Posted on 10/07/2007 10:12:27 PM PDT by Doofer
In an unusual political season that seems to offer up a presidential debate every week or so, the Republican debate tomorrow is expected to offer something new: Fred D. Thompson.
Untested in debate against his opponents until now, Mr. Thompson, a late entrant to the race, chose to skip the last contest in favor of announcing his candidacy on The Tonight Show early last month a decision for which he was roundly criticized. Many have been wondering how Mr. Thompson, a former senator from Tennessee, will do.
By his own admission he is a bit rusty when it comes to debating, and he has said he hopes he will be able to hang in there with the other candidates, including Rudolph W. Giuliani, the sharp-tongued former New York mayor, and Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, who is known for his polished delivery. A look at some of Mr. Thompsons debates years ago offers a mixed picture, with the candidate mostly projecting calm and confidence against Representative Jim Cooper, his Democratic opponent for the Senate seat in 1994.
Mr. Thompsons delivery back then was usually smooth and expressionless, not a monotone but not displaying much charisma, either. He sounded articulate, speaking in full, well-rounded sentences, but stopped short of eloquence.
Even when he was on the attack, or firing back at a rough question, he rarely lost his cool. Speaking of Mr. Cooper, he deadpanned, Theres nothing more desperate than a career politician facing the prospect of having to get a real job for the first time in his life.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
“PLEASE keep posting that video. It drives more people to Fred every time you do.”
Yes! Lets keep this video moving! I think it shows that Fred can have a “fire in the belly” and will hold his own in the debates! Now he did win his Senate seat in TN with no problem! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmKUMuPAMSE
Borrowing (with obvious alterations) from a well-known joke told about President Bush:
Fred Thompson and the Pope are on a boat, and the Pope's zucchetto (skullcap) blows off. The Pope laughs and says he can get another one. Fred says, no, I'll get it for you and walks across the top of the waves, picks it up and walks back across the top of the waves, hands the zucchetto back to the Pope and the next day the headlines are, "Fred Thompson can't swim."
Unfortunately, these are “group press conferences” - not debates.
When New York-centric SNL does a hit piece on Thompson ...
you know the left is worried about him.
I'm 52 years old and I have to tell you I've never seen a debate on the national level...
God bless the MSM - It seems they will do anything in their power to get Fred’s name on people’s lips.
- sniff -
LOL... he was boring... and so damned lazy!
Anyone here recall if he did a debate or two running for the senate in Tennessee?
Fred has a backbone and does not shrink in the face of the loony left. Thanks for that wonderful video.
What the hell kind of conservative are you?
It is not a “debate”.
It is a round robin Q&A session where they often play gotchya games.
I can’t believe you put debate performance over core beliefs and history of conservatism.
You want a disgusting display, listen to John Edwards talk about how black males may be doomed in the U.S. Listen to Romney talk about how his plan for the government to guide ALL aspects of health care, including health insurance between employers and employees AND the self-employed, is somehow "free market." Listen to Giuliani talk about how poor women and girls have a right to taxpayer-funded abortions.
Thompson lost his cool and told the guy to shut up. That's hardly a "disgusting display."
You’ve mistaken lack of self control for fire in the belly. When Fred isn’t boring everyone to death, he’s flying off the handle. Thanks, but no thanks.
He won’t come off as slick. He will be honest which is a good thing.
He’ll be real, but better be up to speed on some major issues or he will NOT look good.
“Fred Thompson attacks a sleazy Democrat and you castigate him for it? What the hell kind of conservative are you?”
The kind that appreciates that MY candidate won’t act and attack like a sleazy democrat in order to win their votes.
“Youve mistaken lack of self control for fire in the belly. When Fred isnt boring everyone to death, hes flying off the handle. Thanks, but no thanks.”
I really didn’t see lack of self control in Fred in the video clip. If I did, then one would have to say the man he was talking to (forgot name) also showed lack of self control. What I saw was a man talking to Fred in a rough manor, and Fred gave it right back to him. That happens in debates. My point was that I think Fred will do well in the debate tomorrow night. We will see then, and I am looking forward to it. I see you are a Hunter fan, and so am I. I do love Duncan Hunter, and wish him well. I wish he was better known, so he would be up in the polls, but it appears it isn’t going to happen this time around. I certainly would vote for him if he won the nomination. I also would not say that he lacked self control if I saw him fire back at someone in a debate!
I wouldn’t bet against you, on that.
If we all voted on who we agree with the most, instead of who I think has a chance to win, the Republican candidate would be Duncan Hunter, and the Democrat candidate would be Dennis Kuchinich. We all know, unfortunately that neither will be the candidates, and there is no way in the world I can change that tide, so I go with my gut. No matter how much fun that election would be.
I like Fred Thompson, I am just questioning if he is the right man to excite the American public, and I have yet to feel that enthusiasm.
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