Fred! Amnesty

What I am loving is that Erick ridiculed Ron Paul, who since has raised about $25 million and today finished 2nd in Nevada. I accurately predicted before all the great fundraising that Dr. Paul would still be in the race long after Fred Thompson.

Ron Paul has beaten Giuliani, Thompson, Tancredo, Hunter, McCain, and Huckabee in various states.

His PRINCIPLES will be front and center in the coming months as the financial lunacy that the others promote comes crashing down.

It has been very rewarding to watch the idiots on stage with him, shifting uncomfortably and looking at their feet every time Dr. Paul starts in on them about the financial lunacy that they front for.

Ron Paul triumphing over Erick’s guy.

Imagine that.

Fred is a decent an honorable man, he looks much better today than the day he announced. I am really glad to see his health return. That is what worried me the most about his candidacy. Running nonstop around this massive country normally would take a serious toll on folks, but he fought the good fight.

That’s what gets me about Giuliani. The man wants to be President, but doesn’t want to campaign in all the states. Doesn’t speak well for his sincerity with the race, a calculated gamble yes, sincere, no.

I actually think Fred did much the same thing as Giuliani…I mean, he basically settled in in South Carolina once it became apparent that he couldn’t get enough support to win Iowa or New Hampshire since he got in so late. That’s the thing that killed me about Fred…he and his campaign just seemed to lack any energy and spirit. I was one of many that jumped on the Thompson bandwagon before he entered the race, but while I still agree with many of his positions on the issues I just couldn’t support someone that seemed to care very little about campaigning, about meeting voters and about trying to win the Presidency (rather than have it handed to him).

Fred Thompson has some very good ideas, he’s thought out his positions and as of late he’s shown some spark in his public comments, but it’s all too little, too late. I’m hopeful he’ll leave the race now, as the large % of his voters will fall for McCain (whom I’m sure Fred will endorse once he does leave the race) or Huckabee…both of whom I prefer over Romney or Rudy.

The big question now of course is Florida…most think McCain & Romeny will have the momentum now, but the fact remains that Rudy has been campaigning there for what seems like forever now. Add that to the fact that early voting and absentee voting has already been going on for a while in Florida, which seems as if it would benefit the one guy that’s been there virtually nonstop as of late (Rudy).

If Rudy wins Florida, Super Tuesday is completely unpredictable. I’m guessing (guessing - only b/c I don’t know how much money McCain has left) that Romney will be the only one with the money to advertise in virtually every state. Personally, I think Super Tuesday will be completely split among the candidates.

If Huckabee is smart, he’ll take what little $ he has and invest it all in attempting to win some combination of Georgia, ‘Bama, Tennessee, Arkansas (shouldn’t take too much money to win there, I’d hope),W. Virginia and possibly, Missouri (due to its proximity to Arkansas - it might be easier for him to get grassroots volunteers into Missouri). I don’t think he has the resources to win all of those, but I certainly know that he doesn’t have the resources to compete in anymore than 5 or 6 of the 20+ states voting that day. I think Huckabee’s biggest goal, in those states, should be to emphasize his committment to helping the average, “working-class” family. He’s going to do well enough among Christian voters in those states, but he needs to bring in voters that aren’t necessarily evangelicals. LIke Huckabee or not, his campaign is very much geared up to portray him as the “average guy” (which, for the most part I think he actually is - you know, as average as anyone who’s been a 10 year GOvernor can be — meaning, he’s certainly not poor, he’s certainly not devoid of “powerful” ties and connections, and I’m sure he’ll never have to actually do any real work any day for the rest of his life if he so chooses). I think he can connect with that, to voters in those states, but he needs to raise some cash to get that message out …and that feat (raising funds) didn’t get any easier by losing S. Carolina. Even if Huckabee could win some of those states, I think he’s only in the game now for the VP spot (which, if it’s behind McCain is no small matter…heaven forbid anything happen to McCain, but lets face it, he’s not getting any younger).

