The Front Page/HOME Gun Pics/GGPs Lists The Weekend Women

Tuesday, January 22, 2008


Bottom of Comments | Comment Form

No More Conservatives

Kim du Toit
January 22, 2008
2:57 PM CDT

Note to Fred Thompson:

Last in, first out. Thanks for nothing. Good-bye, go back to Hollywood, and fuck you.

A longer post on a related topic will appear tomorrow.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Update: A couple of people have commented, either below or in emails, that my language in the above is deplorable.
Considering that I’m watching the demise of conservatism in our political process, and feeling personally betrayed by Thompson withal, consider yourselves lucky that this was all I said.




Comments

Bottom of Comments | Comment Form | Original Post

  1. I’m not sure who I am more disgusted with - Fred for his lackluster campaign, or Republican voters for their stupidity.

    NJSoldier | 1/22/2008 03:08 PM CDT | #110433

  2. I’m at a complete loss.  Is this a real surprise?  A media blackout of his campaign combined with his only real assertive campaigning coming from the debates which hardly anyone watches and he’s the first one out on the Republican side.

    Our nation will one day rue the day we gave up on conservative principles.  That is if our governmental masters allow us to.

    Right now, I’d almost write to each of the remaining candidates and see what my vote will get in terms of dollars.  That’s all this election is about anymore anyway.

    Rudy, John, Mitt...how much will you give me for my vote?  I wonder if the Democrats will pay better.

    Jon | 1/22/2008 03:12 PM CDT | #110434

  3. Kim,

    I think Fred will still be on our ballot here in Collin County.  If so, I’ll still vote for him if only to give a big FU to the rest of the candidates.

    kbiel | 1/22/2008 03:16 PM CDT | #110436

  4. I had someone to vote for.

    I am now unable to decide who to vote against… confused

    Max Drive | 1/22/2008 03:18 PM CDT | #110437

  5. Come one, Kim, why the language? Hell, I’m disappointed too, but we all knew that was going to happen.  He didn’t want to run in the first place; so I can’t bring myself to be angry at Fred.  He was recruited, reluctantly, to run a campaign against overrwhelming odds; his campaign was largely ignored, and he had nowhere near the amount of money to overcome the obstacles thrown in his way.  Yeah, it sucks that he gave up, but telling him “fuck you” ? I think that’s a bit much.

    on the other hand , It’s your site, so whatever. I’m just sayng civility doesn’t cost anything, especially towards those who are on your side…

    just my opinion…

    HKpistole | 1/22/2008 03:21 PM CDT | #110438

  6. Well, it was fun while it lasted… guess I’d better find a fiddle and start sniffing for smoke. Nah, it shouldn’t be TOO hard to figure out who’ll do the least anount of damage, should it?

    Everwyck | 1/22/2008 03:24 PM CDT | #110439

  7. HK,

    Don’t get me started, or else people will find out how I REALLY feel. And that’s not a joke.

    Kim du Toit | 1/22/2008 03:27 PM CDT | #110440

  8. well, alright Kim. I just hate to see you angry at someone you like…

    HKpistole | 1/22/2008 03:31 PM CDT | #110441

  9. Fred didn’t have the fire. Better to know now than AFTER an election…

    Achilles | 1/22/2008 03:32 PM CDT | #110442

  10. This has now turned into a hell of a mess. With Fred out we will have nowhere to turn.
    My guns will be at the ready. All I’ll be waiting for is my orders.
    Cannon Man , proud member Nation of Riflemen.

    Cannon Man | 1/22/2008 03:34 PM CDT | #110444

  11. For those of you that are threatening to sit this one out, like you did in 2006:

    Political parties cannot “learn”.

    The party will pimp who ever has the best machine inside the party.

    If you want a pro-gun Presidential nomination, then you need to get involved in your own local precinct, and actually join the party … as opposed to just registering as an “R” with the state.

    If a Democrat ( Socialist ) gets the presidency, we will get Clinton or Obama Supreme court and federal judge appointees.

    Don’t sit this one out. Vote for the lesser evil, and then get involved in your party, instead of complaining about not being represented.

    The Nominee represents those that are most active in the party … if you aren’t active, or are never planning on becoming active, then why would ANY political party care what you think?

    This isn’t as glamorous or satisfying as not voting ... but it is the only way we will EVER get a pro-gun candidate eventually nominated.

    ( BTW: you might want to take that “Fred 08” banner down ... yes, I am disappointed. Forget him and move on )

    kbarrett | 1/22/2008 03:35 PM CDT | #110445

  12. I’d enjoy hearing how you really feel Kim.  But I’m not trying to poke the sleeping bear.  I’ll just use my imagination.

    Jon | 1/22/2008 03:35 PM CDT | #110446

  13. Yeah, I’m pissed too. Like Max said, I HAD someone to vote FOR. And the fucking media hid him well enough for him to drop out. NObody heard what he had to say. THAT’S why. He was what America said it wanted, and nobody ever got to hear his message. So, what now? What the fuck now? A good congress is the only hope we’ve got left.
    “Don’t sit this one out. Vote for the lesser evil, and then get involved in your party, instead of complaining about not being represented.

    The Nominee represents those that are most active in the party … if you aren’t active, or are never planning on becoming active, then why would ANY political party care what you think?

    This isn’t as glamorous or satisfying as not voting ... but it is the only way we will EVER get a pro-gun candidate eventually nominated”
    THAT’S the fact. Good call.

    cmblake6 | 1/22/2008 03:35 PM CDT | #110447

  14. “good congress”...another oxymoron like military intelligence, or an honest Clinton.

    Jon | 1/22/2008 03:41 PM CDT | #110451

  15. Not quite “first out”, Duncan Hunter dropped out on the 20th, but yeah, it’s disappointing.

    I’ll still vote for him though.  Write-in if that’s an option.  Can’t stomach any of the others.

    Jason | 1/22/2008 03:45 PM CDT | #110452

  16. Well, now it’s back to choosing the lesser of two evils instead of the better candidate.  Or maybe we should be choosing the R candidate who has the best chance of defeating whatever candidate the Ds put out.  As much fun as it would be to throw my vote away by writing in Thompson or Cthulhu, I REALLY don’t want a D in office.

    But look on the bright side: the next scheduled apocalypse should be happening in 2012, so we may only have 4 years under the D until Jesus comes back / Cthulhu wakes up & eats everyone / the Space Jaguars devour the world / the Xists land and turn Earth into a giant Stuckey’s in space / the sun grows to red giant size and burns us all away / the dolphins rise from the oceans and conquer humanity / etc.

