Fred Thompson Wins, Hands Down (Freds' "I paid for this microphone" moment)

American Spectator ^ | 12/12/2007 | Philip Kline

[JRochelle]

First, let me say that this was by far the worst debate yet. The questions were not only skewed to the left, not only almost entirely neglected foreign policy, but they were so broad as to allow the candidates to fall back on talking points. Also, there was no room for back and forth between the candidates. Absolutely awful.

With that said, Fred Thompson was the only candidate who stood out. He was funny, charming, and peppy. Here was a guy who wasn't afraid to speak hard truths, and who displayed knowledge of the policy issues--especially on entitlements. But the moment of the debate, the moment that will be talked about should he defy expectations and go on to win the nomination, was when he refused to raise his hand at the behest of the moderator. This demonstrated conviction, showed he was able to stand up for his principles, that he was a man who valued substance, a leader rather than a follower, and somebody who is running a different kind of campaign. In short, today Thompson was everything that conservatives had hoped they'd be getting when he announced his candidacy.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the point. My impression was that the top tier pays most of the taxes.

[DoughtyOne]

Oh you would say that.
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and you’d be right.

[Salvation]

I was busy in the kitchen and heard the “hands up” instruction and thought how dumb it was. Almost like treating these candidates like school children.

I liked it that some people didn’t put hands up. Since I wasn’t watching, I didn’t realize that it was ONLT Fred.

Way to go, Fred!

[DoughtyOne]

Originally. When she asked him, I got the impression she would have given him ten to fifteen seconds, but I may be wrong about that. She still may have been fishing for a yes or no.

[DoughtyOne]

Good for you. Thanks Horusra.

[4Godsoloved..Hegave]

Amazing, all the front leaders, Giuliani, Romney, McCain, Huckabee raise their hands in obedience to the lady’s question before Thompson jumps in to their aid and says No I won’t answer that question.

She might as well asked for all the RINO’s here please raise your hand.

At least that is my assessment after viewing it several times. Correct me if I am wrong.

[DoughtyOne]

I get something like that too, and I’ve come to think part of it is an irrational reaction from me, but I sure can’t shake it.

[PresbyRev]

Masonic Info!

You speak with such authority - You are a Freemason I presume?

[linn37]

HA ha some of the other candidates raised their hands. I see Romney had his way up high and then snatched it down when Thompson protested.

[jan in Colorado]

I just finished watching the debate (Tivo)...I loved Sen. Thompson’s response!

[higgmeister]

Fred Thompson will show his hand on that solemn day in January when his other hand is on a Bible.

[NewRomeTacitus]

The news media may be trying to bury Thompson but this thread proves he’s still got a lot of conservatives here pulling for him. I’d LIKE to think that’s a comparative microcosm to the actual right-leaning general population. Whittle that down to those who bother to vote...Fred’s definitely in the final lap in this race.

It was a major stroke when the man refused to play into that NPR adherent’s trap and took charge - defending his Southern honor without any sign of evasiveness while telling HER the rules. Just the sort of personal quality we value in a President.

If he keeps it up and stays true to himself I think we have our dragon slayer. And please tip Oprah on your way out.

[DoughtyOne]

Thompson came off with three to five hilarious one-liners sure to have won anyone but Tancredo, Hunter and himself the debate, if spin weren’t king.

Prediction - Fred will certainly go to Tancredo and Hunter after Iowa to see if they'll throw their support to him as they drop out.

I like where you're headed here.  It makes sense and it could help to salvage a conservative victory in the primary process.  If not, we're in serious trouble.

Speculation - does he have people talking to them now?

If his team has half a clue, he does.  If not, then it's impossible to deny that he has a serious problem running his campaign, if the goal was to win.

Question - what would the impact be on the Iowa primary if both Hunter and Tancredo dropped out and endorsed Fred NOW?

If it was done quietly, the impact would be negligable.  If Thompson's crew handled it right, it could be magnified significantly.  Here's what I'd like to see.

Thomson, Hunter and Tancredo stand on the same stage, as Thompson begins a slow burn description that heralds what fine men the other two are.  He heaps praise upon Tancredo for having had the foresight to stand up on the problems of immigrantion earlier than almost any other person.  Then Thompson would turn his attention to Congressman Duncan Hunter, and address the fact that he is one of those people.  I would state that it was a sad fact that Congressman Hunter hadn't gained more traction, because in fact Congressman Hunter is a person that I deeply respect and is probably even more qualified than I to be President of the United States.  I'd rattle off a number of Hunter's views, and I'd state that over the years I had either agreed with Hunter or come around to agree with him on all of those issues.  Then I would explain that Congressman Hunter was on a very short list of people I was considering as a running mate.

I would touch on the problems of immigration today.  I would state that under my administration immigration would be a top priority where changes would be taking place from day one, and that I would need good men of a like mind to help bring things back under control.  And then I would state that no matter what happened, Hunter and Tancredo had agreed to be top level advisors on these matters.

Then I would thank them, and anounce (if I could possibly arrange it) that they would each be spending time in primary states with me through the early primaries.

Tancredo might definitely be tempted by the offer of being given the job of fixing immigration in a Thompson administration.  What cabinet post would that be?  What reasonable offer could Fred make to Hunter to win his support?

I would of course have offered Hunter the Vice-Presidential slot.  I would have arranged with Tancredo to head up an immigration task force that might turn into a new temporary cabinet position, although I'd have to review what that would entail.

I wouldn't announce this up front, because I wouldn't want it to look like I bought their loyalty.  I respect these men and would be very happy to have their support.  My respect for them wouldn't be superficial, and I would value their input on important matters.

Thanks for the comments.

[DoughtyOne]

That may have been over the top, but it’s sometimes nice to think about such a thing, when you support a guy.

[WOSG]

“Mitt said somethings that kind of freaked me out. His first is when he talked about not worrying about rich people and taxes.”

It was a setup/preface to say that he’s worried about the middle class taxes.

[NewRomeTacitus]

Very well thought out. Tancredo is looking at this run as his last public service (though he would be perfect for straightening out Homeland Security). Hunter would serve as an excellent Vice President but, as you pointed out, just doesn’t register with people who don’t know him. Not that that’s given Cheney any problems - but he’s an entirely different corporate animal.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

That is something we have been trying to tell the Hunter people, and try to convince them to support a Thompson/Hunter ticket...
The road is going to get narrow really soon, and if the Hunter people want to get on a winning team, get on the Thompson/Hunter ticket.

[no dems]

When Romney said he and his family had been in Iowa for the past year; I was wishing one of the other candidates would have said:

“Gee, Mitt, must be nice to have a year-long, family vacation in Iowa but the rest of us had to go to work every day and make a living”.

[anymouse]

Ambassador Keyes was an embarrassment. He knew he has no chance and he was grandstanding. Even when he was making good points, he was so annoying that most people tuned him out.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Just like Reagan’s “ There you go again “ or “ I will not exploit my opponent’s lack or experience and age for political advantage “