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Waiting for Fred ("Did Thompson miss his moment?")
ABC News ^ | July 31, 2007 | RICK KLEIN

Posted on 07/31/2007 5:13:32 PM PDT by Plutarch

The Note: Waiting for Fred

What an actor needs to learn about timing

By RICK KLEIN

July 31, 2007

Lessons learned in the two months that former senator Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., has been "testing the waters": 1. Having a campaign shake-up does not require having a campaign (though having a meddlesome spouse helps). 2. Folksy observations do not answer questions about lobbying work on behalf of abortion-rights groups (and the flies called "opposition research" buzz really loudly come fall). 3. No one politician can possibly fix all the things that plague the GOP (even if that politician plays a problem-solver on TV). 4. Some actors look better in the middle distance than in tight shots.

As Thompson gets his first of many close-ups today with a federal financial filing, the question must be asked: Did Thompson miss his moment? If Thompson had jumped into the race in late spring, when the GOP was in full angst mode over its presidential field, his announcement would have itself provided a major lift. The storyline: a smooth-talking (conservative) giant-to-the-rescue -- irresistible to the party faithful, and filling a discernable void in the field....

Yes, national and local polls place Thompson squarely in the mix. But add disappointing numbers to Thompson's churning staff and a series of message-free speeches, and this savior may need to rescue himself before he turns to rescuing a political party. "Many Republicans have turned queasy as Thompson has ousted part of his original brain trust and repeatedly delayed his official announcement, which is now planned for shortly after Labor Day, in the first two weeks of September," Politico's Mike Allen writes.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: elections; fred; fredthompson; gop; loon; republicans; wheresfred
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Fred Thompson
A good actor knows timing is everything - has Thompson missed his cue? (AP Photo )

1 posted on 07/31/2007 5:13:35 PM PDT by Plutarch
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To: Plutarch

Oh, the name, corrected...

KLEIN, DICK.


2 posted on 07/31/2007 5:16:36 PM PDT by xcamel ("It's Talk Thompson Time!" >> irc://irc.freenode.net/fredthompson)
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To: Plutarch; SE Mom; Politicalmom; jellybean; jdm
...has Thompson missed his cue?

Uh, no.

3 posted on 07/31/2007 5:17:41 PM PDT by Petronski (imwithfred.com)
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To: xcamel
Oh, the name, corrected... KLEIN, DICK.

In German, Klein means small.

The guy's name is "small dick." No wonder he's bitter.

4 posted on 07/31/2007 5:19:09 PM PDT by Petronski (imwithfred.com)
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To: Plutarch
Amazing how the liberal media is so focused on what they characterize as abortion lobbying. Gosh, you’d think that this was a major issue with them, and they were working hard to end abortion...

Ooooh, right, how stupid of me, it’s an attack to discourage conservators from supporting a conservative and to neuter the conservative vote (why bother voting, you’re only going to vote for abortion...)

Now, though, I really have to wonder - how can someone who is pulling #1 or #2 in the national polls, and same in the early primary states, be ‘too late’? I’ve seen this theme in a lot of newspapers, it’s like the Clinton campaign sent out an e-mail last night saying ‘do this, damn it, as FRed’s going to trash me if I have to debate him...’

Though, man, when she launched into her first personal attack, he can go into very rich detail of her travelgate scandal. “Well, Fred, you claim you’re against abortion, but you worked for...” He smiles, “I’ve already explained that, but how about we talk about what happened when you were First Lady and the White House Travel Office - there’s still a number of questions you’ve always refused to answer. How about answering them now in front of this national audience, get that air cleared up.”

5 posted on 07/31/2007 5:23:22 PM PDT by kingu (No, I don't use sarcasm tags - it confuses people.)
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To: Plutarch
It's still too early.

Wait until Sheriff Joe gets the call.

6 posted on 07/31/2007 5:25:01 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Islam is the religion of violins, NOT peas.)
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To: Plutarch
A good actor knows timing is everything - has Thompson missed his cue? (AP Photo )

Uh, Dick? People were saying this months ago. It means nothing.
7 posted on 07/31/2007 5:26:03 PM PDT by aruanan
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To: Plutarch
So, who decides when the ‘cue’ is? Of course, ABC thinks it’s them, but that would only impact the 10 people that read or watch ABC News.
8 posted on 07/31/2007 5:31:18 PM PDT by mnehring (Ron Paul is as much of a Constitutionalist as Fred Phelps is a Christian)
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To: Plutarch

I know that was then, this is now, different man, etc etc.

