Breaking News: Guy Gregg, Sean Connelly, Tim Howes and Donald O'Sullivan all have agreed to back Governor Mitt Romney. Governor Romney is the last, best hope we have for a politician who can unite the Reagan coalition in this election cycle.
John McCain, while an American hero, has a legislative record that makes him poison for conservatives. Indeed, a new poll released yesterday reveals that only 4 per cent of former Thompson supporters would support McCain.
Mike Huckabee, as reported in this blog, is a pro-life liberal with suspect ethics. In addition, he left the Arkansas GOP in a shambles.
Rudy Giuliani is a great leader and would be strong in many areas, but he will not be able to lead a coalition that includes social conservatives. Without social conservatives, he can not win a national election.
Ron Paul is just flat out not an option. He is a good guy, but he is not an option.
Mitt Romney is the only candidate that has been effective in reaching out to all parts of the Reagan coalition. His service in the private sector and his experience as a leader in the private and public sectors is impressive. He deserves the support of FredHeads.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Thompson Switchboards, Website Light Up With Calls from Supporters
While the punditocracy and Republican opponents are speculating about Fred leaving the race, and writing him off all together, the switchboards and servers at Thompson headquarters tell a different story.
Well-wishers and supporters from all over the nation have flooded HQ with calls pleading with Fred to continue. Contributions online have continued, so supporters are putting their money where their mouth is.
The New Jersey contingency is no different. We are united in our desire for Fred to continue. He is the only consistent conservative in the race and the candidate with the best chance to unite all portions of the Reagan coalition.
The Huck was mortally wounded by his loss in South Carolina. He limps into Florida. Rudy is not even leading in his own backyard (Connecticut and New Jersey now lean toward McCain). he limps into Florida. Paul hasn't registered much actual support. He is irrelevant. Hunter and Tancredo, good Republicans both, have withdrawn. This race is still up in the air.
The nation and the GOP are waiting to hear what Fred will do next.
Well-wishers and supporters from all over the nation have flooded HQ with calls pleading with Fred to continue. Contributions online have continued, so supporters are putting their money where their mouth is.
The New Jersey contingency is no different. We are united in our desire for Fred to continue. He is the only consistent conservative in the race and the candidate with the best chance to unite all portions of the Reagan coalition.
The Huck was mortally wounded by his loss in South Carolina. He limps into Florida. Rudy is not even leading in his own backyard (Connecticut and New Jersey now lean toward McCain). he limps into Florida. Paul hasn't registered much actual support. He is irrelevant. Hunter and Tancredo, good Republicans both, have withdrawn. This race is still up in the air.
The nation and the GOP are waiting to hear what Fred will do next.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Of all sad words of tongue or pen . . .
the saddest are these: 'It might have been'.
Fred did everything you can ask of a candidate. He raised money. He won debates. He worked a heavy schedule of campaign stops. Victory just wasn't there to be had.
He is the best president in the race, but he is not going to be elected, sadly. He's a great American.
Fred did everything you can ask of a candidate. He raised money. He won debates. He worked a heavy schedule of campaign stops. Victory just wasn't there to be had.
He is the best president in the race, but he is not going to be elected, sadly. He's a great American.
Fred Beats All Republicans Entered in NJ Straw Poll
Team Thompson showed well for the second week in a row at a straw poll. Following on our strong second place finish in the Middlesex GOP Presidential Preference Straw Poll, Fred finished second in the Conservatives with Attitude! straw poll in Woodbridge today.
He finished second to the trespasser from the Libertarian Party, Ron Paul. Judging from the bumper stickers, the band of merry men and women who infested the event were for the most part Libertarian interlopers. Of the Republicans, the finish was as follows:
Fred Thompson 27
Mitt Romney 22
Mike Huckabee 15
Rudy Giuliani 15
Duncan Hunter 4
John McCain 2
The event was a beautiful event, hosted by GOPUSA-NJ at the Forge in Edison. Organizers Richard Ross, Dan Gallic, Mike Ilions and Hank Butehorn should all be applauded for a top shelf event that featured two sitting assemblymen and one former assemblyman speaking as surrogates for the candidates.
