Though McCain is well liked relatively by the other candidates, in this geostrategic crisis the world is in, McCain, should he receive the nomination, must be extremely careful in the choice of a running mate, who may need to be President at a moments notice in such an emergency as 9/11 or worse. I think he should pick someone with great foreign policy and armed services credentials and commence leading a bipartisan coalition administration. That points to a VP like Sam Nunn or Chuck Hagel. At least I hope McCain would choose someone of their stature and credibility.

Mr. Thompson's performance in the S.C. debate, along with this latest revelation makes me more encouraged and interested with his candidacy. His campaign never seemed to be one of a shadow-V.P. effort. His stances on everything are overall the most conservative of any GOP candidate. If all this means he's found his stride and voice, and has sorted out some of the campaign managerial issues we read so much about earlier on, it means he will emerge as someone else to seriously to consider. McCain will be a hard sell to anyone looking for a non-insider, Guiliani is strong on defense and economic issues but squishy on everything else, while Huckabee seems to be all over the place. Romney's Massachusetts past, along with his ties to some questionable business interests (China, via the Bain Group) will dog him no matter how he spins it. Ron Paul's isolationist views, along with his stumbles in the last debate, will keep him from drawing a large following. But, who knows? If Rudy's wait-till-Florida strategy fails and he drops out, and Romney loses Michigan and S.C., someone's going to have to emerge out of that fiasco.

Let's face it, the fact is Fred could never even considered endorsing McCain. While we all honor McCain's service to this country, his policies ex-defense issues do not reflect the views of the Republican Party. McCain in spite of his claims about earmarks, is just as guilty as all members of Congress, he was wrong and remains wrong on amnesty for illegal aliens, he is against reduced taxes, fought reducing taxes, voted for tax increases and has aligned himself constantly with the extreme left wing of the Democratic party. His latest claim that he "forced Bush" to change policy in Iraq and the surge came about as a result of his doing is blatantly false! Sure he backed up the idea once it was announced but he did not force anything on Bush as he claims. All of this is directly in contrast to the ideals of the party and Fred Thompson.

As for Huckabee, the country, for all practitcal purposes, has tried this route before only the candidates name was Jimmy Carter and he was a Democrat. A Republican version of Jimmy would do the party tremendous harm. Huck seems to suffer from the same indecisiveness as Jimmy on all matters foreign, military or concerning illegal aliens. Huck is a tax and spender and his record is clear no matter how he defends it. Sure he is cute, cuddly, witty and religious but who do you think would eat who's lunch when Huck meets with Putin or Hu Jianto. I think Huck would be having to stop at the drive through on the way home from that meeting.

That leaves us with Mitt, Rudy and Fred as viable candidates with more evenly balanced abilities and policies. Fred being the picture of Reagan Conservatism with both Mitt and Rudy being capable conservatives with slightly more moderate perceptions and policies.

If Fred, Rudy and Mitt will openly challenge Huck and McCain on their records, we could quickly whittle this race down to three viable candidates with the ability to win in November against any Democratic candidate. Key to gaining the Republican vote and the independent vote for any candidate is to first understand the economy is hurting and good solid working class conservatives fear new taxes from the Democrats, that stopping illegal aliens from being able to gain employment in this country will not only raise American wages, lower unemployment, encourage new technology and discourage illegal aliens from coming in the first place and that in spite of what the Democratic left says, it was the seemingly lack of progress that hurt our war effort but that Americans do want victory in Iraq. Americans DO NOT WANT CHANGE! The country got change in 2006 and so the democrats have a new health food cafeteria at the House but nothing productive has occurred in the conduct of the peoples business expect we now have higher energy and food bills.

The first candidate to propose ideas to ACHIEVE what Americans want wins this race and America want PROGRESS & SECURITY! Which are things that have not been produced in large numbers Washington for well over a decade now. America also needs an idea to unite behind that has vision. For example, returning to the moon to collect the helium3 for energy, to increase our technological abilities and provide new jobs here at home to support this effort. To finally use the technology from our years in space and to benefit Americans economically by tapping a new and clean energy resource is visionary and is representative of the greatness of the American people.

I wish Thompson would endorse McCain. He is the only realist the R's have. Why is it the Republicans are willing to fail at electing a good candidate while searching for a perfect one? I really think McCain is in step with the rest of the country on a bunch of issues, the environment included...

As a Retired Lieutentant from FDNY the only viable choice for the republican Party is Mitt...he is a Businesman/and the only true leader here ...Rudy is a one horse trick (just happened to be in office on 9/11, did not improve any better response for WTC since the first attack) Huck is done...McCain is too old...lets face it at 73 or so he has switched too many times and still is a mystery???? Thompson is wating for the strike to end for his leading role???? so Lets all face reality and get on the right page ....Mitt is the best and who really cares what religion he is....at least he believes in something good ...not like the dems choices of HILLBILLY and USOMA OBABA.....like they have a real chance in hell to win....GBA (God Bless America !)

If Thompson is even HALF the candidate we perceive him to be, he would NEVER endorse Amnesty McCain. Anyone in their right mind (on the Republican side) KNOWS that McCain is a RINO, pure and simple. If we're sick of pushing "1" for English now, just wait. English will be obsolete and what's LEFT of our social security system will be sucked up within a couple of years of McAmnesty being in the White House.