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.
So, you know he's been working out, getting in shape. Great!!
“Remember Him (Jesus) letting the prostitute go and telling people to render unto Caesar what is Caesars?”
He let an adulteress go. He did not say why, but there was no adulterer partner brought forward, which as I understand it is the way it is written in the law. So it is usually interpreted, He let her go, because the law was not being carried out properly. Of course He obviously showed compassion, but He knew her heart. We can’t.
He told his disciples to pay their taxes. He didn’t make any statements about loving excessive government taxation.
To get back to the thread, well done, Fred. I kept thinking how tremendous the difference would be to have him and Hilary debating on the same tv screen. Night and day. The Average American would hopefully see that.
What a great photo. Nice family.
Thanks
It seems to be a real big deal for talk show hosts to get a politician to make their big announcements on their shows.
Maybe Leno has promised to endorse Fred?
Great great picture. Are those kids adorable or what?
Fred Thompson seemed to lack fire and that spark in his voice and in his eyes. He showed little passion or intensity. And yes, he didn’t look so much old, but tired and low energy.
Compared to high energy, intense candidates that control their own space and project something outward to the crowd, Fred seems to lack something.
As the French would say, He has no peps.
FYI, The New Hampshire Union Leader reported the debate on page 1, above the fold with two stories and a picture, and didn’t mention Fred Thompson announcing “in front of Jay Leno, and a studio audience” until page 12 and under a Tancreto story. Showed him!
What is the physical age of each of the Pubbie candidates? I mean, Thompson is not THAT old!
Fred Thompson isn't exactly Ronald Reagan.
But then, he isn't a pandering phony either.
Any candidate (save for Ron Paul) could win if they were honest. They will slam whomever is the GOP nominee.
Can't help but chuckle looking at the photo...the youngest without shoes or sox!
One thing I like about Thompson is he’s no Bush. He’s much more a Federalist than a social conservative. (I’m no big fan of ‘social conservatism’.) Maybe there’s an outside chance the country can grow up and get off this nanny-statism.
“Fred is definitely a one termer.”
???
Why do you think?
On my way home from work today I listened to a national radio news report that said why people like Fred Thompson. And that was it. Just why people like Fred Thompson.
I was stunned. Only Hillary gets that kind of national media coverage.
I do think that exposure on the national stage, especially in debates, will show a likeable, no-nonsense candidate who appeals both to the base and to Reagan Democrats that the party needs.
Sam Brownback Age
Birth Date: 1956-09-12
Age: 51
Duncan Hunter Age
Birth Date: 1948-05-31
Age: 59
Mitt Romney Age
Birth Date: 1947-03-12
Age: 60
Tom Tancredo Age
Birth Date: 1945-12-20
Age: 62
Rudy Giuliani Age
Birth Date: 1944-05-28
Age: 63
Newt Gingrich Age
Birth Date: 1943-06-17
Age: 64
Fred Thompson Age
Birth Date: 1942-08-19
Age: 65
John McCain Age
Birth Date: 1936-08-29
Age: 71
Ron Paul Age
Birth Date: 1935-08-20
Age: 72
the youngest without shoes or sox!
Well I think those are his blue socks over to the right. Maybe his shoes hurt or maybe he just woke up. Must have been an impromptu picture. Nice that it was not staged apparently.
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