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Senator Fred Thompson in Laguna Woods plays to an enthusiastic rally of 700 people
Red County OC Blog ^ | December 01, 2007 | Chuck DeVore

Posted on 12/01/2007 2:17:20 PM PST by SoConPubbie

I was proud to host Senator Fred Thompson to the 70th Assembly District today to an enthusiastic crowd of 700 people in Laguna Woods.

According to my wife, Diane, Senator Thompson, “Covered all the bases. He hit all the conservative themes and he covered them articulately and with passion.” I was very glad to hear that as Diane is very tough to impress (she had a weak moment when she met me, for which I am eternally grateful).

Greeting Senator Thompson at the rally were his state chairman, Sen. Tom McClintock, radio personality John Ziegler emceed the event while former Sen. Dick Mountjoy announced his endorsement of Senator Thompson.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 2008; ca2008; conservatism; conservatives; election; electionpresident; elections; endorsements; formerlyleisureworld; fred; fredthompson; gop; immigration; republicans; talkradio; thompson; thompson44; tommcclintock; tommclintock; valuesvoters
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bump!


41 posted on 12/02/2007 4:50:46 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: SoConPubbie

Combine his endorsement with Tom McClintock’s endorsement (who by the way stated during the rally that he had not been this excited by a candidate since Reagan) and you should have the conservative vote locked up in California.

What does that mean for number of delegates Fred will receive? That is what matters.


42 posted on 12/02/2007 4:54:47 AM PST by napscoordinator
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To: Route66; ansel12; seekthetruth
"The lack of honesty in the commentary on Fred has, without doubt, negatively affected his campaign, but the tide is turning." - Route66

It does seem to be turning, some writers are fine writing about Fred now, and some of the more hostile writers seem to be softening their tone a little bit. - ansel12

Even the account published by the left-wing Los Angeles was relatively positive:
Thompson touts bedrock conservatism in Southland visit
Addressing O.C. retirement community, the Republican presidential candidate vows 'adult leadership' to cut taxes and secure the borders.

By Phil Willon
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

December 2, 2007

Campaigning as the only true conservative running for president, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson came to one of the most Republican towns in Republican-dominated Orange County on Saturday to deliver crowd-pleasing talk of slashing taxes and securing U.S. borders...

-- snip --
The crowd of about 1,000 was composed primarily of people 55 and older, who warmly received Thompson's pledge to cut taxes -- including estate taxes -- to stimulate economic growth...
-- snip --
McClintock's support could help shore up Thompson's appeal to California conservatives, a critical voting bloc in California's Feb. 5 presidential primary. The state senator is a well-known fiscal watchdog and is admired in the party for sticking to his conservative ideals.

"All the Republican candidates are talking conservative right now. They always talk conservative during the Republican primary," McClintock said. "The difference between Fred Thompson and the other major Republican candidates is that where he stands today is where he stood eight years ago, and where he will be standing eight years from now, when he completes his second term as president."

Marilyn Conrath, 71, who drove to the event from her home in Laguna Beach, said she arrived unsure of whom she would support. After listening to Thompson's speech, she was leaning his way.

"It was really nice seeing him in person; it's so hard when all you see are snippets on TV," said Conrath. "I was really impressed. My biggest concerns are illegal immigration, our safety and the tax issue, and he fits in very well."

43 posted on 12/02/2007 5:14:42 AM PST by RonDog
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To: seekthetruth
What really will surprise many is when Fred does well in Iowa and New Hampshire. GO FRED!

I don't see him doing well in NH. Historically, they are generally a fickle, self-important bunch, and I don't think Fred has spent enough time there to suit them. Maybe there are enough NH voters who don't think this way to give him a good showing, but it seems like NH wants candidates to do the dance, and Fred doesn't do that.

44 posted on 12/02/2007 5:21:10 AM PST by TN4Liberty (A liberal is someone who believes Scooter Libby should be in jail and Bill Clinton should not.)
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To: Finny
Thank you, Finny, for being the eyes and ears of those of us who couldn't make it yesterday.

I trust your take any day over any other reporter.

It's one thing to see videos of the speeches, and quite another thing entirely to get your first-hand impression and observation. No newspaper would report this kind of depth.

