Fred Thompson on C-SPAN (vanity)

C-Span | 9/8/2007 | Soliton

[Soliton]

I appologize for the vanity. I haven't done one in a long time, but I got my first real look at Fred Thompson tonight. He was in Iowa talking to a crowd. He came across with the knowledge of a policy wonk on a wide range of issues, avoided pandering, and out charisma'd Bill Clinton.

I honestly believe that all the other GOP contenders are now running for Vice President.

[Soliton]

Just took a look on Underground 4 Dummies. They are whistling past the grave yard. Apparently there was a call in after the town meeting and this is what they are complaining about:

“Every damn caller is a robot. Some form of saying he has “honor and integrity”.

I especially loved the fool who talked about how pleased he would be to serve Thompson as commander in chief.”

HeeHeeHeeHeeHeeHeeHee

[Soliton]

"Because a man who opposes a Federal Marriage Amendment, the border fence, and tort reform is not even remotely close to what I'm looking for in a presidential nominee."

I din't hear him say anything about the fence or gay marriage, but he specifically said that he was for tort reform and praised states like FL, MS, and TX that have taken steps in that direction. He just thinks it is an issue that belongs to the states.

[CheyennePress]

>>>He just thinks it is an issue that belongs to the states.<<<

An argument you’d hear from a trial lawyer. Go read up on the issue of venue shopping and get back to us on it. Until federal action is taken, it’s going to be a problem for American corporations, who already spend more on defending themselves from lawsuits than they do on R&D.

Sound like a good way to remain competitive as a nation to you?

[CheyennePress]

As an aside, I’m all for states reforming their tort laws. But their needs to be a minimum federal standard. It’s reached beyond the point of absurdity.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

If it’s Fred as the nominee I prefer that he not choose a VP running mate from the list of candidates. I’m not that enthaused of another Washington insider being selected for that spot.

The problem is, is that pickings are slim on the GOP Governor level. Jeb Bush? He's the logical choice but forget it. MN's Pawlenty, NY's Pataki, & TX's Perry are big-time Rockefeller Republicans. Schwarzenegger is ineligible, thank God. AK's Palladin is very popular, but she just got the job. She may be a VP in 2012. GA's Perdue doesn't balance the ticket out in the eyes of voters. That leaves Mark Sanford of SC or Mike Rounds of SD. Sanford is backing McCain though, so he's probably not interested in the job. That leaves Rounds. Rounds is a strong center-right Republican with a good-looking family who can appeal to independents. And he's only 53 years old. In fact, I don't know why Rounds didn't throw his hat into the ring to begin with. He'd easily be a contender.

[iowamomforfreedom]

Do you happen to remember which city? Probably Des Moines or Sioux City.

We just went to see him this afternoon in Davenport. Not a very big crowd, but the only reason I knew about it was from national coverage that he was speaking across Iowa this week after his announcement. I looked it up on his website. Local media pretty much ignored he was coming.

I thought he looked and sounded great. He even took questions from the crowd after he spoke.

I hope that you are right about him getting the nomination. He is the only one I am actually excited about. I would never vote Dem, but I really don’t want to have to vote for Rudy or Mitt.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Thanks for your report of your seeing Sen. Thompson today in Iowa. Please keep info coming about any events in the future you hear about or attend....and your impressions.

[no dems]

If it’s Fred as the nominee I prefer that he not choose a VP running mate from the list of candidates.....I don’t see any of the others bringing anything to the ticket.

Well, the one thing I see some of them (Romney, Huckabee or Rudy) bringing to the ticket would be a "following". By the time the nominee is chosen they will have been campaigning close to two years and they will have met a lot of people, gotten a lot of support and that all-important; name recognition. Fred won't have to "break them in" on the American people.

That could be worth a 2 or 3 percentage point advantage, methinks. What say ye?

[Soliton]

"Sound like a good way to remain competitive as a nation to you?

We're all friends here. I believe that all such issues are state's issues like the death penalty. If such a serious issue can be left to the states, then so can gay marriage. I like the idea of 50 states with different laws as long as they are constitutional. Diversity in this case will fuel competition. Medical professionals are already leaving states with high malpractice insurance premiums and going to lower premium states. I am ethically comfortable with the idea that the best doctors are leaving blue states like Illinois and going to Texas. Serves both states right!

