Posted on 08/18/2007 7:29:14 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Following in the path of Mitt Romney, Rudolph W. Giuliani, Hillary Rodham Clinton and a host of other presidential candidates, Fred D. Thompson punched his ticket at the Iowa State Fair on Friday, acting very much the candidate despite legal restrictions on his political activity.
This was in no uncertain terms a debut for Mr. Thompson. Rather than merely delivering a talk to supporters, he was engaged this time in what could not have been mistaken for anything other than retail campaigning as he mingled through the crowd at the fair, a must-stop for any serious presidential contender.
But if it was a debut, it was an unusual one: Mr. Thompson was shaking hands but, having not yet declared his candidacy, was barred by federal regulations from asking for votes. Nor can he advertise to promote his political ambitions, and so there were no Thompson for president bumper stickers or lapel pins to hand out.
The most his campaign could say on the placards it distributed was Im with Fred. And hundreds who were with Fred showed up, along with the simply curious, on a balmy day here to watch and listen as he stumped without stumping. If nothing else, Mr. Thompson proved that he could walk a fine line in his brown loafers even as he aimed his pitch toward the conservative core of the Republican Party.
I am unabashedly pro-life, he told the crowd by way of introduction from the fairs political soapbox, where Mr. Romney, Mr. Giuliani and Mrs. Clinton had all tried to reach Iowa voters in recent days. I am pro-Second Amendment. And I dont apologize for the United States of America.
The crowd roared.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
“Fred will do just fine there.”
I’ve lived in 4 different parts of the state spanning 10 years and I have to agree.
The KOS’rs seem a bit scared of who they call “GrandPa Fred”...
“The ghastly and undernourished specter of Fred Thompson haunted the Iowa State Fair last week, a tradition usually honored by presidential candidates in corporeal form.”
They KNOW that he is the only one who can challenge Hillary’s Coronation....
While my son (36) feels that Fred’s speeches are too low key and dull, I disagree.
I love Fred. I believe that his style of communicating is exactly what the country needs. People don’t get the President’s style, and he is too out of touch to realize that saying something once is not adequate.
In this age of information overload, if you don’t repeat your views over and over, no one will remember what you said.
That’s how the Dems make their points - they lie but they lie over and over until no one can forget what they said - and the fact that most of the time it is lies, is not important to a lot of the listeners, it is the consistent repetition that sticks in their brains.
If Fred really understands that, as he seems to, he could be a great President.
Fred Thompson scares the KOS crowd more than Right Guard, Lysol and Dial Soap combined...
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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I hope so. I had a glimmer of hope in 2004, but with Harkin in the Senate and after going for Algore in 2000, Clinton in 1992 and 1996, and Dukakis in 1988, I’ve lost a lot of faith in Iowa.
Better Fred than Dead!
Thompson 2008: Kill the Terrorists, Secure the Borders and Punch the Hippies!!
Fred Thompson took Algore’s seat in 1994 and won two landslides. He was very good Senator and he is a real believer in federalism, national defense and free market economics. He will do very well indeed.
If you want to see an empty suit check out Osama Obama or Hillary Clinton.
Hes really just an empty suit right now.
Welcome to FR..... Hope you enjoy your tenure.
There is more direct information on Fred than there is on almost any other candidate.
If you don’t want and/or are too lazy to look, that’s fine, but don’t start with the questions and then end with a the empty suit crack...
Well that explains it...
Welcome to Free Republic, I shall enjoy observing your tenure...
If that was a concern for me before hearing him yesterday, it wasn't after his speech. He was right on the money and a crowd pleaser. Fred beats the heck out of slick, slimy Democrats.
I wish I could have gotten the day off work to head down there as well...I look forward to seeing/hearing him in person as well.
I have seen/heard Tancredo in the past and I like what he had to say then, I have not had the chance to hear Hunter yet either.
I must disagree with you on Hillary CLinton being an empty suit. I think she fills out her tight pantsuit just fine.
I watched Fred being interviewed by Mickelson. Mickelson is pretty tough so I tried to pay attention to Mickelson's questions and body language. If I can give my impression, I think Mickelson was also impressed with Fred. We'll see.
Do know how to use Google, n00b? It's not that f$%king hard. Quit wasting our time and expecting others to spoon-feed you information.
Fred is a too chicken to declare himself a candidate. He is a non-candidate who has not participated in any debates, or any straw polls...What kind of platform is that?
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