Saturday, May 26, 2007
A damn dirty trick (Part deux)
Back in March I had choice words for U.S. Rep. Jimmy Duncan, who retracted his support for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign:
"'As expected, Republican Tennessee Congressman Jimmy Duncan has jumped ship from the Mitt Romney campaign and is now backing former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson for president - even though Thompson hasn't even said if he's going to run,' Elephant Biz reports.
"I can abide many things, but disloyalty insn't one of them. I might - might - be willing to cut Duncan some slack if ol' Fred had announced that he's fo' sho' going to run for president. Thompson could well decide that he simply hasn't the stomach for a presidential run. What a damn dirty trick Duncan's defection will be at that point."
Now comes word that Rep. Marsha Blackburn has ditched Mitt Romney and is now in the Draft Thompson for President camp. Elephant Biz has the scoop on her damn dirty trick:
"Fred is definitely running. If there was absolutely any doubt in anyone’s mind about Fred’s intention it should be removed now. Marsha Blackburn got way out in front in supporting Mitt Romney for President the fact that she has flipped means Fred is in for sure."
Yes, it's looks more and more likely that Fred Thompson is going to run for president. Thus, it's not a shock that Marsha Blackburn has jilted Mitt and is now behind ol' Fred ...
Blackburn has her eyes on the governor's mansion. Since there's a popular bandwagon upon which Tennessee Republicans are currently jumping, I'm sure Blackburn doesn't want to be seen as the only member of the GOP who ain't climbing aboard. Given what happened during last year's U.S. Senate primary, TN GOPers are all about unity right now ... and Rep. Blackburn wants to be, well, united (fo' sure).
That being said, an important question begs answering: Would Blackburn really've been hurting herself, politically, if she'd stuck with Mitt Romney? Of course not. Blackburn has a lot of supporters in Tennessee, and it's hard to imagine that they would have abandoned her if'n she'd decided to stick to her word and stay with Mitt. If anything, Blackburn would've received a big bunch of statewide media attention if she'd remained the highest-ranking elected official in Tennessee who was supporting Mitt Romney. (Isn't statewide media attention just what a prospective gubernatorial candidate should be ginning for?)
Expectations for Fred Thompson are, ahem, very high. If his campaign doesn't launch and thrust with all the intensity of a Saturn V rocket, Blackburn's - and Duncan's - damn dirty trick is going to look most unprincipled, indeed. Reckon they'll apologize to Mitt if Fred bombs? We'll see ... but I'm not holding my breath.
"'As expected, Republican Tennessee Congressman Jimmy Duncan has jumped ship from the Mitt Romney campaign and is now backing former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson for president - even though Thompson hasn't even said if he's going to run,' Elephant Biz reports.
"I can abide many things, but disloyalty insn't one of them. I might - might - be willing to cut Duncan some slack if ol' Fred had announced that he's fo' sho' going to run for president. Thompson could well decide that he simply hasn't the stomach for a presidential run. What a damn dirty trick Duncan's defection will be at that point."
Now comes word that Rep. Marsha Blackburn has ditched Mitt Romney and is now in the Draft Thompson for President camp. Elephant Biz has the scoop on her damn dirty trick:
"Fred is definitely running. If there was absolutely any doubt in anyone’s mind about Fred’s intention it should be removed now. Marsha Blackburn got way out in front in supporting Mitt Romney for President the fact that she has flipped means Fred is in for sure."
Yes, it's looks more and more likely that Fred Thompson is going to run for president. Thus, it's not a shock that Marsha Blackburn has jilted Mitt and is now behind ol' Fred ...
Blackburn has her eyes on the governor's mansion. Since there's a popular bandwagon upon which Tennessee Republicans are currently jumping, I'm sure Blackburn doesn't want to be seen as the only member of the GOP who ain't climbing aboard. Given what happened during last year's U.S. Senate primary, TN GOPers are all about unity right now ... and Rep. Blackburn wants to be, well, united (fo' sure).
