terms of public dialog.
Spirit of 1776 on January 6, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Fred’s doin’ fine. Let it play out. You never know, this might be the biggest turnout ever, which favors Fred. Voters are taking this election very seriously. “It ain’t over till it’s over’!
countywolf on January 6, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Haha. That’s a champion line. He should borrow it.
Spirit of 1776 on January 6, 2008 at 3:32 PM
This is Fred on Fox
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t7wHWnDGIM
bnelson44 on January 6, 2008 at 3:33 PM
I would like to know what AllahPundit likes to say about Fred’s conservative message. In a previous post you called his conservative message a “schtick”. That led me to believe that you did not believe he is a conservative, but rather is just using it as a “schtick”. Is this true? Is that why you enjoy ripping on Fred Thompson and his supporters?
Michael in MI on January 6, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Should have said this is a direct YouTube link to Fred this morning if you would like to comment on it.
bnelson44 on January 6, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Heh. That’s almost as good as the Fox clip that AP linked to!
Spirit of 1776 on January 6, 2008 at 3:36 PM
I don’t think there are any politicians who’re lacrima cristi on this topic. Fred might not make it but he sure continues to kick a few ’sacred cows’ in the you know what.
Entelechy on January 6, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Yep, and Mary Katherine Ham at Townhall apprently thinks that is a BAD thing.
So the attacks on Fred Thompson are now “lazy”, “no fire in the belly” and “no spinner in the spin room”. Brilliant. I think we need csdeven to teach these people how to criticize the candidates on, you know, their actual political record, instead of superficial nonsense.
Michael in MI on January 6, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Disagree 100%.
If Fred! runs an ANTI MSM campaign, he will get tremendous support from a lot of voters…
3 things have very low approval ratings… the Pres… the Dems in Congres… and the PRESS….
Running AGAINST all three is a winning combo.
Romeo13 on January 6, 2008 at 3:38 PM
I agree. I’ve been thinking that for a while, but just didn’t quite know how to verbalize it. Thanks Allah.
nailinmyeye on January 6, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Dang it’s good to hear some straight talk from a good man about what’s really important to this country! Thanks for the post AP. Anti-tax, pro-gun, protect the borders, pro-military, and stuff the press–ah, music to my ears! Another $100 to Fred!
second digit on January 6, 2008 at 3:43 PM
I am sincerely curious about this, AllahPundit. I’m trying to get an idea of your opinion of Fred Thompson, so I can interpret your deliberate baiting of his supporters in your posts. Just like I try to get an idea of the bias of the mass media outlets, so I know how to interpret their agenda and bias on things, I’m trying to do the same with you. If you believe Fred Thompson is a fraud and hypocrite and does not really believe in Conservatism and is just using that message as a “schtick”, then it would explain why you are so tough on him and his supporters.
Michael in MI on January 6, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Fred’s kind of “change” is my kind of change:
RushBaby on January 6, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Lol. See-dub’s spin of MKH.
Spirit of 1776 on January 6, 2008 at 3:44 PM
It’s the same clip. Just a direct YouTube link if anyone wants to say something nice about Fred on YouTube.
bnelson44 on January 6, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Allah comments on all the candidates. Sometimes they are positive comments and sometimes negative comments coming from his vantage point on politics.
bnelson44 on January 6, 2008 at 3:46 PM
I think its a legitimate criticism that he has no “spin guy” in the spin room. Because really all that means is that you have your staff present talking to the press. Again, a little more interaction with the media would go a long way. They are the beast but obviously getting the message out through the blogs (his original strategy) is not working as well as he had thought.
It also highlights the fact that he has a skeleton crew running his campaign.
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 3:46 PM
AP is a cynic and has the heart of a bona-fide Troll, Michael. He’s an equal opportunity candidate-thrasher and true-believer baiter. Don’t take it personally. Besides, it makes for interesting comment threads.
