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How Thompson Hurt His Own Prospects -- and Helped Romney's
Real Clear Politics ^ | September 04, 2007 | Stuart Rothenberg

Posted on 09/04/2007 7:30:05 AM PDT by AmericanMade1776

After former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson acknowledged in mid-March that he was considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination, supporters of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were quietly acknowledging the obvious: Their candidate was political roadkill if Thompson entered the contest anytime soon.

But things look very different now. Thompson's decision to delay his entry into the contest until this week not only damaged his own prospects but, more importantly, breathed life into a Romney candidacy that easily could have been snuffed out before it had begun.

Initially, coming from the right side of the ideological spectrum, Thompson appeared to fill the vacuum created when Virginia Sen. George Allen was eliminated as a credible presidential candidate. Even more important, the attorney-turned-actor-turned-Senator- turned-actor seemed to appeal to conservatives looking for "another Ronald Reagan."

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; elctions; electionpresident; elections; fred; fredthompson; mittromney; romney; rothenberg; thompson
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To: sam_paine
sam_paine wrote: I think Kerry and Gore had pretty big organizations, too, didn’t they?

They did, they had all the money that Soros could give them. Kerry was "swiftboated" and Al Gore was left with "hanging chads".

41 posted on 09/04/2007 8:22:16 AM PDT by AmericanMade1776 ( my opinions do not represent the opinions of the management at Free Republic, they are mine alone.)
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To: Badeye
Badeye wrote: Romney has run a very good campaign so far...and its too early to tell if Fred Thompson’s bucking the new system will pay off, or cause him to implode politically.

yes, that is where the waiting game comes in....tick...tick..tick.... announcement on Jay Leno...stay tuned...tick..tick.. Meanwhile other Candidates have been in several debates and are actively pursuing the nomination within the Republican party.

42 posted on 09/04/2007 8:24:09 AM PDT by AmericanMade1776 ( my opinions do not represent the opinions of the management at Free Republic, they are mine alone.)
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To: MeanWestTexan

Due to the enthusiasm I took at look at Fred, but I am underwhelmed. I think he goes nowhere fast. I am a lot more interested in qualifications for the job than many here. He has none, in my mind.


43 posted on 09/04/2007 8:24:47 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
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To: AmericanMade1776

‘yes, that is where the waiting game comes in....tick...tick..tick.... announcement on Jay Leno...stay tuned...tick..tick.. Meanwhile other Candidates have been in several debates and are actively pursuing the nomination within the Republican party.’

Its telling none of those that have been running for President for an entire year have really ‘broken from the pack’ to date.


44 posted on 09/04/2007 8:25:35 AM PDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
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To: AmericanMade1776

Hillary Clinton has been running for president ever since she spotted that fat kid from Arakansas.

I prefer a politician who has not been grooming himself (or herself) since birth for office.


45 posted on 09/04/2007 8:30:39 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Fred Thompson)
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To: AmericanMade1776

All the more reason to get behind Fred and push him over the top. But I agree that he has to kick his campaign in the butt and get it rolling hard and fast.


46 posted on 09/04/2007 8:31:25 AM PDT by RC2
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To: Pistolshot; AmericanMade1776

>> The juggernaut call Fred Thompson is about to hit the tracks

Yep. The country (and this forum) is waiting with high hopes (or, in some cases, with bated breath).

If Fred can raise trainloads of money in a hurry, run a near-flawless campaign (it needs to be flawless, as long as he’s waited and prepared), and operate well in unscripted scenarios (debates, responding to the inevitable attacks from the media, his R-opponents, and the Dems), he’ll gather steam like the cannonball express.

If he can’t... well, it’ll be a train wreck of epic proportions, one you can’t look away from. It’s not clear who that train wreck will benefit if it indeed happens.

We should know by the end of the year, or sooner if he screws up big or can’t raise money.

2c worth from a still-uncommitted observer


47 posted on 09/04/2007 8:39:24 AM PDT by Nervous Tick
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To: AmericanMade1776

” Thompson has looked indecisive and weak”

To you perhaps. To me he knows his own mind and doesn’t back down when he gets a lot of free and worthless advice. If he is right he is right [and I think he is right], if he’s wrong he’s wrong. I think he shows a lot of strength.

One person’s opinion is worthless to someone else, including yours and mine.


48 posted on 09/04/2007 8:42:24 AM PDT by hoosierpearl (To God be the glory.)
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To: hoosierpearl

Opinions are like *bleep*, everyone has one. I am just not seeing what the a majority of Freepers are seeing in Fred Thompson, and I can not wait for whatever it is you see, to become evident to me, so I too can sing his praises. ...meanwhile...tick...tick...tick..


49 posted on 09/04/2007 8:48:01 AM PDT by AmericanMade1776 ( my opinions do not represent the opinions of the management at Free Republic, they are mine alone.)
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To: Nervous Tick
Excellent observation. Though I don't see any 'train-wrecks' in Freds future, he is much too careful about that, it is still a possibility. So far, he is very good in a spontaneous setting.