[Optimist]

From a strictly political-strategy perspective, Rudy or Mitt would strengthen the NE Country Club Republican wing and give The Beast a run for NY and other more liberal Atlantic states....as well as proving successful in raising campaign cash.

I would like to see Huckabee considered since he also has fresh ideas and executive experience, but Fred doesn’t “need” him to win any southern states and he wont bring in any support from the north... so, I think Mike is out.

The congressmen (Tancredo and Hunter) would be good cabinet men, but unless Hunter could “lock” California (too conservative for California as a whole?), he brings little geographic strategy to the ticket, and mountain states won’t aren’t key.

McCain? He still has that crossover appeal, and if he does indeed come back as indicated from a strong NH debate showing, maybe Fred’s friend would get the nod — but I think he is too proud to take #2 from Fred.... and he is out of money and not likely to bring much to the ticket at this point.

And Paul? What about Paul. I am surprised he is even associating himself with any of the others on one stage. He wouldn’t accept it because (a)nobody will live up to his ideals/standards, and (b) you thought McCain was a maverick? Fred doesn’t need one like Paul as his veep.

But then there is always the Thompson-Thompson ticket. Now THAT would confuse the $h!+ out of people. But strategically, him helping to swing the upper MW red could take some of the eastern blue states out of their traditional “critical mass” position: ie. Ohio, Pennsylvania.

[Soliton]

If you want to end the world-wide jihad, then it’s Thompson + Giulliani (VP) + Lieberman (Sec Def).

Osama and Obama would be pooping their robes.

[9YearLurker]

Ha! I think of it as the ‘New Frederalism’!

[9YearLurker]

I just don’t see Huckabee as bringing much of a following to anyone.

[9YearLurker]

McCain can quip about Fred’s bedtime, but he’s much Fred’s senior. Together they would bring too many years to the ticket, I think. Two senators probably isn’t a winning combination either—though that’s what the Dems may have.

[no dems]

If you want to end the world-wide jihad, then it’s Thompson + Giulliani (VP) + Lieberman (Sec Def).

Hmmmmmmm.......I dunno 'bout that. Although he is pro-Israel (go figure) and anti-Mulsim, Lieberman is still a punk. After the Dems treated him like the family bastard child, he is still caucusing with them and he is still liberal. I'd have had a little more respect for him if he'd caucused with the GOP and kept the majority in our hands. But then, studies show that even an abused child will choose to go back into their abusive home situation if given the choice.

[RoseofTexas]

Ms. Rice would add a wonderful touch for VP!!

[Optimist]

If it is McCain I fear that it is the “old-dog” being thrown a bone just like with Dole, and THAT is no reason to pick a president or veep candidate.

[maine-iac7]

I honestly believe that all the other GOP contenders are now running for Vice President.

Scrap the lot of 'em.

Remember this guy? Some of his campaign ads from 2006 are still on You Tube - One sharp man - conservative - doesn't pussy foot around an issue or a person.

Take a look - and while you're in You Tube - look at some more of him -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XylOD_4r94&mode=related&search=

Outlines his idea of conservatism -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eC62VGbkss

This ones great - Steele support for stem cell research on existing embryonic stem cell lines, not embryonic, same as Bush - there's a kicker at the end

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnftk97tUCU&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7wjJyMDUH0&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svzDQivKq8Y&mode=related&search=

[no dems]

Well, Huckabee would bring a bigger following than say...Sam Brownback or Tom Tancredo; and I like Tom Tancredo.

My point in saying that was this: Two years on the campaign trail; anyone who is worth his salt will have built up a pretty decent following who would be very happy to vote for the ticket just because their guy is on it. That’s better than staying at home.

If Rudy Julie Annie is the nominee, he doggone well better pick a Conservative VEEP. Even then, I’m not sure how many ultra-Conservatives could vote for him.

[Josh Painter]

Sarah Palin, Republican governor of Alaska for VP. Why?

She brings balance to a Thompson ticket:

* Her youth/energy compliments Fred’s age/wisdom.

* A woman counters Hillary on the Dem ticket

* Governmental executive experience compliments Fred’s mostly legislative experience

Plus:

* She’s not connected to the current administration

* She’s compatible on the issues with Fred (Pro-Life, Pro-Gun, etc.)

* She’s a lifetime NRA member.

* She also served two terms as a city councilwoman, two as mayor and was Chairman of Alaska’s powerful Oil and Natural Gas Conservation Commission.

http://palinforvp.blogspot.com/2007/02/palin-on-issues.html