My latest Pajamas Media column is up. I detail the process by which Fredheads are being wooed by the various campaigns.
Being wooed in this manner would be flattering if the attentions were wanted. I guess now I know how Britney Spears feels. Well, I would if I were an ex-teenage pop star with mental health issues and an impulse control problem. Perhaps a better analogy would be woman being pursued by several suitors, who, while uninterested in spending the rest of her life with them, doesn’t wish to hurt their feelings to the point that they would forego giving her the expensive presents and nights on the town she has become accustomed to.
In this vein, I have decided not to support any candidate in the primaries and to revisit the issue once the GOP chooses a nominee. Judging from what I’ve read from many of my fellow Fredheads, I am not alone in choosing this path — although I’m certainly not in the majority.
For most who supported Thompson, there is that all-important second choice. And to analyze who will probably benefit the most from Thompson’s pullout, you must look from where Thompson’s major support was coming.
12:58 pm
Yeah, I am going to wait. My chance at the process was in Iowa. I haven’t a say anymore. Will say that I don’t much like my choices. (I am a closet Federalist) Who has a chance to beat “the machine”?
1:07 pm
I’m pretty much in a similar boat. I’m the type that “votes passion” in the primary, and votes “party” in the general. Fred had my vote for the primary, which is coming up, but since he’s not running, I’m basically going to punt. Just go and vote on the local issues.
Then I’ll most likely vote GOP in the general, whoever the nominee is.
3:16 pm
Fred will get my vote in the primary (I believe the ballot is already printed, being as absentee/vote by mail ballots are already out).
I am still hoping for a brokered conventions and Fred. Fred as a VP? I don’t think that putting lipstick on a pig makes the stink any less. In the fall.. I don’t think I can hold my nose tightly enough.
Heh.. BAG day is coming and this year, it appears that the Feds are going to fund it, with their damned economic stimulus package.
4:59 pm
If I can’t have FRED!, If I MUST hold my nose to vote, I’d be forced to support Mitt. As an executive and a governor, he has a bit of knowledge about making money instead of voting himself a raise, and working for people instead of parroting his Red Chinese masters wishes in DC. If it’s McVain, what difference from Hitlery? Ah well…Romney/Thompson? Better to be Thompson/Romney, but I’ll take what I can get for now, and work to better the lot later.
6:07 pm
just an observation – the decision not to have a second choice or preference in either the nomination process or the general election is somewhat unusual. in most (not all) other decisions in life we are willing to settle for our second choice.
6:23 pm
..in most (not all) other decisions in life we are willing to settle for our second choice.
I guess that’s the problem with being an ideologist – if the square peg doesn’t fit in the round hole, I am not one to commence knocking the corners off of the square peg.
I suppose that “taking my ball and going home” is childish and perhaps I will think better of it. But right now, with the choices available – I’ll have none of it.
Fred was the first candidate I contributed to and worked for.
None of this current crop manages true small government and strong defense. I am a moral conservative, but I think it has little or no place in a discussion of national politics – other than to get the feds out of it. Reverse Roe V Wade and have the feds stop messing with what are state issues. Some States yes, others no, let the people decide there.
Second choices work when I am in control. Chosing between a plane without enough fuel and one with engines far overdue for a rebuild? I’ll walk.
Without None of the Above as a choice, the only moral choice I can make is no vote – a pox on all of their houses.
Maybe I will think differently in the future, but at present, there is not enough lipstick for the any that are in the pen.
10:29 pm
Wooing Fredheads? Why would any of the top tier candidates bother? Fred aroused little in the way of passion, energy or support. If all of his supporters, that is, both of them, want to support Ron Paul, it won’t amount to a shade of difference.
10:32 pm
Giving the lie to your idiotic comment is the fact that nobody cares about Ron Paul in the Republican party and that when he finally drops out (something he should have done after New Hampshire) no one will be fighting for his supporters because they’re all a bunch of loons.
12:23 am
Rick, I will have a hard time supporting any of the front running RINOS as the republican Candidate. As a party we would be better off not supporting any of them, in fact we need to start a wright in your own name for President campaign. This would send a clear message to the RNC no more liberal candidates period. I actually believe the dem’s are going to win this election when the Republicans can only supply a demo watanabe as our candidate.
1:39 am
Hoping for a brokered convention? Wake up. Stop wallowing in your misery. I am a Fred supporter who has moved on.
Look. You need to realize that there is more at stake here than just the presidency. There are tons of important House and Senate races that will probably determine who has control of those chambers the next two years (well at least the House) and a brokered convention is the worst possible scenario.
Operatives need to be re-employed and activists need to hit the ground running. Campaign messages need to be crafted and implemented as soon as the Democratic nominee is known. Fundraising needs to begin in earnest. None of this happens until fall if someone doesn’t take the nomination by the throat early this spring. You might not be handing the election to the Democrats, but you will kill any chance of getting the House back this year by draining important resources into the Presidential race.
