Quote of the day
posted at 10:47 pm on April 3, 2008 by Allahpundit
“There’s nothing more dangerous than a television personality with dead air time that he has to fill up,” Thompson said. “Controversy is the name of the game, and sometimes it’s generated when it’s not really there.”
Blowback
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I miss you Fred! You left us too soon, you should have hung in there a bit longer.
CrimsonFisted on April 3, 2008 at 10:51 PM
I’ll be. I completely agree with Mr. Thompson
Also find this interesting. Coming as it does from Mr. 2 Americas – designed to create discord.
Spirit of 1776 on April 3, 2008 at 10:52 PM
F.D.T.
Man do I miss that basset hound face on the pages of HA :(
VolMagic on April 3, 2008 at 10:56 PM
I sure wish he had made the cut. He’d be cutting the dems to pieces in a slow southern drawl.
But we’ve got what we’ve got. Just have to make the best of it.
techno_barbarian on April 3, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Fred’s right.
Connie on April 3, 2008 at 10:58 PM
I was worried about Fred due to his age being VP. But I have no reservations about his ability to fill the top spot.
William Amos on April 3, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Just wait ’til 2012.
MadisonConservative on April 3, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Part of his problem was his lack of excitement and enthusiasm. I doubt how much “cutting” he be doing.
amerpundit on April 3, 2008 at 11:00 PM
so what do you think is next for the old man??
cabinet position? but which one?
Drunk Report on April 3, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Them two need to get themselves a sitcom.
ninjapirate on April 3, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Romney and Thompson on the same night. Allah has TWO spoons stirring the pot tonight!! ;-)
SouthernGent on April 3, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Fred would be a GREAT v.p., but it would also look like an old man ticket. Much as I hate to say it, Romney’s a more likely choice.
As for being bitter, FRED has every right to be, especially with THE POLITICO. They cheapshotted him every chance they got, and the two links provided are PRIME EXAMPLES.
FRED STILL RULES!!
bigred on April 3, 2008 at 11:10 PM
FRED!
KCB on April 3, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Fellow FredHeads! I think you should check out this video of teh Fred pwning teh Michael Moore….
malan89 on April 3, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Go make a living. You shouldn’t have quit your show anyway.
This election is about cleaning house.
John McCain, Lindsey Graham and their likes need to go away.
Let the Democrats win this year. Maybe the Republicans will realize how much they screwed up for over 10 years.
The Republicans deserve to lose.
They must lose. They must be slapped on the face to wake up.
Kinda like a complacent America and September 11 and another major attack on the Homeland.
Indy Conservative on April 3, 2008 at 11:16 PM
’08 was over for me the day Fred dropped out.
Oh hey, BTW, did RushBaby and some of the others here ever have that drink with CSDeven or was everybody too depressed about McCain?
FloatingRock on April 3, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Did you happen to notice in the thread earlier today about Obama’s apposition to concealed carry that the Communist Party USA’s position on gun control is the same as Rudy Giuliani’s?
FloatingRock on April 3, 2008 at 11:23 PM
There is something that Fredheads and Rombots and Rudywhatevers can agree on. The Republican primary system needs to be reformed so that a conservative has a chance at winning the nomination.
Bill C on April 3, 2008 at 11:24 PM
Of course Fred would accept if McCain and
McCain only asks him. I would accept if McCain asked me.
Mike D. on April 3, 2008 at 11:24 PM
Honest, not bitter.
funky chicken on April 3, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Yeah, well that’s your opinion. He made the debates a hell of a lot more interesting. But it doesn’t matter now anyway, does it?
techno_barbarian on April 3, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Fred…mentum.
*sigh*
joewm315 on April 3, 2008 at 11:32 PM
I liked Fred, but he turned me off all by himself. Some folksy logic is good and all, but you can’t talk to the whole country like that. People who pay taxes and pay attention to the U.S. government wanted answers, and Fred decided to provide few. I went from estatic that Fred made his bid to “WTF” by the time he dropped out.
His half hearted effort, and that’s a fair observation, reaped exactly what his campaign put forth planted. He ran a “popularity contest” and lost.
Sorry Fred, this is not American Idol.
Hog Wild on April 3, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Say it with me, people…CLOSED PRIMARY.
malan89 on April 3, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Speaking of which, where the hell is csdeven, I haven’t seen him in ages.
doubleplusundead on April 3, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Fred had the most detailed positions of anybody in the race, which is probably still true even as of now.
