Mullings

A more frequent publishing of Rich Galen's take on politics, culture and general modern annoyances. This is in addition to MULLINGS which is published Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays at www.mullings.com

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Inside The Fred - 1

25 July 2007

Enroute Dallas, Texas

Yesterday, you might have heard or read, a very good man named Tom Collamore resigned as the manager of the Friends of Fred Thompson operation.

For those who may not live under the all-seeing eye of the Federal Election Commission, the Friends of Fred Thompson is what is known as a “testing the waters” organization. The FEC rules permit a person who is considering a run for a federal office – Congress, Senate or President – to raise and spend money to gauge the level of support which is available.

Based upon that, a person can (a) say, “I have tested the waters and found them empty and cold” and bow out or, (b) say, “The waters are warm and inviting and I am today announcing my candidacy for …” whatever.

Thompson is in the “testing the waters” phase hence the care taken in not referring to Mr. Collamore as the “campaign manager.”

This is the life we’ve chosen …

What the staff does during one of these “testing the waters” periods is to do the nuts and bolts things so that if the potential candidate decides to become an official candidate, the groundwork – legal, financial, press, political, etc. – has been laid so the principal isn’t closed out because someone forgot (or didn’t know they were supposed) to do something.

As you know, I am not an attorney. I am a political hack. Therefore I work with attorneys who are skilled in understanding the constantly shifting sands of FEC rules, regulations and advisory opinions and keep me – and anyone testing the waters – out of hot water.

Working in a political campaign – anything from school board to President of the United States – is, by definition, a temporary position. The only question is: How temporary?

At some point the campaign is going to end either in victory – your candidate takes an oath to well and truly perform his/her duties – or your candidate loses in which case … the campaign is also over.

Note how I careful structured that paragraph: the campaign ended in victory; but the candidate loses.

There is an old golfing story about the PGA tour caddy who is sitting in the clubhouse after a disappointing round which he describes thus: We had pars on one and two. We birdied three. Then the dumb SOB hit it in the water on four.

The Lad’s association with the McCain campaign lasted about six months. Mr. Collamore’s association with the Thompson operation lasted about six weeks. But in those six weeks, Tom Collamore put into place and motion those things which needed to be put into place an motion such that the candidate can make a decision based upon his belief in his candidacy, not his reliance on his campaign.

Too many candidates don’t understand that crucial difference.

-----

Another issue which attends changes in the campaign structure isn’t how the grownups deal with it - We’ve seen this before. We’ve been the one’s packing the boxes before – It is how the younger people – many of whom have never been in the rough and tumble of a campaign – are kept calm, having become very worried about the campaign’s status.

I usually use a metaphor involving a small boat: If you are sitting on the port (or starboard) side of a 12 or 15 foot sailing dinghy and someone decides to get off and someone else decides to get on what happens? The boat gets tippy until everyone is settled in.

After that, assuming the appropriate skills are available, the sails are set, the course is chosen, and the boat sails steadily and well.

A change like Tom Collamore leaving, by its nature, causes some temporary tippiness in the boat. But the appropriate skills are available and, when Thompson decides on a course, the SS Fred will sail true and well.

To Be Continued


Rich

91 Comments:

Blogger Randy said...

Rich,

Again, you have taught us more about the political system, more, methinks, than some of us want to know. I, however, am in awe of your hackdom and in debt for your tutelage.

daddybob610

July 25, 2007 12:50 PM  
Blogger Chap said...

Same here. Thanks for the larnin'.

July 25, 2007 5:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Note how I careful structured that paragraph: the campaign ended in victory; but the candidate loses."

It seems that you didn't structure it quite carefully enough.

--brought to you by your local grammar Nazi.

That said, I've been a faithful Mullings reader since I stumbled across your column a couple years ago, and it's nearly always been thought-provoking. None of the current front-runners elicit more than a lukewarm response from me, so I wish Fred Thompson well in this endeavor.

July 25, 2007 6:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I must still be in the Freshman class at Mullings Univ. I, too, am a bit confused and bewildered by the "carefully constructed" paragraph and the commentary that follows. I'm eagerly awaiting "Inside the Fred - 2". Perhaps it will include some remedial instruction.

July 26, 2007 8:43 AM  
Anonymous Trapped inside the Beltway said...

Always love your stuff. Good luck. However, I'm curious why you aren't mentioned here, http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/07/another_thompson_resignation.html. Can't believe the Post would overlook you.

July 26, 2007 8:50 AM  
Blogger Uncle Bob said...

This was a better civics lesson than I ever received during my formal education. Thanks.

July 27, 2007 9:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I appreciate the tutorial re: Fred I musings. I'm just guessing but I'll assume that serious beverage familiarity, i.e. tasting sessions, are involved in the "testing the waters" stage of the campaign.

This may be the reason for the "carefully constructed paragraph(s)" after all. Sounds like an artist at work.

We'll have to wait for Fred II musings to incubate further. Let the paragraphs continue!!

July 29, 2007 9:37 PM  
Blogger Bette said...

Rich
Fred is very blessed to have you as a part of his campaign. I have been a Mullings fan for a long time. I am "with Fred" for the long run and have every intention of helping the campaign here in my area of the US. I sincerely hope that when all the dust settles and the oath is taken all of the citizens can say "I'm with Fred".

July 30, 2007 9:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just a question. Why do you have anti-Republican ads to weblinks at the top of your MullBlog? The 'Better dead than Fred' link isn't something I thought you would have on your site. What's up?

August 1, 2007 11:09 AM  
Anonymous Ken said...

Rich....As I told you in our email exchange: Thanks for the "heads-up"! This is one registered Dem that will be seriously looking at Fred WHEN he declares. Best wishes to you and the sure-to-be-coming campaign! (Press Secretary or Chief of Staff? ~wink~ )

Ken "who lost his first election to some guy named Galen in '75" Dayton

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