Redstate

It makes as much sense.

"I just can't quit you, Fred."

Kill the terrorists
Protect the borders
Punch the hippies -- Frank J

so that truly was disgustinly classless

Texas Proud and Texas Loud

of a possible drug overdose.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/22/heath.ledger.dead/index.htm...

And I will not vote for another while his name is on the ballot.

Kill the terrorists
Protect the borders
Punch the hippies -- Frank J

......a vote for Thompson is a vote for McCain. In other words those hoping to vote for the truest conservative will vote for the most liberal republican.

support wholeheartedly and for once I'd like to see how it feels.

Texas Proud and Texas Loud

...the most conservative candidate (whoever you think that is) should trump personal satisfaction.

Texas Proud and Texas Loud

the most conservative candidate remaining in that sorry bunch.

And no, it does not trump personal satisfaction.

And whoever wins in Texas, my vote won't make a difference. But let's say it DID -- if one guy won against another by a single vote, it matters not that much, since they're all less than satisfactory in my book.

Kill the terrorists
Protect the borders
Punch the hippies -- Frank J

There is no "most conservative candidate remaining," and those candidates remaining who hold to one important aspect of conservatism are unsatisfactory on another.

At this point, a vote for Fred Thompson in the primary is an expression of dissatisfaction, a message to the GOP PTB that the movement is not pleased and better get some really big sops, including a veto of prospective veep candidates.

that the party will care. I mean there's only 40% of Fred voters in this straw poll that plan to vote for Fred Thompson. Fred was going getting 1 or 2% in half of the state when he was a candidate. So I imagine at most Fred would get about 1% a few Southern primaries. However, if one does feel all the candidates are equal than he or she might as well vote for whoever they want even if its Mbeckers dead cat.

then nobody should be worried about whether we vote for Fred or not, correct?

Fred Thompson, 2008

.

And standing a little taller after reading that post.

Man is free at the moment he wishes to be. --Voltaire

[nt]

beyond the empty wallowing in self pity of Fred's supporters.

good Lord...we gotta sell our souls to the GOP nominee or else we're evil to the party...we have every freaking right to vote whoever we want in the primary.

We'll all be good little b****es in November...don't worry

Iustum et tenacem propositi virum non civium ardor prava iubentium, non vultus instantis tyranni mente quatit solida.
-Quintus Horatius Flaccus

The point is who is there in November. Think about who might be there. If you're okay with any of the candidates fine. As for me - I think there are major, fundamental, differences and it is therefore foolish to waste your vote on a candidate that is not running.

"I guess the lesson learned here is that it doesn't matter where everyone is from as long as we're all the same religion." - Peter Griffin (Family Guy)

the point of this post is the primary...and whether any of us will still vote for Fred in the primary.

November is not at issue here-and as I said, we'll all be good little b****es in November when we're told to...and pull R-regardless who falls under that name

IT'S FOR THE PARTY you see...

Iustum et tenacem propositi virum non civium ardor prava iubentium, non vultus instantis tyranni mente quatit solida.
-Quintus Horatius Flaccus

The point of the post is the primary, but the point of the primary is November, so November is at issue.

I have LONG been a TN Fredhead, but it wasn't because of Fred, it was because of his ideals and policy positions. With Fred gone, I've got to vote for the next man closest to my beliefs. Who that is, I'm not sure. I just know it's not McCain.

Of course, I'm one of those people who believe that staying home in November is the same as a vote for the Democrats so take it for what it's worth. ;-)

PS. When's our next update on Ol' Red?

for a lot of us, Fred was the only conservative...and the rest of the field suckes equally, by varying degrees and over varying issues. If they all suck, then whichever clears the primary will leave us with a nominee that...wait for it...sucks.

We gotta vote, and those of us that could give a flip either way now with Thompson out...has nothing to lose by voting for him in the primaries...

Ole Red update is here:

http://www.redstate.com/blogs/ole_red/2008/jan/22/ole_red_reporting_all_...