That being said, an important question begs answering: Would Blackburn really've been hurting herself, politically, if she'd stuck with Mitt Romney? Of course not. Blackburn has a lot of supporters in Tennessee, and it's hard to imagine that they would have abandoned her if'n she'd decided to stick to her word and stay with Mitt. If anything, Blackburn would've received a big bunch of statewide media attention if she'd remained the highest-ranking elected official in Tennessee who was supporting Mitt Romney. (Isn't statewide media attention just what a prospective gubernatorial candidate should be ginning for?)
Expectations for Fred Thompson are, ahem, very high. If his campaign doesn't launch and thrust with all the intensity of a Saturn V rocket, Blackburn's - and Duncan's - damn dirty trick is going to look most unprincipled, indeed. Reckon they'll apologize to Mitt if Fred bombs? We'll see ... but I'm not holding my breath.
# posted by Joltin' Django @ Saturday, May 26, 2007 
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I said it before and I'll say it again:
Fred Thompson doesn't hurt Mitt Romney nearly as much as he helps Rudy Giuliani. Romney and Thompson become the two "conservative" candidates, and they split the same group of voters.
I think the Fred Thompson campaign is going to be the political equivalent of "Ishtar." A LOT of people are going to be very disappointed.
Fred Thompson doesn't hurt Mitt Romney nearly as much as he helps Rudy Giuliani. Romney and Thompson become the two "conservative" candidates, and they split the same group of voters.
I think the Fred Thompson campaign is going to be the political equivalent of "Ishtar." A LOT of people are going to be very disappointed.
# posted by 
: 26 May, 2007 06:27
: 26 May, 2007 06:27
HEY DJANGO, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN HILLARY IS YOUR PRESIDENT? DON'T YOU HAVE FAMILY IN CANADA???? IS THAT WHERE YOU WILL GO????
# posted by : 26 May, 2007 13:32
: 26 May, 2007 13:32
Joltin' Django,
Blackburn was taking a large hit, not only from her district voters, but from the TN State GOP. First off, she shouldn't have taken the first opportunity and run with it. Secondly, Mitt should've been well aware that by starting his campaign so early he was running the risk of getting egg on his face. He failed to realize that instead of going for the kill early, he could've sat back and let more chips fall. People would've come to him, but by aggressively pursuing support so early, he had no idea who or what could eventually hurt his campaign. It wasn't unexpected that a southern conservative would enter the race, instead of waiting, he tried to silence any alternatives, and it has backfired.
Another point, everyone mentions the Frist/Alexander machine, but they tend to forget that the Don of the TN GOP, Howard Baker, is still the behind the scenes force of the party. Romney never had the support of the TN party, so he took the risk of playing that game. Blackburn knew that if she wanted backing for any future goals, she needed that support, or else she'd end up another Van Hillary. You don't succeed in TN Republican politics if you're not supported by the big fellas, and Blackburn was aware of this.
Blackburn was taking a large hit, not only from her district voters, but from the TN State GOP. First off, she shouldn't have taken the first opportunity and run with it. Secondly, Mitt should've been well aware that by starting his campaign so early he was running the risk of getting egg on his face. He failed to realize that instead of going for the kill early, he could've sat back and let more chips fall. People would've come to him, but by aggressively pursuing support so early, he had no idea who or what could eventually hurt his campaign. It wasn't unexpected that a southern conservative would enter the race, instead of waiting, he tried to silence any alternatives, and it has backfired.
Another point, everyone mentions the Frist/Alexander machine, but they tend to forget that the Don of the TN GOP, Howard Baker, is still the behind the scenes force of the party. Romney never had the support of the TN party, so he took the risk of playing that game. Blackburn knew that if she wanted backing for any future goals, she needed that support, or else she'd end up another Van Hillary. You don't succeed in TN Republican politics if you're not supported by the big fellas, and Blackburn was aware of this.
# posted by : 26 May, 2007 13:45
: 26 May, 2007 13:45
tennessee republicnans don't like mavericks. just ask don sundquist. marsha, marsha, marsha is just protecting her rear. and knowing hte tn gop, she is doing th e right thing.
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# posted by : 28 May, 2007 13:24
: 28 May, 2007 13:24 << Home
