Fred! Supporters Want to Know

The Fredosphere (supporters and potential supporters of Fred Thompson) are beginning to demand an answer from Fred. A recent Politico story has suggestions that Fred! may not be in time to appear in the August 5th Iowa Debate, and some aides have even suggested he may not suggest until September. Michelle over at Reformed Chicks Babbling thinks he should be in the debate to provide answers on his abortion position:

I think he should seriously think about making the August debate so that he can put to rest the rumors concerning his position on abortion. The speculation needs to be answered once and for all in a public forum so that it can be taken off the table as an issue. If I were him I would say that my record speaks for itself and I’ve stated very clearly that I support the ban on federal funds being used for embroynic stem cell research which is about as pro-life as a candidate can get (which is a little dig at the rest of the field) and as a federalist you know that I will be selecting strict constructionist judges.

David Oatney who has been patient with Fred heretofore is clearly running out and is blunt with his state’s possible favorite son candidate:

He delayed the formation of his exploratory committee until the last possible moment, and I suspect finally formed it when he was told by his inner circle “you must do this now, or there will be no getting in later.” In years’ past, a candidate could well afford to wait this long before announcing, and it was not uncommon for those who announced in September or October to become the front-runner in both parties. The early start to the Presidential campaign has damaged the equilibrium so much, however, that continued delay in announcing will put even the best and most obvious political candidates behind in the game.
If Fred Thompson has it in his mind that he can afford to wait much longer, I will submit that many people in the grassroots feel as I do. They do not want to be kept dangling in the wind-either Thompson gets into the 2008 Presidential campaign, or he withdraws from it in enough time to give the people a chance to find another ship to sail on (even one that they know will sink). I am not suggesting that a gun be held to Fred Thompson’s head and he be told “make a decision now.” I am stating the reality: The system put that gun to the head of every candidate in both parties by roughly April of this year. It is by the grace of God and sheer charisma and popularity that Fred Thompson is not already a footnote in the history of this coming election.

Getting into this election late is like taking a late ante in a poker game: You may win a few hands, but you aren’t likely to win the game because you started well behind. Fred Thompson will get to a point where his entry may win a few hands, but he will lose the game merely because he did not enter when the first hands of the game were dealt.

The hour is now. Fred Thompson must get in the game, or stay out and go home.

This has gone on quite long enough. Thompson owes it to conservatives to decide whether he’ll fish or cut bait. Continuing to leave conservatives dangling in the wind is poor form on Fred’s part.

It also doesn’t reflect well on his potential campaign. It also leads to speculation on the weakest points of Thompson, which is not necessarily his stance on the issues (or his question as to whether he even thinks the GOP ought to have a platform) but his desire, stamina, and his ability to stand up under pressure. To an outsider, delaying his announcement past August 5th looks like a way to dodge having to be on the stage and in the fray, and to stand up to his opponents and answer their criticism. Even, if such dodginess works on Republican voters, it certainly won’t work and will not be available with Hillary Clinton.

UPDATE

Another pro-Fred blogger comes out and says it’s time to make a decision:

Those of us who have been on the Fred Thompson bandwagon since before there was a bandwagon are starting to notice something rather uncomfortable, Fred is starting to slip in the polls. I fully understand why Fred has chose to be a late entry. He wanted to be sure that he was the right man at the right time or there is no sense in running. But that window of opportunity is starting to close.

A certain amount of foreplay was right, now he’s becoming a tease. A political date who has decided to cut the night short just before the action got good. He needs to make the announcement now. The reason? Today’s Rasmussen Reports poll has Fred slipping to 24% with Rudy nipping at his heels.