Hon. Guy Gregg, former 24th District Assemblyman, spoke eloquently on behalf of Senator Thompson. Guy once again showed why he is considered one of the best, if not the best, conservative orators in the State of New Jersey. He was the best of an excellent bunch of speakers.
He finished second to the trespasser from the Libertarian Party, Ron Paul. Judging from the bumper stickers, the band of merry men and women who infested the event were for the most part Libertarian interlopers. Of the Republicans, the finish was as follows:
Fred Thompson 27
Mitt Romney 22
Mike Huckabee 15
Rudy Giuliani 15
Duncan Hunter 4
John McCain 2
The event was a beautiful event, hosted by GOPUSA-NJ at the Forge in Edison. Organizers Richard Ross, Dan Gallic, Mike Ilions and Hank Butehorn should all be applauded for a top shelf event that featured two sitting assemblymen and one former assemblyman speaking as surrogates for the candidates.
Hon. Guy Gregg, former 24th District Assemblyman, spoke eloquently on behalf of Senator Thompson. Guy once again showed why he is considered one of the best, if not the best, conservative orators in the State of New Jersey. He was the best of an excellent bunch of speakers.
Fred Rides Wave of Success into Today's Primary
First National Right to Life endorsed him. Then Fred refused to raise his hand in answer to a question from a liberal debate moderator, and won the Iowa debate. The Hands Down bus tour catapulted Fred to a strong third in Iowa.
On to South Carolina. Human Events, the gold standard of conservative publications endorsed Fred. This week David Limbaugh endorsed Fred, then conservative radio commentator Mark Levin urged South Carolina Republicans to vote for him today. Hundreds of Fred Heads from all over the republic, including one of our own, Jim Granelli, flocked to South Carolina to campaign. The Hands Down bus tour has made fifty-plus stops. Fred has spoken to Republicans in packed venues.
This sounds like a recipe for success. Republicans in South Carolina vote today in a presidential primary that could change the course of our nation's history. The polls close at 7:00 pm EST.
On to South Carolina. Human Events, the gold standard of conservative publications endorsed Fred. This week David Limbaugh endorsed Fred, then conservative radio commentator Mark Levin urged South Carolina Republicans to vote for him today. Hundreds of Fred Heads from all over the republic, including one of our own, Jim Granelli, flocked to South Carolina to campaign. The Hands Down bus tour has made fifty-plus stops. Fred has spoken to Republicans in packed venues.
This sounds like a recipe for success. Republicans in South Carolina vote today in a presidential primary that could change the course of our nation's history. The polls close at 7:00 pm EST.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Huckabee Makes "10 Most Wanted" List of Corrupt Pols
Judicial Watch is a non-partisan legal group that investigates and prosecutes civil suits against corruption and corrupt politicians. At the close of 2007, Judicial Watch announced Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians List for the year.
The list consisted of four Republicans and six Democrats, all of whom are nationally prominent.
Maybe there is something in the water in Little Rock. The line leader is former Arkansas First Lady, Hon. Hilary Rodham Clinton. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was number six on the list. The Judicial Watch site contained the following summary on the Huck's record.
"Governor Huckabee enjoyed a meteoric rise in the polls in December 2007, which prompted a more thorough review of his ethics record. According to The Associated Press: “[Huckabee’s] career has also been colored by 14 ethics complaints and a volley of questions about his integrity, ranging from his management of campaign cash to his use of a nonprofit organization to subsidize his income to his destruction of state computer files on his way out of the governor’s office.” And what was Governor Huckabee’s response to these ethics allegations? Rather than cooperating with investigators, Huckabee sued the state ethics commission twice and attempted to shut the ethics process down."
In Huck's defense, he is a former Baptist minister, and is pro-life.
But then again, so is former New Jersey Assemblyman Al Steele. Steele is a pastor of a protestant church in Passaic County NJ. Steele was charged by the feds last year in a corruption sting. He will be taking a leave of absence from the pulpit as he spends time in the Greybar Hotel.