Yes it is, that’s how we got stuck with McCain.
FloatingRock on April 3, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Respectfully, but bull. He had and published concrete plans that were exactly what I wanted to see implemented. He was a mature and adult voice of reason. I want a president. Not a friggin’ rock star.
All this utter crap about no ‘enthusiasm’ and ‘energy’ is exactly that; crap. American Idol is exactly what the race for the most powerful position in the world has become. All flash and no substance.
I would much rather be pulling for Fred now, than McC.
techno_barbarian on April 3, 2008 at 11:39 PM
FRED! didn’t think he was automatically destined to be President…..he was willing to be President if we , the people, wanted him to. Evidently we didn’t.
KCB on April 3, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Too bad.
KCB on April 3, 2008 at 11:42 PM
I agree with you sentiments. Between your sentiments and your nickname, I’m reminded–very positively reminded–of the French word “bricolage”. It means tinkering, but in a barbaric make the best of it kind of way.
thuja on April 3, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Fred will not be VP because he looks old, not because he is. The guy is 64 or something. That’s hardly old. But with McCain so old, my guess is that they will pick some young and fresh gov.
thatcher on April 3, 2008 at 11:46 PM
After all the anticipation, he announced and then …….. nothing … no fire in the belly. He didn’t want it bad enough …..
gstrickler on April 3, 2008 at 11:47 PM
Yes, we all know that Fred has the conservatism many of us are looking for but I’m not sure that his resume and list of accomplishments are any more impressive than Hillary’s.
He entered the race because he got sick of his wife saying that he should run. He put in a half-assed effort, withdrew, then turned to Jeri and said “are you happy now”? How he managed to fool so many people into thinking that he was a serious candidate really impresses me so I’ll give him that.
Good luck in future endeavors, Fred. MITT 2012!!!
Greenhorn on April 3, 2008 at 11:48 PM
I didn’t spend much time reading comments here for a while after Fred dropped out but I haven’t heard anything from CSD since I’ve been back(ish).
FloatingRock on April 3, 2008 at 11:50 PM
I’m with malan89 on this one. CLOSED PRIMARIES PERIOD. I think Fred! would’ve had a decent shot if they had been closed. I also would MUCH rather be pulling for Fred! than McCain. Fred! got $$$$ outta this cheapskates’ wallet. That NEVER happened before.
rtsidedragon on April 3, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Fred said it well, when the liberal media has nothing they throw sh*t against the walls to see what sticks or has everyone forgotten the NYT Mccain “sex scandal”…they had no proof but their reporters were just saying…
PatriotPete on April 3, 2008 at 11:53 PM
He had plenty of opportunities. Until the end, he just about refused to go after McCain. Regardless of what he personally believed or thought, man saw him as slow and unenthusiastic. It ended up as a running joke.
amerpundit on April 3, 2008 at 11:58 PM
You can see clips from Fred’s speech at CTIA’s website. Just look in the upper left corner for Day 3 video. Fairly sure the full video will be up in the next couple days. (Yes, I may work at CTIA)
The Hort on April 3, 2008 at 11:58 PM
By the time 2012 rolls around Mitt will likely have reinvented himself two, maybe three times. How can you be so sure you’ll still like the new and improved Mitt?
FloatingRock on April 4, 2008 at 12:02 AM
Anyone watching La Hillary on Jay Leno?
SouthernGent on April 4, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Agree re: closed primaries.
Spirit of 1776 on April 4, 2008 at 12:07 AM
No way. I’m watching HOCKEY! ;)
techno_barbarian on April 4, 2008 at 12:09 AM
KEEP HOPE ALIVE!
BKennedy on April 4, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Those will be had this fall.
Csdeven came back once, in a Fred-related thread. He might be lurking, and might drop in tonight or tomorrow morning. Sure hope so.
Come back buddy. You are missed. All the best to you and yours, especially the special ones,
Entelechy on April 4, 2008 at 12:14 AM
To be perfectly honest, I don’t think America deserves him as president. Whoever we get, we brought it on ourselves.
vonspringer on April 4, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Meant to respond to this too. Basically, this is a feature, not a bug. It’s a sad commentary on our politics that only the pathologically ambitious stand a chance in this game.