    DFWMTX | 1/22/2008 03:51 PM CDT | #110454

  17. Oh yeah, btw. Better get to the gunshop now. Doesn’t really matter which of the other candidates is on the ticket on either side. Stock up now. And “Remember your oath of enlistment? REMEMBER YOUR OATH OF ENLISTMENT!” With luck, the message will be sent.

    cmblake6 | 1/22/2008 03:58 PM CDT | #110455

  18. I mailed my absentee ballot marked for FT on Saturday, (Florida Primary).

    Thanks Fred for making my vote useless.

    kaba | 1/22/2008 04:06 PM CDT | #110457

  19. I think he is playing for a VP role.

    satted | 1/22/2008 04:24 PM CDT | #110459

  20. It is not necessary, at least on a Massachusetts paper ballot, to enter a vote for every office.  So far, it looks like the only mark on mine will be for Major Jeff Beatty, AOT the narrowback Kerry.  For all the other offices, it might as well be a write-in for Pulvapies.

    stencil | 1/22/2008 04:25 PM CDT | #110460

  21. Everyone is looking at each other and asking “Who knew?”

    It’s pathetic.  We talked a good game, but we didn’t donate time or money like we should have.  Individually, maybe, but as a party, as a country, we watched one man put his name on the line, but none of us really followed his rally ... and he walked right in to the guns.

    JGHM | 1/22/2008 04:29 PM CDT | #110461

  22. I feel so utterly pissed about this. First Hunter and now Thompson. I just wish that a conservative candidate were still involved in this race.

    Duncan | 1/22/2008 04:34 PM CDT | #110462

  23. To ease the mood (or fan the flames), Frank J had a good line about the SC primary: “It looks like it’s going to be near impossible to get a Republican elected in the general election if its this hard getting one elected in a Republican primary.”

    Bad thing is, I just sent Fred another $100 this morning. After the announcement, I promptly sent them a request for a refund.

    F-ing sucks…

    JPatterson | 1/22/2008 04:46 PM CDT | #110463

  24. I’m not surprised, but definitely disappointed.  I wish he had stayed in until Super Tuesday at least - there’s no front runner decided by what we’ve been given so far.

    Oh well, in one regard it doesn’t matter - I’m already in this as an “ABD” - Anybody But a Democrat - voter, and regardless of who our side slouches towards nominating, I’ll be voting for him.

    In regards to conservative principles in our ruling class, however, this DOES matter, and I’m with Kim on that - a bit more polite on the language is the only difference.

    walkercolt | 1/22/2008 04:53 PM CDT | #110464

  25. I can’t remember where I read this, but it’s particularly apropos now:

    The message of the Republican party to its voters this year seems to be: “Vote for us because our democrats are better than their democrats.” Ugh.

    Sertorius | 1/22/2008 05:04 PM CDT | #110465

  26. Yes,it sucks that Fred dropped,but I think we all knew it was a longshot at best.Now we have to hope that we can somehow beat Hillary,given the fact that so many are swearing to stay home or go Dem because Fred won’t be our guy.Please,please,please remember what happened in ‘06 because of that attitude.Yes,it will be a matter of the lesser of two evils,but I think any of the Rs will be a lesser evil than Hillary or Obama.

    franxredhot | 1/22/2008 05:06 PM CDT | #110466

  27. Well, it sure looks like we’re destined to have “Nanny-dearest” invade our lives even more.  I can only hope that by 2012 enough folks will be pissed off enough to insist that their voices be heard.  Fred needs to get a full head of steam next time, but he’s probably burned a lot of bridges by bowing out so early.  If he, or Duncan Hunter, hope to have a chance, they’re definitely going to have to play someone else’s game.  I have to believe that there are millions of people who would agree with them, if the masses only had the chance to hear their positions.  There has to be a way to not let the media outlets of this country determine our fate.

    Mr. du Toit, I agree with your sentiments and feel like mailing Fred the mouthfull of puke I coughed up upon hearing of his retreat.  However, your “fuck you” comment, well, let’s just say that I expected a little more panache from someone who gets bent from the sight of someone wearing a ballcap indoors.

    clooper | 1/22/2008 05:10 PM CDT | #110468

  28. Point made several times, and true. While it may be that r* is not much better than D, whatever you do don’t sit at home and LET it go D. “06 is a fine example of what happens. And if Shrillary Rotten Antichrist is in the Oval Office again, we’re absolutely fucked. EVERYthing the Dipshits want, they’ll get and then some.

    cmblake6 | 1/22/2008 05:15 PM CDT | #110469

  29. Agreed, Kim, 100%.  You’d pretty much single-handedly convinced me to vote for the guy instead of Ron Paul (and you know my political leanings) and now I can’t even do that. 

    What a miserable fucking day.

    Rule10b5 | 1/22/2008 05:16 PM CDT | #110470

  30. Well. I think he could have done it if he was serious earlier on. The kinds of speeches he’s been making now would probably have been effective, if he was doing it with gusto back when everyone else was starting the race. I think he overestimated the ease and speed with which you can connect with the electorate. He was still checking his tire pressure when everyone else had driven several laps already. Very sad.

    Now we are well and truly fucked.

    JC

    John Collins | 1/22/2008 05:21 PM CDT | #110471

  31. Kim, Thanks for the note because that’s how I felt as well. Looking forward to reading more tomorrow.

    KBarrett, right on the money, have to get more involved.

    grant1863 | 1/22/2008 05:23 PM CDT | #110472

  32. It’s a sad, sad day for the Republican Party. We’re now reduced to voting against the Democratic nominee rather than FOR a Republican candidate. Blah.

    JustinR | 1/22/2008 05:26 PM CDT | #110473

  33. I was watching Fox news yesterday and this morning and they seemed somewhat cheerful to say that Fred would be dropping out today.  They also mentioned he was running third in the primaries so far.

    THIRD?  And he quits?  What the hell is that?  He couldn’t have stuck around till the convention at least?

    Third isn’t no chance, it is third out a fair sized pack.  He still had a chance, it is freaking January, not October, but now he’s walked away from it.  Cusswords just aren’t enough to do my opinion of that justice.

    Johnnyreb | 1/22/2008 05:34 PM CDT | #110474

  34. Good to know that I won’t have to waste time trying to find my absentee ballot this year.  Screw the reb party and all its minions.  I started voting reb when AuH2O4 ran and went right p to bush II.  Don’t care any more.  Buying more ammo and circling the wagons at the compound, heh.