The list consisted of four Republicans and six Democrats, all of whom are nationally prominent.
Maybe there is something in the water in Little Rock. The line leader is former Arkansas First Lady, Hon. Hilary Rodham Clinton. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was number six on the list. The Judicial Watch site contained the following summary on the Huck's record.
"Governor Huckabee enjoyed a meteoric rise in the polls in December 2007, which prompted a more thorough review of his ethics record. According to The Associated Press: “[Huckabee’s] career has also been colored by 14 ethics complaints and a volley of questions about his integrity, ranging from his management of campaign cash to his use of a nonprofit organization to subsidize his income to his destruction of state computer files on his way out of the governor’s office.” And what was Governor Huckabee’s response to these ethics allegations? Rather than cooperating with investigators, Huckabee sued the state ethics commission twice and attempted to shut the ethics process down."
In Huck's defense, he is a former Baptist minister, and is pro-life.
But then again, so is former New Jersey Assemblyman Al Steele. Steele is a pastor of a protestant church in Passaic County NJ. Steele was charged by the feds last year in a corruption sting. He will be taking a leave of absence from the pulpit as he spends time in the Greybar Hotel.
Huckabee: "Constitution is a Living, Breathing Document"
On CNN this morning, Governor Huckabee made a remarkable statement, one that sounded like it could have come from Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton or the late Justice Brennan. He stated that the United States Constitution is a "living, breathing document"!
Conservatives believe that there are core principles embodied in the consitution. Conservatives want to appoint judges and justices who are strict constructionists because jurists who believe in a living, breathing document are jurists who will impose their own ideology through raw judicial power.
This message needs to get out.
Conservatives believe that there are core principles embodied in the consitution. Conservatives want to appoint judges and justices who are strict constructionists because jurists who believe in a living, breathing document are jurists who will impose their own ideology through raw judicial power.
This message needs to get out.
Huckabee Supporters Slime Fred in South Carolina
Common Sense Issues, Inc. has brought the political dark arts back to the South Carolina Republican Primary. The ironically-named group is running unethical and misleading "push poll" telephone calls.
Push polling is a technique in which a negative message is cloaked in a telephone call that pretends to be an opinion poll. The following hypothetical telephone call would be considered a push poll:
Question: Whom do you support for the Republican nomination for president: A. Fred Thompson, b. Duncan Hunter, c. John McCain, d. Mike Huckabee, e. Mitt Romney, f. Ron Paul, g. Rudolph Giuliani?
Answer: D. Mike Huckabee
Question: Would it change your opinion if you knew that Mr. Huckabee's son had been thrown out of Boy Scout camp for animal cruelty?
or
Question: Would it change your opinion if you knew that Mr. Huckabee and his son sodomized cadavers?
Now, clearly neither Mr. Huckabee nor his son have ever sodomized cadavers, but you get the idea. Hopefully, South Carolina Republican voters are smarter than all that, and can look past this dirty trick performed on behalf of the Lord's Candidate.
There is only one consistent conservative in the race. That is Fred Thompson.
Push polling is a technique in which a negative message is cloaked in a telephone call that pretends to be an opinion poll. The following hypothetical telephone call would be considered a push poll:
Question: Whom do you support for the Republican nomination for president: A. Fred Thompson, b. Duncan Hunter, c. John McCain, d. Mike Huckabee, e. Mitt Romney, f. Ron Paul, g. Rudolph Giuliani?
Answer: D. Mike Huckabee
Question: Would it change your opinion if you knew that Mr. Huckabee's son had been thrown out of Boy Scout camp for animal cruelty?
or
Question: Would it change your opinion if you knew that Mr. Huckabee and his son sodomized cadavers?
Now, clearly neither Mr. Huckabee nor his son have ever sodomized cadavers, but you get the idea. Hopefully, South Carolina Republican voters are smarter than all that, and can look past this dirty trick performed on behalf of the Lord's Candidate.
