James Dobson says no to a Fred? endorsement. Jimmy, echoing the sentiments of many a befuddled social conservative:
“Isn’t Thompson the candidate who is opposed to a Constitutional amendment to protect marriage, believes there should be 50 different definitions of marriage in the U.S., favors McCain-Feingold, won’t talk at all about what he believes, and can’t speak his way out of a paper bag on the campaign trail?” Dobson wrote.
“He has no passion, no zeal, and no apparent ‘want to.’ And yet he is apparently the Great Hope that burns in the breasts of many conservative Christians? Well, not for me, my brothers. Not for me!”
My view is Fred makes the case for Federalism as a cloak to cover his socially liberal persuasions, it’s easy to hide behind. He is not for traditional marriage and until his FNS appearance in March he was pro-choice. He is against tort reform, and is loosey-goosey with immigration. There’s more.
Dobson has crossed off some major candidates from his list already:
McCain
Giuliani
Thompson
Up in the air:
Huckabee
Romney
My guess is he will hold on Huckbee based on the his critique of Thompson’s campaign abilities. If he ain’t hapy with Thompson he’s going o severely disappointed with the slim guy for Arkansas. So that leaves us with… Cox. 
Now this is bad news for Giuliani. Giuliani has to hope the socon vote will split. Dobson, whether for good or ill, carries street red in the powerful evangelical world, especially when he is adamantly opposed to a candidate. It makes people stop and think. Is this the end of Thompson? Not by any means, but it does signal that there are some serious chinks in his reported appeal.
Hat Tip: reader “Wiseguy”
From Kentucky polwatchers:
Twenty of the 37 state House Republicans today will announce they are endorsing former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson in the GOP presidential primary.
“I am proud to lend my support to Senator Thompson in this campaign,” said Republican Floor Leader Jeff Hoover of Jamestown. “Kentuckians can rest assured that this is a man who shares our Kentucky values and will take them to Washington as he leads our nation in these turbulent times.”
Rep. James Comer of Tompkinsville added in a statement that Thompson “has a history of being a strong proponent of conservative values and is a proven leader.”
He said Thompson also is the early favorite among the voters in his heavily Republican district along the Kentucky-Tennessee line. His district includes Monroe, Cumberland, Green and Metcalfe counties.
State Rep. Bill Farmer, R-Lexington, also chose Thompson as his preferred Republican candidate.
The other 17 include:
Sheldon Baugh of Russellville Kevin Bratcher of Louisville Tim Couch of Hyden (apparently not that Tim Couch from KY) Ron Crimm of Louisville Myron Dossett of Pembroke C.B. Embry of Morgantown Jim DeCesare of Bowling Green Danny Ford of Mt. Vernon (Not that Danny Ford) Russ Mobley of Campbellsville Brad Montell of Shelbyville Lonnie Napier of Lancaster Marie Rader of McKee Steven Rudy of West Paducah Charlie Siler of Williamsburg Tommy Turner of Somerset Ken Upchurch of Monticello John Vincent of Ashland
This adds to Thompson’s growing list of 4th category (on the MattC. Scale) endorsements, along with Tennessee, Missouri, Georgia, and Texas.
Thompson also, today, named his campaign leaders for New Hampshire:
The political director will be veteran conservative activist Chris Wood, a former Rudy Giuliani supporter, while GOP activist Liz Christoffersen is the state campaign coordinator and former Executive Councilor Bill Cahill is senior advisor.
Former state Rep. Dan Hughes is chairman of the state campaign. Former Ambassador Gerald Carmen is also prominently on board.
Rudy’s voyage to England was an eventful (and fruitful) one. In addition to meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown (with an accompanying press conference outside of 10 Downing St.), Hizzoner announced that several advisors of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher have joined his team:
The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee announced today that former advisors to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Robert Conquest and Dr. Nile Gardiner are supporting Mayor Giuliani for President. Conquest will serve as a member of the Senior Foreign Policy Advisory Board and Gardiner, the Director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, will serve as a member of the European Advisory Board. They join the campaign’s foreign policy team as the Mayor meets with former Prime Minister Thatcher, as well as former Prime Minister Tony Blair and current Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in London , England , where he will deliver the inaugural Margaret Thatcher Atlantic Bridge lecture.
“I support Mr. Giuliani because I see his approach to our international challenges as serious, careful and responsible,” said Conquest.
“Mayor Giuliani is a proven leader with a clear vision for keeping America safe and offers the kind of strong leadership that the United States needs to win the Terrorists’ War on Us,” said Gardiner. “In my time working with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, I observed how her strong principles governed her decision making. Rudy Giuliani is a leader in her mold.”
