What will he do with all those delegate votes he has won?Pretty sure there will be a mad scramble for them

The real Republican rankings recognized his weakness since October of '07... http://truthalert.net/Republican%20Presidential%20Candidate%20Rankings.htm

Why did it take him this long to realize he was never going to win in the first place? He was a gas bag bafoon and a failed candidate from the start.  He had nothing to add to the debate. He had no real experience or accomplishments to talk about. He was a total bore.  Now, he and his trophy wife can go back to the trailer and eat chicken fried steak together with a side of dirt.

Good. He shouldn't have been in there in the first place.

Now... the fun begins. With the Hard Right's man now OUT who are they gonna cheer for? Certainly not McCain and Huck - according to talk radio they are libs and voting for them would be the same as voting for Hillary or Barack... can't have that. Nosiree-bob. Giuliani? Nope... doesn't really have much of a chance and he really blew it by ignoring the first contests and only setting his sights on Florida - sorry, can't win the election by doing that, bambino. Next...

Which leaves Mitt. Good-ol' flip-floppin' Mitt.

Be prepared to lose, righties, be prepared.

Barcalounger Fred reclines into the sunset. Fade-out and cut.

Thompson accomplished what he wanted, sabotaged Mike Huckabee, and helped his friend John McCain. He used his supporters, pretended to be the only conservative in the race, but never attacked John McCain on amnesty or any of his other bad bills. If I were a Thompson supporter, I would vote for Huckabee as payback.

Mike Huckabee is praying right now and taking the first jet to Florida.

In all seriousness, this does give Huck an opening in Florida, because many of Thompson's voters may find him to be the only other acceptable social conservative in the field.  You combine their percentages in Florida and it's enough to win; is really it unthinkable that social conservatives in the panhandle and elsewhere could make up 26% of the vote?

I'm not suggesting Huckabee will win Florida (I have no idea who will), but Thompson's dropping out has to make Florida more of a four way race than a three way race.

Wonder who had Fred in their pocket...

Time for bed, Fred!

Fred Thompson is a good man, if he had gotten in earlier, he would have a great chance.

If Mitt Romney wins this, Fred Thompson would be a great candidate as his VP...

Thank God.

Did Fred just wake up?

Good luck to Senator Thompson.  He was fun to have around and had some really good ideas.  Hopefully he will endorse a conservative candidate, if any at all.

To all Fred supporters, I hope you find a candidate with whom you feel you can entrust the fate of our country.

Good luck to all - and let's try for once to lay off the bashing of Fred or the others - let's just all support our favorite candidates and hope for a great election season!

Now who does the National Right To Life Support?

We lose our entertainer. No loss to the USA. Actualy, it is a gain for the USA. Disappointment in Georgia.

There are a few more incompetents that need to withdraw.

About time! It's hard to believe someone who goes out of his way to split the social conservative vote cares about anything other than himself and a position within a McCain presidency.

Sorry to see ya go Fred! Please publicly support John Mccain for President!

Its about time. Now Paul needs to follow suit, if for no other reason than to get his annoying supporters off every blog in the entire world. Personally, my scrolldown finger is getting tired!

Keep fighting Mitt! The more people get to know you, the more they like you!

Ode to Fred Thompson
Here stands Fred the Great,
who joined the campaign too late
A conservative message for the Right,
and a promise to govern with might.
With an excellent plan to secure the border,
Fred was definitely pro “Law and Order.”
He gave the race quiet a jolt,
Fred would have gotten my vote.
But he now leaves the race in defeat,
So Sam, get out of his seat.

FRED WHO ? OH ! YOU MEAN ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN OLD FARTS IS LEAVING THE RACE. GO FIGURE !

Thompson has family illnesses that he needs to address, so I hope we can all wish him and his family well and move on like decent human beings.

Just my two cents.

Damn.

good luck to Fred i hope he wasnt running to be a spoiler.....Seems to me that there are a few who will be making phone calls...Whats in it for him.....He got into late and may of had a chance when everone else did...Whatever i just hope we dont wind up with politcs as usual...We will see when he makes his commitment to another canadate..Im sure it wont be Huck......Good luck Fred.

He was a gas bag bafoon and a failed candidate from the start.
pat huntington ny (Sent Tuesday, January 22, 2008 2:42 PM)

Ahh Pat, don't worry....
Bill Clinton is still around......

A true conservative, Fred Thompson will be missed.  According to the latest Rasmussen poll Romney is leading in Florida.  It looks like the Fred Heads are migrating away from the RINOS (Republicans In Name Only).  Huckabee and McCain would both hope to benefit from his departure, but the Fred Heads are smarter than that.

SMILE FRED IT'S OVER !

Finally, the actor-ese will subside. I often wondered how many of those soundbites he used were taken from those TV shows he's done over the years.
What really had me wondering was the Reason Mag article about F.T. having been the Libertarian candidate, now there's only 1 remaining (u know who).

Ron Paul has the money Fred only has his honey.  heh heh heh lollollolll

Thompson is easily the most conservative of the candidates except maybe Ron Paul. It has become apparent  however, that a conservative is not what the electorate is looking for.

FRED TO ENDORSE OBAMA, STAY TUNED.

Thompson is easily the most conservative of the candidates except maybe Ron Paul. It has become apparent  however, that a conservative is not what the electorate is looking for.

Oh?  Was he running?  

