Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Posted on 07/12/2007 1:20:04 PM PDT by hardback
Possible GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson had two meetings on Rudolph Giuliani's home turf today.
Thompson met with Michael Long, head of the state conservative party and with Steve Cassidy, president of the firefighters union. Yesterday, the International Association of Fire Fighters released a video, criticizing Giuliani's handling of 9/11.
When asked about the controversy, the Tennessee Republican refused to weigh in and would not comment on Giuliani's record on 9/11.
"I have the greatest respect for Steve and his organization and what they're doing,” said Thompson. “I've read about it but I don't have enough knowledge about it, and I have not looked into it enough to even have an opinion with regard to it."
As for his meeting with Chairman Long, the two men said they talked about national security, the economy and immigration. Long says it's too soon to decide who he's going to endorse, but it sounds like Thompson has the advantage.
"Clearly the Senator is philosophically closer to the leaders of our party than some of the other candidates, but we are wide open on that,” said Long.
Thompson has not officially entered the race. He says he'll make a decision soon, on his time frame.
I was discussing cozying up with Democrat Union bosses who will never support conservatives. That does not play well for Thompson in many peoples book.
It also makes sense for a Rudy booster to deflect from the past that his tenure as mayor shows he is unfit to be dogcatcher in the post 9-11 era, let along president.
Fred's just reaching out to voters outside the historic GOP base. After all, everyone knows the only way to win this election is to attract moderates.
Good luck getting them to carry your candidate across the finish line.... unless they're DEMs.
Whatever, Union boy...
Going to the union bosses versus the voters is a crock. Going to the union base makes sense in the general election, but this is the primary.
What about that do you choose to not understand.
Or is Fred just going to skip the primary and go straight to the general.
Is that your point?
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
WARNING: If you want to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.
We need a candidate who can think outta the box. Fred seems to be doing this. Why ignore potential converts?????
I believe many many people would rather choose someone who makes sense and will protect them and their country over Marxist Meglomaniac Hillary.
We should welcome such people.
“When asked about the controversy, the Tennessee Republican refused to weigh in and would not comment on Giuliani’s record on 9/11.”
Doesn’t sound like he is criticizing Guiliani. It sounds like Fred’s supporter D’Amato, wanted him to meet with a citizen on the front lines on 9/11, who has concerns.
This is about WOT, and Long was involved, maybe still is for all I know. I don’t see anything wrong with that.
I’ve seen a lot of interviews of Hunter and Thompson and they’ve been asked direct questions meant to elicit criticisms of other candidates and they both have not done that.
You have a good point with the use of the word swiftboat.
The swiftboat vets said things about Kerry because they had information and didn’t think he was fit for office. Really negative stuff. Other candidates could not or would not say anything like that, not another Democrat nor Bush.
I think it's interesting to see the kind of tactics the non-candidate is using.
And the kind of people he meets with.
The group that released the video about Giuliani is the International Assn. of Fire Fighters.
Fred met with the head of the Uniformed Firefighters Assn., which endorsed Pataki (http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F7081EFD3F590C738EDDA90994D0494D81);
Bush ( http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0A15FC3E550C728CDDA00894DC404482);
and Giuliani himself (http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60711FB3D550C778EDDAF0894DF494D81).
Clarification (i.e., getting MY facts straight): Steve Cassidy is also featured in the video, so he is involved. However, his union, the UFA, did indeed tend to endorse pubbies over donks (Pataki, Bush and Giuliani).
I agree to some extent. However, firefighter and police unions have always been seen a little differently than other unions. These men risk their lives to protect the public so some deference is deserved.
From reading the article it does not appear that FT endorsed the attack on Giuliani, which he shouldn’t. It is unfair to lay the blame for that at his feet. Those blaming Thompson for attacking Giuliani based on this article are being dishonest. The article gives not support to that idea.
My point is a very simple one: there are some folks who think it's just fantastic when "their guy" trashes GOP principles, yet are quick to condemn someone else who simply meets with potential supporters. In a word, it's hypocritical.
What's worse, cozying up with a Union boss or cozying up with the Brady campaign?
What's worse, cozying up with a Union boss or cozying up with the Brady campaign?
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