Debate Highlights: Fred takes Huck to the woodshed; Update: Fred on “virgins”; Update: Stalking horse?
posted at 9:49 pm on January 10, 2008 by Bryan
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Who wants some piping hot Fred? Here he is taking Mike Huckabee to task for his campaign manager suggesting that the Reagan coalition is dead. Fred then goes on to hammer Huckabee’s liberal tendencies.
Update (AP): Enjoy the attack on Huck, but I hasten to remind you that it’s not Huck who’s ahead right now in SC. If Fred’s unwilling to attack McCain too then he’s not really trying to win, he’s simply trying to take Huck down. Which benefits … McCain.
Update (AP): I’m not accusing Fred of being a stalking horse in intent but in fact. If he won’t attack McCain then he’s forfeiting an opportunity to vault past him.
Update (AP): Some of the commenters are wondering why I think Fred helped McCain tonight by attacking Huckabee after saying a few days ago that he’s probably hurting Mac more than Huck by staying in the race. Answer: The two aren’t mutually exclusive. If he dropped out tomorrow, I think McCain would benefit since the ‘Heads are slightly more likely to break towards the war candidate than the values candidate (I think). By attacking Huck tonight, though, Fred presumably peeled away a few of Huck’s own supporters. It doesn’t really matter where they go since they’ll only amount to a few percent and McCain leads both Mitt and Fred by double digits. It’s a net benefit to him that Huckabee loses supporters, period, even if he loses them to Fred.
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Well… [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
… Fred won, hands down.
Mitt was steady.
bnelson44 on January 10, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Sorry, everybody, I say the winner was McCain.
bert169 on January 10, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Fredalanche!© ◄ Donate!
Fred smokes ‘em
TheSitRep on January 10, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Sorry I don’t see Thompson defending McCain as much as I see Thompson smartly avoiding the possibility of giving legs to an attack someone like Romney could use against him on other issues since Thompson was in the Senate as well.
_
At present the McCain lead is a new development, so I fully expect Thompson will be leveling attacks in that direction next. He does seem to move at his own pace. And if Romney does decide to stay out of SC than he doesn’t have to waste time there.
_
Now if we get down to days before the primary and Thompson has obviously held back against McCain while still going after Huckabee and possible Romney, than I might agree with the assertion. But it could also simply be that Thompson doesn’t believe McCain will actually get any conservative votes in SC, so why bother wasting time on a Media driven candidate that won’t actually get the votes that Thompson is trying to obtain for himself.
woodythesingingcowboy on January 10, 2008 at 10:41 PM
lol
Good one
Sorry, everybody, I say the winner was McCain.
bert169 on January 10, 2008 at 10:40 PM
TheSitRep on January 10, 2008 at 10:41 PM
anyone think Paul was trying to do a lame Reagan impression when Hume was schooling him and he claimed he couldn’t hear?
jp on January 10, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Would someone PLEASE put John Turncoat-Liberal McCain in his place over immigration?!?!?!?
colep on January 10, 2008 at 10:41 PM
So, how hard did Fred slam McCain?
amerpundit on January 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM
No need to apologize for being wrong…:)
broker1 on January 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Stormfront is a small boat that got destroyed by the Destroyer SS HumeRomney.
BKennedy on January 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Fred’s big fense with a big gate that we control is a great soundbite, I would expect to hear it tomorrow.
bnelson44 on January 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM
According to the poll taken by Frank Luntz of Fox News of independants after the debate, Thompson rocked and ruled it. They like him. They were awed by his smackdown of the Huckster…just as the Captain predicted.
Moreover, as your humble Captain predicted, they were of the consensus that Ron was the big loser – just as the Captain predicted.
Let not your heart be troubled, fellow conservatives. The build up the the Battle of Trenton is just beginning.
NemoParticularis on January 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM
lol
Good one
Fredalanche!© ◄ Donate!
TheSitRep on January 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Fred! was the only one who looked presidential. The others looked more like they were running for class president.
stonemeister on January 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM
I Agree with Everyone Re: Fred [Rich Lowry]
He was funny, pointed, substantive, and conservative. Who knew—he’s even better standing up than sitting down!
bnelson44 on January 10, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Fred Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Personally I want to hear who they think was second worst, given that Paul is basically a shoe-in for bottom of the barrel.
BKennedy on January 10, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Sorry, everybody, I say the winner was McCain.
Yeah RIGHT…
He’s so transparent, it’s almost funny.
colep on January 10, 2008 at 10:43 PM
In this debate Ron Paul joked that perhaps he thinks too much about economics. The truth is he does. His ideas about national security are a direct offshoot of his economic theory. His foreign policy is laissez faire.
That doesn’t work.
