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Playing the President
Townhall.com ^ | 17 March 2007 | Robert D. Novak

Posted on 03/17/2007 1:53:22 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher

Actor-politician Fred Thompson's unexpected expression of interest in seeking the Republican presidential nomination has attracted an equally unexpected favorable reaction, especially among social conservatives.

In Tennessee Republican politics, former Sen. Thompson was allied with Howard Baker and Lamar Alexander in the state party's more liberal wing. However, his voting record in the Senate was solidly conservative. He is viewed by the Christian right as more acceptable than any of the three Republican candidates leading in the polls -- Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney.

Nobody is sure that Thompson really will run. He has been reported in line as successor to radio commentator Paul Harvey to fill one of the most prestigious and profitable broadcasting niches.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton raised eyebrows among Democratic insiders when Washington Post columnist Al Kamen reported that she dined last week at the 701 restaurant in downtown Washington with former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, his wife, Valerie Plame, and left-wing journalist Sidney Blumenthal.

Leading Democrats have stayed away from Wilson since a Senate Intelligence Committee report in 2004 discredited him. Blumenthal was known as a vicious attack man when he worked as an aide to President Bill Clinton late in his administration.

Clinton's choice of dining companions casts doubt on her attempted image modification into a centrist Democrat who wants to avoid the politics of personal destruction.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel was vexed when Sen. Chuck Schumer appeared to take credit for investigating the Justice Department's dismissal of U.S. attorneys. "At the very beginning, I was clear that something didn't smell right," Schumer told a Tuesday press conference.

Emanuel, who is not a lawyer, actually led all Democrats in focusing on the purge of federal prosecutors who had been pursuing public corruption charges. He and Schumer respectively led the House and Senate Democratic campaign committees last year as their party took control of Congress. Emanuel is now chairman and Schumer vice chairman of the party caucuses in their respective chambers.

While Schumer called for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Emanuel took the House floor with a different position. While "many are eager to debate" Gonzales's future, said Emanuel, "we must not lose sight of the real story -- what is happening to these ongoing public corruption investigations."

Reform Republican House members, expecting rousing pep talks in preparation for debate on the supplemental appropriations bill funding the war in Iraq, were disappointed how passive their leaders were at Tuesday's closed-door party conference.

Minority Leader John Boehner and Minority Whip Roy Blunt did not exert much energy in pressing for defeat of the money bill. That measure not only puts a Democratic stamp on distribution of Iraq war funds, but adds unrelated spending items picked by the Democrats.

Surprisingly, a sterling call to action at the conference was issued by Rep. Jerry Lewis, ranking Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee. Normally known for deal-making with Democratic appropriators rather than partisan combat, Lewis called for Republicans to vote against the supplemental bill.

The biggest Washington area fund-raiser for Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani will be a reception the evening of March 22 at millionaire lobbyist Peter Terpeluk's mansion in suburban Chevy Chase, Md.

Terpeluk, who served for four years as ambassador to Luxembourg after being named by President George W. Bush, is one of several Bush backers across the country recruited by Giuliani. Lou Cordia, a longtime Republican political operative in Washington who started in the Reagan administration, is managing the fund-raiser.

Cordia's solicitation requests contributions of up to $4,600 for an individual or $9,200 for a couple to attend the reception. As a sign that the money is slow rolling in, one major Washington contributor who is not yet committed to a presidential candidate has received four telephone calls and two e-mails soliciting for the Giuliani event.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; fredthompaon; gop
I know nothing of Fred Thompson. Is he the real deal?
1 posted on 03/17/2007 1:53:25 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
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To: Aussie Dasher; SevenofNine
Check him out in the Die Hard 2 trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiZtaLGbe3I

2 posted on 03/17/2007 1:57:50 AM PDT by monkapotamus
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To: Aussie Dasher
He acts like one. His conservative voting record is excellent. He has name and face recognition. This country could do worse.
3 posted on 03/17/2007 2:03:17 AM PDT by jburkovi ("I need shorter quotes to put here, or people of substance need to be less wordy" - me)
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To: Aussie Dasher

To show both sides of the Thompson issue:

Pro: He's a more legitimate conservative than Giuliani, McCain, and Romney.

Con: That's not saying much.


4 posted on 03/17/2007 2:05:20 AM PDT by JillValentine (Being a feminist is all about being a victim. Being an armed woman is all about not being a victim.)
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To: Aussie Dasher

It seems to me Novack is at it again with the report about hillery meeting wiyh the wilsons at lunch. He sure seems to like to stir the pot, doesn't he?


5 posted on 03/17/2007 2:08:10 AM PDT by jburkovi ("I need shorter quotes to put here, or people of substance need to be less wordy" - me)
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To: jburkovi

He's a journalist...


