Two Hundred and Thirty One years ago yesterday, a barefoot, ill-clad army of 2,000 men crossed the ice choked Delaware River to surprise the Hessians at Trenton, giving George Washington his most important victory in the cause of American independence.
The story of how that victory came about is instructive to the cause of Fred Thompson’s campaign for the presidency and the reason for this blogburst today. Not because Fred resembles George Washington in any way or that a Thompson presidency would be as significant an event in history as the American revolution. But because when the chips were down and the cause all but lost, a very small group of Americans helped make the difference between victory and defeat.
Consider if you will the circumstances. Washington had been pushed out of New York by the British in a series of battles during the summer and fall where the Continentals had suffered one humiliating defeat after another. The Americans were levered out of New Jersey and forced to cross the Delaware to the Pennsylvania side of the river. There they waited grimly for the British to attempt a crossing and finish them off.
Patriots in New York and New Jersey began to lose heart, giving their oaths of allegiance to the King so they could trade and buy food for their families. The Congress fled Philadelphia for Baltimore which made Washington not only head of the military but titular head of the government as well. There was no food, no clothing, little in the way of arms and powder, no money, and no credit.
And to make matters worse, Washington’s army was set to disband after the first of the year. A last minute appeal to patriotism by Washington (as pitiful a missive ever written by the Great Man) salvaged the situation with a little more than half the army agreeing to re-up.
In short, things couldn’t get any worse for the patriot cause. Both friend and foe believed that American independence was a lost cause. But then two events were to occur that changed the fortunes of the war and turned the tide inevitably toward success.
The first fortunate happenstance occurred on December 23, 1776 when the first of Tom Paine’s “Crisis” essays hit the streets of America. “These are the times that try men’s souls…” had an electric effect on the citizens and the army. The second event was Washington’s audacious attack on Trenton, as unlikely and impossible a victory as has ever been recorded.
Washington devised a complex plan involving three separate columns crossing the river at three points and converging on Trenton by dawn on Christmas day. One of the columns failed to cross but the other two made it safely through the ice floes and stinging sleet and arrived on the New Jersey side of the Delaware – late but intact. It was madness crossing the river in the middle of an ice storm. But Washington had the perfect bunch to attempt the impossible; the seafaring men of the 14th Continental Regiment.
Better known to us as “The Marblehead Regiment,” these were the hard cases of the American army – a group of swaggering, swearing, spitting fishermen and common seamen led by a remarkable Brigadier by the name of John Glover. Under the guns of the British on Long Island, they ferried 10,000 men and horses across the East River in one night and part of a morning (aided by a heavy fog that obscured the retreat from prying British eyes). This movement forever earned them the gratitude of Washington who liked the spirit and pluck of the sailors as well as their fighting abilities; they held off the British singlehandedly at Pelham, New York in October once again aiding the escape of the bulk of the army.
But that Christmas night in 1776, they truly earned their spurs as they tirelessly rowed time and again across the river and back again, making their way through the ice choked waters in the worst conditions imaginable. Rain mixed with sleet and ice later turning to snow, the waves on the Delaware crashing over the bow covering the rowers with a sheet of clinging ice, the gunwales sometimes perilously close to tipping into the water and capsizing the boats – a certain death in a matter of minutes given the temperature of the water.
The fate of American independence rested with those 400 hardy souls who manned the oars that blustery night. And herein lies the reason for my little historical digression and an illustration of why, if you support Fred Thompson for President, this is the time to get the hell off the sidelines and start rowing the damn boat.
To be brutally frank in appraising the situation realistically, Fred Thompson’s chances of winning the nomination are not good. I will not attempt to snow you, gentle readers, with the idea that the Thompson campaign is anything but a hope and a prayer at this point. But where there is a will to fight, so there is a will to win. It doesn’t matter how many pundits, pollsters, and assorted “experts” have written off Fred Thompson. What matters is that there is still a chance, still life in the campaign, and still a belief that the race can be won. Your support is absolutely crucial to propel the campaign forward, to build on the momentum generated by Thompson’s bus tour through Iowa by giving as much as you possibly can.
