Fred Thompson: The Other Rock Star in Michigan
The spotlight is on him tonight at Mackinac conference
By Bluey Posted in 2008 — Comments (14) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I've run into Fred Thompson twice today at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference and I'm about to see him a third time as he addresses attendees during dinner.
My first encounter came early this afternoon in the lobby of the Grand Hotel when a pack of supporters surrounded him in hopes of scoring an autograph or a photo. Then later this afternoon, I attended a brief press conference, where about a dozen cameramen and even more reporters asked him about the importance of Michigan in presidential politics, the state's economy, and his views on campaign-finance reform.
Thompson's big moment comes tonight when he shares the stage with Sen. John McCain, but based on what I've see so far, he's already rivaling Rudy Giuliani in popularity.
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Fred Thompson: The Other Rock Star in Michigan 14 Comments (0 topical, 14 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=49274
Quote
"Recent Rasmussen polling provides important insights into why Fred Thompson has a real chance to win the Republican nomination for President. The most recent Rasmussen polling shows Thompson leading the field with 28% of likely primary voters followed by Rudy Guiliani (19%) and John McCain (13%). Mitt Romney is in 4th position with 11%. Thompson is doing so well with likely Republican primary voters because he is perceived as the most conservative candidate in the race. The Republican primary electorate is made up predominantly of ideological conservatives, with better than half of likely voters characterizing themselves in this way."
Not sure how this poll squares with the other polls out there but this shows that Thompson has a serious enthusiasm problem:
Thompson's bid for the evangelical right suffered a setback Wednesday when social conservative leader James Dobson said he could not support Thompson, contending he has "no passion, no zeal." Thompson's agents encountered a cool reception at a gathering of conservatives this week who were high on Rudy Giuliani.
I haven't always been a fan of Novak, but he tends to be soberly pragmatic when the rest of us are euphorically optimistic. The fact that Newt Gingrich would even consider running shows that Thompson is not the great conservative hope we were all waiting for. I am probably idologically closer to Thompson than Giuliani, but I am light years away from Hillay Cliinton and if Rudy can keep her out of the White House then he gets my support.
It's going to be Rudy....
a lot of "conservative leaders," "Republican leaders," and "evangelical leaders." I think this is because he doesn't court them as much as they expect to be romanced, going instead straight to the people: conservatives, Republicans, and evangelicals.
We'll have to see if this is successful, but I wouldn't put too much credence in the fact that Dobson got his feeling hurt.
That's interesting analysis, and I think fitting with the impression that's been out there, that he was going to run a campaign directly to the people, making good use of the Internet.
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Reality: Thompson/Romney Dream: Santorum/Watts.
I check RealClearPolitics every day hoping and waiting for the Thompson Surge. The latest Rasmussen shows Thompson losing to Edwards by 12 points. Ouch!
Conservatives may love Thompson, but they despise Hillary a lot more. If he can't demonstrate his ability to pull votes from beyond the base, he's not the guy for the job.
Man, its too bad his stretch-Armstrong wristband is back ordered. I wanted one, put it off and now not only is it navy blue instead of the rockin' red I saw earlier, its back ordered... boo.
Hey, right now I can support Fred as well as anyone but none of them have me pumped yet. I will catch some grief for this but there is something missing. Strikes me as a tired old man that speaks in general terms. Rudy has done well recently going after Hillary and Co. but I have issues with him too. Fred may be many things but I don't see him as a rock star.
AND then had this to say about Rudolph;
"James Dobson has announced that because of his stances on abortion, he will not under any circumstances vote for Rudy Giuliani if he gets the Republican nomination:
“My conclusion from this closer look at the current GOP front-runner comes down to this: Speaking as a private citizen and not on behalf of any organization or party, I cannot, and will not, vote for Rudy Giuliani in 2008. It is an irrevocable decision. If given a Hobson’s – Dobson’s? – choice between him and Sens. Hillary Clinton or Barrack Obama, I will either cast my ballot for an also-ran – or if worse comes to worst – not vote in a presidential election for the first time in my adult life. My conscience and my moral convictions will allow me to do nothing else.”"
Rudolph also has another serious problem with a certain group of 80+ Million Americans who helped keep Gore out of office as well as serious character issues;
Guns and Rudy: The Whole Story
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/articles/article.ht ml?id=25471
Why Rudolph Giuliani Really Shouldn’t Be President
http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/specialguests/2007/mar/08/w hy_rudy_giuliani_re ally_shouldn_t_be_pr esident
Read the editorial reviews of the following books at Amazon;
Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11 by Wayne Barrett and Dan Collins
http://www.amazon.com/Grand-Illusion.../dp/0060536608
The Full Rudy: The Man, the Myth, the Mania by Jack Newfield.
http://www.amazon.com/Full-Rudy-Man-...76679&s;r=1-1
Rudy!: An Investigative Biography of Rudolph Guiliani by Wayne Barrett.
http://www.amazon.com/Rudy-Investigative-Biography-Rudo lph-Guiliani/dp/0465005241/ref=sr_1_1/002-6972407-2757625?ie =UTF8&s;=bo oks&qid;=1188176754&s;r=1-1
“I used gun control as mayor,” he said at a news conference Saturday during a swing through California. But “I understand the Second Amendment. I understand the right to bear arms.” He said what he did as mayor would have no effect on hunting.
http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/national/BO42897
MAYOR GIULIANI AND SPEAKER VALLONE ANNOUNCE
CITY LAWSUIT AGAINST GUN INDUSTRY
http://www.redstate.com/blogs/republican_michigander/20 07/feb/12/rudys_lawsuit_against_firearms_industry
Jimmy Dobson's, ( the radio psychologist ), lack of support means as much to a general election as a kick stand on a tank.
James Dobson: Focusing on Himself
http://www.elroy.net/ehr/dobson.html
Therefore, only one candidate is electable and it sure isn't Newt.
If Dobson and others like him won't vote for Rudy in '08, they will hurt their cause regardless of who wins the election. If Rudy manages to win the election in spite of SoCons deserting him en masse, he will give SoCon causes short shrift as he doesn't have a history of being a forgiving man. Hillary has no love for SoCons to begin with and will relish trampling over them at every opportunity. In the event of a Rudy nomination, SoCons would do well to keep things in perspective and support him rather than succumbing to the siren song of self righteous pique and turn their backs on him.
Check out the new hit piece on Fred Thompson, including a few things the media never talks about. To read it go to thirdrailradio.blogspot.com
From Hotline on Call:
Mitt Romney is called "homeboy," I'm guessing, because his dad was once Michigan's governor.