Posted on 12/18/2007 7:07:16 PM PST by ellery
I write this Tuesday night from Waterloo, Iowa and I just finished attending a Fred Thompson campaign event. Folks, this is a very different Fred Thompson I saw compared to his rollout in September.
The expectations are gone. The slow start is a distant memory. It has been replaced by a much more crisp, energetic, focused stump speech. The crowd seemed more engaged and rowdy and Thompson had the enthusiasm to match.
He comes out at the beginning of the event an starts cracking jokes like this one:
“It was getting so cold in Washington that the politicians have their hands in their own pockets.”
Or this one:
“It’s wonderful to be in Waterloo and I aint here to play the role of Napoleon.”
Then he proclaims he’s the conservative horse in the race and says energetically, “Saddle me up”
Now, it would be at this point in September where he would begin to ramble a little bit and lose focus. Not this time. Fred Thompson is on top of his game. No rambling. He’s focused on substance and determined to prove he’s the logical conservative choice. But he’s doing it all with a smile on his face. He seems very comfortable up there and he’s having fun.
Thompson told the crowd, “I know who I am and I know what I believe.” This statement is at the heart of his campaign. Thompson has always marched to his own tune. The song in December of 2007 sounds harmonious.
Another ping!
Smart fellow.
He let the others run extra laps.
Don’t be manipulated by the MSM. Fred ALWAYS had quite enough energy.
Why, the ol’ sandbagger...
Go Fred!
The MSM lost interest in Fred...Fred didnt lose any energy.
I would not be surprised Fred ends up winning Iowa...contrary to the MSM. My gut feeling
bookmark
Almost as much fun as the great victory for Fred would be the MSM being forced to talk about him.
I expect that Romney will still pull out a win in Iowa, merely because of the years and millions of dollars he has spent. However, Thompson’s campaign has said that a strong third would leave them in a strong position, and second would be a huge win.
On the other hand if Romney doesn’t win big, I suspect he’ll be weakened because he didn’t win the expectation game (that’s why he’s currently trying to position himself as an underdog).
“saddle me up” - sounds Reaganesque.
Sounds more like Anna Nicole...
“I would not be surprised Fred ends up winning Iowa...contrary to the MSM. My gut feeling”
That’s all I want for Christmas!
The said thing is, this has been part of the strategy all along...
The Timing is perfect, the other boys are starting to lose it. Just need it to go a little longer though.
That was always a term of endearment for me on the billiards table. :^)
Fred’s been getting started for how long now?
Look here’s some interesting numbers I found. You have to go all the way back to 1980 to find a second place winner in IOWA who went on to win the nomination. Fred needs to Win to Win.
Republicans
2004- George W. Bush* (unopposed)
2000- George W. Bush* (41%) defeated Steve Forbes (30%), Alan Keyes (14%), Gary Bauer (9%), John McCain (5%) and Orrin Hatch (1%)
1996- Bob Dole (26%) defeated Pat Buchanan (23%), Lamar Alexander (18%), Steve Forbes (10%), Phil Gramm (9%), Alan Keyes (7%), Richard Lugar (4%) and Morry Taylor (1%)
1992- George H. W. Bush (unopposed)
1988- Bob Dole (37%) defeated Pat Robertson (25%), George H. W. Bush* (19%), Jack Kemp (11%) and Pete DuPont (7%)
1984- Ronald Reagan* (unopposed)
1980- George H. W. Bush (32%) defeated Ronald Reagan* (30%), Howard Baker (15%), John Connally (9%), Phil Crane (7%), John B. Anderson (4%) and Bob Dole (2%)
1976- Gerald Ford defeated Ronald Reagan
Fred will show a strong third or possible second in the polls leading into the day of the election. Expect a strong second or possibly a mild first when the votes are counted.
That’s Fred.
tonight on hannity & colmes, alan asked fred to raise his hand. fred said he would not raise his hand until chief justice roberts swore him in as president. great moment.
Exactly. The so-called “slow pace” might very well benefit Fred .
The others are burning out quickly , I like it .
*Snort*
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