There is only one consistent conservative in the race. That is Fred Thompson.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
NJ Leftists Setting Up Future Whining
The far left is at it again. The Coalition for Peace Action is already trying to undermine the public's confidence in the election provess. The Coalition for Peace Action, a collection of moveon.org types, has been pushing the State of New Jersey to use paper ballots in the presidential primary.
That's right, they WANT paper ballots.
For whatever reason, they don't trust the machines. I don't know why they don't trust the machines in NJ. After all, the bulk of them are manufactured by a close ally of Venezuelan Marxist Hugo Chavez. Chavez, a close ally of the Kennedy family (see Chevron Oil ads in which Kennedy appears), is no friend of the Republican Party.
Nevertheless, the left's template has a spot for complaining about valid election results.
Paper ballots cause problems - see Palm Beach County 2000. They are a last resort, to be used only in an emergency. Where hundreds of thousands of ballots in 21 counties are used, you are just asking for a problem, and for an increase in recounts and election challenges.
That's right, they WANT paper ballots.
For whatever reason, they don't trust the machines. I don't know why they don't trust the machines in NJ. After all, the bulk of them are manufactured by a close ally of Venezuelan Marxist Hugo Chavez. Chavez, a close ally of the Kennedy family (see Chevron Oil ads in which Kennedy appears), is no friend of the Republican Party.
Nevertheless, the left's template has a spot for complaining about valid election results.
Paper ballots cause problems - see Palm Beach County 2000. They are a last resort, to be used only in an emergency. Where hundreds of thousands of ballots in 21 counties are used, you are just asking for a problem, and for an increase in recounts and election challenges.
New Poll Confirms Rudy's Garden State Chances Withering
In a recent post, I reported the results of the Middlesex County GOP straw poll, and observed that Mayor Giuliani's support in that poll had dropped dramatically. In a new poll, for the first time, Rudy is not leading in NJ.
In a poll released this morning, Senator John McCain is leading in New Jersey. This is a disaster for the Giuliani campaign, which has no doubt been counting on NJ's 52 delegates. The Giuliani campaign employs some outstanding New Jersey people. His campaign manager is a gifted and devoted New Jersey Republican. One of his key field people, Amanda Gasperino, is a respected Republican operative.
New Jersey is key for Giuiliani. The campaign is desperate to keep NJ in Rudy's column. Indeed, one person recently asked to be a county coordinator for Rudy is actually a Fred Thompson voter. The request was an offer that the person couldn't refuse. Just another anecdote that indicates where Rudy stands in NJ.
All of this points to a McCain-Thompson show down.
In a poll released this morning, Senator John McCain is leading in New Jersey. This is a disaster for the Giuliani campaign, which has no doubt been counting on NJ's 52 delegates. The Giuliani campaign employs some outstanding New Jersey people. His campaign manager is a gifted and devoted New Jersey Republican. One of his key field people, Amanda Gasperino, is a respected Republican operative.
New Jersey is key for Giuiliani. The campaign is desperate to keep NJ in Rudy's column. Indeed, one person recently asked to be a county coordinator for Rudy is actually a Fred Thompson voter. The request was an offer that the person couldn't refuse. Just another anecdote that indicates where Rudy stands in NJ.
All of this points to a McCain-Thompson show down.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Should Fred "hit" McCain?
I have been hearing a lot of calls for Fred to attack Senator McCain. Certainly Senator McCain has gained momentum thanks to the publicity following his win in New Hampshire. With that attention will come some attacks from different quarters, and the urge to attack the perceived frontrunner.
While people have encouraged the campaign to attack McCain, Fred has not done so. Frankly, I support the strategy, at least for the present. For now, Fred must resist the calls to attack Senator McCain.
Fred has established that this Republican primary is a battle for the heart and soul of the national Republican party. To win the fight for the heartsand minds of the Republicans, Fred must first establish himself as the standard-bearer for the conservative wing of the party, the philosophical heir of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan.
Fred has established his conservative bonafides. No one disputes that he is a consistent conservative. However, there are still pretenders to the conservative mantle: Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney. (For better or worse Duncan Hunter is not a factor. He is a good Republican and a conservative, but not really a factor.)
