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Is Thompson Too Late?
Real Clear Politics ^ | September 04, 2007 | Jay Cost

Posted on 09/04/2007 2:35:09 PM PDT by gpapa

Fred Thompson will announce his candidacy this week - but many pundits think that it is over before it started. Thompson missed his "moment" by holding out through the summer.

I could not disagree with this more. Without commenting on the likelihood of Thompson being the GOP nominee, I think it is wrong to argue that his chances to acquire the nomination have decreased because he has waited.

Thompson's problem is not the late announcement. It is, rather, the fact that his campaign has been poorly run. But this poor management may not be what you think. Changing staffers early, giving speeches that fall flat, fundraising that is a little weak - all of these are normal for a candidate who is just starting out, who up until recently never contemplated being president. Holding this against Thompson fails to take into account the learning curve that comes with these sorts of affairs. Instead, Thompson's problem has been that he has allowed the media to interpret all of these events as problems of his campaign, rather than as its natural and expected birth pangs. Thompson has failed to manage the expectations of the media. This is something that a candidate at any stage needs to do - and Thompson has not done it as well as he could have.

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


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections; fred; fredthompson; fredwho; thompson
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1 posted on 09/04/2007 2:35:12 PM PDT by gpapa
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: gpapa

Run Fred, Run!


3 posted on 09/04/2007 2:37:43 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Fred Thompson)
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To: gpapa

The pundits are wrong. I think the delay cost Thompson, but it didn’t change the weakness at the top. All Thompson did was give opportunity to the lower tier. Thompson can do what he wants because of the strategists who have bombed with Rudy McRomney.


4 posted on 09/04/2007 2:37:49 PM 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: gpapa
has failed to manage the expectations of the media. This is something that a candidate at any stage needs to do - and Thompson has not done it as well as he could have.

What a steaming pantload. The only candidates who have such a luxury are those the media chooses to annoit - such as Shillary. Otherwise, you can present the most clear and lucid case to the media but they will still nit-pick you to death - and if that doesn't work, just resort to plain lies and distortions.

5 posted on 09/04/2007 2:38:01 PM PDT by dirtboy (Chertoff needs to move out of DC, not move to Justice.)
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To: gpapa

No.

Next.


6 posted on 09/04/2007 2:38:54 PM PDT by Petronski (Cleveland Indians: Pennant -20)
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To: MeanWestTexan

So who is his campaign manager.


7 posted on 09/04/2007 2:39:37 PM PDT by Orange1998
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To: gpapa

Pundits complain about him joining too late because the Pundits want the election to last as long as possible to maintain their “relevance” as long as possible.


8 posted on 09/04/2007 2:40:14 PM PDT by SengirV
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To: dirtboy
...has failed to manage the expectations of the media...

Snort. Which media? The ones that fewer and fewer people are buying/watching/reading?

In the internet age, who needs the MSM? Not even a certain presidential candidate...

9 posted on 09/04/2007 2:40:50 PM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: MeanWestTexan
Fred blew it when he wants to reward INVADERS!
10 posted on 09/04/2007 2:41:03 PM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto)
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To: gpapa

As soon as he announces I’ll pull out my checkbook and write him a good recommendation.


11 posted on 09/04/2007 2:41:08 PM PDT by Ben Mugged (Thanks Mom for not considering me a "choice".)
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To: gpapa

The earlier a candidate can get duped into starting out, the more costly the campaign becomes due to monies spent earlier than effective, and the longer opponents have to tear them apart on little inconsequentials, real or imagined.

Mr. Thompson isn’t starting late, the others started way, way way to early. And, already, they’ve each suffered damage for it.


12 posted on 09/04/2007 2:43:33 PM PDT by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: ejonesie22

Either provide positive input, or, kiss my Butt!


13 posted on 09/04/2007 2:43:33 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (THE SECOND AMENDMENT, A MATTER OF FACT, NOT A MATTER OF OPINION)
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To: gpapa

Pres is an exec job. A Gov, a Mayor, even a CEO would have some experience. Somebody lacking that at a high level needs some other attributes such as overwhelming debating skills and a solid, not dilettantish understanding of many, many factors of gov’t. Knowing something about tape recorders wouldn’t hurt.


14 posted on 09/04/2007 2:44:38 PM PDT by RightWhale (It's Brecht's donkey, not mine)
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To: Orange1998

I believe Bill Lacy is his exploratory committee manager. He can’t have a campaign manager until he declares.


15 posted on 09/04/2007 2:45:38 PM PDT by lesser_satan (Fred Thompson '08)
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To: gpapa
*****Fred Thompson will announce his candidacy this week - but many pundits think that it is over before it started.*****

What in the he!! is a pundit? Is that such as a “they” who is quoted? Or an unnamed source? Or someone no one knows but still gives an opinion that is meanless or worthless?

Let’s see what comes about one week from Thursday.

16 posted on 09/04/2007 2:45:58 PM PDT by GOPologist (By the time you decide to look for greener pastures, you're too old to climb the fence.)
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

Reading is fundamental:

First read this:

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/FredThompson/2007/05/19/the_immigration_bill_comprehensive_or_incomprehensible

Then read this:

Thompson Opposes amnesty in any form

“Thompson has made it clear that he opposes amnesty, in any form, and that securing our borders from a further flood of those who do not enter legally is essential to the security of the US: “As usual, we avoided the illegal-immigration problem for as long as we could. I think its time for a little plain talk to the leaders of Mexico. What does it say about the leadership of a country when that country’s economy and politics are dependent upon the exportation of its own citizens?”
Source: The Fred Factor, by Steve Gill, p.160-162 Jun 3, 2007

Nation loses sovereignty if it cannot secure its own borders

“Somewhere between 12 and 20 million people had somehow come into this country unnoticed. It’s like we went overnight from “no problem” to a problem so big that it now defies a good solution.
We know that the overwhelming majority of illegals come across the Mexican border. Fortunately, we’ve got someone who is all too willing to tell us what we should do about it — president Calderon of Mexico.

Pres. Calderon criticizes our efforts to secure the border with things such as border fencing. He apparently thinks we should do nothing except make American citizens out of his constituents.

I think its time for a little plain talk to the leaders of Mexico. Something like: Hey guys, you’re our friends and neighbors and we love you but it’s time you had a little dose of reality. A sovereign nation loses that status if it cannot secure its own borders and we are going to do whatever is necessary to do so.”

Source: Thompson’s blog on ABCradio.com, “Southern Exposure” Apr 13, 2007

There’s much, much more on immigration.


17 posted on 09/04/2007 2:46:09 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Fred Thompson)
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To: dirtboy
BINGO! The MSM is so far left that they carp at Hussein Rodham-Edwards for being too “conservative” or “centrist” or for going along with President Bush.
18 posted on 09/04/2007 2:46:52 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Our next president: Fred Thompson!! http://www.ImWithFred.com)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER
I am positive that John Cox will kick FDTs Butt!

(ok, you see, you don’t know me too well, but check the tag line...)

19 posted on 09/04/2007 2:47:07 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (I don't use a sarcasm tag, it kills the effect...)
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To: MeanWestTexan

There are those pesky facts again. Damn...


20 posted on 09/04/2007 2:48:44 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (I don't use a sarcasm tag, it kills the effect...)
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