    0007 | 1/22/2008 05:37 PM CDT | #110475

  35. I’ll be throwing my support behind McCain.  Is he ideal??  No.  But he’s strong on gun rights, strong on the war, and despite his policy regarding the illegals who are already here he seems to agree that the border needs to be locked down in order to prevent new illegals from coming in (which is more important IMO).

    Alex F. | 1/22/2008 05:47 PM CDT | #110477

  36. Hell Kim, I thought your words were a bit too mild, for my taste.  The Stupid Party is so completely Fucked up, There is no Right Wing, Just a bunch of tepid Socialists calling themselves conservatives. My Voting criteria is very simple: If they don’t support the Constitution, They don’t get my Vote.

    Larry Graham | 1/22/2008 06:04 PM CDT | #110478

  37. Hell Kim, I thought your words were a bit too mild, for my taste.  The Stupid Party is so completely Fucked up, There is no Right Wing, Just a bunch of tepid Socialists calling themselves conservatives. My Voting criteria is very simple: If they don’t support the Constitution, They don’t get my Vote.

    Larry Graham | 1/22/2008 06:09 PM CDT | #110479

  38. I’ll be writing in Fred’s name on the ballot come this November. I WILL NOT vote for any of the other candidates.

    And I will be switching my party registration to Independent. The current Republican party is Democrat Lite TM.

    Lastly, I will be buying many thousands dollars worth of guns and gun accessories this year. I started saving last year for this. Hundreds of mags, maybe a dozen stripped AR lowers, and many different pistols. And as much of it as possible will be private party. NICS can bite me.

    UnknownSailor | 1/22/2008 06:11 PM CDT | #110480

  39. The media is in control. If one is not media-acceptable (as opposed to media-savvy, which I think Fred was), one will not get a look-in. This is not a matter of debating the issues, this is about hairstyle, tears, a wrinkled chick, a semi-black dude and a couple of creationist/Mormon white guys.

    These are the things that attract the media spotlight. In 2012, we will have a lesbian and a paraplegic on the ticket, and they too will aspire to the football…

    Knal N. Domp | 1/22/2008 06:13 PM CDT | #110481

  40. Well, whoever we get in November, we will have to watch him and write letters.  The postcard/letter is much more effective than E-mail or even faxes, as the person who wrote them a letter had to get an envelope and a stamp, and go to the post office; not merely an E-mail address.

    What’s the ratio they use when assessing the importance of postcards and letters? 5 to 1? 20 to 1?

    We would have had to do this even if Fred had made it all the way. Politics makes strange bedfellows and the exigencies of the deal make even the best politicians forget promises made in the heat of the campaign.

    Windy Wilson | 1/22/2008 06:13 PM CDT | #110482

  41. kbarrett,

    The reason we have such shite for candidates is because of the lessor of two evils concept, you get what you vote for, in this case someone whom is just slightly better than a Dem. Wake up your policy is crap.

    Armed to the Teeth | 1/22/2008 06:22 PM CDT | #110484

  42. Third isn’t no chance, it is third out a fair sized pack.  He still had a chance, it is freaking January, not October, but now he’s walked away from it.  Cusswords just aren’t enough to do my opinion of that justice.

    +1

    Jered | 1/22/2008 06:25 PM CDT | #110485

  43. I’ll be writing in Fred’s name on the ballot come this November. I WILL NOT vote for any of the other candidates.

    Well… I’ll be writing him in on the primary ballot if he’s not there, but come November, I’ll be voting for Not Hillary.

    Seriously, folks. We’ve never gotten a choice between the good and the perfect. It’s always been a choice between the ok-to-mediocre and the just plain awful. I can’t be the only one who remembers the 2000 election, and I’m pretty sure most of us didn’t vote for W, we voted against Al Gore. Am I wrong?

    Just don’t stay home. Even if you leave the top of the ticket blank, there are going to be Representatives and Senators to vote for (or against), local officials, and maybe some initiatives, depending on what state you’re in.

    rosignol | 1/22/2008 06:33 PM CDT | #110486

  44. Fred Thompson does not deserve our anger. He is a good man who truly represents conservative republicans. But, this was his first big campaign. He is not sitting in Congress or in a governor’s seat, and he does not have direct access to big money (and we’d be leery of him if he did). The media either ignored him or referred to him as an actor, rather than a lawyer/politician/actor. To have a chance at winning the nomination, he needed to buy lots of ads and air time in November, December, and early January--money he didn’t have. Doing well in the debates got him some votes, but not many, because too many people vote based on repeated sound-bites.

    The next time he runs he will need a highly experienced campaign manager and lots of early money. That’s where we come in.

    Dr. T | 1/22/2008 06:35 PM CDT | #110487

  45. Fred Thompson QUIT, there is no good place in history for quitters.

    That is all I have to say that is civil.

    -DR

    deathrider1579 | 1/22/2008 06:42 PM CDT | #110488

  46. The only Republican in a crucial election in the middle of a war drops out, and you’re supposed to watch your language?

    Fuck Fred, fuck the so-called Republican Party, and fuck every last one of the RINOs who are running.

    I’m sitting out this one.  I’m in the DPRK - my vote doesn’t matter anyway.

    workinwifdakids | 1/22/2008 06:47 PM CDT | #110489

  47. thompson_quits

    Worth reading.

    rosignol | 1/22/2008 07:01 PM CDT | #110491

  48. Just don’t stay home. Even if you leave the top of the ticket blank, there are going to be Representatives and Senators to vote for (or against), local officials, and maybe some initiatives, depending on what state you’re in.

    Don’t stay home. You saw what that got us in ‘06! WhatEVER we get is still better than a full swing D control. OTOH, that may hit the reset button. Probably not, but it might wake up the voters for 2010/12. If we still have the right to vote, that is. Of that I wouldn’t rest assured, should the demoncraps take the full helm.

    cmblake6 | 1/22/2008 07:09 PM CDT | #110492

  49. OTOH, that may hit the reset button.

    Which is why McShame or Huckster will trigger a straight Dem vote for me:

    McDonough’s Song, by Rudyard Kipling

    Whether The People be led by The Lord,
    Or lured by the loudest throat:
    If it be quicker to die by the sword
    Or cheaper to die by vote--
    ...

    For Holy People, however it runs,
    Endeth in wholly Slave.

    Whatsoever, for any cause,
    Seeketh to take or give
    Power above or beyond the Laws,
    Suffer it not to live!
    Holy State or Holy King--
    Or Holy People’s Will--
    Have no truck with the senseless thing.
    Order the guns and kill!