The other new addition to the Mayor’s foreign policy team is National Review Senior Editor David Pryce-Jones, who joins as a Senior Foreign Policy Advisor.
“Mayor Giuliani is someone who sets an example of leadership which I find impressive. He clearly understands the dangers we are facing today,” said Pryce-Jones.
Mayor Giuliani’s foreign policy team advises the Mayor on a foreign policy vision that advances the United States as a world leader: expanding America ‘s involvement in the global economy, strengthening our reputation around the world, and keeping our country on offense in the Terrorists’ War on Us.
Here’s more on the newest additions:
Robert Conquest, Senior Foreign Policy Advisory Board Member
Conquest, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is a dual national by birth and renowned historian of Russia . He has served with military and diplomatic missions in Russian-occupied Eastern Europe and the United Nations. He advised former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who wrote, “When the history of the West’s victory in the Cold War comes to be written a special place will go to Robert Conquest.” Conquest is a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. His account of the Stalin years, The Great Terror, is soon to be published in an updated 3rd edition.
Nile Gardiner, Ph.D., European Advisory Board Member
Gardiner serves as the Director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation. Prior to joining the Heritage Foundation, Gardiner was Foreign Policy Researcher for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Gardiner specializes in Anglo-U.S. relationship, the United Nations, post-war Iraq , and the role of Great Britain and Europe in the U.S.-led alliance against international terrorism and ‘rogue states’ including Iran . He is a leading authority on transatlantic relations.
Gardiner is a sought-after advisor from issues such as the role of international allies in post-war Iraq to U.S.-British leadership in the war on terror, has testified several times before Congress and has made over 400 television appearances discussing foreign policy issues and written for leading publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The London Daily Telegraph and National Review. Gardiner served as an expert on the 2005 Gingrich-Mitchell Congressional Task Force on the United Nations.
Gardiner assisted Lady Thatcher with her latest book, Statecraft: Strategies for a Changing World. He served as an aide to Lady Thatcher from 2000 to 2002 and advised her on a number of international policy issues.
Gardiner received his Ph.D. in History from Yale University , where he was awarded the International Security Studies Smith Richardson Foundation Fellowship and the David Gimbel Fellowship. He holds two Masters degrees from Yale and a BA and MA in Modern History from Oxford University . He has a broad range of international experience, and has lived in four continents: Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.
David Pryce-Jones, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor
Pryce-Jones studied at Magdalen College , Oxford . He is the author of ten novels and eleven non-fiction books, including The Closed Circle, a social and political interpretation of Arab society, and The Strange Death of the Soviet Union. Earlier this year, he published Betrayal: France, the Arabs and the Jews. Since 1999, he has been a Senior Editor of National Review in New York . Pryce-Jones’ essays and articles have also appeared in Commentary, New Criterion, The Wall Street Journal, The Spectator and Sunday Telegraph among numerous other publications.
Here is an MSNBC recap of Hizzoner’s visit:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdGG0Zlnc-U[/youtube]
In a move that has stunned New York , the Bloomberg administration is in discussions to escort the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to ground zero during his visit to New York next week, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said today.
The Iranian mission to the U.N. made the request to the New York City Police Department and the Secret Service, who will jointly oversee security during the president’s two-day visit. Mr. Ahmadinejad is scheduled to arrive September 24 to speak to the U.N. General Assembly as the Security Council decides whether to increase sanctions against Iran for its uranium enrichment program.
Mr. Kelly said the NYPD and Secret Service were in discussions with the Iranian mission about the logistics for the possible visit, and whether it will take place at all. He said Mr. Ahmadinejad would not be allowed to descend into the pit for safety reasons related to ongoing construction there.
“There has been some interest expressed in his visiting the area,” Mr. Kelly said. “It’s something that we are prepared to handle if in fact it does happen.”
Mr. Kelly said that Mr. Ahmadinejad had not indicated why he wants to visit the site of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Iran has been called the world’s “most active state sponsor of terrorism” by the U.S. State Department.
Gov. Romney had this to say about it:
“Ahmadinejad’s shockingly audacious request should be met with a vehement no. It’s inconceivable that any consideration would be given to the idea of entertaining the leader of a state sponsor of terror at Ground Zero. This would deeply offend the sensibilities of Americans from all corners of our nation. Instead of entertaining Ahmadinejad, we should be indicting him.”
