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'Law & Order' Actor for President? GOP Seeks Some 'Star Quality' (Fred Thompson)
Law.com ^ | March 9, 2007 | Erik Schelzig

Posted on 03/09/2007 4:47:48 PM PST by Livin_large

One Hollywood actor, Ronald Reagan, served as president for eight years. So why not an actor who plays a district attorney on TV?

Fred Thompson, the character Arthur Branch on NBC's drama "Law & Order," is being urged to pursue the GOP nomination by several Tennessee Republicans who also have been trying to drum up support for a candidacy.

Former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker has been talking to senators. Rep. Zach Wamp has been in touch with colleagues in the House.

"It's something I hope happens," Wamp said Friday. "We need that kind of star quality, but most importantly we need his strength and resolve."

Wamp said he asked Thompson to consider running immediately after former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, another Tennessee Republican, decided not to run for president late last year.

"I think he has an open mind, and he sees the need," Wamp said.

Thompson, 64, the minority counsel in the Watergate investigation, was elected to the Senate in 1994 to fill the unexpired term of Vice President Al Gore. He was chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and left the Senate in 2003 to resume his acting career.

He took an active role in shepherding Chief Justice John Roberts through the Senate confirmation process in 2005.

Thompson recently raised money for the defense of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who was found guilty of perjury and obstruction in the investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity.

Thompson has acted in films such as "The Hunt for Red October," "Cape Fear," and "In the Line of Fire."

He has had no comment about a possible White House bid.

If he decided to run, Thompson would join a crowded GOP field led by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain of Arizona. The number could grow when Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel makes an announcement on his future plans.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fredthompson; ournextpresident; thompson
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To: cripplecreek
I wonder if Thompson is a protectionist like Duncan Hunter....oh excuse me what is it protectionists call themselves these days? Fair traders?
61 posted on 03/09/2007 8:17:38 PM PST by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: billbears

Personally I don't care what the "screw America for a buck" crowd calls me.


62 posted on 03/09/2007 8:18:52 PM PST by cripplecreek (Peace without victory is a temporary illusion.)
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To: My GOP

Considering we were talking specifically about the reactions of Free Republic posters to Fred Thompson's candidacy, I tend to think a poll of Free Republic posters on the matter of Fred Thompson's candidacy would be quite useful.


63 posted on 03/09/2007 8:19:07 PM PST by WhistlingPastTheGraveyard (Who likes polite Republicans more: Sandy Berger or Scooter Libby?)
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To: WhistlingPastTheGraveyard

My mistake. I thought you were trying to use a FR poll as an indication of how Fred would play nationally in the GOP primary.


64 posted on 03/09/2007 8:31:25 PM PST by My GOP (Conservatives are pragmatic and realistic!!!)
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To: Livin_large; EternalVigilance; Jim Robinson
McCain and Thompson are two peas in a pod. Look for McCain to drop out if Thompson enters.

Thompson--McCain's national campaign co-chair in 2000--wasn't just a key sponsor of McCain-Feingold, he secured the support from both parties to enable its passage.

We might as well have President McCain.
65 posted on 03/09/2007 8:35:42 PM PST by Gelato (... a liberal is a liberal is a liberal ...)
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To: My GOP

No. I do think if Thompson announces, he'll be the frontrunner inside a month... but I'm not basing that on anything but my gut and what I know of Senator Thompson.


66 posted on 03/09/2007 8:45:39 PM PST by WhistlingPastTheGraveyard (Who likes polite Republicans more: Sandy Berger or Scooter Libby?)
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To: WhistlingPastTheGraveyard

You might be right about that now. If he runs, I too believe he'll be a very strong and formidable candidate. Sorry about my earlier confusion over what you meant by the FR poll.


67 posted on 03/09/2007 8:50:47 PM PST by My GOP (Conservatives are pragmatic and realistic!!!)
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To: My GOP

No worries.


68 posted on 03/09/2007 8:52:09 PM PST by WhistlingPastTheGraveyard (Who likes polite Republicans more: Sandy Berger or Scooter Libby?)
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To: Livin_large; Howlin; carlo3b; girlangler; KoRn; Shortstop7; Lunatic Fringe; beyond the sea; ...
Ping to the Fred Heads :)

Join the Draft Fred Thompson Bandwagon


▲ Click the box to see where he stands on the issues. ▲

Let me know if you'd like to join the Fred Thompson ping list.

