Posted on 09/04/2007 8:40:11 PM PDT by SmithL
Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson's current political playbook - a high-profile visit to the "Tonight" show, a splashy bus tour, the efforts to take a familiar actor and reintroduce him in a new political role - contains pages that look eerily familiar to California voters.
Maybe that's because the former Tennessee senator now has at his side some of same key aides who - in nine short weeks - helped transform Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger from "The Terminator" into the chief executive of the Democratic-leaning most populous state in the nation.
Thompson plans to formally kick off his presidential bid - shaped around the themes of "security, unity and prosperity" - beginning today with a blitz that reflects his media savvy and his advantages as an actor better known to many Americans as District Attorney Arthur Branch on TV's "Law & Order."
Thompson's campaign includes two veterans of another whirlwind effort - the 2003 California recall election starring Schwarzenegger - who know first hand at least some of the challenges ahead.
They are Todd Harris, who was Schwarzenegger's campaign communications director and will hold the same title for Thompson, and veteran Republican strategist and Fox News commentator Karen Hanretty, the former press secretary for the 2003 recall effort, who will be Thompson's deputy communications director.
Adam Mendelsohn, the governor's current communicators director, said the pair provide Thompson a "a big picture thinker out of the box" - Harris - and "one of the most effective political spokeswomen in the country" - Hanretty.
Both are "seasoned in translating the benefits that someone has from working in entertainment into a political reality," he said. "For Fred Thompson, it's a very smart hire: there's not a lot of people who understand taking a national entertainment figure and translating that into political value."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Absolutely! That is a trait that too many ‘conservatives’ don’t understand. If only the right-wing kooks would sit back and let us elect a Republican president. They would rather be ‘right’ than promote an electable candidate. The only force that can deter a 2008 Republican victory are the mental midgets with their various litmus tests.
Absolutely! That is a trait that too many ‘conservatives’ don’t understand. If only the right-wing kooks would sit back and let us elect a Republican president. They would rather be ‘right’ than promote an electable candidate. The only force that can deter a 2008 Republican victory are the mental midgets with their various litmus tests.
"chuckle" Let me guess, fear is abounding in your life.
Oh, great - Schwartzenkennedy’s people let loose on the nation. God help us all.
Nice conveyance Master...
I'll have to reconsider the errs of my way's.
Dang! Arnold looks really old in that pic!!
can fred beat hillary?
That was worth repeating. ;o)
I think we should learn to separate the campaign from actually governing.
There are plenty of people helping with campaigns with whom I don’t agree politically.
And, there are candidates with whom I agree, but who would be lousy at running campaigns.
The only demand I have is that the candidate set policy, and not his/her campaign staff.
“This confirms some of my fears about Thompson.”
I’ve been trying to tell you guys. Giuliani was recently here and said he’d run the country like Schwarzenegger runs California. And now Fred has the governator’s people on his team. It’s a recipe for disaster. Schwarzenkennedy is a major RINO - pro choice all the way, etc.
Gag.
Based on your tag line EGPWS, I think you have a pretty good handle on your ideals!
“And, one very important wall to put up! I hope Fred is up to that task!”
We all know who is up to the task.
Fred is using REPUBLICAN operatives who ran a quickly paced REPUBLICAN campaign, like the one he is about to embark on, and were SUCCESSFUL!!!
This is HORRIBLE!
What next, REPUBLICAN fund raisers?
Come '08 we'll find out. ; )
I think he’s the only one that can.
GASP!
Do your parents know you are up this late playing on the computer...
How many times do you figure we’re going to fall for that schtick?
We heard it over and over in 2003, and what was the result in California? A governor even worse than Gray Davis.
I’m not totally ruling out Thompson, as I have ruled out Giuliani, but bringing on Team RINO is not encouraging.
“Kill The Terrorists
Secure The Borders
Punch The Hippies”
Oh, that’s Fred’s 3 legged stool approach. I see.
Mitt’s is a strong economy, strong military/national defense, and strong families.
Fred is going to need more than a few catch phrases. We’re talking the President of these United States of America here.
Don’t any of you care that Fred is the darling of the Council on Foreign Relations? Are you bedazzled by his stardom? Don’t you remember that he voted for McCain-Feingold? Don’t you care that he helped let Bill Clinton off the hook during impeachment (by voting that Bill Clinton did not lie under oath)? Aren’t you just a little embarrassed by the fact that your guy has dodged the debates?
This reminds me of when Schwarzenegger was running for gov. The republicans went ga-ga over him, all starry eyed, while the real conservatives supported Tom McClintock. Now just look at this mess! I call him Schwarzenkennedy because he might as well be a democrat.
Mitt Romney is the only candidate who can kick Hillary’s behind. Bar none. I can’t wait to see Mitt debate Hillary on health care. Talk about great theater!
Go, Mitt!
Although she deserves a good beating, Fred just isn't that type of person.
He'll become President without the liberal aggressiveness so common these day's.
My granddaughter lets me play on the computer every once in a while. Ha!
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