Iustum et tenacem propositi virum non civium ardor prava iubentium, non vultus instantis tyranni mente quatit solida.
-Quintus Horatius Flaccus

And I don't see why you'd waste your vote, but it is yours to waste. Enjoy.

" Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them..." --Frederick Douglass

Mrs W, after the way you conducted yourself Saturday night in the wake of Fred's demise, I would think your notions for what is "out of line" would be pretty lenient, no?

Kill the terrorists
Protect the borders
Punch the hippies -- Frank J

I knew I was out of line when I was doing it and said as much when I had time to calm down.

" Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them..." --Frederick Douglass

" Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them..." --Frederick Douglass

I accept. I want you to know, I was burning enough that I just decided to not step into that conversation at all, lest I drift into bannable country -- I was that mad.

So now, you may proceed with haste to pillory our beloved hackstack! Just don't say nothin' nasty about Ole Red.

Kill the terrorists
Protect the borders
Punch the hippies -- Frank J

I'm a domestic animal lover.

I understand. I should have come up with a better way of saying that I don't get the whole Fred is the only one who can save us thing. I did, however, feel that way about Sam Brownback, but I was ok when he dropped out. I'd had time to process it.

" Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them..." --Frederick Douglass

that whatever happens between now and November, anyone that parts with the GOP in November should be burned at the stake. There has been more vitriol spewed around here at anyone that dare suggest they will not vote for candidate "X" than I ever could have imagined.

And...they'll be held personally responsible for electing Hillary (and of late, perhaps Obama), and they'll be unwelcome in the GOP because they didn't do their part and pull together and close ranks as a good ole team member to fight against the enemy.

To me, this suggests you are only entitled to your opinion so long as it doesn't get in the way of the party masters' big plan, and you can expect ex-communication should you stray from what is expected of you when the time comes to pull the trigger.

Perhaps you find "we'll be good little b*****s" offensive, and if so I do apologize for my lack of decorum, but if (like me) you would like to think you can disagree and vote according your personal beliefs, then you should also be very displeased with this kind of treatment as you can see for yourself right inside this very comment thread.

Iustum et tenacem propositi virum non civium ardor prava iubentium, non vultus instantis tyranni mente quatit solida.
-Quintus Horatius Flaccus

Fred Thompson, 2008

Who do you consider to be the puppeteers in this?

I only vote my personal beliefs, so I can understand displeasure, but my objection was to the idea that anyone that DOES vote GOP is just going with the program. Most of the people here are more informed than that and have chosen their candidates in ways similar to the way you chose yours.

" Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them..." --Frederick Douglass

my remark is in regards to the general. I'm writing in my conscience in Texas on March 4...regardless who is on the official ballot. That's the wasted vote of which you speak.

My lament is November. Consider, without my re-listing all the mess we've seen and heard about the remaining 4 (currently anyway), what we'll be faced with for choices. None of them satisfy my conscience, yet I will either pick one or be vilified for choosing to vote NOTA. The puppeteers are the mass of group-thinkers willing to compromise the tenets of the ideology in the name of winning...further bastardizing the very ideology they squeal and gnash their teeths about insisting they are fighting to protect.

These candidates are not conservatives...despite all the "he's the last one left that's close enough" candidate that "you know who" is mad at me for being unwilling to support.

To be redundant, if [again, in my PERSONAL opinion] none of the candidates meet what I consider to be all of the core conservative principles "litmus test" I will either vote NO because of my conscience and be ex-communicated, or I will vote yes and compromise my own personal beliefs. It's a no win, but the prevailing wisdom is to be part of something...apparently even if it makes your skin crawl...or be treated like the scum you will be considered to be.

Hence, my disdain for the whole bloody mess.

