Reviews Are in on Thompson's Debate Performance

Campaigns & Elections ^ | October 21, 2007 | Karen Hanretty

[2ndDivisionVet]

"Helped Themselves a Lot Tonight: Fred Thompson"

- National Review

"We had been waiting for any speech, any debate appearance, any event with Thompson to be a 'wow, that was fantastic.' Well, tonight was that moment we've been waiting for."

- National Review

"Fred Thompson delivers the first blow..."

- ABC News Political Radar

"Fred going on offense."

- Politico

"Thompson revved up."

- Time

"Kudos to Fred Thompson for coming out swinging tonight."

- Townhall

"He [Fred] ought to get serious points for guts."

- National Review

"'If a man can do all that and be lazy, I recommend it to everybody,' Thompson said to loud applause. Nice comeback."

- Politico

"That was a really, really strong response from Thompson" [Reference to final question]

- NBC

"Fred Thompson did quite well. Once again, he ended strong."

- Townhall

"Thompson's ability to slug it out with Giuliani, coupled with overall improvement in the quality of his answers, makes him one of tonight's winners."

- Powerline

"But if this debate is remembered at all, it will probably be because Fred Thompson, arguably a sleeping giant, seemed to wake up."

- Powerline

[2ndDivisionVet]

Some good reviews from established media and blogs.

[ejonesie22]

But but but...

He still looks old...

Sheesh...

[steve86]

Came off much better than the first debate.

[mmichaels1970]

bump

[bcsco]

...But, but, he's lazy, he's, he's...ill. He must've had his hot wife backstage cooing answers in his ear. His suit are too tight (or loose, depending on the event) and he rubs his fingers across his nose (eww!). Besides, he's bald.

It doesn't matter how he performs, all the above make him a no-show for the voter, don'cha know?

[PreciousLiberty]

Fred Thompson ‘08!

[Resolute Conservative]

IMO last nights winners:

1- Thompson
2- McCain ( yeah I know but he did good )
3- Romney

The press seems intent on not giving Hunter any real time asking him 1 question to everyone else’s 4-5.

Ron Paul anchored his position as village idiot, Tancredo is a one issue candidate ( albeit I agree that one issue is a bog one and does inter-twine with others ), and Huckabee as n Arkansas goober.

[ZULU]

Thompson is our best crack at a conservative candidate.
Hunter is better, but the media keeps ignoring him.

If Giuliani wins and Thompson shows enough fire, Giuliani might pick him to shore up conservative votes.

[JRochelle]

McCain had the best lines of the night.

[sitetest]

He reminds me of John Riggins - the Diesel. Takes a bit to get up to speed, but tough to stop once he’s going.

[JRochelle]

Thompson has already ruled out being VP.

[dforest]

I myself, would like a Thompson/Hunter ticket.

Fred did great in the debate. He also stuck it to liberal Rooty.

[Resolute Conservative]

Dream on. Rooty will pick whoever the gnomes in the MSM tell him to pick to ensure a victory for her with no name.

[Resolute Conservative]

whoever = whomever

[clamper1797]

Thompson is our best crack at a conservative candidate.
Hunter is better, but the media keeps ignoring him.

Thompson should choose Duncan Hunter as his VP candidate

[deaconjim]

No man his age with a wife like his is lazy. Tired maybe, but definitely not lazy.

[bill1952]

Okay, here goes:

If this these reviews are correct and
If Fred did get more aggressive and
If Fred did “catch fire,” as it were, then:

Fred may have a good enough organization to listen to the feedback from the voters and adapt accordingly.

Very good. - Most pols really only do one of two things:
Ignore the voters and listen to themselves, or:
Tell everyone everything that they want to hear.

Cautious optimism is warranted.

[Resolute Conservative]

Yes or as SecDef and make Steele, Barbour, or Watts his VP. A good long shot would be Santorum.

I would like to see Peter Pace approached.

Let the grooming for 2016 begin.

[Harrius Magnus]

Thompson should choose Duncan Hunter as his VP candidate

That's my dream team.

And for the rest....

He looks ill. He has no “fire in the belly.” (quickly becoming the most hackneyed saying on this board, up with “gravitas” and “vitriol.”)
He was for Campaign Finance Reform.
He is a member of the nefarious CFR.
He doesn’t really drive around DC in a red pickup.
He once had a third cousin related to a lawyer who was pro-RoeVWade.
He has very little experience (despite having more than any Rat).
He once spent 3 hrs smoking a cigar with a consultant to the Grand Sultan of Dubai.
Despite being a God-fearing man, he hasn’t put on knee-pads for an otherwise sensible J. Dobson.
And finally, he married a younger, smart woman, who he clearly loves very much, after divorcing amicably with his first wife 20 years ago.
Am I leaving anything out??? I just wanted to get it all out on the thread so that the rest of comments could actually be pertinent to the race ahead.

[enough_idiocy]

By far. And I don’t think puffing up Fred’s performance is going to help win in 2008. Fred was better but besides two decent one liners, there wasn’t much there. I’m growing tired of everyone proping this guy up and kidding themselves about these debates. Objectively McCain had a great performance, Fred was so-so and unmotivating.