6 posted on 03/17/2007 2:18:42 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher (The Great Ronald Reagan & John Paul II - Heaven's Dream Team!)
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To: Aussie Dasher
This is what caught my attention:

"Reform Republican House members, expecting rousing pep talks in preparation for debate on the supplemental appropriations bill funding the war in Iraq, were disappointed how passive their leaders were at Tuesday's closed-door party conference.

Minority Leader John Boehner and Minority Whip Roy Blunt did not exert much energy in pressing for defeat of the money bill. That measure not only puts a Democratic stamp on distribution of Iraq war funds, but adds unrelated spending items picked by the Democrats. "

Novak has put his finger on what ails us....weak, cowering leadership.

7 posted on 03/17/2007 3:08:15 AM PDT by YaYa123
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To: jburkovi

"I'm not a real conservative, but I play one on TV".

Hope he is the real deal.


8 posted on 03/17/2007 3:11:58 AM PDT by spotbust1 (Procrastinators of the world unite . . . . .tomorrow!!!)
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To: Aussie Dasher; jellybean; Howlin

Fred Ping


9 posted on 03/17/2007 3:34:38 AM PDT by mmanager (Rudy = The GAG ONE - Guns, Abortion and Gays - Remove one and call yourself conservative.)
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To: spotbust1

spotbust1 wrote: "Hope he is the real deal."

He is.

http://draftfredthompson.com/index.php


10 posted on 03/17/2007 4:46:36 AM PDT by Josh Painter (Draft Fred Thompson: the grass-roots "surge that will transform the Republican race." - The Hill)
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To: JillValentine
He's a more legitimate conservative than Giuliani, McCain, and Romney.

Agree wholeheartedly compared to the first two... not so sure about Romney. I have a good hunch that Thompson's position on illegals is no different than McCain's, Giuli's... or the president's.

11 posted on 03/17/2007 5:03:58 AM PDT by johnny7 ("We took a hell of a beating." -'Vinegar Joe' Stilwell)
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To: Aussie Dasher

Aussie Dasher wrote: "I know nothing of Fred Thompson. Is he the real deal?"

Read "The Real Deal" by the American Spectator's Washington Prowler:

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=11131


12 posted on 03/17/2007 5:10:42 AM PDT by Josh Painter (Draft Fred Thompson: the grass-roots "surge that will transform the Republican race." - The Hill)
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To: Aussie Dasher; Howlin; carlo3b; girlangler; KoRn; Shortstop7; Lunatic Fringe; beyond the sea; ...
Sign the Fred Thompson for President Petiton

Join the Draft Fred Thompson Bandwagon


▲ Click the box to see where he stands on the issues. ▲

If you'd like to be added to the Fred Thompson list, let Howlin or me know.

13 posted on 03/17/2007 5:33:41 AM PDT by jellybean (FRED THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT! Proud to be an Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: Aussie Dasher
I know nothing of Fred Thompson. Is he the real deal?

Here'a a good introduction to Senator Thompson by John Fund in the Opinion Journal.

14 posted on 03/17/2007 5:39:57 AM PDT by jellybean (FRED THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT! Proud to be an Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: Aussie Dasher

He's better than McCain, Rudy, or Romney...


15 posted on 03/17/2007 5:48:29 AM PDT by ABG(anybody but Gore) ("We're Living In A Twilight World..."- Swingout Sister)
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To: johnny7

Thompson also touched on immigration, stating the need for America to gain genuine control of her borders, suggesting that once that was accomplished, Americans would continue to embrace immigration as they always have, provided it's legal immigration and on a scale that fuels the economy, while not creating a potential disaster for social services...."

(from a radio interview this week with John Gambling)


16 posted on 03/17/2007 6:17:47 AM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: jellybean
"Conceding that McCain-Feingold hasn't worked as intended, and is being riddled with new loopholes, he throws his hands open in exasperation. "I'm not prepared to go there yet, but I wonder if we shouldn't just take off the limits and have full disclosure with harsh penalties for not reporting everything on the Internet immediately."

This is the way I always thought it ought to work. "He who lives in glass house" and all that...

17 posted on 03/17/2007 6:20:47 AM PDT by Eepsy (The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.)
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To: JillValentine

I like the guy. A lot. No, he's not perfect, but he's probably the most conservative potential candidate who has a realistic chance.

BTW how've you been? Long time no talk to.


18 posted on 03/17/2007 7:03:27 AM PDT by RockinRight ("After two years in Washington, I often long for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood." - FDT)
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To: RockinRight

Just fine, thanks.


19 posted on 03/17/2007 7:08:12 AM PDT by JillValentine (Being a feminist is all about being a victim. Being an armed woman is all about not being a victim.)
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To: jburkovi

Maybe that pot needs stirring.


20 posted on 03/17/2007 7:11:51 AM PDT by SuzyQue (Remember to think.)
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