Fred: Attacking McCain is just what Huckabee wants me to do
posted at 5:26 pm on January 16, 2008 by Allahpundit
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The reverse stalking horse argument: It’s not that he’s doing McCain’s bidding by attacking Huck, it’s that he’d be doing Huck’s bidding by attacking McCain. The new Clemson poll taken over the past week shows him stuck in fourth, 19 points behind McCain (but with 17 percent still undecided). Memo to Fred: Attack both.
Huck’s going to start his own bombing campaign shortly. Meanwhile, Cavuto senses the buzzards circling in anticipation of Saturday night and wonders — would Fred endorse Huck? Hey, why not? He’s against amnesty, just like he’s against federal smoking bans and immigration from terrorist states. What’s not to love?
Incidentally, Cavuto had Ed Rollins, Huck’s campaign manager, on immediately after this to respond to Fred. His verdict: Talk to me when you beat Ron Paul somewhere.
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I am starting to feel a depressing Saturday night coming! Say it ain’t so.
melachiro on January 16, 2008 at 5:28 PM
How convienent! Fred certainly doesn’t want to damage his chances of being VP to Mcamnesty.
And you thought I was full of it when I said Fred wants amnesty and is a fraud!
HaraldHardrada on January 16, 2008 at 5:29 PM
convenient
HaraldHardrada on January 16, 2008 at 5:29 PM
He did attack McCain last I checked…and Cavuto is absurd if he thinks that Thompson would endorse Huck. Also, for the media to actually go along with this story that Fred and McCain are allied is irresponsible. I think that Fred has a good point here. Huck is trying to get free attack ads against McCain that don’t put egg in his own face. Huck is growing desperate.
ApartforHaShem on January 16, 2008 at 5:30 PM
No. We said it when you said Huck wasn’t.
snickelfritz on January 16, 2008 at 5:31 PM
What Harald? I’ll wager a pretty nickle that Fred has no desire to be VP. The guy quit the senate after 2 terms, why would he want to rejoin it from the executive slant?
ApartforHaShem on January 16, 2008 at 5:31 PM
I just hope Fred makes it to Super Duper Awesome Tuesday… otherwise I will have wasted my time declaring as a Republican.
12thman on January 16, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Busting a gut? Fred hasn’t even lifted a finger.
If Fred doesn’t attack McCain he isn’t in it to win it. Screw whatever Huckabee says.
CABE on January 16, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Rogue Warrior ™ style:
When in doubt, attack!
Frozen Tex on January 16, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Hm, I was going to make a joke about Fred and Diabold, but instead I’ll say that I actually like him turning it around, after a week of being asked about it, to attack Huck again. That works for me.
Spirit of 1776 on January 16, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Knock Huckabee out, who’s the media darling, and someone has to fill the void. Fred?
Vizzini on January 16, 2008 at 5:38 PM
Fire, meet belly.
sleepy-beans on January 16, 2008 at 5:38 PM
When do these start to matter?
Delegate count.
Also [cut and paste]
(For some reason hotair.com won’t let me link to the CNN delegate count.)
geckomon on January 16, 2008 at 5:38 PM
Fred’s stuck in 4th in SC and 5th in FL. He hasn’t moved. He didn’t win anything in Mich. I don’t see him moving at all in SC. Coming in 4th in SC will pretty much doom his campaign.
SC is a “must win” for Huck and a “should win” for McCain. McCain will survive a 2nd place in SC, I don’t know if Huck will. Mitt will probably come in at least 3rd in SC riding his Mich win (and maybe come in 2nd). That leaves Fred solidly in 4th.
bnelson44 on January 16, 2008 at 5:38 PM
Put http:// in front of it:
http://cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#val=R
bnelson44 on January 16, 2008 at 5:40 PM
Here is some hope for ya Allah…..if Fred endorses Huckashuck I’ll quit posting.
