Fred Thompson is out

[Debbie]

Maybe he was way too aggressive. Is that possible in politics?

[clemsontigers23]

That was no surprise. He sounded very discouraged after the South Carolina primary.

What WAS a surprise was how nasty it got between Hillary and Obama last night. I don't like either one so it was fun to watch. :P

Huckabee is also scaling back efforts in Florida because of monetary issues so now he's placing all of his faith in Georgia, Alabama, and other states in the Deep South. It's now a 3-person race in Florida: McCain, Romney, and Giuliani.

[RevZeek]

*shrugs* meh...normally I am VERY political. I find myself strangely apathetic this go around. I am not impressed with ANY current candidate from any party.

[in hiding]

Maybe he was way too aggressive. Is that possible in politics?

aggressive? he didn't declare his candidacy until much later than everyone else (save Keyes). I just think he got in too late and didn't really do anything to set himself apart except for be an actor.

[Gandalf]

Maybe he was way too aggressive. Is that possible in politics?
I don't think he was too aggressive by any stretch. I think he focused on issues rather than building an image in the media. He doesn't have a charismatic personality, and didn't speak in sound bytes, so he didn't get a wide following. Unfortunately, "debates" these days are series of 30-second sound bytes, rather than actual debates, and people form their opinions in large part based on their perception from the media of whom others are supporting.

Thompson was the most truly conservative candidate, and spoke deeply upon the issues. But he didn't stir up the type of support that draws large numbers of voters. On the other hand, those who run on personality get attention and votes. :(

[bdfwinn]

I don't think he was too aggressive by any stretch. I think he focused on issues rather than building an image in the media. He doesn't have a charismatic personality, and didn't speak in sound bytes, so he didn't get a wide following. Unfortunately, "debates" these days are series of 30-second sound bytes, rather than actual debates, and people form their opinions in large part based on their perception from the media of whom others are supporting.

Thompson was the most truly conservative candidate, and spoke deeply upon the issues. But he didn't stir up the type of support that draws large numbers of voters. On the other hand, those who run on personality get attention and votes. :(

You mean Ron Paul is the most truly conservative candidate. There are a lot of Neo-Cons but Ron Paul is Conservative on the order of T. Roosevelt and H. Taft. -A REAL Republican.

A good example of Dr. Paul's conservative views and character is the check he writes to the U.S. Treasury every year.
Bill

Bill

[cheewiee]

You mean Ron Paul is the most truly conservative candidate. There are a lot of Neo-Cons but Ron Paul is Conservative on the order of T. Roosevelt and H. Taft. -A REAL Republican.

A good example of Dr. Paul's conservative views and character is the check he writes to the U.S. Treasury every year.
Bill

Bill

When Ron Paul starts stressing the virtures of Federalism, and States Rights I might find him the more conservative Candidate....

[bdfwinn]

When Ron Paul starts stressing the virtures of Federalism, and States Rights I might find him the more conservative Candidate....

States Rights? Ron Paul is a huge proponent of States Rights. When you hear Dr. Paul speak against the expanding Federal Govt you are hearing the States Rights argument. As far as Federalism I can't think of a more federalist candidate. Ron Paul would snatch, from the greedy hands of the power hungry, unConstitutional authority they have assumed in Washington. The Constitution is the basis for every decision he makes as a Congressman and would be so if he were president.

Bill

*bulldoze 3 out of 5 govt. buildings in Washington D.C.*

[mat1583]

When Ron Paul starts stressing the virtures of Federalism, and States Rights I might find him the more conservative Candidate....

Ron Paul has always stressed these virtues. That's why he sticks strictly to the Constitution. The Constitution strictly separates the Federal government from the State's by limiting the Federal government's power and delegating the rest to the states. He has written dozens of papers about state's rights and authored bills that support state's rights.

From the Constitution:

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

-washboard

[Neicy-B Gomer]

Maybe he was way too aggressive. Is that possible in politics? I don't think he was agressive enough. I really don't think he campaigned enough.:( I am truly, truly, bummed about him dropping out. I don't know what happened. When he first decided to run, he was way ahead & had sooo many supporters. My husband & I are at a loss of who to vote for now. We will not be voting for McCain or Huckabee.

[bdfwinn]

I don't think he was agressive enough. I really don't think he campaigned enough.:( I am truly, truly, bummed about him dropping out. I don't know what happened. When he first decided to run, he was way ahead & had sooo many supporters. My husband & I are at a loss of who to vote for now. We will not be voting for McCain or Huckabee.

RON PAUL there's you answer:D

[cheewiee]

RON PAUL there's you answer:D

Ron Paul will be out after Super Duper Tuesday... I hate to say...

[Gandalf]

On paper, Ron Paul looks good on some issues (I think his tax "policy" is unrealistic, and I disagree with his stance on the War on Terror, but on many others, I like his positions). However, when he speaks in public, he comes across as a complete nut, and not someone to be taken seriously.

