Posted on 09/06/2007 2:55:52 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
I held off on assessing the transcript, I wanted to see how Fred Thompson came across to a viewing audience.
The Upsides: Thompson is a likeable figure. He comes across as a decent man; there's none of the I-don't-trust-this-guy-slickness of John Edwards or the brittleness of Hillary. When he hits a line, like "our people have shed more blood for the liberty and freedom of other peoples in this country than all the other countries put together," it really works; that one spurred some "whoo!"s from the audience, and not every politician can do that. And I think some of Thompson's arguments are going to get some conservatives to say, "Yeah, that's what I've been thinking all along!" like his line regarding Iran that "they've got a fellow who is not put together well upstairs running the country." The question of Ahmedinijad's sanity is one that decent respectable foreign policy thinkers aren't supposed to bring up; we're supposed to act as if his talk of the Twelfth Imam and green auras and United Nations delegates not blinking for hours at a time is perfectly normal behavior. Fred just comes out and says what everyone's thinking.
The Downsides: Has he lost weight? I mean, a lot of weight? I had been skeptical that issues of age and health would be an issue, but he looked a lot lighter than I'm used to seeing. I know he's no spring chicken, but he looked old. I see what the critics have been saying about his monotone voice inflection and energy level. I thought it was a little odd that after he announced he was running, he didn't smile.
Some of the longer answers to questions meandered... quite a bit. I don't know if his answer on Iraq persuaded any war skeptic. He'll need some polish, even though no one was expecting a policy lesson to the Tonight Show audience.
The Double-Edged Sword: Is it just me, or does Thompson come across as a guy who just doesn't give enough of a hoot to pander? There was nothing artificial about him, nothing prepackaged. Not only does he not smell of desperate effort to be liked by the audience, he seems like he's equally happy with winning or with going home to a happy life with Jeri, the kids, and playing an authority figure in whatever upcoming television project Dick Wolf has. This does not seem like a man who will flip-flop depending on political winds; if you don't like him... he really doesn't seem to care.
Initial assessment: Thompson won't flop. But whether he can win is another question, one that will take a lot more than one night to answer.
I was surprised to read that Reagan was a member of the CFR. His national security group was made up of CFR George P. Schultz, CFR/T, Henry Kissinger, CFR, William Casey, CFR/T Casper Weinberger, and CFR Gen. David Jones with David Rockefeller (Chairman of CFR/T) being an unofficial advisor.
Take it any way you like. I am a Hunter supporter and perhaps this may bias me, but my initial reaction was visceral. He did not look well.
The last thing we need is a candidate who sucks up all the conservative oxygen only to turn the race over to the RINOs.
Time will tell.........
I guess you haven’t seen the new President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, speak.
How about some botox? It worked so well for the French candidate...
He did not meander. He did not look tired.
He had a command of the subjects addressed.
It was great to listen to someone without fearing that a word was going to be mispronounced or that something inane was going to be said.
Fred came across very presidential.
You mean while the rest of France was on their month-long vacation, after their tiring 30-35 hour work week? (For those who DO work, that is). No, I guessed I missed it. Had to be pretty good, though to carry the water for the rest of the "un-peppy" state.
You are so far behind the times.
Sarko has been in office for less than four months. In his first 100 days, he has done more to change France than in the past 50 years.
He also vacationed in New Hampshire, led the French people in mourning at the funeral of Cardinal Lustiger, and visited with the Bush family in Kennebunkport.
If that ain’t “peps” and real change, I don’t know what is.
He appeared disinterested in his own campaign announcement. Does he know how to smile?
Laughing now, but it is a serious thing. Half of the power of the presidency is being able to articulate a message and vision, and Bush can do neither (at least not usually). IMO Fred would be one of the most effective presidents, from the standpoint of being able to effectively communicate, that we have ever had.
So far in my life Reagan was the only president that I actually voted for, as opposed to voting against the other guy (the lesser of two evils scenario). I would love to vote for Fred with that kind of conviction. I want him to be that candidate, but after Bush I intend to scrutinize every word and action - I’m tired of being sold a thoroughbred only to find out later it is a mule.
Yes it is. If he parted the red sea, people would accuse him of being too lazy to swim across.
Hah! You must’ve thought that Lyndon Johnson was a heart-throb.
Fred would make a fine Sherriff.
Fred is tired looking and boring. Makes Coolidge look like a rock star. This will be a difficult race.
1. Thank Fred for jumping into this race.
2. Fred looked 10 feet tall by not being on the same stage as that nut Ron Paul.
3. Our nation can ill afford 8 years of another Clinton. Please keep that in mind when you are tired at the end of a long day. Now that you are in the race, win the race.
4. Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican - be funny instead. It makes your point but doesn't make it impossible to have that person on the ticket.
5. The Vols lost to the dirty hippies at Berkley last weekend. I hate loosing to hippies Fred. I'll be damned if I want to see you loose to them. It's going to be a long season in Knoxville, keep that in mind when the MSM is saying something nasty about you.
Thank you,
Volunteer
And you're claiming this based on what inside information?
Based on being a Mitt supporter, of course.
By any chance, have you seen the Democratic frontrunner? Talk about old and tired... Fred looks like Brad Pitt next to the beast!
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