Posted on 11/23/2007 3:49:39 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Have you been to one like that? I haven’t heard anyone from FR who attended mention it.
“I first discovered Hunter in 2003/04”
That’s what I thought, 26 years in congress and you just now heard about him. My knowledge of Fred is almost all political, until about three years ago I lived outside of the television world and had only a faint awareness that he was a part time actor.
In spite of his 26 years in congress and his being a “natural leader” according to you, you had never heard of him, well don’t feel bad. Hunter is my congressman and even though I vote for him, we never pay much attention to him either.
The 52nd district is an incredibly safe district, that is how he can pass it off to his son, and this 1% (”natural leader’s”) presidential race is an effort to assist his son’s taking over the family business.
This is how Fred stayed in the public eye of conservative political junkies. At least skim some of the below information and look at the dates.
I know that many younger people grew up on TV and tend to relate everything to that, but if you look at these time lines, then you may see how a well read conservative could have many years of awareness of Fred Thompson, I didn’t even know what Law and Order was until about the same time that you discovered Duncan Hunter.
“Thompson later wrote a Watergate memoir entitled “At that point in time: the inside story of the Senate Watergate Committee.”
“Thompson was appointed minority counsel for the hearings surrounding the Watergate scandal.[17] He was responsible for Howard Baker’s asking “What did the President know, and when did he know it?” This question is said to have led to the downfall of President Richard Nixon.[18]
“Throughout the 1980s Thompson worked primarily as an attorney, with law offices in Nashville and Washington, DC. He also accepted appointments as Special Counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (1980–1981), Special Counsel to the Senate Intelligence Committee (1982), and Member of the Appellate Court Nominating Commission for the State of Tennessee (1985–1987).”
“In 1977, Thompson represented Marie Ragghianti, a former Tennessee Parole Board chair, who had been fired for refusing to release felons after they had bribed aides to Democratic Governor Ray Blanton in order to obtain clemency. During the trial, Thompson helped to expose the cash-for-clemency scheme that eventually led to Blanton’s removal from the Governor’s office.”
“Thompson lobbied Congress on behalf of the Tennessee Savings and Loan League to pass the St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982, which deregulated the Savings and Loan industry.[15] A large congressional majority and President Ronald Reagan supported the act “
“Marie Ragghianti’s case became the subject of a book, Marie, written by Peter Maas and published in 1983. The film rights were purchased by director Roger Donaldson, who asked Thompson if he wanted to play himself in the movie. The resulting film, Marie, was Thompson’s first acting role and was released in 1985.”
” Two campaigns for U.S. Senate
In 1994, Thompson was elected to finish the remaining two years of Al Gore’s unexpired U.S. Senate term. Gore had been elected Vice President of the United States in 1992, and resigned his Senate seat leaving Harlan Mathews as “caretaker” of the seat. During the 1994 campaign, Thompson’s opponent was longtime Nashville Congressman Jim Cooper. Thompson campaigned in a red pickup truck, and Cooper charged that Thompson “is a lobbyist and actor who talks about lower taxes, talks about change, while he drives a rented stage prop.”[31] In a good year for Republican candidates,[32] Thompson defeated Cooper in a landslide upset victory, overcoming Cooper’s early 20 percent margin in the polls to defeat Cooper by an even greater margin.[33] On the same night Thompson was elected to fill Gore’s unexpired term, political newcomer Bill Frist, a Nashville heart surgeon, defeated three-term incumbent Democrat Jim Sasser, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, for Tennessee’s other U.S. Senate seat, which was up for a full six-year term. The twin victories by Thompson and Frist gave Republicans control of both of Tennessee’s Senate seats for the first time since Sasser ousted incumbent Bill Brock in 1976.
In 1996, Thompson was re-elected (for the term ending January 3, 2003) with 61 percent of the vote, defeating Democratic attorney Houston Gordon of Covington, Tennessee, even as Bill Clinton narrowly carried the state by less than three percentage points on his way to re-election.[34] The GOP continues to hold the seat, as it was won by former Tennessee Governor and Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander in 2002.
