Last Wednesday's debate victory by Fred Thompson was the turning of the tide in Iowa. It was a hands down win. Not even the press disputes that Fred prevailed.
The campaign promised that Fred would move to Iowa, leaving only to spend Christmas in Tennessee with his family. Today Fred began his "Clear Conservative Choice: Hands Down!" bus tour of the Hawkeye State, and he began it with a bang!
That big bang was an all-0ut endorsement from Iowa Representative Steve King. Congressman King represents Iowa's Fifth Congressional District, and represents most of Western Iowa. To him, immigration in the top issue. He indicated this morning that after meeting with all of the Republican presidential hopefuls face-to-face, he made his choice based on Fred's principles.
The Thompson campaign issued the following statement:
"Congressman King's leadership in support of the sanctity of life and his efforts in the fight against illegal immigration have made him one of Iowa's great Republican leaders. He's a tireless fighter for the 5th District of Iowa and I am honored by his support. I look forward to working with Congressman King over the next three weeks and into 2008 in support of the traditional conservative values he and I share."
And this endorsement is MORE than just a press release: Congressman King will campaign with the bus tour for the next 17 days.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Our own Hank Butehorn Goes National!
Hank Butehorn is the Friends of Fred Monmouth-Ocean area coordinator, and a member of the Friends of Fred NJ Legal Team. He is also on the board of Conservatives with Attitude! which hosts one of NJ's most traveled political websites.
This past week, Hank published an article on www.conservativeswithattitude.com, which is a must-read for all Thompson supporters. Hank's eloquent post has now gone national. It now stands on the leader board of top reader posts on www.realclearpolitics.com.
Hank has received an unusually high number of emails praising his article.
If you haven't read the article, then go to www.realclearpolitics.com and read Hank's article under the favorite reader posts, then vote for Hank!
This past week, Hank published an article on www.conservativeswithattitude.com, which is a must-read for all Thompson supporters. Hank's eloquent post has now gone national. It now stands on the leader board of top reader posts on www.realclearpolitics.com.
Hank has received an unusually high number of emails praising his article.
If you haven't read the article, then go to www.realclearpolitics.com and read Hank's article under the favorite reader posts, then vote for Hank!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Fred's Focus on Issues Results in High Positives in Poll among NJ Conservatives
Fred Thompson is leading the way among conservatives in NJ, according to an email poll conducted this week. The poll was conducted by email to a conservative Republican email distribution list associated with Conservatives With Attitude!
Conservatives were asked to name the two candidates that they were most likely to vote for in the February 5, 2008 GOP Primary for President, and the two candidates they were least likely to choose.
Fred had the highest positives: He was named on 52% of the responses as one of the two candidates the respondents were most likely to vote for. He had the lowest negatives: He was named in only 11% of the responses as one of the two candidates the respondents were least likely to vote for.
Three candidates were viewed positively by respondents:
positive negative net
Fred Thompson +52% 11% +41%
Mike Huckabee +34% 19% +15%
Mitt Romney +34% 21% +13%
Three had upside-down numbers, being viewed negatively:
Ron Paul +32% 45% -13%
Rudy Giuliani +27% 45% -18%
John McCain +18% 57% -39%
Among New Jersey conservative Republicans, Fred Thompson has the best overall standing. He has very low negatives, and for good reason: He has focused on the issues of taxation, Social Security reform and illegal immigration reform. All of his proposals have been detailed and well-reasoned, and appeal to voters across the board, but most especially conservatives.
Conservatives were asked to name the two candidates that they were most likely to vote for in the February 5, 2008 GOP Primary for President, and the two candidates they were least likely to choose.
Fred had the highest positives: He was named on 52% of the responses as one of the two candidates the respondents were most likely to vote for. He had the lowest negatives: He was named in only 11% of the responses as one of the two candidates the respondents were least likely to vote for.
Three candidates were viewed positively by respondents:
positive negative net
Fred Thompson +52% 11% +41%
Mike Huckabee +34% 19% +15%
Mitt Romney +34% 21% +13%
Three had upside-down numbers, being viewed negatively:
Ron Paul +32% 45% -13%
Rudy Giuliani +27% 45% -18%
John McCain +18% 57% -39%
Among New Jersey conservative Republicans, Fred Thompson has the best overall standing. He has very low negatives, and for good reason: He has focused on the issues of taxation, Social Security reform and illegal immigration reform. All of his proposals have been detailed and well-reasoned, and appeal to voters across the board, but most especially conservatives.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Reagan's Eleven
This morning, I read Hank Butehorn's insightful article "No Once Criticizes Thompson's Policy or Message" ( see http://gopusa.com/wordpress/). After reading Hank's post, I experienced an epiphany.
