Posted on 09/13/2007 4:43:19 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
The Reviews Keep Coming In: Unimpressed by Fred Thompson's Campaign Roll-out, Conservatives Are "Still Looking"
It's been only one week since lobbyist turned Senator turned actor Fred Thompson announced his candidacy for president, but it's been plenty of time for conservative commentators to see what they need to and call him unimpressive. Today two prominent conservative columnists criticized Thompson and said Republicans were unenthusiastic about his presidential prospects and would keep on looking for a candidate to rally behind.
According to the columnists, conservatives' worst fears have been realized. Fred Thompson is just not the candidate they've been waiting for. George Will called Thompson's campaign a "belly-flop" and wondered if voters would ask "Is this product necessary?" Will criticized Thompson for being "unfamiliar with the details of his own positions" and botching his record during interviews. [Indianapolis Star, 9/13/07] Robert Novak goes further, writing that Thompson is not the "white knight whom worried Republican loyalists desperately desire" and that the "Republican electorate is still looking for the forceful, dynamic conservative many have thought Thompson might be." [Washington Post, 9/13/07] In addition, Thompson has failed to win the support of prominent fundraisers in Florida because of the "former Tennessee senator's unimpressive early organization and late entry into the presidential race." [New York Sun, 9/13/07]
This bad news for Thompson comes just days after news of his poor performance his first day of campaigning in Iowa was dubbed boring, unimpressive, rambling, and low-energy, as well as stories saying that a Thompson aide chided the role of Iowa's "first in the nation" status and that Thompson accepted donations from a family charged with ripping off state and local government Medicaid funds.
"After just one week of campaigning, the reviews are starting to come in on Fred Thompson's presidential prospects, and they're not good," said Democratic National Committee press secretary Stacie Paxton. "If Fred can't convince conservative commentators he's worthy of their support, how can he ever convince conservative voters? After years of failed leadership, Americans are looking for a president with a vision for our country, but Thompson has shown he's just another pandering, flip-flopping Republican candidate who doesn't have what it takes."
Thompson's First Act Disappoints Conservatives
After Thompson's Campaign, Conservatives Still Looking for Candidate. Conservative columnist Robert Novak thinks Thompson's campaign leaves much to be desired. "â€|[I]it had been conceded in party circles that when Thompson finally became a candidate, his beginning needed to be memorable. It was not. While Thompson offered obligatory conservative slogans in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina, he was not the white knight whom worried Republican loyalists desperately desireâ€| The Republican electorate is still looking for the forceful, dynamic conservative many have thought Thompson might be." [Washington Post, 9/13/07]
Thompson's Campaign a "Belly-Flop." Conservative columnist George Will calls Thompson's rollout a "belly-flop." "Fred Thompson's plunge into the presidential pool -- more belly-flop than swan dive -- was the strangest product launch since that of New Coke in 1985. Then the question was: Is this product necessary? A similar question stumped Thompson the day he plungedâ€|New Coke was announced on April 23, 1985, with the company's president piling on adjectives usually reserved for Lafite Rothschild -- "smoother, rounder yet bolder." Almost 80 days later, the public having sampled it, the company pulled the product from stores. Perhaps Thompson's candidacy will last longer than New Coke did." [Indianapolis Star, 9/13/07]
Thompson Not Winning Over Prominent Supporters: Thompson has lost support from prominent Florida fundraisers, including a Bush Ranger, because of the "former Tennessee senator's unimpressive early organization and late entry into the presidential raceâ€|Explaining his and his colleagues' choice, Mr. Rood cited Mr. Thompson's late entry into the race as a key factor. 'Many in the group were eager to make a decision,' Mr. Rood said.
'Thompson not being a candidate means that, you know, we really looked at the top three, which included Senator McCain and Governor Romney and Mayor Giuliani, as announced candidates that we were going to pick between.'" [New York Sun, 9/13/07]
Aside from his leading in the polls - based on the desire for a truly conservative candidate - I haven’t heard much good reported about Fred. I’m waiting for him to develop a clear position on the issues; so far, I’m hearing lots of good conservative ideals, but not a lot of substance. And this Osama bin Laden due process crap - what’s that all about? Do we need a trial for that guy? Geez.
