It's A Pundit

Despite the inherent "wrongness" of the color-coding, in American politics, Red refers to Republican and Blue refers to Democrats.

I'm neither.

I'm not a member of any political party. But if I did join one, it'd be the Republicans. Because I'm a conservative, and conservatives are more comfortable with the GOP than with the Democrats.

So, what I'm about to say, I say from the standpoint of an outsider to — but friend of — the GOP.

To all Republicans and conservatives: Do not send the Republican Party any money.

Not one Red cent.

"Red" cent. Get it? Red=Republican? Yeah, corny, I know.

Still, I'm asking all Republicans … and those that, like me, generally support Republicans … to withhold all funding. If you had planned to send them money, put it in a savings account instead. Let it draw interest. You were going to do without it anyway, right? So let it grow.

The idea is to withhold funds from the Republicans. For a while. And for two reasons.

The first reason is that we need to get the attention of those running the Republican party.

In 1964, the GOP took a swing to the right. Barry Goldwater, the Patron Saint of Republicans, was the candidate. And lost badly to Lyndon Johnson, the sitting president.

Heck, anyone would have lost that election to Johnson. It just so happens it was Goldwater.

But Goldwater attracted conservatives.

Sure he was portrayed as a war-monger. In fact, I remember my father — who used to be a conservative before he had his brain surgery — telling of a discussion he had with an individual who was shocked to discover that Sr. was planning to vote for Goldwater. He was told, "Hell, if you vote for Barry Goldwater, this country will be at war in six months." The punch line? "I did and we were."

But through it all, Goldwater withstood the criticism and stayed true to his beliefs.

Sure, he lost the election. But he won conservative hearts.

The GOP finally seemed firmly conservative when Ronald Reagan was the party's standard-bearer in 1980. But in a lot of ways, Reagan was a lot like Goldwater. To me anyway. He stayed true to his beliefs. But, unlike Goldwater, Reagan won the election. And re-election.

Lately, though, the GOP has been weak when it comes to conservative values.

Yes, I'm still a supporter of our president. And, if George W. Bush could run for a third term, I'd vote for him.

But he wasn't my first choice in the primaries in 2000. But when election day came, he was by far the better of the two. And again in 2004.

And I haven't seen a whole lot out of the crop of those who have declared for 2008.

And that's one of the reasons I say withhold your funds from the Republicans.

That's the only way you'll get their attention.

They seem to have forgotten the value of a dollar.

Remind them.

Put your dollars in a savings account. Until it's time to release the funds.

They'll panic.

Then, when the candidate you want — not one you'll settle for, but one you actually want — runs, release the funds.

I really think my candidate is running, although unofficially.

I'm supporting Fred Thompson, who is not running. Offically.

And, no, I'm not one of those late-comers who's looking for the latest fad. I was disappointed when he decided not to run for re-election to the Senate, even though I'm not from Tennessee. I thought he was presidential material. I wanted him to stay in the Senate and stay in the public eye.

But Fred Dalton Thompson is smater than I am.

He's stayed in the public eye. Weekly on NBC. Twice a week, sometimes. And on TNT. Five times a week. And on USA. Five times a week.

I seriously think Thompson is running for president. But he can't say he's running.

If he says now that he's running, he'll lose his free platform he currently enjoys. He'll no longer be able to substitute for Paul Harvey. He'll get less calls to be a commentator on the talking head shows on cable and "nitwork" TV.

Right now, by not running, he's able to get what other GOP candidates can't get.

But I think … or hope … or maybe it's just wishful thinking … that Fred Thompson is running for president.

And that's the second reason to withhold your money. Get a real conservative running.

When that happens, take that money out of savings and send it in … keeping the interest for yourself. That way, everyone's a winner!