Frankly, I want a president who’s not so self-obsessed that his/her entire life is a calculated attempt to gain as much political power as possible.
vonspringer on April 4, 2008 at 12:17 AM
There is a picture of Silky next to the word superficial in my dictionary.
labrat on April 4, 2008 at 12:20 AM
Thanks.
techno_barbarian on April 4, 2008 at 12:25 AM
He lost his DNC job once Fred dropped out.
ChrisM on April 4, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Fred, in my view was a half-hearted lightweight of candidate, a distraction. Saturday Night Live nailed him with this line: “On a scale of one to ten, I am about a six-and-a-half.” (Hint: we laughed at it because it was — at some level — true.)
sanantonian on April 4, 2008 at 12:31 AM
This explains Bob Barr…….
Seven Percent Solution on April 4, 2008 at 12:35 AM
We get what we deserve. Style over substance .Every.Time.
KCB on April 4, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Thanks, FloatingRock. It does my heart good to know that other people are starting to realize when candidate’s positions are in agreement with (in Rudy’s case) or even more extreme than (in Obama’s case) the program of the Communist Party USA.
Red Pill on April 4, 2008 at 12:50 AM
You are exactly right of course. America deserved a half-hearted candidate who split up the conservative vote and thereby left a wide road for McCain to secure the nomination. Mission accomplished and accolades given for the politically savvy move. You’d think politicians believe the public is easily played.
Spirit of 1776 on April 4, 2008 at 12:54 AM
Face it, he just didn’t have it.
KBird on April 4, 2008 at 12:54 AM
Sorry for the OT
Allahpundit = HAD TUNA PILL
/had to
Ugly on April 4, 2008 at 1:02 AM
I believe that FRED! went into this campaign with the hopes that the American people might want a candidate that spoke, and shot, from the hip. I can’t believe that because he didn’t run a better or maybe “more popular” campaign, that regular people couldn’t rally around him. I think we missed a really big boat. I’m regular people. I think he is as close to “regular people” as you will find in politics.
KCB on April 4, 2008 at 1:04 AM
When it comes to the media.Soundbites or trying to
get a Republican revved up over a question a la he
appears to be testy or combative in which the Liberal
media is good at doing,they will run and rerun this
over and over again!
So,Fred being in the media,one of his assets that he would have brought along,besides his political prowness would be
that of dealing with the media,not quite the great
communicator of Ronald Reagan,but close!
canopfor on April 4, 2008 at 1:06 AM
AP, it’s mean to tease the FredHeads. You make us want things we can’t have.
Terrie on April 4, 2008 at 1:13 AM
I personally think that the only really true conservative was Tancredo.
Johan Klaus on April 4, 2008 at 1:14 AM
And he has the courage to voice his opinion, despite it allowing others to demagogue him and call him a bigot. My hat is off to him. He was the only one, whether I agreed or not, whom I felt spoke from the heart.
Spirit of 1776 on April 4, 2008 at 1:24 AM
Being that there was only one conservative in the race how could Fred have split the vote with himself?
Seriously though, it was a lot more complicated than you let on. There was a lot of triangulation in the Republican field that split the vote every which way and allowed the MSM to dredge McCain back up to the surface.
If Fred had gotten into the race earlier and there hadn’t been as many candidates that appealed to narrow constituencies stripping away support, I think Fred, (or a similarly broad-spectrum conservative), would be our candidate today instead of McCain. The race was always between Fred and McCain but too many Republicans were focused on pet issues they wanted indulged to the exclusion of the concerns of other conservative constituencies, so instead of getting exactly what they wanted they got what they deserved: nothing.
The Dog and his Shadow.
FloatingRock on April 4, 2008 at 1:33 AM
All of those months I waited anxiously for Fred! to declare. And, almost as fast, it was over. It was like watching an overloaded airplane finally get off the ground, but then sink back to the runway and skid to a stop.
leftnomore on April 4, 2008 at 1:43 AM
Because people had to vote for a governors who run their states as Liberals and who hated being part of the Regean team aka Mitt we are stuck with a very liberal McCain.
Yes Mitt did not want to belong to Regean and called himself an indep Republican. That right there ended his campiagn for president. He should never have even run for president knowing for well he said that back in the early 90s. Why vote for someone who hated being called a Regean Republican???
Thankfully we don’t have Mitt and by the way he stands no chance in winning in 2012 cause we will have Govenor Bobby, or a Hottie from Alaksa Sarah.