    The Constitution is supposed to be our Law. It isn’t any more.

    SDN | 1/22/2008 07:35 PM CDT | #110493

  50. This just validates the “fuck ‘em, where they gonna go?’ from a republican politician on hearing that gun owners were upset with a vote against gun rights. How, exactly, do we send a signal? I am just about ready to vote for Paul.
    Springsteen needs to write a new song- “American Milch Cow”. 
    We get a nanny state alright, but she is wearing jackboots.

    Raven | 1/22/2008 07:38 PM CDT | #110494

  51. Trying to be optimistic here:

    At least Huckabee is pro-gun, pro-Israel, Not!McCain, and ain’t a quitter.

    At least McCain ain’t Guiliani.

    At least Thompson didn’t run crying home in the middle of the presidential election, leaving us with Obama or Clinton.

    This is a sad note for the conservative subset (because the Republicans are no longer a conservative party) of the GOP, though. We should have been choosing BETWEEN conservative choices, not desperately looking for ONE.

    Josie | 1/22/2008 07:42 PM CDT | #110495

  52. Not voting is just plain STUPID.

    What are we 5 years old and if we don’t get our way, we take our ball and go home.  Like some have said, if you really are that juvenile, then leave the presidential vote blank or write in Micky Mouse, but voter for your senators and everyone else on the ticket.

    Then after you get over your tantrum, go and become active in the party.  Make your voice known in ways that influence WHO we GET to vote for, WHAT the party stands for, WHY the RNC needs to move back to conservative ideas.

    It is not the actions of evil men that create holocausts, it is the inaction of men of ideals that allow holocausts.  Look back at history.  If but a few men had stood up early and opposed tyranny, most of the worst episodes in history could have been avoided.

    Precision | 1/22/2008 08:06 PM CDT | #110497

  53. I have 3 words for you (well...2 and a number):

    Bobby Jindal 2012!

    JPatterson | 1/22/2008 08:09 PM CDT | #110498

  54. It is truly a sad day indeed. I am not surprised that Fred dropped out.  I think that his conservative credentials were legitimate, but I think he was not prepared for the task. Now, we do not have a conservative in the race and the idea of Hillary or Obama in the White House literally makes me sick to my stomach. I cannot believe that people would vote for such ridiculous candidates or that they would even be taken seriously!

    I agree with most of the posters here who state that we need to hold our nose and vote Republican in ‘08, even if these guys are mostly RINOs.  It will still be a far cry better than a damn Democrat in office.

    Here in Virginia, we are fighting our libtard Governor Kaine and his buddies on this year’s installment of gun control legislation that will do nothing to prevent crime.  Now, thanks to the VT shooter, we are seeing the liberals parade VT shooting victims families in front of the camaras....which is exactly what I thought we would see after this happened last April.

    I am going to the Salem, VA gun show this weekend and I bet it is gonna be packed.

    Norrin the Hun | 1/22/2008 08:13 PM CDT | #110500

  55. “The happiness of America is intimately connected with the happiness of all mankind; She is destined to become the safe and venerable asylum of virtue, of honesty, of tolerance and of peaceful liberty.”

    Lafayette, June 7, 1777

    Not bad for a French guy.

    AuntieG | 1/22/2008 08:18 PM CDT | #110503

  56. I seem to remember a few news pieces back last summer saying how Fox News had a real conundrum on its hands with Fred. On one hand, he was the only possible conservative candidate, but on the other, Roger Ailes and all the senior execs at Fox were close friends with Rudy and had promised to help him out if they could. If there was any truth to that story then there was no way that Fox could support Fred in that circumstance. Don’t forget, too, that both Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity were brought to the national stage by Ailes - and conveniently, neither has decided to back any specific candidate.

    I have the feeling that in the next little while you may see a few pro-Rudy pieces start to come out on Fox, and while neither Rush nor Hannity will do a 180 and endorse Rudy or anyone else (i.e. they’ll be saving face), you can bet one candidate will get kindler, gentler treatment.

    My real question: Is there a strong conservative governor anywhere who’s starting to make a name for himself and who might be able to start campaigning for 2012 soonish? I’m now resigned to the fact we will have some form of socialism imposed on this country between now and then; who knows, maybe 1980 will repeat itself in 2012.

    W2IRT | 1/22/2008 08:20 PM CDT | #110504

  57. McCain/Thompson ‘08?

    They’re good friends, I hear.

    Dub_James | 1/22/2008 08:21 PM CDT | #110506

  58. A Statement from Fred Thompson

    Posted: Tue. 22 – Jan 2008
    “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.”
    ---
    “To be, or not to be” –--
    “O Mr. Thompson, Mr. Thompson! wherefore art thou?”
    “This above all, to thine ownself be true.”
    “The course of true love never did run smoothly.”
    ---
    Disappointment does not begin to express my sentiment.
    Whether or not Senator T was in the race “100%” or not – he gave me hope— now dashed.  Reading the tea-leaves does not appease me.
    No knight in shining armor will show up in this election.  What is a Conservative American to do?

    To do list:
    1. I am going to vote in the primary and every election because my country, my freedom, my future and posterity means everything to me, and although I no longer have my first choice, I do have a country to defend and a duty.  There are candidates that are more or less ‘tolerable’ although nothing like ‘the President’ that Thompson would have been.  So, it’s time to look at Plan B more closely.

    2. If Senator T agreed to become a VP candidate now, I would probably vote for whomever selected him and also hope ‘the President’ dies soon (one still has to remain hopeful).  If he can’t be my President, he can be my VP.

    3. Make a scoring chart (maybe ‘the Mrs’ will help us with a Gant-like chart?) of the necessities and how each candidate scores.  After further study, either select my own candidate or go with Fred’s choice if he agrees to be a VP.

    4. I plan to vote (which is all the power I have left) for—as conservative a candidate—as possible to minimize the effect that any Democratic Presidential candidate would have if they should defeat a Republican in 2008 and “get my guys in” to protect and lead the nation.  I still want to prevent: liberal Justice appointments, liberal tax and spend programs, ‘governmental’ health care, amnesty, or ‘setting a date’ to lose the War in Iraq or the WOT.  You know what I want…

    5. Give more money to Fred’s Presidential choice, and if he doesn’t choose well– give more to my #2 candidate.  Running for President is very expensive.

