Posted on 09/03/2007 3:24:18 PM PDT by asparagus
Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Monday said he would welcome Republican rival Fred Thompson to the race, but also took some jabs at Thompson's long delay in formally announcing his candidacy.
Thompson, the "Law & Order" television actor and former senator from Tennessee, is expected to officially enter the race this week. Instead of attending a Wednesday night debate in Durham, N.H., Thompson will be in Los Angeles to appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
"I think it will boost the ratings for Jay Leno's show, but I'd rather be doing well in New Hampshire," said Romney, who is leading in most polls in this early voting state.
Thompson's candidacy has been a shadow on the GOP contest. He has equivocated about getting into the race, while his campaign organization has been in flux. His entry comes remarkably late in a campaign cycle that began days after the 2006 midterm elections.
"Well, I guess the only comment I'd make to Fred Thompson would be: Why the hurry? Why not take a little longer to think this over?" Romney jokingly told reporters. "From my standpoint, if he wants to wait until January or February, that would be ideal."
That's when the primaries unfold in rapid succession.
Romney spent Monday opening his fall campaign, marching in a Labor Day parade in Milford and attending retails stops elsewhere. He said voters would note who is there — and who is not.
"I think people will notice there have been a bunch of guys who have been working real hard to get to know voters across the country," Romney said.
As for Thompson's entry, Romney quipped: "I think he'll have some fun. We're going to presumably have some debates with him. We'll have had five without him."
Texas votes in March. The state is irrelevant for the primaries. I would have showed up at the straw poll, but only former delegates could vote. Completely idiotic.
Oh, the old flake amendments argument? Give it a rest, creampuff.
Can we have a time out here for one second? We can go back to insulting each other later.
You keep bringing this George Allen thing up. But, you seem to gloss by the whole REASON that everyone was convinced that Allen would be the guy: executive experience. You know, like the stuff in your tagline? Yeah, he was a senator, but prior to that, he was a very popular governor of VA.
Now, all name calling aside (we’ll get back to it soon, and I’m itching to call you a few myself, so I know how you feel) wouldn’t it ring more true that Allen’s supporters, who lusted after that ever-important ‘executive experience’ would be for Romney now and not Thompson?
I’m anxious to hear your thoughts on this. Though, I bet you’ll go right back to using it as some kind of inexplicable FredHead bashing tool in no time.
I agree with you. A “path to citizenship” means allowing some level of amnesty. However, Fred didn’t use the phrase, “path to citizenship”. He did say “aspirations of citizenship”. Huge difference. The aspiration or ambition Fred talks about, comes from following the legal system we have in place today. That means getting in the back of the line and not jumping those who have been working for years to get US citizenship. HR4437 is the House enforcement first bill and is what Fred supports. No amnesty.
LOL!
Who, moi ? Apparently the folks in Ratsachusetts can with the trash they keep electing. I just don’t want that joke spread to us... :-P
>>>The state is irrelevant for the primaries.
I’m sure Texas voters appreciate that thought.
I’ll tell you the really disgusting people on the Precious Willard side are those that take to bashing Fred’s wife and his marriage in the threads. Catty, cheap and revolting. I needn’t mention who the offenders are (well, we’ll say the main culprit is a person whose name rhymes with “laundra buffy”). You would be hard-pressed to find a single Fred supporter who has EVER gone after Romney’s wife. I have never mentioned her at any point.
Meaningless twaddle for sheeple.
Here’s a few things to start with, a summary. From his website. I will try to track down his longer resume.
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.
Billy’s just mad because Tommy Thompson was a flash in the pan. Billy also remains FR’s most stalwart defender of Lindsey Graham, too. Sometimes I just don’t get people.
Or maybe it was “getting the American people back living in shacks.” Socialism will eventually do that, you know.
But, of course. Socialism for those below the superrich class. Amazing how the Beacon Hill Billionaire Bolsheviks always manage to hold onto their wealth and make everyone else miserable. Like the late Leona Helmsley said, “Only the little people pay taxes.” The rich left’s mantra. Do as I say, not as I do.
Precious is just the paving crew for the movement. Gotta love those trojan horse RINOs.
Romney will never win. He can mouth off as much as he likes it only makes him look bad.
What did you do to your kitty?
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Mitt.
Mitt who?
Depends. Are you a liberal Massachusetts voter or a conservative Republican presidential primary voter?
I wouldn’t be surprised if all of the GOP Presidential candidates, who are participating in the September 5 New Hampshire Debate, take their turns at attacking Fred Thompson’s absence, knowing that Fred isn’t there to immediately respond to all of their attacks against Fred and even if Fred does decide to later respond to any to all of the attacks that are made against Fred at the debate.
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