His biggest advantage is that he has gone against the grain of 'normal' campaigning. I saw this in March when the grassroots was just begining.

His response in a few hours on the web to Michael Moore's debate challenge was priceless, and an indicator of HOW Fred was going to communicate with a larger audience and more frequently than any of the other candidates. His blog, articles at RedState, and ImwithFred.com all show the eloquence and direction he would take the country. Too many here on FR dismiss him with the 'he's just an actor' dogma, but his own words speak for him.

There are those fanatical posters here, that try to turn his words into an issue, but they only choose the words that support their claim, and ignore anything that disputes that claim.

Fred will be the nominee.

50 posted on 09/04/2007 8:51:51 AM PDT by Pistolshot (Every woman, who can, should learn to shoot, and carry a gun.)
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To: AmericanMade1776
They did, they had all the money that Soros could give them. Kerry was "swiftboated" and Al Gore was left with "hanging chads".

Ok, then. So as long as the Romney and Julieannie crowd doesn't swiftboat or hang Thompson's chad, then we should have a chance at a conservative prez!

51 posted on 09/04/2007 8:52:23 AM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: ClaireSolt
Due to the enthusiasm I took at look at Fred, but I am underwhelmed. I think he goes nowhere fast. I am a lot more interested in qualifications for the job than many here. He has none, in my mind.

A thorough demonstration of pretentiousness and ignorance in one short post. I'm in awe.

52 posted on 09/04/2007 8:54:02 AM PDT by Prokopton
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To: jackieaxe

Fred thinks that the voters will decide [as from the Sean Hannity interview in San Diego].

He’s offering something different, which is a refreshing change from the other candidates which many are dissatisfied with.

This post:

270 posted on 09/04/2007 12:59:42 AM CDT by ellery (I don’t remember a constitutional amendment that gives you the right not to be identified-R.Giuliani)

On this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890664/posts?q=1&;page=1

examines immigration votes.

Ronald Reagan was an actor and he was the best president we’ve had in my lifetime, and considering Fred’s character and voting record, being an actor is a plus not a minus.

McCain Fiengold Fred has said was a mistake.

He isn’t a Hollywood has been, he could still be working if that was what he chose to do. That isn’t true.

Fred is not a prima donna, he isn’t asking for special privileges and considerations. He can make a case for himself and let the voters decide. He said once that if he didn’t succeed he would go back to being the happiest man in the world.

He isn’t skipping out on the debate, he hasn’t declared yet.

It would be nice to find something, anything truthful in what you said. There are half truths but you leave out important parts of it.

So why should anyone listen to your opinions? What are they worth if they aren’t based on truth?


53 posted on 09/04/2007 8:54:39 AM PDT by hoosierpearl (To God be the glory.)
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To: AmericanMade1776

“You do understand it is the Party that brings the Candidate to the Presidential table? To be the nominee for either the Republican Party, or the Democrat Party, you have to have the highest number of delegates supporting you at the convention, and Iowa matters, and so does Michigan.”

That is true, but this year is very fluid. A lot of voters aren’t sure yet, or not satisfied. A straw poll is very different from a caucus [even in Iowa]. The story of this election hasn’t been written yet.


54 posted on 09/04/2007 8:57:15 AM PDT by hoosierpearl (To God be the glory.)
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To: AmericanMade1776

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH


55 posted on 09/04/2007 8:58:01 AM PDT by W04Man (I'm Now With Fred http://Vets4Fred.net)
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To: papasmurf

I’m not convinced that Romney is conservative but if he is the nominee I’ll vote for him. Anything to keep a democrat from picking judges.


56 posted on 09/04/2007 8:58:51 AM PDT by linn37 (Phlebotomists need love too.)
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To: NavyCanDo

57 posted on 09/04/2007 8:59:50 AM PDT by RightWhale (It's Brecht's donkey, not mine)
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To: linn37
linn37 wrote: I’m not convinced that Romney is conservative but if he is the nominee I’ll vote for him. Anything to keep a democrat from picking judges.

Absolutely, Conservatives, moderate Conservatives, lukewarm Conservatives, extreme Conservatives need to never forget who the enemy is here, and that we have to unite to do whatever we can to keep the Hildabeast from the Oval Office.

58 posted on 09/04/2007 9:19:50 AM PDT by AmericanMade1776 ( my opinions do not represent the opinions of the management at Free Republic, they are mine alone.)
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To: AmericanMade1776
Well said! I know Romney is the best qualified candidate and has everything it takes to beat the Clinton machine, but if the best man is not nominated, I will happily get on the GOP nominee's bandwagon to keep Hillary and her HINO out of our White House for the next 8 years (shudder).
59 posted on 09/04/2007 9:27:49 AM PDT by redgirlinabluestate (No Bob Dole Part 2)
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To: ClaireSolt

I wanted to be excited about Fred Thompson, but I have heard that he was famously “lazy” in the senate. I don’t think a lazy person can make it through an election, much less run the country.


60 posted on 09/04/2007 9:31:16 AM PDT by TraditionalistMommy
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