Posted on 10/04/2007 12:05:49 PM PDT by Plutarch
The reviews are in from Iowa, and it isn’t pretty.
After taking two weeks off to raise money, Fred Thompson returned to the world of grip-and-grin campaigning this week in Iowa without the big luxury bus but with a rejiggered stump speech that was supposed to focus attention on his “common sense conservative” values. But Thompson’s laid-back style isn’t exactly wowing all of the locals and certainly didn’t impress the New York Times’ Adam Nagourney, who offered a scathing review this morning...
------------------------snip-----------------------
An event on Monday evening at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls promised to be one of the liveliest Thompson rallies yet. Several hundred people packed into a hall, where a local state representative warmed up the crowd by moving himself to tears talking about an injured Iraq war veteran he’d met. Country star John Rich of the duo Big & Rich, and a friend of Thompson’s, had the crowd stomping and singing along with his hit “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy,” and some Johnny Cash covers.
Thompson took the stage to wild applause. Within minutes, however, the crowd had quieted considerably and only broke into applause a few times during the 20-minute speech. Afterwards, Kevin Patterson, a 36-year-old stock broker from Waterloo, said he’d made up his mind about who he’d likely vote for: “Mitt Romney.”
“I like everything he said…maybe it’s his presentation. He’s a little laid back for me,” Patterson said. “Maybe he appeals more to older voters.”
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...
He doesn't cackle and he wears pants in public ALL the time.
Flat?
Some candidates may take offense to that but not Fred.
Oh please give it a rest. I don’t know of ANY Fredhead here on FR that believes Fred to be a “perfect candidate”.
I won’t agree with any candidate 100% of the time. Fred is no exception however I agree with the majority of his positions.
What we want here is to ultimately defeat Mrs. Bill Clinton. Fred has the best chance of any conservative to do that.
>BTW, if he did, it’s just one appearance, and maybe he was just tired or something. It’s not the end of the world.<
Isn’t it?
How does this one strike you?
Current thread: Fred Thompson Speaks on Social Security = Video :)
“Maybe he appeals more to older voters.”
Sounds like he’s got the Matlock vote wrapped up.
I WANT Fred to be the "take charge" guy he is in many of his movie roles, but I'm afraid he isn't.
Heaven help us if Fred resorts to replying "I don't recall" and takes the American flag off of his lapel and uses his anti-American gesture as a political point.
>We live in a totally non-thinking society that is guided solely by impressions and emotions.<
Exactly!
“he is sadly lacking in energy and the “pizzaz” that he SHOULD have as a Hollywood star.”
You’re being too generous. I taped the H&C interview in case I have trouble sleeping. I kept falling asleep. Something...about...the...way...he...talks....zzzz
Seriously, your opinion of Fred is just that, your opinion. I don't think of Fred as the second coming of Reagan, and I don't think many of us here who support him do, either.
The candidate with the most ‘likeability’ is Mitt Romney.
“we could see from last night’s Hannity interview that Thompson could hardly be described as scintillating.”
Why does this have to be relevant?I answer myself.We live in a totally non-thinking society that is guided solely by impressions and emotions.....”
The President needs to be a good communicator and he certainly is NOT a good communicator. The next nominee is going to have to lead the Party and he doesn’t strike me as someone that the Party is going to rally behind. Sorry, FredHeads. I want to like the guy, but everytime I hear him I want to scream.
Well, Chelsey Giuliani is poised to take on such a feat.
Read back through some of the posts that were on here before he joined the race, or some of the less than steller reviews of his speeches, and you'd think the guy walked on water. Any little quibble about him got a reaction like poking a beehive with a stick.
As for what other candidate is better, my point is that there is no such thing as a perfect candidate, yet the Fredheads are willing to overlook all the problems with Fred (not that strong a record, no executive experience, dull speaker, not very energetic, personal issues relating to his wife that I'm not going to divulge but they'll come out, not as conservative as his rhetoric - he even backed McCain/Feingold, for God's sakes), but with any other candidate, disagreement on an issue or two is enough for them to scream, "I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR (Phil Intheblank)!!!"
Look, I've already said that if Fred is the nominee, I'll crawl over broken glass to vote for him, despite my (completely realistic) reservations. But I still think that despite my disagreement with them on various issues, both Huckabee and Romney are more articulate, energetic, attractive, and experienced candidates, and that Giuliani has a better chance of beating Hillary in swing states.
And BTW, just to clarify, when I said "He's the spawn of George Bush," I was talking about Dubya, not Fred.
Now, imagine that headline, substituting "Bill Clinton" for "Thompson".
I'd be thinkng...."Who's Bump, and how stumpy is she?"
I’m sorry. I love Fred and I think his positions most accurately mirror my own, but I have reservations.
I do not think he has the fire in his belly for the long, grueling road ahead of him. And to me, putting forth a candidate that can beat the Dem nominee is job one.
No, make that JOB ONE!
I missed Hannity last night, but understand a longer interview will be shown on the week-end.
I am not and will not pay attention to what the media says about Fred Thompson. The media does not want to see Fred Thompson running for President.
But I will pay attention to what they say about hillary clinton and Hussein Barrack Obama. Together they have raised $100 million and probably even more.
Our media is a worry for me. hillary clinton is a worry for me. hillary clinton is not a leader, she is a destroyer. hillary clinton will not bring out the best of America. hillary clinton will control our lives and instead of our striving for our best she will give us what she thinks we deserve.
I never understood the ‘hate’ that some had for Reagan then along came bill clinton.
Still, I do not hate clinton - that is a waste of energy.
I have picked my candidate and I know the media and dems will try to destroy him.
What was it Reagan said — go with him 82 or 86% of the time and he felt he was doing fine. As I remember he got 100% of my approval.
We have the war in Iraq and huge problems through out the area and must stay strong. But we also have issues here - one was yesterday with the Health Care.
I want President Bush to speak out why he vetoes this bill.
The President must speak loud about how this will lead to Government issued health care. Our rights and our choices will be taken from us.
Being born here should not make a US citizen. Perhaps at majority he/she makes a decision. But the child should belong to the country of his parents.
Fred has the qualities which inspire.
>Fred has the qualities which inspire.<
Let me finish that sentence for you:
Fred has the qualities which inspire lullabyes and deep sleep.
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