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.
bump
Add to that the fact that Rudy is no Conservative...
When you are talking to your pre teen nieces you expect pre teen answers and you know they are pre teens and form your questions with that in mind so everything fits in that context so to speak..
The same would apply here.
Free Republic is a Conservative Forum.
By supporting Rudy and expecting him to get respect, you are out of Context.
I’ve met Bob Beers, I believe he’s a good man, also one of the most libertarian NV senators, sorry to hear he’s not going to endorse Ron Paul. This is from an interview with him:
Many of the stances you take have a distinct libertarian flavor. What differentiates you from the libertarians?
The one thing I’ve learned is that labels really are meaningless. We have pro-business Republicans and anti-business Republicans. I’ve been a Republican for a long time and certainly disagree with some of the stances that Republicans take, particularly at the national level. Certainly here at the state level, the 2003 tax-and-spend hike would be a big one. I don’t know about libertarian and Republican. I think I’m a Nevadan and individual liberty is why we have established government. The protection of individual liberty is what the mission of government should be and everything should derive off of that role. I’ve been in business so I have that experience as well.
It just reminds me of kids that can't dislike another kid without calling them gay "He's so gay", or "He's a fag" and only do it as an insult with no context what so ever. Or the kindergartner who calls the other kid a "poopie head" etc.
I love a good debate, and I am willing to look at all candidates pros and cons with other adults, I won't however debate with someone that has the intellectual humor level of a juvenile. I figure juveniles can't vote anyway, so why waste my breath.
THE MAN WITH PRINCIPLES AND NOTHING BUT THE FACTS!
“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.”
I’m really curious as to why you think this is significant and why you underlined “gay divorce.”
This man?
Or this man?
LLS
This is why No mitt... NO WAY!
LLS
Any infringement on the Second Amendment is taboo. It is an inalienable right... the Founders put that word in there for a reason. Next will be semi auto then handguns. You either believe in the Constitution or you think it is a living document to be changed by pop culture of the day.
LLS
Good afternoon! Did you have any other witticisms to share with us?
Right on!
LLS
You do not see the significance of a journalist writing a hit piece on a leading Republican Presidential candidate that to pursues such an obscure subject to the extent that they include it in their own bio? Gay divorce? AND followed by examples of the writer being a flaming democrat supporter as well? You really don’t get it?
ouch!
candidate that pursues such
I didn't read it as a hit piece, and I have been a Fred supporter since he ran for the Senate in 1994, but you are entitled to your opinion. I just wasn't sure about your point.
I gather the writer doesn't have much of a resume, looking at the things he has reported on... on line. None of them seem particularly deep.
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