Rather than give my own take on Fred’s campaign, I will direct you to Bob Krumm’s excellent and thorough critique which leaves us all wondering what could have been.
Jim Geraghty has a source inside the Thompson campaign:
He’s still with his ailing mother. “He’s just being a good son.”He has not spoken to any other campaign or any other candidates, nor does he intend to at this time.
He will not endorse, I am told by this source close to Thompson.
I am also told, “he has no interest in a vice presidency or a cabinet position.” At an “appropriate time” he will outline his plans for the near future.
This source believes that the race has demonstrated that whatever happens from here on out, the GOP has to stand for consistent conservative policies across the board.
Geraghty also reports that Fred has dropped out of the Florida debate.
So the writing is on the wall and we are left contemplating why such a substantiative candidate failed?
Krumm lists the familiar reasons but I think it goes a little deeper than that – or at least, there is a more basic reason Fred failed; he was not entertaining.
I am amused by the laughter on the left over “Grandpa Fred” and his laid back demeanor. Perhaps if they examined their own fascination with the celebrity candidates on the Democratic side – an empty suit of a man running a campaign of cotton candy platitudes and half thought out policies along with a ruthless shrew whose grasp for power and influence is only slightly less nauseating than that of her philandering husband -they wouldn’t be quite so dismissive. Given that their likely candidate has a personality that makes Leona Helmsley look like a civic saint, one would think a little less gloating on their part might be in order.
After all, Fred thought about government and the relationship with the governed more than 10 Obama’s and 5 Hillary’s put together. Next to Fred, the Democratic party candidates come off like game show hosts. Democrat Bill Bradley comes to mind when looking for candidates who had given what to do after being elected so much thought. But Bradley too, was forced to run against a game show host in Al Gore and lost in the 2000 primaries. This current crop of small minded sophists on the Democratic side remind me of auctioneers bidding for votes among a grasping electorate who refuse to pay for government programs they already benefit from while begging for more.
Could Thompson have changed this dynamic? It’s an interesting thought experiment in that many conservatives in the think tanks believe that enacting federalism would impose a certain kind of civic discipline on Americans that would make most of us stop and think about whether a program or a benefit is really worth having. That’s because once responsibilities like that are returned to the state and local government, there is little doubt that people would be forced to pay for the benefits they desire. It would make both government and the citizens responsible adults when it comes to government spending at all levels.
No Democrat would ever contemplate such a radical shift and a Democrat controlled Congress would very likely not given Fred much of what he wanted if he had been elected. But even the Democrats can’t avoid the issue much longer. Fred literally wrote the book on the near future catastrophe at hand unless reforms in entitlement spending are initiated. In Government on the Brink (Volume II here) Thompson shows with a clarity lacking in so many of the superficial debates over “government spending” that there will shortly come a time when servicing the debt and paying for entitlements will eat up so much of the budget that it will not be possible to adequately defend ourselves or fund other, much needed domestic programs.
At any rate, this is what excited conservatives about Thompson in the first place and why I mourn the end of his campaign today. Fred Thompson talked about these and other issues that no other candidate would dare address. He didn’t speak in apocalyptic terms but rather explained his concerns in a straightforward, no nonsense, “Look people, this is the way it is and the way it’s gonna be” kind of way.
Krumm said that Thompson spoke in paragraphs when he needed to speak in sound bites. I don’t disagree strategically but I question whether Fred would have ever been able to do it and, given the substantiative subject matter, whether it was possible or not. I called him “The Anti-Soundbite Candidate” and indeed, it may have been a part of his undoing. But as I mentioned earlier, soundbites were only part of the problem.
Fred was running for president in a world where the selection process for the highest office in the land is conducted like auditions for American Idol. And the Simon Cowells in the media and punditland just didn’t think Thompson would ever become a star.
UPDATE
Just received this email from the campaign:
Statement from Sen. Fred Thompson
McLean, VA - Senator Fred Thompson today issued the following statement about his campaign for President:
“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people.”
Thanks, Fred.
UPDATE II
Allah, playing it straight, has a point I don’t believe I’ve seen elsewhere:
So I’m chalking it up to disorganization. The alternative, that Bush killed the Reagan coalition dead and left Thompson types inviable no matter how efficiently their machines might run, is simply too terrible to contemplate.
Romney will certainly try to claim Reagan’s legacy but we all know that’s a crock. It would have been interesting to see Fred try to bring the factions together but Allah is suggesting that it may not have been possible to begin with.