The campaign has set a goal of raising $248,000 by sundown on Friday so that they can run a new ad in Iowa. This ad could make the difference and allow Thompson to make a surprise showing in the Iowa Caucuses a week from tomorrow. Exceeding expectations is the game now and this media buy could very well put Fred in a very strong position coming out of Iowa.
So climb aboard and grab an oar. Join the Marbleheaders for Fred and contribute as much as you possibly can to make this Blogburst a big success. Use the widget below or go directly to the contributions page here.
8:43 am
Rick,
You might want to notify them that their page does not indicate that the donation has been taken..it just keeps loading the same page.
9:40 am
[...] A couple of days ago, conservative blogger Rick Moran sent out an e-mail to conservative bloggers – who may consider supporting Fred Thompson – asking them whether they’d like to join a blogburst for Fred. The responses have been quite overwhelming: Rick told me yesterday that more than 100 blogs have joined the blogburst or the “marbleheaders” as they call themselves and have pledged to donate money to Thompson’s campaign today and to ask their readers to donate as well. [...]
9:45 am
Blogburst For Fred Thompson…
Time to man the oars.
Rick Moran uses the example of the Marblehead Regiment to kick off this Blogburst for Fred T…
......
10:34 am
Like Fred himself, I’m too lazy to actually work at this. So let me say, Go Fred!
Is that enough?
10:50 am
Motivate me; what an excellent read and comparison. I’ve been with Fred from the beginning and I’ll go down with Fred if that becomes the case. I’ll be voting with a clean conservative conscious in the South Carolina Primary come January 19, and I’ve donated $100.00 this morning – and I’ll be giving more. What people must understand is that Principal is what sets Fred apart from all of the other Rep candidates. Do your homework, see where the front runners were so passionately in previous races. If we compromise Principal then even if we win next year we have lost our way and the gains generations before us have made. TRUE CONSERVATIVES have only one clear choice – FRED THOMPSON!!
10:57 am
“... if you support Fred Thompson for President, this is the time to get the hell off the sidelines and start rowing the damn boat.”
You might want to tell him too.
10:58 am
FOX News doesnt even mention Freds name at all, what the heck is up with that? It is really bothering me.
11:01 am
[...] Right Wing Nuthouse [...]
11:55 am
TTLF: Blogburst For Fred!...
Rick Moran at Right Wing Nut House had the great idea to do a blogburst for Fred!
The campaign has set a goal of raising $248,000 by sundown on Friday so that they can run a new ad in Iowa. This ad could make the difference and allow Thompson to make a…
12:06 pm
Fred Thompson BlogBurst…
Well it is getting very close to the day the first caucus begins and Fred Thompson needs our help. We need to help him get out his message out and show that he is the true conservative in the Republican…
12:08 pm
[...] If you’re so inclined, you can contribute to Fred’s campaign at Right Wing Nuthouse, or over at Fred’s site. Sphere: Related Content [...]
12:23 pm
Marblehead? Yeah, that fits.
12:46 pm
Blogburst for Fred…
I picked this up via Michele over at Reformed Chicks Blabbing
Rick Moran over at Right Wing Nuthouse is proposing a blogburst for Fred Thompson on Thursday December 27th. The following is part of an e-mail he sent out to other bloggers supporting Fr…
1:06 pm
Thanks for organizing the Blogburst Rick.
1:11 pm
Fred’s the only true conserative choice. I’m waiting to hear his comments about Bhutto’s death.
b
1:51 pm
Hennessy’s View has joined the blog burst. Sixty dollars raised so far.
Thanks for alerting me to this drive.
2:20 pm
[...] We join with Right Wing Nut House and others blogging for Fred Thompson today. Fred’s campaign has set a goal of $248,000 by Friday at sundown. You can donate here… [...]
2:53 pm
I can’t afford it right now, but I donated $250 because it’s that important. There are difficult times ahead, and we need a leader with high principles and dignity to pull the country together. Fred Thompson is the only option who meets the test.
Unfortunately, the website signs contributors up as a Friend of Fred with a system-assigned password, and profile management does not give a way to change the password.
