Fred Thompson for RNC Chairman?
Written by Jack Burden on October 21st, 2008I’m starting to wonder if that’s what all this is ultimately about. The parallel with Howard Dean four years ago is quite interesting.
Lets think of the advantages…
1.) Liked, and trusted, by McCain. McCain will want to have some influence over who the pick is, and he and Fred are very close.
2.) Loved by the conservative grassroots. This goes without saying.
3.) A great spokesman for the party. Fred is fantastic in interviews on TV, he’s been one of the best surrogates for McCain on the cable networks through the general election campaign.
4.) He’s not gonna run for President again. Thus, there shouldn’t be a lot of opposition from the Huckabee and Romney folks who competed with him for the nomination last time around.
Now, the disadvantages…
Really, there’s only one. Fred is not a proven fundraiser. The RNC Chairmanship is chiefly a fundraising position, and without President Bush around to raise money the next RNC Chairman will have to really take the lead on this. Fundraising on Thompson’s presidential campaign wasn’t terribly impressive.
However, Fred definitely has a national network of contacts to fundraise from, and unlike many of the State Chairs being talked about, would himself be a draw for fundraisers.
All in all, Fred could be a strong contender for the position, whether or not McCain wins the presidency. Whether he’s interested though remains to be seen…
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My favorite isn’t Fred, who didn’t exactly run a great campaign. My favorite is former Congressman BILL PAXON. He was head of the NRCC in ‘94 and had a big part in the Contract With America and the Republicans takeover of Congress. He gained the reputation as an outstanding organizer and candidate recruiter. He is retired from Congress, but is still quite young. He would make the PERFECT RNC chairman during our likely time in the wilderness. He could pave the way for Republican gains and for Palin-Petraeus ‘12!
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I’m hoping for Michael Steele or Bobby Jindal in 2012.
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Thompson didn’t put in more than a token effort for his own presidential bid, so I can’t see him putting in much effort for his party. The man used to be as hardworking as anyone, but those days are gone forever.
Plus, Thompson’s too timid–he doesn’t criticize RiNOs with whom he’s friendly (contrast his well-taken and very sharp criticism of Giuliani, Romney, and the Huckster with his giving McCain a pass). Given his years of service in the Senate, I can’t imagine him doing much to prod the Senate RiNOs to stop resisting the conservative base on issue after issue.
So I think Thompson will be yet another dud. But when I compare him to the most recent RNC chairmen… Well, come to think of it, he’d have to be a major improvement over those cretins, wouldn’t he?
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Michael Steele would have to have an office other than LT Governor before he can aspire to be President.
Let’s face it, McCain’s nomination confirms that the Republican Party ALWAYS nominates the person who is “next in line”. That would make 2012 either Sarah Palin’s or Mitt Romney’s. You can forget about all others. Given her proven track record as a conservative and Mitt’s wobbly record, I’m with Palin in ‘12.
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Palin… Ugh. Thank goodness for Heather Mac Donald. http://www.city-journal.org/2008/eon1013hm.html
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Michael, you’re right about Bill Paxon being a fantastic guy. But if I’m not mistaken he now makes a living as a lobbyist. Not exactly the image we’re trying to send.
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Haley Barbour was a lobbyist before he was RNC chairman, also.
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Heather MacDonald? I wish you could see my eyes rolling. Like I said, the GOP ALWAYS nominates the next in line. It was Reagan’s turn in ‘80, Bush Sr’s in 88, Dole’s in 96, and McCain’s in ‘08. Bush Jr. was the only one who faced a totally open race. So you might as well get ready for Palin or Romney (God forbid it is economic liberal Huck). It will be Palin or Romney, depending on what the first polls after the election say.
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You don’t think Giuliani will get something? He’s been helping McCain out a LOT more than Romney has.
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No. The “next in line” is all about who either came in second, or who appears to be the front runner. Giuliani proved he couldn’t win social conservatives in ‘08, and that won’t change in ‘12. He’s running for governor anyway….
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It’s time to break tradition, no next in line, no rinos and no more good ole boy nonsense. Let’s take this party back and move it forward, by returning to the GOP of 1980. Conservatism, and small government. If Jim Inhofe isn’t open to running in 2012, which would be the best pick I can think of so far, then let’s get him in as the new head of the RNC. HE IS AN AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE PATRIOT.
He listens to We The People, which is the answer to the problem.
Government is the problem.
~Ronald Reagan