Posted on 03/22/2007 9:40:54 AM PDT by quidnunc
In a March 3 memo, the Senior Minority Counsel on the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee outlines for Sen. John Glenn (Ohio) what he hopes will be the ranking Democrat's contribution to the Asiagate investigation — 11 subpoenas on conservative activist groups. The list, since forwarded to committee chairman Fred Thompson (R., Tenn.), reads like a "Who's Who" of the conservative movement, including Citizens for a Sound Economy, the Christian Coalition, and Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform.
In mid March, Senate Republicans agreed to open the door to this potential harassment of their allies after a high-stakes battle over the scope of Sen. Thompson's investigation. Thompson, the hulking 54-year-old former actor who looks the part of a President and wants to play one in real life, laid the predicate for this in February by acceding to the demands of Democrats for an investigation broad enough to include a hunt for GOP wrongdoing.
This set off alarm bells among his Republican colleagues, who fear he will keep stoking his amazing media hype by playing the bi-partisan reformer at their expense. So, privately, they discussed shutting Thompson down and, instead, hoping for an independent counsel.
Majority Leader Trent Lott avoided the fantastic spectacle of Republicans scrapping their own investigation with a deal passed through the Senate Rules Committee. Thompson would get his high-profile investigation, but his committee's mandate would be confined to "illegal" activities, ensuring that he would spend time investigating Al Gore, not Grover Norquist. The situation seemed saved — except that Lott didn't have his votes nailed down, including that of Fred Thompson.
From the start, Senate leadership aides have bristled at what they characterize as Thompson's arrogance and "free-lancing." They complain that he didn't consult the leadership when he first ran into trouble with Democrats on his committee and wasn't forthright about the depth of his opposition to the Lott-brokered compromise. It's unclear to what extent Thompson and his ally John McCain (R., Ariz.) worked against the Lott language among their colleagues, but leadership aides fume over the pair's efforts to spike the deal.
The question came to a head at the weekly Tuesday Republican policy committee lunch in the Capitol. McCain first spoke up for broadening Thompson's inquiry to include "illegal and improper" activities. An angry discussion ensued in which it became increasingly clear that an eclectic collection of senators would hand Thompson a key victory. The usual weak sisters, like Arlen Specter (Pa.), wanted a broader inquiry. But so did others.
Republicans who serve on Thompson's committee, like Susan Collins (Me.) and freshman Sam Brownback (Kan.), had voted in favor of Thompson's original broad language in committee and felt they couldn't reverse themselves, especially with Thompson characterizing such a move as a hypocritical flip-flop. The opposition of the conservative Brownback in particular signaled the end for the Lott deal.
Thompson says he will devote the first phase of his investigation to Democratic wrongdoing anyway, but many Republicans won't believe it until they see it. One longtime Senate aide warns that the Democrats are "too smart, too clever, too everything for Thompson." They've certainly enjoyed manhandling him so far. At a Rules Committee hearing a few weeks ago, Democrats signaled they wouldn't question Thompson about Asiagate when he testified — then piled into the room to berate him over the investigation.
Thompson can expect more of the same. Thompson has said he hopes the Clinton scandals will produce the equivalent of a Watergate-era Howard Baker, a senator willing to turn on his own party. But Democrats typically don't behave that way. Indeed, the only party-defying "Howard Baker" to emerge from the scandals may yet prove to be Fred Thompson himself.
It's just amazing. You'd think people would welcome a full field of GOP candidates, but we have posters here who are fearing Fred's possible entry.
Does that fear mean they fear their candidate is weakened if Fred runs? I think it does....lol.
Do you have a Giuliani quote regarding Clinton? I'd enjoy hearing that!
Thompson needs to jump into the race. I hate to do that to him, but we need him : )
GOOD on you. Keep that handy and easily accessible. I have a feeling we'll need you to trot it again. :0)
Thank you!
I know exactly what you mean; I was thinking today what would I do if he doesn't get in? I'll be depressed F O R E V E R.
But I dread what will be done to him - even right here on FR by that little bunch that is determined to hand this country over to the liberals.
He's got to do it FOR US, dang it!
See Starwise's post, please!
If the thread is about Duncan Hunter, certain parties come onto the thread saying "Duncan Who?" and "He can't win."
If the thread is about Thompson, the same parties ask why we are support of Thompson as well when the true conservative is Hunter.
Talk about an Axis of Weasels.
He's not running yet in their eyes; just wait.
The Giuliani fans?
Some of it might come from some of them, but the ones I'm speaking of are the ones who appear on every single thread, regardless of the candidate, proclaiming themselves to be the arbitors of just who is and who isn't conservative enough.
Just about all of the big anti-Giuliani posters that I can think of think that Fred is terrific and hope he runs. Some of them are on this thread right now. I think you might be surprised at who tries to tear him down. Look at some of the Thompson threads from the last few days.
I sincerely have not seen that on any Thompson thread yet. If you can give me some links, I'd be happy to go tell them to shut their mouths.
I'll tell you what --- if Fred Thomspon runs, I'm going to do my utmost best to keep his threads focused and not let them turn into bash his rivals flame wars.
Defend Fred, yes, but not bash his rivals. I hope our ping lists are free from posters who live to bash the others.
Honestly, I don't think anything that goes on here will divert him from this mission, if he chooses it. Too many influential people are now engaged in the prospect, and too much excitement and spark's been ignited by the mere mention of the possibility of his run. No one else has generated so much positive buzz on our side.
Googled news items:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=fred+thompson&btnG=Search+News
Googled blog items:
http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&client=news&q=fred+thompson&ie=UTF8
But some folks sure like to blather on, and I expect that'll continue and grow.
In the meantime,
http://www.utk.edu/new_images/FredThompson.jpg
thats an interesting take ...dont know that I agree though....although the Senate does not breed leaders
Here's a couple to get you started.
"Most of Clinton's policies are very similar to most of mine."
"The idea of trying to cast blame on President Clinton is just wrong for many, many reasons, not the least of which is I don't think he deserves it,"
You really don't get it, do you? Do you honestly think Rudy Guiliani haters and serial SPAMMERS will be welcomed on Fred Thompson threads? How about the Mitt haters and SPAMMERS?
Several of us who hope Fred runs, have had our fill of the 24/7 shredding of every candidate and we're looking for a candidate we can be almost completely positive about.
It's sure looking that way!
Thanks for posting the links.
I hope you're keeping a large Fred file. :0)
I read the article, and I'm very skeptical.
I'm not questioning Thompson's conservative credentials, I'm questioning his competence to be president — and maybe his sincerity, if not his honesty.
I believe he may be tossing his hat into the ring under false pretenses.
I suspect there is skulduggery afoot here in the form of connivance between Thompson and McCain to suck the air out of the campaign, which has not been going well for McCain.
Thompson has never demonstrated that he is willing to do what it takes to become president.
I've always thought he was somewhat of a political dilettante.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
