Fred Thompson for president? I'm not convinced

The Dallas Morning News ^ | March 14, 2007 | Mark Davis

[Livin_large]

As last weekend approached, more and more people were asking me: Do you think Fred Thompson will run for president?

My answer each time: not a chance.

Then on Sunday, there was Mr. Thompson on Fox saying he's open to the possibility and will consider it.

Whoops.

What happened?

I wasn't making stuff up when I expressed doubt. I spoke with the former senator in New York six months ago as various broadcasters gathered for the fifth anniversary of 9/11.

[TommyDale]

The fact that Thompson wants to secure the borders first, then take a realistic approach to solving the illegal inflow made me feel much better. He also said he would immediately pardon the two Border Patrol agents who are imprisoned. That is something I wanted to hear.

[tcrlaf]

Thompson is actually playing it VERY smart by waiting until Summer (??) to announce....

Just watch how the Dems are throwing firebombs at each other...

McCain is collapsing, Rudy doesn't have a Rat's chance, and Romney can't get any traction...

Then Fred comes to the rescue, and picks up all the press, (as well as the fractured supporters) just in time for the fall push....

[VRWCmember]

* Voted YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work. (Jul 1998) -- This was a vote for more LEGAL immingration on work visas.
* Voted YES on visas for skilled workers. (May 1998) -- This was a vote for LEGAL immigration on work visas.
* Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants. (Jun 1997) -- This was a vote to limit entitlements and cut off an incentive for coming into this country to go onto the dole.

Sounds to me like these are good votes.

[mikeus_maximus]

Fred will take charge... He's not a wimpy finger-in-the-wind kiss-up like W....

Whoa thar, Hoss. You have him confused with C. When was the last time George went with a poll or majority will? He follows his own misguided, ill-conceived and half baked ideas.

[angkor]

"Fred helped sponsor McLame/Foolsgold did he not?"

He was also McCrazy's campaign chair in 2000.

But IMO McCrazy didn't go entirely crazy until after 2000, so I give Thompson a pass on that.

[basil]

IMHO, Mark Davis is a total piece of work. At least 9 or 10 years ago, I quit listening to him. He still comes off as a huge egotist it looks like to me. Count how many times he says "I" in this piece, working in how important he is by dropping names and making the impression that he travels with the "Big Boys"

I wonder how is daughter turned out after he dumped his wife who was suffering with MS at the time and was confined to a wheel chair.

[angkor]

"He also said he would immediately pardon the two Border Patrol agents who are imprisoned."

That's the first I've heard of any candidate making that commitment. It's a good one.

[Teacher317]

Does Mr. Davis not know that Fred Thompson was in politics before he became an actor?

[Graymatter]

http://mpa.utk.edu/thompson/biography.htm

A good thorough bio of FT.

[Beagle8U]

"This guy is politically tone deaf as well as blind to what's really happening in conservative circles."

No, Its more likely that he is a lefty and knows that Thompson would derail the Rooty-Toot express, leaving Hillary with no chance of winning.

Without Rooty in the race, abortion, guns, and gays are back on the table as campaign issues. The Rats lose on those issues and he knows it.

[Sensei Ern]

I have slight suspicions that someone gave him a call to divert some of the momentum Duncan Hunter is taking from Rino Rudy.

[E Rocc]

Not to mention that he was on the Watergate committee in 1974.

He was co-chief cousel. Indeed, in his acting debut he played himself. The movie was about his crusade against a corrupt Tennessee governor (Ray Blanton, a Democrat of course).

So far I haven't heard a damn thing wrong with him. I still prefer Dick Armey, but among the semi declared candidates he's my choice right now.

-Eric

[Sensei Ern]

You need to listen more closely. Hunter has been pushing that for months.

[HostileTerritory]

I feel that a southerner will have a very tough road to the White House in 2008, at least as a Republican. It will look like Bush III even though Sen. Thompson is not Bush.

We'd be better off nominating someone from the Midwest or West Coast, and also the Northeast even though I know we don't have many viable candidates from there. But we can't look to the southeast for a savior. We'll end up with a candidate who will sweep North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia and end up with about 200 EVs total, if that.

[Livin_large]

Fred will take charge... He's not a wimpy finger-in-the-wind kiss-up like W.... Whoa thar, Hoss. You have him confused with C. When was the last time George went with a poll or majority will? He follows his own misguided, ill-conceived and half baked ideas.

Say what you will about W but I believe him to be one of the more principled of our Presidents. And like him or not, when he sets a course he rarely deviates from it. I admire him for that.

[TomGuy]

Fred Thompson on immigration??

Not very impressive.

From another thread:

Thompson's former positions/votes on immigration issues aren't that impressive. Link to earlier post.

[angkor]

"Hunter has been pushing that for months."

I'll have to do some reading on Hunter, you're right that I don't know much about him.

[swatbuznik]

-- If not, Ron Paul is a very good conservative.

With zero chance of winning. The guy is also a defeatist on the war on terror and he wants to surrender to the terrorist.--

Exactly, which is why I would never support Ron Paul.

[Livin_large]

I feel that a southerner will have a very tough road to the White House in 2008, at least as a Republican. It will look like Bush III even though Sen. Thompson is not Bush

Not so sure I agree with you on that. Of the declared candidates I'm supporting Hunter, who of course is from CA, but I believe a Southerner, with the name recognition and "Gravitas" of Thompson, could and would do well nationwide.