BroncosRock on April 4, 2008 at 2:05 AM
CSDeven bait?
TBinSTL on April 4, 2008 at 3:23 AM
Bitter? For stating the obvious?
Man, AP, get some new material.
Montana on April 4, 2008 at 3:28 AM
Allah playing with the Freddies
EricPWJohnson on April 4, 2008 at 4:00 AM
I miss Thompson… greatly. It was fantastic to have a candidate that wasn’t just a soundbyte guy and actually bothered to promote substance far above style.
I’m still writing him in come this Nov. 4th.
Jockolantern on April 4, 2008 at 5:19 AM
Thanks much for the link. It was good to see Fred speak again. I hope he finds a forum where he can continue to think and lecture on the issues of the day, perhaps on tv or in an advisory position. That seems to be the role he is best suited for.
joewm315 on April 4, 2008 at 6:05 AM
The story illustrates the difference between Dems & Reps. Edwards whined about “the system”, but Fred challenged the American people to make it better.
jgapinoy on April 4, 2008 at 6:58 AM
I wouldn’t share a stage with Silky. What was Fred thinking? That demeaned the process.
JiangxiDad on April 4, 2008 at 7:17 AM
Mitt haa more actual competence (not to mention drive) in one finger than Fred has in his entire stump speech “conservative” body.
Take out Clinton when you have the chance? Nah. Too much work. Just defend the guy.
Seal the borders? I’ll vote on it, but put myself out on a limb like Tancredo? Nah. I’d rather stick with McCain and Campaign Finance Reform, thank you.
Mitt governed Massachusetts about as conservatively as anyone who actually got elected could. Most “true conservatives” however prefer southern boys from Red States who have never, EVER had to test their mettle against the opposing party and win. Fred was a coaster who enriched himself on Tennessee’s conservative base, and gave nothing back to anyone.
Fred Thompson sat on his keister in the Senate for 8 years (although he did manage to rise long enough to defend Clinton and support McCain-Feingold). Then he became a fake DA on Law and Order. Were it not for this fantasy government position, Fred Thompson wouldn’t have been in the race period.
BKennedy on April 4, 2008 at 7:22 AM
I’m convinced that Rich Galen was covertly working for McCain long before FDT dropped out of the race. How else can one explain such a poorly run campaign? Were I FDT I’d be a bit bitter too. Although Fred allowed Galen to hide him on a bus traveling the backroads of Iowa and SC. In essence taking him completely out of the national political picture. Diminishing and minimalizing him. So if Fred is that gullible, well he should only blame himself.
The problem with all of the real conservative gop candidates (Tancredo, Hunter & FDT) is that they tried to run the conventional/traditional gop campaign. Playing by the rules of the GOP Hierarchy. It won’t work. Ron Paul proved that it can be done regarding fundraising. It was his kookie views on the issues that killed his campaign. DD
Darvin Dowdy on April 4, 2008 at 8:40 AM
He’s baaa-aaaack…
MadisonConservative on April 4, 2008 at 8:47 AM
I hope Fred will campaign hard for McCain, and the RNC. I think he would be a very positive influence. I was ready to jump on his bandwagon, but he never got it up to speed. Makes me reflect on the GOP primaries. First thought, Uggh! Then drawn to Rudy because of the War on Terror. Teased by Fred. Late to the game for Romney. Never liked Huck. Left with McCain, who I like more, and more everytime I hear Obama speak.
chief on April 4, 2008 at 8:52 AM
Fred thread. Check.
Mitt post. Check.
My collie says:
Stupid dog.
CyberCipher on April 4, 2008 at 9:08 AM
Fred’s too dumb to be President, folks. I supported him and he failed to actually get into the race.
dogsoldier on April 4, 2008 at 9:10 AM
Maybe both.
Lately I’m not convinced that was a dumb thing for him to do.
Esthier on April 4, 2008 at 10:01 AM
I love you, Fred!
RushBaby on April 4, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Absolutely. (R)’s vote for (R)’s and (D)’s vote for (D)’s. Indies can vote either way. Must be affiliated as an (R), (D) or (I) for at least six months prior to primary.
It’s time to say “no” to gaming the system, which defeats the purpose of our sacred representative democracy.
