Bob Beckel: Fred Thompson run would be our worst nightmare

The Recliner Commentaries ^ | March 10, 2007 | Dennis

[Josh Painter]

Democratic strategist Bob Beckel admitted, in an interview on Fox News, that Fred Thompson for president would be their worst nightmare. Sounds good to me!

[ReignOfError]

If Thompson runs he will get sued by NBC who have already stated they will do that.

I hadn't really thought of it before now, but Thompson might have a bigger issue even if he declares after the current season wraps: re-runs. Even if the pld episodes featuring Thompson don't air on the NBC broadcast network, but they run anywhere from 1-4 hours a day on TNT and USA, and having to pull them over equal-time concerns would cost NBC-Universal, the studio with the syndication rights, a ton of money.

That said, I don't see (disclaimer: IANAL) how NBC can stop him from running for office -- UNLESS they have a specific provision in his contract where he promised not to run for elected office. In that case, it would be a straight breach of contract, and NBC could sue for the revenues they lost as a result. That wouldn't completely stop Thompson from running, but it could take a bite out of his campaign funds.

[girlangler]

"joined the Democrats in bashing Bush over the war."

Brownback may be against abortion (murder) as I am.

But, apparently he doesn't mind putting the young men and women who are on the front lines protecting Americans from a bloodthirsty enemy, like we face, in more harm.

Any Republican that stood publicly with the Democrats and gave encouragement to the enemy, encouragement that America doesn't have the will to defend herself, will NEVER get my vote.

[RepublicanPOTUSin08]

Fred Thompson is an all-around conservative. But he's past his prime. I don't doubt that he could translate his Law 'n Order fame into a few more votes in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and maybe hold Ohio and win Pennsylvania. Maybe have the same effect on Wisconsin and a few other close blue states, without losing any red states (though the Clintons seem to be worshipped down in Florida). But we're really approaching "senior statesman" territory here. And senior statesmen don't win presidential elections. If Obama is the nominee, it'll be youth v. age. If it's Hillary, she'd get a good run for her money but she might still pull it out. Rudy is 64 but acts 44. He's still our best shot.

[Miss Didi]

Don't you think the Bubbas have their spies everywhere even today? I'm sure they have fresh files coming in every day.

[The Mayor]

Thanks, I will pass that on to Jul!

[TennTuxedo]

So whats new?

[duckbutt]

Beckel is not that cunning --anyone who pays for a prostitute with a check doesn't have that much brainpower ---he's the perfect Dim.....

[StoneWall Brigade]

If She didn't have them then who's to say she dosent have them now? thats the thing with Clinton's there very tricky

[eleni121]

But he's past his prime.

---

In what way? biological age? political irrelevance? Certainly we had the experience of Reagan going down to defeat in the primaries in 1975 at the age of 64 and then coming back in 1980 at 69 to become Prez and change the world.

[eleni121]

So whats new?

---

Nothing much..except going to see "300" tomorrow.

[RepublicanPOTUSin08]

I would say both age and political relevance. Reagan looked like a million bucks even at 70. Fred is, well, a lot of it's the weight. He looks his age. I don't know if the fact that he's been out of office for so long helps or hurts him. I suppose you could argue either way. It could be a positive if voters associate the '90s GOP with common sense conservatism, fiscal sanity, limited government, economic growth, etc. But voters may also look at Thompson as a 9/10/01 candidate who hasn't really done any heavy lifting in this GWOT world. That could go either way I suppose.

[seekthetruth]

Please put me on the Fred Thompson ping list. Thanks!

[girlangler]

"He served 1 1/3 terms."

As of today, so has Hillary. "

GOOD point. And when the dimocrats start sqealing "He hasn't the experience, we need to remind them of this.

[qman]

Gravitas is the word. He's is a real prosecutor and a character actor so the person you've seen on TV is not far from what you see when his is not acting. He's not a great actor, he's a great character. Much like Ronald Regan. His persona exemplifies personal self confidence. He's not a perfect conservative, but who is. Not me.

I can never vote for McCain "ever" he frightens me more than Hillary. That is an angry man and he has every right to be angry. That does not mean he would be a good president.

I think Rudy has the strenght to fight the war against Islamofashism but nothing more.

I live in maine, I have lived with Mitt for four years one hundred mile away and we get some mass TV. He's a go along to get along kind of guy. He dropped any pretense of being a conservative to get elected in Mass. Mass is just about the most liberal state in the union, conservatives just don't get elected here. If you know who Bill Weld is you know what I mean.

The modern presidency is about the persona. Most of us believed the George Bush was going to be a irrelevant president before 911. I personally had know idea he had it in him. I only knew that Gore didn't, that is why i voted for Bush.

The presidency is who the president brings with him to the office. The moment he picked Cheney for VP i new i could trust him to do the right thing most of the time. I understood bush was a serious man.

If Cheney could get elected i would vote for him in an instant.

Unfortunately Gingrich who is probably the best thinker in our party is probably unelectable, but he should continue to influence conservative thought from the outside or in a cabinat post if the republicans win the next election.

So unless Fred Thompson gets in I will vote for Rude, or stay home.

[eleni121]

Thompson looks pretty good to me (and I like lookers): mature and kind of sexy.

A few extra pounds on a big guy is not a liability. (Look at pudgeface Bubba)

As long as he's healthy mentally (in a conservative way)and physically and picks a good VP like Hunter...I'm fine with it.

So it shall be!

[FairOpinion]

Hillary has been "co-president" for 8 years -- just wait until the Dems start to point that out.

[FairOpinion]

"He certainly doesn't have in mind encouraging the Republicans to nominate their best candidate in terms of winning the election."

Precisely.

When conservatives are starting to take their cue from Bob Beckel, they are in deep trouble. One would think they would know better.

[eleni121]

Dittoes to your superb summary...to everything you say.

Thompson: Gravitas, self confidence, he can click with the down home folks (who have been left out of the political process for quite a while now) and make mincemeat out of the beltway types.

[FairOpinion]

Do conservatives really think that a McCain supporter is the answer?!


"Among potential complications in a Thompson race is that he is good friends with McCain, a current presidential candidate. Thompson endorsed McCain for president in his 2000 bid. "




http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/20043

[Josh Painter]

Oh, horrors. (yawn)