Get Real, Fredheads

Update: A commenter at Hot Air claimed that Fred went at McCain on Mark Levin's show tonight. I wasn't able to catch it, though I'll look to see if they have it in a podcast. If so, I may re-think this. But I want to hear it first.

I don't particularly care for Scarborough and he may have been overly harsh in this video; it's just politics, after all. But teh Fredheads are starting to look like a bunch of rubes.

Scarborough: 'Pathetic Lapdog Freddie Boy, Hatchet Man for McCain'

Allah has another cut and I'm sure the comments will be flowing. But isn't it starting to get just a little bit obvious? McCain is ahead in South Carolina, not Huckabee. It makes no sense for Fred to not attack them both. At most, second place allows him to limp into Florida, in case there's any more water to be carried for St. John.

Sorry, but I can hardly wait to see the venom directed at Fred by the Fredheads when they scratch off that discount lottery ticket and find they've won themselves a McCain. It's no skin off my nose, as I want Huckabee taken down. But I could get excited about Fred if he was serious. Unfortunately, he's not. He's doing a favor for the Republican establishment and his next gig will either be a television series, or a spot in McCain's cabinet. Though I seriously doubt McCain can carry the general for lack of excitement among the base, his age, and a fired up Democrat machine.

Comments

[CK MacLeod]

I'm not sure how much Fred or anyone could have plan out the debate in the way that Fred's critics seem to want him to: He had to let the battle come to him to some extent rather than clumsily force it, and he would have needed an unusual opportunity to go after both Huckabee and McCain in a single debate - especially if he wanted to avoid the image of a desperate loser lashing out in all directions while going down in flames.

That he chose to go after Huckabee was partly a function of opportunity - the right question at the right moment - but also the fact that he needs to peel as many Huckabee voters away as possible to have any chance of moving up strongly in SC. If Fred had instead lashed out at McCain effectively, even assuming he could have done so both in the context of the debate and in the larger context of the race, then he might possibly have helped Huck, who would then presumably after an upset or close finish in Michigan would be steamrolling into his SC home turf.

However, if McCain and Huckabee together take out Mitt in Michigan, then Mitt - apparently already conceding SC - could yield votes to Fred rather than to the two guys who killed Mitt. With a take from Mitt's supporters, who are less likely to go to Huck or McCain, Fred could escalate the attack on Huck, and in the meantime rise to the point where the contrast between him and John becomes meaningful enough to matter.

If Huck and John are wounded and Mitt is collapsing or gone, then Fred might conceivably rise as the best remaining "full spectrum" conservative. Next week, after Michigan, if Fred is still in the running in SC, then maybe he can position himself against John even while John and Huck continue to battle each other.

In the meantime, accusing Fred of being nothing more than a stalking horse, which is the same as accusing him of running on false pretenses, is unjustified. Obviously, he doesn't hate McCain as fiercely as the Malkin-ites and many of Fred's own supporters do, but, except when they're clashing directly with each other, everyone is everyone else's stalking horse in this race until it's finished. There might not be at this point a high odds strategy for Fred, but, unless you'd prefer Huck over John, or think Fred should just drop out even with Mitt falling away, climbing over Huck to get at John makes as much sense as any other approach.

[What's Going On Here?]

A couple of days ago I suggested that since all hope is gone...maybe we should just support Rudy.

Then for a few hours last night I thought that maybe everyone would stop bickering and do what we should have done from the beginning...support Fred.

But tonight I realize that we're not going to do either of those things.

We are just around the corner from the darkest days this country has ever seen...President Hillary Clinton.

Not only that, the complete destruction of the conservative movement.

The party is over.

Strange days, indeed.

[BobInStamford]

Actually, the party is just beginning! Soldier on, patriot!

[Ralph]

Fred might turn out to be a dud, but he's no tool. Maybe he doesn't want to talk bad about his friend. Maybe he has respect for his elders (seriously), especially one who served his country so admirably. No need to be so cynical here. I think he is waiting to see what kind of bounce he gets from the debate. If it's not enough then I think (maybe hope) he'll do what he knows is necessary.

[Ralph]

Huckabee has been soft on McCain also. Is he a tool of the Republican establishment? They are going after the same voters. Huck can't do it with evangelicals alone.

Rudy has been soft on McCain too. Is he a tool? Is Romney a tool? No, only Fred?

[LOL]

rofl the greatest thing is that Fred's failure is a testament to how little internet wingnuts affect elections. It is further proof of how marginal you guys are.

One day you nutty cons will discover that not only did George W and your undying admiration of him cause huge damage to America, but it also caused irrecoverable damage to you puny "conservative movement." You guys have no movement because you don't stand for anything. There is no "Democrat Machine" that is going to clear out the deadwood conservatives, but rather it is the American people who will do it. Long fed up with your lies, selfish policies, and historic corruption, the Repubs will lose the White House and more seats in the legislature. No average American will listen to the whiny dead-enders here. You guys will be only a small echo chamber. It is what you deserve for so long supporting the most corrupt and incompetent politicians in recent history.

[Ralph]

LOL
Who are you talking about?
Also if what you say in the first sentence is true why are you here posting at 3:59 am? If you are amongst the relevent people (whoever they are) why do you even know of this blog's existence let alone why are you posting here at 3:59 am.

[SDN]

Remind me again how many elections you Kossacks can claim? That would be zero. Just ask Senator Lamont! Oh, wait....

[Fred Beloit]

Mercy, mercy. LOL done been at that Ripple all night and be talkin' some crazy s---.