Iustum et tenacem propositi virum non civium ardor prava iubentium, non vultus instantis tyranni mente quatit solida.
-Quintus Horatius Flaccus

Vote for what you think you should like a man. If I think McCain is the best candidate in the primary, I will vote for McCain regardless of whether such a decision would be villified on Redstate, or elsehwhere. If I decide it is not right to vote for Rudy in the General, I won't no matter people call me a traitor and someone who is extending abortion in America... I will make my decision based on what is right and not toy around with making a decision based on whether I get villified for it. I suggest you do the same. We don't need people voting, who feel they must vote a certain way because they feel itimidated on a blog anyway.

probably be decided now anyway...Even if it's not, I'm still voting for Fred...

Texas Proud and Texas Loud

I'm a conservative before I'm a Republican and the other candidates do not measure up in my estimation.

Fight On!

traditionalist conservative just decided to vote like one. I never had any allegance to the party, and voting Fred is the only way I feel that my views are expressed.

www.fred08.com
Redneck Hippie

He's not running anymore. He's not asking for your vote. Your vote will be meaningless. I don't usually like the "lesser of two, or three, evils" argument but look at the field. Obviously you aren't okay with Huckabee (considering your "retarded" blog - good blog by the way) and I'm not sure but I would imagine since you are a conservative first; that you aren't okay with McCain.

It's obvious you have reservations about Romney but if he is POTUS and what he's said during his campaign is true, then he would be a president that would make FDT and FredHeads proud. If he is a liar and is a more moderate president than the worst case is that he turns out to be what we know McCain and Huckabee would be.

"I guess the lesson learned here is that it doesn't matter where everyone is from as long as we're all the same religion." - Peter Griffin (Family Guy)

Sure its a great time to make a statement vote for Thompson. During a Primary that has been hijacked so far by the liberals, dems and the MSM. The race is whitteled down some and maybe some candidates out there will see they still need to earn our vote for the general election who ever it is. Its a fitting tribute to a man that also revisited traditional conservative principles and brought them back to the forefront. Write in Fred in your upcoming primary. To not vote in the primary means your voice IS NOT going to be heard.

#1 I'm a conservative
#2 I'm a republican
No other candidate is going to get my vote by default, they are going to have to earn it. A vote for Fred in the primary shows the rest of the lukewarm candidates how many conservative voters are out there and will hopefully result one them moving to the right (at least if they want my vote).
====
"Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm." -- James Madison

The GOP will continue to push less than conservative candidates on us and treat us like crack whores because of the fear of the opposition. We will continue to vote just to keep the other guy out while our principles get hammered each time. For once, we had a real conservative measuring stick to use against the candidates. Thanks Fred! Status quo no mo.

Go Fred! - Go Conservatism!

--roxer

that the GOP cares. I feel like Fred ran because people begged him to do it. The Presidency is one position where you really have to want it. Look at how they age in office. You don't sign up for it if you only kind of want. He's got a lot on his mind right now.

Mrs. Thompson is in my thoughts. She's a heck of a lady.

" Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them..." --Frederick Douglass

I cast my vote for Fred this past Saturday. Even though I knew at the time that it was probably in vain, it was the most satisfying vote I have cast in over 20 years. My first vote was for Reagan in '80. This one felt that good.

I know it makes no sense to you. Let 'em have this, at least. :-)

and SC was still a possibility. I don't blame you for voting for him then, in fact it was a solid, conservative, vote.

The dream of President Thompson is over for now. The nightmare of President McCain, or President Huckabee is not. I hope Fred supporters will see that Fred Thompson the candidate did not agree with either of the nightmare scenarios I've listed above. He believed in solid conservative policies. I think he would want you to vote for someone who can get those policies, or at least as many as possible, enacted.

Fred said "it's not about him." That's my plea as well. Please consider supporting Romney. He can use more intelligent, conservative, RS posters like you supporting him.

"I guess the lesson learned here is that it doesn't matter where everyone is from as long as we're all the same religion." - Peter Griffin (Family Guy)

Granted, Huckabee wouldn't be a good dream, but I can live with Romney or McCain.

