Comment from ChrisWWW
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:29 pm PST

Sounds like a sore loser to me.  The media coverage toward him was not negative for any "liberal" reason that I remember.  It was because of his lackluster performances in the debates where he was decidedly unenergetic.  "Liberals" in the news like Howard Fineman and Chris Matthews absolutely loved Thompson, and if had lived up to half the hype he had garnered before his entrace in the race, he would have done well I think.

Comment from kritter
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:31 pm PST

I’m sorry but it really sounds like sour grapes- another hit on the "drive-by media". His candidacy has been criticized by conservative and liberal media sources alike. Many conservative outlets were disappointed in his lackluster appearances, and Thompson has also objected to coverage he received on Fox News.

If Thompson won the presidency he would have to deal with all of  the same sources he’s rejecting now. By this statement, he’s choosing to ratchet up the partisanship and blame the messenger.

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:35 pm PST

Chris and Kim: this isn’t just about negative press, this is about the media’s focus on the horse race and it’s refusal to deal with issues.

I’d say that everyone should actually do this. They’ve got their own pollers.

Comment from C Stanley
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:39 pm PST

Uh, guys? I’m pretty sure that those are fictitious quotes; Scrappleface is a satirical site.

Comment from Brad
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:45 pm PST

Stanley is right.  Seriously, guys, get with it!

Comment from ChrisWWW
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:45 pm PST

C Stanley,
I guess I should click on the links in some of these articles

Comment from Rudi666
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:46 pm PST

CS is right, Scrappleface is a site like The Onion or Jonathan Swift. I hope MvdG is being snarky on this one.

Comment from kritter
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:46 pm PST

Michael

I guess I’m wondering whether he thinks his candidacy will be helped by this move. I do agree that the media is focussing on the horse race and also obsessing over inconsequential minutia.

My guess is that HtThompson was probably pretty unhappy with today’s WaPo poll that places him 5th among the GOP frontrunners nationally with 8% of the GOP vote. Do you think he’d still be complaining if he were in first or second?

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:52 pm PST

Christine: duh. Hence the: "I’d say that everyone should actually do this. They’ve got their own pollers." And not "I’d actually say that, etc."

But the point stands in my opinion: the way the press coveres the race isn’t very useful

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:54 pm PST

LOL what I find most funny is that people actually toook this seriously and that even those who understood that the scr. post was a joke thought that I was being serious.

There’s a serious aspect to it, and that’s the criticism of the press, but that’s about it y’all.

I made this mistake once with Berkowitz but I promise you that I check info better after that.

I do have to say that I find it a pity that you all come in and tell som ewho thought it was a serious post that it’s not serious. It was more fun to hint that it’s a joke but not to actually say so. Party-poopers!

Especially you Christine.

Comment from C Stanley
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:57 pm PST

Michael: I didn’t get your "everyone should actually do this" comment at first- on second reading I understand it now. I wasn’t passing judgement on whether or not you knew the post was satire anyway- just that Chris and Kim obviously didn’t catch it.

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 5:58 pm PST

Let me repeat:

I do have to say that I find it a pity that you all come in and tell som ewho thought it was a serious post that it’s not serious. It was more fun to hint that it’s a joke but not to actually say so. Party-poopers!

Especially you Christine.

 

Comment from C Stanley
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:03 pm PST

LOL, sorry to spoil your fun.

Comment from Rudi666
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:12 pm PST

Only problem with this MvdG is that Google made you  #1 in the news search for Fred Thompson drops. While it was great satire, it did help to add exposure to your site. Maybe next time you do this really mangle the name’s spelling. Like Phred or Freg.

Comment from Rudi666
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:13 pm PST

You’re #1.

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:14 pm PST

Rudi: if I would’ve done that, Chris and Kim may have been more suspicious. Not only that: if people don’t understand it’s satire, well, that’s funny alright.

And exposure is always nice.

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:15 pm PST

And "Fred Thompson" we’re fifth.

Comment from ChrisWWW
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:20 pm PST

Well to be honest, I don’t think these fictional quotes are outlandish enough to be clearly satire. I could easily see Thompson spewing this sort of drivel. Did you all watch him in the ABC News/Facebook debate? Remember when he made an ass out of himself trying to make fun of Ron Paul?

