Fred Thompson to leave Senate after only one full term (DRAFT MARSHA BLACKBURN!)

The (Nashville) Tennessean ^ | Friday, 03/08/02

[caltrop]

Well said. Blackburn sounds great to me, exactly what we need and, with all the publicity she's picked up in the income tax fight, is probably better known state wide than any other Republican except Alexander. I entirely agree that, if it's Alexander, even if he wins we lose.

[Huck]

yeah, I know, but he's there. He's got the job. He knows how to do it. It's his prerogative, but he is letting people down. I guess he knows that.

[Reagan Man]

What makes you KNOW that is the reason he decided to not run? He has two sons also. You're stating as FACTS assumptions you are making. I'd like to know What his Daughter was in the Hospital for.

I never said I knew the medical reason why Fred Thompson's daughter entered the hospital and frankly, I don't care either. The news services have been reporting that the Senator specified in his remarks today, the reason he was quitting, was because his heart was no longer in it. This was in some way attributed to his daughter passing away in late January 2002. I'm not making any assumptions and the facts I'm quoting are from reliable media sources. If you wait a while, I'm sure the exact reason his daughter entered the hospital will be revealed. Until then, find someone else to angry and upset with.

[JoeMomma]

The best they could do is Rep. Bob Clement or Rep. Harold Ford. It would be tough for either one to mount an effective campaign this late in the game in a Republican state.

Not true. U.S. Rep. John Tanner would be the most formidable candidate for the Democrats. He'd get the city vote, and capture the rural vote that Al Gore failed to get.

[Campion]

Isn't this Marsha Blackburn a big supporter of Governor Don Sundquist?

Marsha's the anti-Sundquist. I'd rather she'd run for Governor, though, and clean up the mess in TN state government. But we could do much worse in DC.

[KC Burke]

Al had said he was going "home" to mend fences....did he ever find Tennessee?

[GraniteStateConservative]

Alexander will vote like Dole-- in-step with the White House (which can't be said for Erskine Bowles or Harold Ford, Jr.).

[Ingtar]

Ed Bryant, my local Congressman, had mentioned running if Thompson stepped down. He was a House Impeachment manager, and does a good job representing a conservative viewpoint. I would hate to see Thompson's seat go to the Demos. But I would have had to overlook a couple of issues I have with Thompson to vote for him again. (His no on Impeachment; a call to his office revealing he is for CFR)

[GraniteStateConservative]

The problem is that it takes money to win races. The RNC and the WH are already running ragged across the country for Thune and Talent and Coleman, etc. Lamar Alexander could raise a million dollars easy-- Blackburn would really struggle doing that. We have too many seats to protect or challenge.

[Grammy]

"In 1994 we were all still supporting Sundquist. He was still (apparently) a conservative then. It was only later in 1999 that he stabbed us all in the back and showed his RINO colours. We have been fighting him ever since, and Marsha has been in the front ranks with us."
1999 is apparently when Dandy Don was replaced with one of the pod people.

[sheik yerbouty]

Maybe he's going back to showbiz.

[secret garden]

Al who?

[babble-on]

Its between Bryant and Alexander, that much seems clear. Bryant has a great geographic positioning, being a popular Republican in west Tennessee. He'll win the conservative east, lose in Confederate, anti-Lincoln, middle TN, and have his home court advantage in the west. Alexander on the other hand has a blue-chip name in Tennessee, already has a campaign war-chest and could augment it easily, and is a known quantity throughout the state. The question may come down to whether Alexander wants to risk losing a primary battle, which would be a lousy way to end a political career that had a lot of highs, but not many lately.

[Devereaux]

Its between Bryant and Alexander, that much seems clear. Bryant has a great geographic positioning, being a popular Republican in west Tennessee. He'll win the conservative east, lose in Confederate, anti-Lincoln, middle TN, and have his home court advantage in the west.

Now, hold on, babble-on. There are plenty of us anti-Lincoln Confederates in Middle and West Tennessee who will be happy to support Ed Bryant.

[babble-on]

I was more talking about the general election. As for the primary with Alexander I've got no idea how the regional support would stack up. Got to think a primary would be tough on Bryant's finances and tough on Alexander's ego. On the other hand, Sen. Frist spoke up for Bryant a while back when Thompson was waffling in the fall, so there may be a warchest there after all.

[Free the USA]

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[newzjunkey]

According to a WBIR-TV copy of an AP story here, "Doctors say Elizabeth "Betsy" Thompson Panici died from a severe brain injury resulting from cardiac arrest. She was 38 years old."

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Marsha Blackburn taught me the lesson that a small group of determined citizens can still turn the tide. I think she is a very courageous person. She certainly inspired me.

Marsha represents the breakaway Tennessee conservative Republicans I call "Back-to-Basics Republicans." Don Sundquist and those Republicans like him have seriously damaged the party in TN. We have to purge this trash to regain the essence of the TN Republican party.

This is a problem nationwide. Republicans have become a minor variant of Democrats. Republicans will give you big government, now, too - just a little slower. What has happened?

I was one of the first 100 to arrive on those capitol steps in Nashville on the night of July 12th. It was a magic evening and a highlight of my life.

[Ditter]

God Bless you Sen. Thompson & may He ease your pain.

[Freee-dame]

He could have been a contender with his China hearings, but he failed to deliver on his opening speech. He either lacked the courage to go after the Clintons, or discovered there was nothing there but put on a good show to please Conservatives.

Senator Thompson allowed himself to be railroaded by the former patriot John Glenn. The rats behaved disgracefully, preferring their rat party and leader over the good of the country.

The China issue with Loral etc., should have been what the impeachment was all about.

900 FBI files stopped many an investigation. Firing all U.S. Attorneys upon taking office was a mafia-type tactic.