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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: Livin_large

LOL! I followed the link and read the article. Then I read the comments below the article. ROFL!! Huffington has some amusing know-nothings posting over there. I mean completely-ignorant-of-reality know-nothings. Still laughing--


81 posted on 03/10/2007 6:45:18 AM PST by Clara Lou (Run, Fred, run!)
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To: Clara Lou
LOL! I followed the link and read the article. Then I read the comments below the article. ROFL!! Huffington has some amusing know-nothings posting over there. I mean completely-ignorant-of-reality know-nothings. Still laughing--

I admit I was a little apprehensive that someone from Air America gave him a fair review. After reading the comments I feel better.

82 posted on 03/10/2007 7:05:17 AM PST by jellybean (FRED THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT! Proud to be an Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: jellybean; AuntB
It would be interesting if he ran a campaign the way he just talked to me one on one. But as he acknowledges, the system in Washington is hard to change. Ultimately it would be very hard for him not to pander and tell voters what they want to hear. After all, if he told the conservative base that he did not agree with them on some core issues, they would be out drafting yet another new candidate.

Oh really? Which "core issues" might those be?
Sounds like a mighty big Uh-Oh to me.

83 posted on 03/10/2007 7:13:35 AM PST by b9 ("America is great because America is good." ~ Duncan Hunter)
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To: doodlelady
Sounds like a mighty big Uh-Oh to me.

Sounds like this guy is just talking out of his butt. I doubt very seriously this guy stood and talked to Fred for hours and expounded on his stance on all the issues. They talked for a few minutes about the budget and his running for president.

His voting record is here... http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Fred_Thompson.htm

84 posted on 03/10/2007 7:31:58 AM PST by jellybean (FRED THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT! Proud to be an Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: cripplecreek

My husband and I were talking about that possiblity last night!

I think it would make a fine ticket ... :)


85 posted on 03/10/2007 7:34:19 AM PST by pamlet
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To: WhistlingPastTheGraveyard
The key thing about Fred Thompson, is HE CAN TALK, he can SLICE and DICE liberals.

Can you imagine Hillary and Fred in a National Debate?

Fred would wipe the floor with her.

86 posted on 03/10/2007 7:39:31 AM PST by agincourt1415 (The Sum of all Fears: Democrats running the war or trying to run away from the war on terror.)
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To: jellybean; SoCalPol

Being from San Diego, the illegal immigration tidal wave is high on my radar, and pretty low on FT's.

My primary vote could never go to an open border candidate.


87 posted on 03/10/2007 7:42:43 AM PST by b9 ("America is great because America is good." ~ Duncan Hunter)
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To: All

Folks

You know what I think is one of fred's foremost assets?

I just have this feeling that in a televised debate with Hillary or Obama, he would absolutely whip their asses.

He wouldn't be caught with his pants down, and would know exactly what to say in order to refute IMMEDIATELY any crap they would spew forth.

Being an actor and a lawyer, along with his conservatism, would make him unstoppable.


Thats just what I think.


88 posted on 03/10/2007 7:43:42 AM PST by Armedanddangerous (The Coldest Blood Runs through my veins..you know my name..)
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To: jellybean

Don't forget Fred Thompson is on Chris Wallace today...supposed to be an announcement of some type...hope its a good one.


89 posted on 03/10/2007 8:12:09 AM PST by aimee5291
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To: upcountry miss

On Boston's Channel 25, it's on at 10 AM.

I don't know if all Fox channels show it at the same time; maybe some delay broadcast?


90 posted on 03/10/2007 9:30:46 AM PST by LibFreeOrDie (L'Chaim!)
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To: LibFreeOrDie

thanks


91 posted on 03/10/2007 10:39:44 AM PST by upcountry miss
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To: nopardons

Having you as the arbiter of who is and who is not a (sigh) "pitchforker", is like having Jonathan Winters doing psychiatric evaluations.

But thanks for setting me straight on the Lola Falana/Lenora Fulani thing! I'd be lost without you!


92 posted on 03/10/2007 1:23:37 PM PST by WhistlingPastTheGraveyard (Who likes polite Republicans more: Sandy Berger or Scooter Libby?)
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To: CWOJackson
As for buchanan, he started that first campaign (the second was a money grab farce) in the double digits nationally and a whole lot higher here on FR.

Buchanan's first run was in 1996. According to Jim Robinson, this site was started with only a handful of posters in early 1997.

93 posted on 03/10/2007 1:34:58 PM PST by WhistlingPastTheGraveyard (Who likes polite Republicans more: Sandy Berger or Scooter Libby?)
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To: cripplecreek
Hunter is a non starter, IMHO, because he is protectionist (and seems to be a frumpy reactor, instead of a leader).

Thompson may be our big tent conservative.

94 posted on 03/10/2007 1:37:10 PM PST by unspun (What do you think? Please think, before you answer.)
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To: doodlelady

My primary vote could never go to an open border candidate

You got that right!
It is amazing the people in flyover country who don't have a clue what is going on.
Because they have a few illegals they don't see the problem.
If they had tens of thousands like we have here in San Diego and all their expense and crime they would shut up.


95 posted on 03/10/2007 1:38:27 PM PST by SoCalPol (Duncan Hunter '08 Tough on WOT & Illegals)
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To: Bigg Red
Fred Thompson has an incredible amount of "gravitas". A presence. A rich baritone voice. Almost like a white James Earl Jones. Not that screeching harpy. Able to communicate.
96 posted on 03/10/2007 1:46:54 PM PST by jslade (The beatings well cease when morale improves!)
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To: jellybean

Sign me up for Fred!


97 posted on 03/10/2007 1:49:38 PM PST by jslade (The beatings well cease when morale improves!)
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To: WhistlingPastTheGraveyard
You are wrong about me being an "arbiter"; I do remember who the pitchforkers were, before so many of them were purged and also how many of them there were here.....unlike you.

I also know that "Lola Falana" is a name you made up.

98 posted on 03/10/2007 2:00:17 PM PST by nopardons
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To: nopardons
I also know that "Lola Falana" is a name you made up.

You know this, do you?

You're funny, even if it is entirely by accident.

99 posted on 03/10/2007 2:03:41 PM PST by WhistlingPastTheGraveyard (Who likes polite Republicans more: Sandy Berger or Scooter Libby?)
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To: SoCalPol

We know about it in flyover country. I read in the Grand Rapids press a week or so back about a spanish language "come to Michigan" campaign. Apparently our 7% unemployment rate isn't high enough yet.

As for those who swing the word "protectionism" around like a club, I really couldn't care less what the "screw America for a buck crowd" thinks. China is screwing us both coming and going. They're dealing with our enemies and standing in opposition to everything we stand for. Hunter mentioned a great example of getting screwed when he talked about the Swiss deciding to cut us off in the middle of a war. They simply decided to stop selling the guidance systems for some of our missiles. Luckily there's still 1 company in this country that can make them. Military grade armor was a similar story.


100 posted on 03/10/2007 2:05:50 PM PST by cripplecreek (Peace without victory is a temporary illusion.)
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