If you were ever really serious about it-you can kiss you presidential ambitions goodbye now Mike…
Update One: Here is Hizzoner’s statement:
“Under no circumstances should the NYPD or any other American authority assist President Ahmadinejad in visiting Ground Zero. This is a man who has made threats against America and Israel, is harboring Bin Laden’s son and other al-Qaeda leaders, is shipping arms to Iraqi insurgents and is pursuing the development of nuclear weapons. Assisting Ahmadinejad in touring Ground Zero – hallowed ground for all Americans – is outrageous.”
Update Two: Here is FDT’s statement:
“It is an insult to the memories of those who died on 9/11 at the hands of terrorists, and those who have fought terrorism for years, to allow the president of the world’s top state sponsor of terrorism to step foot at ground zero. Iran is responsible for supplying weapons and supporting extremist who are killing U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan to this very day.”
Update Three: NYPD to Mamoud, “NOPE!“
Here’s the latest from everyone’s favorite polling firm, ARG:
American Research Group Florida GOP Primary, conducted September 15-18, 2007
- Rudy Giuliani 26%
- John McCain 18%
- Fred Thompson 16%
- Mitt Romney 14%
- Newt Gingrich 4%
- Ron Paul 3%
Among Republicans only:
- Rudy Giuliani 25%
- John McCain 17%
- Mitt Romney 15%
- Fred Thompson 14%
- Newt Gingrich 4%
- Mike Huckabee 4%
- Ron Paul 3%
From the crosstabs:
Giuliani leads McCain 25% to 17% among Republicans in Florida, with Mitt Romney at 15% and Thompson at 14% among Republicans, and Giuliani leads Thompson 32% to 25% among independents in Florida, with McCain at 21% among independents.
American Research Group Colorado GOP Primary Poll, conducted September 15-18, 2007
- Fred Thompson 25%
- Rudy Giuliani 20%
- John McCain 12%
- Mike Huckabee 8%
- Mitt Romney 8%
- Newt Gingrich 5%
- Tom Tancredo 4%
Among Republicans only:
- Fred Thompson 26%
- Rudy Giuliani 18%
- John McCain 11%
- Mike Huckabee 9%
- Mitt Romney 9%
- Newt Gingrich 5%
- Tom Tancredo 4%
From the crosstabs:
Fred Thompson leads Rudy Giuliani 26% to 18% among Republicans in Colorado and Giuliani leads John McCain 31% to 22% among independents in Colorado, with Thompson at 19% among independents.
The MoE on both of these polls is ± 4 percentage points.
- Rudy Giuliani 26.5% (21%)
- Fred Thompson 24% (22%)
- John McCain 13% (9%)
- Mitt Romney 7% (11%)
- Mike Huckabee 3% (5%)
Survey of ~465 likely Republican primary voters was conducted September 13-16. The margin of error is ~ +/-4.8 percentage points. Results from the Zogby poll conducted July 12-14 are in parentheses.
GOP Nomination
- Fred Thompson 26%
- Rudy Giuliani 21%
- John McCain 14%
- Mitt Romney 13%
Daily tracking results are from survey interviews conducted over four days ending last night. Each update includes approximately 600-650 Likely Republican Primary Voters. Margin of sampling error for each is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
I sat in on Team Romney’s blogger’s conference call yesterday with Policy Director Sally Canfield. The topic was the unveiling of Gov. Romney’s, “Strategy for a Stronger America.”
Due to reception problems, my cellphone disconnected me three times during the call, so I was forced to miss large chunks of the proceedings. Here are the highlights I was able to catch:
That’s all I was personally able to catch of this call. However, please head over to Jim Geraghty’s blog for a complete recap.
Also, be sure to check out Mitt’s “Strategy for a Stronger America” 70 page policy statement. You can download it in its entirety here.
This might be my favorite ad thus far:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32IO7tX9Co0[/youtube]
The ad is running in Iowa and New Hampashire.
As most of you know, one of my biggest issues in 2008 is redefining the Republican brand name away from what current scandals and the current President have made it into. Before my days here at R4’08, I penned an extensive diary over at FRedstate about this subject, entitled “How We Win Now and in 2008″. This ad is music to my ears – finally, somebody saying exactly what I’m feeling.
[UPDATE: Jonathan Martin's take on this ad: "In effect, [Romney]‘s begun his general election campaign now. When will Rudy join the club — or will he at all?”]
Rudy Giuliani
Fred Thompson
John McCain
Mitt Romney
Newt Gingrich
General Race 4 2008 News