My state's primary is late in the process. Unless I have to use my vote in an attempt to stop the nightmare, I'll cast a protest vote for Fred.

A vote for Fred is now a wasted vote. The man has dropped out. I do NOT want McCain or Huckabee so I will vote either Giuliani or Romney. Too much is at stake to hold on to nostalgia.

If too many people do this, we could very well be holding our noses for McCain in November. I'd rather back a candidate who can at least come close to being a conservative.

www.scottbomb.com

I cannot understand how others cannot see this point clearly. If we are to avoid a Huckabee or McCain nominee we cannot vote for my beloved FDT. We must vote for a viable candidate.

And, I will not hold my nose for McCain or Huckabee, now or in November. (I have a track record here in California by not ever, EVER, voting for Schwarzenegger)

Soldier's Mom - Golfer's Wife - Home alone a lot

10 years in the Navy supporting and defending the Constitution, I think I have the freaking right to vote for who I please. My vote, my right.

--roxer

not to mention the increased alcohol sales!

Texas Proud and Texas Loud

I'm hoisting a cold one right now.

I'm guessing that Thompson didn't endorse McCain for principled reasons:

1. McCain, although a friend, is not as much of an ideological ally as during their Senate days. Fred endorsed McCain in 2000 and co-chaired his campaign, but 9/11 seems to have changed Thompson's priorities.

2. All of the remaining GOP candidates would covet the endorsement of the man, Fred Thompson, who was the second choice of most of their supporters. His endorsement will give conservative credibility to its recipient and therefore should be earned by displays of authentic conservatism. It is one tangible way that Thompson can continue to influence the race.

Oh, it has sunk it. He won't win. He won't be the nominee. But he's still on the ballot in Georgia and he's still my preferred candidate.

Fight On!

It's a shame he's out so soon, though. I would have loved to see a campaign event in either Chattanooga or Atlanta...

" Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them..." --Frederick Douglass

I wouldn't agree, not for most of us anyway.

This site draws conservatives. Fred is a strong conservative. Why wouldn't there be a strong following for him here, especially since the other candidates each have at least one major drawback in terms of conservatism?

We wanted him to rally and to win. He didn't. We're disappointed and frustrated, and most of us don't know where to go next. Is that such a hard thing to understand?

--------------------------------------
I'm not voting for Ron Paul because it's not expressly prescribed in the Constitution.
-- Mark Hemingway, The Corner (NRO)

It's not hard at all for me to understand the disappointment, the frustration, and the feeling of not knowing where to go next. I feel the same way.

What IS hard for me to understand is that the strong conservatives on this site would throw away their vote. Why not instead use it to vote for who they think is the best of who's left?

for some of us, like me, our primary votes won't mean much (and wouldn't have before Fred dropped out) so there's an excuse for a symbolic vote.

As for those whose votes have impact...well, I can't say. But it's no more of a throwaway than "if my guy doesn't win I'll stay home/vote democrat"

I know I will need more than one day to decide who is the "best of who's left". If you asked me today to declare support for someone, I couldn't. I didn't research a #2. So, I could see others like me saying "I'm still for Fred" because as of today there's no other answer.

--------------------------------------
I'm not voting for Ron Paul because it's not expressly prescribed in the Constitution.
-- Mark Hemingway, The Corner (NRO)

I recognize your name from the FredFiles...thanks for all your hard work in support of Fred's campaign.

Fred Thompson was the first candidate for president who motivated me enough to donate money. I nearly donated again today before the announcement came, hoping he was going to hang in there until 2/5.

My state doesn't vote until May 6...so very likely my vote will be meaningless (unless there's a chance of a brokered convention). Not sure what I'll do, but I figure I'm going to allow myself a little sulking time before I decide.

