The article claims OC has more conservatives per capita than most places in the country, which has long been the case.
My congressman, Dana, seems to be still keeping an open mind, as am I. It appears Fred has his work cut out, to convince the kingmakers he has the stuff--money, staff, platform, commitment, etc.
Thompson didn't give a "stellar" performance at some speaking engagement. When are we going to learn an administration's POLICIES are what matter for our 300 plus million citizens.
I have no doubt Dole would have been a better president than Clinton, but people decided he was "too old". Ok so raise my taxes, weaken my military, commit crimes. Oy. Dole could probably be a better president today.
The big moneymen in California are mostly country clubbers, from what I have seen. They certainly have done a great job screwing up the party in California and pretty well killing the chances that a conservative can ever get elected again in that state.
They could have had Bill Simon, but instead they ended up with Arnold, who for all I know is more amenable to their personal wishes.
The article is confusing "conservatives" with "Republicans." Orange County does indeed have many, many conservatives, but it also is chock full of country-club "donor" types who wrinkle their noses at those uncouth bomb-throwers like Tom McClintock (and most Freepers).
We don’t WANT any “king makers”. WE want to choose our nominee this time.
The “king makers” chose Bush and Dole.
Well, we each get one vote. When the primary season reaches Michigan, I’ll either be voting Hunter or Thompson. And while money isn’t everything, Fred will do just fine with small donors.
Go Duncan!
I’m sure there is plenty of time for pundits to nit-pick Fred Thompson to death but I think what we learned from the Clinton admin is this- character counts.We will not know what any candidate will do on every subject and every problem that he will face.We need to know that that candidate will have the strength of good character to do the right thing. Fred Thompson has that good character.
“Thompson no panacea for conservatives: Orange County Republicans still searching for their candidate”
So what the hell is wrong with Duncan Hunter? Too liberal?
Throw some of their money behind him, he is the best conservative candidate running! Or isn’t Hunter too easy to “control”? just wondering what they are looking for
Coming from the libertarian leaning Orange County Register the comments are not surprising. However, I live in Orange County and will tell you that if Fred Thompson gets some traction in the race, the grass roots here will support him wholeheartedly. The money will follow who ever is in the lead.
How disingenuous. This is designed to dampen the enthusiasm and momentum to get someone decent into the WH who is very conservative.
It is not surprising that a group that has lost California does not see promise in Fred Thompson. I will vote for Thompson if he runs. I don’t want another Bush and I don’t give a damn what the king makers think. We have enough politicians who speak out of both sides of their mouths. I thought for the longest time Bush was just a victim of his advisers but he clearly is a victim of his own thoughts. How else can one explain this insistence on using the language of the left promoting “diversity” and calling the critics who want strong borders bigots and unpatriotic while calling the Democrats who label our troops no better than terrorists Patriots?
I thought these big time business people were supposed to keep up with things. It looks like they need to be spoon fed their info. Fred has addressed many of these concerns but I guess he didn’t make it simple enough for a bunch of blue blood country club types.
That will be a plus for Fred, not a minus. I live in Orange County. Bren and Argyros are not conservatives, but are New Majority types despised by Orange County conservatives for the silk-sock country club Big Tent GOP party-above-principle RINOs they are. So of course they like McCain.
OC conservative Congressman John Campbell, R- Newport Beach, and state Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman, R-Irvine, are on Romney's team. Mitt also leads in fundraising in San Diego County.
Strange that the article’s author didn’t mention the OC Lincoln Club’s own website headline the day after Fred Spoke to them: “Thompson a Big Hit at Annual Dinner!”
Nor did she bother to talk to Club President richard Wagner for her piece. Wagner told Human Events that “Novak’s column was not quite on. There was no big let-down in the room. There was a lot of energy in the room, and people are still excited even today based upon e-mails I’m receiving.”
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=20680&keywords=fred+thompson
Ed Morrissey, of Captain’s Quarters, on a companion blog, Heading Right, wrote:
“The Lincoln Club, of the conservative California enclave in Orange County, invited Fred Thompson to speak at their annual dinner. This has widely been seen as a tacit endorsement of Thompson’s potential candidacy for the GOP’s 2008 presidential nomination, and the Lincoln Club’s endorsement (tacit or otherwise) carries a powerful weight to anyone fortunate enough to receive it. Thompson gave every indication that he wants that support in an excellent speech to the gathered Republican power brokers, his answer to the debate that he could not attend.
Fred gave everyone something to like in this speech...
Quite frankly, I find this speech brilliant, and nearly perfect for a center-right run past most of the current slate of candidates. If Fred Thompson can stick to these themes and produce the kind of down-home charisma for which he is famous, he could run the table.”
http://headingright.com/2007/05/05/fred-speaks/
It appears the speech was much more successful with the local Lincoln Club than the OC Register is willing to let on...
money, staff, platform, commitment
These things come to candidates who excite the base. I think Thompson is exciting quite a few people. Let’s see how this turns out.
It appears Fred has his work cut out, to convince the kingmakers he has the stuff—money, staff, platform, commitment, etc.
I keep hearing people whine that Thompson didn’t give a good speech in Orange County, as if this matters somehow? Did he belch into the microphone or something?
As much as their finances help win elections, I’d rather the grassroots pick the candiates and get them in.
I’ve never donated a buck to the Repubs, but I will do my part for Fred. Hopefully enough influencial people will assist.
He just started, and I can assure you Thompson looked a lot better than most attending that Balboa Bay club event.