Both Governor Huckabee and Governor Romney are flawed. Governor Huckabee is a pro-life liberal. Governor Romney has taken some strong conservative positions during the campaign. However, only time will tell whether these are really his positions. In order to become the conservative standard bearer, Fred must first defeat the conservative pretenders, or at least knock them back considerably.
So right now, Fred is not in direct competition for votes with Senator McCain as much as he is in direct competition with Governor Huckabee and Governor Romney. To start a war of words with Senator McCain at this point would not be prudent. You can not fight on all fronts at all times. It just does not work. Fred has chosen the candidate with whom he is in most direct competition, Mike Huckabee, and has drawn some very strong contrasts.
Once Fred wins South Carolina and emerges from Super Tuesday with some other victories (say Georgia and Tennessee), it will be more clear that he is the conservative leader. As the Giuliani campaign continues to deteriorate, the Rockefeller Republicans will look to their second choice, and that second choice will probably be Senator McCain.
Then the time will come when Fred is matched up against Senator McCain. Fred would be the Reagan to McCain's Ford, or the Goldwater to McCain's Rockefeller. Then the strong contrasts will abound, but not until then. First things first.
While people have encouraged the campaign to attack McCain, Fred has not done so. Frankly, I support the strategy, at least for the present. For now, Fred must resist the calls to attack Senator McCain.
Fred has established that this Republican primary is a battle for the heart and soul of the national Republican party. To win the fight for the heartsand minds of the Republicans, Fred must first establish himself as the standard-bearer for the conservative wing of the party, the philosophical heir of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan.
Fred has established his conservative bonafides. No one disputes that he is a consistent conservative. However, there are still pretenders to the conservative mantle: Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney. (For better or worse Duncan Hunter is not a factor. He is a good Republican and a conservative, but not really a factor.)
Both Governor Huckabee and Governor Romney are flawed. Governor Huckabee is a pro-life liberal. Governor Romney has taken some strong conservative positions during the campaign. However, only time will tell whether these are really his positions. In order to become the conservative standard bearer, Fred must first defeat the conservative pretenders, or at least knock them back considerably.
So right now, Fred is not in direct competition for votes with Senator McCain as much as he is in direct competition with Governor Huckabee and Governor Romney. To start a war of words with Senator McCain at this point would not be prudent. You can not fight on all fronts at all times. It just does not work. Fred has chosen the candidate with whom he is in most direct competition, Mike Huckabee, and has drawn some very strong contrasts.
Once Fred wins South Carolina and emerges from Super Tuesday with some other victories (say Georgia and Tennessee), it will be more clear that he is the conservative leader. As the Giuliani campaign continues to deteriorate, the Rockefeller Republicans will look to their second choice, and that second choice will probably be Senator McCain.
Then the time will come when Fred is matched up against Senator McCain. Fred would be the Reagan to McCain's Ford, or the Goldwater to McCain's Rockefeller. Then the strong contrasts will abound, but not until then. First things first.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Vote Your Conservative Conscience, Dammit!
I have never heard anyone say that Fred Thompson was unqualified to serve as president of the United States. I haven't heard too many people say that he was wrong on the issues. But I have heard from people are reluctant to vote for Fred because he (1) got in the race too late or (2) it's too late for him.
People like to sound smart. If I had a nickel for everyone who thought they were smart, then I'd be about as rich as Mitt Romney. People like to sound smart by talking about the horse race instead of talking about the issues. That is, they overthink the thing.
Like Crash Davis said to Nuke Laloosh in Bull Durham: "Don't think. It hurts the team."
That's right. Some people think TOO MUCH. The simple fact is that if people would just go into the voting booths in the Republican primary and vote their consciences, then Fred would win. So you just need to go out there and remind people to just vote their conscience.
And don't forget the Conservatives with Attitude! straw poll this coming Saturday in Woodbridge.