For McCain, Romney and Guiliani (if he wins Florida or finishes 2nd), they can go after the “Big Fish” of California and New York, as well as Illinois and New Jersey. I’m assuming McCain has a solid grip on Arizona, as Mitt will have a solid grip on Mass. and Utah. Mitt seems to be doing well out west, so Montana, N. Dakota and Colorado might be wins for him (although I think McCain could and likely will challenge in any or all of those states). Rudy probably only has enough money (judging on the latest reports I’ve read) to invest in California, New York, Illinois and maybe some southern or northeastern states (Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware).

Personally, I’m going to be rooting for a Guiliani win in Florida, so that the race continues to be as cloudy as ever and completely up for grabs.

Happy to see McCain win a second state, and happy to see TWO of the Three Stooges (both Giuliani and Thompson) take more lumps. Romney (the Third Stooge) finishing 4th in SC is good news too.

Paul did well in Nevada, poorly in SC but still outperformed the Ghoul.

If Huckabee or McCain or Paul win, I’d actually consider voting for a Republican were Hillary the Democratic nominee. I’m not the only one. But if you’d rather force me to vote for Hillary, push the Ghoul or Romney to the front.

It’s your call.

Dear Fred Thompson supporters,

If in fact your guy is close to the end, I hope that you will consider or reconsider Dr. Ron Paul as you search for someone new to support.

I hope these two videos help:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yaiIWWefv4c
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p8TkmE5t1Pk

Please support America, not a party.

Ron Paul 2008

Mark Augustyn

DoubleD! Good info. I haven’t seen any exit poll crosstabs tonight on which ages voted for which candidate. Interesting.

But it was the largest young audience i’ve seen at a political event in awhile. And since the room was packed to the gills, I also noted that more than a few patrons smelled like bourbon. The beer had run out, The Citadel building was serving Jim Beam for a few bucks a drink. It reminded me of a Georgia Bulldog football game in the late 80s!

Maybe Fred and McCain had a little talk….

“Gee what do we do now? …. Should you stay in, Fred and pull votes away from Huckabee OR should you drop out and endorse me?”

I agree Chris - Fred is in now to take votes away from Huckabee… 3% was the spread. Fred needs to go home and get those little kids in the bed. Shame on him dragging those babies around like that… a man his age ought to know better!!!!

Fred should have been the first to come out for the Fair Tax. At least he would have had a tax alternative that could be touted. Would he ever have gotten it passed? Probably not but it would have propelled him. Huck needs to use the FT more and attack his opponents with it. The GOP hopefuls need an issue that will stir the voters and right now I don’t see one.

“If Fred hadnt been in the race, Huckabee would have won…” that’s almost like saying that if Congressman Price hadnt been in the race Konop would have been elected

I’m looking at it from the other side of the fence. Most people aren’t as hard right or hard left as we think they are. They want a guy that will work over the fence. Clinton and McCain respect each other, and they shake hands over the fence. Thats how things get done, thats how it works when Congress actually works. The more polarized the parties get, the less gets done.

SugarHillDad:

Can you choose where to work? Where to live? What to do? What to believe? What to think? How to spend your money?

Because unless something has changed from yesterday, there weren’t any real restrictions on my life.

I forgot to mention all the meddling are government does in trade through subsidies, embargoes, taxes, restrictions, etc…

Not much choice in how you spend your money if you fell like going out and buying a good Cuban cigar.

Wow Julio, too bad the most one could ever pay on income tax is 35%, but I guess I will let you hold on to that one for your argument’s sake.

Your free thought and government schools reeks of paranoia, which is all that is.

Much easier to choose where I work in Hong Kong? Quite possibly. That said, I can think of a few jobs that I would hope have some form of regulations on who can work in those fields. However, for I would say a good at least 75% of all jobs, I could get employment in that field, without government regulation. And no matter what, I can always choose my career path. I want to be a doctor, I go back to school. I want to be a line cook at McDonald’s I go and apply. The government is not assigning me a job.

I’ll tell you something though about freedom. In Australia, New South Wales to be exact, depending on how one does on the School Certificate test, it determines what you will be able to sit for the Higher School Certificate. The state government, in conjunction with the federal government, evaluates your scores and then either assigns you to the standard HSC program or to the TAFE program, which is essentially a college for vocational studies. This program is implemented in similar fashions throughout the other states. So you have a government that actively evaluates students academic progress and decides what your future holds and there is no changing that, unless you have tremendous luck.

