Posted on 12/13/2007 9:14:16 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Memo to readers: With his superb performance in Wednesday's debate in Iowa, Fred Thompson_has made a monkey out of me. By early afternoon on Tuesday, the column that appears below, one which posits that Thompson's presidential campaign might still find a way to win, was ready in exactly the form it appears here. But I thought the column would still remain exactly on target throughout the week, so (for various reasons) I aimed for a Friday release. At the time, I thought that until Thompson began his Iowa bus tour on Monday the 17th, my_contention that he "ain't dead" yet would seem noteworthy for its boldness.
Then Thompson ruined it all by so clearly running away with the laurels in Wednesday's debate -- and in particularly Reaganesque fashion. Just as Reagan did at the famous Nashua, N.H. debate in 1980, Thompson used the unfairness_of_the debate moderator as a foil in a way that justly earned the candidate plaudits as a no-nonsense kind of guy. Now everybody is taking a second look at Thompson's chances. Deservedly so.
But of course a debate performance like that should not have been a surprise. As my column reports, pollster Frank Luntz said even before Wednesday's debates that Thompson was hitting his stride and connecting with audiences at earlier debates.
Anyway, without further ado (but with more commentary afterwards), here_is my column as originally written--in what I thought would seemed a fairly bold analysis, but which now seems unremarkable--as an object lesson for those of us who think we understand political timing. Just as pundits, myself included, were having a high old time criticizing Sen. Thompson for the timing of his efforts in this campaign, he somehow succeeded in stealing a march on us. Maybe Good Ol' Fred knows what he is doing after all.(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Fred is dead … not by a long shot!
I knew nothing about Fred prior to the start of his campaign, but everything I have seen and read about him to date leads me to believe he is a crafty old soul who is exactly where he plans and expects to be at this stage of the campaign.
The rest of the pack are running a marathon while he is playing chess. Always thinking three to five moves ahead.
Fred ping!
IBTP!
If I thought him dead, I would not have contributed more to his campaign after the debate.
Once again, FR is ahead of the curve.
I keep contributing. You gotta believe and I believe in Fred. If idiots eventually choose someone else it won’t be because I didn’t do my part.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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“Jim, on election night many polls showed you still ahead in the race, yet the next morning you had lost by over 20 points, any insight?”
“*@#* Fred @#*& Thompson”
Kids, it ain’t over till the fat lady sings, and she ain’t even in the theater yet.
The final act of this play is all Fred’s...
Fred has put out substantial policy papers on big issues, and I don’t find any big problems with his thinking and approach to those issues. More important, this is a guy who sets the right tone, and will literally tower over any other world leader in face to face situations. He will represent America the way we should be represented to the world, with gravitas and a steady demeanor.
A vote this time won’t be a “lesser of two evils” vote if Fred is the nominee. It’s time to contribute to his campaign again. Fred won’t let American down.
This I don't get....unless they thought that, since Huck is solidly against abortion he MUST be conservative on the other issues....and gee he is so young looking and likeable and gollllllllllly sarge...
Heh heh...
I love being right...
He’s NOT dead Jim...
I don’t remember who said it, or where I read it, but it was said that Huckabee was Tyson and the Mexican Gov’t best friend when he was a Governor....GO FRED!!!!!!!
I made my first contribution to Fred after he was the first to stand up for Rush in that Reid debacle - Rush never complained that none of the Senate Republicans stood up for him, but I felt they should have and was delighted when Fred did - but have also contributed to Hunter (he’s a true conservative and a really good man, but has no name recognition, unfortunately). After Wednesday’s debate: I’m definitely for Fred. Dead? I think not.
I sure hope not....this media blackout of him bothers me
he needs money for exposure...which is worrisome....he had plenty of exposure early on...worth plenty he got for free
he then went on to say “uh” too often and act ambivalent and folks chewed on him
but I’m with Rush....he’s the only one who talks conservative who can get the nomination
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