Posted on 04/02/2007 7:17:51 AM PDT by chad_in_georgia
In just three weeks, Fred Thompson has improbably transformed the contest for the Republican presidential nomination. It is not merely that he has come from nowhere to double digits in national polls. He is the talk of GOP political circles, because he is filling the conservative void in the Republican field. Republican activists have complained for months that none of the big-three contenders -- Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney -- fits the model of a conservative leader for a conservative party. The party faithful have been waiting for another Ronald Reagan. But in the past year, nobody mentioned Thompson as the messiah until he appeared March 11 on ''Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.''
His statement to Wallace that he was ''giving some thought'' to a presidential run generated a reaction that surprised Thompson. In the first Gallup Poll that listed Thompson (March 23-25), he scored 12 percent -- amazing for someone out of public life for more than four years. More important than the polling data is his backing within the political community. Buyer's remorse is expressed by several House members who had endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Romney.
Thompson's popularity reflects weakness among announced Republican candidates, as reflected in the Gallup survey. Sen. McCain, no longer an insurgent but still not accepted by conservatives, is stuck in the 20-25 percent range. Former New York City Mayor Giuliani has dropped precipitously from 44 percent to 31 percent, amid attacks on his ideology and personal life. Most startling, despite a well-financed, well-organized campaign, Romney has fallen to 3 percent.
Sophisticated social conservative activists tell me they cannot vote for Giuliani under any conditions and have no rapport with McCain or Romney. They are coming to see Thompson as the only conservative who can be nominated. Their appreciation of him stems not from his eight years as a U.S. senator from Tennessee but his actor's role as district attorney of Manhattan on ''Law and Order.''
Thompson's political origin as a protege of Sen. Howard Baker, leader of the Tennessee GOP's more liberal wing, prompted hard-line Senate conservatives to consider him a little too liberal. Actually, his lifetime Senate voting record as measured by the American Conservative Union was 86 percent. It would have been close to 100 percent except for his repeated votes supporting McCain's campaign finance reform. None of the big-three Republicans has been so consistently conservative as Thompson on tax policy, national security and abortion.
The principal complaint about Thompson concerns his work ethic. The rap is that he does not burn the midnight oil -- the identical criticism of Reagan, before and during his presidency. That carping may betray resentment that Thompson has emerged as a full-blown candidate without backbreaking campaign travel and tedious fund-raising. Thompson's critics assert that, bored with his lucrative career as an actor, he has enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame created by a chance TV interview and will not really run. But he privately assures friends that this is for real. His performance on ''Fox News Sunday'' was no accident. He went on the program for the purpose of unveiling his possible candidacy.
Thompson did not leave public policy when he left the Senate. He has served on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He hardly knew Scooter Libby but felt he was getting a raw deal, appeared in his courtroom and helped raise money for his defense fund.
Friends bet Thompson will run. He clearly wants to try, and his wife, Jeri, is all for it. Seeking the best timing, he wants to avoid the pitfalls encountered by Democrat Barack Obama, who may have damaged himself by starting his campaign too quickly.
I met Thompson in 1974 as Howard Baker's 31-year-old minority counsel on the Watergate investigation. I considered him co, careful and conservative. He still is, and that is how he would run for president, which appears in the offing.
Or even August.
those announcing that he WON'T enter the race are hoping against hope is more like it.
And then there's THIS little tidbit:
http://voluntarilyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/04/fred-thompson-all-day-every-day.html
~ snip~
People who know me will take this to heart, because I don't like to get behind phantom candidacies and the like.
After speaking with several people close to the situation, I am convinced that Tennessee's own, Fred Thompson, will be a candidate for President of the United States.
I expect that we will hear something official within the next 5 weeks.
~ snip ~
-Eric
Shows some character. Why aren't there other Republicans joining this cause.
This answers the question as to why Thompson. Did he excite anyone when he was actually a Senator? He didn't. Any great political achievements?
I wrote the following several days ago. This article reinforces my opinion.
Conservatives see actor Fred Thompson and want to pretend that he is like Reagan. Not even close.
Reagan was a handsome movie star. Reagan was the hero. Reagan got the girl. Reagan was billed on or near the top.
Reagan gave up movies and TV and committed to politics. He was a successful chief executive of the largest state. He wrote newspaper columns pushing his views. He was committed to making society better politically.
Thompson is a supporting actor. When he is watched on screen, you know you've seen him before, but you hardly know his name. He never gets the girl.
He quit politics to return to make believe.
He had no political achievements but that he voted the "right" way some times. He made no lasting impression in politics on the public at large.