    6. Using the motto “one at a time” – over the next year focus my energy to encourage dialog and support “conservatives.” I am not that well-spoken or outspoken enough to give “speeches” – but I can attend and support Republican meetings in my area which I gave up on after 2006 – I need to make an effort to do what I expected Senator Thompson to do for me, and support conservative candidates more aggressively.

    AuntieG | 1/22/2008 08:22 PM CDT | #110507

  59. Dub_James,

    That’s what pisses me off about Fred quiting the most....at least he could have been a VP candidate and ran for President in 8 years?  He could have done something other than just quit!

    AuntieG,

    I like your “To Do” list.  I work on people every day with odd beliefs such as that socialized medicine will work.  Gently, continually, consistantly, talk to your friends, co-workers, relatives, whoever, about what this country needs…

    I had a lifelong buddy suddenly spout off how socialized medicine would be great because ‘we will save the kids’ and all that nonsense...now that I have demonstrated to him how loony that is, he has backed off.  One person at a time and we can possibly change the course of this country.

    Norrin the Hun | 1/22/2008 08:26 PM CDT | #110509

  60. Lots of VP’s become President.

    AuntieG | 1/22/2008 08:31 PM CDT | #110510

  61. Just...bah. Conservative candidate? In this day of brainwashed “gimmes”? They don’t back someone that honestly believes in the American dream. How bad must it get before people finally say enough? Just...bah.

    cmblake6 | 1/22/2008 08:42 PM CDT | #110511

  62. Well, I’m in the dumps too, not least because I gave $225 to Fred’s campaign. But I don’t think this is the death knell of conservatism. It’ll bounce back. It always does.

    fasterplease | 1/22/2008 08:44 PM CDT | #110512

  63. Fred broke my damn heart. I was expecting George Patton coming out of the blocks. I got Omar Bradley.

    P.S. The “tempestuous” Patton only fired one general during WWII. The “placid” Bradley fired a dozen.

    Velociman | 1/22/2008 09:11 PM CDT | #110514

  64. Fred was the candidate with the best chance of getting me to call myself a Republican.  There are a couple of the others that I could at least hold my nose and vote for, but I am still only a potential Republican recruit. 

    Huckabee reminds me of the guys that chased me away when I first looked into the Republican party, 28 years ago.  I’m not very devoutly religious, and insuficiently anti-abortion for that crowd.  He is clueless on judicial appointments, foreign policy, Immigration policy, and his Fair Tax position looks like mere pandering.

    McCain is anti-freedom of speech, wobbly on gun rights, wrong on Immigration, wrong on judges, and thinks the war on terror can be fought according to civillized rules.  He seems like a guy who wishes all us proles would just shut up.

    Gullianni is anti-gun, pro-government control of everything, and wobbly on immigration.  At least he might be able to tell a good originalist judge when he finds one, and would be credible on the war.

    Romney is anti-gun, or maybe not depending on what day it is and who the audience is.  He is a very smart bussiness management technocrat, who can make and implement all the latest gee-whiz Harvard Business School plans.  The last time we elected the most outstanding business executive in the country, his name was Herbert Hoover.  Maybe this one will do better.

    The least terrible Republicans I see are both anti-gun.  Thats a bad sign.  On the other hand, even Ron Paul would be better than Clinton or Obama.

    fast richard | 1/22/2008 09:16 PM CDT | #110515

  65. I was going to be a one issue vote this election.  The only issue that was to be considered was “which candidate understands and honors the Constitution the most, which one realizes his job is to protect MY Constitutional rights.” Fred was the only one who fit this criteria.

    I’m going to sit out this election. 

    I predict either Obama or Hillary will win.  Both consider the Constitution as nothing more than toilet paper.  They are unfit for office.

    Ogre | 1/22/2008 09:43 PM CDT | #110517

  66. I think that his conservative credentials were legitimate, but I think he was not prepared for the task.

    Running for president appears to be the kind of task you start on immediately after the congressional election preceding the presidential election you intend to run in. Starting a year before the election (like Fred did) means the best campaign staff will already be taken and the movers-and-shakers behind the scenes will already be committed to someone.

    I don’t think it used to be this way, but that’s how it is now. It’s pretty apparent that he was trying to make do with second-tier campaign staff, and the fundraising problems were pretty obvious.

    rosignol | 1/22/2008 09:44 PM CDT | #110518

  67. Fred did a very good job.  Obviously conservative ideals no longer are resonating with a significant percentage of the population.  We’ve watered down our population with hordes of immigrants who do not have a conservative world view.  Additionally, our educational establishment has failed dismally to to inculcate a love of country and cultural pride - quite the opposite in fact.  And finally, every cultural institution is devoted to the destruction of a conservative traditional world view.  So it should come as no surprise that Fred’s campaign went nowhere.  It was not, contrary to what the MSM would have you believe, for lack of trying.

    God Bless Fred Thompson.  He fought the good fight.

    Charles Martel | 1/22/2008 10:03 PM CDT | #110520

  68. Well, this sucks...but I’ll be damned if I strike my colors.

    Dark days ahead, to be sure. Ain’t the first time. Won’t be the last. So what? The animating contest of our time goes on, and fortunate we are to have a hand in it. The Founders were the chief men of their time in terms of merit, and certainly among their number in property and influence, but they were not royal governors, high Crown functionaries, not demigods, but mortal men like you and me.

    Who puts his trust in princes abdicates his plain duty. We don’t need a man on a white horse to ride in and save us. All we need is our own damned selves. Somewhere, ladies and gentlemen, maybe right in this here mess, there is a Hancock...a Paine...a Sam Adams...a Revere. They didn’t wait for George Washington or Thomas Jefferson to ride over the hill...they did what was within their compass to do in their place and time. When the times called for the talents of Washington and Jefferson, there they were...but the other Founders, to say nothing of the anonymous thousands of Boston Common, Lexington Green, and everywhere else free men resisted tyranny, by means peaceable or otherwise.

    No, Washington did not quit at Valley Forge, and thank G_d he did not. Very well--those we would ask to lead us are smaller now; we have to be bigger.

    Ave atque vale, Fred the Candidate. It’s up to us now, our plain selves. We must do what we can, and leave what we cannot to Providence.

    (Put another way: Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!)

    (Put another ‘nother way: Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns, he said.)

    MiddleAgedKen | 1/22/2008 10:12 PM CDT | #110522

  69. A few more thoughts:

    -McCain is an honest and decent guy, at least by politician standards.  That should still count for something.  And as I mentioned above, while he’s far from perfect ideologically, he’s not as bad as the rap he gets either.  I’ll take him over Romney and Giuliani (both of whom are just as liberal if not more so) any day.  Obama is by far the lesser evil of the three leading Democrats for the same reason.