People like to sound smart. If I had a nickel for everyone who thought they were smart, then I'd be about as rich as Mitt Romney. People like to sound smart by talking about the horse race instead of talking about the issues. That is, they overthink the thing.
Like Crash Davis said to Nuke Laloosh in Bull Durham: "Don't think. It hurts the team."
That's right. Some people think TOO MUCH. The simple fact is that if people would just go into the voting booths in the Republican primary and vote their consciences, then Fred would win. So you just need to go out there and remind people to just vote their conscience.
And don't forget the Conservatives with Attitude! straw poll this coming Saturday in Woodbridge.
Middlesex Result Shows Rudy Dropping Even in Jersey
Rudy Giuliani, once the inevitable Rudy Giuliani, is now just plain old ex-mayor Rudy Giuliani. His campaign professionals are now working as volunteers, and his poll numbers are plummeting.
Yes, he won the Middlesex County GOP straw poll yesterday. He won it with 38% of the votes. Fred ran second with 16% and according to one conservative blogger had the best organization at the event. While he won, his margin and share of votes plummeted since the last time the Middlesex GOP held a straw poll.
Last year, he won with 60% of the vote. Thus, his share has plummeted by 22 points.
Today one of Rudy's key supporters in NJ, a member of what used to be the NJGOP machine, acknowledged that he and other Giuliani supporters should be thinking carefully about their second choice for president.
Rudy is beatable in New Jersey. Should Fred's surge continue, he might just be the man to upset Rudy here.
Yes, he won the Middlesex County GOP straw poll yesterday. He won it with 38% of the votes. Fred ran second with 16% and according to one conservative blogger had the best organization at the event. While he won, his margin and share of votes plummeted since the last time the Middlesex GOP held a straw poll.
Last year, he won with 60% of the vote. Thus, his share has plummeted by 22 points.
Today one of Rudy's key supporters in NJ, a member of what used to be the NJGOP machine, acknowledged that he and other Giuliani supporters should be thinking carefully about their second choice for president.
Rudy is beatable in New Jersey. Should Fred's surge continue, he might just be the man to upset Rudy here.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Fred Finishes Second at Middlesex GOP Convention
This morning the Friends of Fred Thompson made a statement in the Garden State. They showed that Fred has very strong support, even in the shadow of the city that Rudy Guiliani ruled for eight years.
The Middlesex County Republican Committee held its presidential preference convention this morning at the Forge in Woodbridge. The Thompson Team arrived early, and decorated the place with Fred08 signs. They distributed literature and worked the floor. And they got results.
Despite the fact that Senator McCain and Governor Romney have very high level support amongst the NJGOP - basically every machine Republican in New Jersey that is not supporting Rudy - their political muscle could not stand up to the Thompson surge.
When the convention cast its votes, Fred finished second behind the favorite of the NJGOP machine, Rudy Guiliani. Congratulations Fred.
The Middlesex County Republican Committee held its presidential preference convention this morning at the Forge in Woodbridge. The Thompson Team arrived early, and decorated the place with Fred08 signs. They distributed literature and worked the floor. And they got results.
Despite the fact that Senator McCain and Governor Romney have very high level support amongst the NJGOP - basically every machine Republican in New Jersey that is not supporting Rudy - their political muscle could not stand up to the Thompson surge.
When the convention cast its votes, Fred finished second behind the favorite of the NJGOP machine, Rudy Guiliani. Congratulations Fred.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Fred Picks up some delegates in Wyoming
It seems that the punditocracy has forgotten how a nomination is won. A nomination is won by the candidate with the most delegates. So far, Governor Huckabee has ZERO delegates. Under GOP rules, the caucuses don't determine delegates in Iowa. In the most unreported story of the day, Fred Thomspon came in second in the Wyoming GOP caucuses, winning two delegates to the national convention.
Mitt Romney won. There are two reasons for Mitt's victory: (1) he used his money to flood Wyoming Republicans with mail; and (2) there is a large Mormon presence in Wyoming.
