What Now?

My belief that Fred Thompson would win South Carolina was more than just wishful thinking or baseless optimism. I actually believe that his views more closely reflect the views of the citizens in this state than any other candidate.

Yet for some reason or another, South Carolina Republicans decided to go with McCain, with Huckabee coming in a close 2nd.

The thing that makes this fact very puzzling to say the least is that John McCain is the very man who took a shellacking from GOP activists in the state for his support of amnesty for illegal aliens. Several GOP county delegations in the state were condemning Senator Lindsey Graham's support of the McCain plan to the extent that they suggested recalling the Senator and conducting another election.

A very telling poll tells the story. Those who voted for both McCain and Huckabee said they did so 'because they believed the candidate would do something about illegal aliens.'

Either these particular voters are showing their vast ignorance, or else both McCain and the Huckster hoodwinked South Carolina Republicans into believing they were strong on doing something about the immigration problem.

In actuality, Fred Thompson is the only one in the top three in S.C. who actually advocated for strong leadership on the issue long before McCain and Huckabee had a sudden 'change of heart.'

But, after all, the Huckster is a Baptist preacher. Nobody would expect him to lie. And McCain is a war hero. Everyone knows war heroes do no wrong.

Nonetheless the voters have made their choice and this is what we are facing.

The question becomes, what now? Do we fold up the tents and go home? Do we sit out election day? Do we consider a vote for a 3rd party candidate?

First of all, Fred is not out of it. I know that his advisers, including many of his supporters, are encouraging him to carry on until Super Tuesday. This would be my advice to the Senator as well.

Second, as for me, I think it is a big mistake to fold up the tents and go home or to sit out election day. It's not over until it's over, as Yogi would say. And, in the event of a brokered convention, Republicans could well turn to Fred Thompson to reunite the Party behind solid Reagan principles.

In addition, some have suggested that should McCain win the nomination, he could well ask Thompson to be his running mate to appeal to the GOP base and heal rifts within the Party. Thompson and McCain go back a long way in the Senate, and the two are good friends despite their policy differences.

Third, I will in no way, shape, form, or fashion vote for or advocate voting for a third party candidate, unless that person shows enough solid support in the electorate to win and not just be a spoiler for the Republican candidate.

So far I have not seen anyone, not even Ron Paul, who has that kind of support.

Thus, I will support the GOP candidate because, frankly, ANYBODY is better than Hillary, Obama, or Edwards. And that includes Giuliani, Romney, and McCain.

When it comes to beating outright Socialists who truly wish to rob citizens of liberties, including their gun rights, I truly do not care about some of Romney's less than admirable qualities as Governor of Massachusetts. He is for tax cuts, he is pro-business and pro-free enterprise, he supports smaller more efficient government.

Both Rudy and McCain share those views as well.

I can handle that any time, any day of the week over a European-styled Socialist who wants to give us socialized medicine which hangs like an Albatross around the necks of British citizens or who believe that government is the entity to cure all of society's ills.

Hillary, Obama, and Edwards each share these views which are absolutely deplorable and are a threat to our Republic.

With a Democratic-controlled Congress there will be nothing, absolutely nothing, stopping these tyrants from unleashing their voodoo magical cures on society by robbing the citizens of more of their hard-earned income.

At least with a Republican President there will be the all-important veto.

Finally, let's not forget Court appointments. Let's face it, my friends, with Hillary, Obama, or Edwards in the White House, along with a Democratic Congress, you can kiss goodbye getting Judges and Justices who believe in the Second Amendment as an individual right, Federalism, or any of the views propounded by the Founders of the Republic.

Someone needs to be sitting in the Oval Office who will stop the assault on individual liberties as perpetrated by the imbeciles who are now running Congress.

Think about these things long and hard, my friends. If you think that allowing a Democrat to be elected to the Oval Office while Democrats control Congress is a good thing for individual liberty and the Constitution, then I am afraid all of my appeals to good sense and reason will fall on deaf ears and blind eyes.

As Fred said in his speech in South Carolina Saturday night, 'Keep on fighting! Keep on fighting!'