Posted on 06/12/2007 7:52:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Fred Thompson didn't enter the 2008 presidential race Tuesday, but he talked like he was getting close to jumping in.
Asked by Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" if he'd like the nation's top job, the former Tennessee senator said, "I've never craved the job of president, but I want to do some things that only a president can do.
"So," Thompson added, "the answer is yes."
Thompson - a Republican best known for playing a prosecutor on NBC's "Law & Order" - has formed a presidential exploratory committee and is expected to join the GOP race this summer.
He insisted he wasn't ready to make any announcements on Leno's couch, but made a point to mention the Web site for his political committee. When asked by Leno about his reaction to the political waters, Thompson said he found them "warm."
"I'm at a stage of my life now when I think about my country, I think about the kind of country my kids are going to grow up in," he said.
He griped about campaigns that "are entirely too long." And he took a swipe at Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, saying she was "trying to balance ... her prior positions with the new requirements of politics in the Democratic Party."
If he runs it will be as a Washington outsider.
Referring to his time in the U.S. Senate, he said, "I often say after eight years in Washington, I longed for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood."
How many people before have ever cared about who was running 6 months out from the primaries where there were a dozen other candiates? Nobody but but bloggers and pundits give a rip at t his point.
Yeah, yeah. Meantime, every time I get an extra 10 or 20 bucks, I’ll send it to Hunter. Call me when you announce and I’ll re-think, but not before.
Its all well and good if Fred wants to run for President.
But i get the feeling he is just another old school Republican willing to compromise rather than take the fight.
I would prefer someone like Romney with a proven trackrecord of executive leadership in a hostile and partisan environment rather than a Senator.
“There are more than 6 months prior to primaries. Deadline are still several months away. There hasn’t been a serious debate yet, just a 10 person circle jerk with everyone trying to get face time. Fred is doing all kinds of TV and radio interviews. Fred is doing podcasts. Fred has a radio show where he does political commentary on a daily basis. Fred is on YouTube putting out responses. When a serious debate comes, Fred will be there.”
gosh, don’t you hear yourself? I don’t understand why Fred’s supporters continue to make up all kinds of excuses for him on this and the reasons absolutely border on ridiculous. No doubt if the tables were turned you’d be blasting any one else doing the same. Yes, Fred is doing all kinds of things, everything BUT debating. Can you not understand why that would be a problem for everyone else who supports those who are participating? I don’t hear those candidates whining about the timing or the seriousness. What concerns me is the rabid Fred support, it’s reminiscent of the rabidly pro-Rudy people...they too spent 24/7 justifying his behavior.
I don’t understand why Fred’s supporters continue to make up all kinds of excuses for him on this
You don’t need to excuse deferring something until the proper time. Santa Claus doesn’t need to apologize for not coming on Halloween.
Not really. I have little respect for candidates who allow folks like Chrissy Matthews to define them via questions like "what do you hate most about America?"
The MSM is the enemy, and candidates who play by MSM rules are aiding the enemy.
Again, the ‘proper’ time is determined by Fred? Kinda like that old saying, “Who died and made him king?”
I don’t disagree that this is all early, but the only one who’s whining then is Fred. Unless of course, he just doesn’t have the cajones to join in. Either way, it just further supports my decision that he’s not going to be my candidate.
Oh please, how ridiculous. LMAO so you’ve actually convinced yourself that the ONLY candidate, to the exception of ALL the others, the one who refuses to cooperate, is right, and the ALL of the rest are aiding the MSM enemy and wrong? That’s such childish nonsense.
Fred is right and everybody else is wrong. I remember making statements along those lines....back in jr. high. But that’s ok, when his true colors are exposed regarding border security and the illegal aliens, then you can call me a ‘one issue’ voter ;)
How many times on this site do we decry the so-called "mainstream media"? We point out their biases, and the manifestation of those biases through commission or omission in the way they choose to present and "frame" the issue.
And yet, come election time, what happens? A group of candidates meekly marches out on stage to try and sneak in the occasional 15-second soundbite while guys like Matthews and Blitzer prop up the preconceived "favorites" and posing questions designed to make the respondents look bad no matter how they answer.
It sucks. We know it sucks. But no one has shown the initiative to buck the system and try to work around the filters. Until now, that is -- Thompson is throwing out the "rules" that aren't really rules, but the results of inertia and habit. He's playing the game his way, and succeeding to this point.
Frankly, all of the candidates should look at the current "debate" (what a horrific misuse of a perfectly good word) format, and say "screw this!" They should come to an agreement amongst themselves to hold real debates, where the candidates have the time and latitude to really present the positions and to freely discuss and contrast their opponents' positions, and Democrat operatives posing as journalists should NOT be invited to "moderate".
I don’t disagree that this is all early, but the only one who’s whining then is Fred. Unless of course, he just doesn’t have the cajones to join in. Either way, it just further supports my decision that he’s not going to be my candidate.
If he can't be trusted to run his own campaign his own way, how can he be trusted to run the country? Thompson isn't going to change his timeline to make you happy, or CNN happy, or the other candidates happy. He's got a plan, and time will tell if that plan works or it doesn't.
And, if you're running for "king", might as well act the part. :)
He knows exactly what he’s doing. The guy’s in second or tied for first, depending whose poll you believe. Personally, I think he is waiting until he’s ahead or damn close to Rudy then he’ll pop the announcement.
Either that or he’ll do it in about 3 weeks.
He's been pretty clear on the need to secure the border, so I have no idea what you are talking about. Unless you are "projecting" your fears on Fred (to turnaround an anti-Fred talking point).
"If George Bush doesn't get our troops out of Iraq, when I'm President...I WILL!"
YAWN!
Meanwhile, you spend 24/7 justifiing your support of a guy with about as much chance of winning the primaries and the Presidency as Mickey Mouse.
I find it telling that you keep beating on this issue despite the fact that Fred has now drawn into a tie with Rudy without even officially entering the race. He is showing that it was a strategic mistake by so many in the GOP to enter early.
It would certainly "unify" the Weekly Standard, the Beltway Boys, and the American Enterprise Institute into a fit of uncontrolled euphoria.
No excuses. I think his doings/not-doings are part of his strategy to run as insider’s-outsider; using alt media to lay ground work. It’s also a long time ‘til the election.
You tell them Fred, looks like a case of green eyed monster to me. I think you are the only smart one, the rest have declared too early and are spending money that is like flushing it down the tolit this early.
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