Posted on 03/26/2007 9:49:21 AM PDT by RepublicanPatriot
Yes, Thompson has portrayed strong executive leadership in his acting roles, but what reason do we have to believe that he will exhibit the same qualities in real life? Unlike Reagan, to whom he sometimes is compared, Thompson has never led a major labor organization, never served as governor, and never been considered one of the leaders of the conservative movement in this country.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Definitely not on the side of conservatives!
Your tagline gave me a good line for 08.
"You can vote for the party of reason or the party of treason"
Excellent analysis!
I think the only chance for conservatism future viability outside the smokey backrooms of FRF is by nominating a candidate who is truly, consistently, demonstrably conservative AND who is eloquent enough to explain conservatism in a way that cannot be manipulated by the those enemies of America within and without.
You can attempt to label anyone as a conservative. Yet, nominating someone we merely can call a conservative, without the substance to back it up, will seal our downfall.
This is interesting honey.
It is surprising that he admits that Giuliani is NOT a principled conservative.
I can scarcely believe that people are still trying to smear Fred with last week's discredited rumor ... a fear-driven, "did-you-hear" whispering campaign built on a lie ... so sad. All it accomplishes is to reflect poorly on the candidates the rumor-mongers are actually backing.
Fred has always been conservative - his entry will demolish Romney. Rudy is the biggest celebrity in the race, but Fred's tought guy Hollywood image would make a dent in that advantage.
Fred's built in advantage is that among hard core conservatives, there is an appetite for a candidate with views they can support without holding their nose. Fred's that guy.
The problem is that it's not quite that simple. The primaries are getting earlier and earlier. The cost of running for President is getting fantastically expensive. And the support and backers you need have to be lined up well in advance. Simply put, if he wants to be President, he can't wait another month or two to mull his options.
Even if the far right wanted to derail Rudy, by then it may be impossible. Even if Thompson joined the race tomorrow, he'd need to come up with 100 million dollars, and numbers that could beat Giuliani. Easier said than done. Because he's not joining the race until his close friend John McCain drops out, and that may be several months.
As for the "fire in the belly" problem, I agree that RR was the greatest president of the 20th century, and he certainly did run for four years before 1980. However, his 1976 candidacy was not so much planned - he ran because Ford did not represent the conservative movement, just as Thompson (and the rest of us) correctly perceive that there isn't a real conservative among Rudy McRomney.
How does that address the "fire in the belly" issue with Fred Thompson? Sure, there's a vacuum, but opportunity alone isn't enough. Say what you aill about Hillary and Rudy, but they're not afraid to jump in the pit and get punched in the face, all day, every day, to fight for the brass ring.
Incidentally, our greatest president ever was George Washington. He was reluctant to be president as well. He never wanted a second term but was talked into it.
Not to belabor the obvious, but George Washington had an achievement or two under his belt that perhaps inclined people to hand him the job and beg him to stay for as long as he liked. While Fred's had a good acting career, it's not that good.
I would vote for him simply because he is not from NY or has ever made a lame attempt to represent NY.
I am concerned about this "fire in the belly" issue. Frankly, all of the people jumping, heck, hurling themselves headlong like lemings into a campaign for an election so early (they've been campaigning forever already, it seems) is concerning. It reminds me of herd behavior. Obamma, Hitlery, then all the pilers-on. Either a herd or vultures.
This campaign for 08 has begun waaayyy too early and I really don't see how there is sufficient information available to determine that Fred is reluctant. Could be that what we are seeing is a careful consideration of the issue before plunging headlong. Or, he could be giggling to himself that some love him for pres. while he has no intention of running at all. There's just not enough information to know. And, the absence of information is not proof.
I think he's getting free publicity and buzz while the others spend campaign money.
I heard an ad on the radio from rudy asking people to join his campaign. He paid for that ad. Meanwhile, millions of people heard Fred Thompson on paul harvey's radio show - and he's getting paid to do it!
Well, I am in the sausage factory and that is what is so amazing to those of us who toil in this game (I am a consultant -- was a consultant to the California Legislature from 1976 to 1983, and currently a self-employed marketing analyst and entrepreneur who has done quite a bit of work in the political area).
Nothing like that is happening, which is causing people to wonder whether he is just running for Veep.
You know, my momma used to tell me that when a schoolyard whiner tells you that you better do things his way or he's gonna take his ball and go home... you probably ought to let him.
Michael Barone would disagree with you and did last week with Hugh Hewitt I believe. I'm searching for quote.
In a sense, I agree with you completely. This is starting too early.
But it's started.
And, it's going to start this early or earlier for pretty much the rest of our lives. Media, money, and the times are changing how we elect Presidents. It's one thing to not like it, but it's another to ignore it. As FReepers, we can sit around and complain about how things were better when campaigns didn't start so early. We're not running for anything.
If we were, someone else would eat our lunch.
Nobody is Ronald Reagan. I look forward to the day when people stop trying to claim that about any politician.
It was newt to hunter, and all you need do is revisit the Rudy bashing pages for a refresher.
I see your point.
See, the problem is all of these people have been campaigning forever, but nothing is really happening, campaign-wise. I mean, you have Obama taking a decisive move over the weekend to criticise Nifong. Ridiculous. What milquetoast crap. Only a moonbat from the furthest galaxy is unaware of Nifong's wrong-doing. But this is what passes for "a position" these days?
I want more substance from everyone. If we're having a campaign, then let's cut the small talk and get to brass tacks. Let's have some debates. Let's have some real airtime.
But then everyone says it's too early for that. So, it's too early for substance, but too late to say you want to be a part of insubstantial wasting of campaign funds on photo-ops?? I guess I'm the idiot.
I'm not one to sit on ceremony and demand links. If you don't have the quote handy, feel free to paraphrase it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.