So Thompson Isn't Reagan After All?

realclearpolitics.com ^ | June 15, 2007 | Blake D. Dvorak

[neverdem]

That didn't take long. Apparently all one needs to do to earn the ire of your political allies is to place second in a few national polls. Indeed, after an initial wave of glowing reviews and softball interviews, Fred Thompson has been getting thumped a bit in the conservative chorus.

George Will, writing in Newsweek the other day, asked: "If he did not look like a basset hound who had just read a sad story - say, 'Old Yeller' - and if he did not talk like central casting's idea of the god Sincerity, would anyone think he ought to be entrusted with the nation's nuclear arsenal?"

A few weeks earlier, Robert Novak, another hard-hitting conservative, criticized Thompson's flat delivery at the Lincoln Club of Orange County - "a let down for the packed audience of conservative Republicans." And just last week, having spent a leisurely half-hour with Sean Hannity the night before, Thompson was absolutely grilled by Larry Kudlow on the host's CNBC show for the former Tennessee senator's opposition to tort reform.

Few conservatives have gone for the criticisms coming from the left - the lobbying career; the closeness to Washington's elite circles; the defense of Scooter Libby - except to note that Thompson doesn't, in fact, drive himself around Tennessee in a red pick-up truck. (The truly vicious have even gone after him for marrying a much younger woman.)

And it seems that anyone who comments on Thompson has to make an obligatory reference to his reputation for laziness on the job. Jay Leno, for instance, wouldn't have mentioned it to Thompson Tuesday night if the notion hadn't already become part of the collective wisdom.

--snip--

And yet one wonders: Wasn't Thompson's video skewering of Michael Moore a...

[Moonman62]

I think John Roberts was a great pick, but Harriet Miers? We can thank the same base that is screaming about illegal immigration that she isn’t on the court.

[Honeybunch]

ping

[fkabuckeyesrule]

I agree with you on Reagan and judges. Of course some would say he only had a slight majority in the Senate (after ‘86 it was a dem senate) and maybe judges was not the preoccupation it is today. Also, not only did Reagan nominate O’Connor but he really didn’t fight for Robert Bork. Personally I think America is a lesser nation because it did not have Bork on the USSC.

[Honeybunch]

Maybe they were tired of being “Bush administation people.”

[ripnbang]

I believe he is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations. I’m not real intimate with the details, but I’m fairly certain it is an organization that basically wants to do away with international borders and make one big global country...EU on steroids. Seems many academics and elitists belong to this group (Bill Clinton, Al Gore, etc.). Even though, Fred still has piqued my interest with his strong stand on defense, immigration, national security, etc. He may be a prior Wash. DC player, but I just have a feeling he represents many conservative values. We’ll have to see as it unfolds. Thompson/Hunter ticket would be interesting.

[Jet Jaguar]

Reagan was so seventies.

We don’t need another Reagan.

We need a Conservative, gun friendly, terrorist slapping, tell it like it is fellow, who is not afraid of the libs and the MSM.

Fred sorta fits that mold.

[Oklahoma]

I wouldn’t call them allies but they are what I would call non-liberals, meaning they are more likely to be against a good portion of the liberal agenda without being for the Conservative agenda. That doesn’t mean they actually agree on much. Put them together and they will get along as well as Laura Ingraham and Linda Chavez. As others have noted George Will takes many positions contrary to mainstream conservative thought. One example is his belief the country is “under taxed.” Novak is pretty good on fiscal matters but he has this giant blind spot when it comes to the threat from Islamofascism.

[goodnesswins]

Yes....when I heard he’d hired Carville’s wife....I was disappointed.

[Cicero]

I would add that none of this is an especially “recent development,” and that the opening paragraph suggesting that Fred is losing momentum is therefore entirely misleading. He still hasn’t declared, but his numbers continue to rise.

[2ndDivisionVet]

IIRC, Robert Novak, though conservative, is a registered democrat. George Will has become a little too chummy with his buddies in the liberal left media. He gets less conservative with every passing year.

[Jet Jaguar]

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an influential and independent, nonpartisan foreign policy membership organization founded in 1921 and based at 58 East 68th Street (corner Park Avenue) in New York City, with an additional office in Washington, D.C. Through its membership, meetings, and studies, it has been called the most powerful agent of United States foreign policy outside the State Department. It publishes the respected bi-monthly journal Foreign Affairs. It has an extensive website, featuring links to its “think tank”, The David Rockefeller Studies Program, other programs and projects, publications, history, biographies of notable directors and other board members, corporate members, and press releases.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_on_Foreign_Relations

And I hate to reference any thing from Wiki. So here is more.

http://www.cfr.org/

Welcome to CFR.org, the website of the Council on Foreign Relations. It is designed to be an online resource for everyone in these turbulent times who wants to learn more about the complex international issues challenging policy-makers and citizens alike.

Thinking about and discussing pressing foreign-policy issues is a long-established tradition at the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan and independent membership organization. As you can learn by reading our mission statement, the Council has promoted understanding of foreign policy and America’s role in the world since its founding in 1921. It does this in a variety of ways: by convening meetings at which government officials, global leaders, and Council members debate major foreign-policy issues; by operating a think tank that is home to the world’s most prominent scholars of international affairs; by sponsoring Task Forces and commissioning books and reports; and by publishing Foreign Affairs, the leading journal of global politics.

I read Foreign Affairs occasionally. It provides me insight to left thinking leaders, Right thinking leaders, and the liberal press and some right wing writers.

[B4Ranch]

Yeah, that’s possible too.

[Politicalmom]

Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

WARNING: If you want to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.

[Oztrich Boy]

He said “protectionist” in reference to some. That perked my ears up quick. I don’t like the implications in that. I had read a few things too, that I don’t recall where, that he is a globalist

I think the word you want is "conservative". You know the free market thing.

[Hostage]

Please kindly provide some names.

[Mensius]

“...show for the former Tennessee senator’s opposition to tort reform.”... I'd like to hear Fred's explanation.

Federalism. When examining his votes, you can see several where he opposed feds getting involved in state issues.

[Hostage]

He did not hire Mary Matalin. She volunteered without pay.

She is attempting to ride his coattails.

There are many others attempting to do the same thing.

There will be many more.

You will know who is in the inner circle when you hear from the warhorse’s lips.

Be patient, be smart, don’t bite every piece of tripe people say about their ‘association’ with FDT.

Some will try to speak for him. Don’t let them hook you until you head from Fred himself backing them up.

[civic virtue]

Indeed, after an initial wave of glowing reviews and softball interviews, Fred Thompson has been getting thumped a bit in the conservative chorus.

To be honest: I would feel better about this guy if he were now, or had ever been a governor, or even had senior administrative experience (e.g. CEO). A one term senator is not generally presidential material.