BABE WIFE, 40, BOOSTS GOPER, 64 (Fred and Jeri)

The New York Post ^ | 06/01/07 | Ian Bishop

[SE Mom]

June 1, 2007 -- WASHINGTON - Gruff, graying Republican Fred Thompson has a proven track record of tapping into a younger generation - starting with his wife.

The 64-year-old ex-senator wowed Generation X with his movie roles in "The Hunt for Red October" and "Die Hard 2," and he won over his bombshell blonde wife, Jeri Kehn - 24 years his junior.

[Joe 6-pack]

She has very pretty eyes. Pity she’s blind.

[Mamzelle]

re: As a woman, you have to realize that if you marry a man 15-20 years your senior, that you can expect to spend about 20 years as a widow.)))

Well, not only widowhood, but a lot of years being a healthy woman pushing around a wheelchair or otherwise dealing with a man who is less physically than one her own age--

When I see a woman who likes older men, I assume she likes position and money more than she does sex. And when a man goes for a younger woman, I assume he likes preening before his peers (Look at my arm candy!) more than he likes sex. Or, maybe he's got a nice--

big --

prescription for Vialis.

[Aria]

I assume she likes position and money more than she does sex

LOL...If you only knew how WRONG you are. I won't go into details but younger doesn't mean better, not by a long shot.

[Mamzelle]

Well, I don't go in for the old duffers. I'll have to bow to all that experience.

There are a lot of them at the gym I go to, and their poor rear ends are all flat like two little deflated water balloons because they can't find shorts small enough in the rear and big enough in the waist. The two kind of wobble around inside...I'm always grateful for long Tshirts.

And their pale skulls (no hair) have these big brown spots... and they walk funny--kind of shambly. That's OK in a grandpa...

But if they've got a much younger woman, there's no other conclusion for most people is that he's loaded and she's Not Interested (or is seeing the pool boy).

[VRWCmember]

Let’s put it this way: If I were single and both of those women were single, I might be open to advances made by Kucinich’s wife — in other words if she were pursuing me I might run away slowly enough for her to catch me, but I would pursue Jeri until she either succommed to my charms or took out a restraining order. Jeri is hands down more attractive.

[Politicalmom]

Yeah, I’m sure that’s the case here. Notwithstanding the four year old and the 8 month old.

[VRWCmember]

This is something about women that confounds me. As a woman, you have to realize that if you marry a man 15-20 years your senior, that you can expect to spend about 20 years as a widow.

Or perhaps they get to be a widow with a nice endowment fund while they're still young and attractive enough to snag another man to grow old with.

[Mamzelle]

That's also called the "do over" family, which is not going to go over well with conservative women. That's when you have kids you can't possibly see graduate from college--or high school.

And hey, I'm not saying he couldn't manage at least twice.

[Aria]

Well....I’m talking someone in his 50s who looks something like George Clooney. He knows how to put a smile on my face.

Doubt I’d be looking for a date at your gym...LOL

[Politicalmom]

I’m a “conservative woman”. He was divorced for FIFTEEN years before remarrying. He didn’t hurt or cheat on his first wife.

I don’t care that he fell in love with a sharp, politically minded younger woman.

Anyone who does is an unbearable busybody.

[Mamzelle]

Well, tell everybody early and often. They might imagine otherwise, given the huge age difference.

I'm sure he'll appreciate the advertising and reassurance. But others might wonder why you find it necessary.

[Mamzelle]

Then he's better than McCain, who has a despicable and cruel record with his "Starter Wife."

Men may like their arm candy, and more power to them, but it doesn't translate into any kind of projection of virility. Well, maybe to adolescents--

The classic exchange is position/money for beauty and youth. 25 years is a lot of youth.

[Aria]

HUH?
I’m just saying that I happen to know that a younger guy isn’t automatically better...which is what some people think..I would have thought so too until I found out differently...and apparently so did Jeri Thompson. I think they’ve got a love match, not a marriage of trophy wife selling herself for status.

JMO

[Politicalmom]

Jeri is NOT “eye candy”. I am QUITE sure she had no need of money, being a well known GOP operative. I think they make each other happy.

You sure are a bitter person.

[Mamzelle]

re: a marriage of trophy wife selling herself for status.)))

Gee, you put it so well.

I've known a few May/Decembers and heard the "do you want to be a young man's slave or an old man's darling?" before.

A couple of them split because she got too *old* for him. He still wanted a 25-yr-old when she wasn't 25 anymore. And it was beside the point that he wasn't 50 yrs old anymore, either.

As far as a woman "selling" herself for status, I'd hardly go that far. But I've known more than one helpless man "selling" himself and betraying his own heart for youth and beauty, which are fleeting no matter how wide the age barrier.

Youth and beauty in a wife translates into status for a man. One fellow I know has recently reached a kind of annoying eupohoria after his wife got extensive plastic surgery and now looks a full 10-15 years younger. Five hours under the knife, $25K. Men's egos are often tied up in the appearance of their wives.

What was it that Wilde said? Women marry expecting their husbands to change, men marry expecting their wives to never change.

Something like that. Even the youngest of jail bait eventually reaches maturity. Some guys just don't like them ripe.

[LibertyRocks]

The age difference would bother me only if she were under 30... After that I don’t see it as an issue frankly. Women under 30 (I have found) who date and marry much older men have some sort of ‘daddy’ complex. By 30 most have enough life experience and independence to bond on a different level. Especially regarding Thompson’s wife — her career shows she is independent, so it’s not much of a concern to me personally. I’m glad they found each other and appear to be happy...

[Mamzelle]

I didn't say eye candy. I said "arm candy"--and she most certainly is that. Why not? Why shouldn't she be, if she wants? But it doesn't serve as a virility marker, it is a status marker, as in conspicuous consumption. Can't a fellow have arm candy if he can afford it, and has enough power and prestige to overcome the Old Coot thing?

I've been listening to the locker room here, all the FRs chiming in and offering their opinions as to is she a 1? a 10?

Notice that no one wonders if Fred's a 1 or a 10. I'm just pointing out that women look, too, and old guys and much younger women don't project the image the old guys think it does.

[iowamark]

[xsmommy]

either way you are loose ; )

[Oztrich Boy]

Both Rudy and Judy denied that she broke up his marriage.

Well then it must be true