Grin and Bear It: Is Fred Thompson Made of Presidential Material?

Newsweek/MSNBC ^ | Sept. 10, 2007 issue | Holly Bailey with Richard Wolffe, Eleanor Clift, Eve Conant and Mary Carmichael

[2ndDivisionVet]

Fred Thompson does not want to meet the Butter Princess. Everywhere he turns at this morning's meet-and-greet at the Minnesota State Fair, he is surrounded by hundreds of star-struck onlookers, many of them "Law & Order" fans who line up three-dozen deep for a close-up with the actor who would be president. Thompson, a sometimes reluctant campaigner, is in full movie-star mode, and has his good-ole-boy charm set on high. All the women he meets are "honey" and the men "buddy." Even dressed down in khakis and a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, he is hard to miss. At 6 feet 6, he is head-and-shoulders taller than anyone around him. Posing for picture after picture, he reflexively stoops to fit in the frame. Some fans ask him to autograph DVDs of "The Hunt for Red October" and "In the Line of Fire," movies in which he had small but memorable parts playing powerful, world-weary men. "Run, Fred, run!" comes a shout from the crowd. Thompson lets out a long, low chuckle. All in all, he looks downright thrilled to be here.

[no dems]

I remember when the question came up about his "age" in the 1984 Debate between Reagan and Mondale and Reagan said: "I understand, but I pledge that I will not exploit the youth and inexperience of my opponent for political gain."

[no dems]

Yep, he’s 6’6” tall. Can you see him standing on the Debate podium beside Hillary; or better yet, standing beside Dennis “The Menace” Kucinich?

[Ditter]

I hope I get to shake his hand. I shook hands with Nixon and he wasn’t any taller than I am, 5’3”.

[The Wizard]

he certainly wasn’t senate material....he was walked all over by John Glenn....that’s when he lost me...he’s just an actor probably encouraged by the beast to draw votes from the only GOP’er who can beat her

[ImpBill]

I had forgotten that one, but glad you reminded me. It was another great “one liner” by “the gipper”.

[Clara Lou]

The anti-FReds love to trot that old tale out, don’t they? Doesn’t hold water. Did you have any other criticism, perhaps a bit more on point?

[Ditter]

Who is the GOPer who can beat her, in your opinion?

[hershey]

We have a ways to go before Nov. ‘08, and Fred has to find imaginative ways to get his message across without voter’s eyes glazing over. Well, the MSM is drooling at the chance to take him apart, so every interview with CNN or Matthews, etc. should be entertaining. I hope at some point he tells them to ‘shut up’. Or maybe he’ll tell Hillary that.

[Kimberly GG]

S.O.P.

[Clara Lou]

Yes, your posts are S.O.P. for you. It’s good that you’re able to see it and admit it.

[Kimberly GG]

LMAO...
I swear sometimes I think you must be Howlin and good riddance...whereever she went, should have taken you with her.

[mad_as_he$$]

Calling the recent series of candidate infomercials “debates” is like calling Chezwiz gourmet food.

[Clara Lou]

:-D

:-p

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Yeah, maybe by the time we're done, we can be left only with moonbats like you posting vitriol and venom at every candidate that isn't your pathetic vanity candidate.

Even Hunter's own communications manager thinks that he has no chance of getting the nomination. He's paid by the campaign and he can accept reality. Why can't you? And why can't you stop dumping on other candidates in a futile attempt to promote your own? All you end up doing is driving people away from your guy.

[trisham]

Thompson LOOKS like a President and he can obviously ACT like a President

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

Thompson has charisma, no doubt about it, but he's more than just a pretty face. :)

For those who haven't been to "I'm with Fred", take a few minutes and visit:

http://www.imwithfred.com/

[Plutarch]

The anti-FReds love to trot that old tale out, don’t they? Doesn’t hold water. Did you have any other criticism, perhaps a bit more on point?

Why Fred Waited

Posted by Clara Lou to Plutarch On News/Activism 08/31/2007 4:21:15 PM PDT · 84 of 96 Fred admirers must multiply explanations and excuses for each fresh example of Fred being unready. You're amusing. You state your personal opinion as though it were established fact--and then you tell us that Fred admirers must multiply explanations and excuses for each fresh example of Fred being unready, as though you are the Great Ordainer of Correct Opinion and that the rest of us have to meet your demand for "explanations." _________________________________________________________ I don't get it Clara Lou. You take umbrage at me when I invite Fred fans to tout their candidate , and then you go huffily demanding stuff from other posters! Geez.

[Clara Lou]

then you go huffily demanding stuff from other posters! Geez.
I know you can READ. I didn't demand, I asked this question, as you yourself cited in your post to me: Did you have any other criticism, perhaps a bit more on point? See--that's what question marks indicate--questions.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Fred Thompson does not want to meet the Butter Princess.

---

I had to read a bit to learn that this first sentence did not refer to a snub of a small-town gal, but a lack of interest in viewing a sculpture made of butter.

[Mamzelle]

I like the essays he's written lately.

That's about all I have to go on. Otherwise, he's coy. My suspicion is that there's a big part of him that would rather retire with his hot, young wife and toddling new babies, his nice back account, his celebrity status, and cushy lecturing income. Campaigning takes a lot of time and energy and frustration. He's just got it real good, and running for president might mess it up.

[EternalVigilance]

Unreal.