His support is reactionary. Against the front runners. That may work in the Republican primary, it won't carry the General.
All that is not to say he wouldn't make a good, even great, President. He may.
But then I also believe that at least once a week you pass a stranger in the street who would make a great President- given the opportunity. But could the stranger first get 270 Electoral Votes?
What looks good to the desperate seeking relief from the current Republican front runners, a fictional DA, will be turned to ridicule if he were the nominee in the General.
I can hear the public clamor.
It's a time of war, Republicans are unpopular, who knows where oil prices and the economy will be, cue Thompson, enter stage right.
sounds great! expect to hear great wailing and gnashing of teeth! ; )
Sign the Fred Thompson for President Petiton
Join the Draft Fred Thompson Bandwagon
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What makes you think anyone cares to hear you repeat yourself?
Ramble ramble actor actor not Reagan.
Fred's not perfect, and he's not Reagan. Duh. We know.
No more than you.
The base can hope that there's at least one GOP candidate with gonads to take on Liberals and the MSM without being politically correct and talking out of both sides of his mouth.
With Hillary as the Democratic nominee, the GOP would vote for freakin Nelson Rockerfeller to keep her out.
What looks good to the desperate seeking relief from the current Republican front runners, a fictional DA, will be turned to ridicule if he were the nominee in the General.
Actually- I believe the opposite is true. I've been watching and following Thompson for years- I'm not cheerleading for him as Arthur Branch goes to Washington.
I am pretty convinced that Rudy can beat Hillary.
I am even more convinced that Thompson can.
I don't trust McCain. Msybe I'm off there, but also remember he had cancer back when the first thing they do when you get diagnosed, is make you a eunuch. Sorry, but...
I like Rudy but know he would never get the nod from core conservatives, and his skeletons are a liability.
Duncan is right from my neighborhood, almost. Great guy I hear, but not the best personality for superficial America.
Fred? No skeletons of note, more important he's SOLID. DEPENDABLE. I really like that he's said the first thing he would do is pardon Libby- that means he has no qualms doing the right thing and "f" you to those who are wrong. (make it complete by handing down treason indictments for wilson and plame!)
That adds up to a leader people look to like the rock of Gibralter in a storm, and with THE VOICE Fred Thompson is that rock.
Can you imagine him calling out a jihadist from his cave? Gives ya goosepimples.
Democrats don't have a chance, put Hunter on with him and they can just stay home in 2008.
As a further, you know the Democrats are pushing for a troop pullout before 11/08 for one reason. They want the book closed as a lost war before the election. Scum.
I have repeatedly warned of this phenomenon, which raised its head during the Ross Perot era. Nobody was questioning the little weirdo, only because he was the 'other' guy. There is no interest in Thompson's sexual peccadillo's, though the media is ready and waiting to pounce on them, no interest in his brand of Conservatism.
It is cult-like behavior, and FReepers are in for a quite a fall in the coming weeks, when Thompson and his benefactor John McCain realize that no matter how much they damage the opposition, McCain will not get the straglers when their favorite is destroyed.
Then, McCain will go back to the Senate, Thompson back to TV, and FReepers will sit on their hands during the next election, so angered that they were so easily manipulated.
It is going to be ugly.
This can only spell trouble for another GOP contender in the race, Tommy Thompson, former Governor of Wisconsin and former Cabinet member in W's first term.
The confusion of the last name is only the start. Fred is a handsome, Presidential-looking individual, with skills honed by speaking and acting before TV cameras, while Tommy, who is a highly experienced and capable administrator, simply cannot project the same stage presence.
Is there any easy way to resolve this?
You're entirely missing the point.
First off, I couldn't care less about Fred's acting role in L & O. I've never even watched an entire episode of that show. I've never seen any movie he was in except 'The Hunt for Red October.'
The comparison to Reagan has NOTHING to do with him being an actor.
It's because he:
A-is a great communicator
B-is sufficiently socially conservative to appeal to evangelicals without being a Big Government shove-it-down-your-throat fire and brimstone guy that would turn off more moderate voters
C-has a good solid fiscal record
D-not perfect on immigration but FAR superior to Rudy McRomney and more electable than Duncan Hunter
E-Fills that conservative void that exists right now
And by the way, I liked Fred when he was in the Senate, too.
What the hell are you talking about? I'm no McCain fan either but what is this about?
While you have few good points here's where your argument ultimately fails:
Take your talking points- now....
Look at the opposition.
And look at his predecessor.
That's all. Thx.
Unless King Rudy saves the day! All Hail King Rudy!
(I hope I don't need a sarc tag)
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