If True, Then Fred Was A McCain Shill

Allah links to an item by Carl Cameron claiming Fred was only in it to be someone's VP. I'm not saying I buy it, though Cameron claims to be well-sourced. A quick aside, Cameron looks like he has a man crush on McCain when traveling with his campaign. Anyway ....

Only a younger politician wants to be the Veep for just anyone, there's no guarantee you'd be given the clout Bush has given to Cheney. Normally, it isn't done. Fred doesn't look like the kind of guy who would enjoy hanging around just to go to state funerals. Fred is sixty-five and would be looking at 73 in eight-years, 69 in four.

So, either he was a shill for McCain by, first, freezing the race right about the time McCain went bust, by not jumping in right away, giving McCain time to re-group during which voters wouldn't consolidate around Rudy, or Romney - and, two - by taking out Huckabee when that work needed done.

But if that were all true, it would make no sense for Fred to bail now, would it? McCain would need him to hurt Huckabee in Southern states on February 5th. Still, if Fred does want to be a VP, it has to be for McCain. Otherwise, there's no guarantee he would get a chance to be a player at all. And given his low-energy performance in the campaign, is he really looking like a good VP right now? If anything, the run made him look worse.

Comments

[Sara]

I'm not buying that Thompson is so obtuse that he would think the man who is now taking credit for the surge would consider giving the spotlight to anyone else, most especially a Veep. If Thompson wants a VP spot where his experience and temperament would be a perfect fit, it is with Romney. Romney, like Bush, likes to surround himself with quality advisers and he listens to them. Romney is well aware that he needs someone on his team, should he win, that understands the ins and outs of dealing with Congress and knows where all the skeletons are too.

[Sara]

Also, Fred was quite instrumental in shepherding the most recent Supreme Court nominees through the process and with the potential of 3 vacancies, I'm sure Romney would benefit greatly by having Fred Thompson on his team.

PS: I'm going to be watching Mary Matalin to see if she gives us a hint at which way Fred might be leaning. I think we know for sure it isn't the Huckster or Ron Paul.

[K]

I think we try to analyze Thompson to much. Nothing indicates he is complex or given to clever tactics. He was probably amazed at what following he did get.

The guy didn't have much of a political track record; some time in the Senate was about it. He hadn't spent decades building a politcal machine or lining up funds for a national race. Realizing the circumstances he ran a wise campaign.

Without big money or a tested political machine only one tactic had a shot. i.e. appear honest, decent, and different. Then use your acting skills in simple speeches, and hope the lightning strikes. It didn't.

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

"Romney, like Bush, likes to surround himself with quality advisers and he listens to them."

"Realizing the circumstances [Fred!!] ran a wise campaign."

El. Oh. El.

[Cory]

Fred's out. Mitt's in.

[BobInStamford]

Sounds like the Fred? crew is trying to make excuses for an embarrassing campaign. Wily old fox - doubt it. More like lazy old geezer.

[Roy Mustang]

Not a shill, just his 2000 Presidental campaign co-chair. Fred is a better man than all of you so called "supporters" combined.

[seekeronos]

Fred is not going to be anyone's VP or in anyone's cabinet at this point.

Nor is he endorsing anyone, including his old Senate comrade and current RINO candidate John McCain (thank God - I'd throw-up in my coffee if he did that).

Not sure how to register this NRO comment about him playing a Barry Goldwater role, but if that means he'd seek to be some kind of conservative kingmaker in the future, that is his prerogative. Personally, I'd like to see him as a SCOTUS justice, or perhaps link up with Newt Gringrich and try to work from the inside of the GOP to shake out all the RINOs if and after the GOP loses in a landslide agaist Obama or Hillary.

Most likely though, I'd say at this point, Fred is looking to live off of his royalty and investment income and enjoy his golden years sipping some delicious Southern sun tea on his porch, and watching his kids grow up while sharing the company of Mrs. Jeri Thompson.

[seekeronos]

NRO link here:

http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MDgyMmI2NmI3NTAwNDI5MjY1NTcxY2I5MGM1NzhjMmI=

[TheSpartan]

SCOTUS? Don't they usually like a judicial record? The guy was too lazy to run for president, does he have the energy for the Supreme Court? He's about as qualified as Harriet Meirs.

[syn]

Thompson already said he isn't endorsing anyone and doesn't want a VP slot; one thing about Thompson is that he doesn't bullshit like the media and their pundits do.

Why is it so hard to understand that there are a few Americans in this country who do not lust for absolute power at the expense of principles.

Regardless of whether Thomspon ran or not the Republican establishment is determined to annoit a power-thirsty Liberal. The only alternative to the Republican establishment's choice I have left is to throw my support to Romney since he has the money to beat the establishment over the head for attempting to ram down my throat a stuck on stupid, back-stabbing candidate.

[TheSpartan]

"one thing about Thompson is that he doesn't bullshit"

Do you really believe this? His whole campaign was BS from the word go.

[seekeronos]

"---

"one thing about Thompson is that he doesn't bullshit"

Do you really believe this? His whole campaign was BS from the word go.

---"

Well, Spartan, I guess it really doesn't matter since he won't be POTUS now, does it?