Posted on 08/09/2007 1:33:20 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The mood within Team Fred is a bit more optimistic with yesterday’s news that William Lacy will be taking the reins of the not-quite campaign.
While friends of Fred will try to make the case that the troubles of the past weeks were minor bumps in the road, I’m told the mood within Fred-land was gloomy, as suggested by the sudden departures and fairly low-profile schedule for the not-quite-candidate. What we on the outside didn’t see were the tensions at the top and a sense of confusion over what the next steps were…
A quirk of the not-quite-campaign so far has been Thompson’s collection of talented people and putting them in positions.
Randy Enwright, for example, has great experience running state efforts of national Republican campaigns in Florida, as well as a fine stint at the Iowa GOP. But was he the right man to run an entire national campaign? Now with Lacy on board, it appears he’ll be able to focus on his strengths.
I noted that Jim Mills is – well, was - a talented, smart, jovial reporter and producer for Fox News; the question is how he works on the other side of the microphone.
Former senator and energy secretary Spencer Abraham is not “campaign manager”, at least as that title is commonly perceived; he’s more a key adviser. Those hyperventilating that Fred’s close friendship with and trust of Abraham means that he automatically adopts the former Michigan senator’s stand on immigration are, unsurprisingly, barking up the wrong tree. (Perhaps candidates should impose some sort of ideological apartheid for who they converse with.)
Lacy is one of the few political operatives with the right combination of personal experience with Fred’s past senatorial campaigns and significant experience successful national campaigns – running Reagan’s campaign in the Maryland primary in 1980 and serving political director of the Republican National Committee during Reagan's 1984 re-election campaign, California senior consultant for then Vice President George H.W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign. With him now standing out as a trusted and experienced voice, the “lineup” for Team Fred might finally be gelling.
Those of us on the outside might want to remember that while campaign documentaries like “The War Room” make it seem like Clinton’s 1992 campaign consisted of the Clintons, George Stephanopolous, James Carville and a bunch of young interns, a successful presidential campaign requires accumulating hundreds of paid staff and volunteers. Very few candidates – mostly only those in political dynasties like the Bushes and/or Clintons – can press a button and see a campaign organization with the right people in the right place assemble overnight.
Jeri Thompson’s resume, as detailed in the Washington Post piece, demonstrates that she’s neither a neophyte who has no business influencing campaign decisions like Teresa Heinz nor a natural born campaign architect. Like most candidate’s wives, it’s a given she is Fred’s most trusted and influential observer. The question, raised in some quarters, is whether she, or any campaign wife, has the objectivity to see the candidate’s flaws and to make the unpopular arguments.
I’m told Thompson himself is actually pleased with the not-quite-campaign so far, and is watching the still-pretty-high poll numbers.
One other note which might explain the troubles of recent weeks: John McCain has been thinking about running for president since 1998, and clearly has been taking preparatory steps, collecting staff, etc., for the past few years. For Giuliani, his heavy-duty efforts for the national GOP began in 2002. For Romney, clearly he saw his 2002 election as the governor of Massachusetts as a natural stepping stone to bigger things.
As of late last year, Fred Thompson aspired to radio commentator Paul Harvey’s job, not President George W. Bush’s job.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Nope, surprisingly, it’s still being talked about on the many different sites I visit as one of the many reasons to not vote for Fred.
I want my money back!!!!!/s
August is so boring. Writers are desperate for something, anything, to say. So they engage in tail-chasing exercises like this one.
No campaign is going to make any major moves in August. People are simply not paying attention. Fred will announce in September, as has been his plan all along.
It is not Fred’s job to fill their column inches. It is Fred’s job to be elected President of the United States. That is a big enough job without having to worry about making sure political reporters have something to file.
I am only a member at two sites out of the six I regularly read. Every time it has come up, thankfully, a rebuttal has been posted. This still appears to me to be an issue that will never go away.
The cure for “stuck on stupid” is going to get to enjoy even earlier primary dates. And if another states hops Michigan, all pandemonium breaks loose, as they’ve vowed to jump to the head of the line.
At this rate, Thompson won’t even be a candidate when the Iowa primary rolls around.
GO FRed GO!
The problem with Thompson staying on the sidelines for so long will be his inability to get the backing of any state officials. Here in Illinois, all the State Senators and House members are already committed to candidates.
Another problem for him in Illinois will be getting on the ballot. Petitions here need to be circulated soon, filing is in December.
As near as I can tell, Thompson has no "ground game" in Illinois. No one will be circulating petitions to get him on the state ballot. Some of the Chicago FReepers may be working for him in that area, but here down-state, no one is doing anything that I'm aware of.
My contribution is waiting for the “October Surprise”..!!!!!!!!!!!.............
I hear Spencer had lunch with Fred last week, so it is obvious to me that Thompson is a terrorist sympathizer who spends his nights running Mexicans over the border in that “rented” red truck of his.
I heard they also ate hummus made by a Jewish woman who cooks for CFR luncheons on Thursdays...
That just means one thing...
NAFTA SUPERHIGHWAY!
“It is not Fred’s job to fill their column inches. It is Fred’s job to be elected President of the United States. That is a big enough job without having to worry about making sure political reporters have something to file.”
You mean he’s not their FREDITOR? LOL
The only conservative candidates on the list now are not nationally electable due to lack of name recognition (too many people will NOT vote for an "unknown").
Destination - White House!
Actually a few familiar names persisted on this myth, despite the overwhelming amount of evidence to the contrary. You’ll notice these same people are a bit more quiet...lately.
The crazy world of conspiros...
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