    -Whichever party wins the Presidency will have a strong leg up in the Congressional/Senate races.  If we can’t get a true conservative President, let’s at least get a conservative legislative branch.

    -JPatterson, I’m a huge Jindal fan, but not sure he’ll be ready for a Presidential run by 2012.  He’s not even ready to be a VP candidate right now.  Let him serve out his term in Louisiana, and bring him on board for VP in 2012 if the Democrats lose this time around or if the GOP wins with a VP who isn’t looking for a second term (Fred??).

    -Refusing to vote doesn’t accomplish anything.  McCain isn’t perfect, but he’s far, FAR better than any of the Democrats.  So are Huckabee and Romney (and I say this as someone who has lived in Massachusetts for 5 years and can’t STAND Romney).  What good does holding off until 2012 to elect a true conservative do if it means Hillary destroys the country between now and then??

    Alex F. | 1/22/2008 10:14 PM CDT | #110523

  70. We’ve watered down our population with hordes of immigrants who do not have a conservative world view.  Additionally, our educational establishment has failed dismally to to inculcate a love of country and cultural pride - quite the opposite in fact.

    Note. What did I say about the programming of the modern voter? AW, EXCREMENT! I’m not going to say more. My b.p. meds aren’t due for another 8 hours.

    cmblake6 | 1/22/2008 11:10 PM CDT | #110526

  71. I didn’t think the Dems had a chance at power, until now.  There appears to be so little difference between the Dems and the remaining front running Republicans that it doesnt seem to make a difference who you vote for.

    pdwalker | 1/22/2008 11:14 PM CDT | #110527

  72. The only truly conservative candidate I saw, the one I was behind, the one who got out so that he wouldn’t aid The Man From Hope v.2 (i.e., Huckabee), was Tom Tancredo. Thompson was attractive, but he never seemed to have the fire in his belly.

    Some people have expressed their admiration for McCain. McCain? The Democrat who runs under the R ticket? The same man who wants to open our borders to every third-world loser who can break our laws to be here? The same man who called Senate Republicans “racists” and “xenophobes” when they didn’t get on the Kennedy-Bush open borders bandwagon? The same man who has voted against the Republicans and with the Democrats for nearly his entire career? The same man who sponsored the First Amendment-violating McCain-Feingold Act? The same man who garnered independent and Democrat votes but lost the Republican vote to Romney in New Hampshire? The same man that Democrats constantly express their admiration and respect for? Are you out of your MIND?!

    Ahem.

    I know that Kim in particular is unfond of Romney. My take is that yes, he’s changed his mind, but you can count on him to stay with his new position--he’s no flip-flopping waffler. Even Ann Coulter is behind Romney.

    He’s not ideal, but he is head and shoulders above the competition. I honestly can’t fathom why some conservatives are getting the wool pulled over their eyes by McCain and Huckabee--or worse yet, the execrable, unendurable, nightmarish Giuliani.

    HarryK | 1/22/2008 11:24 PM CDT | #110528

  73. If I can’t vote FRED! in the general, I could stomach Romney. Sort of. At least. McAmnesty? Fuck no. Hucklepie? Fuck no. JFC on a soda cracker! WTF!!!!!! I’m going to empty the rum bottle now. At the least it’s a temporary reprieve. sick

    cmblake6 | 1/22/2008 11:48 PM CDT | #110529

  74. Kim,

    A longer post tomorrow??

    Why for the love of sanity would you waste further words on this waste of a candidacy, especially as your brief and piquant comments have succinctly and eloquently captured the point moreso than any encyclopedia full of musings could ever do?

    Thompson, it’s rather clear, was nothing more than a stalking whore horse for his buddy, Sen. McCrazy, to scatter the field and muddy the waters until a more opportune time.

    Expound on the future of conservativism, the likely descent of the GOP into Whig-dom, the consumately hoped-for rise of its much-needed replacement, or the price of tea in China, if you must.

    But further words about Fred Who? would be to dignify this excuse for a candidate with more words about him than he put forth on his own behalf in months of pseudo-campaigning.

    He even phoned in his concession, fer cripes sake.

    Like breaking wind at a fancy dinner party, the best thing to do is pretend he never was until the odor goes away.

    Aesop Mysleeve | 1/23/2008 12:52 AM CDT | #110530

  75. Shit.  Piss.  Fuck.  DAMN!

    Not much point in going to the polls now.

    In the words of Nelson Muntz:  “So be it”

    Time to stock up on 8’’ PVC, dessicants and ammo, I’m thinkin’

    rickn8or | 1/23/2008 01:12 AM CDT | #110531

  76. It just hit me who Fred reminds me of:

    Andrew Prine’s character in The Devil’s Brigade, when he decides to go running hell for leather into camp ahead of the regiment after a forced march, bungles it, falls on his face, and embarasses himself and everyone on his own side.

    BTW, I’m thinking the ”Fred ‘08: Contribute Now link/button on the top right of the Front Page could probably be replaced by a more worthy cause.

    Fighting Global Warming, supporting the ACLU, Code Pink, Michael Moore, or something along those lines…

    Aesop Mysleeve | 1/23/2008 01:22 AM CDT | #110532

  77. Now who can i support, I dont like any of the others, Fred was the only one that did not have Great Big Scary problems/stances that i could never support.

    dagamore | 1/23/2008 02:42 AM CDT | #110535

  78. Fred’s supposed to be mates with McCain, right? So there’s a good chance that the latter will choose him as his running-mate. Given McCain’s age, there’s a good chance of a Thompson presidency after all.

    Quentin | 1/23/2008 03:57 AM CDT | #110536

  79. He was still checking his tire pressure when everyone else had driven several laps already.

    John Collins put it very well (as did others) with this one comment.
    He didn’t really seem interested.

    He got a small amount of coverage here (UK) but not a lot.  There didn’t appear to be a lot to report on.

    Well heck, I suppose we can all hold hands and sing “We Are The .....”
    oh.  Wrong party.

    jdpeiper | 1/23/2008 04:09 AM CDT | #110537

  80. Well that was a blown $500 that went Jan. 2.08.  Since I’m on an overseas assignment..its tough to campaign...so I could help pay the bills. and I did.

    I’m now down again to voting for the one i dislike the least...and what a hand to draw to.  Were we playing 5 card...I’d fold and lose only my opener....but we are playing for ALL THE FREAKING MARBLES.....so I’ll hold my nose and vote. r .