Senate career
Senator Thompson meeting with U.S. soldiers in South Korea.In 1996, Thompson was a member of the Committee on Governmental Affairs when the committee investigated the alleged Chinese attempts to influence American politics. Thompson says he was “largely stymied” during these investigations by witnesses declining to testify; claiming the right not to incriminate themselves or by simply leaving the country.[35] Thompson explained, “Our work was affected tremendously by the fact that Congress is a much more partisan institution than it used to be.”[36]
Thompson became committee chairman in 1997 but was reduced to ranking minority member when the Democrats took control of the Senate in 2001. [37] Thompson served on the Finance Committee (dealing with health care, trade, Social Security, and taxation) the Intelligence Committee, and the National Security Working Group.[38]
Thompson’s work included investigation of the “Umm Hajul controversy” which involved the death of Tennessean Lance Fielder during the Gulf War. During his term he supported campaign finance reform, opposed proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and promoted government efficiency and accountability.[10] During the 1996 presidential debates, he also served as a Clinton stand-in to help prepare Bob Dole.[10]
On February 12, 1999, the Senate voted on the Clinton impeachment. The perjury charge was defeated with 45 votes for conviction, and 55 including Thompson against. The obstruction of justice charge was defeated with 50 including Thompson for conviction, and 50 against. Conviction on impeachment charges requires the affirmative votes of 67 senators.
Campaign Co-chairman for John McCain
In the 2000 Republican presidential primaries, Thompson initially backed former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander, who eventually succeeded Thompson in the Senate two years later. When Alexander dropped out of the presidential race, Thompson endorsed Senator John McCain’s bid and became his national co-chairman.[39] Both McCain and Thompson were contenders to be George W. Bush’s running mate in 2000.[40][41]
Resignation
Thompson was not a candidate for re-election in 2002. He had publicly stated his unwillingness to have the Senate become a long-term career. Although he announced in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks his intention to seek re-election (”Now is not the time for me to leave,” said Thompson at the time), upon further reflection he decided against it.[28] The decision seems to have been prompted in large part by the death of his daughter.”
“Political work
Fred Thompson on July 25, 2007 in Dallas.In March 2003, Thompson was featured in a commercial by the conservative non-profit group Citizens United that advocated the invasion of Iraq, stating: “When people ask what has Saddam done to us, I ask, what had the 9/11 hijackers done to us — before 9/11.”[49]
Thompson did voice-over work at the 2004 Republican National Convention.[50] While narrating a video for that convention, Thompson observed: “History throws you what it throws you, and you never know what’s coming.”[51]
After the retirement of Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in 2005, Bush appointed him to an informal position to help guide the nomination of John Roberts through the United States Senate confirmation process.[52] Roberts was subsequently confirmed as Chief Justice.
Until July 2007, Thompson was Chair of the International Security Advisory Board, a bipartisan advisory panel that reports to the Secretary of State and focuses on emerging strategic threats.[53] In that capacity, he advised the State Department about all aspects of arms control, disarmament, international security, and related aspects of public diplomacy.[54]
Legal defense for Lewis Libby
Main article: Lewis Libby
In 2006, he served on the advisory board of the legal defense fund for I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Jr, who was indicted and later convicted of lying to federal investigators during their investigation of the Plame affair.[55][56] Thompson, who had never met Libby before volunteering for the advisory board, said he was convinced Libby was innocent.[28] The Scooter Libby Legal Defense Fund Trust set out to raise more than $5 million to help finance the legal defense of Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff.[57] Thompson hosted a fundraiser for the Libby defense fund at his home in McLean, Virginia.[58] After Bush commuted Libby’s sentence,[59] Thompson released a statement: “I am very happy for Scooter Libby. I know that this is a great relief to him, his wife and children. This will allow a good American, who has done a lot for his country, to resume his life.”[60]
Radio analyst
In 2006, he signed on with ABC News Radio to serve as senior analyst and vacation replacement for Paul Harvey.[61] He used that platform to spell out his positions on a number of political issues. A July 3, 2007 update to Thompson’s ABC News Radio home page referred to him as a “former ABC News Radio contributor,” indicating that Thompson has been released from his contract with the broadcaster.”