Aside from Thompson's true, deep, humility, the thing that came across the most for me was his way with people. He was quietly, respectfully mobbed for quite some time getting out of the building. Just watching body language, the comfort levels were extreme. There was no wall that I could see between politician and person. Thompson believes in the power of the same conservative principles that a lot of those folks there have lived, loved, and voted, and it gives him a lot of confidence. He's very tall, but oddly, not imposing.

And this:

He is humble. "I don't need another thing to add to my resume," he said, and I believed him. He's doing it because he knows he's one of those rare politicians who, like Tom McClintock, intellectually embraces the core values of American conservatism in government, starting at the Constitution. I think his conscience is making him do it.

Others may report/record the event, but you report the spirit which, to me, is the substance of the whole thing.

Thank you!

45 posted on 12/02/2007 5:26:21 AM PST by b9 (~ simply Fred ~)
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To: TN4Liberty

You may be right, but I do have a feeling that Fred has spent time in New Hampshire that we don’t know about. The media has been and continues to cover Rudy Giuliani,Mitt Romney,and Mike Huckabee more than any of the other candidates. I am hoping for a close third in both Iowa and New Hampshire.
GO FRED!


46 posted on 12/02/2007 6:06:02 AM PST by seekthetruth
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To: napscoordinator
Tom McClintock ... who by the way stated during the rally that he had not been this excited by a candidate since Reagan ...

I'd forgotten that part! YES! My feelings, too! McClintock is like a good bell: he rings true every time.

47 posted on 12/02/2007 9:56:25 AM PST by Finny (There are many enemies in our work. One of them is envy. -- A British naval officer)
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To: b9; RonDog; napscoordinator; SoConPubbie
Really kind words, thank you, but understand that all that was my opinion, gut feeling. Not reporting, but opinion! I only attempt to be removed enough from my own inclinations to see what I want to see and "report" likewise. Besides, I was an active prevaricator. The candidate needs to know where he's striking the right chords, saying things we agree with. I'm all for yelling and cheering at music events and things like this, where the folks onstage are there to connect with the audience. It's good for people to cut loose sometimes. It's like singing. In other words, I did things to influence the outcome of the event. I'm no reporter!

Can anybody else who went make a good guess as to the attendance? DeVore's release said 700 people, but I think that's a bit high. I saw one report (on the MSM, of course) that had it at about 300, but that seems pretty low. I'd guess ... 500? Anybody?

48 posted on 12/02/2007 10:24:32 AM PST by Finny (There are many enemies in our work. One of them is envy. -- A British naval officer)
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To: Finny; SoConPubbie; cold666pack
Can anybody else who went make a good guess as to the attendance?

DeVore's release said 700 people, but I think that's a bit high. I saw one report (on the MSM, of course) that had it at about 300, but that seems pretty low.

I'd guess ... 500? Anybody?

See my post #43.

The L.A. Times says 1,000!

I would have guessed several hundred, but I was sitting way upfront, and could not see the whole crowd.

Chuck DeVore was onstage -- so he COULD see the whole crowd...

...and he has been at that venue MANY times in the past.
HIS number is probably the most accurate.

49 posted on 12/02/2007 10:47:05 AM PST by RonDog
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To: RonDog
Wow! I hope they're right! It was a pretty big auditorium, and I judged it to be about two-thirds full. I am no pro at guessing group numbers. I just took DeVore's figure of 700 as being the most optimistic, and went from there!

Do you think it was 1000 people? It'd be easy to figure out if we knew the capacity of the auditorium. Not that it really matters -- the crowd was a good and enthusiastic one.

50 posted on 12/02/2007 11:03:45 AM PST by Finny (There are many enemies in our work. One of them is envy. -- A British naval officer)
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To: RonDog; napscoordinator

“McClintock’s support could help shore up Thompson’s appeal to California conservatives”

“Tom McClintock ... who by the way stated during the rally that he had not been this excited by a candidate since Reagan ...”


Huge stuff, California conservatives are back on the map.


51 posted on 12/02/2007 11:45:09 AM PST by ansel12 (Proud father of a 10th Mountain veteran. Proud son of a WWII vet. Proud brother of vets, Airborne)
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