Tuesday, December 11, 2007
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Where in the World is Fred Thompson?
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Posted by:
Mary Katharine Ham at
3:08 PM
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So, we heard a lot last week was about how Thompson was "all in" in Iowa, out of New Hampshire, and doing a bus tour that would span the rest of the year into the caucuses...starting, err, next week. I wondered why he didn't just get started this week. Surely the campaign's not still stumping in S.C. and Florida when they've conceded they need a high finish in Iowa to make themselves viable, right?
So, what's Fred been up to?
Yesterday, he was in Florida, touring a Bay of Pigs Museum as a backdrop for a nicely placed shot at Huckabee:
"He's been a long opponent of the embargo against (Cuban President Fidel) Castro. He thinks we should lift the embargo against Castro, and I disagree with that," said Thompson, whose campaign put out a statement the day before attacking Huckabee on the issue. ...before Thompson's event, he told reporters in Miami that he has come to understand Cuban-Americans' perspective on the embargo and said as president he would veto any legislation attempting to lift it. Thompson said that was a political move.
Not a bad idea to hitch himself to the Huckabee press-wagon in Miami, but couldn't he jump on a plane to Iowa right after? This morning, he was on the Glenn Beck Show, on which he didn't mention Iowa or being there, and I've heard nary a word about him since. So, that's Monday in Florida, Tuesday morning doing a phone interview with Beck from I-don't-know-where. Presumably, he'll be in Iowa by Wednesday for the Des Moines Register Republican Debate, but what's he doing the rest of today?
In all the reports about campaign events canceled for snow in Iowa, Fred himself is never mentioned. What are his competitors up to in Iowa while Fred's "Iowa-or-bust" campaign lingers in the Southeast?
Huckabee: 5 events
Some reports say he canceled three events this morning, but other reports say he made it to one in Council Bluffs, so let's call it three Iowa events planned for him in the morning, and he has two more scheduled for the afternoon that are up in the air.
Romney: At least 3 events (I'm including spouse events, since those are high-profile surrogates.)
The campaign has canceled "all of Ann Romney's" events, implying she had at least two, and Romney will keep one date himself.
The Obama campaign canceled 5 Michelle Obama appearances. The Clinton campaign canceled 3 Bill Clinton stops (and, Hillary secretly rejoices!). The Edwards campaign canceled has 3 events scheduled for the candidate himself, one of which he canceled.
Rudy and McCain, who have pretty much abandoned the cold shoulder of Iowa for the warmer receptions in other states, are fundraising in California and shaking hands in South Carolina, respectively.
The only mention I can find of Fred's campaign at all is that surrogate Mary Matalin canceled 3 events in Iowa today, which is encouraging in that Fred does have a surrogate on the ground there, but also seems to confirm he's not there. The AP's "today on the campaign trail" compilation of events doesn't even mention the guy.
So, what's he doing? It's 23 days until the Iowa caucuses...If he's going all in, shouldn't he go now? The Huckernaut says he better.
In other news, Fred leads Republican competitors in Wisconsin. Is that where he's spending his time?
Update: The NYT list of events confirms...nothing listed for Fred until tomorrow's debate at 1 p.m.?
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Sugar
I was anxiously awaiting Fred's entry into the race. But when he arrived he seemed to be disinterested, as if he were forced to be in the run. That kind of energy is for losers, not for the holder of the highest office in the land. Remember, our President has to LEAD, to be a force in the world, and he can't do that without physical and emotional vigor. Living in Tennessee, I can tell you that there are many disappointed voters here. |
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MK
Last I heard Fred was seen chatting with Elvis near a gas station in Knoxville. But really, he is only doing what he seems to do best these days and that is resting. You can bet he is not spending a penny of his money on the campaign, so why does he care? Surely this man is not serious in a bid for the WH. He and family are probably enjoying another 15 minutes and a tour of where he and wife want to visit, anyway. Journalists: Don't waste any more space on Fred. As they say around here, he be done. |
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Part of Fred's "problem" is that he doesn't have any of the incongruity that many of the others do. He doesn't have strange comments or an unusual faith to defend. He doesn't make news being consistent and actually putting out more actual policy than all the rest combined. Maybe he should claim to have seen aliens or be the choice of the trilateral commission or something weird like that. Those things will make news, but they aren't what we need.
