CBS News: Thompson Says Future Depends on S.C. Results

I think he does, but he runs a lousy campaign, IMO. Yes, the MSM ignores him, but if he cannot win or close to winning in SC, it says something about his campaign.

I think it has something more to say about the American electorate and sadly what makes up the GOP now days.

I think Fred has run an excellent campaign but average people and the MSM have ignored him because they don’t understand him. He talks way above most people’s heads especially when he talks about the Constitution. He is so articulate and knowledgeable but sadly too many people’s eye’s glaze over and they tune out when someone talks about Federalism and the role of a limited Constitutional government.

I get it, as do some other of us around here, but the general population and sadly some of our fellow GOP members and Freepers are too easily wooed by the snazzy sound bite and promises of “bread and circuses” or religious pandering that either can’t be kept or plain shouldn’t be kept. (Can you say Huckabee?)

So when Maryland hold it’s primary on Feb 12th - my birthday :(, presuming that Fred drops out by then (and I hope he doesn’t because his message need to be said, even if too few are listening), who will I vote for?

I can answer it better by saying who I won’t vote for: Huckabee, McCain, Guiliani.

I could vote for Duncan Hunter but he’s fallen off the radar screen even more than Fred and I don’t expect him to be around by then either.

I guess that leaves Mitt. But I’m no more enthusiastic about casting that vote as I was casting a vote for Dole in 96.

I will say that after the primary, I will change my party registration to Independent. I will be able to say that I didn’t leave the GOP but the GOP left me.

I’m behind Fred but I think he should have shown some fire much earlier.

He should have shaken up his campaign team and brought in some folks who knew what they were doing. He probably thought, as we all did early last summer, that McCain was imploding, and figured he could pick up some of McCain's experienced staffers. He got caught having to use second stringers, and it shows.

but if he cannot win or close to winning in SC, it says something about his campaign.

Betting heavily on Iowa says a LOT about his campaign. At least Huck's folks know how to campaign, and Mitt's understands strategy (and McCain can lead the MSM around by the nose.)

Having the best ideas and being the most articulate, as is Fred, isn't much help when you have a weak team.

I think it has something more to say about the American electorate and sadly what makes up the GOP now days.

The electorate is pretty much the same, I believe. If Thompson is a good leader, he would inspire and create a strong grass-root campaign that will carry him through the primaries. People like what he has to say, but for some reasons he doesn't manage it well. With the internet era like ours today, MSM is not the only venue to galvanize supporters. I am saying this as a Thompson's supporter, BTW. Although now I look more into Mitt. He was my 2nd choice, after Fred.

Did you pay attention to what precipitated his announcement? His repeated statements that he was busy doing other things, that he’d been up to his ears in politics, that he really wasn't sure how interested he was in doing this? Sure he finally made the announcement because the conservative Republican world, myself included, were begging him to do it. But I don’t think he’s ever been whole heartedly into this, as his demeanor, physical appearance and overall approach has shown. His announcement that not winning SC will end his candidacy suggests to me a certain relief on his part. If you're a conservative you don't like this. I don't like it either. But its stupid to live in denial.

I’m behind Fred but I think he should have shown some fire much earlier.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The fault lies not with Fred but with the voters. Just look at what the Democrats are running and reflect on the fact that there is a serious possibility that Hitlery could be elected! The voters collectively are acting like retards.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.