Comment from Rudi666
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:21 pm PST

Sorry to hijack the thread, but even some Freeper’s didn’t get the satire when the post is labeled/tagged as satire. MvdG you should have just "ripped off" the ScrappleFace title.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1953319/posts

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:23 pm PST

I was thinking about posting it as Humpty Dumpty, but that may have inspired some people to think twice Rudi. It’s not good that people pick a "satire" category when they post stuff like this. You’ve got to do it like Jon Swift does: completely serious.

Comment from C Stanley
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:23 pm PST

That’s the mark of good satire though, Chris, when there’s enough truthiness to make it hard to tell if it’s real or not. I agree though, Thompson’s use of this kind of humor is well known, and when I first read the link I had to think whether they’d taken something he actually said and exaggerated it or if it was all fabricated.

Comment from kritter
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:31 pm PST

Michael- I definitely did not pick up that you were writing it as a satire, and as I am not familiar with Scrappleface, took you at your word.  I’ll have to be more cynical in the future!

Comment from Rudi666
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:31 pm PST

Last comment, but continue an occasional satire like this. Your friend Cernig had a post about readers clicking on links, good to keep us on our toes. My biggest problem is not always going below the fold. I do click on links, it’s a good way to be exposed to news sites and blogs one may not be aware of.

Comment from Winghunter
Time January 14, 2008 at 6:55 pm PST

Fred Thompson tells it like it is and what he said here is well documented and reported;

AP Gives Thompson the ‘04 Treatment  by Jed Babbinhttp://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24127Conservative Blackout by Lisa Fabriziohttp://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12517
I appreciate the truth isn’t what some of you want to see or hear but, I just can’t help myself from providing it…Wake up and smell what you’re shoveling people.

Comment from KATIE
Time January 14, 2008 at 7:53 pm PST

WHEN will you guys STOP your lies and hit pieces on Fred! This is a total LIE! GROW UP! I am proud to support the ONLY Adult candidate Fred Thompson! Huckabee and McCain and Giuliani are all pro amnesty and LIBERALS! Fred is not and this HIT piece of yours again is a LIE!

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 7:55 pm PST

LOL Katie: read the other comments. Read them, then comment again.

That was perhaps the most hilarious comment of all.

Comment from KATIE
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:04 pm PST

Sorry but I do not find the article TITLE too FUNNY.. there is nothing funny about a misleading title such as this one.. and I have a major issue with people starting lying rumors which this article TITLE proves to be..

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:08 pm PST

Sorry but I do not find the article TITLE too FUNNY.. there is nothing funny about a misleading title such as this one.. and I have a major issue with people starting lying rumors which this article TITLE proves to be..

LOL it’s called satire Katie, and there’s no need to write in capitals.

Comment from FiCon
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:16 pm PST

Doesn’t anyone on here realize that this article is satire?

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:21 pm PST

Some do… some don’t!

Comment from C Stanley
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:21 pm PST

LOL, Michael: actually, isn’t it even funnier this way? Tip people off that the piece is satirical and then watch as some people STILL don’t catch on?

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:23 pm PST

LOL, Michael: actually, isn’t it even funnier this way? Tip people off that the piece is satirical and then watch as some people STILL don’t catch on?

It’s like those home videos you know: with people climbing on a ladder and falling off of it. And everyone laughs. Isn’t it?
"YOU B*ST*RD! HE WON’T DROP OUT! YOU’RE TYPICAL MSM!"

lmao

Comment from Snooper
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:23 pm PST

But, but, but, it is so much fun.  He actually did say those things but it isn’t really possible to withdraw one’s name from the media or the pollsters.

He is trying to make a point and he made it.

He slammed the NY Slimes the other day in the SC debate and he is SPOT ON!

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:24 pm PST

Snooper: I agree. The criticism of the MSM stands, but the withdrawing from polls is of course not going to happen.

Did you get the same reactions at your blog or what?

Comment from delburd
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:37 pm PST

LMAO the article was SATIRE by scrappleface.com go check it out before you look as lame as Yuk yuk yukabe lol Sheep !! Do these people even check sources on a story shoot first ask questions later LMAO

Comment from KATIE
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:38 pm PST

it’s not the satire that is the problem.. it is the title, I had 3 freinds I talked into supporting Fred freak out about the title.. now do you understand?

