Bob Beckel: Fred Thompson run would be our worst nightmare

The Recliner Commentaries ^ | March 10, 2007 | Dennis

[wouldntbprudent]

Lucidity?

This is transparent manipulation. Of whom? The "stay home" crowd who seems in such a dither that the majority in the Republican primaries may nominate Rudy Giuliani.

Bob is messin' with you, y'all. And Bob is good at messin'.

[Josh Painter]

JohnBovenmyer wrote: "This is the same Fred Thompson who's Senate committee did that bang up job nailing Bill and Al for their Chinese connections?"

You should blame John Glenn and Joe Liberman for that, not Fred Thompson:

http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1998_rpt/sgo-sir/3-34.htm

[Rembrandt_fan]

You wrote, "Very strange for a Democrat strategist to say a Republican is their worst nightmare."

Political hacks and policy wonks always use hyperbole. Turn down the exaggeration dial to about 5 and what you get is, "Thompson has a high public profile with no known negatives. He looks to be a viable candidate."

Dem strategists haven't got a handle on Fred, not yet. You can bet both the DNC and the RNC are going over his personal background and Senate record with a purpose. The Dems are looking for scandal--Thompson's an actor, after all, so there must be something out there if only by association--while the Republican leadership is looking for a candidate with the stuff to beat Obama: Rudy's too liberal for the base, Gingrich has no crossover appeal, Romney's a Mormon--not a problem for me but many other mainstream Christians are leery of Mormonism--and McCain's too temperamental and abrasive.

While I don't discount Bill Clinton's incredible political savvy, Barack Obama will probably beat Hillary in the Dem primaries. Hillary is brittle under pressure, and there's no way her people can protect her all the time. At some point or another, Hillary's true face will show, probably on national television. It'll be like watching one of those late-night horror movies.

Personally, I'm liking Thompson more all the time, but it's a long way between now and the Republican primaries. We'll see.

[EGPWS]

Rudy is the only one the Dems are REALLY afraid of, because he CAN beat Hillary.

Because the media takes him to their teat....

[advance_copy]

I would LOVE it if Fred Thompson declares he's running!

Me too! And, I'd donate to his campaign, volunteer, and generally do everything I could to get him elected. Because President Thompson will be among the great ones.

[Josh Painter]

wouldntbprudent wrote: "Bob is messin' with you, y'all. And Bob is good at messin'."

Oh yeah, he did such a bang-up job for President Mondale and all. Oh, wait! There wasn't any President Mondale. Beckel directed his campaign to an 18-point butt-kicking. Yep, dat ole Brer' Beckel is one cunning operative all right. LOL!

[Iowa Granny]

bump for later reading

[babygene]

"Very strange for a Democrat strategist to say a Republican is their worst nightmare. They must want him to run."

Beckel is not a democrat strategist...

[snoringbear]

Conservatives who live in "Red L States" will probably grit their teeth, hold their noses, and go vote for Rudy if their choice should come down to Rudy or the Antichrist (aka Hillary). But, if a bonefide conservative such as Thompson comes on the scene Rudy will never make it out of the primaries. Conservatives (such as me)are looking for an attractive legitimate conservative candidate who can win - Thompson may very well be that person....

[babygene]

Did I ever tell uou that I think Rudy sucks?

[dmw]

"They're afraid. Very afraid..."

The Rudybots?

[agincourt1415]

How would FRED split anything?

[DCPatriot]

They're afraid. Very afraid...

I'd love it.

[EDINVA]

Why would Gore accept a VP spot again? Hard to go from being a Hollywood celeb to 2nd Banana for a second round, no less. ALso once on the trail, I think he'd be a disaster to other than the lunatic left.

[kvanbrunt2]

Most likely he served on the watergate committee with hitlery

[Volunteer]

I don't like Beckel & I sure don't trust him to tell the truth.

All of that aside, SEN Thompson, please run.

All I can offer you is my vote, my support, a modest campaign contribution, and a pair of seats to the every UT / FL game played in Knoxville for the next 8 years.

A President has a lot of power, I know. However, I have great seats and this is Tennessee football.

[Sola Veritas]

"But, if a bonefide conservative such as Thompson comes on the scene Rudy will never make it out of the primaries. Conservatives (such as me)are looking for an attractive legitimate conservative candidate who can win - Thompson may very well be that person...."

I'm with you brudda, but I'm afraid that Thompson will not run against McCain. Too bad really. I have heard some speculate he will endorse McCain on Sunday. I think that is a very real (actually most likely) possibility. I wished he would run, until I saw this post I had never considered him. When I read the talk I had one of those, "wow, I could of have a V-8" moments.

[FairOpinion]

Split the vote -- 1/3 Rudy, 1/3 McCain. 1/3 Thompson - and one of them will win by a whisker, most likely McCain would benefit and end up being the nominee and we would end up with Hillary.

[Old Professer]

An avuncular avatar; how charming and provocative.

[DelaWhere]

Thompson / Steele
Boy, that is not only one I could wholeheartedly support, but even if the Hildabeast took Obamarama as her second, Steele would make mincemeat of him - IMHO