Limerick on January 16, 2008 at 5:40 PM
I feel dizzy
windansea on January 16, 2008 at 5:40 PM
I’m callin Fred! now
bnelson44 on January 16, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Ouch!
lan astaslem on January 16, 2008 at 5:42 PM
I tried it using the link button. Twice on another post. I didn’t even get the “being considered” message. However, it worked for you. . .
geckomon on January 16, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn Endorses John McCain For President
bnelson44 on January 16, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Embrace the Fair Tax Fred! The Hucksters I know support him solely because he is a Fair Tax advocate and would jump to Fred, Mitt, or even Rudy if they would get on board.
conservativecaveman on January 16, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Fred! Waited way too long to actually try. He should be bashing McCain, and Huckabee. So should everyone else….
therightwinger on January 16, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Iowa, Wyoming. That’s s ridiculous statement by Ed Rollins.
geckomon on January 16, 2008 at 5:46 PM
It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again. I like Fred, but he’ll probably be out soon. A defeat for Huckabee and McCain is a victory for conservatism and America! The only candidate who consistantly gets large numbers of conservatives to support him is Mitt Romney. This should be a clear message to all conservatives about who they need to rally around. Mitt currently has 52 delegates (and will soon have Nevada with 34 more going into Super Tuesday)and the next highest is 22 (Huckabee). Go Mitt!
davenp35 on January 16, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Fred has a point, here. McCain’s voters are Independents and Democrats, as we’ve seen from the last two primaries. Huck’s voters, those who ARE Republicans, those who vote pro-life, etc., are the voters that should be interested in the conservatism Fred says he stands for. It’s not McCain whose got Fred’s voters, it’s Huckabee. Attacking Huckabee should be the way to shake them loose. FWIW.
snickelfritz on January 16, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Huck wants to be McCains VP water carrier sooooo bad. He knows John’s too old to run again, he can bask in the military love for 4 years, make some international trips and find out just where these countries really are and how you spell them,….. adjust, then readjust his positions according to what God tells him, and go for the gold in 2012. I’m telling ya, he will not be denied. What stronger supporter can any candidate have, than the Almighty?
a capella on January 16, 2008 at 5:48 PM
snickelfritz hit the nail right on the head.
Fred! has nothing to gain from attacking McCain. His target is and should be Huckabee, the pandering, flip-flopping Pro-Life, Pro-Gun Democrat. He’s the one tearing apart the conservative coalition, not McShamnesty. Stop Huckabee and Fred! might just have a chance of wooing these misguided Evangelical Christian GOP voters.
HebrewToYou on January 16, 2008 at 5:49 PM
He wasn’t asked if he’d “endorse” Huckabee, but if he’d “support” Huck should he be the nominee of the Republican party. I felt Fred’s answer was kind of in the general sense that whoever the nominee of the party is, he’ll support him; probably as will many other Republicans (excluding me, lol) because of the argument that any R is better than any D. I wish, though, that Fred had answered the question by saying that he wouldn’t have to worry about supporting Huck because he himself will be the nominee. But Fred answred the question directly instead.
-Aslan’s Girl (on this side of the wardrobe door…)
Aslans Girl on January 16, 2008 at 5:50 PM
Okay.
thirteen28 on January 16, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Mitt did win MI, but I don’t think he’s going to do well in SC. First of all, he is going to limit his personal effort there to capitalize on NV, where he will probably win. Could finish in top 3, or come in 4. McCain would have more momentum if he had won MI, but he didn’t. Probably come in 1 or 2 in SC. Huck hasn’t had a win since Iowa, has a chance in SC, but I think he will end up 3 or 4.
I’m a Fred supporter, but I definitely see an opening for him in 1 or 2 in SC. If he pulls it off, he gains lots of momentum. If he’s at 3 or 4, it’s probably over.
My optimistic projection is Fred 1, McCain 2, Mitt 3 and Huck 4. We’ll see on Sat.!
cs89 on January 16, 2008 at 5:53 PM
McCain will likely kill his own chances.
Huckabee has a following with its eyes glazed over so he MUST be stopped by another candidate or candidates.
EJDolbow on January 16, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Iowa? Wyoming? Bueller?
MadisonConservative on January 16, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Well if that plan doesn’t work out, look for him to run for Senate seat from NY.
Spirit of 1776 on January 16, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Echo . . . heh :)
geckomon on January 16, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Memo to Ed Rollins: talk to me when Huck can win with more than just evangelicals (who he couldn’t even carry in Michigan).
A couple of other points about Fred attacking McVain: While I definitely think he should go after McVain’s record, he’s probably only going to get the undecideds. Those who have decided on McVain already will not be swayed, because they don’t care about issues, only McVain’s biography.
