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Reacting to Fred on Jay Leno
The National Review ^ | September 6, 2007 | Jim Geraghty

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.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: ahmedinijad; conservatism; conservatives; electionpresident; elections; fredthompson; gop; iran; jayleno; mccainlite; nopandering; reaganesque; republicans
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To: vortigern

What a terrific picture! Those kids are precious!


161 posted on 09/06/2007 7:21:24 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: DoughtyOne

The thing that gets me is he truly seems to be his own man. I don’t see this guy pandering to no one - not a single soul - not ever.

If somebody on his campaign does something he doesn’t like, he will tell him to take a hike. In no uncertain terms.

And I remember watching West Wing on occasion and always being outraged when they’d start up “Well, if you say it this way, it’ll appeal to the gizniaks and we’ll get another 5 percent out of it”

Sad, but politics really is played that way.

But I don’t see Fred doing that. He’ll say what he means, and mean what he says, in his own way.


162 posted on 09/06/2007 7:22:27 PM PDT by djf (Send Fred some bread! Not a whole loaf, a slice or two will do!)
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To: djf

Well, that’s pretty much the way I see it too. I’ve been disappointed before though. I like Fred, but I do need to know more.

Thanks for the post.


163 posted on 09/06/2007 7:24:42 PM PDT by DoughtyOne ((Victory will never be achieved while defining Conservatism downward, and forsaking its heritage.))
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To: Popman

If Fred serves two terms, his daughter will only be about 14 when he leaves the White House, and their son will only be about 10. Seems to be a good time to do this. His kids will have wonderful memories of growing up in the White House, but will still have their teenage years in their own home, and will be able to live their lives normally, though they’ll have that famous history.


164 posted on 09/06/2007 7:27:29 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: SuziQ

I want real republicans, not Democrat-lites.

I want true republicans. Goldwater republicans. People we can trust, who won’t be coming out of the closet next week or having shenanigans in the men’s room.

I’m freakin sick of what we got. There is no difference at all between which side of the aisle they’re sitting on. They’ll pander to anyone or say whatever they need to do one thing - get re-elected.

If our Congress was concerned at all about the American people, they’d be screamin bloody murder over the junk coming from China. And the border. And a dozen other things.


165 posted on 09/06/2007 7:28:10 PM PDT by djf (Send Fred some bread! Not a whole loaf, a slice or two will do!)
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To: Nuc1
He has probably been on chemo therapy.

Nope, he's in remission, and has been for a while.

166 posted on 09/06/2007 7:30:05 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Most of this stuff is just surface stuff.

How did he vote?

Who does he surround himself with?

Where has he taken money from?

What are his endorsements, friendly organizations supporting him, and vote index rating (report card) with conservative or liberal organizations?

167 posted on 09/06/2007 7:30:43 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (Visit this thread 1-hour from now. In that time, an average of 416.6 more ILLEGALS will be in the US)
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To: chaos_5
Old and ugly, it will strike fear into the harts of our enemies...
Besides, his wife has enough good looks for them both.

ROTFL! So true, on both counts!

168 posted on 09/06/2007 7:37:05 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: gotribe
Fred is tired looking and boring. Makes Coolidge look like a rock star. This will be a difficult race.

Oh, right, because Her Heinous is just so young and vibrant.

169 posted on 09/06/2007 7:42:18 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: djf

Now’s the time to push those candidates who will be the conservatives that we need. With a more conservative nominee, he can get out and campaign for them and bring them along with him.


170 posted on 09/06/2007 7:51:34 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: Palladin

I don’t go by looks. I go by intelligence and character.


171 posted on 09/06/2007 8:12:50 PM PDT by cubreporter ( Rush has done more for our country from where he sits than anyone will ever know.)
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To: Popman

Well the mental midget as you call him fooled everyone. Fred hasn’t the same fire as Reagan becuase he is just begining. The man has been official for a day and the attacks come as predicted. Surprise...surprise.


172 posted on 09/06/2007 8:15:25 PM PDT by cubreporter ( Rush has done more for our country from where he sits than anyone will ever know.)
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To: cubreporter

If only....


173 posted on 09/06/2007 8:17:09 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Remember Mustang 22 and her heroes.)
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To: mad_as_he$$

but theyw were wrong


174 posted on 09/06/2007 8:24:01 PM PDT by cubreporter ( Rush has done more for our country from where he sits than anyone will ever know.)
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To: mad_as_he$$

but theyw were wrong


175 posted on 09/06/2007 8:24:06 PM PDT by cubreporter ( Rush has done more for our country from where he sits than anyone will ever know.)
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA; 2ndDivisionVet
If he walked on water, some would say he was just too lazy to swim.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

176 posted on 09/06/2007 8:37:32 PM PDT by Doofer (Fred Dalton Thompson For President)
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To: DoughtyOne
I agree with your comments and hopes. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Finger's crossed!

;)
177 posted on 09/06/2007 9:21:35 PM PDT by CottonBall
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To: uncbob
I hope you are right BUT I know Bush used them in the FLA recount days and it disturbed me but then his Compassionate Conservatism in the primaries already had me concerned.

Did he? I've learned one thing from Bush - and that's from now on, I will pay better attention to what a candidate says and research it thoroughly. No more voting for the lesser of 2 evils or for someone that doesn't share the minimum of my primary concerns. Wish I had paid attention then. It wouldn't have made a difference (I'm in CA, not FL), but I wouldn't feel so foolish. Never again.
178 posted on 09/06/2007 9:24:04 PM PDT by CottonBall
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To: CottonBall

Thanks. Good night.


179 posted on 09/06/2007 9:28:41 PM PDT by DoughtyOne ((Victory will never be achieved while defining Conservatism downward, and forsaking its heritage.))
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To: LibLieSlayer
he has released medical records stating such just weeks ago. Brit Hume covered it.

Fred released his med records. Please elaborate.

180 posted on 09/06/2007 9:33:17 PM PDT by FreeReign
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