My epiphany had to do with President Reagan's Eleventh Commandment: "Thou shalt not speak ill of thy fellow Republican." For the first time, I understood a very important reason why conservatives especially must abide by this imperative.
As Hank so eloquently argued, conservative ideas in general and the consistent conservative message of Fred Thompson in particular wins elections. When we stoop to attack our fellow Republican on his or her character or religion or kindergarten essay we stray from our conservative ideals. And when we abandon our ideals, we eventually lose.
Pundits like to distract us from our message. I guess it sells their media. But honestly it is not our job to sell their media. It is our responsibility to our candidate, to our party and indeed to our nation to make sure that Fred Thompson wins this nomination and then the 2008 general election. Thus, as individual Fred Heads, we must resist the temptation to engage in mud fights. We should certainly compare the candidates records, but continue to emphasize Fred's consistent conservative record.
To that end we should all take the time to learn more about the issues at www.fred08.com.
If we continue to do these things, and if Republicans just vote their conscience, the Fred will win the nomination.
My epiphany had to do with President Reagan's Eleventh Commandment: "Thou shalt not speak ill of thy fellow Republican." For the first time, I understood a very important reason why conservatives especially must abide by this imperative.
As Hank so eloquently argued, conservative ideas in general and the consistent conservative message of Fred Thompson in particular wins elections. When we stoop to attack our fellow Republican on his or her character or religion or kindergarten essay we stray from our conservative ideals. And when we abandon our ideals, we eventually lose.
Pundits like to distract us from our message. I guess it sells their media. But honestly it is not our job to sell their media. It is our responsibility to our candidate, to our party and indeed to our nation to make sure that Fred Thompson wins this nomination and then the 2008 general election. Thus, as individual Fred Heads, we must resist the temptation to engage in mud fights. We should certainly compare the candidates records, but continue to emphasize Fred's consistent conservative record.
To that end we should all take the time to learn more about the issues at www.fred08.com.
If we continue to do these things, and if Republicans just vote their conscience, the Fred will win the nomination.
Raise Your Hand If Your Think Fred Won the Debate
Lest you think that yesterday's entry was mere spin from a partisan spin doctor, the political pundits agree that Fred won yesterday's debate in Iowa. If we had a show of hands among the punditocracy, they would all be raising their hands to signify that Fred kicked butt.
According to the Weekly Standard, voice of the thoughtful conservative: "The winner was Fred Thompson. Fred came to play. . . . Fred had his best day of the campaign. He was serious, thoughtful and authoritative. It was a wonderful day for him."
Local writer, David Yespen of the influential Des Moines Register wrote, "Fred Thompson did himself the most good in Wednesday's debate among presidential candidates in Iowa."
Not one but three journalists at the American Spectator called the debate for Fred (Phillip Klein, Jennifer Rubin and John Tabin). Mr. Klein was very complimentary:
"Fred Thompson was the only candidate who stood out . . . . He demonstrated conviction, showed that he was able to stand up for his convictions, that he was a man who valued substance, a leader rather than a follower . . . In short, today Thompson was everything that conservatives hoped they'd be getting when he announced his candidacy . . . Thompson stands to be the major beneficiary of any Huckabee fall."
Jim Garaughty of National Review Online really understands our candidate: "This guy looks like he could eat most of the rest of the field for lunch."
And in trash talk terms, Marc Hemingway wrote, "it's like Thompson came to the debate in Des Moines today to do two things: Kick butt and chew gum. And it appears that he's all out of gum."
In all, twelve commenatators that we can find so far have declared Fred the winner. This will be remembered as the moment the tide turned in Iowa and in the entire race. It will be remembered as the debate where Fred acted like a president, one who does not answer a request for a show of hands from a reporter. Take heart, Thompson supporters, Fred is still the man.
According to the Weekly Standard, voice of the thoughtful conservative: "The winner was Fred Thompson. Fred came to play. . . . Fred had his best day of the campaign. He was serious, thoughtful and authoritative. It was a wonderful day for him."