The other point is that Fred needs to be careful to not be seen as attacking McVain’s character, becuase the biography noted above does garner him sympathy, even among many that don’t otherwise support him.
But remarks like this by Fred (in reference to McVain) are right on target:
thirteen28 on January 16, 2008 at 6:03 PM
Memo to Rollins; every place Thompson has put even a modicum of effort in (namely, Iowa and Wyoming), he’s beaten Paul-Nut like a drum.
steveegg on January 16, 2008 at 6:04 PM
Folks, let’s just wait to see what Saturday brings. With how many times everyone has been wrong this year, there is no point of overspeculating until real voters have their say. Let’s look back:
- Giuliani as front-runner
- Fred non-announcement, is a top candidate
- McCain as front-runner, Huckabee nowhere
- Huckabee as front-runner, McCain dead
- McCain as front-runner, Romney dead
- Romney as front-runner
And we have not reached 5% of delegates selected!
michaelo on January 16, 2008 at 6:04 PM
Would any Fredhead actually go to…Huckabee?!
Tzetzes on January 16, 2008 at 6:04 PM
I’m disappointed in Coburn.
TX Mom on January 16, 2008 at 6:05 PM
I love the line about “big boy stuff.” Huckabee is not a big boy.
Tzetzes on January 16, 2008 at 6:05 PM
I may have been late to the party, but neither you nor MadisonConservative got in the drum reference.
steveegg on January 16, 2008 at 6:06 PM
Would any Fredhead actually go to…Huckabee?!
Tzetzes on January 16, 2008 at 6:04 PM
Yes. Don’t you worry, all Fredheads will come home to Huckabee after Fred drops out saturday night!
HaraldHardrada on January 16, 2008 at 6:09 PM
I thought that Peter Boyle died sheesh..
Chakra Hammer on January 16, 2008 at 6:09 PM
“Pakistan? Shazaam, I don’t remember that one in the Bible…”
Tzetzes on January 16, 2008 at 6:09 PM
I can’t believe these polls that at the same time show that illegal immigration is a major concern, usually right behind the WOT or the economy, while at the same time they go for the Shamnesty sponsor McCain and in-state tuition advocate and illegal alien sympathizer Huck.
Are they stupid? Faking responses? Bipolar? Schizophrenic? E – all of the above.
Hunter, Thompson, and (hopefully) Romney are the only safe bets on this issue with attrition by enforcement.
fred5678 on January 16, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Fred! came off testy in this exchange and I liked it. He’s right-who cares about campaign buffoonery when we have real issues like the war to talk about.
Ed Rollins makes me want to shower with Rid. He refers to himself in the third person. He sounds like a real jerk.
NTWR on January 16, 2008 at 6:10 PM
The term Fred is looking for is—multi-tasking, you can do two things at once…or can you?
right2bright on January 16, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Fred delivers another wallop to Huck. As for McCain here’s where Fred amd Mac part ways: Fred’s immigration stand)
HotAirExpert on January 16, 2008 at 6:11 PM
If only Fred were interested in building himself up instead of attacking others.
Oh right, that would require him to not be an incompetent non-factor who might as well be an idea bank for other candidates in the general.
BKennedy on January 16, 2008 at 6:13 PM
Saving that for you!
geckomon on January 16, 2008 at 6:15 PM
Fred seems to be singing a new since September.
Fred: “I’m willing to discuss the issues with ‘em face to face…” Oh really?
Anybody remember when he said he wasn’t in a hurry to join the debates because he really couldn’t get in-depth on the issues? Anyone remember when he said he would much prefer to have a Lincoln-Douglas type debate? Anyone remember when Huck challenged him to such a debate? Anyone remember that Fred declined?
medguy on January 16, 2008 at 6:15 PM
MadisonConservative on January 16, 2008 at 6:15 PM
If only. . .
geckomon on January 16, 2008 at 6:16 PM
Huh? Nope. This “Fredhead” (and evangelical Christian) would go to Mitt before Huckaschmuck.
Frozen Tex on January 16, 2008 at 6:16 PM
If only BKennedy were interested in building a candidate up instead of attacking one.
Oh right, that would require him not to be an incompetent non-factor who might as well be a copycat for other Fred haters in general.
