Posted on 09/06/2007 9:41:35 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Candidate Says U.S. Must Return To Basics. Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson said Thursday that he's ready to work hard in Iowa to make up for lost time.
Thompson was in Des Moines a day after announcing his White House run.
He said he still has enough time to get out his message.
"The preliminaries are over, the game is beginning as far as I'm concerned and I'm looking forward to it," he said.
He said he skipped the debates in an effort to reach more people.
"I want to reach them as directly as I can -- in the ways that I can. One of the ways you can do that is television, another way is the Internet," he said.
He said the numbers of months spent on the campaign trail probably does not equate that many times with ultimate victory.
"It's who you are and what you believe in. That's the main thing," he said.
He said there will be plenty of times for debating and he is looking forward to them. He added that he does not like the format.
"I don't think it's really designed to illicit much information in 30 second sound bites. I'd prefer to sit down one on one with somebody and talk for an hour," he said.
When asked what sets him apart, he declined to compare himself with other candidates.
"That's for the people to decide. Those are all the things that the people of Iowa are going to have to judge for themselves and I look forward to that judgment," he said.
He said his main message is about getting back to basics.
"We need to get back to the first principles of this country, principles that founded this country that were based on the Declaration of Independence. The fact that our basic rights come from God and not from man and not from government and it leads you to believe things like the sanctity of life, it leads you to believe things like lower taxes and less government. I think that's what made our country great. I think it will continue to make it great if we apply them," he said.
“...less government.”
except in the area of campaign finance reform, there we need more government... /s
A Paulestinian as my first poster? I am unworthy...
Fred played by his rules last night. He didn’t play according to rules created by others. The fact he was successful in his efforts made the entire evenings events that much sweeter. It was a special night. A night when politics and entertainment merged, as they often do in our pop culture. Some folks around FR have taken offense to Fred`s tactics. Anyone who felt slighted, that is your problem. Deal with it.
Good move worthy of note. : )
This is risible. The debate was on television, wasn't it? Fred could have been in the debate on Wednesday, and on Leno on Thursday, and had twice the exposure.
More likely FDT realizes that the meandering vague answers he gave Hannity tonight wouldn't have cut it in Durham.
You’re right, he needs to drop out immediately while he’s only in first or second place in most all national and early state polls. What a lazy old loser!
Hey, the have to take a break for text polling sometime...
I trust you will get over it although the trauma must be an extreme shock.
Look at the bright side, Paulestinians have no land of their own so they focus on others land for gain.
Spread the message, Freddie.
Drive that red pickup of yours all the way from Tennessee to New Hampshire and confront the granite faces that you meet. You’ve got some ‘splaining to do!
If I were you I would not vote for him, but for one of his possible VPs or cabinet members instead...
Is that because most of them live in Mom’s basement, an old trailer or a flophouse?
But but but, that’s not fair!
I believe Senator Craig was trying to illicit information. Perhaps Senator Thompson had something else in mind.
They post, you decide...
After watching that poor excuse for a debate, those guys were lucky Alan Keyes was not there to wipe the floor with them.
Those aren't debates, they are sound bite sessions, I can't believe the debates are getting worse and worse.
with fred's numbers he doesn't need to do what others have been doing. the honeymoon will be over very soon, though. although i can't stand the current set-up of the debates, fred's first debate will say a lot about where he is going.
Back when Duncan Hunter was in more vogue at FR, I'd post polls in which DH didn't register, and the DH fans would scoff and tell me that polls don't matter.
Now some of the same former DH fans are FDT fans, and polls are all they talk about.
Polls are important, no doubt. But so is fundraising, organization, executive ability, energy, talent and focus on the crucial early primaries. In all these areas I think FDT comes up short in comparison to Romney. FDT's campaign is to rely on television and the internet, but I don't think Thompson lately is coming off that well on TV. If he can't do well on TV, then he has nothing else to go on.
Well, Alan Keyes isn't running (is he, EV?).
Thompson is, and it was his opportunity to do the floor wiping with them. He did Leno instead.
I believe Senator Craig was trying to illicit information. Perhaps Senator Thompson had something else in mind.
I believe Fred said they are not designed to elicit much information. Don't blame Fred because the reporter is illiterate!
Fred may not like the format, but the reality is that there WILL be debates between the GOP and Democrat eventual nominees, most likely two or three, as well as probably one between the VP nominees. The voters have come to expect such and many, wisely or not, make up their minds based primarily on what happens there. To win a candidate needs to win at least one of these debates, not get blown out in any of them, and act like he wants to be there and wants the job. By all means try to negotiate improvements to the format to get the candidates debating each other more instead of the press and insist that Brit Hume moderates at least one of them, but realistically you're not going to get a perfect format. Part of the reason for including debates in the primary campaign is the need to wean out the weak debaters before it is too late.
