December 17, 2007 12:18 PM
A King(maker) overlooks an old friend
File photo by M.E. Sprengelmeyer
While barnstorming in Iowa, Rep. Tom Tancredo's most often repeated joke is about how he and his good buddy, Rep. Steve King, are sometimes mistaken for one another.
They bear a slight resemblance physically, and their hard-line views toward illegal immigration could hardly be more in line.
When Tancredo set up a campaign outpost in Council Bluffs, Iowa, earlier this year, he did it right across the street from King's office.
A lot of folks presumed that Tancredo was King's presidential pick -- even if he had not officially endorsed anybody.
Well, that changed today.
King endorsed former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee.
He told reporters that Tancredo has successfully caused others to focus on fighting illegal immigration, but he's not likely to finish near the top in the Jan. 3, 2008, caucuses.
So, for the second time in a week, Tancredo has seen one of his close allies on the immigration issue defect to another camp. (Earlier, Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist endorsed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee -- with apologies to Tancredo.)
January 9, 2008
2:31 PM
Bart writes:
Huckabee is all show, no go, when it comes to illegal immigration. Gilchrist is using him to seem like he's still a leader, and Huck is using Jim to look like he'll be tough on illegals.
December 18, 2007
3:26 PM
Jethro writes:
Tancredo shouldn't take it personally as he isn't a serious contender. Fred Thompson is the most solid conservative and hopefully Iowa can wake up from Huckabee's spell soon enough to realize Thompson would be the most viable national candidate. Huckabee will fall flat in the general election.
December 18, 2007
9:31 AM
DSS writes:
My Congressman, TT, has missed several key votes in Congress while running around the country pretending he is a serious Presidential candidate. My state representative and my state senator are both serving in Iraq. My Governor was in Iraq last week.
A clear case of taxation without representation.
December 18, 2007
8:59 AM
M.E. writes:
FYI, that shuffling process only happens at the Democratic Party's caucusus here in Iowa.
An interesting explanation was on the OP/ED page of the New York Times today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/opinion/18cranberg.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
But still, it is worth asking Tancredo's fans if they have a second choice in this contest.
December 18, 2007
8:49 AM
kenneth writes:
Tank4Prez (and everyone else in the world reading this),
Let's say you were caucasing in Odebolt, and Tom da Bomb didn't get his well-deserved 15%... whose corner of the room would you choose? Why?
Odebolt Rulez!
December 17, 2007
9:04 PM
Tancredo4prez writes:
There is at least one intelligent person in Iowa! Smart decision, Kenneth! I'm an Arizonan now, but I was born and raised in Iowa. Have friends in Odebolt! My only suggestion is Iowans had better support a candidate who is very tough on illegal immigration. We have nearly 600,000 here in Arizona and if a judge doesn't strike down our employer sanction law, they'll be coming to Iowa to take your jobs, enroll in your schools, get free health care in your hospitals and they'll be bringing identity theft, home invasions, crime, drugs and gangs to small communities in Iowa!
December 17, 2007
2:09 PM
Kenneth writes:
One of the only campaign events I've personally attended was the Steve King Homecoming in Odebolt, way back in June when the days were long and the sun was hot. It seemed like a Tancredo campaign event even though Brownback was there, too. But what I remember most, and what still bugs me, is that HUCKABEE DIDN'T SHOW UP, even though he was scheduled to. He cited some reason or another, but the rumor at the time was that he didn't want to spar with Tancredo about, what else, immigration.
I will not support Huckabee because of his cowardly behavior in Odebolt. I'm not going to tell the whole world on this website who I will vote for; that's a private thing. But I will say that it sure as hell won't be the Cowardly Lion from Arkansas.