<>

--------------------------------------
I'm not voting for Ron Paul because it's not expressly prescribed in the Constitution.
-- Mark Hemingway, The Corner (NRO)

Great to see you overhere on the otherside of the blog. You really did a great job for Fred. I'm sure it was kind of surreal with all the excitement going in and it ending up the way it did. I really hoped he would make it this way to Ohio so I could have helped more on the ground as money was not available for me to send in. In addition to all the blessings and well wishing for Fred and his family. God Bless you and your future endeavors. We'll keep following along to see were you end up. Keep us FredHeads in mind!!

I am though pushing the word for the primaries to write in Fred so we can make a statement to the GOP leadership. As for the General, we'll just have to see which RINO gets there and how much they've got in line with conservative values. Good luck

all that will be heard is "The Republican nominee is...John McCain; or, "The Republican nominee is Mike Huckabee." When people see that Fred got 1%, or less, which is more likely, as a write-in, or if he's on the ballot - no one will notice. No one will care. It will get no attention. That's just me being realistic.

The better message to send is that we won't nominate candidates like John McCain and Mike Huckabee. That's a message that means something.

"I guess the lesson learned here is that it doesn't matter where everyone is from as long as we're all the same religion." - Peter Griffin (Family Guy)

With a vote, it is a vote. A vote for something or someone that is principled. A no vote becomes a statistic already swept under the rug as another lame, disinfranchised voter or old lady that couldn't make it to the polls. Somewhere already in the 50+% range. At least at 1% you are a registered active voter that is NOT going to vote for the like of Huckabee and McCain and that your disinfranchised because of them and not Fred

I don't understand this post at all. Is it just me? I scored in the 95th percentile on the Reading Comprehension section of the GMAT (or was it the LSAT?) back in the day but I can not understand what this post is saying.

"I guess the lesson learned here is that it doesn't matter where everyone is from as long as we're all the same religion." - Peter Griffin (Family Guy)

Sean, I recognized your name immediately. Thank you for all your hard work on the campaign and at the website.

My heart has left the race, but I am a conservative and a grownup. There will be time for pragmatism later.

My vote for Fred in the California primary will not be an empty, wasteful act. It sends a message to the remaining field that they have to earn my November vote.

The only real choices left for me are Romney and Giuliani and I find them both objectionable in serious ways. Pardon me if I don't rush to their assistance.

I just wanted to say thanks for your work on the campaign. I was really hoping this would turn out better so I could see the Fred Machine at work here on the ground in Virginia.

I understand the need for time to re-assess; I'm doing it, too and (I hope) most other folks are as well.

Anyway, we're glad to have you here and we look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Sean - Thank you so much for everything you did for Fred. I am still going to vote for him. If I have to I'm going to write him in.

Thanks for hanging in there with the Senator. I know the site got a little serious sometimes and seemed to go into meltdown yesterday and this morning. But thanks. Hope everything goes well for you.

--roxer

McCain thinks he’s called the sheriff. Wonder what Teddy calls him? I call him co-conspirator.

You know about the newsletters, right?

Man is free at the moment he wishes to be. --Voltaire

I have too many reasons to vote against him without getting into those.

"Hey, I call 'em like I see 'em. I'm a whale biologist."

..the same lovely crowd that brought us such journalistic masterpieces like "Shock Troops."

Obama's current membership in a black ultra-nationalist church has brought nothing but deafening silence from the media, whereas Rep. Paul's politically incorrect and out of context remarks of twenty years ago brings non-stop condemnation and vitriol.

That the mainstream media should enforce this double standard isn't the least bit surprising; that the conservative counter-media, ostensibly created to correct th situation as much as possible, also upholds the double standard is depressing.

www.scottbomb.com

"If all men were just, there would be no need of valor."
- Agesilaus

Ahoy matey.

Ahoy back at you. My vote has already counted and South Carolina did not fly my way. Too bad, but it looks good for Florida.

"You threw your vote away!" they told me.

I knew better. Though, I suppose, I understand why they thought that any vote that wasn't for either Bush or Kerry was one wasted.