That being said, Fred's consistent conservative message won him actual, real-live, in-the-flesh Republican delegates. Combined with his solid third place finish in Iowa and his victory in the New Hampshire debate last night, the little quiet win in Wyoming should keep the Good Ship Thompson on course toward the inevitable victories on Super Tuesday.
Mitt Romney won. There are two reasons for Mitt's victory: (1) he used his money to flood Wyoming Republicans with mail; and (2) there is a large Mormon presence in Wyoming.
That being said, Fred's consistent conservative message won him actual, real-live, in-the-flesh Republican delegates. Combined with his solid third place finish in Iowa and his victory in the New Hampshire debate last night, the little quiet win in Wyoming should keep the Good Ship Thompson on course toward the inevitable victories on Super Tuesday.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Romney in Huge Trouble; Fred meets expectations
Mitt Romney spent a small fortune to win 24% of the vote in Iowa, putting him in a must-win scenario in New Hampshire. It's not just the second place finish, but the fact that he was closer to third than to second that gives him the whiff of death.
If the numbers hold up, Fred is meeting expectations with a solid third place finish in Iowa. Conventional wisdom says that there are three tickets out of Iowa, and Fred appears to have one of them.
If the numbers hold up, Fred is meeting expectations with a solid third place finish in Iowa. Conventional wisdom says that there are three tickets out of Iowa, and Fred appears to have one of them.
Showdown Tonight in Iowa
At 7:00 pm Central Time, some 80,000 Republicans in Iowa will go to caucus to determine the Iowa GOP's presidential preference. They will sit down at a location in their precinct, take care of some local business, then discuss their presidential preferences.
After the discussion, they will vote by paper ballot.
One thing is for sure: The race will not be settled in Iowa.
If either Huckabee or Romney win, they were supposed to do well, after all. A win or a strong second in Iowa does not propel them to the nomination. It merely keeps them in the game. But what happens if Fred wins?
After the discussion, they will vote by paper ballot.
One thing is for sure: The race will not be settled in Iowa.
If either Huckabee or Romney win, they were supposed to do well, after all. A win or a strong second in Iowa does not propel them to the nomination. It merely keeps them in the game. But what happens if Fred wins?
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
"Friday Night Lights"
The book of "Friday Night Lights" was most directly about an elite high school football team from the Texas oil patch. There were, however, some high quality political insights that help us understand what Mike Dukakis and John Kerry lacked, and what Mike Huckabee has.
The season was 1988. George HW Bush was running for president in an era in which the Texas-Louisiana oil patch was in a severe depression (not recession) because oil was at an all time low, as low as $11 per barrel, due to Republican policies, namely the mutual defense treaty that President Reagan signed with Saudi Arabia in 1982. Still, Bush 41 managed to win the oil patch in a convincing manner. How?
Author H.G. Bissinger was at his most eloquent when he penned the following passage:
"Dukakis forces in Texas thought they could win the state on the basis of the economy. They thought that the issues of gun control and the Pledge of Allegiance were emotional fads that would quickly die out. They never thought that Bush's rhetoric, a kinder, gentler version of the 'Morton Downey Show' would have much lasting effect. . .
Perhaps just once Dukakis should have left the rarfied atmosphere of Boston and Harvard that seemed to entrap him no matter where he was, hopped in a car by himself, and taken a drive down one of those lonely, flat-as-a-pancake roads to the gleaming lights of a Friday night football game. . . . He could have pulled down his tie and unbuttoned his collar. He could have gone to the concession stand to eat a frito pie and a chili dog . . . he could have sat in a corner of the stands to listen to th econversations around him as well as take note of the prayers both before the game and after. . .
There was a heartbeat in those stands that dotted the Friday nights of Texas and Oklahoma and Ohio and Pennsylvania and Florida and all of America like a galaxy of stars, a giant, lurking heartbeat.
Michael Dukakis never heard that sound, and even if he had he probably would have dismissed it as some silly tribal ritual rite practiced in the Amercian boondocks by people who made no difference. But his opponent didn't make the same mistake."
