The Tower is pleased to have found the best, and most detailed, analysis of the impact of Fred Thompson on the entire Republican field. LJ from Race42008.com nailed all of the issues right on the head. It’s a long post, and due to space, The Tower is only reprinting his commentary on Fred, vis-a-vis McCain. But go read the entire post when you’re done.
“The Thompson Effect
Much has been written about the meteoric rise of Fred Thompson over the past several months. In particular, a lot of (proverbial) ink has been spilled with odes that designate him a “White Knight” savior-politician who will rescue the Republican party from political catastrophe in 2008. I initially scoffed at the ridiculousness of this notion. It struck me as the wistful yearnings of conservatives who were unsatisfied with the Mayor, the Maverick and the Mormon and a boomlet that was sure to burst sooner rather than later. Well, 3 months after his name began to be seriously floated by his partisans and sympathizers, it appears that contrary to bursting, Thompson’s candidacy has dealt a big blow to each of the Big Three…
McCain: Thompson’s effect on McCain’s candidacy is a mixed bag, more negative than positive though. This doesn’t get nearly as much discussion as it should, but it’s important to understand what a personal slap in the face his candidacy is to McCain. He and McCain were the closest of friends in politics for years: they sat next to each other in the Senate, Thompson was a key co-sponsor to McCain-Feingold, Thompson endorsed McCain over George Bush in 2000 and as recently as 4 months ago, Thompson was making calls to donors on behalf of McCain’s campaign. Thompson then turns around and jumps in the race.
Aside from the personal aspect, it remains to be seen whether Thompson will hurt McCain’s nomination chances. His support has stayed remarkably stable even with the Thompson’s name on the ballot, but that is most likely due to the fact that McCain supporters, as a whole, are very committed and there is very little soft support like Rudy has. And yet, the two’s politics are very similar, despite having extremely different personalities. Thompson could lure away some of McCain’s strong organization. This was on display the other day with the defection of a McCain fundraiser and longtime supporter, John Dowd, to Fred Thompson’s camp. (Note: Ed Morissey talked to the McCain camp and reported that “Fred Thompson campaign has already started chatting with McCain’s fundraisers, but so far have only Dowd to show for the effort. They expect Fred’s team to continue to sound out their donor list, but feel pretty confident that he won’t get many takers.”) Also, if Thompson and Romney start to really battle it out, it could provide an opening for McCain…
Read the entire post - “The Thompson Effect” - here.
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2 users commented in " LJ from Race42008.com offers insights on how Fred’s entry affects GOP field, especially his long-term friendship with McCain "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackFred Thompson is a neocon globalist not unlike McCain.
Although Fred Thompson is tougher than McCain and Giuliani on border enforcement, which isn’t saying much seeing how they line up with Barack Obama, he had a rather lackluster record on immigration while in the Senate. As one commentator notes: “Overall, Americans for Better Immigration gives [Thompson] a career grade of C; on chain migration, C; visa lottery, C-; reducing unnecessary visas, F; on reducing asylum fraud, C-; on reducing amnesties, D; and on interior enforcement, C+. Although he was tough on border control, he was lacking in almost every other area.”
Fred Thompson also supports affirmative action, and ideologically worships free trade, regardless how much it harms America. Historically, conservatives have opposed free trade, but Thompson, like others, has been “neoconned” into backing it.
He furthermore is a “fellow” at the American Enterprise Institute, one of the largest (and most sinister) neocon think-tanks, which demonstrates where his true loyalty lies. If you did not receive the Burkean memo, the transformation of the Middle East to liberal democracy is Jacobin, not conservative. There is not a single thing conservative about the membership of AEI. They are neocon / neoliberal globalists.
Why are neoncons backing Thompson? Ideally, being ex-Trotskyites themselves, neocons would prefer a liberal candidate, like McCain, Giuliani or Romney. But they see that conservatives deplore these candidates, and now are going to try to peddle Fred Thompson, who is just socially conservative enough and just tough enough on the borders, even if it is feigned, to woo naive GOP voters. But let’s hope this nefarious neocon plot fails.
Let’s pray that the more real conservatives learn about Fred Thompson, the more unacceptable he will appear. Use your BRAIN America, and not fall for sharply dressed, full set of ’sexy’ hair (Romney/Edwards), nor for someone who ‘Acts’ on TV.
A Dean of a College I know was touting a large RUDY sign. I asked him why Rudy, and he said, “Because he’s from MY state…I gotta support the home team!”. This guy has a MASTERS DEGREE and TEACHES! He has no friggin clue. I encourage all of you to not vote on ‘popularity’ but rather on who is the best candidate for the job. Fred Thompson will KEEP US IN IRAQ FOR A LONG LONG TIME according to his Fox News interview. Please research for yourselves America. It should make you puke if you truely knew who some of these people are.
There you are again. I just answerd you on another blog. I did not ask however about your last sentence.
“It should make you puke if you truely knew who some of these people are.”
OK, I’m game. Who are they?
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