I heard former Sen. Fred Thompson speak for the first time last Friday, July 27 at the annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Marriott in downtown Philadelphia. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee also spoke. Huckabee made a good impression and seemed to speak from the heart. After lunch, Thompson spoke and read his speech as if it were the first time he had seen it. ALEC is a good group of conservative state legislators.
Thompson read a speech about conservatives, the framers of the constitution, and federalism that was right for this audience of conservative state lawmakers. My only objection to the speech was that it seemed that Thompson was phoning it in. He sounds like a good conservative but he also sounds as if he thinks charm alone will win him the nomination. In fact, he sounded just a little on the lazy side.
I am asking Freepers from Tennessee who know him, does Thompson have the energy to run campaign for president and to govern? Is he lazy or did I catch him on a bad day? I would even say that Thompson was mildly disrespectful of his audience.
Out of the 1,400 people in that room were undoubtedly about 200-300 who would likely be delegates to the Republican National Convention in 2008. If Thompson could not muster the energy to give a good talk to a conservative audience like that, most of whom wish him well, then when would he summon the energy? Folksy is fine for the stump when you are running statewide for governor or senator but people expect more of a candidate for president if that is what he is.
The “lazy” charge is wearing thin.
Your post is certainly an incredible indictment of Thompson! Incredible!
I still am supporting him, as I believe that he may be our best bet.
Huckabee is a great speaker. Too bad that he doesn't get more exposure.