3:11 pm
[...] Apologies? Did Huckabee just apologize for putting out a hit on the former Pakistani PM? Sounds like it to me… And the results couldn’t be better for him. A quick look at Memeorandum shows that the Bhutto buzz has completely killed any momentum that Thompson hoped to generate with his “blogburst†today (you can see it barely hanging on at the bottom). The entire blogosphere is so focused on this one story that I don’t think Fred a has a chance of raising the money his poor campaign needs to put one ad on in Iowa. [...]
3:13 pm
Rich I am on the Fred Bandwagon & have been from the start. He is not the darling of Main Stream Media or political pundits in general.Let Me know what else you think I can do to help Fred become our next President.
3:19 pm
Great post; I’m rowing as hard as I can (which ain’t as much as I’d like; family medical and prior commitments to orphans if Africa thinned out the old wallet a bunch before Fred came along).
As for Fox not covering Fred, it’s part of the news media resenting the fact that Fred does not kowtow to their kingmakers, as I mention in my blogburst on it. Fox has, in the last couple of years, decided to join the MSM elitist movement, probably scared by alternatives like the blogs.
It’s sad to see: between Bill O’s ‘Babes and body language’ degeneracy and the news starting to sound closer to CNN, I find I’m watching Glenn Beck rather than O’reilly and missing Brit Hume (since the original is too early and the repeat is now too late.)
4:23 pm
Fred Thompson Blogburst…
Fred Thompson is the one true conservative in this Presidential race, and the man I most hope wins the GOP nomination. Which is why I have already contributed what I can to his campaign, and would urge other true Conservatives to do the same thing
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4:45 pm
So far, Fred’s campaign reminds me of the title of a recent and unsuccessful anti-war movie about which I wrote a post several weeks back: War Movie, Candidacy Earn Similar Reviews.
4:56 pm
Donated and posted. Found your idea through Glenn Reynolds.
I hope Fred goes all the way.
5:03 pm
[...] Here is the Dec. 27 Blogburst from Rightwing Nuthouse. Join the Marbleheaders. Posted in Bleg, Repubs. [...]
5:10 pm
WTF?
If Washington et al had in any way resembled Fred, we would be Canada. Perhaps, as my Maine/Nova Scotia/New Brunswick relatives would point out, not such a bad thing (none of them have ever had to worry about losing their homes to a medical emergency—even though ALL of them vote conservative).
Rick, I love you as a writer, but I cannot get my head around your push for so-non-Washington(in the original sense of the name) Hollywood Fred.
Sorry, but Fred T. is no Tom Paine.
I long for an Aiken or an Eisenhower. Not an amoral “conservative” with a small “c” in this counry. And the fact that one does not exist cannot be blamed on the dems, rather on the likes of GW Bush and Ronnie Reagan’s legions (by which I mean his un-Lincoln-like pandering to the Robertsons and Fallwells of the Beltway).
As a true conservative, I intend to grit my teeth and sit this one out.
6:48 pm
Blogburst for Fred…
Be a “Marblehead”, Rick Moran has the particulars. Now is the time to get busy AND to dig DEEP if you want to see Fred succeed in Iowa.
“To be brutally frank in appraising the situation realistically, Fred Thompson’s chances of win…
8:42 pm
You are underestimating Fred’s ability to win. He was not planning a campaign and building an organization for the last several years like the other candidates. He was drafted by popular demand only a few months ago. That is the only reason his campaign did not get into full swing until a few weeks ago. Now that he is organized and charging ahead, he has a very good chance at the nomination – if he does well in the IA caucus. That is the hurdle he must clear. He MUST have a good showing to keep the money he will need coming in. If we can come through for him – he can win.
The time to step up is now. Please help Fred. Please help the US. Do you want Hillary to appoint two Supreme Court Justices?
PS - the total count on Fred’s page is only incremented periodically. You don’t get to see your individual contribution, but you will see the combined contributions. It was only 42,000 when I gave my second donation last night.
10:16 pm
Gucci Loafers for Fred (GLFF)
Here’s an idea to get some excitement stirred up behind Fred. Let’s all support Fred by wearing Gucci Loafers everywhere we go.
Gucci Loafers for Fred (GLFF)
12:34 am
I put up a post on Fred’s bleg earlier, let’s hope he makes his goal, its gonna be close, this is a tough time to look for funds.