ConfigSys.boy on January 6, 2008 at 3:48 PM
This is exactly what she said. I don’t see any spin by See-Dub:
Michael in MI on January 6, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Mitt was my first until Fred showed up and after seeing how he and his supporters are running their campaign I don’t have a second choice. Mitt is just not ready for primetime and will be gone when he loses NH and does poorly in MI. It will be the only way we can coalesce around a conservative that can stop the Huckster/Maverick nexis.
Bill C on January 6, 2008 at 3:48 PM
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows John McCain and Mike Huckabee tied in the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination. Nationally, it’s McCain 19%, Mike Huckabee 19%, Rudy Giuliani 17%, Mitt Romney 15%, and Fred Thompson at 13%. Ron Paul attracts 4% support
Everyone is gaining this month but Romney
bnelson44 on January 6, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Also Paul is not gaining this month.
bnelson44 on January 6, 2008 at 3:50 PM
I agree that the Mittbot 2000 will probably be down and out for the count real soon, but I still say he’s my second. I worked with Thompson’s campaign on a fundraiser before he announced and it was a circus. Romney’s campaign is well organized, and he’d run the government like a business, that’s my only reasoning for supporting him.
That and I hate the rest of the field. Particularly Schmuckabee
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Testy? I didn’t get testy from the second clip. Maybe love is blind.
TexasDan on January 6, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Latest rasmussen numbers for the entire nation.
1/6/08
McCain 19%
Huckabee 19%
Giuliani 17%
Romney 15%
Thompson 13%
Ron Paul 4%
William Amos on January 6, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Just beat me to it !
William Amos on January 6, 2008 at 3:52 PM
vs.
Not the same. See-Dubya mischaracterized her point. I don’t know why he did it, but he is characterizing her as part of the establishment and a non-critical thinker. Read this paragraph again: “Now I’m just a humble…”
Spirit of 1776 on January 6, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Typical, the media needs a “spinner” why? So they can tell the media what they saw and heard? Sorry, I do not need to be told what I just saw. No spinners needed here!
Gatordoug on January 6, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Maybe a little testy with his “because of questions like that” retort, but he recovered nicely, I think because he realized he was being a little harsh and he is a pretty classy guy, not simply because it looked bad.
Love is blind.
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Oh, I have my interpretation of what AllahPundit is all about and it is not very complimentary, so I’ll just keep it to myself. It pretty much aligns with what you have said here though. I don’t take it personally anymore, but I am just trying to get an idea of where AllahPundit stands on the issues. As you say, he rips on people who believe in something, yet does not seem to stand for anything on his own. This allows him to get away with making fun of people and then making fun of them even more after they criticize him. So it’s a lose-lose for anyone criticizing him, since there is nothing to criticize since he does not admit believing in anything more than atheism and i-Phones. And it’s a win-win for him because he can get people all riled up by making fun of them and then call them names after they react to his ridiculing with cheap shots back at him.
All that aside, it was the “schtick” remark that stayed with me. I’m sincerely interested to know if he thinks Fred Thompson is a fraud. I don’t mind people admitting they feel Fred Thompson is a fraud. I will admit that I was wrong about him if he eventually drops out of the race and endorses someone who is clearly not a conservative, such as John McCain. But I am interested if people see something in him now or based on his record that proves he is a fraud and his conservatism message is simply “schtick”.
Michael in MI on January 6, 2008 at 3:54 PM
I just hope MKH takes that in the jocular spirit I intended it. She filed an interesting report, as usual, and I think the questions about Teh Ferd’s organization are legit. He’s said he’s not running a full-court press in NH, though, so there’s a reasonable excuse for not lining up a spinner at this event.
Then again, it was a nationally televised debate…
see-dubya on January 6, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Actually, the media are suppose to report things. They are not suppose to interpret the news. That is why they depend on representatives from each campaign to interpret the news and then they report what the representative say. It is a symbiotic relationship. Same reason you have a press secretary for the president.
bnelson44 on January 6, 2008 at 3:56 PM
They are supposed to REPORT, not interpret, so WHY talk to an interpreter?
Gatordoug on January 6, 2008 at 3:58 PM
I just hope MKH takes that in the jocular spirit I intended it.