Comment from Derrel
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:52 pm PST

Hi Michael,
I like your satire.  I like your take on the media as well, I think it is right on.  However, I think the Thompson campaign and his supporters are a little sensitive right now concerning "drop out" rumors since someone from another campaign (whom Fred refuses to name, now that is CLASS, more than I have for sure…) dropped the same type of rumors right before Iowa and surely cost him several points in the election when the rumor was picked up and perpetuated by the MSM.  So, this article’s timing, just a bit before S.C. has made some folks a little more than uncomfortable. 

Best,
Derrel

Comment from KATIE
Time January 14, 2008 at 8:59 pm PST

Thank you Derrel you hit it right on. This is not a time to be playing jokes, Michael’s timing sucks, big time. Right before another caucus.

Comment from Mael
Time January 14, 2008 at 9:03 pm PST

This should not have been published. It is not true. I don’t give fuck if it is satire. Why not a McCain drops out, Huckabee Drops out? This crap was pulled in Iowa to discourage Thompson voters and helped McCain though he still did not succeed in placing third.
He is going to fail in Michigan and in South Carolina and the hug a liberal candidate can be put to bed.

http://www.fred08.com

Comment from Tony
Time January 14, 2008 at 9:31 pm PST

Michael,
This was really not a good idea even though you might have considered it a joke.  With other candidates looking for a way to hurt Thompson, they could easily quote your site without disclosing it as satire.  Even though you might not have meant to do so, you could really hurt the Thompson campaign right now.  I think you might want to rethink what your doing here.  You are most likely going to have some pretty angry folks soon hit your site…

–roxer

Comment from KATIE
Time January 14, 2008 at 9:39 pm PST

Well, I am very angry, for some people I talked into supporting Fred are now unsure! Thanks Michael.. your joke was not what was needed at this time. Hopefully they will see Fred is serious and this was an unwarrented joke.

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 9:50 pm PST

LOL Katie: pardon me for saying this but… they’re idiots then.

Even though you might not have meant to do so, you could really hurt the Thompson campaign right now.  I think you might want to rethink what your doing here.  You are most likely going to have some pretty angry folks soon hit your site…

Couldn’t care less. they’re beginning to sound like Paulites.

Calm down people, we like Fred.

Comment from Derrel
Time January 14, 2008 at 10:20 pm PST

I sure hope you were not including me in the "sounds like a Paulite" category.  I thought I made my case plainly and sanely.However, to Katie I say, I love your passion for Fred and you have the right to be angry, but you may be doing yourself and Fred a disservice by overreacting to this.  What would Fred say about this piece?  Probably something like, "Ya know, if I could get everyone to ignore the polls and vote for principles, I think that’d be just fine with me.  I’d win, hands down!" 

As for your friends, all you should have to do is show them that this article is satire.  If they cannot see the truth when presented to them (in the author’s own words no less) then something is truly amis with their reasoning.  No offense intended to anyone.

Best,
Derrel

Comment from KATIE
Time January 14, 2008 at 10:23 pm PST

I’m sorry Michael, but my friends are not idiots, they are so unsure of candidates, that things like this do make them shy away from a candidate. Again what you saw as funny some did not. That does not make them idiots nor does it warrent you the right to be calling them that either. It would be nice if you would use better tactics then name calling. And believe it or not there are many RP supporters that are considering voting for Fred too. But my friends were not RP supporters, they had been long time independents I talked into joining the republican party just to vote for Fred. Please be nicer then what you have been in your posts. Kindness can go a long way in keeping support.

Comment from Jason Steck
Time January 14, 2008 at 10:28 pm PST

Katie, et al:

I like Thompson.  In fact, I endorsed him in a post on this site.  And I don’t see how satire or even disagreement causes "damage". 

Why not let Thompson supporters be the ones who do NOT whine and complain every time their candidate gets tweaked?  That alone would make the "Fred-heads" immeasurably better than most of the humorless drones that appear to dominate some of the other campaigns.   And I think it would also be in accord with the tone set by Thompson himself.

Comment from Michael van der Galien
Time January 14, 2008 at 10:28 pm PST

Derrel: don’t worry, I wasn’t.

As for your friends, all you should have to do is show them that this article is satire.  If they cannot see the truth when presented to them (in the author’s own words no less) then something is truly amis with their reasoning.  No offense intended to anyone.

Exactly. And then you should use the post to illustrate how messed up the influence of the MSM is.