Consistent conservatism isn't sexy, but it's needed in this world more than ever. |
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It's sometimes difficult to accept change but that's what FDT seems to be trying to acheive. When you are the only one with consistency and depth of content regarding fundamental issues, you have to change the style as well as the substance of campaigning. By not being dragged through the dog & pony show in the way most media and apparently you as well are used to, Fred can focus on communicating content at the time most people are ready to hear it. Iowa and NH are the cactus league, S. Carolina is a good warmup, Super Tuesday is the ballgame. You can run your running polls, walking polls, stand still polls till you are blue-faced, reality is votes in the basket. This time intelligence might just beat glitz and media screech. |
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I'm going with Fred.
Less is More. |
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I wonder, and I am just thinking now, if Fred is not just changing the rules and since the MSM is not used to someone working outside their game, if the MSM is the one with the problem.
Personally, yeah, I am voting for Fred. I send emails about Fred, I call in radio shows, write to my editor, post on blogs and news sites (like this one) but with the idea that change comes from the bottom up, I think Fred might just be onto something.
Sometimes good things happen without much fan fair. I dont know if Fred's approach will work, but as James T. Kirk once said (sorry for the Star Trek reference) "It has the charm of never being tried before." (Star Trek II Wrath of Kahn) |
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Fred is not going to attack Huckabee on the FairTax because he supports a comprehensive tax reform. He has stated that his flat tax proposal is a stepping stone to further reform.
I have also seen your posts on the Fair Tax and and you explanation of it is dead wrong. You and those like you are so hard-headed when it comes to this topic. I know that no matter what I say from this point on you have made up your mind, but:
How hard is it to understand that if you pay 100 dollars for a DVD player now, you will pay $100 under the Fair Tax. $77 goes to the retailer and $23 goes to the Feds.
And everyone pays into the system. This is the only tax system in which illegals will have to pay taxes too. They buy TVs and consumer goods too, right? It does not hurt the poor because the price for goods does not change and they get a pre-bate check each month. Mortgage deductions are pointless under the system where there are no tax returns being filed. Do you use 20% coupons on goods that are free?
Get the book, and then get the new book "Answering the Critics". |
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Fred knows people in Hollywood who can create a great fair tax ad in a day. For that matter he has people on staff or volunteers who can give time and create an ad in a day. He can get it done for free.
Your virtual campaign will not work unless you do something to create some positive buzz. This will shift the focus of the campaign off of religion and onto taxes and will get you a lot of free national press. It changes the narrative of the press about your campaign from one of death to one of action that will work. It give you a believable path to the nomination.
It gives the press something positive about you to discuss. It gets the heat off of you about doing nothing visible. |
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If Romney hits Huck on immigration. An issue Huck just flipped on. And if Fred hits Huck on the Fair Tax they can bring him down in IA.
Fred had better wake up. Romney has a great GOTV. Rudy is running direct mail and knows every one of his supporters. He is running off of radar but has a great GOTV. The current polls are deceptive. They have 3 times to many people claiming they will vote.
Fred will run 4th behind Rudy if he does not move now and grab some market share from Huck. Huck's votes are movable. |
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An attack on the Fair Tax in IA will not cost Fred much and will save his campaign. It is one way Fred can actually run a virtual campaign effectively. It changes the dynamics of the Huckaboom from Religion to honesty on taxes. It is far better than snow shoeing around IA. Create an air war while you can.
Fred can save his campaign (and the party) if he will move. Fred will more than get back any money he spends in IA. If he crashes Huck, Fred's donations will spurt instead of dry up.
Fred get off of you dead duff and move. |
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Fred needs to do the following in IA now. If Fred crashes Huck in IA, Fred has a chance to save the South. If Fred does not crash Huck now, he is dead. Huck is running even with Fred in GA.
The best approach to use against Huck is to use his strength,his image as a Minister (truth teller) against him.