Me too, especially after that JackM broadside of a couple weeks ago.
What do you think about the possibility that Fred and Huck left the room empty to allow the McCain-Romney dustup to do it’s thing? Or is it just a factor of not enough staff or not invested in NH?
Spirit of 1776 on January 6, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Let me try! Sadistic kid with a magnifying glass and an ant farm?
RushBaby on January 6, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Well to be honest, I don’t know why I should care what Mary Katherine Ham thinks anymore than I should care what See-Dub or AllahPundit thinks. No offense to her, but what are her credentials for being some kind of “expert” in politics? I go to people such as Victor Davis Hanson and Mark Steyn and such, because they are experts in their field. But I just don’t know why Mary Katherine Ham is considered some kind of expert to whom FOX News Channel and HotAir goes to for commentary on issues.
I tried to find her bio on TownHall.com and was not able to get to it. What is her expertise beyond being a cute, educated, intelligent woman who is engaging in her commentary?
Michael in MI on January 6, 2008 at 3:58 PM
You’re being a little harsh on AP. I’ve been following Fred! from the beginning and I don’t mind the attacks either, you do have to admit that Fred! has probably ruined his chances by screwing around and missing so many opportunities.
I think AP, like many of us, is just irked by the field right now. You have the Mittbot 2000 who seems like a good pick most of the time until you remember he was almost a liberal twenty minutes ago, then you have McAmnesty, then you have a Baptist Jesse Jackson for white people (h/t frankj), then a gun grabbing, baby aborting mayor from NY, and finally the elf crank. Thompson certainly has the least substantive flaws out of the lot, but he’s wasted a lot of his momentum.
Don’t get too testy with AP just cause he’s disaffected, cause most of the GOP is feeling that way.
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 3:59 PM
So they can REPORT what the interpreter says, it makes for more interesting political news. It has been going on for ages.
bnelson44 on January 6, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Ladies and gentlemen of the political class of 2008,
I have one piece of advice for you.
No matter what a pundit tells you,
There is no spinner in the spin room.
None.
Oh, there’s spin in the spin room,
But you don’t want spin. You want a spinner.
fourstringfuror on January 6, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Come on Fred, show ‘em how its done. Kick their collective pompous a**.
d1carter on January 6, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Ouch–you put that up while I was typing my 3:56, Spirit, so it looks like I need to update the post. I was trying to be goofy and over the top (and quoting Blazing Saddles to call myself a moron) in order to soften what sounded I was afraid sounded like a criticism of MKH but was really just two ways of looking at the absence of a Fred guy in the spin room.
see-dubya on January 6, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Don’t misunderstand my comment to be critique. It was observation, not denigration. The best cynics know the value of a healthy dose of self-doubt and therefore tend to keep their firmly held convictions to themselves. The fact that he has a little fun at other people’s expense is just a by product of the medium. In the same way that sex sells advertising in prime-time, troll-bait fills comment threads and increases ad revenue online.
Maybe not as much as porn, mind you – but hey. What’s a guy to do when your site has to be SFW?
ConfigSys.boy on January 6, 2008 at 4:01 PM
It is obvious that Romney is a smart guy and has his stuf together. I would not be in despair over a Romney victory like I would over a McVain or cHuckles win. It’s just that Fred is such a superior candidate on the issues that matter to me it is beyond frustrating when I know Romney is too weak of a candidate to win but still has enough money to stay in the race and split the Reagan coalition.
If Romney loses in NH and is weak in MI. I appeal to all you Rombots, please reconsider your support for him and give Fred a second look.
Bill C on January 6, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Ditto
Gatordoug on January 6, 2008 at 4:02 PM
It would be great to get his supporters, and it would be even better for him to throw his support to Fred! since it would give him an almost instant national network…
Man my ideal world is an awesome place.
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 4:03 PM
More interesting to some, BS to me. I can decide without their spin what was said in a debate or speech.