One more thing, this may be bad news for Giuliani. Thompson was only pulling 6% in Florida but I think most of that will end up in Romney’s column. I wonder if Thompson’s national security conservatives who refuse to vote for McCain will end up in Rudy’s corner? That’s got to be a fairly small number of voters, however, and Rudy must be hopng that Huckabee discovers some cross over appeal to traditional conservatives in Florida.
2:39 pm
Honestly, the conservative movement is in dire need of the Fred that arose prior to the SC primary to stick around and remain active (even if not running). I think what this election is proving is that all of these years without a clear movement figure active in politics has finally caught up with conservatives. We continually gave in and accepted flawed candidates who were not interested in actually leading the movement and now where so-called conservatives are voting for candidates who at worst are trying to redefine the movement or at a modicum best simply being propped up on silly beltway notions such as “electability.” This election year cycle is already lost, but the conservative movement needs a public political leader to stand up and serve as a permanent agitator and to call to accountability Democrats and Republicans at every turn when they fail to uphold to conservative principles. Rush et al are fine, but we need a political figure to rally around soon, or otherwise be prepared for more of this type of election well into the future. I may be dreaming in hoping Fred will step up and serve that role, but I am not sure whom else we have at this point.
2:46 pm
[...] Ol’ Fred Thompson has called it quits. From RightWingNuthouse Just received this email from the campaign: [...]
3:33 pm
I am amused by the laughter on the left over “Grandpa Fred†and his laid back demeanor. Perhaps if they examined their own fascination with the celebrity candidates on the Democratic side – an empty suit of a man running a campaign of cotton candy platitudes and half thought out policies along with a ruthless shrew whose grasp for power and influence is only slightly less nauseating than that of her philandering husband -they wouldn’t be quite so dismissive. Given that their likely candidate has a personality that makes Leona Helmsley look like a civic saint, one would think a little less gloating on their part might be in order.
Less to do with his demeanor than the fact that he accepted people’s money, and then did little with it. Speaking for myself, I can handle giving to a candidate that tries and loses. I’m less tolerant of a candidate who takes my hard earned money and then lounges through his/her campaign. Say what you will about Hillary and her lust for power, if I gave her money (and I don’t) I know she’ll use it to good effect (for her, anyway).
There’s not one perfect candidate in these races, and there hasn’t been for years. There’s no Reagan for you guys, no FDR for us. Just the least imperfect.
3:47 pm
Sorry for the double post, but I left something out of the above:
One thing I can respect about the man is that he clearly finds the process of running for president distasteful. For whatever I may disagree with the man in regards to demeanor or policy, he had a level of dignity greater than any of the candidates who grimaced stiffly though yet another state fair steak fry and baby kiss-a-thon.
3:50 pm
[...] Rick Moran is in mourning. by TheAnchoress @ 2:28 pm. Filed under Election 2008, Fred Thompson [Trackback URL] [link] [ Print This Post ] [SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Fred Thompson drops out”, url: “http://theanchoressonline.com/2008/01/22/fred-thompson-drops-out/” });] Trackback URL for this post: http://theanchoressonline.com/2008/01/22/fred-thompson-drops-out/trackback/ [...]
4:16 pm
At this point Fred dropping out doesn’t hurt Giuliani. He was already dead in the water.
4:24 pm
In all seriousness, as a liberal Democrat I was always perplexed why the Repubs. didn’t come together around Thompson. I obviously didn’t like him as a candidate, but he seemed to have everything Republicans claimed to like. He was the only candidate who didn’t have some instant disqualifying feature that pissed off a slice of the base.
4:36 pm
A sincere thanks to Fred for the effort.
So why does intrade have McCain up slightly and Rudy and Mitt down slightly? Huck is also up slightly, which makes sense. I don’t know of any other news. Maybe the small moves just reflect that the market doesn’t really know who is helped by Fred’s withdrawal.
4:46 pm
The Republican establishment doesn’t want to nominate a Conservative, it wants to win elections. Elections are about populism and pandering, majority of American voters want a Happy fix; principles have no place in the race.
Fred’s a good man, he may be out of the race but not out of Conservatism; he has good things to say and now the time to say it.
4:55 pm
Wow, rick, your grief has turned your head upside down.
Fred was not entertaining? Huh?
