FREDDY, SET, GO! HERE COMES THOMPSON

New York Post ^ | 8/17/7 | Charles Hurt

[SmithL]

IN JUST two weeks, Fred Thompson will finally announce his formal entry into the 2008 presidential race and instantly become the biggest Republican threat to Rudy Giuliani.

The long-anticipated move by the former "Law and Order" star begins today with his arrival at the Iowa State Fair, where he will face his first real test before actual voters. Giuliani still holds a 10-point advantage over him in national polls, according to RealClearPolitics, but Thompson has seen his own support steadily grow while Giuliani's slowly erodes, from a high of nearly 40 percent earlier this year to below 30 percent now.

The biggest question for Republicans frustrated with the field is whether Thompson has waited so long to enter the race that he's blown any chance of capturing the nomination.

In the months since he began openly flirting with the idea, Thompson's fund-raising has disappointed supporters, he's burned through staff, and a negative story line about his wife, Jeri, meddling with the staff has begun to dog the campaign.

Yet he remains in the strongest position to pick off Giuliani, and hopes to become the real straight talker with big, gutsy ideas whose conservative credentials are beyond reproach.

Thompson's biggest gift over the last few months has been the collapse of Arizona Sen. John McCain's campaign. Once the presumed favorite, McCain is skidding barely above single digits in national polls.

Traditional political observers, of course, go berserk if you consider national polls.

[jmyrlefuller]

At least I use words in the English language.

[Erik Latranyi]

But where’s all the Ron Paul supporters?

Fred-threads usually attract them quickly.....

[dirtboy]

Man, you just don't get it? You get no sympathy when you wade into a thread flinging the bullbiscuits and then have them thrown right back at you.

First rule of holes - stop digging when you find yourself in one.

[RedOhioan]

“You filed abuse? Pathetic. You need to head over to another forum, because you’re not ready for the Big Time.”

Hehe.

[Fresh Wind]

Thompson's fund-raising has disappointed supporters

Why would anyone contribute to a non-candidate? If he wants my money, he has to announce.

[jmyrlefuller]

Yes, but has he shown any leadership qualities? That, to me, is a key issue with me regarding Sen. Thompson. In his Senate career, the only thing I can recall Sen. Thompson taking a stand for was McCain-Feingold. Other than that, he was pretty quiet. Of course, you can correct me if I’m supposedly wrong.

[RockinRight]

I’ll pinch-hit.

1. Fred Thompson is an orator who can communicate conservative principles in the way Reagan could. No, he’s not a Reagan clone, but he “gets it” the way Reagan did.

2. He has recognized threats from China and Mexico, and said so, something no one else has done.

3. He understands the concept of Federalism. Even Reagan was disappointing in that regard sometimes.

4. Solid pro-life record, but doesn’t come across as “too” pro-life, so that pro-choice, but otherwise right-leaning voters would have no major issue voting for him. In practice, every bit as pro-life as Bush or Reagan.

5. Ardently pro-second amendment.

6. Only candidate besides Rootie who was tied with or leading Hillary in a recent Ohio poll. He can win and we’d actually like the results, unlike Rudy.

[Clara Lou]

Items like dirtboy's taunts would definitely fall under personal attacks.
FRiend, apparently you've never been the victim of abuse here. If you had, you'd know those "taunts" don't amount to a hill of beans.

[dirtboy]

Yes, but has he shown any leadership qualities?

Plenty. He chaired a Senate committe (just as Hunter chaired a Congressional Committee). He often swam against the tide when he felt legislation was not federalist in nature. He helped take on a corrupt governor in Tennessee long ago. He helped get Roberts confirmed.

He's done a lot of key stuff. But unlike a lot of pols nowadays, some of the best praise about Fred is what he HASN'T done - seen the fedgov as the solution to all problems.

[TopoGigio]

Fast Coyote, it’s in the book. You have until 08-31-07.

Dont hold your breath.

[jmyrlefuller]

First rule of holes - stop digging when you find yourself in one.

Something you should know.

Who was it that started off with the attacks? Ah, yes...

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Another Mitt booster spewing nonsense. The fear of Fred is strong here...

7 posted on 08/17/2007 9:58:33 AM PDT by dirtboy (Impeach Chertoff and Gonzales. We can't wait until 2009 for them to be gone.)

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And you say I was the one that started "flinging the bullbiscuits?"

[TopoGigio]

RockinRight....its booked. PayPal will work just fine for me too.

[AlaskaErik]

Giuliani's still the favorite. Thompson's poised to steal his thunder.

If Giuliani is the nominee, then I will have to go third party or write-in. I cannot and will not compromise my beliefs and values. I simply cannot hold my nose and vote for Giuliani. He may be the lessor of two evils, but he's still evil. And I'm not voting for evil.