The numerous threads discussing this election and Fred and Duncan and the candidates show a large group outside you usual main ‘Fredheads’ actually prefer Duncan Hunter and are only supporting Fred ‘because he is a name and can win’ which is ironic since now that Fred has had all these advantages in wanting people to rally behind him despite the serious doubts he gives people into how credible and strong of a campaigner and candidate he is and how he comes across. This very thread is about lost support!! I mean, how many times are you going to deny that Fred really has not impressed people as a man and you are relying on him being an ‘actor’ and that supposedly making him sellable to the general public. He will not win a general election and if polls are so holy to you now, you ought to get a clue that Fred really lacks and will not make a good candidate despite your attempts to explain away these problems.
He has lost support as this thread shows. People have serious doubts about your boy. And you are smug just like Fred and his ‘exploring a candidacy’. It’s quite something to realize that people have doubts and you have to try to make fear lead them to settle for such a bad general election candidate like Fred. He cannot win a general election, period. I will remember your name if the GOP is unfortunate to make this very serious mistake and hold you to account.
LOL, as in hypocrite because you are having to face reality that Fred has had all the advantages in the constant coverage as this savior, being an actor and the attempts to sell him as the conservative answer and leading polls only to come to reality in the fact that people really have not been impressed with what they’ve seen. Fact is, people are impressed with Duncan Hunter and the major factor in them not supporting him even though many you have on your Fredhead threads shows they really do prefer Hunter ‘but he isn’t known and doesn’t have name recognition’ and that is somehow thrown about as why he ‘can’t win’ when in fact they really do like what they see from Hunter in interviews, speeches, appearances, his actual record with what little time he has been given and the attempts to silence him!! The same can not be said about Fred as that most really are only settling for him in this absurd fear. And he has proven that he does not come across well and I will tell you that the doubters really ought to think about more than ‘name recognition’ because it really will come down to the reality of how the candidate speaks and acts and can campaign and debate and not to mention how healthy and viable they look. The general public may not like Hillary but they would explain away voting for her by saying to themselves we are getting Bill too and, crazy as that seems, there are those who would vote on that and do like him. Thompson will not win a general election.
And I will remember you and the other hardcore Fredhead supporters in case we are unfortunate to have Fred as the nominee. You know, with all the assurances we should get behind Fred because ‘he can win’!! It will not fly in a general election.
There are polls that show Hunter gaining. But, like I said, he has never lost any like Fred has. And there is no excuse since Fred has had all the advantages rather than the attempted silence and denial of a candidacy because people really do obviously like Hunter when they know he is a candidate. And actually would like best to have him as President. Can’t say that about Fred as he seems to be the ‘settle’ candidate.
Have you taken your meds lately? Your attempts to read my mind are laughable.You have trolled this thread incessantly, slamming every Fred supporter on it, and it isn't going to translate into ONE TEENY LITTLE percentage point of support for Hunter, regardless of your attempts to blame Fred for Duncan's poor showing.
If your plan is to attack every Fred supporter on FR, you have a long row to hoe. Better start with Jim Robinson.