Keljeck on January 10, 2008 at 10:44 PM
bnelson44 on January 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM
He has been saying it for months now. Guess his message isn’t getting out enough
unseen on January 10, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Ok we need a wager!
I say Ron Paul wins the Fox Poll by 18 Points!
broker1 on January 10, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Fred finally talks about holding business that ILLEGALLY hire ILLEGALS accountable, and that McCain supported that damned amnesty bill while Huckabore trys selling us on the idea that we should assume that everybody here is legal, not illegal. Que?
Fred is getting much better at this.
DannoJyd on January 10, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Well Fred needed a good showing to even compete in this thing and I think he got it. He wasn’t as passive as the previous NH debate and he went after other candidates weaknesses while highlighting his own. He finally presented (IMO) himself as presidential material and worthy of a vote. I’m not casting my dice yet… I just feel that he really did a good job and present himself as candidate that can actually win.
Luckedout on January 10, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Fred did really well. He looked and sounded Presidential. Most importantly he was assertive and looked healthy again. I hope it’s not too little too late.
President: Fred
Veep: Mitt
SecDev: McCain
AG: Rudy
House Chaplin: Huck
Janitor: Ron Paul
TheBigOldDog on January 10, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Geraghty:
Tonight, Fred Reminded Me of Roy Hobbs.
Winner: Thompson. This performance was so commanding, I wanted his last answer to echo back to the lights in the back of the auditorium, blow out all the lamps and spotlights, for the theme to “the Natural” to play, and for him to trot around the stage in slow motion while sparks showered down in the background.
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/
bnelson44 on January 10, 2008 at 10:45 PM
1 Thompson
2 Romney
3 Giuliani
4 Mccain
5 Huckabee
6 Paul
davenp35 on January 10, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Fred was the big winner, McCain pulled a solid 2nd. Huck got knocked down a peg, Mitt held on, Rudy’s campaign has been over for ages.
doubleplusundead on January 10, 2008 at 10:45 PM
1 Thompson
2 Romney
3 Giuliani
4 Mccain
5 Huckabee
6 Paul
I’ll take some of that action!
colep on January 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Agreed!
Fredalanche!© ◄ Donate!
TheSitRep on January 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM
lol, Nelson that’s awesome!
Spirit of 1776 on January 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Fred keeps getting better in these debates. Tonight, he went on the offensive and it was necessary. I expect a 4-5% swing in poll numbers in the next week or so.
frode on January 10, 2008 at 10:47 PM
FRED WON THE DEBATE HANDS DOWN!
maverick muse on January 10, 2008 at 10:47 PM
1 Thompson
2 Romney / Giuliani / McCain
5 Huckabee
654th Paul
bnelson44 on January 10, 2008 at 10:47 PM
Fred did not tackle McCain by name, but his comments on illegal immigrants, ie borders, employers, and go get in the back of the line directly contradict McCain’s bill, despite McCain’s attempts to appear completely different on the issue now.
Starlink on January 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM
I have to disagree.. I thought Giuliani did awful. He was very passive, uninspired, and just repeated the same things we hear every single debate.
1 Thompson
2 Romney
3 McCain
4 Huckabee
5 Giuliani
6 Paul
henzou on January 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Fred won? Even if I was a necon Fred would have put me to sleep. He’s got to be the only actor with his skin not to have a facelift, that maybe goes for lobbyists too. He looked old and tired. The worst part about saying this, he is the “viable” candidate that I like the most, but please, he makes Dole look charismatic.
None of the “viable” candidates won, McCain got smacked down by Paul, so he would probably be the loser, and such a lame joke to layed out on. Really, as far as McCain is concerned how many times in this closely watched campaign season until we get sick of the same lines he’s been using for a decade. Every debate uses the same words, the same bad jokes, except that one where he wanted to be an A-hole to Romney, who was pretty pathetic tonight. Huckabee doesn’t even deserve discussion.
LevStrauss on January 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM
This debate just put to rest any notion that Fred! is lazy.
His debating tonight was actually REAL debating.
Sir Andrew on January 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM
You know how it went, before bedtime last night with Jeri.
“Fred honey, we need to talk about the debate tomorrow and some CHANGES we need to make ok”
broker1 on January 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Awesome, Mitt is loving on Reagan. Wonderful. Keep saying it. Keep saying it. Keep saying it.
Spirit of 1776 on January 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Fred’s the man for the job..Fredalanche!© ◄ Donate!
whiskeytango on January 10, 2008 at 10:49 PM
I just hope this is the last we will have to see of Ron Paul in a debate.