Local writer, David Yespen of the influential Des Moines Register wrote, "Fred Thompson did himself the most good in Wednesday's debate among presidential candidates in Iowa."
Not one but three journalists at the American Spectator called the debate for Fred (Phillip Klein, Jennifer Rubin and John Tabin). Mr. Klein was very complimentary:
"Fred Thompson was the only candidate who stood out . . . . He demonstrated conviction, showed that he was able to stand up for his convictions, that he was a man who valued substance, a leader rather than a follower . . . In short, today Thompson was everything that conservatives hoped they'd be getting when he announced his candidacy . . . Thompson stands to be the major beneficiary of any Huckabee fall."
Jim Garaughty of National Review Online really understands our candidate: "This guy looks like he could eat most of the rest of the field for lunch."
And in trash talk terms, Marc Hemingway wrote, "it's like Thompson came to the debate in Des Moines today to do two things: Kick butt and chew gum. And it appears that he's all out of gum."
In all, twelve commenatators that we can find so far have declared Fred the winner. This will be remembered as the moment the tide turned in Iowa and in the entire race. It will be remembered as the debate where Fred acted like a president, one who does not answer a request for a show of hands from a reporter. Take heart, Thompson supporters, Fred is still the man.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Fred Kicks the Door Open in Iowa Debate
Early reports are in from Iowa, where the GOP candidates debated for the final time before the Hawkeye Cauci. (Limbaughese for the Iowa Caucuses.) By all accounts Fred Thompson stole the show. After the debate, Brit Hume commented that Fred had some Reaganesque moments.
Senator George Allen exclaimed that Fred Thompson kicked the door open in Iowa!
With Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee in a mud-wrestling holy war, the opportunity was there for Fred, and apparently he took it.
Fred's numbers have held strong at 14 percent in Iowa - third place behind the dueling governors. His performance today can only help.
Senator George Allen exclaimed that Fred Thompson kicked the door open in Iowa!
With Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee in a mud-wrestling holy war, the opportunity was there for Fred, and apparently he took it.
Fred's numbers have held strong at 14 percent in Iowa - third place behind the dueling governors. His performance today can only help.
Thompson's Jersey Guys Wearing Out Shoe Leather
Much like their leader, the Friends of Fred are working feverishly to win the hearts and minds of New Jersey voters. While Fred and Jeri cross the highways and by-ways of Iowa and South Carolina, our team members are traversing the state from Wantage to West Cape May and from Bridgeton to North Bergen.
"We started with a mission - to get Fred on the ballot for the New Jersey primary," said state coordinator Tim Howes. "We accomplished that and far more. Thirty-eight volunteers collected signatures, and along the way, we built a fully functional organization statewide. I really did not expect the enthusiasm that I discovered."
Team Thompson volunteers have secured endorsements from Mayors and Municipal GOP Chairs. Team Thompson secured the endorsement of distinguished legislator, Guy Gregg and of the pro-life activist group Catholic Voices. Team Thomspson introduced Jeri Thompson to a group of conservative activist. And Team Thomspon accomplished all that without one paid campaign staffer or one square foot of office space in the state.
January promises to be a very full month of rallys and surrogate appearances for our speakers. "We are very energized," said Sean Connelly, "we're energized because we have the right candidate. When the race is over, Thompson will still be standing head and shoulders above the rest."
From your mouth to God's ear Sean!
"We started with a mission - to get Fred on the ballot for the New Jersey primary," said state coordinator Tim Howes. "We accomplished that and far more. Thirty-eight volunteers collected signatures, and along the way, we built a fully functional organization statewide. I really did not expect the enthusiasm that I discovered."
Team Thompson volunteers have secured endorsements from Mayors and Municipal GOP Chairs. Team Thompson secured the endorsement of distinguished legislator, Guy Gregg and of the pro-life activist group Catholic Voices. Team Thomspson introduced Jeri Thompson to a group of conservative activist. And Team Thomspon accomplished all that without one paid campaign staffer or one square foot of office space in the state.
January promises to be a very full month of rallys and surrogate appearances for our speakers. "We are very energized," said Sean Connelly, "we're energized because we have the right candidate. When the race is over, Thompson will still be standing head and shoulders above the rest."
From your mouth to God's ear Sean!
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