If you run a simple ad on the "So Called Fair Tax" you forced him to defend a complicated issue that is basically a boon doggle, an emotional issue that most voters have reservations and negative feelings about. You also can position your self a the champion of sane tax reform.
All of the glib answers put forth to promote the "Fair tax" are flawed. Everyone knows the IRS will not be abolished. Every one who can multiply knows if you buy $77 worth of goods and pay $23 in national sales tax you are paying 30%
Huck will lose believability if he has to defend the Fair Tax. It will raise doubts about his ability to tell the truth. His image is a Baptist Minister. It will raise doubts about his image. Is he really honest? Is he a corrupt Minister like so many that the public has encountered?
It also takes him off image (his strength) and puts him on a loser issue (one of his bigger weaknesss).
Better yet this is one of his signature issues but it is a fight about taxes (a weakness)that is a legitimate discussion of issue differences. It is not a personal attack.
It would be best if a 527 ran the ads. But if necessary Fred can run it directly.
A national campaign may be just as effective as running an IA campaign but IA is much cheaper.
This approach has to happen sooner or later. It may as well be now. |
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It's not the MSM's fault that Fred gets no attention. Like Rush says, it's up to the candidates to get noticed. Fred is pretty solid on his conservatism, but he's a very lousy candidate, he doesn't seem to have the heart. I sure wish he were competitive right now. Huck is horrible. Maybe Fred can still do something.
I am voting for Romney, but Fred is my second choice. Even though he doesn't seem to have many skills to bring to the presidency, I know that our liberties and national security would be secure with Fred. |
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I am voting for Fred but I am very surprised his campaign has not caught fire. Sure he is in the top five, but I thought he would be leading by now. Still hoping he pulls a shocker in Iowa. But if he does not win Iowa then staggers, he will be on the short list of VP candidates especially if the nominee is Romney. |
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I'm voting for Fred regardless of the lack of hype. Where is Fred? Well, where's the MSM covering Fred? As usual, the MSM thinks that they get to decide who's elected. Unfortunately, that's true to some extent. The MSM just isn't there everytime Fred goes to the bathroom like they are with Rudy, Mitt and Huckabee.
It's classic form over substance. Conservatives can go ahead and vote for their favorite RINO, and get a RINO in return, or vote for a conservative and finally get a conservative in office.
I don't care who the MSM props up. I'm voting for a real conservative and I'll let the RINO voters continue to screw up this country. |
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It will be nice and refreshing when Fred is left standing after the "others" have obliterated each other. I am so tired of Romney, Giuliani and Huckabee.
This presidential race started way too early in my opinion. I find it smart now why Fred waited. I prefer hearing from him, the wise adult, than the fighting kids. |
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I'm sure tired, bored and boring old Fred is taking a well deserved nap somewhere right now.
Move on to your next best hope. |
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I have seen how he runs a campaign and it is brilliant.
He does things his way, so if you can't handle that, vote for someone that has pizzaz and a head full of mush. Fred will continue to be the adult in this race.
I will vote for Fred cause he ain't no RINO! |
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We need Fred. He is so far better than Huck that they are not even comparable. I'm voting for Romney, but I can live with Fred or Rudy, in that order. What is he thinking? I'd really like to know.
Fred wasted a lot of easily won support, and a lot of potential. He could have had a pretty viable path to the nomination, but he blew it. |
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He's taking a nap. Speaking at events is tiring work. |
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He hasn't been here, and unless he snuck in last night, he won't be here before tomorrow afternoon's debate. The only activity the last couple weeks has been Howard Dean selling the line that Wisconsin at 2 weeks past Super-Duper Tuesday is relevant. |
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The fine folks that run the Badger Poll never contacted me. Of course, since Thompson handily took a pair of Drinking Right straw polls (admittedly, some of us are influenced by Sean Hackbarth), that doesn't much surprise me.
What does surprise and distress me is I and my bloated roll all missed this, and it actually came out yesterday. |
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That is an excellent point. I wonder if Fred is running for vice president? |
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Given the snow Fred may do himself more good on national media than by being in IA.
I think Fred's campaign is nearly comatose. The real question is where will his supporters eventually go? |
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