MadisonConservative on January 16, 2008 at 6:17 PM
&
&
I agree^3 but if Fred! doesn’t come in 1st or a close 2nd in SC, he’s unfortunately toast.
omnipotent on January 16, 2008 at 6:25 PM
New to the Scene?
fred.. how long it take you to get into the race?
has your record and votes been vetted?
Does everyone know about your lobbying efforts?
I doubt it.
Chakra Hammer on January 16, 2008 at 6:26 PM
Harald, all Fredheads are smart enough to know that giving the nomination to Huckabee or McCain would be disasterous.
davenp35 on January 16, 2008 at 6:26 PM
100% with you on that. Will be voting D if Huck is the nom.
melda on January 16, 2008 at 6:27 PM
Somebody had better produce a picture of McCain’s black love child real quick.
The Coburn endorsement is the only thing I have ever disagreed with him on.
Valiant on January 16, 2008 at 6:27 PM
He should Smile more, and shave those little hairs off the top of his head.
It’s distracting..
Chakra Hammer on January 16, 2008 at 6:27 PM
Fred aint going to be ANYBODY’S VP!
edgehead on January 16, 2008 at 6:28 PM
I’ll be staying home if Huck or McCain is on the ballot.
edgehead on January 16, 2008 at 6:29 PM
Pathetic.
MadisonConservative on January 16, 2008 at 6:29 PM
Frankly, the only way I’d support Huck would be if it somehow came down to just him and Paul.
Having said that, If Huckaschmuck does get the nomination, I’ll still vote for him against Obamillary.
Frozen Tex on January 16, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Ironic, coming from a Rudy supporter.
RushBaby on January 16, 2008 at 6:31 PM
and on that note, I’ll be voting by absentee ballot by way of Texas, so I don’t know how necessary my vote will be anyway…
Frozen Tex on January 16, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Yep.
Message: conservatives are stupid.
Centerfire on January 16, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Rudy Got rid of the combover he’s now clean shavin’ :)
Go Rudy!
Chakra Hammer on January 16, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Would an elephant date an ant?
Entelechy on January 16, 2008 at 6:35 PM
If Fred’s attacks have any motive other than trying to win the nomination, it would be to dispatch the Jesus candidate from the race permanently. Fred is a patriot and would fall on his sword to protect this country from that religious gibot.
It is alarming to know that there are religious zealots in this country that vote for HuckaGantry because of his religion.
csdeven on January 16, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Huh? Nope. This “Fredhead” (and evangelical Christian) would go to Mitt before Huckaschmuck.
Frozen Tex on January 16, 2008 at 6:16 PM
Amen Brother!
flytier on January 16, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Wow! Conservatives are stupid? Why do you even comment here?
davenp35 on January 16, 2008 at 6:37 PM
Does the color of the child have any bearing on the subject?
csdeven on January 16, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Look at Rudy smiling at Huckabee’s Combover..
http://i13.tinypic.com/73evepx.jpg
Chakra Hammer on January 16, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Not this one.
I’ve said before and I’ll say again: a GOP that is too dumb and degenerate to nominate the only guy in the race who’s actually a conservative has lost me as a supporter. Enjoy getting buttreamed by President Obama or President Romney, folks; I tried to warn you.
Centerfire on January 16, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Don’t try and hide the bald spot..
Give it up, already… ;)
Chakra Hammer on January 16, 2008 at 6:40 PM
DLTDHYOTWO
davenp35 on January 16, 2008 at 6:40 PM
LOL … Awesome!
thirteen28 on January 16, 2008 at 6:41 PM
No one who is considering voting for Fred would ever vote for McCain ( even though the two are in cahoots ) or Huckabee so what does Fred lose by beating up McCain? Fraud Thompson, sorry.
We need to all speak as one and support Duncan Hunter.
Buddahpundit on January 16, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Ask your favorite amnesty advocate (McCain, Huck, or Rudy) what they would do to solve this mess in San Diego. Or why they advocate for policies that helped PROMOTE its existence.
It takes a village of idiots to elect any one of these 3 clowns.
fred5678 on January 16, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Mitt is out front in the delegate count.
So could a Romney/Thompson ticket be so bad/inconcievable?
sonnyspats1 on January 16, 2008 at 6:47 PM
I think it might be discussed behind the scenes if Fred decides to drop out, but I doubt he would accept the offer. We’ll probably never hear about this though.
davenp35 on January 16, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Reading comprehension skills are in short supply around here, it would seem.
