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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: TraditionalistMommy
I have heard that he was famously “lazy” in the senate.

THIS IS BS MOMMY!

61 posted on 09/04/2007 9:32:43 AM PDT by W04Man (I'm Now With Fred http://Vets4Fred.net)
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To: TraditionalistMommy

He’s just not an executive. Has never run anything.


62 posted on 09/04/2007 9:33:56 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
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To: Prokopton

You should be. Those who raise pretentousness are usually conscious of their shortcomings and trying to get by on hot air, as in your post which says nothing.


63 posted on 09/04/2007 9:36:51 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
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To: Pistolshot

64 posted on 09/04/2007 9:37:14 AM PDT by cartoonistx
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To: MeanWestTexan

Yes, that video says it all. I have no idea what the man really believes, I just know I can’t vote for him.


65 posted on 09/04/2007 9:42:17 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: Nervous Tick

Watch this video, it’ll will narrow your choices by one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI


66 posted on 09/04/2007 9:45:46 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Fred Thompson)
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To: AmericanMade1776

Liberals are the enemy. They are found in both parties.


67 posted on 09/04/2007 9:46:23 AM PDT by Soul Seeker
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To: cartoonistx

Excellent!!!


68 posted on 09/04/2007 9:47:38 AM PDT by Pistolshot (Every woman, who can, should learn to shoot, and carry a gun.)
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To: linn37

Romney, in his own words. There’s a bit about gay scoutmasters 1/3 the way through. I wouldn’t let this guy near a judge, let alone allow him to appoint them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI


69 posted on 09/04/2007 9:47:59 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Fred Thompson)
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To: AmericanMade1776
Meanwhile prospective Republican Delegates will be watching the Republican debate...

Delegates don't choose, they're chosen. More voters will be watching Leno than any debate this early.

70 posted on 09/04/2007 9:51:05 AM PDT by Petronski (Cleveland Indians: Pennant -20)
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To: AmericanMade1776

Romney probably is lighting candles and making offerings to the political god altar for keeping Thompson out for so long. Thompson’s delay solidified Romeny’s overall hold on IA and NH. Romney is about to overtake Thompson in 2nd place.

In still predict in the end the big early states will put Giuliani over the top.


71 posted on 09/04/2007 9:55:36 AM PDT by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestu s globus, inflammare animos)
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To: AmericanMade1776

Romney probably is lighting candles and making offerings to the political god altar for keeping Thompson out for so long. Thompson’s delay solidified Romeny’s overall hold on IA and NH. Romney is about to overtake Thompson in 2nd place.

In still predict in the end the big early states will put Giuliani over the top.


72 posted on 09/04/2007 9:55:38 AM PDT by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestu s globus, inflammare animos)
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To: kevkrom
Actually, it was more than a brief "blip." Romney's taken a big upswing in the polls since Ames. He's leading in Michigan, Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire and is moving up in Florida and South Carolina as well. He's doing very well in all the early primary states. He's also recently made great strides in the national polling too.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890556/posts?page=8#8
73 posted on 09/04/2007 9:55:52 AM PDT by redgirlinabluestate (MittReport.com)
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To: TraditionalistMommy
Why yes, he is lazy. Lazy like a fox! LOL

Security. Unity. Prosperity.
Fred Thompson/JC Watts in '08

74 posted on 09/04/2007 9:56:53 AM PDT by papasmurf (I'm for Free, Fair, and Open trade. America needs to stand by it's true FRiends. Others be damned!)
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To: AmericanMade1776

I must be a quick study ..I dont have to watch them in so many debates to know how they think on their feet. And I am not so sure it is so much thinking on their feet as it is prepared talking points that make me weary.


75 posted on 09/04/2007 9:57:16 AM PDT by donnab (call me a hater...ive been called worse.)
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To: papasmurf

good answer! lol


76 posted on 09/04/2007 9:58:24 AM PDT by donnab (call me a hater...ive been called worse.)
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To: Nervous Tick
If he can’t... well, it’ll be a train wreck of epic proportions, one you can’t look away from.

I think you over estimate the impact Thompson will have at this point. Especially after ducking this week's debate.

77 posted on 09/04/2007 9:58:42 AM PDT by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestu s globus, inflammare animos)
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To: jackieaxe; AmericanMade1776
Why does this Hollywood has-been think he’s better than the other candidates?

Wow, you must really hate FDT to call him a "has been." Let's see, "Law & Order" in all of its variations is one of the most successful and long-running shows on television, "Hunt for Red October," "Cape Fear," "Die Hard 2," "No Way Out," and "Days of Thunder" were all very successful movies.

I would hate to think what you were saying about Ronald Reagan back when he first ran.

78 posted on 09/04/2007 9:59:50 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: ClaireSolt
Really?

You do know he has a multi million dollar stake in “never run anything.”

Have you any idea, at all, what it takes to handle the staff to manage being an actor, a part time lobbyist, a Senator, and a lawyer?

Besides, FRed is a self made man, against the odds, he has become quite successful in several different professions, unlike Mitty and his family money tree.

79 posted on 09/04/2007 10:07:42 AM PDT by papasmurf (I'm for Free, Fair, and Open trade. America needs to stand by it's true FRiends. Others be damned!)
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To: papasmurf
unlike Mitty and his family money tree.

Another false smear.

Mitt Romney gave his entire inheritance to charity that he received upon his father's death in 1995. He didn’t pursue a career in any industry with which his father or family had connections, and he stayed in Massachusetts after receiving his degrees instead of returning to his home state of Michigan where his father's influence could have been a ticket for a free ride.

Some may consider his education a product of privilege. He managed to get a wonderful education at BYU (class valedictorian) and Harvard, graduating with honors from Harvard with both an MBA (Baker Scholar) and Juris Doctorate, cum laude, in only four years. Plenty of people graduate from Harvard with one of those degrees, yet don't become the most successful venture capitalist and one of the most brilliant executive managers in the country during the last 50 years.

He did everything the old fashioned way --- he earned it.

Similarly, he's treating the nomination in the same fashion. He's not sitting back hoping that it will be handed to him on a silver platter. He's going out, working hard, meeting the American people and earning their trust and votes.
Rebuttal to Notion Romney Inherited His Wealth HERE

80 posted on 09/04/2007 10:19:36 AM PDT by redgirlinabluestate (MittReport.com)
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