Gatordoug on January 6, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Reporter to Thompson “Senator it doesnt look like you have much chance of winning why are you still in the race ?’
Thompson “When did you become all the voters in the country to chose who is or isnt in this race ?”
William Amos on January 6, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Mary Katharine Ham is my favorite internet cop.
infidel on January 6, 2008 at 4:06 PM
MKH is easier to spell.
infidel on January 6, 2008 at 4:08 PM
As I said, I’m going to keep it to myself. Because, really, I don’t know AllahPundit, I only know what he posts on a blog. So my interpretation of him as a person could be way off. I have had people claim to know who I am as a person based on what I post on my blog and what I post in comment sections and usually they are way off. I don’t hold any ill will toward him, but I just don’t like spending my time around people who are cynical and negative. And there are a lot of times that it is quite aggravating to deal with all the cynicism and negativity around here. (This is why I also like to listen to Rush Limbaugh, because he almost always has a positive, uplifting and inspiring message to conservatives to get informed, educated and engaged. I see the opposite around here a lot of times).
I also like AllahPundit’s hard work in gathering info and links and resources on most news stories. It is why I make HotAir my first stop for when I am looking for info on the latest hot news story. My distaste is for his expressed cynical attitude on most things in his commentary on his blog posts.
But I am curious if his posts about Fred Thompson are just about making fun of “Fredheads” and annoying people to gain blog hits and comments OR… if he honestly believes that Fred Thompson is a fraud using a conservative “schtick”. I am biased and it helps to talk to people who have a different view of the candidates than I do. I may not agree with their interpretation, but it keeps me honest in looking at the candidate objectively.
Michael in MI on January 6, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Dude. I’ve enjoyed talking to you because you seem to be a bit of a thinker, but come on! What is this? I disagree with MKat so I question her cred? Vote Richardson for President!
Again, here you are defining your view of a third party (AP) by your filter of Fred.
Spirit of 1776 on January 6, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Remember this speech? Fred Thompson speech on Sept. 16, 2001
P. James Moriarty on January 6, 2008 at 4:10 PM
The Fred interview doesn’t bother me at all that much, but is it wise for Fred to be so antagonistic?
I’d really like to see some evidence for Novak’s claim. This is what he said, verbatim:
Published reports that Fred Thompson soon will withdraw from the Republican presidential contest and endorse Sen. John McCain have been traced in part to Mitt Romney’s campaign, trying to stir up strife between McCain and Thompson.
What the h*** does “in part” mean? Maybe I’m missing something, but the only “published report” that I have seen is this from Pat Buchanan, but it’s nothing but a prediction that anyone of us could have made.
The person who is getting hurt by this non-scandal scandal is Mitt, who is being depicted as a dirty trickster with nothing but a half-assed rumor from Novak who has provided nothing to back it up.
OT,
While Fred complains about the media coverage he gets, Fox has been saying all day, that Romney got hit hard, that he’s in trouble in NH, that he’s in trouble in MI, ad nauseum.
Memo to Fox: It is a matter of opinion as to how Mitt did last night. Some of us thought that McCain lost that round. In any case, If Mitt comes in a strong second, it is by no means over.
Buy Danish on January 6, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Hey, I don’t mind people trying to tweak me about my political leanings and feelings. Not one bit. AP does it as good as anyone, and most of the time it’s quite enjoyable.
But I DID get pretty upset when AP pushed those Politico hit pieces on Fred, then Michelle chimed in with her “brutal” and “painful” comments, like they were a stamp of approval. As it turns out, both of those pieces were outright lies.
To the best of my knowledge, neither of them ever has apologized for taking part in that. So yeah, they lost a bit of my trust there and probably will never regain it until they do.
And I honestly would say that regardless of which candidate had gotten hit.
wccawa on January 6, 2008 at 4:10 PM
But he can’t tell us he likes Fred! or else the agitating posts will stop and then where will he get all of his daily entertainment?
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 4:11 PM
I would wager he posts comments to get others to come here and comment, increase traffic, etc. Self-promotion, the same thing Ann Coulter does, and I do on my site, it is advertising frankly.
