Posted on 11/25/2007 5:20:01 PM PST by Josh Painter
Former Tennessee Senator and presidential candidate Fred Thompson has been accused of lacking fire to run for the presidency.
Seeking to alter that image, Thompson fired away at Chris Wallace of Fox News this morning, accusing the network of being biased against his campaign:
Thompson said, "This has been a constant mantra of Fox, to tell you the truth." He noted that other conservatives have praised his bid for the GOP nomination and took issue with a Fox promo that focused on polling in New Hampshire, where Thompson is registering in the single digits.Thompson has a point. While his campaign has been universally criticized for gaffes and missteps early on, it is equally clear Thompson has righted the ship in recent weeks and is starting to generate some momentum.He said he is running second in national polls and has been leading or tied for the lead in South Carolina for "a long, long time." Thompson, in a firm, but measured tone, scolded Wallace: "...for you to highlight nothing but the negatives in terms of the polls and then put on your own guys who have been predicting for four months, really, that I couldn't do it, kind of skew things a little bit. There's a lot of other opinion out there."
His policy papers on social security and immigration have been widely praised on the right as being well rounded, thoughtful, and meaty. His tone on the stump has changed as well as he as begun to criticize both Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney for what he calls their "fake" conservatism.
The media, including Fox, have focused largely on the inside the beltway criticism of the campaign and the candidate himself while ignoring the fact that despite the bad start he is still polling in second place nationally among Republicans.
At the very least, this criticism of Fox shows Thompson to have some fire in the belly - something the media has criticized him for lacking. It also shows an independent streak that not too many candidates have demonstrated.
Reality check:
The nominee is not going to be Duncan Hunter or Tom Tancredo. It is going to be Giuliani, Romney or Thompson. If all the true conservatives voted for the most conservative candidate who has a snowball's chance in hell of winning the nomination, Thompson would walk away with the nomination.
If Thompson were to drop out, then that would leave us with either Romney (a politically expedient hack) or Giuliani (a liberal Democrat in Republican clothing).
We're not trying to silence your opinion. Your opinion that Hunter would be the best candidate is certainly true and valid. Your opinion that he can win this nomination is nothing more than fantasy.
Get real.
Get prepared to join the Thompson team. I'm hoping that Duncan Hunter does it soon.
Aw, that’s sweet...
You have no basis for your attacks. I’ll just let you be as you have nothing of any worth to say.
You’ve got another fan! :)
Aw, gee. I thought this was the start of a beautiful friendship. Won’t you reconsider?
Brings a tear to me eye...
The ‘plan’ happens to be that it is always up to the voters. You are a classic case of what is infecting the GOP at this time. So many clearly state how impressive and awesome Duncan Hunter is BUT ‘he doesn’t have name recognition’, ‘I’ll wait and see’ rather than having the principle enough to TRY to get the man we need as President the nomination. Hunter has not failed but many people are failing when they base it basically on ‘name recognition’ rather than the candidate’s true worth and record.
Now I'm choking up.
Like I say, if Duncan Hunter is not there to vote it will be ‘settling’ and I can honestly say the GOP is not in good shape. This election will certainly change the so-called ‘electability’ factor but it will be too late.
Need a hug?
Now that you mention it..maybe a group hug is in order.
The best we could do last time was GWB and what a disappointment he has been on conservative issues. I dare say that Thompson is significantly more conservative than GWB. If he's the best we can do, then we are in better shape than we were in 2000.
You have no plan.
Hunter’s lack of recognition is HIS FAULT. It is not mine or yours or anyone else’s but his own.
That’s the way it is in any campaign. Rommel could complain about all kinds of things for having to retreat from N. Africa, but at the end of the day, the buck stopped with him. He was the general. He could not overcome his enemies. He lost.
It was HIS JOB to overcome his enemies.
It is HUNTER’S job to overcome obstacles. He has not done it. I’m hoping his presence on a Thompson ticket would put California in play, or that his exposure would make him a viable candidate for California governor or senator.
“Got you-tube?”
Here’s the segment in question. See what you think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00mX5uzDPKI
Not by much. You do leave out the fact that Thompson would have to get elected first in a general election and I think you people are greatly overestimating this man’s appeal. It’s not going to go over well outside of desperate GOP’ers who think they have an actor ‘name’ and people will vote for Hillary with a belief they will get Bill too so you can’t count on them just ‘settling’ then.
Me too, but it's from laughing so damn hard.
bushfamfan. If you have any idea....I mean substaintial SUCCESSFUL ideas to get Hunter's name in the public eye, you should tell DH's campaign, because they have no clue how to go about it, and I doubt you do, either. That is why he fails as a candidate.
Sure, Duncan Hunter wins the GOP primary and is the GOP nominee and he will take care of the rest. Name recognition solved as people want to see who this nominee is who beat the odds and he’s more than competent in interviews, debates, speeches, personal appeal and with his Vietnam vet status and his son’s Iraq/Afghanistan service he will do just fine in a general election and, frankly, he would keep the ‘red’ states and with his trade status would make his mark with many ‘blue’ staters. And he’s not an easy man to mock.
Duncan Hunter can only draw 2-4% of REPUBLICAN voters. Do you think Duncan Hunter is going to appeal to the Independents?
Thompson's biggest problem is that he is viewed by conservatives as too liberal and they all want to die on their swords for Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo. But even if they were to get the nomination, they would NOT appeal to independents. The nominee must appeal to independents in order to win the presidency. When placed up against Hillary or Obama, Thompson will be very appealing to both Republicans and independents. Thompson will carry at least 40 states. I think that will be enough.
I have read so much unsubstaniated drivel from you on this thread, but this takes the cake. We consistently see positive comments on Fred's positions and "performance" from across the spectrum that for you to say that you "don't hear that about Fred" tells me you are either terribly misinformed or just making stuff up as you go.
You can have your guy, but your unfounded assertions about FDTs electability are way beyond the pale. This idea of tearing others down because you can't build your guy up is counter-productive and childish.
If you don't want Fred, don't vote for him. Point out some policy problems if you wish. But your stated reasons for voting against him in this thread are as vapid and silly as what I would expect from a teenager.
I'm sorry you don't think he is pretty enough to be President. I happen to like his policies, and I think grown-ups of both parties would like to vote for someone who tackles issues head on and doesn't mince words.
But if you find thoughtful answers boring, then I guess you will get what you deserve, and if the electorate at large feels the same way, it doesn't matter who wins, does it?
I wish I had taken the time to write that..lol.
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