So next time you start saying there is very little freedom in America, stop. There is no state religion, no government deciding what your career will be, no 50+ income tax rates, no genuine thought control, none of that. You can really cut the crap.

letter from the Birmingham jail

God loves you.

IndyInjun,

Have you ever tried to calculate if you would be better off under a fair tax system? It isn’t as simple as stating a person would have to pay a 30% tax on X. You have to determine which system enables you to consume the most goods or services after adjusting for taxes.

As far I can tell the groups that would benefit under a fair tax system are 1) young single people who pay a proportionately higher percentage of their income do to the fact they do not have large itemized deductions, child tax credits, and hit the higher tax rates at a lower level of income; 2) Mid aged preretirement people (i.e. empty nesters) would also benefit under the fair tax, since they have smaller mortgage interest deductions and do not have children related tax deductions or credits; 3) People who are high savers would benefit from a fair tax.

The groups that would be worse off under a fair tax are 1) the young to middle aged families with high mortgage interest related deductions and child tax credits/deductions.; 2) Elderly and poor people that do not pay federal income taxes; 3) as well those who live-off investment income would be worse off.

In my opinion the fair tax enables people to build wealth and encourages savings, which is why I support the fair tax more than I oppose it.

DoubleDawg3-

Rudy may do well in South FL. with all the New York transplants but in Central and Northern FL -
those folks are like South Georgia…. He won’t play well there.

McCain’s win has awakened Huckabee’s base and NOW they know they have to ” help God” get him in by working harder!!!!!

Peach has it ever dawned on you that God is not supporting the Huckster? I can’t believe you now say that God is supporting any candidate especially Huckabee. I did not know that God supported liars…

Debbie

FROM YAHOO

….Thompson’s presence in the South Carolina primary hurt Huckabee’s chances, said his senior adviser and fellow Arkansas Republican, former U.S. Senator Tim Hutchinson. Both candidates competed for the support of evangelical voters.

“He peeled away too many votes from us,” Hutchinson said. “We just couldn’t overcome that.”….

From Rasmussen Report

McCain’s lead grew as Fred Thompson chipped away at Huckabee’s support. …

The facts are the facts Debbie.

So Fred did his part to save America from Tax Hike Mike Huckabee…

btpull,

I don’t think any analysis of being “better off’ under the FT is really practical or even possible for a lot of reasons.

First, the FT applies to costs that are exploding a LOT faster than wages. Second, it is a tax on catastrophes (accidents, injuries, fires, etc.) that cannot be predicted. Third, a LOT of folks won’t have jobs after the FT as any services that can be offshore and online will be, entertainment and other ‘optional’ consumption will wither when folks are confronted with 30% rates on necessities, and the sheer complexity of the existing system makes i very difficult to analyze.

The numbers behind the FT don’t work.

This whole mess is coming to a head in the next five years and SPENDING MUST BE CUT.

After we get a grip on SPENDING, either the flat or fair taxes work.

I am not in favor of a blanket exemption for Biz, something that the sales taxes of the states and the VAT taxes of Europe do not have.

Anyone older than 50 does not benefit from the FT IMHO.

I am a very disciplined saver and I know that tax accountants would prosper under the FT.

The “Fair”????tax is not as advertised and I say this as someone with a quarter century of sales tax experience.

the polls are open. take this freakin poll.

http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/273570

Look for Romney to take control of the POTUS race.

All of his spinning makes him the only candidate enough GOPers can accept enough to emerge victorious.

Moderates can win. Fringe candidates - all of the rest are fringe candidates - cannot.

I won’t vote for him, but my vote for the GOP was gone long ago. Only Ron Paul’s candidacy keep me on board.

As Noonan, Buckley, Viguerie, Gold, and Will have written - the GOP must die and be reborn. Only Paul was reason for a stay of execution.

Joe,

You are right, but there are whole constellations of numbers that DO work within the Income tax universe - like several $trillion in Muni bonds.

One supposes the FT is a nice flight of fancy, but that is all it is, short of throwing out the entire financial system and beginning anew.