    DAmn Fred....

    I could have sent that towards the M82A1 I’m saving for.

    The woods are looking better and better all the time

    woodswalker | 1/23/2008 05:13 AM CDT | #110538

  81. I suspect that true conservatism has been fading for a while now.  Americans have come to love the concept of the nanny state.  For the past 40 years, they have been indoctrinated by the government that Washington can be everything to everyone.  This slow indoctrination has ingrained that idea in people’s heads.  As a result, people don’t have any concept of what it means to secure our borders or reduce the size of governent.  In fact, their notion of reducing government is to cut any program except their favorite one.

    That’s why people like McCain and Huckabee appeal to people.  They aren’t calling for any kind of radical re-make of government programs.  They talk tough about our enemies and people like that.  They call for tax cuts, which sounds good.  They hit the right note with social issues.  The one thing that they don’t do is talk about reducing government.  They don’t pose a threat to people’s gravy train.

    Fred Thompson was the opposite.  He has strong positions on government spending.  That scares people.  They are afrid that their subsidies will go away and they’ll have to actually work for their money.  They can’t have that.

    Steve L. | 1/23/2008 06:19 AM CDT | #110539

  82. Well.

    Now, has everybody gotten all their widdle-bitty cwyin’ jags ALL OVER NOW? ALL YOUR WHINY TOWELS DRIED OUT?
    Good. Now stop your DAMN BITCHING and settle DOWN!
    Get BACK to WORK!
    Fred had a snowball’s chance in HELL of getting elected, and we ALL KNEW IT! We Hoped; We PRAYED (YES, Kim, even you prayed, because there are NO atheists in foxholes, and ‘OY! There’s a WAR on here!’); We BELIEVED as Hard as we could, that a Conservative COULD get past the Hollyweird BS once again, as he did in 1980, if he was a Hollyweird Vet. Well, what we were faced with was a HW Vet who didn’t REALLY have the fire in his belly, who didn’t REALLY WANT the job. As ALWAYS, when you DRAFT someone, you don’t get a front-line tiger. That’s why you send the Marines, not a two-year draftee grunt that got dragged out of college for crappy grades. In 1980, we sent Reagan, a Marine Volunteer who dived in with both feet and DEMANDED we elect him; this time, we dragged Fred Thompson kicking and screaming out of Law and Order, and threw him into the fight - and he turned in a lackluster performance. He didn’t want the White House; he was comfortable with the sound stage! 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is THE MOST DEMANDING JOB ON EARTH; only a truly dedicated person or a megalomaniac wants that job - and frequently, it’s six-five and pick ‘em which one you’re getting!
    Now; Kim, you can throw my nasty ass OUT of your Blog, never to return, if you so desire, behind what I’m about to post. But I’ll tell you right now, as PISSED OFF as you are that Fred Dropped Out, YOUR Manners PROHIBIT you saying what you said to and about him. That comment, IN PRIVATE, would be highly appropriate. In PUBLIC, it is NOT - it’s on the same level as me walking up to you, uninvited, unannounced, in the Red Lobster in Plano (if Plano has one, I don’t know if it does or not) and saying the same thing to you - and then calling you out on the street! In front of The Mrs. and the entire Family!
    You Just Don’t Do That!

    And to the rest of the crew here:

    IF YOU FAIL TO VOTE, ON PRIMARY OR GENERAL ELECTION DAY, THEN YOU DESERVE WHATEVER YOU GET IN JANUARY 2009! REMEMBER, YOUR VOTE MIGHT BE THE ONE THAT KEEPS HILDEMORT OUT OF A RETURN TRIP TO 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE!!!

    In hopes I’ll be returning for more commentaries,

    James R. Kratzer
    fmr. Sgt E-4, USAF
    Vietnam Veteran
    PROUD VFW Life Member

    The Mad Yank | 1/23/2008 06:44 AM CDT | #110543

  83. On the Dem side are three candidates who want to ratchet up gun control, raise taxes and expand government.  On the Republican side are four candidates who have no gun control agenda, and whose policy statements emphasize lower taxes and limited government. While it’s lamentable that the only solidly conservative candidate didn’t catch fire, is the choice any more difficult?

    tsj55 | 1/23/2008 08:02 AM CDT | #110548

  84. Kim, been trolling for some time. enjoy your
    site and have shared it with others.
    I know it may seem silly, but here is what
    determines my vote…

    2nd ammendment
    overall crime
    property tax
    helmet laws

    Lets see how the represented states
    stand up…
    Gun control, toughest, Mass,then NY,Tenn
    Arizona,Arkansas

    violent crime…
    most violent… Ny,then AZ,Tenn,Mass,Ar

    property tax…
    highest… Ny,then Mass,Tenn,Az,Ar

    helmet laws…
    mandatory… Mass,Tenn,NY
    no helmet… Az,Ar

    starting to see a pattern here.

    Now I have lived and worked in
    in Ny,Vt,Ca,Nj,Fl,Ar,
    And I have worked in Mass,and Az, so
    I have a pretty good idea of the lay
    of the land. I know we don’t have an
    absolute conservative, But I also
    learned from living in Ar during
    Huckabee,s time that he doesn’t
    spend alot of time trying to push
    his religious beliefs on the general
    population,so I’m not ready to write
    off the republican chances this election.
    I also must agree with many here that
    any president with a “D” attached to
    them will not be an improvement.
    Oh well, back to the bunker to check my
    ammo supply

    bunker Al | 1/23/2008 08:16 AM CDT | #110549

  85. To kbarret and all those of a similar mind, dittos.  I will not vote for the lesser of evils.  If there is nobody I can vote for I will vote against the person who represents the greatest threat to the values and liberty I cherish. I respectfully disagree with those who think that doing this perpetuates the problem (of having only candidates who do not truly represent us). 

    Among other things, I would add that politics does not begin and end with the President, or a party’s Presidential nominee.  We have a system of checks and balances for a reason.  For those of you complaining the loudest, and most vulgarly, what are you doing to select good Republican representatives and senators at your local state level?  Why, for instance, is McCain even in the running as a Republican?  State after state sends earmark pandering RINO’s (or worse, gun grabbing Democrats) to congress, and like it or not, the U.S. Congress is a major source of potential Presidential candidates.  When this is the pool we are drafting from, we’ve only ourselves to blame that there are no Presidential candidates that we can vote for, and only candidates to vote against.

    Speaking of checks and balances, I will repeat the litany of those reminding us that the next President will likely appoint 2 or 3 Supreme Court justices, who will have an impact long after this election.