The makeup of the House is crucial, because Dems are at record low approval and this is the GOP’s last best chance to take it back before redistricting in 2011. The 2010 offseason election is not as high profile, and there will be no Presidential candidate to help out down the ticket. The time to move on the HofR is now, before Dems redistrict the GOP into impotence after 2010. And it is a ripe situation, right now, for Romney.
Look, I loved Fred’s candidacy, and Romney was a distant second choice, but if we head into summer with people focused mainly on the economy, no GOP candidate makes as credible a case as he can. If he can tie all three legs of the conservative stool with a little realistic immigration reform and a dash of earmark elimination into a “contract with America” style campaign that down-ticket candidates can sign onto, the Dems in the HofR are ripe for the plucking.
If there is another dramatic terror attack, the same could apply to McCain or Giuliani.
This President is going to need some sort of mandate to begin his term—something no President has had since Reagan in 1980. (Bill Clinton won only a plurality thanks to Perot, Bush I was extending Reagan’s legacy, and Bush II had the whole “Florida thing” working against him in 2000.)
Taking back the House would be a very important morale builder for the GOP and it’s activists, and provide the needed boost for growth oriented policies to be put into place starting next January. But the candidate at the top has to be able to get GOP candidates for lesser offices to ride those coattails. John McCain can’t do it. At all. Rudy might be able to, but in an environment where economic unease is of the greatest importance in the minds of voters, Romney is the best choice.
Don’t take your ball and go home, or worse, hope for a brokered convention. You know, deep down, that there is a bigger picture here. Time to stop moping and get back in the game. There’s Democrats out there just waiting to be bludgeoned. Electorally. Pick the next best guy and move on.
11:46 am
Caustic Conservative:
This whole voting for Republicans because they’re a sight better than Dems is what’s getting us into trouble in the first place. I’m frankly sick and tired of having to pick the “lesser of two evils”. Nothing changes if the status quo is maintained. We continue to grow further from our core principles, and conservatism gets redefined by non-conservatives. How on earth is that helping our cause?
Why should I have to hold my nose and vote for who’s left – when I have HUGE reservations about each of the five remaining candidates?
Putting more bad Republicans in the White House is no different than 4 years of a Democrat. You’re going to get some socialistic/populistic form of government – so what choice do we really have?
I won’t support Huckabee, Giuliani or McCain. Huckabee’s whole “My Christianity is better than your Christianity” eliminated him immediately – along with his appearance at John Hagee’s church. Giuliani is pro-choice and anti-2nd Amendment. Promises and pinky swears won’t do it for me. McCain’s “I get it – build the fence” while still holding on to McCain-Kennedy is nothing more than a big middle finger to Americans who want secure borders. That leaves me with Romney and Ron Paul. However, I’m unwilling to pick up pom poms for either one of these guys.
While the Fred Heads for Mitt is a sweet gesture – it’s not swaying me to his side. I see many of his moves and changes as nothing more than politically expedient. I could support a Romney/Thompson ticket. But Thompson in the VP slot is the only way to make it palatable to me.
Mr. Moran alluded to the main reason why I’m hesitant in supporting Ron Paul. His supporters are seen as odd ducks, and 9/11 truth loons. You’re known by the company you keep – so no thanks. I know there are sane/rational people who support Congressman Paul, but they seem to be in the minority. Or just don’t get as much media coverage.
That’s the opinion of a FredHead in Ohio. I envy those who had the opportunity to vote for Senator Thompson in caucuses or primaries – at this point I’m not sure if he’ll even be on our ballot.
4:30 pm
Since Fred was McCain’s National co-chairman on his 2000 campaign, and their voting records are virtually identical, perhaps McCain is the best choice for Fred Heads…
5:40 pm
Realistically, Fred was a long shot. Yes, he resonated with the disenfranchised conservatives. Yes, he was a mature adult in a room full of same old, same old pols. Yes, his white papers were spot on (at least for me).
Let’s get over it.
Rick is in a funk and may not vote. Your choice, sir. But, a null vote aids Hillary. Is that what you want?
Do conservatives really want Hillary in with the prospects of 4 years of misery? What if a white knight – a new Reagan – doesn’t come about to save the day ala Jimmy Carter?
There’s nothing wrong with casting a vote for a Republican when it is in fact a vote against the Democrats. Chill the emotions. I made the mistake of voting for Carter because I was pissed of at Ford for the Nixon pardon and voted for Perot because I was distraught over both Bush41 and Clinton. Well, I got Jimmy and Bill and look where that got us.
5:57 pm
The problem with getting in the game is that (agreeing with Renee – I think) is that the entire field is too far to the left. I cannot kick a field goal from the adjacent field.
My way or the highway? Perhaps.
Gimme some time to think on it and study up on the dreck which remains.
Me? I thought that Fred was a moderate.
3:12 am
I’m with Caustic Conservative here. We need to focus on taking back at least the House. Write in Fred! or Mickey Mouse or someone else for President, but go to the polls and vote Republican for the other races. In any case, voting is a duty IMO, and if you don’t vote you don’t get to complain about the results in my book. “Remember ‘94!” needs to be our battle cry this year.