Thompson's Organization and Speech Could Turn Fuss Into Fizzle

US News & World Report ^ | 5/9/07 | Kenneth T. Walsh

[perfect_rovian_storm]

The fuss over Fred Thompson keeps percolating. Many Republicans want the former senator and current TV star to run for president.

But as the existing GOP field prepares to debate next week in South Carolina, fundamental organizational problems as well as a big speech the former Tennessee senator gave in California recently are raising questions about whether he is the conservatives' savior after all.

Since many Republicans are unhappy with the current crop of 10 announced presidential candidates, there's a lot of buzz about whether Thompson will actually enter the race. He is conservative, has a proven record of electability in the key state of Tennessee, and is an effective movie and TV performer. Thompson currently plays District Attorney Arthur Branch on NBC's Law and Order, reminding many of former TV and film star Ronald Reagan. And he is openly considering whether to run.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Nope, no bias here as this guy rehashes all the AntiFred talking points. Have at it. :)

[vetsvette]

He’s just hoping that Thompson fizzles. Leftist claptrap.

[Squidpup]

gnats!

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

They FEAR the Fred!

Run Fred RUN!!!!

[xcamel]

“Steaming Pile” alert

[LS]

1) I thought his speech---and I watched the entire thing---was excellent. Plenty of homespun humor, he hit EVER important issue (and included Russia and China as "threats" when discussing foreign policy---something these media idiots would of course hate).

2) Nevertheless, I do not think he can wait too much longer before announcing and ENERGETICALLY campaigning. Writing op-eds won't do it. Big state primaries are in FEBRUARY. We are in mid-May. So it's time to stop testing the water, Fred. Either you're serious, or you aren't.

[jageorge72]

This “need to start campaigning now” stuff is ridiculous. Most of America is NOT paying attention, and couldn’t name 2 current candidates from either party.

My preference is Newt, but he said again today that he is spending the summer developing solutions for the country, and will assess the situation after his American Solutions workshops in September...... and I am fine with that. What Newt is doing is MUCH more valuable & constructive than what any other candidate is doing.

So as far as Thompson goes..... he seems like a good guy and someone I could proudly support. I don’t feel he needs to “jump in the race” either. There is plenty of time.

[ReaganRevolution]

FEAR the Fred

Excellent

[Politicalmom]

Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

Please FReepmail jellybean if you want on/off this list. WARNING: This ping list is EXTREMELY active.

[xcamel]

Exactly
10 lighweights all making idiots out of themselves. Fred could wait until november and get more interest than the others could all together.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Does anyone else here remember when U.S. News & World Report was a moderately conservative magazine? What happened?

The media elites want no part of a truly conservative presidency and will do everything in their (increasingly diminished) power to strangle Fred Thompson’s candidacy in it’s cradle.

---

Fred Thompson/John Bolton 2008

[Grammy]

"Fred Thompson/John Bolton 2008"

Wow, that would be a butt kicking ticket!

[TennTuxedo]

When Fred Thompson decides it is time to jump into the fray, there will be plenty of support behind him. Until then, it is his choice of when to make the plunge. There is a year and a half before the election. There is no realistic hurry.

[Luke21]

US snooze crossed to the dark side about twenty years ago, maybe even before that.

[OldPossum]

Consider the source, then move on.

[OldPossum]

Does anyone else here remember when U.S. News & World Report was a moderately conservative magazine? What happened?

I do. I even subscribed to it back in the 60's. What happened? Don't know. I auppose it succumbed to the liberal forces which changed everything in the 60's. One thing's for sure: it's hot and cold running crap now.

[cpdiii]

They FEAR the Fred!

You got it! US NEWS and WORLD REPORT is controlled by Mort Zuckerman. He is a card carrying Clintonista. If US NEWS is bad mouthing Fred Thompson, it is because Fred scares them!

[pangaea6]

Yeah I don’t see the MSM wringing their hands or saying time is running out concerning Newt or Gore. When people talk about them, and know they’re considering Sept. it’s like “Oh well, we’ll see what happens then.” So yeah , I agree with you, Fred has time.

[Fledermaus]

Exactly. It’s still very early and I think most of these candidates have jumped the gun. People are going to be sick of Rudy and McCain and Romney by November.

And you are correct. No one but us junkies are paying attention. Most Americans won’t wake up between American Idol declares a winner and the kids are back in school in September. And even then that’s only about half. The other half are functional illiterates that make the argument for bringing back IQ tests to be able to vote. Fortunately I doubt many of them bother.

[LS]

No, there is not plenty of time. Eight months, in politics, is a heartbeat. Have you ever worked campaigns? I did the last Blackwell campaign (and remember, he lost, so his opponent did at least as much). The entire organization was up, doing "town meetings" four to five months before the primaries (fall of 05). That means his staff and organization were up six months before that. That means the $$ was lined up at least that early. State organizations for a presidential campaign are critical, and require advance teams to go in more than a year out. (Bush was working the governors TWO YEARS before the election, and one year before the primary, getting his statewide organization in place).

This stuff does not just "happen" overnight. You can bet Newt was not at C-PAC hustling up donors, talking to bloggers, for nothing. He was seeing if he had enough support to run, and I'm betting he heard, "no." It is precisely because "people can't name" the candidates that a PRESIDENTIAL candidate has to begin getting his name out there now.