69 posted on 03/09/2007 9:12:58 PM PST by jellybean (FRED THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT! Proud to be an Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: Gelato
Thank you! I'm amazed at all the Thompson love. The guy was a huge McCain/campaign finance supporter. If he gets the nomination I'll support him, but he's not nearly the conservative people are making him out to be.

Plus if I remember correctly he voted against one or more of the Clinton impeachment charges.

70 posted on 03/09/2007 9:21:53 PM PST by SoCar (Get rid of Goober Graham!)
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To: Taichi

Keeping fingers crossed...


71 posted on 03/09/2007 10:04:38 PM PST by RockinRight (My wish for Islam - The Glass Parking Lot Formerly Known As The Middle East.)
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To: cripplecreek

Awwww, that's so sweet....no argument huh? Back to Buchananite protectionism. Better yet the mercantilist Report on Manufactures. Since it's worked so well and makes so many friends....


72 posted on 03/09/2007 10:06:41 PM PST by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: Livin_large
Another open-borders globalist?
Fine with me, but lets not pretend that he is good on sovereignty.
73 posted on 03/09/2007 10:31:25 PM PST by rmlew (It's WW4 and the Left wants to negotiate with Islamists who want to kill us , for their mutual ends)
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To: rmlew

I was a Rudy guy, but if Thompson runs I will do everything in my power to help him win.


74 posted on 03/10/2007 12:22:11 AM PST by Mister Politics (www.misterpolitics.com)
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To: WhistlingPastTheGraveyard

There was a HUGE amount of pitchforkers here, back then and besides getting that wrong, you also got Pat's runningmate wrong.


75 posted on 03/10/2007 12:31:53 AM PST by nopardons
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To: rmlew

Wow 75 posts and only 3 negative. Must be a record. Fred was my favorite months ago.


76 posted on 03/10/2007 5:52:15 AM PST by upcountry miss
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To: LibFreeOrDie

What time is the Wallace show on?


77 posted on 03/10/2007 5:56:09 AM PST by upcountry miss
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To: Livin_large
The number could grow when Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel makes an announcement on his future plans.

The media will LOVE Hagel, and give him maximum coverage as a hand-grenade thrown into the GOP debates. The man is a despicable creep.

78 posted on 03/10/2007 6:09:19 AM PST by montag813
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To: Livin_large; Howlin; carlo3b; girlangler; KoRn; Shortstop7; Lunatic Fringe; beyond the sea; ...
Very good article about Fred...

Fred Thompson Considering Entering the Presidential Race

I talked with Fred Thompson at a party for ABC Radio in Los Angeles Friday night. I introduced myself as the host of The Young Turks on Air America Radio. Even though I made it clear in the beginning of the conversation that I might not come from the same side of the political spectrum as he does these days, he was very receptive and candid in our conversation.

Snip...

I was sure that I would get the standard non-denial denial. But instead of dismissing the rumors, Thompson said he was considering it. I was surprised at how open he was to the idea. I was also surprised that he didn't bother with the usual pretences of not being interested. The former senator from Tennessee was quite frank about contemplating the possibility of running.

Snip...

In the end, I have to admit that I was impressed by Thompson. Sometimes when you meet someone you get a sense of whether they are real or fake. And sometimes you are taken in by an amiable, charming person you might not otherwise agree with.

More...http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/fred-thompson-considering_b_43085.html

Join the Draft Fred Thompson Bandwagon


▲ Click the box to see where he stands on the issues. ▲

Let me know if you'd like to join the Fred Thompson ping list.

79 posted on 03/10/2007 6:37:13 AM PST by jellybean (FRED THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT! Proud to be an Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: jellybean

Great post. Thanks for the link. As for as I, personally, am concerned, Fred Thompson is a ray of light in the field of Republican candidates. I'll be very, very disappointed if he chooses not to run.


80 posted on 03/10/2007 6:40:19 AM PST by Clara Lou (Run, Fred, run!)
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