BTW, I truly ejpy your thoughful posts here, excellent work. Glad that there are others fed up with the style over substance crap.
Gatordoug on January 6, 2008 at 4:12 PM
My thoughts as well. Responsiblity, responsibility. When you are wrong say you are wrong
Gatordoug on January 6, 2008 at 4:14 PM
I’ve already purchased the bumper sticker…I can not bail out now…Go Fred Go!
Ropera on January 6, 2008 at 4:15 PM
My fault then. I read the 1st part of your post as sincere (and legitimate) criticism and carried that impression straight through the 2nd part. I should have read the whole thing as a playful poke. Apologies.
Spirit of 1776 on January 6, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Hey, See-Dub, I liked your assertion about the “Spin Room”. If Fred doesn’t see the need to spin his comments, you’d think that would be a good thing.
joewm315 on January 6, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Allahpundit just loves to push the buttons of Fredheads.
SouthernGent on January 6, 2008 at 4:19 PM
Well most of the GOP needs to stop being “disaffected” and start getting motivated. The fact is we have the candidates that we deserve. The only reason Fred Thompson even got into the race is because he was told that the GOP base was aching for a conservative choice among all the RINOs in the race. What he has found out though is that the “disaffected” GOP didn’t really mean what they said, and instead they are all running back and forth from CINO to CINO to CINO, complaining about being disaffected, instead of rallying around someone who is talking about conservatism and federalism.
I don’t have any sympathy for the GOP right now, when I see them jumping back and forth from bad candidate after bad candidate. And I see people talking moreso about being against things and just wanting to get behind whoever can win, than I see them standing for something and wanting to work hard for a candidate who stands for that something. Actually, Ron Paul supporters seem to be the only ones doing that. Everyone else just reads the polls, reads the agenda articles and watches the debates and 30 second soundbites and then runs to the CINO of the day.
Ooh! Rudy’s the man, I support him. Wait, Huckabee is polling well, I support him. Ooh ooh, McCain slapped down Huckabee, I’m supporting him. Wait, wait, Mitt took down McCain and Rudy, I’m supporting him. And on and on and on….
Maybe if I believed the GOP stood for something other than beating Democrats, I would have some sympathy for this depressed, defeatist “disaffected” stuff.
And my interpretation of AllahPundit is not meant to insult him (though I have done that in moments of immature emotional rants in the past here). It is just based on how I am as a person, and how I interpret things based on what he posts. I’m sure many people would probably call me a homo or something, based on reading my poetry I have written or my attitude about the dating scene now. That interpretation of me is based on how other people are and how they deal with men who have a sensitive and emotional side. That’s just how it is.
But again, I’m just trying to get an idea of where AllahPundit stands so I can interpret his criticisms. Does he just have an anti-Fred schtick to rile up all the Fred Thompson supporters to gain blog hits and comments or… does he really see something about Fred that we are missing that may give us pause and show that Fred Thompson is not a conservative, but it is all rather just a “schtick”.
Michael in MI on January 6, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Fred’s fundraising is about to hit $200K
bnelson44 on January 6, 2008 at 4:21 PM
I think Mitt performed very admirably in that debate. He elevated himself greatly in my eyes, which means he probably completely won over some less cynical and Fred-besotted voters than I.
However, if he doesn’t win in NH, his chances plunge greatly. He will likely not do well in the South without an NH bounce, and while Super Tuesday might hold some big points for him with the western states, it is likely that McCain and Huckabee will take a large bite out of that.
Still, if he has another solid showing in tonight’s debate, he may gain some more ground in NH. Maybe a solid second is all he needs.
joewm315 on January 6, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Thank you. Thank you so much.
MadisonConservative on January 6, 2008 at 4:22 PM
And I really like Fred’s federalism always have, don’t mind his orneryness neither.