Man is free at the moment he wishes to be. --Voltaire

You really got them. Really made a difference.

and ..stuff.. if they get a certain percentage in general elections. So supporting them does something, of arguable benefit.

Like a good way to help destroy the party as to help a candidate who would have no prayer of winning a brokered convention at this point. Odd strategy.

I am at least 75% certain that my vote is essentially pointless no matter what happens. Unless there's a real possibility that my vote will keep Huck from first place here, I suspect I'll vote Fred, even if I have to write him in.

I'm not going to vote for Hunter. I was illustrating absurdity by being absurd... maybe I wasn't absurd enough.

"Hey, I call 'em like I see 'em. I'm a whale biologist."

From the comments, seems voting for Fred is more about a person's own emotions, rather than advancing conservative ideals.

Lots of posts along the lines of "I'll feel better" or "Finally I get to vote my heart" etc. Is this some kind of carthartic experience for you?

Look, Fred was my guy too. I wanted him to win. He didn't. We move on and opt for the next best option, even if that option isn't very close to what Fred stood for.

But this "primary" talk about we'll vote for Fred because it makes us feel better and then just vote for the Rep. in November makes no sense. How many times have we as conservatives get angry over an elected official who isn't conservative, and the primary is the main mechanism for changing that...but we refuse to use it to advance the next best conservative choice because, well...just because!

So, honestly...if the choice is say, a Huckabee who has been criticized for a variety of reasons, and a Giuliani or Romney, or McCain who are, to many people, better on more issues conservatives hold dear, are you just going to throw away your vote and say, well, whoever wins, wins.

Really?

You are not going to fight for the closest thing you can (even if, to you, it's not as close as you'd like it to be) to conservatism, because it's all about you.

Or it's all about sending a message.

Does anyone truly believe Fred would get sufficient votes that Republicans everywhere would say "We GET it!" Now we know!

I hope Fred stays involved. He's a great man. Has a lot to offer our country as he can serve in a variety of ways. But we do a disservice to essentially toss away our vote because we didn't like the outcome so far, and by God, somebody is going to know it.

Sad part is, any votes of this nature will barely make a ripple.

...but since it was pasted on the end of mine, I'd like to clarify that I *will* be voting in the Georgia Republican primary, and I will *not* be wasting (imho) my vote on Fred whether he's still on the ballot or not...and I will *not* be voting for McCain/Huckabee/Paul...

which, by process of elimination (not by choice), leaves me the prospect of voting for either Rudy or Mitt (unless one of them "pulls a Fred" and quits between now and then)...gack!

Your point regarding Fred quitting on you hit the spot. The best argument so far. But do not make the mistake on you quitting on 'right'. Fred quit. You do not need to follow his lead. Think on who will fit the criteria that most closely followed Fred and go with that candidate. You know, I know, and most of free America knows that Fred does not compute on the dem side of things. Don't go there.

...I didn't say "Democrat"...I said "something other than a Republican" :-)

I really can't imagine voting for a Dem in the general (no doubt at all about not voting for one if the nominee is, as is likely, Hillary), but I do think it's more than a little sad and instructive that Obama seems to have more respect for and historical understanding of the Reagan presidency than several of the folks running for the Republican nomination do if one is to judge by various positions they've taken on a range of issues...(shrug)

in the primary, now that I've thought about it for another day or so, I guess I'll be voting for Giuliani (if he's still around and despite his personal opinions on some issues)...I know he's no Fred, but I still trust him more - by several orders of magnitude - than McCain to actually *govern* conservatively...or, if Rudy quits after Florida, then I guess it'll be Mitt in the primary...gack!

Huckabee and Paul are complete and utter non-starters for me...in the primary or the general...