Nov 13, 1979 Reagan announced his candidacy for President. After winning the party’s nomination, he chose George Bush as his running mate. The platform called for “a new consensus with all those across the land who share a community of values embodied in these words: family, work, neighborhood, peace, and freedom.”

Nov 4 1980 Reagan was elected the 40th President of the United States in a landslide victory over the incumbent, Jimmy Carter.


9 posted on 07/31/2007 5:31:44 PM PDT by Names Ash Housewares
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To: aruanan
Some folks don't know how to read a calendar. It's July 31, 2007. The election, if the Dems let us hold one, will be November a year from now.

Odds are good we are going to be revving up our yachts to go pull our troops off Oastend before this one is over if the Dems get their way.

10 posted on 07/31/2007 5:32:22 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Plutarch

his wife needs to be sent to a good stylist.

11 posted on 07/31/2007 5:33:59 PM PDT by Fred Nerks (Fair dinkum!)
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To: Fred Nerks
his wife needs to be sent to a good stylist.

Thanks for the picture and the metrosexual insight.

12 posted on 07/31/2007 5:37:59 PM PDT by BfloGuy (It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect . . .)
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To: Plutarch

Fred’s sleight-of-hand is not working for him. To compound Fred’s problem, Rudy is starting to act...well, presidential.


13 posted on 07/31/2007 5:43:10 PM PDT by ought-six ("Give me liberty, or give me death!")
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To: Fred Nerks

Well, I prefer her cleavage to Hillary’s. What is the deal with all the disapproval over her having a nice rack?


14 posted on 07/31/2007 5:44:43 PM PDT by clilly54
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To: Fred Nerks

Thank heavens we have your fashion sense to tell us these things!


15 posted on 07/31/2007 5:46:40 PM PDT by Clara Lou (Thompson '08-- imwithfred.com)
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To: ought-six
Fred’s sleight-of-hand is not working for him. To compound Fred’s problem, Rudy is starting to act...well, presidential.
...he said, with all of his fingers and toes crossed tightly, and thinking "If I say this often enough, it will be true...it will be true...it will be true...."
16 posted on 07/31/2007 5:49:48 PM PDT by Clara Lou (Thompson '08-- imwithfred.com)
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To: Plutarch

Fred’s equivocating is giving Rudy the chance to steal the stage. Even Mitt is sounding pretty good. Once Fred announces (and he WILL announce), this race is going to get very interesting. I think Rudy is starting to make inroads among those conservatives who are uncomfortable with some of his stands on social issues. Mitt is projecting well in the states with early primaries, but that can change. Fred is going to have to come up with some firm positions, because if he’s going to try and hang his hat on “winging it” and stage presnce he’s going to get a rude awakening. America desperately needs a strong and proven LEADER. Fred has not shown he possesses those credentials. He talks a good game, but his CV is pretty thin on leadership experience. Both Rudy and Mitt have executive experience. Fred doesn’t.


17 posted on 07/31/2007 5:51:51 PM PDT by ought-six ("Give me liberty, or give me death!")
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To: Clara Lou

I like Fred, and sometimes he sounds very good. Still, his appointment of Spencer Abraham is very puzzling. If Fred could live up to his own hype, he’d be formidable. I’m just not sold on him. Me, I’m for Duncan Hunter. And, who knows? Maybe Duncan will catch fire as thgis thing progresses? McCain? FUGGEDABOUDIT!


18 posted on 07/31/2007 5:57:50 PM PDT by ought-six ("Give me liberty, or give me death!")
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To: clilly54

Green eyed envy because thats a NICE RACK


19 posted on 07/31/2007 5:58:02 PM PDT by italianquaker (When will pelosi ask congressman ellison to apologize for his 9-11 remarks?)
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To: BfloGuy

better?

20 posted on 07/31/2007 6:02:14 PM PDT by Fred Nerks (Fair dinkum!)
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