Correct in that Hunter has a hard road ahead to winning the GOP nomination and that is due to the fact that name recognition seems to be playing a part in Republican thinking rather than the candidates records, dispositions and abilities. It’s all fear leading the way and a belief that a ‘name’ will help propel a candidate in a general election. And you know damn well how many people actually say they love Hunter and think he’s the best, ‘BUT he’s not known and cannot win’. Rather than the reality of why? Now I’ll tell you why Thompson cannot win a GENERAL ELECTION even if he does make it through and get people to *settle* for him:
He is Bob Dole without the credentials. Fred looks even older than Dole and will suffer in the eyes of the public along with his ‘laid back’ temperament that does come across as boring and the cancer will be an issue you can bet and how he will serve when he doesn’t even have that great of energy as he campaigns. He has never had a record of leadership or a notable career as Senator and was most known as being one of the few Republicans that also happened to be an actor. And being an actor is what is propelling him in your’s and others’ minds in why he is so ‘electable’ as a general election candidate. But even then most will have to be told who he is and that he was an actor. His speeches are enough to put one to sleep and when you have to ask your own audience for applause you know it’s bad. Fred may be a nice man and all but he does not come across well. I would wager that he is a sure thing to a general election loss and people would vote for Hillary with the belief they are getting Bill too. So you cannot count on them even ‘settling’ for Fred in a general election. He is just not convincing, period. Bad candidate.
You know very well what I’m referring to and that Fred had to ask for applause. LMAO.
I only started following politics in 1994. But the fact remains that Hunter has been as solid as they come in Congress and a leader as Chairman and ranking member on the Armed Services Committee. You cannot say Fred came anywhere near being of great service in the Senate except for McCain-Feingold, which I seem to remember was the main reason for the hatred towards McCain and unacceptability. How funny how that changes. *IF* Fred did get elected I’m sure you could count on him giving his good friend a nice position within the Cabinet. And do you swear on all you hold holy that you honestly knew Fred all these yrs? Write it. I only knew Fred from being one of the few Hollyweird actors who was a Republican and that had to be mentioned. I learned about Fred about the late ‘90s/2000. Of course, I could clearly remember him being a McCain crony. Never really remarkable or deserving of the clamour he’s been given, period.
Read the topic of this thread, oh wise one! /s And that ‘meds’ comment IS A PERSONAL ATTACK. You people really are sanctimonious and on your high horses. Like, how dare we question the conservative support being given to Fred even when many think, yes, Duncan Hunter is the best and would make the best president ‘if only he were known’. I will voice my opinions and you really need to practice what you preach. What is with all the Fredheads not being able to deal with the fact that not all of us find him the best and think we should settle for him?!! I would fear Hunter because when people drop the fear they will think rationally and give our nation the finest President it could have.
And you know damn well how many people actually say they love Hunter and think he’s the best, ‘BUT he’s not known and cannot win’. Rather than the reality of why?
You see Hunter has sucked at the government teat in Washington D.C. much of his adult life with little to show for it in name recognition outside of the 52th in CA. Part of being a leader is the ability to rise to the top, have people seek you out, show results, etc. Hunter never planned for nor achieved the upward mobility in responsibility to give him the experience, recognition, achievements, demand, etc that is required to become the leader of the world’s greatest country.
Hunter won’t be President and never planned to be, imo.
Only one of the current crop of wannabes will become of the nominee of the Republican party. In 38 days the selection process begins in earnest by the voters in Iowa and two days later in NH. Chances are the nominee will come from one of the top three or four wannabes. We can tear them all down or help select the most acceptable of the lot. That is reality in the political realm.
And we’ll remember all you idiots who refuse to face facts and
divide the votes in the primaries and get Giuliani nominated.
You REALLY have no room to be lecturing US, when your candidate can’t campaign his way out of a paper bag.
I don’t know what my congressman has done in this ill fated campaign to attract such an embarrassing lot such as you and your eager new awareness of politics, that seems based on attacking conservatives.
Having known of Duncan Hunter for more than a quarter century I will speak for him and tell you that you need to tone it down and grow up a little.
I imagine that you are even embarrassing FR some.
>” I will remember your name if the GOP is unfortunate to make this very serious mistake and hold you to account.”<
I think that name is spelled Jim Robinson.
I still like Tanc and Hunter...but I think it’s FRed’s time in ‘08.
I hope there is room in the Fredministration for these two!!
**************
What are you trying to achieve? A Giuliani nomination?
Actually I don’t know to which appearance you are referring. It must be very important to you; doesn’t interest me in the least.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.