Posted on 01/03/2008 7:05:40 AM PST by jdm
Good morning from Des Moines. I just got off the phone with Rich Galen, a top adviser to Fred Thompson, and it would be an understatement to say that he is strongly denying the Politico story reporting that Thompson "will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday's caucus."
The story cites "several Republican officials close to Fred Thompson's presidential campaign." Galen told me, "I'm a Republican official in the Thompson campaign, and I'm denying it." Galen also said that no one inside the campaign was a source for the story. "I can't put enough adjectives in front of the 'deny' to accurately describe how vehemently I'm denying the story," he said.
Galen said that "just to make sure," he checked with Thompson himself, who told him the story was not true. "We have the schedule for Saturday and Sunday in New Hampshire, and then we're going down to South Carolina," Galen told me.
I think it is criminal that the drive by media has the power to plant false rumors and polls that they favor, in order to sway the elections. I’m in SC and Fred is big here.
This is the Clinton machine at work. I ga-ron-teeee!
There’s also been a video posted here of Fred’s ‘Fox and Friends’ appearance where he describes it as a rumor himself.
And if anyone is dropping out, its Rooty. After he gets indicted by the U.S. Attorney for Corruption and Misuse of Public Funds.
(not sarcasm)
Yep, I posted that as well. Just want to spread the news that this is a nasty rumor. Hopefully, by now, everyone has gotten it (who wants to get it, that is).
I’m glad that rumor is false. It made no sense on its face based on his previous comments.
Politico imo has become a shell of lies, rumors, and innuendo and has been all year. Why anyone gives them credibility is beyond me. Go back to the hatchet stories on several GOP candidates and they were all proven false. I refusing to visit their site anymore, they are not worthy of my click.
Everyone keep their eyes on the bright shiny objects Huck and Mitt, that is where the story for the next few days will be.
BTTT
So which of the usual suspects was it that floated this lie:
Suspect No.1: The money-handing-out liberal from MA who lies about everything, from his father marching with MLK to the reason behind a 58-year old lifetime liberal (voted for Dukakakis!) suddenly changing into a conservative in the matter of a couple of months?
Suspect No. 2: The liberal populist preacher from Hope, Arkansas who looks sincere and wants people to vote for him because he’s wear-it-on-the-sleave Christian?
Suspect No. 3: DNC operatives whose internal polling show that Fred would wipe the floor with every DNC candidate and need an early kill?
I am leaning between Suspect No. 1 and No. 3, as I think No. 2 is not smart enough, nor surrounded by smart enough people.
Fox News had a report on the rumor a little while ago that if Thompson finished any worse than 3rd in Iowa, he would instantly drop out and endorse McCain. I don’t think they mentioned Politico as the source of the rumor they were reporting on.
More likely it’s the Romney machine at work.
But what if Thompson’s whole purpose was to get in to raise money and turn it over to McCain...Remember that the senator from my state had practically run out of funds last summer. I think McCain is very capable of plotting out something like this because Thompson has never seemed like he wanted to win from the day he came out on the trail...
It's run by former lamestream media hacks, so that's no surprise.
It’s not a nasty rumor. It’s a damned lie!
Give me a break!
The Politico has apparently jumped all in for Romney and joined the RSM ....
Pure and utter BS. This has me furious...they are doing there best to derail Fred's surge.
I still don’t understand why anybody thinks the Iowa caucus is important. One percent of the population of a small state...? How is this relevant?
Combine that with the fact that the Iowa caucus isn’t even a reliable predictor of elections or even nominees... and I’m baffled about why this matters at all.
Bill Hemmer just had John Harris from Politico on? You want to talk about a conspiracy to take Fred down? Unfreaking believable!
This is why I love you FredHeads. Everything is a conspiracy against your candidate. Why would Mitt or Huckabee float this rumor when they are battling themselves for the lead in IA where Fred is polling in fourth? They have writers working for the Politico? They disguised their voices as Thompson insiders? Why would the DNC care about Fred Thompson when they’re locked in a three-way horse race in the primaries. It might be a political hit piece, but I wouldn’t look to some grand consiracy.
Words have consequences. Lies have dire results.
Is there any doubt left in any FReeper’s mind now? Politico is trash. Plain and simple.
You know what? If you can’t see what’s going on by now, you’re nuts! It’s one thing to have some dumb political website push a lie. It’s another to have FOX News give them credibilty.
