Actor Fred Thompson says he'd like nation's top job (but stops short of jumping in)

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 6/12/07 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

Fred Thompson didn't enter the 2008 presidential race Tuesday, but he talked like he was getting close to jumping in.

Asked by Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" if he'd like the nation's top job, the former Tennessee senator said, "I've never craved the job of president, but I want to do some things that only a president can do.

"So," Thompson added, "the answer is yes."

Thompson - a Republican best known for playing a prosecutor on NBC's "Law & Order" - has formed a presidential exploratory committee and is expected to join the GOP race this summer.

He insisted he wasn't ready to make any announcements on Leno's couch, but made a point to mention the Web site for his political committee. When asked by Leno about his reaction to the political waters, Thompson said he found them "warm."

"I'm at a stage of my life now when I think about my country, I think about the kind of country my kids are going to grow up in," he said.

He griped about campaigns that "are entirely too long." And he took a swipe at Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, saying she was "trying to balance ... her prior positions with the new requirements of politics in the Democratic Party."

If he runs it will be as a Washington outsider.

Referring to his time in the U.S. Senate, he said, "I often say after eight years in Washington, I longed for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood."

[pillut48]

When asked by Leno about his reaction to the political waters, Thompson said he found them "warm."

I'm thinking this is because lately members of BOTH parties have been p##ing in the pool, don't you???

[P-40]

Fish...or cut bait. Sick of hearing of the guy otherwise.

[mylife]

Referring to his time in the U.S. Senate, he said, "I often say after eight years in Washington, I longed for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood."

How many times are they going to drag that quote out?

[Atlas Sneezed]

How many times are they going to drag that quote out?

---

You’re not a professional in the world of politics, are you?

It works, it’s true, and it tells us something about the man.

Get used to it.

His job is not to entertain you, it is to reach the people. That quote will do the job, for the next 17 months.

You see, it makes it clear that is is not “of Hollywood”, not “of DC”.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.
Hopefully he is done using it now.

[word_warrior_bob]

That’s right, Fred is coming in because he sees the country needs a man with his ideas at this critical time in history. He knows the current crop really don’t have what it takes to lead the country right now. They all want to be President purely for ego, Fred wants it because there’s no one else either qualified or who’s a winner.

This is the biggest primary mismatch ever, Fred Thompson all 6 foot 6 of him against the lilliputians.

[Norman Bates]

Here is the difficulty for Fred: He is insisting on running as an outsider, but that does not jive with his 15 year stint as a lobbyist. The Dems will attack him with this.

[zerosix]

Dear Sen. Thompson,

I, too, would like the nation's top job especially if I didn't have to run for it. Could I just be appointed or declared President without jumping into the fray?

Interested Citizen

[mylife]

I’d rather hear about some issues than “campaign slogans”

[Prokopton]

Here is the difficulty for Fred: He is insisting on running as an outsider,

Do you have some reference that Fred said anything like this, or are you just parroting a statement giving the opinion of an AP reporter?

[Prokopton]

I’d rather hear about some issues than “campaign slogans”

There are plenty of discussions of Fred Thompsons positions on the issues right here at FR. The Tonight Show probably isn't the best place to go if you're looking for serious political debate.

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

“Actor Fred Thompson says he’d like nation’s top job (but stops short of jumping in)”

He wants to host American Idol?

[P-40]

I’d rather hear about some issues than “campaign slogans”

That may be forbidden under current election laws. I think if it is not on the 'teleprompter' it is not up for discussion.

[Lightcutter]

Great Scoop. I am staying up past my bed time to watch him.

[Lightcutter]

P-40wrote: “Fish...or cut bait. Sick of hearing of the guy otherwise.”

yeah, yeah...except considering the fact that Hilary, Obama, and the other idiots out there have decided that they want to run a YEAR before most other people, he is still on track for a normal length campaign.

[RonDog]

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[P-40]

normal length campaign.

Does such a creature exist?

[Fabozz]

Sure thing! Just raise $10,000 an hour, outpoll every Republican but Giuliani, and then we’ll talk about your next steps.

[rbg81]

Agree. Thompson needs to sh!t or get off the pot. Does he think the GOP is just going to hand him the nomination?