[fetal heart beats by 21st day]

Fred does not have charisma and he is obviously afraid to debate.

Fred does have lots of lobbyists and globalists propping him up, though.

When average Joes find out who he really is, they won’t be supporting him.

But, of course, we all know the strategy is to keep him on a platform, away from any contests with the men, until some of them, preferably all the conservatives, drop out.

Republican strategists beware:

If you force Fred Thompson on us, the base won’t go to the polls, and that WILL DRAG DOWN EVERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN RUNNING IN 08.

The dems have a very effective strategy. Too bad the party elitists still haven’t caught on that their jobs will be in jeopardy too. But, of course, RINO’s can always go back home to the dem. party.

[Squidpup]

From Imwithfred.com:(got to the source if you want it formatted)
His overarching philosophy, was clear from the beginning. “He believes in limiting the jurisdiction of the federal government – and that there are adequate local laws to take care of that problem,” a former Thompson chief of staff told a reporter. Thompson recently laid his Federalism ideas out in a long post on the popular, grassroots site, RedState. During his time in the Senate, Thompson focused on three key areas: lowering our taxes, strengthening national security, and what the American-Statesman called “the unglamorous work of trying to expose waste” and to change the federal government. All have taken on even greater importance today than they had back then. In each of these areas, Thompson accomplished a great deal. Reforms As Chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, Thompson enacted a law that required federal agencies to calculate and report the cost of regulations on taxpayers and businesses. Press reports stated: “He put heat on federal agencies by holding hearings on mismanagement and by asking them to tote up the improper payments they made each year.” That added up to about $20 billion in taxpayer dollars. His efforts saved taxpayers more than $2 billion in 2005-06 alone at the Department of Health and Human Services. He published a report, “Government on the Brink,” (Volume 1 and Volume 2) detailing the waste, fraud, and abuse of federal agencies as well as the management challenges facing the incoming Bush Administration. Paul Light, a New York University professor and leading expert on government, said, “I consider him to be one of the most dedicated overseers of the executive branch of the last 25 years.” Twenty-five years after he’d gained national prominence as hard-charging counsel on the Watergate committee, Thompson again stepped into the investigation spotlight. In 1997, as chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, he opened an investigation into attempts by the Chinese government to influence America policies and elections through, among other means, financing election campaigns. The investigation identified at least six Democrat donors and fundraisers, with ties to the Clinton Administration, who had laundered or aided in the laundering and distribution of foreign money into Democrat political party coffers. The investigation also exposed two Democrat Party donors with “a long-term relationship with a Chinese intelligence agency," according to the Senate committee’s report. Taxes In his eight years, Thompson, who served on the Finance Committee, supported and worked to enact three major tax-cut bills, reducing the federal tax burden on all of us. National Security As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Thompson focused on the threat of nuclear proliferation and technology transfers that could damage American industrial and national security. While a vocal supporter of free trade, Thompson has also fought to link free trade to our national security interests. For example, when voting to grant full-trading status to China, Senator Thompson fought unsuccessfully to include an amendment in the bill that would have required the president to impose sanctions against China if it violated nuclear-nonproliferation agreements. Thompson also served on the Intelligence Committee at a time when it examined the failings in intelligence and analysis leading into the September 11th terrorist attacks, as well as the reforms needed to better prepare for future threats.

[dirtboy]

And who made this initial post:

I’ll second that. He’s well suited for the commentator role. Not so much a Republican frontrunner.

Nah, no flame-bait there.

[stevie_d_64]

Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

I met Mitt in Houston a while back...Definitely a very personable guy...His wife is very nice...

And they have to be...We had a great conversation where I honestly said there is no one in the race today that I have a real good feeling for...He was very amiable to my admission...

If Fred runs, he’s got me...I only wish there was a way to have been able to get Duncan Hunter up in the top of this heap as well...

Rudy will unfortunately tumble off the end as soon as the primaries are out of the way...

November next year will be a straight up fight, and we’d better bring the brass knuckles with us...The opposition is certainly going to come to fight...And they fight dirty...

[dirtboy]

Fred does not have charisma and he is obviously afraid to debate.

Another delusional Hunter supporter chimes in. If you truly believe either of those statements, you ain't worth the trouble.

[trisham]

You filed abuse? Pathetic. You need to head over to another forum, because you're not ready for the Big Time.

******************

LOL!

[dirtboy]

I only wish there was a way to have been able to get Duncan Hunter up in the top of this heap as well...

Hunter should learn from this campaign and run for statewide office, or at least get going on speaking tours and think tanks and work on his salesmanship. He has to show he can win outside a Congressional district, or appeal to a wider base.