Posted on 11/02/2007 9:35:48 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
When word began circulating in Republican circles last spring that former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson was considering a run for the presidency, the reaction ranged from relief the party had finally found a suitable standard - bearer to squeals of delight about the actor/politician and his resemblance to former President Ronald Reagan.
It was arguably the high mark of the campaign thus far.
Thompson seemed to squander the summer as he considered his run and raised fewer campaign dollars than hoped. Once he hit the campaign trail, he was forced to acknowledge ignorance about some local issues when stumping across the country, such as Terri Schiavo and offshore drilling in Florida. Republican voters found him wanting, a reaction epitomized by a moment that can be seen on YouTube when Thompson had to ask his audience for applause.
And yet, in a striking statement about the fluidity of the Republican race, he strode into Las Vegas on Thursday as a top-tier candidate with a real shot at the nomination.
His chief opponents, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, are seen as having weaknesses, especially among the party's conservative core. Thompson, who was the Republican staff lawyer for the Watergate Committee and then a prosecutor and a lobbyist, will be especially tough in the South , which is the party's geographic base and which will host an early primary in South Carolina.
The man who plays tough-talking, straight-shooting New York District Attorney Arthur Branch on TV's "Law & Order" spoke to about 100 Republicans at Stoney's Rockin' Country, a country bar on South Las Vegas Boulevard , at a breakfast fundraiser for the state Republican Party. It was an unconventional fundraiser crowd: Some seemed to be bar patrons dropping by for an early nip.
Thompson began with a joke that drew a laugh: "Keep watching those reruns. There's something called residuals," he said of "Law & Order" and its ubiquitous presence on cable TV.
He said Republicans would have to stop the Democrats, "a political party that wants to turn the country into a giant welfare state" and "plays politics with national security."
Thompson, who speaks in a laconic drawl and in a spare style devoid of policy details or soaring rhetoric, described himself as a "common -sense conservative" who believes in low taxes and strong national defense.
Politics isn't so complicated, Thompson said. "It's peace and prosperity, my friends."
It was a short speech, and then he worked the rope line.
State Sen. Bob Beers, who was at the breakfast, said he'll support Thompson. "I like him, I like his politics, and I feel comfortable following him."
Beers said Thompson's campaign hadn't asked for an endorsement or any help with his Nevada organization.
Nevada Republicans will hold their caucus Jan. 19.
Hey look, everybody, it’s a MittWitt hanging around on a FredThread insulting Fred! So classy! Really makes me want to support Mitt!
Yep. Just like all avalanches.
J. Patrick Coolican, formerly a reporter for The Seattle Times, has covered police, politics, higher education, and suburban cities. Most recently at The Times, he worked as content director/blogger for the newspaper's election web site. He also worked as a roving enterprise reporter and covered such issues as the impact of endorsements on elections; gay divorce; new treatments for soldiers returning from war, and a school district's practice of handcuffing students. Coolican also has worked for the Manchester (Connecticut) Journal Inquirer and the Keene (New Hampshire) Sentinel. He graduated cum laude from an honors program at the University of Notre Dame structured around the Great Books canon of Western philosophy, science and literature.
Bob Beers. The finest Republican in the state of Nevada.
Thanks for stopping by!
Along with the Tom McClintock & etc.. endorsements in California, what does that tell you?
Obama digging in, planting grass roots in Nevada
By J. Patrick Coolican
Published in the Sun on June 1, 2007
CARSON CITY — When the crowds stop cheering, and all the books have been sold and signed, and the squeals of young women go silent, Barack Obama will have to get down in the mud of electoral politics.
To win Nevada’s Jan. 19 caucus, the Democratic U.S. senator from Illinois must gather caucus-goers and get them to schools, community centers and other caucus sites to declare their support, often in the face of opposition.
***
Clinton makes the Vegas rounds
By J. Patrick Coolican
Published in the Sun on August 10, 2007
Sen. Hillary Clinton showed many sides of her well-developed political profile during a long day of campaigning Thursday in Nevada, weaving together big themes with policy details, occasional humor and Clintonesque empathy.
Never did she look more at home, though, more effortlessly herself, than when counterpunching on health care.
"more effortlessly herself"
eech, I'm gonna throw up.
Tells me all the best and brightest are aboard the Fred train. ;-)
On that subject, what ever happened to the Old Freepers, all we have now is a bunch of inane, smart alec remarks when someone posts a good subject.
We used to have some real discussions, not sound bites, and smart a**ed remarks, what happened to the gray material on this site???
http://www.fred08.com/Index.aspx
First, get signed up.
Second, kick in some bucks or buy some Fred Stuff!
Then, from the “Home”
look on the right side for “Host/Attend parties”
You can check for anything within 75 miles or you can plan your own!
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
WARNING: If you wish to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.
Hahaaa! good response bump
Pressed in a live in studio interview with John Ziegler on KFI, Ann Coulter said she'll vote for Rep Hunter but believed the nominee will be only Rudy or Mitt. She criticized Rudy a lot, believing Hillary will defeat him easily.
In nothing short of bizarre, she dismissed Sen Thompson as not being as conservative as Rudy or Mitt because they had bigger challenges of being "conservative" in liberal states. She clearly has something against Fred but neither I nor the host could really get her to come clean.
From a supporter of a gay loving, rino infected, abortion supporting, liberal tax raising, gun-grabbing man named mitt... whose Conservative rhetoric and positions are not matched by any of his past governings.
LLS
That tells me all I need to know about Coulter's opinion on this issue. There are things to criticize about every candidate, and I don't like applying labels since there's not a commonly accepted defition of exactly what "conservative" is. But this is absurd.
**************
That is bizarre.
I remember when the slogans were enthusiastic and uplifting.
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