Thompson came across as being serious and informed about the issues, but not charismatic enough for people to "feel like he really cares" or for the media to pay much attention to him.

[Valpo]

Although he said he wants no part of it (we all know what that means in politics) who thinks he would be tapped for the Vice Presidency? I think he'd be a pretty viable candidate for that

[cheewiee]

On paper, Ron Paul looks good on some issues (I think his tax "policy" is unrealistic, and I disagree with his stance on the War on Terror, but on many others, I like his positions). However, when he speaks in public, he comes across as a complete nut, and not someone to be taken seriously.

Thompson came across as being serious and informed about the issues, but not charismatic enough for people to "feel like he really cares" or for the media to pay much attention to him.

These are my sentiments exactly....

[Gandalf]

Although he said he wants no part of it (we all know what that means in politics) who thinks he would be tapped for the Vice Presidency? I think he'd be a pretty viable candidate for that
Paul or Thompson? Thompson could be a viable VP candidate (as could Matt Blunt, who just announced he's not running for a second term as Missouri's governor since he accomplished nearly everything he set out to do in his first term, though it sounds like he's retiring from politics for the time being). Paul still comes across as a nut, and would be about as effective a VP candidate as Colbert.

[cheewiee]

Although he said he wants no part of it (we all know what that means in politics) who thinks he would be tapped for the Vice Presidency? I think he'd be a pretty viable candidate for that

I think it's all going to depend on who gets the nomination...

If the Hucksters the Nominee, I think his running mate will be more of a centrist like Fl Gov. Charlie Crist.

If there is more of a liberal nominee like Guilani or Romney you are going to have a conservative Running mate like Thompson...

If McCain gets the nomination, I have no idea who the running mate would be.. he generally sits between the Moderate and the conservative sides of the party...

[SonflowerGurl]

Either

Huckabee/McCain
or
McCain/Huckabee

would be my vote....

[Jesuslove]

Either

Huckabee/McCain
or
McCain/Huckabee

would be my vote....

I don't think McCain will take Huckabee. McCain will likely take a moderate Republican. He may choose a minority to divide the Latino or African American communities.

[cheewiee]

I don't think McCain will take Huckabee. McCain will likely take a moderate Republican. He may choose a minority to divide the Latino or African American communities.

It depends... I think McCain might take Huckabee if evangelicals continue to follow up througought the rest of the primaries....

[Valpo]

or McCain/Thompson, had the man seemed more into his campaign then I think he could have polled better or gathered more votes from voters particularly in the south, he did have a decent showing in South Carolina and one could argue helped Senator McCain in possibly taking votes away from Fmr. Gov. Huckabee.

[mat1583]

However, when he speaks in public, he comes across as a complete nut, and not someone to be taken seriously.

How so? Is freedom and liberty that crazy?

And at least if you're going to say someone comes across as a nut, give some reasoning why you think that way...or just don't do it at all?

-washboard

[Gandalf]

How so? Is freedom and liberty that crazy?
No, other than saying he was going to get rid of the income tax and not replace it with anything, his ideas aren't what's crazy. I said that he comes across as a nutcase despite having some good ideas. He just doesn't project the "image" of a distinguished leader, and in politics, like it or not, that matters.

[mat1583]

No, other than saying he was going to get rid of the income tax and not replace it with anything, his ideas aren't what's crazy.

Although shocking to hear a presidential candidate say that, he makes a good case for it. If we stopped the income tax right now, we'd be at the same level of revenue that we were at 10 years ago. Yes, we would have to cut back on a few things like the war in Iraq. That's what I like about the plan. We can't continue with our current spending or we're going to end up bankrupt! We can't keep borrowing all this money and expect our economy to get any better. It's become blatantly clear, yet the other 'republican' candidates are ignoring it - and it's going to cost the republicans the election.


I said that he comes across as a nutcase despite having some good ideas. He just doesn't project the "image" of a distinguished leader, and in politics, like it or not, that matters.
What he has projected to me is that he would be a president for the people and of the people. He would not let the power trip of being president get to him and influence his policy and administration. He only wants to give "We the people" our rights back that were granted to us by the Constitution of the United States of America and fought for so bravely in the American Revolution. If that means forfeiting some of that leadership from the federal governments to the state governments, then praise be to God! It's refreshing to hear that coming from a presidential candidate.

What seems nutty to me is when I hear people complain about taxes, national ID cards, cloning, RFID chips, torture, illegal wiretapping, etc...and yet they don't support a candidate who wants to stop all those things. They support the opposite just because they are so used to it and have been brainwashed to believe it's absolutely necessary we continue with all of them. Wake up America!

"Movements come and movements go
Leaders speak, movements cease
When their heads are flown
'Cause all these punks
Got bullets in their heads
Departments of police, the judges, the feds
Networks at work, keepin' people calm
You know they went after King
When he spoke out on Vietnam
He turned the power to the have-nots
And then came the shot"

-washboard