The guy I was responding to suggested that conservative support for Romney sends a clear message. I agreed, saying that the message it sends is that conservatives are stupid.
To elaborate a little, the message it sends is that conservatives have inexplicably arrived at the conclusions that:
* A lifelong political weathervane who, aside from some perfunctory throat-clearing about gay marriage, repeatedly betrayed conservative principles during his tenure as Massachusetts governor would if elected President somehow find religion and govern as a conservative.
* A guy with the highest built-in opposition of any candidate, and who polls show losing the general election in a landslide to either Hillary or Obama, is the most electable of the GOP candidates.
Maybe “stupid” is too strong a word. Maybe “delusional” is better. I don’t know.
Is there some other conclusion that I should be drawing from Romney’s success?
Centerfire on January 16, 2008 at 6:52 PM
A McCain-Huckabee ticket is definately in the works. Not only does Huckabee never attack McCain, McCain never attacks Huckabee either. Also, McCain needs Huck on the ticket to help him get the evangelical vote, and Huckabee needs McCain to help shore up his military and foreign policy credentials.
It would be the most liberal Republican ticket in decades. I don’t care what any of the polls say with those two at the top of the ticket we would suffer our worst loss evah. Not only would the Republican party lose but the country would lose by the way they would govern.
joncoltonis on January 16, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Fraud Thompson!? Fraud Thompson!? Get it? Fred . . . Fraud . . . Fred . . . Fraud . . . . .
Thompson!
LOL! ROTFLMAO! LOL (again)!
LOL (one more time) . . . . . . (sigh).
. . . fraud thompson . . . . . . sheesh. I tell ya.
(sigh)
I gotta go pee now.
geckomon on January 16, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Nightmare scenario. On the other hand, I’d have an extra day of vacation next November.
fred5678 on January 16, 2008 at 6:57 PM
If you must know, I was the one who originally coined Fraud! Thompson, while csdeven was still doing “What’s a dollar?”
It wasn’t that hard, really, but hey, it worked at agitating the Fraud!heads.
BKennedy on January 16, 2008 at 7:01 PM
Ditto.
Aslans Girl on January 16, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Your first point is dead on since I’m the guy you responded to. I don’t know your background but I’d probably be willing to bet I know a LOT more about proper judgment/decision making abilities since it’s one of my academic areas of specialization. I’m not here to debate that though. If the decision is between Romney, Huckabee, McCain, Obama, and Hillary, the choice is obvious. You go with the guy most likely to govern in a conservative manner. This is common sense stuff. Thompson is conservative, but he isn’t a perfect conservative. Taking this high and mighty “purist” stance and huffing and puffing because your guy couldn’t get the nomination is foolish. All elections are about supporting the lesser or all evils. ALL elections.
davenp35 on January 16, 2008 at 7:02 PM
You must repent, now!
Entelechy on January 16, 2008 at 7:02 PM
I think we can all agree that Fred has no chance in SC. He’s finished!!!
froghat on January 16, 2008 at 7:05 PM
Mega Ditto!
1. Fred!
2. Mitt
3. Write in vote for Fred!
Those are my only choices in either the primary or the general election. If Fred! is on the ballot he gets my vote. And if Mitt isn’t on the ballot, Fred! will get my write in vote.
SimplyKimberly on January 16, 2008 at 7:06 PM
My List:
1) Romney
2) Fred
3) Giuliani
4) McCain
5)Paul
6) Huckabee
davenp35 on January 16, 2008 at 7:10 PM
The absurdity condinues…Huckabee is the last on my list of candidates. Really hard to imagine many FredHeads being interested in another dope from Hope. I don’t like Mitt much, but he’s worlds better than Huck. No, he’s galaxies better. Can’t stand Huckabee. Period.
redneck hippie on January 16, 2008 at 7:13 PM
My list:
Fred
Mitt
McCain
Rudy
Huck
http://www.fred08.com
redneck hippie on January 16, 2008 at 7:15 PM
My list
1.Huckabee
2.Rudy
3.Fred
4.Mitt
HaraldHardrada on January 16, 2008 at 7:18 PM
Guess it is possible to do push polling while posting to hotair.
redneck hippie on January 16, 2008 at 7:21 PM
We know how to get things done!
HaraldHardrada on January 16, 2008 at 7:23 PM
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