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January 16, 2008
My American cousins
This is not your next President. Go FRED!
Related: Democrats for Mitt Romney. By contrast: Killl, Protect, Punch Part 2.
Update: I have been meaning to point out Fred Thompson appears to be the candidate of the establishment rightosphere. There are a numbers of good reasons for this phenomenon including Thompson's internet focussed campaign but I believe there is more to this than Howard Dean redux. I would like to attribute the difference between the rightosphere and the electorate - even the relatively (one hopes) informed electorate of primary season - to one of greater foresight and advanced punditry; we are, after all, well within the decision cycle of any old media. Viz, I would like to believe my own forecasting is supported by other credible analysts.* Time and chance may result in a Thompson presidency and the appearance of vindication.** But I think the main reason much of the dextrosphere has sided with Thompson is that unlike 99.9% of the electorate*** we have read the man's writing and understand his philosophical commitment to Federalism and the Constitution. This is the only man in the field**** I can imagine standing amongst the founding fathers. There is no better helmsman for our time.
Update: Peter Robinson also sees the founders.
* With apologies to Hugh Hewitt for poaching on his territory. Updating this point is Dean Barnett's NYT opinion piece, "Driving Mr. Romney". Listening to Hugh Hewitt yesterday it was clear Barnett had not let the boss know this one was coming. I assume Mr. Hewitt was joking when he referred to his "former co-host"... It seems to me the Romney campaign suffers from more than an early tactical decision to reinvent him as a social conservative; this position was never credible given the positions he took to be elected governor including and especially his repudiation of Ronald Reagan. From state to state, Romney's message has changed not only to suit his immediate audience or the vagaries of opinion polls but even the rhetoric of Democratic in-fighting. I never want to hear the word "change" again. I trust Dean Barnett but if I was an American I would not trust Mitt Romney.
** Though I believe my assessment to be correct regardless of any "actually existing" outcome, call me an old school Leninist on that score.
*** Taking a moment to acknowledge that as a fedorati I am not in fact part of said electorate. But all the same.
**** With the possible exception of McCain, not necessarily to his credit in terms of temperament though with great honour due to his physical bravery. But then even Hamilton had to contend with his Jefferson (and vice versa).
Posted by Ghost of a flea at January 16, 2008 07:23 AM
Comments
Fred cannot win, largely stemming from his ill appearance and stumbling delivery akin to a wet sack of turnips.
Romney cannot win, because his personality and rhetoric is disturbingly contrived and people hate it. He has the largest unfavorable rating among candidates.
Rudy is somewhat electable, cratering.
Huck is not a Republican at all and would get creamed by double digits against a D.
There is pretty much only one guy who is electable against Obama (maybe 2 or 3 who have a shot against Hillary).
I'll let you figure out who that is ...
Posted by: Bill from INDC ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.ghostofaflea.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 16, 2008 10:28 AM
I never would have figured you for a Ron Paul guy.
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 16, 2008 10:35 AM
heh.
McCain is very wrong on a ton of things, but he's right on a couple of big ones: spending and the war. And for folks who care a great deal about the issue (I don't), he's pro-life. I think that in the end, he's the best shot at victory for the GOP.
Posted by: Bill from INDC at January 16, 2008 11:49 AM
I don't share most of the objections to McCain I read/hear about from the party faithful. I have been assuming this is due to my Canadianity.
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 16, 2008 12:48 PM
Maybe this is an election where people say, "Damn it all, I'm going to run straight into those guns!"
Parties need them, every now and then. Builds character.
Posted by: Ben (The Tiger in Exile) at January 16, 2008 12:57 PM
I don't think this is a Barry Goldwater moment. I think it is a Ronald Reagan moment.
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 16, 2008 01:41 PM
Actually, I'm thinking right now that it might be a Bill Clinton moment.
In which case, hello, President Romney!
Posted by: Ben (The Tiger in Exile) at January 16, 2008 03:53 PM
I believe Governor Huckabee is doing a better Bill Clinton impersonation...
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 16, 2008 04:02 PM
Go Fred!
That being said, I'm not sure Fred is in it for the real win. I'm starting to get a sense that he is running interference for McCain in the Bible Belt. That doesn't bother me if it hacks Huckabee the wannabe off at the knees and keeps him out of contention. I've had 8 years to many of "compassionate conservatism" to want a nanny state socialist like the Huckster.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that the Repub. ticket for '08 is likely gonna be McCain/Thompson.
GO cranky old white men!
Posted by: dpatten at January 16, 2008 04:14 PM
McCain is annoying because he's incapable of admitting error and he often assumes bad faith. Disagree with him on some point of the torture-in-law debate? He'll label you a torture-monger. Point out that "campaign finance reform" violates the First Amendment and has made campaign finance murkier, not clearer? He becomes very, very angry.
Posted by: JohnAnnArbor at January 16, 2008 04:55 PM
Yeah, McCain can be a pain in the arse.
But being a 2 issue voter, I'd be pretty happy with him. He'll hit this war like no other candidate and probably cut (or try to cut) the size of the federal government, though he spends WAY too much time focusing on pork instead of entitlements.
Posted by: Bill from INDC at January 16, 2008 05:58 PM
Ideally, I'd like Thompson as president, Romney for vice-president (to manage domestic legislative issues and do other management stuff we know he's good at), and McCain as defense secretary (scare the bureaucracy and contractors into some efficiency for once).
Huckabee, ideally, would go home. Giuliani should run for governor in New York and beat Spitzer.
Posted by: JohnAnnArbor at January 16, 2008 06:28 PM
One thought: Does anyone think Iran would be pissing about with speedboats if they had ever heard the words President McCain? I think not.
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 16, 2008 10:46 PM
Is it just me, or does Romney look like 50 something American Psycho?
Posted by: dorkafork at January 17, 2008 07:22 PM
Yes!
Though this is the scene I relate to. I have killed for less than this.
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at January 17, 2008 07:37 PM
