Sparse Schedule for Thompson on Trail

The New York Times ^ | September 16, 2007 | Julie Bosman

[Plutarch]

LAKELAND, Fla., Sept. 15 — At his second campaign stop of the day on Friday, just after 2 p.m., Fred D. Thompson was deep into a riff on the benefits of high-quality American health care.

“It’s allowing us to live healthier lives and to live longer,” Mr. Thompson said at a Jaycee park here. “That’s good news. But we have more retired folks. I hope to become one of them one of these days.”

Nervous laughter from the audience.

“Not too soon,” he added hastily.

So much for dispelling the idea that he is too lazy to run for president...

His critics, already pointing to what they call Mr. Thompson’s skimpy Senate record, might find even more ammunition in his campaign schedule... Mr. Thompson has made a languid three-day swing through Florida ending Saturday. The pace has kept him on a jumbo air-conditioned bus far more often than he is actually campaigning.

Since Thursday morning, when the tour began, Mr. Thompson has made no more than three campaign stops a day, with long stretches in between. In recent spins through Iowa, he kept a similarly relaxed schedule. Mitt Romney, by comparison, often does six town-hall-style forums a day when in Iowa...

But once off the bus, Mr. Thompson has shown occasional signs of discomfort. In a speech here on Friday, he sweated profusely under the afternoon sun, breathed heavily and, while struggling over a question, asked no one in particular if his microphone was on. (It was.)

Some audience members winced as Mr. Thompson sweated through the question-and-answer session.

“I’m surprised they didn’t pull him out of there,” said John Chambers of nearby Punta Gorda, after the speech ended. Suzanne Miranda, who watched the event from a lawn chair, said, “I felt bad for him...”

[Plutarch]

LOL—you and the dying NYT are sure afraid of FRed!

This is a NYT hit piece, true. But it is but a hint, an inkling of what is in store once the MSM trains its relentless and remorseless attention onto the GOP candidate. The GOP candidate will need to be energetic to fight back, or their charges will stick.

If Fresd doesn't campaign hard for his own candidacy now, he isn't going to campaign hard if the GOP nomination is bestowed upon him. We'd be looking at Thompson '08 making Dole '96 look like a dynamo.

Since announcing, FDT has avoided the GOP debate, and has had interviews mainly with local rather than national media (and those national interviews, such as Hannity's and Ingraham's weren't about to get Fredhead's crowing). FDT could have gotten tremendous exposure, in air conditioned comfort, by appearing on one of the Sunday Talking Head shows, but he hasn't (and we know it wasn't because he was attending church).

You’re so transparent.

I hope so. I have maintained throughout that FDT intrinsically hasn't the talent, ability and drive needed to be a successful GOP Presidential nominee. This article, though it be from the NYT, provides facts (such as the schedule) that back up my assertion. You can cite nothing to the contrary, so attack my motives (as is your wont).

[trisham]

It’s summer. Even ladies sweat when it’s hot outside, honey.

[Clara Lou]

Look— you want Mitt to win, and your comments demonstrate your lack of impartiality. Your comment about Thompson sweating profusely was just ridiculous. You’d sweat too if you were standing in the sun shaking hands in Florida in 90+ degree weather. You know that, but it didn’t keep you from making your ludicrous comment. And now you want to pretend civility. Right.

[trisham]

This is a NYT hit piece, true. But it is but a hint, an inkling of what is in store once the MSM trains its relentless and remorseless attention onto the GOP candidate.

***************

So, you're helping them out? Brilliant!

[rogue yam]

Non-story. Fred broke a sweat one hot day in Florida. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

[deport]

It maybe or should be a concern. I’d hope that and I expect that Fred has taken that concern into account prior to announcing his run. The weight loss thing happens when one attempts to pare down a few pounds as I understand Thompson has been doing prior to getting into the fray. Sweating, well right now I can spend a few minutes outside and be sweating profusely especially where the temp and humidity are high.

[Greg F]

Mitt’s been a Bishop in the Mormon church. In other words, a cult leader. Forget him. He can’t win.

[TomGuy]

Heavy sweating is also a symptom of standing outdoors in Florida in 90+ degree weather.

So, if Fred loses the race for the White House, we can .... let me be the first to say ..... blame it on global warming.

[Clara Lou]

I have maintained throughout that FDT intrinsically hasn't the talent, ability and drive needed to be a successful GOP Presidential nominee.
And your contentions are your opinion and nothing more.

You admit the Times piece is a hit piece. Didn't keep you from using it, did it?

The GOP debate? Are you still going on about that? That wasn't a debate, that was a joke--especially for those who only got an opportunity to speak 3-4 times, and who didn't get to speak until 20 or 30 minutes into the "debate." Of course, since Mitt got plenty of speaking time, you would want to pretend that it was a debate. Your credibility is zero.

[trisham]

The GOP debate? Are you still going on about that? That wasn't a debate, that was a joke--especially for those who only got an opportunity to speak 3-4 times, and who didn't get to speak until 20 or 30 minutes into the "debate."

**************

It's reaching the point where it makes sense to begin narrowing the field.

[asparagus]

Fred can be the first to drop out.

[Clara Lou]

The campaign donation well has got to go dry on some of them pretty quick.

[MittFan08]

"Fred broke a sweat one hot day in Florida." This photo was taken in Iowa: Fred Thompson seems like a first-rate guy. I like Fred a whole lot- I honestly and truly do. I think Romney is too much of a calculating politician for my taste. But I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that Romney is the best we've got. Whether it's coming from the heart or not, he says the right things and espouses the right positions that matter to me. And so I'm betting on Mitt and hoping for the best. I'm honest about Mitt's weaknesses- why is it some kind of heresy to talk about Thompson's weaknesses on this board? I can guarantee you that the Dems will harp on about them.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"Since Thursday morning, when the tour began, Mr. Thompson has made no more than three campaign stops a day, with long stretches in between. In recent spins through Iowa, he kept a similarly relaxed schedule. Mitt Romney, by comparison, often does six town-hall-style forums a day when in Iowa..."

I'm beginning to think quality, not quantity. Mitt makes twelve appearances a day with the same canned remarks at each. I'm not really impressed. I've only read a few reports of Thompson's appearances, and there doesn't seem to be only pre-planned remarks. Speaking from the heart to the people who have come to hear you is genuinely refreshing.

[SteveMcKing]

Age discrimination is fact in elections. Nobody wants boring old daddy in charge of their lives, and there is nothing so unappealing as a tired old man (particularly to women voters).

Reagan only won because Carter was older, duller, and dumber.

Even Bob Dole was more energetic, more inspiring, and a better conservative in his private life than Fred has ever been.

[Plutarch]

...in this photo carefully selected by Plutarch.

Geez, Clara Lou, did you go to the link? It is the photo that is with the story. If I wanted to carefully select a NYT photo, I might have used the photo from the NYT bio:

Or this one of Fred's travails at the Iowa State Fair:

[rogue yam]

I see right through you.

[xsmommy]

i think some of those asterisks will be the first to go.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Yeah,

Another Mitt Fan who is “worried” about the best interests of Fred.

They’re worried about Fred but only because they have profound reason to believe that he has squashed Slick Willard’s chances to add The White House to his resume.

[Clara Lou]

And now you have, haven’t you?