Even Huckabee is given to talking about his tinkering with the income tax system. He likes to ensnare supporters with the FT con, though.

Rome

Do you know what Rasmussen does for a living?

I will give you a hint it starts with a P!

Rome

Do you think Hutchinson works for Rasmussen?

Give us a link to that blog you write John that nobody reads…. and also tell us about how you almost got elected to Congress

Indy,

Economic dislocations are THE problem with an INCOME tax system that is highly manipulable - subject to influence by lobbyists and continual revision by politicians, taxes business resources and payroll whose costs can NOT be extracted from export prices and results in higher domestic “price tags” for consumers.

Clearly, the answer is in front of us - the FAIRTAX ( http://snipr.com/irsgone ); that’s right, the same plan ardently advocated by Gov. Huckabee ( http://snipr.com/fthuckabeeonirs ) and demagogued by people like Bruce Bartlett ( http://snipr.com/foulbb ) - and you, of course.

The research makes a compelling case for EVERYONE to get involved in voicing their support for the FairTax Act of 2007 (HR 25 / S 1025) that’s been reintroduced into every session of Congress since 1999, and with growing numbers of co-sponsors ( http://snipr.com/fters ). Mr. Huckabee’s advocacy of the FairTax ( http://snipr.com/irsgone ) is the single most important policy position in this election. Here’s why:

The FairTax rate of 23 percent on a total taxable consumption base of $11.244 trillion will generate $2.586 trillion dollars – $358 billion more than the taxes it replaces ( http://snipurl.com/whatratewks ). [BHKPT]

The FairTax has the broadest base and the lowest rate of any single-rate tax reform plan ( http://snipurl.com/baserate ). [THBP]

Real wages are 10.3 percent, 9.5 percent, and 9.2 percent higher in years 1, 10, and 25, respectively than would otherwise be the case ( http://snipurl.com/realwages ). [THBNP]

The economy as measured by GDP is 2.4 percent higher in the first year and 11.3 percent higher by the 10th year than it would otherwise be ( http://snipurl.com/econbenes ). [ALM]

Consumption benefits ( http://snipurl.com/econbenes ) [ALM]:

• Disposable personal income is higher than if the current tax system remains in place: 1.7 percent in year 1, 8.7 percent in year 5, and 11.8 percent in year 10.

• Consumption increases by 2.4 percent more in the first year, which grows to 11.7 percent more by the tenth year than it would be if the current system were to remain in place.

• The increase in consumption is fueled by the 1.7 percent increase in disposable (after-tax) personal income that accompanies the rise in incomes from capital and labor once the FairTax is enacted.

• By the 10th year, consumption increases by 11.7 percent over what it would be if the current tax system remained in place, and disposable income is up by 11.8 percent.

Over time, the FairTax benefits all income groups. Of 42 household types (classified by income, marital status, age), all have lower average remaining lifetime tax rates under the FairTax than they would experience under the current tax system ( http://snipurl.com/kotcomparetaxrates ). [KR]

Implementing the FairTax at a 23 percent rate gives the poorest members of the generation born in 1990 a 13.5 percent improvement in economic well-being; their middle class and rich contemporaries experience a 5 percent and 2 percent improvement, respectively ( http://snipurl.com/kotftmacromicro ). [JK]

Based on standard measures of tax burden, the FairTax is more progressive than the individual income tax, payroll tax, and the corporate income tax ( http://snipurl.com/lessregress ). [THBPN]

Charitable giving increases by $2.1 billion (about 1 percent) in the first year over what it would be if the current system remained in place, by 2.4 percent in year 10, and by 5 percent in year 20 ( http://snipurl.com/moregiving ). [THPDB]

On average, states could cut their sales tax rates by more than half, or 3.2 percentage points from 5.4 to 2.2 percent, if they conformed their state sales tax bases to the FairTax base ( http://snipurl.com/staterates ). [TBJ]

The FairTax provides the equivalent of a supercharged mortgage interest deduction, reducing the true cost of buying a home by 19 percent ( http://snipurl.com/homebenes ). [WM]

ALERT: Kotlikoff refutes Bruce Bartlett’s shabby critiques of the FairTax ( http://snipr.com/bbrebuke ).