"Those of us who care about conservative ideas could unite and distroy all your hopes by taking our ball home," I would say that's pretty debatable considering that taking your ball home would show that you don't care about conservative principals. Therefore, I don't if it would be possible for those who cared about conservative principals to unite and elect Hillary. It would be possible for those who cared about getting their way with the candidate they wanted to unite and take their ball home though. And considering that 80% of the party is going to candidate that they don't want that would be dangerous.

I don't understand why so many believe that Reagan won only with conservatives. That is just not the case. He won with moderates, independents and even democrats. Reagan himself would not measure up to this crowd, not he Reagan of real life.

I could see that if Romney were, in fact, the next best candidate.

I'd take someone who agrees with me on 75% of the issues that I know I can trust then someone who says they agree with me 100% of the time but who I have no idea when he'll change his mind next.

John Bolton for President
"FEAR THE 'STACH!!!"

...what, do you suppose, Fred would think of all this? While flattered, I'm sure, do you really think HE will vote this way?

No, I think it's a safe bet he will cast his vote for the candidate he feels comes the closest to advancing the conservative cause.

I doubt he will throw his own vote away.

I'm afraid some of you may have been overtaken by emotion (much like liberals, in this regard) and you are bound and determined to somehow vent your emotions.

And no, just for clarity, I'm not saying anyone who votes for Fred is a liberal, I'm saying that, in this case, I'm concerned your actions are driven more by emotions, and lacking the requisite amount of logic.

In the same manner many liberals are driven by emotion and "feel good" thoughts and actions.

In the end, no message will be sent by this. Nothing substantive. At least, do something that helps advance the conservative cause most of you hold dear.

Might make me vote the primary for a reason.

http://hillbillypolitics.com

Fred Thompson, 2008

A win in Florida could bring Giuliani back to life in New York, New Jersey (both winner-take-all states) and California. His strategy will have been validated and he would be the front-runner for the nomination. Even if he didn't run away with the nomination, he would be a strong candidate at a brokered convention, being closer to more powers in the party than McCain or Romney. Why take the chance that removing the stake from the vampire's heart won't bring the vampire back to life?

...about New York and New Jersey. But California is NOT a winner take all state and I suspect that while CA is far leftist in general, there is a sizable number of Christian Right Republicans there to provide somewhat of a firewall to keep Giulini from getting too many CA delegates. Romney and McCain are both ahead of Giulini in CA and I don't expect a Florida win to change that too much. Plus, Romney is going to continue to do well out west where there are more Mormons.

Probaby, the biggest problem with a Giuliani win is that it might scare some of the Christian Right back into Huckabee's camp. I hope that doesn't happen. But Huckabee's mounting problems will minimize this.

The bottom line is that even though you make good points, a Romney or a McCain win in FL will probably give them too much momentum to be stopped. We might be wondering why our candidate was already anointed going INTO Feb 5th. Does anyone really want that?

Really, with Giuliani being the only pro-choice social moderate... and the rest of the field being at least perceived social conservatives, Giuliani ought to be running away with this thing with the social conservative vote split so many ways. The fact that he isn't should tell us something about the vast numbers of social conservatives in the Republican Party.

Furthermore, a revitalized FL-winning Giuliani will have to contend against a *smaller* field of candidates splitting that social conservative vote... making it all the harder for Giuliani to do much beyond a FL, NJ, and NY win.

(I'd love to see what others think about this!)

In a brokered convention, Giuliani will NEVER get the nomination. Too many social conservative delegates from among ALL the other candidates's delegates would NEVER vote for Giuliani. But a Giuliani delegate is going to be much happier with Fred Thompson than with any of the others. Not because Fred is soft on social issues... that is not that case. But, intead, because Fred approaches the issue through the lens of the Constitution... and this will make Fred more acceptable Giuliani supporters compared to other candidates.

If one of them represents your principles you should.

But...

What do you do when you conclude that none of them do?

Or do you only know who he's not voting for. Care to share?

What we need in a leader is to tell us not what we want to hear, but what we need to hear.
Fred Thompson 2012
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