    To whoever said McCain is “strong” on gun rights, you are wrong.  He may not be an out and out anti, but he is weak on gun rights, and lacks the commitment to the Constitution (think McCain-Feingold) to be trusted with them.  Both Romney and Guiliani are weak on gun rights, too.  Huckabee is solid on gun rights, but is bad (from the conservative point of view) on just about everything else.  I think Romney is the best overall of the three, but that’s not saying much.

    To those who think that they need to support McCain because he is the most “electable” of the RINO’s, I don’t buy into that.  Don’t let the national head to head polls sway you at this early stage.  Of the three remaining main candidates—McCain, Romney, and Guliani—McCain is the worst of the lot, and needs to be stopped.  We can still do that—in the primaries we can vote against the worst of the lot, which IMO is McCain.  That will send the signal that conservative principles do matter, and make it more likely that the last man standing in the Republican race will mold his views to placate us, and maybe even choose a real conservative for a VP nominee.  We can still make our votes mean something (those of us who haven’t yet voted).  It will not be the vote we wanted, but it will still mean something.

    baz1 | 1/23/2008 08:19 AM CDT | #110550

  86. OK, OK, some may understandably feel betrayed by Fred’s pullout. He was ‘our guy’ and he just up and quit on us.
    Remember, this is politics. There is no such thing as betrayal in politics!
    A quote from another world, ‘Nothin’ personal, its just business’.

    C’mon, who really believes in his/her heart-of-hearts that Fred had much more of a chance than Tancredo or Hunter to become POTUS? Then you’re too young to remember Barry Goldwater. Some of us really, really believed he would easily beat that crooked scumbag, LBJ.

    Some of us also voted for Perot. Remember him?  Well, my son does! He never ceases to remind me how all of this Clinton shit is my fault and how my grandson will know about it too! I didn’t vote for that RINO dickhead, Bush41! Man, was I smart and noble too.

    Much as I’d want to make a ‘statement’ or ‘take a stand’ by writing in Fred or Hunter in November, what’s the point? Its not a matter of personal honor. No one insulted my daughter or wife!  Voting this Nov. will just be a matter of picking the breakfast cereal I dislike the least, that’s all.

    Nothin’ personal, its just business!

    Shooter1001 | 1/23/2008 08:31 AM CDT | #110551

  87. I find myself in the unpleasant situation of having to vote for the Lesser Evil both in the primary and general election.

    Nevertheless, I’ll vote.  The alternatives are worse.

    That being said, I’m getting fed up with the defeatist attitude.  THIS cycle was bad for conservatives...because our real standard-bearer, George Allen, got taken out by the Dems in November 2006.  And Thompson never stepped up.

    But that does not mean we are beaten.  Oh, no.  We’ve got a whole roster of up-and-coming conservatives who will be ready for 2012 and 2016.  Who’s up for President Jindal?  Or President Petraeus?

    Mike of the Duelling Pistols | 1/23/2008 08:45 AM CDT | #110555

  88. Indeed. Let’s get on with it. Remember, you’re now voting to keep Hitlery OUT. So we don’t have who we’d PREFER in, but we know who we DON’T want. Pick the least RINO of the bunch, and hope he picks a decent vp. Look at the record. I’m still going to snivel a bit because I don’t have FRED! to vote FOR, and wish I...no, wait. The money I sent in was at least a we tried investment. Best laid plans and all that. Pick the least detestable to keep Hitlery OUT, and stack the legislature with a good crop to pick from next time. So there will BE a next time. Maybe that’s why the Mayan calendar ends in 2012.

    cmblake6 | 1/23/2008 08:48 AM CDT | #110556

  89. I can’t WAIT for Jindal to be ready to take a run at the White House.  Probably 2016.

    Alex F. | 1/23/2008 08:49 AM CDT | #110557

  90. Armed to the Teeth: Wake up your policy is crap.

    So ... you plan to do nothing about the coming wave of Socialism, allow the Evil party to elect evil people, and then hide in your basement under 10k rounds of .308, and hold your breath until the Stupid Party stops being stupid? If things deteriorate to the point where you have to use that ammo in anger, you are going to wish to God that you had had the sense to fight this battle politically instead of waiting until force was the only option left.

    A party belongs to those who run it. We have let whores run the day to day business of the Republican Party, and are now shocked, shocked I say, to learn that whores act like, well, whores. And instead of getting involved and actively trying to remove these whores, you want to take your ball and go home ( but you can’t even do that, because you won’t even be bothered to retrieve your ball! ).

    This bullshit caused congress to go Democrat in 2006. Unless non-stupid people take over the Republican Party, it will remain the Stupid Party. Whine to someone else. Adults here are trying to repair the damaged caused by the inaction.

    Inaction by people who use lack of perfection as an excuse to do the easy thing instead of the right thing.

    kbarrett | 1/23/2008 10:04 AM CDT | #110570

  91. What’s the definition of insanity again?  Something like repeating over and over and over again the same pointless and useless task, each time believing you’ll receive different end result?

    Hmmm, sounds a bit like what some here would have us do by voting for the “lesser of evils”, hoping that the end result will be different this election.  I’ve been doing that long enough to realize the futility and frustration therein.

    Will I vote for a D or an R in 2008?  Very.Very.Doubtful.  Maybe in a few years or so, after a REAL conservative party is formed by all those that have been abandoned by the GOP.  Until then, I’m hunkerin’ down and stockin’ up.

    Y’all go ahead and play the “let’s water down the Republican party even more by voting for yet another RINO” game without me this inning.

    R.I.P.  G.O.P.

    Bart | 1/23/2008 10:31 AM CDT | #110577

  92. Re: bunker Al in Comment #84; where did you get the data to assert that AZ has some of the toughest gun control laws?? In fact your whole list is questionable because it says (in this order) MA, NY, TN, AZ, AR

    Ever hear of Michigan or Illinois,California, Maryland or maybe even Hawaii????

    While I agree with MA and NY, I think the rest of your list falls near the bottom! Heck AZ has open and concealed carry, MANY MANY Class III weapons at the range every time I go. TN has CCW at last, don’t know about AR. I am at work so can’t do the necessary web research.

    Back to Fred: I am leaving my Fred ‘08 sticker in my window. He will still be my man, hoping for a future run.

    But whom to vote for? I don’t like any other choice on the R side, and there is no way in Hell I would EVER pull a D lever for a national candidate (nor for a RINO, for that matter!)

    tenmikemike | 1/2