Gifted politicians understand the heartbeat that lives under those Friday night lights. Bill Clinton understood it. Our current president understood it. Mike Huckabee understands it. They knew how to connect to the people in whom that heart beat, and by connecting on that spiritual level, they could lead and win despite their shortcomings on the issues.
The fact is that Mike Huckabee is connecting to Republicans through religion and values, and is doing so in a way that has obscured his very liberal record on taxes, government spending, criminal justice and illegal immigration. He has lured the Values Voters with the siren song of the Right to Life and preservation of the family, and by parading around his own religion. It is a naked appeal to white, evangelical and mostly southern, rural voters.
It is time for Republicans to awaken from their trance, to steer away from the siren call before it is too late. Fred Thompson understands family values; he has lived family values; he has consistently voted the right way on family values.
For goodness sake, he has a 100% voting record on the Right to Life. He has been endorsed by Right to Life groups all over the country. He has been consistent and strong in favor of the Second Amendment. He has done those things.
But he has not sacrificed in other areas! His record on taxes and government spending would do President Reagan proud. His proposals for Social Security reform are genius. His proposals for tax reform are the best out there. His proposals for illegal immigration reform are the only ones that can be trusted.
We all need to drop what we are doing and win this campaign.
The season was 1988. George HW Bush was running for president in an era in which the Texas-Louisiana oil patch was in a severe depression (not recession) because oil was at an all time low, as low as $11 per barrel, due to Republican policies, namely the mutual defense treaty that President Reagan signed with Saudi Arabia in 1982. Still, Bush 41 managed to win the oil patch in a convincing manner. How?
Author H.G. Bissinger was at his most eloquent when he penned the following passage:
"Dukakis forces in Texas thought they could win the state on the basis of the economy. They thought that the issues of gun control and the Pledge of Allegiance were emotional fads that would quickly die out. They never thought that Bush's rhetoric, a kinder, gentler version of the 'Morton Downey Show' would have much lasting effect. . .
Perhaps just once Dukakis should have left the rarfied atmosphere of Boston and Harvard that seemed to entrap him no matter where he was, hopped in a car by himself, and taken a drive down one of those lonely, flat-as-a-pancake roads to the gleaming lights of a Friday night football game. . . . He could have pulled down his tie and unbuttoned his collar. He could have gone to the concession stand to eat a frito pie and a chili dog . . . he could have sat in a corner of the stands to listen to th econversations around him as well as take note of the prayers both before the game and after. . .
There was a heartbeat in those stands that dotted the Friday nights of Texas and Oklahoma and Ohio and Pennsylvania and Florida and all of America like a galaxy of stars, a giant, lurking heartbeat.
Michael Dukakis never heard that sound, and even if he had he probably would have dismissed it as some silly tribal ritual rite practiced in the Amercian boondocks by people who made no difference. But his opponent didn't make the same mistake."
Gifted politicians understand the heartbeat that lives under those Friday night lights. Bill Clinton understood it. Our current president understood it. Mike Huckabee understands it. They knew how to connect to the people in whom that heart beat, and by connecting on that spiritual level, they could lead and win despite their shortcomings on the issues.
The fact is that Mike Huckabee is connecting to Republicans through religion and values, and is doing so in a way that has obscured his very liberal record on taxes, government spending, criminal justice and illegal immigration. He has lured the Values Voters with the siren song of the Right to Life and preservation of the family, and by parading around his own religion. It is a naked appeal to white, evangelical and mostly southern, rural voters.
It is time for Republicans to awaken from their trance, to steer away from the siren call before it is too late. Fred Thompson understands family values; he has lived family values; he has consistently voted the right way on family values.
For goodness sake, he has a 100% voting record on the Right to Life. He has been endorsed by Right to Life groups all over the country. He has been consistent and strong in favor of the Second Amendment. He has done those things.
But he has not sacrificed in other areas! His record on taxes and government spending would do President Reagan proud. His proposals for Social Security reform are genius. His proposals for tax reform are the best out there. His proposals for illegal immigration reform are the only ones that can be trusted.
We all need to drop what we are doing and win this campaign.
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