Thats all that he was. A few good one-liners, a nice timely righteous rant – other than that nothing but a recitation of the old ideology that is clearly out of touch with today’s reality.
And Obama an empty suit? Geez. Partisanship will lead people to say just about anything, I guess.
5:57 pm
Here in northeast Florida, John McCain is making promises to bring more forces to the Naval base at Mayport, Mitt Romney is making personal appearances and buying TV ads, Ron Paul is buying radion ads, and I see more people organizing for Huckabee than anyone else.
I have no idea whether this actually means anything.
6:28 pm
Fred’s Out…
Fred Thompson leaves the Presidential campaign trail as of today. SeeDubya thinks there was too much confusion at the top of his organization and offers up some anecdotal proof. Here is Fred’s statement:
“Today, I have withdrawn my candidac…
6:46 pm
I am amused by the laughter on the left over “Grandpa Fred†and his laid back demeanor.
It’s good that you are amused by it all, considering the entire field of Republicans provide a treasure trove of things to laugh about.
I’m still rooting for Mittens myself, although Rudy 911 would be a good second choice.
7:49 pm
This is a tremendously huge loss for Republican and conservative voters in November.
7:58 pm
Fred! Withdraws. Who Do I Support Now?...
Statement by Fred!
Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of s…
8:16 pm
Fred Bows Out…
Where do his supporters go?...
8:19 pm
Fred’s out. Mitt’s in. Go Mitt!
11:20 pm
Out of curiosity . . . why are you attacking the Left over Freddie’s departure?
He wasn’t running against the Left. He was running against the Right. He was competing against Mitt and Huckawhatever and McCain. The Left didn’t fail to vote for him . . . the Right did. As you’ve pointed out in past collums, the Right went for “an empty suit of a man running a campaign of cotton candy platitudes and half thought out policies” named Huckasomething and a man who seems to be making a career out of running for the office (the very definition of “grasp[ing] for power and influence”). Sure the Left has mocked him . . . sort of like how the Right has savaged the “empty suit” and the “power mad shrew” every chance they got. But the criticisms of the Left didn’t have anything to do with this, unless you think the Left’s opinion controls how Conservatives vote in primaries.
It was the Conservatives’ dismissal of Fred that killed his campaign, not the Liberals. But certainly don’t pass up a chance to spew some hate at the Left . . . since they are the fount of all evil, I suppose this must be their fault as well.
1:34 am
I am holding out hope for a Giuliani/Thompson ticket. While he had arguably the best platform and ideas, Thompson just didn’t have the outward drive and dynamism that Rudy can bring to the top of the ticket…
But can’t you see Thompson embarrassing the hell out VP candidate John Edwards in the summer debates?
Giuliani is hardly out of it (assuming he wins in Florida) and I believe a Giuliani/Thompson ticket has the best shot at winning in November.
This country needs serious tax and spending cuts—and it needs them now.
And is there anyone who doubts Rudy would be a great diplomatic leader and a excellent Commander of Chief of the US Military?
7:10 am
[...] It was obvious from the moment that the former Hollyweird actor sleepwalked onto the national stage that his heart was not in a White House run although a lot of people, including otherwise sentient bloggers, went bonkers over Thompson and considered him the closest thing to a reincarnation of that Reagan guy. [...]
8:41 am
[...] Right Wing Nut House » MY TURN TO MOURN FOR FRED (UPDATE: FRED OFFICIALLY OUT) [...]
11:19 am
The only way the moderate/independent American is going to get behind serious tax and spending cuts is after they experience a high Misery Index.
We’re going to go through what we went through thirty years ago; tough love is the only cure to ending those who are addicted to the Government’s Happy chemicals.
Believe me when I say I don’t want to make the same stupid mistakes all over again however, this is how life in America operates.
7:40 pm
Hi Rick…
It was all or nothing for Fred… Which is precisely the type of President we need in today’s world…
If we look back to 1860, we see a candidate who sought to avoid raising controversy and divisions; so he opted out from making speeches…
And as the Democratic Party was (again) divided ie: (North wanting Stephen A. Douglas and the South wanting John C. Breckinridge)...this candidate stayed in Springfield; and the rest is history…
The quiet and calm Abraham Lincoln, was elected first Republican president.
The media tagged his toe; now, we must be sure that his resignation is not our calling.
I believe that Fred held the very principals (however unsuitable to the Media) that are the last principals that made our Nation Great.
God Bless our Nation…