Below on the Townhall blog, Matt Lewis has a post titled “Fred's Cutting-Edge eCampaign Swings Into Action.” What kind of “cutting edge” innovations is Fred bringing to Campaign ’08? Matt explains:
Fred Thompson's new media team isn't wasting any time getting started. They just unveiled a blog, last night. And if you're really a FredHead, check out Fred Thompson's MySpace and Facebook pages -- or swing by his YouTube channel ...
A blog? Is that one of those web log thingies I’ve heard so much about? Surely you jest. Wow! That’s sharper than cutting edge! That’s further out there than just outside the box!
Fred’s got a little problem, and Matt’s post illustrates it. Every move that Fred makes is for the moment being universally hailed as genius. But he has feet of clay like every politician. The bar is getting raised so high, it’s going to be impossible for him to get those clay feet over it.
Interestingly, Mitt Romney has the exact opposite problem which really isn’t a problem at all. In this little clip, Barney Frank (appearing on my familiar stomping grounds, the Jim Braude Show on New England Cable News) dismisses Romney as “the most intellectually dishonest human being in the history of politics.” (No mention of where he ranks among intellectually dishonest gods or animals.)
Barney’s variety of hysterical hyperbole, a calling-card for wild-eyed liberalism, has served Romney well as he’s gotten to meet the voters. Romney’s opponents, undone by their typical leftwing hysteria, have unwittingly set the bar very low for him. When voters see him, they walk away impressed, and amazed at how what they’ve seen doesn’t match the hostile rhetoric that his opponents have hurled at him.
Back to Fred for a second, lest I raise any false impressions. I really like him. Right now I think he’s the odds-on favorite for the nomination, and if he gets it, I’ll support him enthusiastically. While I think he’s terrific, I think the Fred-Heads may be a little out of control. And I definitely think they’re doing their guy no favors raising expectations so high.
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