Ever start to put two and two together and…
I was updating my bookmarks and I was surprised to see Team Sarah was still actively advocating for Governor Palin. No mention of 2012, but their efforts were obvious. In recent weeks Team Sarah’s most vocal advocate and leader has been Jeri Thompson. You can watch some of Jeri’s performances here. As many of you are aware, Jeri is not just a political spouse, she is a political operative. Jeri worked at the RNC.
Both Thompson (Fred) and Palin have been very silent on their future roles in the GOP, but I am beginning to notice a trend. What appears to be a subtle movement(s), is actually a full-scale assault and I believe that Mrs. and Mr. Thompson and Mrs. Palin are actively working together to ascend to the leadership of the GOP.
This is of course is mostly a hunch, but we need to keep our eye on the connections and subtleties.
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On Thompson, Matt Lewis from Politico (Townhall) has the story;
During his short-lived 2008 presidential run, Thompson often seemed a better advocate for others than for himself. After dropping out of the presidential race, he served as one of Sen. John McCain’s most eloquent, hard-hitting and effective surrogates. With his Hollywood ties, he’s also a pretty good fundraiser. As RNC chairman, he could continue in that role without the pressure to become president himself (which, frankly, didn’t seem to appeal to him).
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There are already three “Draft Fred” sites on Facebook. View them here, here and here and the conservative blog world seems to be slowly moving in the direction of Thompson, including his idea of a shared chairmanship. Some have even hinted that John McCain is on board. The Tennessean published an extremely interesting article on the subject, including what appears to be some behind the scenes conversations that show the ‘Fred for RNC’ movement may be a little further along then what the press and public have been informed of.
“I’m extremely excited that he’s considering it,” said Scooter Clippard, a Middle Tennessee businessman who spearheaded national fundraising for the Thompson and McCain campaigns. “It’s time for a change. Fred Thompson would be the absolute best person to articulate that message for the party.”
Thompson has not said anything about the RNC chairmanship publicly, but the prospect has his supporters intrigued. Even former Republican presidential nominee John McCain is in on the speculation. “I was talking with John McCain today … Fred Thompson’s name came up, and we both talked about whether he would run for the chairmanship,” Clippard said.
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This week has also produced the launch of what is probably going to be the largest “Draft a Pol” movement in American history.
Paul Streitz designed a great site for the 2012 Palin movement. Paul has a ‘MASSIVE’ distribution list and networks of supporters and volunteers across the nation. Politico has the details on the ‘Draft Palin for President’ movement. Paul was a leading activist against the Bush immigration bill (frequently seen on Lou Dobbs) and Paul is the founder of www.americafirst2008.com. This movement will soon have the resources and nationwide network similar to a national leadership campaign.
David L. Kelly, the group’s Treasurer and Colorado coordinator, sent a mass email today that hit at least one Iowa GOP vet.
“Since forming our committee last week, we now have State Organizers in ten states and thousands from across the nation who have signed on as supporters,” writes Kelly. “We feel that for Conservatives to be successful again, we must get back to the core principles of Conservatism. Sarah Palin’s popularity and her Conservative values that she embodies will be the catalyst that will resurrect the Conservative base and reform the Republican Party of the near future.”
November 18th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Are conservatives going to care when they find out Palin is not all that conservative? She’s pro-amnesty for starters.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I’m loving the film “Forget Sarah Palin”.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Heavens, with the combo of Fred and Palin, we are in for a very long night in the wilderness. Let’s hope this gets nipped in the bud.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
She’s pro-amnesty? Oh my, this is going to get very entertaining.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
My god Kris has a crush on Palin. None of the other FPP’s here have ever been so in the tank for a particular candidate. All of the others have been able to demonstrate some degree of objectivity but you don’t even try at all to hide how much of a hack you are.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
#5, no crush, not a hack, I just believe in Palin and hiding my feeling would be unfaithful to the viewers on this site.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
November 18th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Watching that interview with Jeri Thompson reminded me that Fred is maybe the 2nd luckiest guy in the world…..right after Tod Palin. McCain and Mitt didn’t do too badly either. Republican women start out more attractive than their leftist counterparts, and then they age extremely well.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Fred Thompson is the reason John McCain was nominated. Fred ran to split the conservative vote to help boost John McCain, whom he endorsed in 2000. As soon as Fred dropped out of the race, his support shifted in mass to Romney. Don’t forget that in Iowa, Romney and Thompson together outpolled Huckabee. If Romney had won Iowa, Romney would now be President-elect. Fred Thompson should not be in charge of anything.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
So let’s see… for RNC chair, we’ve got Anuzis in the tank for Romney, Dawson in the tank for Sanford, Saltsman in the tank for Huckabee, and now the possibility of Thompson in the tank for Palin.
