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.
Sorry for singling you out, but your post is such a perfect example of what I am talking about I must ask you.....
BASED ON WHAT?
Do you have ANY IDEA about Thompson's sexual issues? The media does, and so does most of Washington. SOLID? Based on WHAT?
I bet you cant name three bills (even with Google) that Thompson got through the Senate, NONE of you can within the next 2 minutes unless your search engines are warmed up already.
FReepers know almost NOTHING about Thompson, but are jumping off that cliff like lemmings. This is getting sad to watch.
I think many of you are seeing Thompson as the Admiral in "Hunt for Red October" and thinking that this is what you would get in a Thompson presidency. I really do. So far, FReepers have shown that they really dont know much about the man at all. He's just the 'other' guy.
I would say that Fred is more rugged than handsome!
Your position implies that Hilary or Barack have substance.
Don't you think "ABB" was the same but worse?
It comes down to this:
JOHNNY BRAVO, baby. "you fit the suit!"
If Thompson gets into the race, Rommney backs down ands supports Thompson , the conservative movement is on the move. Pro life will be alive and well. Most of all the Clinton and liberal Rudy's will not be too happy. Thompson is just waiting. he really does not have to come into this until the end . Conservatives will be crying fr a conservative. Smart move;smart guy!You never know maybe Mitt will be vp. Mitt does not pretend to be anything he is not . Two good men !
the only messiah i am seeing touted on FR is rudy. or have you missed that?
In addition to acting, Thompson is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S. China Economic & Security Review Commission and a Visiting Fellow with the American Enterprise Institute, researching national security and intelligence (Communist China, North Korea, and Russia.) Thompson is also signed as a public speaker with the Washington Speakers Bureau.
Fixed it, LOL
OK! You have a legitimate fear, but I just can't bring myself to vote for Rudy, and i just don't believe that he is the only one that can defeat a dem.
His voting record in the Senate is what was solid and dependable. Any position he has changed on he has addressed without hesitation, unlike Romney, or even Rudy, who's recent "conversion" to supporting strict constructionists is about as genuine as Hillary Clinton's Southernness.
I know the guy had some high-profile babes (like Lorrie Morgan) when he was single. He was SINGLE. NOT married, unlike Giuliani.
I haven't seen anyone saying that. I do see people looking for and supporting candidates they don't have to sacrifice a multitude of core conservative values over, though, like the Rutards have to.
I won't have a tantrum, I'm not that stupid. Even if your buddy Julie Rudiani gets the nod, I'll stick a clamp on my nose, close my eyes, and vote for him against Hitlery or the Magic Negro.
If it is an act then conservative talk radio KVI out of Seattle is handing out thousands of I'M A FRED HEAD stickers at its booth at the Mariners game for nothing.
No, I feel this is not an act and he is truly testing the waters and there is a mega size grassroots organization that is chomping it to bits to get jump on board the Thompson For President bandwagon. He has allot of money to raise and little time to do it in. I have not donated to any candidate yet, but if Fred announces my check book is ready.
When does taping for L&O end? If he announces before the summer hiatus, the Demons would sue for equal time!
unfortunatly we have a decoy (tom) Thompson in the running.
I don't think so, testing the waters seems more like it.
Tommy couldn't get elected as dog-catcher in his home town. Just another @sshole on an ego trip.
I said your position implies, nothing more, nothing less.
If you can't see that the statement is completely relevent in addressing the point you are making, perhaps you shouldn't venture out and hold your arguments for others to view.
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