Oh, well, if Novak and Will are unimpressed...LOL
Um, Democrats? You do realize the Republican politicians and punditry have desperately been trying to peddle enthusiasm for Rudy, McCain and Romney and the conservative base turned a deaf ear to their pleadings? As we did yours....Their opinions are next to worthless.
If this keeps up, I'll start billing the DNC for headline correction fees.
Anyway, I fixed it.
Fredophobia spreads across the nation!
Don't get me wrong; if Fred is the nominee, I'll crawl over broken glass to vote for him; but I think some of his ardent supporters are indulging in wish fulfillment fantasies that border on the self-delusional. Any policy disagreement with any other candidate is enough to shout, "I'll NEVER vote for (fill in the blank)", but Fred is perfect in every way, and pointing out any flaws is heresy.
BTW, before the usual catcalls of "Liberal troll!!" start flying: My late dad helped launch the Republican Party in Texas, I've had 40 years experience working in GOP politics and the media, I've been a Freeper since 1998, and I calls it the way I sees it.
Ah yes, with George Will’s anointed candidate, Rudy Giuliani, about to be double-digits behind Fred...out comes the sour whine.
Democrat drivel.
Don’t they have a war to lose or some taxes to raise or somethin’?
Obviously these highly educated gentlemen cannot read the current polls that the rest of us can.
Also, The video clips I’ve watched show quite abit of enthusiasm...from both the audience and the speaker.
I won’t even try to argue anything you’ve said.
I will say this:
As far as being able to articulate conservatism, nobody does it like Fred.
He’s the most conservative electable guy out there. Who else do we have, really?
Don’t you think Mitt or McCain would LOVE to be off to such an unimpressive start?
How can Will or Novak expect anyone to take them seriously? Money cannot buy the nomination (ask Phil Gramm), and local endorsements don’t mean much at a time many in the Party despise the Party organization.
its Fred..he’s not an Ivy League smartmouth who thinks flyover country exists to worship him and his..he’s walked where many of us have...and many of us haven’t...he grew up as working class as it gets today...and as far as I can tell, does’nt have the slightest idea, nor does he care to have, of where the front door is at the local country club. He seems as honest as any of my neighbors, and just as reliable. He seems to know sh*& from shinola...and isn’t shy about publically pointing it out..in a gentlemanly fashion.I could go on...but its pretty safe to say..that if you haven’t yet grasped what it is about Fred..ya probably aren’t ever gonna.
“The Reviews Keep Coming In: Unimpressed by Fred Thompson’s Campaign Roll-out, Conservatives Are...”
Did the maggot infested hippy that scrawled this happen to notice the latest polls? Apparantly not.
I think that smell you are noticing might me FredHeads wetting their pants in despair.
We shall see … ;-)
Fair enough.
Fear of what? Winning?
Yada, yada, yada. It’s clear enough whom the Democrats fear.
Fred was in Davenport, IA today. The sister-bros-in-law got to see him and shake his hand. They were mightily impressed. I was happy to steer them away from Huckabbee a couple months ago, their son also gave them some background on Huckabbee, and now they’re very much FredBots.
Their take? Thy guy is the real thing. He’s down to earth, answers questions instead of dancing around them, and is one of the poeple.
I know, I know. Romney/Paul bots will hit on this, but who cares. They’re clueless. We have a candidate here who’s not going away. And he’s apparently gaining ground and support daily. When the wife and I get back from seeing our new granddaughter this coming week, we’ll be sending more $ to Fred as well as our strong Republican congressman.
GO FRED!
That's the question, isn't it? These people are scared to death of Fred. If they weren't, they'd be ignoring him, making snide comments at best. No, the fear that comes across from these Democrat pieces is palpable.
A question because I don't know the answer. Is there any other Republican candidate out there today who receives this kind of attention? I'd like to know who that is, if there is.
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