8:54 am
Blogburst for Fred Thompson…
Right now, our government spends every penny it gets in taxes, borrows everything available from Social Security and then runs up more debts to spend, spend, spend. Fred has made this one of the central themes of his candidacy….
10:53 am
[...] Many blogs have been participating in the Fred Thompson “Blogburst”, and the Cheddarsphere’s own Sean Hackbarth has been trying to keep up with the list:The Discerning Texan Right Wing Nuthouse silent E speaks Traction Control Daily Pundit Faultline USA Stop the ACLU Right Truth Pierre Legrand’s Pink Flamingo Bar Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler The Sundries Shack Wake Up America Bob Krumm bRight & Early Virginians for Fred Thompson Gazizza The Flying Space Monkey Chronicles IMAO EckerNet.Com The Daily Ramble Pirate’s Cove No Runny Eggs Dodgeblogium Invincible Armor Stix Blog Mr. Skulduggery Classical Values Pereiraville Matt Moran NW Republican Try 2 Focus The Virginian Gribbit’s World Billoblog Brain Droppings the lower casefiles Musings of a Political Wonk, Charity Ronin, & Oracle Hack Flopping Aces Texas Hold ‘Em Blogger An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings Hennessy’s View Language Major Emerald Gryphon Redstate’s jforFRED SoCalPundit NoisyRoom.net The Patriot Room American Nonsense Blogs for Fred Thompson Reformed Chicks Blabbing JammieWearingFool Red state Blue state discussion forum Rat Chat Big Girl Pants Avguste Journal Ray Fowler [...]
11:09 am
[...] Right Wing Nuthouse [...]
2:16 pm
[...] Flopping Aces – Fredhead Blogburst Right Truth – Support Fred Right Wing News Fred File JamieWearingFool – Getting on the Fred Thompson bus Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiller Right Wing Nuthouse The Discerning Texan [...]
7:01 pm
Bloggers For Thompson – It’s Now Or Never…
SoCalPundit.com is strongly behind Fred Thompson for the Republican nomination. This position has confounded some of my friends and foes as Thompson is far behind in the polls. I am not with Thompson because I think he can win the nomination. I am wit…
8:05 pm
[...] Flopping Aces – Fredhead Blogburst Right Truth – Support Fred Right Wing News Fred File JamieWearingFool – Getting on the Fred Thompson bus Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiller Right Wing Nuthouse The Discerning Texan Share Article Sphere: Related Content Trackback URL [...]
2:51 am
I thought Fred would join the horse race and kick asses, I alas, just not yet! Must say I am awfully disappointed in by is lack-luster campaign, so far.
He created so much excitement in the beginning, for us ‘political groupies’ the thrill is gone. Now, who are new kids on the block—Huckabee and McCain.
I am waiting for this open race among the GOP to tighen up; until then—although I hate to say it—the oars are missing from Fred’s boat. And that is really, really, too bad for someone who had so much promise.
As the cliche goes—Fred is dead in the water—until her proves otherwise!!
http://www.vernasmith.blogspot.com
3:07 am
Fred Thompson’s Red Pickup Truck is Back…
UPDATE V: 9:27 PM ET $263,929 Raised!
UPDATE IV: 5:55 ET WE DID IT
$252,655 dollars raised. The ol’ red pick up has a full tank. Go Fred Go! But don’t stop giving. Continue to help Fred get his conservative message out.
UPDATE III: 3…
10:38 am
[...] The recent success of the Blogburst for Fred Thompson as inspired me to help keep things going. The impetus for the blogburst came from Rick Moran at Right Wing Nut House. He wrote a post titled BLOGBURST FOR FRED: JOIN THE MARBLEHEADERS that included this on the Marblehead Regiment: Better known to us as “The Marblehead Regiment,†these were the hard cases of the American army – a group of swaggering, swearing, spitting fishermen and common seamen led by a remarkable Brigadier by the name of John Glover. Under the guns of the British on Long Island, they ferried 10,000 men and horses across the East River in one night and part of a morning (aided by a heavy fog that obscured the retreat from prying British eyes). [...]