The Conservative Divide

Fred Thompson has dropped his bid for the Republican nomination with a simple three sentence statement which was released to the Associated Press earlier today. For a campaign that began with an appearance on The Tonight Show just a few months ago, this was nothing short of a major disappointment for the GOP. It was this man, many believed, that could unify the party behind the three principles of what has been called Reagan Conservatism. These pillars of the modern conservative party bring together fiscal conservatives, social conservatives, and foreign policy conservatives. While all remaining candidates stand for at least one of these principles, none can claim with any honesty to hold all three. The danger now lies in the possibility that the party will be divided causing many Republicans to stay home in November. Will a social conservative vote for Rudy? Will a foreign policy conservative vote for Huckabee? The fact is that many will be alienated one way or another. Romney is good on the economy, McCain and Giuliani are good on foreign policy, Huckabee is a social Conservatives dream, and Fred....well, Fred is going home for now only to reemerge later as a possible running mate.