By JODY MURPHY, Staff Writer
PARKERSBURG — The West Virginia Republican Presidential Convention released a list of 10 of the party’s presidential candidates who have registered to participate in the state convention to be held in February.
"Candidates that are campaigning in other states will speak of issues important to those states," WVGOP Convention CEO Bob Fish said. "Candidates competing in West Virginia will talk to us about issues important to West Virginia."
"This is an outstanding report of people who have come from all across the political spectrum," Fish added. "We have people who are household names to people less familiar with the rank and file of West Virginia. That is the great thing about the process."
United States senators Sam Brownback (Kan.), John McCain (Ariz.) and former senator Fred Thompson (Tenn.) are among those registered to seek the WVGOP’s nomination.
Thompson, who was also an actor on TV’s "Law & Order," is expected to launch his presidential bid via webcast Thursday.
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, California congressman Duncan Hunter, former U.S. ambassador Alan Keyes, Texas congressman Ron Paul, Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Maryland businessman and political activist Gene Zarwell are all registered to seek the WVGOP’s nomination.
Keyes and McCain were on the Republican presidential primary ballot in 2000. They were among five other candidates competing for the state’s GOP nomination. In 2004, only incumbent president George Bush was on the Republican primary ballot.
"I am extremely pleased with the number of Republican candidates who recognize the important role that West Virginia will play in the 2008 presidential race," Fish said in a press release. "It is clear these candidates realize West Virginia may indeed be the tipping point."
Fish said the WVGOP will report the results of its convention by late afternoon, "hours before the other states with primaries on Feb. 5."
West Virginia will be one of 22 nationwide primaries or caucuses being conducted on Feb. 5, dubbed "Super-Duper Tuesday." The Feb. 5 convention will award all 18 delegates to a single contender. In past years, delegates were elected at-large during the primary.
Fish said he had no data when asked how large this field of GOP candidates, compared against past state GOP convention choices.
"Whoever wins, because it is such a big field, that really becomes a substantial victory that goes all across the country," Fish said.
Well of course he has, he's starting his campaign at the normal time to do so, and communications continue to improve.
Very well said.
I’m still waiting for his message.
Gee, 2nd, I have to join in order to get an answer. What’s next; a fee? LOL
Stupid Reporter Tricks. It's amazing that got by a reporter and an editor.
Try pushing the button with the play arrow. It's about two-thirds of the way down the left side of the screen.
“Gee, 2nd, I have to join in order to get an answer. What’s next; a fee? LOL”
No, you’re confusing Fred Thompson with Mitt “FeeFee” Romney.
Fred is too smart for the Rudy Paul McRomneyites.
Fred is just the man to take America back from the Socialist Gay Suicidal Agenda of the Left.
Executive experience is highly over-rated. Just ask those of us who endured Jimmy Carter’s White House years...
When his opponents and their supporters use his announcement date against him, they say it shows how lazy he is, how he lacks the fire and desire to be President, etc. What it says to me is he isn't swayed by the MSM or by polls that tell him what he should do. Most of the other Republican hopefuls and all of the demonrat hopefuls pay way too much attention to the MSM and use such polls to form their opinions and can be whatever you want them to be. Not Fred. I'm glad he's in the race and it should be an interesting primary.
Concerning your comments on the debates, when is one of the other 7 going to turn to Ron Paul and tell him to get off the stage, that this is a Republican “debate?”
Fred was just interviewed on FOX—tremendous!!! He’s our man!!
The irony is, all of the other candidate’s backers blasting “Hollywood Fred” for going on the Leno show don’t realize that it was their guy, with the other, performing in the kabuki theater of soundbites and “gotchas”.
lol, I actually think Fred is a pretty good 2nd choice... :)
Sad part is, he still looked better, I don't blame him or them, I blame the format of the debates, for not letting any of them, get real time, or even have a real debate.
I remember watching GOP debates going back years and years, and it seems like its getting worse and worse.
At this point, any candidate would be better off going on SNL then doing them, if they can't be done properly.
I like Hunter and Tancredo as well as Fred, and one has to admit that FREd got way more airtime than they did...(I do think that Duncan won the debate that night)...both at the debate and as far as being on Leno.
BUMP and PING.
Well, it isn't going to walk up to the house and knock on the door. What are you waiting for?
Oh Jeez..... LOL
Amen.
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