GO FRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Thompson ruled the night, but does anyone think that the reason he took on Huck was possibly to take him down a peg in expectation of his own campaign not going the distance? Kind of a hit job on the worst of the more serious candidates?
matthewbit07 on January 10, 2008 at 10:49 PM
I really wonder who the so called conservatives are that are voting or will vote for McCain. What short memories these people have.
msflea on January 10, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Fred played it smart. No need to attack a war hero and look mean. He attacked the right person. No consequences to jumping on Huck. He wasn’t in a Vietnamese prison. But Fred still got to show his stones. Judging from the Luntz panel, in paid off.
rivlax on January 10, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Unfortunately Allah, Ace with you. As am I, but I hope I am wrong.
broker1 on January 10, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Fred WON HANDS down. Fred lands blows like jackhammers hitting you.
Hucklebee doesn’t have a clue about the world, foreign policy. terrorists or war — He is scary. Mitt does more handstands and backflips than is humanly possible. McCain, is well, he is just McCain … AMNESTY man trying to lie his way out of a disastrous plan that failed. Tells bad jokes.
tarpon on January 10, 2008 at 10:52 PM
I figured I wouldn’t even get chance to vote for Fred on Super Tuesday. Things have really changed tonight!
If Hillary! can turn her fortunes and persona with two minutes of acting human, imagine what Fred has done this evening.
Virgins!
Dorvillian on January 10, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Wow, Bryan wasn’t kidding when he said that Fred took Huck to the woodshed. That was one heck of a spanking. Enjoyed the virgins line, too, of course.
I heard that Fred is cookin’ some RINOs on his grill and making some burgers… I like my RINOs well-done and thoroughly charred.
knob on January 10, 2008 at 10:52 PM
I don’t think so actually. I think he took the opportunity and smashed a liberal position. Now if he would man up against McCain, then that’d be something. The advantage is that SC might still harbor some bad feelings re: Mac.
Spirit of 1776 on January 10, 2008 at 10:52 PM
I think it was because he was an easy target and somebody needed to do it. He does not belong on that stage.
TheBigOldDog on January 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM
The Huckster got FREDucated
Go donate at http://www.fred08.com and save the reagan Coalition
ReaganConservative3 on January 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Did anybody attack McCain during this whole debate?
bert169 on January 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM
I enjoyed Fred in this debate but honestly there were a lot of winners there tonight. Personally tonight I found that I probably can stand to hold my nose and vote for anyone of them except Ron Paul and McCain. And even though I wouldn’t vote for Ron Paul I do now understand his platform much better than before. McCain rocks on national security but I don’t vote for Democrats plus he’s lying about ShAmnesty and about hearing the people on that issue. He’s still a Teddy Kennedy massive voter fraud fanboy. This debate even softened my opinion of Rudy to the point I think I could vote for him if he was the one. Even liked Huckabee to the point where I could see that he would be better than Hillary or Obama if push came to shove. Does Mitt have little tiny hands or was that just my TV?
Buzzy on January 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Thinking about this non-attack on McCain by Fred. SC is a conservative state. If Fred can get Huck’s voters he, by just being himself, will get the conservative vote. The reason McCain is up now in SC is because of his NH bounce, which wasn’t that much and is easily overcome. This may be a good strategy by Fred.
He pulled it off tonight anyway. Now if he just stays awake for the next 5 days.
bnelson44 on January 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM
I wasn’t paying much attention to Huck’s response but read about it elsewhere – did he really reference the Minnesota bridge collapse by saying ‘we lost no bridges in Arkansas?’ If so I think that’s quite distasteful.
scotch amy on January 10, 2008 at 10:55 PM
No one needed to. McCain was just that flat.
yo on January 10, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Yep, he did.
doubleplusundead on January 10, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Yeah, but Mac has another natural constituency here with highest number of ret. military. Fred’s got to knock into it.
Spirit of 1776 on January 10, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Good sign..Fred’s money meter on his web site is not slowing down. This was a good show for him. If he stays like he was tonight, SC could be the momentum swing that can turn it around.
AUINSC on January 10, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Fred’s site is down!
liberrocky on January 10, 2008 at 10:58 PM
That may be tough.
bnelson44 on January 10, 2008 at 10:58 PM
More than any other debate, Huckster reminded me very much of Billy Jeff Clinton tonight. “I didn’t raise taxes, but I’ll tell you what I did raise. Hope.” Gag me.
Fred won, hands down.
matd on January 10, 2008 at 10:58 PM
He’s the front runner. When has anybody ever heard of a front runner being left alone during a debate?
He attacked Huck, for sure. But Huck handled him well (damn it). I’m just thinking that he’s thinking McCain is going to fizzle out. That’s a hell of an assumption.
bert169 on January 10, 2008 at 10:59 PM
I’m not sure it’s down, but it has gotten really really slow. And if it is down, he better fix it fast. Big bucks are headed his way.
AUINSC on January 10, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Did Fred’s site crash?
TheBigOldDog on January 10, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Ron Paul willed it so.