HE WAS ONLY IN THE RACE TO GET VOTES FROM HUCKABEE WHERE MCCAIN COULD PREVAIL  DIRTY OLD MAN  LOOK AT TROPHY WIFE  PROVES IT   PLUS FOX NEWS AGAINST AND RUNNING DOWN HUCKABEE   POOR GUY DID GREAT BUT NO MONEY  AND THESE 2 CHEATS AFTER HIM

The second coming of Ronald Reagan is going. The hard edge of the repubs are withering on the vine , maybe the moderate fical conservatives can now take back the party and invite more americans to join again in the GOP. If not, the party will have a hard time developing a larger voting block.

at least he is not a racist like Ron Paul......

Sorry to see Fred go.  He had my vote.  Kinda liked his laid back style. Speak softly and carry a big stick. Now I see no one I would vote for. Dont care for any of the others.

This analysis explains that Thompson's withdrawal should most help Mitt Romney -- though McCain could limit the damage once Thompson endorses him. Link: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2008/01/south-carolina-claimed-victim-fred.html

What's the difference?

"Fred reminds me alot of Ronald Reagan", said Chris Matthews.
Fred is dead.

Dear Friends:
Mr. Thompson you have served this nation well and admirably in more ways than many have.  Thank you for your service and the very best to you and your family in what ever your indeverors our.  Your respect and pride of this nation was seen in your fortitude and smile. Those who come forth in this type of challenge, who make sound investment, work hard, and know your choice of investment whether it be time, money or product is carefully chosen not just manipulation or for your personal gain.

God Bless you and your family.

I hope Fred will be a VP For McCain.Now if we could only get Ron Paul to Quit...

**I hope F. Thompson is able to rest and take a break now that he has left the rat race.


HMT-MI: Are his delegates up for sale?  I mean, if he endorses somebody, will his delegates head their way?  To me, that doesn't seem fair.  People voted for him, not who he might endorsed.  Why should their vote get a second chance, especially when it may not go to who they support?  I'm just curious, because I humbly admit that I do not know, and I would appreciate your knowledge.


I wish him and his family good health ...

Fred and Romney were in it together. Fred only existed to take votes from Huckabee. I wouldn't be surprised now if Romney asks Thompson to be his VP.

Hang in there Huck and Mccain!!!

I hope he endorses john mccain for president.

If Republicans had wanted to vote for a conservative for President, Fred would have won the Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina primaries. Now, we are hearing Huckabee is running out of money. He will be gone after the Florida primary. Republicans are looking at traditional Republicans, which means McCain will be the winner after Feb 5th. Guiliani, Paul and Romney will concede after Feb 5th. Most Republicans see McCain as a "not like Buah" Republican.

i think i recall mary matalin on MTP saying fred would surprise us all with his success. i guess it's mary's turn with egg on her face!

Too bad, I'll really miss that Tennessee hillbilly bluster & the rambling basso profundo looking around for a point to make.  You & the trophy wife can now sit back, open up a cold one & watch President Obama take the oath of office. :D

If Thompson had stayed in the race, Huckabee probably would have sent Chuck Norris over to kick his lazy butt from one end of Florida to the other.  LOL

BTW, has anyone figured out what Thompson was talking about in his speech after the SC primary ???  It's as if he put all his campaign slogans and talking points into one incoherent mess of a speech.

Buh-bye, Fred.  And Rudy ... you're next ! LOL

That Fred Thompson’s candidacy did not prosper is a great disappointment to me and, I assume, other true conservatives.  Compared to the others in the GOP field, he was the real conservative.  The others seem to be Johnny-come-latelies, at least as to some important conservative positions.

The country and the party may well have benefited from Thompson’s effort in that other candidates have moved in a conservative direction, perhaps in part to capture votes that otherwise would have gone to him.

I appreciate Thompson’s staying with it this long, and not bowing out without giving his candidacy a full chance.  I also appreciate his leaving now, while the semi-conservatives still have a chance.

Thompson’s pro-life position reflected American principles in their most traditional and compassionate sense.  The principles he espoused–Individual Liberty, Personal Responsibility, Free Markets, Limited Government, Federalism, Protecting our Country, Traditional American Values, the Rule of Law, Conserving Our Nation’s Resources (as defined at fred08.com) are the principles that made this country good and great.  They are still necessary to the maintenance of our country’s goodness and greatness.  We deemphasize or neglect them at our peril.

One thing I really liked about Thompson was that he, unlike most if not all of the other presidential candidates, understands the centrality of the principal of the rule of law to the American system of free government.  As he said in a book published eight years ago (“The Rule of Law in the Wake of Clinton”), “The importance of the rule of law cannot be overstated.  In our country the rule of law is the foundation for every institution.  In many countries the chief drawback to the formation of a prosperous and civil society is the absence of the rule of law.”

Thompson’s “Border Security and Immigration Reform Plan” (on his campaign web site), with its equal treatment of all immigrants and no-amnesty policies, reflects a true belief in the rule of law, and is an excellent program for reducing immigration lawlessness and restoring the rule of law in our country.  

Thompson seemed more concerned with real, workable policies, even if painful, than the meaningless slogans that are propelling some of the other candidacies.  If the voters had put in the thinking time that their country deserves, I suspect that Thompson would have done much better.

The conventional wisdom seems to make “fire in the belly”–driving ambition–a requirement.  Thompson seemed to be running on the basis of his patriotism rather than ambition.  At times in our history we have had some pretty good presidents whose ambition and personal desire for glory ranked well below their love of country.  I hope the pundits will let us go back to the attitude of that era.  Politics is, of course, necessary for both becoming and being president.  But maybe someone who is not the best politician would make the best president.

A  true stealth candidate. FT never broke a sweat and didn't seem to be running even though he says he was...I admire his schedule.

How will we know when he's not running for President? By checking his pulse or would it be better to hold a mirror to his nose and see if it fogs up from his breath?

And most important, does Fred's wife know about this?

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