Katie: they don’t have to find it funny, they just have to realize that it’s fake. Satire. If they refuse to realize that well, there’s no talking to them is there?

Comment from KATIE
Time January 14, 2008 at 10:36 pm PST

This is the first time something like this upset me because it upset the ones I gathered for Thompson, myself I know Fred’s personality very well and nothing could sway me from voting or supporting him. I have been with Fred from the beginning. But we need all the help we can get for Fred. Not things that can hinder him. Many don’t even know who Fred is, stuff like this does not help at all. I guess my points have been missed, and you guys are not seeing the whole picture here. I am sure I will be able to talk them to stay with Fred, but I don’t need this type of headache which makes it tougher to get more supporters or keep the ones I did get for him. Again I know Fred’s sense of Humor. But many don’t. I will not bother you any more. But thanks for listening though. I do appreciate it.

Comment from KATIE
Time January 14, 2008 at 10:40 pm PST

If you want to do Fred anymore favors then run a poll in SC that shows how much support Fred does have. Wouldn’t that make more sense to prove the msm polls are IMO rigged? That would surely make up for this satire many took the wrong way. WINK!

And we could use an honest poll for a change.

Comment from Derrel
Time January 14, 2008 at 10:46 pm PST

Hi again, Last post from me on this cause I don’t want to beat a dead horse.  To Katie, as I’ve said, I get your point, understand your anger and frustration, and even understand where it comes from (the "rumor mill") that the MSM seems to lap up.  Believe me, I get it.  I think we just disagree over the course we need to take when confronted with it.  But, at least we agree on the best candidate, and that is the most important thing IMO.  To Michael, as I’ve said before, I like your article and what it says.  However, knowing how the media is, I sincerely hope that in the future, you chose your headlines more carefully lest they be picked up by the media as "facts."  Something we have all seen them do time and again.  With the SC vote so close, even if the MSM later printed a retraction for their error (not likely, see POLITICO and the crap they caused) the damage would already be done.  Food for thought. Best, Derrel

Comment from Scott
Time January 15, 2008 at 1:32 am PST

Fred Thomson is the only conservative Republican running in this race. McCain will give your job to an illegal. Vote Fred Thompson think of America for a change, not just for change.

Comment from Jason Steck
Time January 15, 2008 at 1:50 am PST

Wow.

As a Thompson supporter myself, I am embarrassed to see a pro-Thompson appeal premised on what I perceive to be transparently racist grounds.

I disagree with Thompson on immigration (I am far more pro-immigration than McCain even), but one of the things that caused me to view him positively in the first place was his ability (shown in a radio spot he did filling in for Paul Harvey) to state his immigration position in terms that avoided the usual hateful anti-immigrant edge.

Obviously, all of his supporters do not share in this ability of Thompson’s…

Comment from Andrew
Time January 15, 2008 at 6:00 am PST

Thats dumb…Thompson did not drop out!  That doesn’t make any sense.

Comment from Math_Mage
Time January 15, 2008 at 7:40 am PST

As satire, it’s poorly worded.  The best satire is NOT that which is easily mistaken for serious writing, engendering confusion.  As Jonathan Swift and Mark Twain demonstrate, the best satire is amusing, and only at second glance does it relate itself to a more serious matter, i.e. A Modest Proposal.  Scrappleface is a separate issue as it’s openly satirical and readers enter expecting something that at first glance could be true (unless they link from sites that don’t make the distinction plain, like yours).  This was also true of some of Twain’s work, since he published regularly and acquired a following.

As for Thompson, his drop was partially his fault and partially the media’s, but Fred’s issue was mostly poor timing, which the media spun into laziness, disinterest, lack of motivation, etc. etc. etc.  Fred gave them an inch and they took an ell, in my opinion – the fault lies mainly with the people who turned a failure to keep up with the frenetic pace of other campaigns into a meme of tiredness.

Pingback from Fred Thompson » Fred Thompson Drops Out
Time January 19, 2008 at 12:22 pm PST

[...] Michael van der Galien wrote an interesting post today on Fred Thompson Drops OutHere’s a quick excerptVia A Newt One: Senator Fred Thompson has pulled out of presidential polling. Thompson: “The mainstream media shape public opinion about the candidates through their decidedly-liberal news coverage and then they turn around and ask … [...]

Comment from Mr. Franklin
Time January 22, 2008 at 2:06 am PST

admin: off-topic Ron Paul spam again