Posted on 10/08/2007 5:09:55 PM PDT by Plutarch
Fred Thompson and his spinners contend that the overwhelmingly critical reception he has garnered in the media is limited to inside the Beltway “liberal media” which do not appreciate his charms and folksy appeal. The New York Times coverage this week of his visit to Iowa was typical: “Iowans saw a subdued, laconic candidate who spoke in a soft monotone, threw few elbows and displayed little drive to distinguish himself from his opponents.”
There are two problems with the Thompson explanation: 1) conservative pundits have been equally harsh and 2) local media has been even worse...
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...Out in the heartland, the reviews have been especially biting. The Des Moines Register’s David Yepsen greeted Thompson’s arrival tour this way: “Fred Thompson’s announcement speech Thursday in Des Moines was underwhelming. . . The crowd of a few hundred didn’t seem enthused. Thompson’s oratory didn’t soar but was somewhat rambling.” Iowa local media is often peeved that Thompson avoids questions. Radio Iowa last week remarked: “His staff indicated Thompson would answer reporters’ questions just outside the hall, so as not to interrupt the event. … Outdoors, Thompson quickly climbed in a black SUV and someone drove him away. No questions. No answers.” Similarly this Monday WHO-TV reported: “Thompson leaves more questions than answers.”
Even from his home state Tennessean.com notes that although his folksy image please some, it reiterated the same complaints from national commentators that he: “sometimes wanders when he talks. His light schedule in the first days of his campaign fed the image of not being a hard worker. And most devastating are the repeated instances in which Thompson has not been aware of prominent public issues, such as the Supreme Court challenge to the use of lethal injections for executions”...
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...So while it is always convenient and indeed a crowd pleaser with conservatives to blame the national media in this case the perception seems to extend to all corners of the press and across the political spectrum. As an actor, Thompson should know that the fault may lie not in the stars (or the tribunes or the posts) but in himself.
Absolutely! I want to see how he deals with others in the debate and I want to see his take on the issues that mean the most to me.
Fact is, since he's not a raving liberal, the mainstream media isn't going to be warm to him in general. Yeah, a few papers will give him a fair shake but the biggies (NYT, Washington Compost, Atlanta Journal Constipation, etc.) as well as the AP will do their best to show him in a bad light. As they'll do with all conservatives.
The Bumper Sticker Barometer is what I go by , and will back up what we say .
I’ve seen a few Rudy stickers , but have seen a surge of Fred stickers after his announcement .
He is the one , and only one that can carry us onward to victory , with coat-tails , that is if Dobson doesn’t louse it up .
Perhaps this is a good Sister Souljah moment for Fred ....keeping in mind that Fred has a far better pro-life record than Romney and Rudy combined .
Yes, definitely 6.
Never.
Ignore them, watch the debates, and watch FT, RG, MR, DH, all of them on utube, all their speeches and town hall meetings.
Then make up your own mind.
No, it will hurt Rudy if it hurts anyone . They “ appear “ heavy everywhere though my FRiend.
Please remember that Ron Paul’s people are disaffected Deaniacs and anti-war Dims that are trying to direct the Republican party towards an anti-war stance.
These are not real Republican voters and will most likely switch back to the Dim party or go Green after Paul loses the primary .
“the Slimes says that Romney’s audiences are subdued, just like what they said of Thompson’s.”
What it tells me is that while there are many ardent supporters for both candidates, there are a whole lot of people who are not moved by either one. It doesn’t look good for having an inspired party in ‘08.
I wonder what the DNC’s press release said??
Pray for W and Our Troops
” wonder what the DNC’s press release said??”
DNC will be out with their release shortly....as soon as Soros/Daily KOS gives it to them.
Gosh dangit, you’re good! LOL
Take your pick of any poll you like. Take a look at the number of individual donors he has.
I certainly don’t give my money to someone who doesn’t make me feel he’s sincere and principled, and can get the job done. Do you?
I've been waiting for someone to say this. Never a harsh word for Hillary (or any democrat) in ANY mainstream magazine/newspaper/newscast.
>>>6) The reviews are correct and do not bode well. The more Fred campaigns, the more doubts GOP primary voters will have. If nominated, the GOP will remember the 1996 Bob Dole campaign with wistful nostalgia.<<<
I disagree. I read them all and when I got to number six, I thought to myself, that nails it. I have been saying the same thing. It isn’t just his campaigning, it’s also his record. The more scrutiny Thompson gets, the worse he is going to look.
Read the Rasmussen polls findings, if you are truly interested in why Fred will win the GOP nomination. Your candidate is stuck at 1% and I know that has to gall you, but don’t let that blind you to what is happening. Rudy and Mitt ARE NOT, by any definition, conservatives, so who’s left? Do you really think that the republican party is going to nominate a liberal just because of Hillary?
Even a casual reading of her posts on the AmSpec Blog shows Jennifer Rubin to be a Giuliani shill.
6
I shook Bob Dole’s hand during a campaign stop when he was running for President.
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