Great. Let’s hope these guys can put party before short-sited White House goals and personal ambition… not holding out much hope.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
jeri thompson is another person who doesn’t deserve to be where she would be. think she would be a political operative if she wasnt married to fred? think she would be married to fred if she wasn’t hot / had a lot of plastic surgery?
November 18th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
No, he’s not.
max,
show a little class please
November 18th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Actually, let me throw another piece of evidence in that Thompson is promoting Palin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GScvkKKJawM
This was on the National Review Cruise where Palin was very popular.
Jeri is definitely still on board with Sarah Palin, and I think Fred will be part of that.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Jeri Thompson is a wanna be. She messed up Fred’s campaign by trying to calling all the shots and trying to control everyone – at least initially. After than Fred messed up his own campaign. It does look an awful lot like he was running interference for John.
I like Fred, but if he’s it, we’re in trouble.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Quit trashing Jeri Thompson. She hasn’t done anything wrong and doesn’t deserve the classless criticisms dished out here.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Mcon – calm down. Did you forget how Jeri was calling the shots and ruffling a lot of feathers? It’s not criticism, just what happened.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I knew it would not be long before the trashers went after Mr. Thompson. I guess Mrs. Thompson seems to be fair game as well. I am beginning to think Mrs. Palin has a shot at winning in 2012 after all, why else would the other camps be so quick to dismiss her. They fear her still and want her out.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Martha,
If Jeri can be called a wannabe, so can Mitt. They both wanted to be something that they ultimately didn’t get.
Could you try to be a little more judicious in your tossing around epithets, please? Upsetting the Thompson supporters needlessly will do nothing to help Mitt out.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
The funny thing is that elements of the Romney camp and the Huckabee seem to be in a competition as to who can hack off the Palinites and Thompsonites ect. This gives new meaning to voting for the lesser of two evils.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
OHIO,
Actually, Palin bashers come from all camps. I’ve seen Giuliani, Newt, Thompson, –and yes Romney, Huckabee supporters going after her. But if you insist upon singling out Romney supporters, I would have to point out that in my experience most of the Romney supporters I’ve seen defend her as someone who has potential, but needs a little seasoning. There are so few Huckabee supporters to make a general comment about them.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
With respect MarK, I mentioned both the Huckabee and Romney camps. Also, about a week ago I think I praised elements of the Romney camp for coming to Mrs. Palin’s defense. No, I did not bother to mention that other camps are trashing Mrs. Palin in my last comment because they are out of the game. The race is essentially between Mr. Romney and Mr. Huckabee unless people like Mr. Pawlenty come on the seen. Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Gingrich are not in the game. Although I now like Mrs. Palin the best, I am realistic enough to know that she is most likely out of the game and I will have to chose between Mr. Romney and Mr. Huckabee. I just hope I won’t be choosing from two trashing camps.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
seen should be scene.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Joe,
I’m firmly in the Romney camp btw and I’m quite alright with defending Thompson or Palin to some degree. You probably won’t see me defend Huckabee ever though.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Ann Romney has packed on the weight due to her meds for MS (which causes weight gain)
she looked great 20 years ago. Poor thing, it’s been over 10 years now, and within 15 yrs. chronic progression
gets much worse. I don’t envy them. Her dizziness and fear (panic in crowds) overwhelmed her
in the 2008 campaign (google Ann Romney’s MS, a delicate balance article comes up where she complains
about it). Trouble with speaking happened 3 times she claims.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Kris, dontha think it might be better to figure out, y’know, a viable governing philosophy and policy framework for Palin before we go yammerin’ about 2012?
November 28th, 2008 at 11:29 am
[...] apañando para seguir teniendo cierta vinculación nacional, y cierta presencia en los medios. Hay quien argumenta que está trabajando con Fred Thompson para conseguir entre ambos algún puesto relevante en el Partido Republicano y comenzar a preparar [...]