CliffHanger on April 4, 2008 at 10:29 AM
What almost everyone seems to miss is a basic difference between Fred and the rest of the candidates. Fred was “willing” to be president because he thought that he could make a positive difference in the position. Most of the rest “want” to be president from an ambition viewpoint. Fred would have been the best candidate but not enough people understood this subtle difference and that killed his chances.
duff65 on April 4, 2008 at 10:38 AM
I miss Fred already.
Sir Andrew on April 4, 2008 at 11:20 AM
After batting around the idea of switching parties to participate in Operation Chaos in the upcoming PA primary (at the time, Cankles had a very comforatable lead, so I decided I didn’t need to feel violated) I decided to stay in the Republican party to vote. But I will NOT be voting for the immigration shill McShamnesty. I will be writing in Fred Dalton, the guy I wanted to vote for all along, the guy I should still have the choice to vote for but can’t.
Darksean on April 4, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Yeah Fred, I miss having you around to half ass your campaign so you could dilute the conservative vote and enable a McCain nomination. I wonder what you’re getting in return.
LevStrauss on April 4, 2008 at 11:23 AM
I don’t know about closed primaries. I kinda like operation chaos. Plus, I don’t know how much crossover their really is in the early states. It’s the order of states that’s a problem. Let’s put some solid conservative states up front and let them decide who gets early mo. South Carolina (and every other state) before New Hampshire.
Plus, another big problem we had this year is my beloved evangelical brothers, who I really believe are the backbone of the party, completely failed to vet Huckabee. The cross-dressing, gay-loving, baby-killer-supporting early front runner scared the hell out of them and they screwed up.
boko fittleworth on April 4, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Um, just out of curiosity, where in the Constitution does it talk about the Powers of the two Political Parties?
Where does it say they get a pass on things any other party has to do? Where does it say PUBLIC money will be spent to help them choose their candidates? Where does it say that we will pass LAWS to make sure of PARTY loyalty?
I’m all for each party making up its own rules… but I’m NOT for making it LAW, or using public funds to help them figure out their candidates.
Romeo13 on April 4, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Can’t believe I’m back here. For the ‘Heads,
Enjoy!
http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/ctia-2008-john-edwards-and-fred-thompson-talk-about-their-political-heroes/7588665/
redneck hippie on April 4, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Even if teh Fred! isn’t bitter…I sure the hell am!
ihasurnominashun on April 4, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Why would Fred be bitter? He got the result he wanted. His honeymoon date got the nomination.
LevStrauss on April 4, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Surely you don’t intend to put the blame for McCain on Fred alone. The problem we had in a nutshell was about a dozen candidates trying to sell themselves as conservative, each one convincing a faction — or fraction, in this case it’s the same thing — of voters, but on one convincing all of them.
Why not blame Huckabee for splitting the conservative vote? Why not blame Romney for splitting the conservative vote?
Why not blame Tancredo for splitting the conservative vote?
You could even blame Rudy for splitting the conservative vote, since he was quite conservative on a few issues, and those issues were his big selling points. (Granted, only a few.)
tom on April 4, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Silly me, I nearly washed the knife and plate; when all we’re making is sh*t sandwiches that’s a waste of time isn’t it?
gekkobear on April 4, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Fred!, you dropped out much too soon. I wanted to vote for you on Super Tuesday and I had to throw my vote away on Mitt.
Mooseman on April 4, 2008 at 5:31 PM
Poor Freddy. He wanted time to take a nap while Jeri looked up talking points on conservative blogs. Sorry Freddy, the voters want to know where a candidate stands based on his core values, not how he has decided to package himself.
A terrorist enabling, moonshine chasin’, campaign cash stealin’, pro-choice actor / lobbyist is the rock-ribbed conservative’s savior? What a con-man…
tommylotto on April 4, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Some things never change…
MadisonConservative on April 4, 2008 at 7:21 PM
And in the end we wind up with McC to show for all our division and preening. But what amazes me is the Fred haters are still comin’ back with their bullshit, even at this late date. Pathetic.
Mission accomplished, guys. Way to go tommylotto, BKennedy, and cs. The queens of anti-Fred spam here on HA.
techno_barbarian on April 4, 2008 at 9:57 PM
But at least Fred would be cutting the other side. Not his own. Something McCain enjoys a bit too much. And not just his fellow congress critters; Backdoor John likes hitting the base too…still, it could be fun though. Once he’s safely in office, he might be the first President to ever start a speech at cpac ‘Listen you bunch of f***ing idiots…’
austinnelly on April 4, 2008 at 11:39 PM