Whats different is Republican politics has definitely moved to the right from even a year ago and to keep up with the re emergence of paleo Conservatism (whether its related to an election cycle or an awakening take your pick) Republican minds had to change, we’ve discovered that “We the People” are still in charge, our job boils down to which bullsh*t is the highly vaunted sincere kind and which bullsh*t is the just plain yogurt-always was always will be, kind of landmine.
There seems to be an ever growing chasm between left and right and I hope it grows wide enough that straddlers like McCain and ole Huck can’t bridge it anymore.
Repubs got a fevah and the only prescription is more paleo!
Speakup on January 6, 2008 at 4:24 PM
NP, I thought some of us might like a look at it and remind ourselves what we are about.
P. James Moriarty on January 6, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Is that just online fundraising, or is that the whole shebang?
Spirit of 1776 on January 6, 2008 at 4:25 PM
“I owe you nothing”
Bradky on January 6, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Right, this is pretty much the conclusion I have come to with AllahPundit. It’s all just a shtick to fill comment threads. And that’s fine. Originally though I took it personally and thought he really felt the way he was posting.
I have a friend who is a contrarian. Whenever we all get into a discussion about an issue and people seem to be coming to a concensus of opinion, he always, always throws out a contrarian opinion, even if he doesn’t agree with it. He just takes pleasure in being contrary to everyone else and watching people get annoyed.
I have a friend like that at work who does the same. He allows me to talk about an issue on which I am passionate and then finds the contrary position and argues it with me. I used to think he actually had that position on the issue so I would try to convince him of my side, but he didn’t really care about the issue at all, he was just trying to push my buttons by throwing out other ways of looking at the issue. He used to get me so annoyed, until I figured out his schtick: he doesn’t really care about anything passionately, he just likes to make fun of those who do. My blood pressure has been a lot better since I figured that out. :)
Michael in MI on January 6, 2008 at 4:26 PM
I’d like to see Fred recruit Bolton as an advisor – don’t think JB has aligned himself with anyone yet though I’m not sure. That would be a seriously no-BS team.
wowbagger on January 6, 2008 at 4:26 PM
The reason people haven’t rallied around Thompson is because, in the eloquent words of AP, ‘took his sweet a$$ time’.
I know he shouldn’t have had to get into the race back in the 90s like the rest of the field, but their long haul approach got them money and a solid support network, which is why most of the field is ahead. The early entries dried up most of the big donors and took a lot of big endorsements because of their competence.
People are jumping back and forth on polling numbers because they want to win and they don’t like the candidates. If Fred! had some money and structure, I think more people would be behind him with no wavering.
But right now, it’s just the way things are.
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Conservatives DO need to get behind the one Conservative in the race, frankly, I think many of them are, BUT, A lot of Republicans are lukewarm, acting out of fear. Thay are obssessed with electability, media spin, and are not remembering the lesson of elections past. That lesson is Conservatism BEATS Liberalism in elections when America is presented the two choices in a clear fashion.
Having said that, I will add that Fred can still get it done, the more people see him, the more they like him. I am not sure that applies to Rudy, Mitt, Huck, or McCain.
Gatordoug on January 6, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Yep, he kicks sacred cows and bites the hand that feeds him. Only time will tell if he is a genius or running the most foolish campaign of 2008.
O’Reilly claims that he asked Fred on the Factor for months and months and Fred refused to come on. I have a hard time seeing that as a smart, winning strategy.
Buy Danish on January 6, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Yeah, two yard signs here. There’s no going back. I’m surrounded by Mitt signs on all sides: left, right, and across the street. Southern B’s….who’d a thunk in SC. I get wierd looks as a catholic,
Where’s all that Mormon fear? ///sarc///
sunny on January 6, 2008 at 4:27 PM
It is just an online drive. He raised over $2million during the holidays, and I suspect more since then.
bnelson44 on January 6, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Sec of State Bolton!
Fred!
infidel on January 6, 2008 at 4:28 PM
I’m sure there’s probably a rule in the Geneva Convention banning that much concentrated whup-a$$ in one location. Not that a Thompson-Bolton alliance would pay ANY attention to that.
John_Locke on January 6, 2008 at 4:29 PM
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