Before last night's debate, I talked briefly to an old friend who lives in New Hampshire. He describes himself as a "movement conservative," and I think that's an accurate description. My friend told me that he was genuinely undecided and would likely make up his mind over the next few days.
He decided last night. While I thought Thompson did fine, I didn't think his performance would inspire many new votes. I was wrong. I asked my friend to describe briefly his thinking. He wrote:
Fred sounded like a grown-up with conservative principles which will guide him in office, the rest sounded desperate to become president, so much so they would become democrats to make it happen. The other four mainstream candidates have all compromised greatly on basic principles. McCain, 1st amendment; Rudy 2nd amendment; Huck wants to tell me what to eat and not to smoke (at the point of a gun); Mitt "likes mandates."
Fred explained simply our choice on health care (more government or more markets); he refused to take the bait on windfall taxes or pretend we could be energy independent in a few years; he thinks money belongs in the pockets of people who earned it; he was right on when he poked Giuliani on amnesty and has solid answers on the war.
Finally, while I know this upsets Hillary, Fred is the only one of the bunch that I would actually want to have a beer with. The rest would either berate and/or tax me for drinking the beer, except Ron who may ask me if I had any "kind" to go with it.