Seriously – either he’s getting swamped with traffic (?), or someone needs to call shenanigan’s
yo on January 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM
If Fred got through to Christian conservatives that Huck is a liberal, he did himself more good than he would have by attacking the aged veteran.
NellE on January 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Yeah it crashed. Someone call GeekSquad!
liberrocky on January 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM
I agree. That’s why Fred HAS to hit McCain on immigration like he did Huck. This friendly distinction stuff isn’t going to do it, he must make the ramifications so clear that reconsider what amnesty means. And remind the SOUTH that he and his little buddy thought of opponents as bigots!
Spirit of 1776 on January 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM
The Paul nuts need to be rounded up and have their cell phones confiscated.
yo on January 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Well, according to the Fox poll, Ron Paul won. I guess that shows all of us.
bert169 on January 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM
I enjoyed Brit’s cornering of Paul re: Troofers. is the rEVOLution over?
DrW on January 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Beto Ochoa recalls McCain’s bad temper when the surge was being promoted before it happened, McCain saying it wouldn’t work–basically, too little, too late.
ok, Rudy, you’re done now
’cause the WINNER is on next!
GO FRED!
maverick muse on January 10, 2008 at 11:01 PM
The front page did
bnelson44 on January 10, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Itis back up
liberrocky on January 10, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Fred smacks Harry Reid.
Bless you, sir!
yo on January 10, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Ron Paul 35% in winning the debate, according to Fox’s phone in poll.
I’m still laughing (and crying) that so many people will believe those stats.
Gunny on January 10, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Fred is correct that NOW is the time for conservatives to make their stand on his platform; united we stand strong.
maverick muse on January 10, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Dang Fred is still on fire. “The only measure is success.” Plus a shot at Reid.
Spirit of 1776 on January 10, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Fred smacks Colmes.
Fred’s on a rampage. I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls Arianna’s head out of his jacket pocket.
yo on January 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM
LOL!!!!
bnelson44 on January 10, 2008 at 11:05 PM
I love it, FRED’S SURGE.
Moderator bitch Combs won’t chew what he’s trying to bite off.
maverick muse on January 10, 2008 at 11:06 PM
HAHAHAHAA!!! Good one, yo!
doubleplusundead on January 10, 2008 at 11:06 PM
I move that we declare Fred! president by acclamation.
Seconds? Alla?
peski on January 10, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Allah’s still screaming into his refrigerator after seeing the Luntz group.
yo on January 10, 2008 at 11:07 PM
No one laid a hand on McCain and he got gobs of talk time (him and Paul). Huck was his typical winning personality, the bastard. Rudy was logical and got his point across. Mitt seemed desperate to make a difference, but couldn’t distinguish himself. Fred had a few predicable one liners, but otherwise was invisible. I’d love to say my man won, but unfortunately:
McCain
Huck
Rudy
Mitt
Fred
Paul
P.S. I just got my mother in law to mail in her CA absentee ballot for Rudy. He is already getting votes in the golden state.
tommylotto on January 10, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I agree as well
Nascar70 on January 10, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Fred put it all together & smack dab hit the spot.
This man has it right!
maverick muse on January 10, 2008 at 11:10 PM
That’s good news for Fred. The demand was there and he showed up tonight.
TheBigOldDog on January 10, 2008 at 11:10 PM
@ tommylotto
Clearly-
1 Thompson
2 Romney
3 Giuliani
4 McCain
5 Huckabee
6 Paul
Blogers from HotAir agree with my order…
davenp35 on January 10, 2008 at 11:11 PM
JOHN PODHORETZ: “Fred Thompson is not only winning this debate, he is giving the most commanding debate performance we’ve seen from any candidate in either party since the beginning of this endless primary process.”
bnelson44 on January 10, 2008 at 11:12 PM
And the hits keep on coming for the Huckster
TheBigOldDog on January 10, 2008 at 11:12 PM
I think there is way too much credance being paid to the McCain/vets attraction. I’m a vet myself and would find it near to impossible to vote for the man. And I have plenty of vet friends who feel the same or stronger. There is a large pocket of veterans here in western Tennessee as well, but the candidate of choice is surely not McCain. Mac is indeed a ‘hero’ by virtue of his POW status and he does appear a good leader. I just don’t want to follow those footsteps and go where he wants to lead.
dustoffmom on January 10, 2008 at 11:13 PM
I’d like to agree, but I think it’s wrong. Huck scored consolidation points with his base with his Israel answer and his marriage answer.
Spirit of 1776 on January 10, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Huck wants Guantanamo in his house. Huck UNDERSTANDS the criminal mind and wants to prove his own ability to cure terrorists of terrorism.
maverick muse on January 10, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Cool. A black Republican not related to me. Hey Sis!
baldilocks on January 10, 2008 at 11:14 PM
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