RR -

I will support HUCKABEE period!
Prez. OR VP…. He is just what this nation needs!

It worries me to think there are people out there who believe the federal income tax is the only tax we pay, but it would explain a lot as far as the complacency of the citizenry when it comes to getting raped by the taxman.

My 50% of our income/freedom we pay in taxes was a conservative estimate. Just off the top of my head in addition to the federal income tax I can think of state income tax, sales tax, property tax, ad valorem tax, payroll tax (both employer and employee), embedded taxes (see employer payroll tax for one example), and extra taxes for alcohol; cigarettes; and gas (which also affects are choices), other excise taxes, and unfunded mandates (could definitely make the argument it’s a tax since the government is requiring you to spend money). Just thought of these quickly, I’m sure some economists could come up with many more.

I don’t think the argument was about comparing the USA to other countries who have even less choice then us, I think it was if we simply have a choice over how we spend our money and our lives. When the Government takes the biggest chunk of the fruits of our labor, I’d say we don’t have a lot of choice over our lives.

Americans love to talk about freedom and choice, but the fact is most have no idea what freedom is. If you were to actually define it to most it would scare the hell out of them - no safety nets, no helping you make choices through regulation of virtually every aspect of our lives from banking, fishing, hunting and stocks to healthcare, food prep, pets and hair salons.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with some regulation, but at least I’m honest with myself and accept the fact I’m giving up freedom and choices in exchange for the “safety”.

Fred Thompson EXPOSED!

http://www.squidoo.com/fredthompson2008

I have to ask a serious question as an outsider of PP. Is GOPeach real? No insult intended, she is just so “enthusiastic”.

Agreed Brian.

Fred can ACT like a president all day long but I have a message for Freddy T.

THIS IS NOT A FLIPPIN TV SHOW!!!!
Time to leave the “set” and stop reading the cue cards from Washington!

PHILLY -

HUCKABEE IS STILL IN IT!!!!!

Thompson AIN’T even in the top 3! GET REAL!

LOOK AT THE FRED T. BLOG:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.newsgroper.com/big/i/authors/fred-thompson.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.newsgroper.com/fred-thompson/page/2/&h=406&w=300&sz=19&hl=en&start=33&um=1&tbnid=pd2Gr0RBF6dxlM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=92&prev=/images%3Fq%3DFred%2BThompson%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

Fred CLEARLY sees WOMEN as LESS than men.

Hillary would eat him for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Julio:

You still miss the point. These freedoms you are giving up is part of a social contract. I won’t bother to sum up 400 years of political philosophy but, essentially, you have no freedom if there is not some form of regulation on your life.

But besides all that, tell me one instance in the last week, where you said in your everyday life choices, you wanted to do something but you couldn’t because of the government. Be honest with yourself and don’t be so paranoid.

Government prevented me from buying some good ass Samuel Adams yesterday.

Whoops. I’m with SoCal, *except for the McCain part.

Rugby-

You are quite a mystic aren’t cha?

That’s just the thing, GOPeach. How am I supposed to keep the real Sabbath day holy if its the only day that I can buy beer before nanny government cuts me off for the week?

What exactly was the comment?

Rome - The SC voters seem to havetorpedoed the Huckaship as he is at 13% in Florida and sinking fast.

I was responding to this from GOPEAch and just pointing out fact.

“Fred CLEARLY sees WOMEN as LESS than men.

Hillary would eat him for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!”

Debbie, please do not support McCain/Huckabee, You are a jinx, you always pick loosers. That goes for you too Laurens/waterboy……… Stick to your magical underwear wearing freak………..

Huckabee can not win in November. He can not attract non evangelical support. He only gets 40% of evangelical support. It is because of statements he has made like this and ammending the Constitution. Huckabee is using religion to get votes and many people resent that. Huckabee is someone you either love or hate. He is polarizing.

The Bible also says that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Funny how men just seem to forget about that scripture and just quote the subjection one.

Fred is Dead.

I have no candidate.

Same here, GOP Girl. It’s kinda depressing.

Jace, I support our presence in Iraq and the work that is being done there. I also do not agree with Paul regarding our relationship with Israel. These are fundamental issues on which I cannot give in.