IMO, it was Romney’s hit police in SC in conjunction with Ed Rollins and his wrecking crew.
They’re all gay, don’t ya’ know?
For one thing it’s illegal. A candidate has to follow FEC rules for unspent funds. He can donate it to the national party or a state party or a charity, but donations to any other individual campaign are limited to $2000.00.
http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/contriblimits.shtml
Somehow I doubt McCain and Thompson cooked up a fake campaign just so Thompson could donate a whopping $2000 bucks.
I’m going with your #3. I really think that all the internals are showing something good for Thompson. Why else would any body bother to float these “he’s quitting so don’t bother to vote for him” rumors.
...and what if the tooth fairy left GOLD, instead of quarters?
Fred needs funds.
We, his supporters, need to step up more.
and yet teh politico gets a free pass.
successor to the kossaks?
I think Romney used his huge bank account to invent a mind control device to brainwash all the IA voters not to vote for Thompson. He’s probably going to use in in NH and SC too, bastard!!
I just saw that and they had the guy from Politico on talking about it. (I think he was from Politico...at least I'm sure they did mention that's where the story came from)
Because they have internal polling, too. They see that FRed has surged, and also take into account undecideds.
In plain english...they’re scared, especially the pathological liar, myth romney.
Politico is so deep down in Romney’s pocket that it gets lost among the spare change...
Grand conspiracy? It was one operative planting a story with a friendly reporter -— or a reporter just making it up.
Question is — who was the operative and/or reporter working for:
Romney
Huckabee
DNC
My bet is on Romney, as he is the most dishonest and has spread around the most money.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KeAoJuwSsuE&
Politico was created for the sole purpose of making sure a democrat wins the presidency. John Harris was just on Fox standing behind the story. They are utterly shameless.
When people outright lie maliciously with no obvious purpose, it's natural to look a bit deeper.
Why would Mitt or Huckabee float this rumor when they are battling themselves for the lead in IA where Fred is polling in fourth?
Obviously you are not keeping up with the polls. Romney is sinking fast and risks a thrid place finish behind Thompson in Iowa. How long do you think he will go on sinking his own money into a black hole, and how do you think a third place finish in Iowa will help him in New Hampshire where he is already in serious trouble.
Romney is about to implode, and he knows it.
I agree that it isn't necessary to posit a conspiracy, but its easy to imagine some nefarious shenannigans and some pretty sloppy journalism.
No, the pathological liar, myth romney, used his bank account to attempt to buy the election.
He sees FRed’s surge, and now he’s scared and unleashed his hit police in SC, and given the green light to his personal attack dog, Ed Rollins.
That’s how the “game” is played by RINOS and dems.
Don’t know about the “gay” thing (although Romney does have support of Gov. Perry and he has “good hair,” too) — but this would certainly be in character for Team Romney.
The DNC angle is really possible, but I wonder if the Clinton Machine (which would be who did it) thinks that far in advance.
That’s a great theory, but it falls apart when you figure in that Ed Rollins works for Huckabee not Romney.
If Romney actually has such a beeber he'd best be advised to turn the durn thing on and set it to stune.
Romney needs to get somebody in Iowa to vote for him and a mind control device might be his last best chance. As things stand now, it appears he'll be paying to transport a whole bunch of folks to the caucuses who will be voting for somebody else. OOOOPS!
These campaigns think way ahead and if they can take out somebody, they will do it.
Don't forget, there are a ton on undecideds AND internal polling shows what we can't see. We have to rely on biased polls.
I saw that report too, with the guy from Politico. In the earlier report, I think they attributed the rumor to anonymous officials close to his campaign. Because of the 2nd report, I have to believe it is all being generated from the Politico to damage his chances in Iowa, but that’s just my guess.
You’d have to show me some support that Fred is “surging”. RealClear Politics, which averages all the major polls, has McCain passing him for third place in IA. But they’re also in the pocket of Romney. Damn that Romney!!!!!
How about if you read more than MSM?
Where do you get your impressions otherwise? By now anyone with half a clue knows emphatically that your statements are full of air. Shakes head at some peoples willingness to believe anything.
Fred just handed it to Tim Russert! Asked if he drops out would be endorse McCain. Fred said, he has no intention of dropping out and wonders if McCain drops out if he will back him! Of course, Tim would not ask McCain that! GO FRED!
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