The Reckoning

The third party cometh... I am one who hopes Thompson will be the breath we need as conservatives. My DH says that the left will destroy Fred and I only ask in all naivete, HOW??? Because if you go by any standard, he is about equal with the personal BS that the average American endures (forget Newt, Clinton, et al). Politically, I see nothing but good...should I take my head out of the sand?

I think you're exactly right, and it will be very interesting to see the reaction of the party hacks themselves to Thompson's entry.

This could truly be a watershed event, and conceivably, as you wrote, lead to the end of the GOP. Actually, I hope it does end as we've come to know it: a party of pandering elitist careerists who don't care a whit for principles or the concerns of their alleged constituents.

Interesting times, my friend, interesting times.

"This is a time for clarity of thought, and steely eyed determination to reclaim the Party from the 'moderates' who embrace everything, while standing for nothing."



Excellent line.

Thanks for the visits and the comments!

Nee: You don't have your head in the sand at all, and being excited isn't a bad thing. Heck, i'm excited that I inally have another candidate besides Mike Huckabee that I feel any real excitement for, and I know that Huckabee was a longshot to begin with. I'm just saying, in the words of Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"! I am watching the party regulars and elites to see what they do and say as Fred comes closer to officially entering the race; if their exuberance for Rudy is any measure of their true feelings, then I expect to see them wage more of a battle aginst Fred than against any Democrat. I think they fear that Fred will upset their apple cart and lead conservatives back into a prominent role in the GOP.

BrianR: I hope that this could be the end of the GOP as we know it as well. The Party as being "led" now continues to drift ever leftward in a vain attempt to capture the great "middle". But I don't want to be lumped in with a bunch of people that think that getting along is better than standing for what you believe in. I may hate the politics and policy of Hillary Clinton, but I can respect the fact that she isn't afraid to believe in something and say so. that is the problem that I have with middle, they lack any clear set of beliefs.

Jimmy Carter: If you like that one, here's an oldie but goodie that I think perfectly describes the "moderates": If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything! And the "moderates" will fall for any smooth talker that tells them something they think sounds good. That is why people like Arlen Specter keep getting sent to the Senate, even though they are ususally hostile to anything that seems conservative!

however given past history I have little doubt as to how the GOP establishment will react, unfortunately. As a matter of fact I'd be willing to make book on it.

Not that I don't think Fred can't win, I think it's practically his to lose, I just hope that when he gets in he does a thorough housecleaning of the RNC, in addition to one of State, the CIA, FBI, etc.

I absolutely agree with your comment to me. Hillary certainly doesn't try to hide her true nature, unlike Giuliani and other "Republicans".

I have that same sense of foreboding. I well remember how quickly the GOP ran from Rick Santorum as soon as he hit a patch of trouble at the polls, and I haven't forgotten the rush to defend Specter against the challenge of Pat Toomey, and I won't forget the fact that the GOP was willing to help finance Linc Chafee in his reelection bid while leaving Santorum to fend for himself. That is the element that is destroying the GOP...not the neo-cons, but the none-o-cons, who have 0 conservative principles. They only want to win for the sake of winning, not to do the work the folks snt them to do.

And it would be nice to see a thorough housecleaning at State, the CIA and the like; but with the way the labor laws are, it may be dang near impossible to move those career people out.

Excellent observation. I'm with Fred all the way. As far as the long overdue housecleaning goes, I think Romney put his finger on the mechanism. Attrition. We can let the ranks dwindle by not replacing retirees.

And if Fred were to actually enforce the laws on the books with every means at his disposal, well wouldn't that be a hoot!

Finally, I just love the thought of that big old basset hound looking guy towering 6'8" over his adversaries. We haven't had a leader with such a commanding physical presence since LBJ.

Initially I was not at all excited about Thompson, I didn't realize or even know he was a true conservative man. I was really hanging my hat on a Huckabee run for office.

The more I read other bloggers and even looking at Fred's own web site I am starting to feel better about him. He sounded very solid on Leno as well. I'm starting to come around.

If Rudy is nominated I will vote for the Constitutional Party candidate or someone who is real.

I am however rethinking my initial opinion of Fred Thompson.

I know how you feel! I looked at the candidates awhile back and figured that Mike Huckabee was the guy for me, as he seemed to be the only true conservative in the race. With Fred Thompson getting in, there is a conservative candidate that is very electable and I would love to see him pair up with Huckabee in the race. I think that would be a dynamite partnership and would give us a conservative White House that we have not seen in my lifetime.

BTW, come back later and I will have two new posts up, one of mine and another from Charles Davenport about Fred Thompson. It's good stuff!