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Fred Doesn't Fall: Thompson makes it through his first debate
Slate ^ | October 10, 2007 | John Dickerson

Posted on 10/10/2007 8:54:59 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

If Fred Thompson is lazy, he sure didn't act it preparing for his first debate. Over two weeks, the former Tennessee senator and his aides held more than half a dozen question-and-answer sessions. Bush's first economic adviser, Larry Lindsey, was involved, as were Vice President Cheney's daughter Liz Cheney and GOP veteran Mary Matalin. There were also two full-blown rehearsals in which Liz Cheney's husband played John McCain, Rep. Adam Putnam stood in for Mitt Romney, and former New York Sen. Al D'Amato played Rudy Giuliani. To add verisimilitude to his character, D'Amato pretended to take a phone call in the middle of one session.

The preparation paid off. Thompson didn't win the night—Rudy Giuliani did—but he got through gaffe-free and at times seemed informed and in command. He came off as genuinely unaffected instead of irritatingly folksy. This may seem like a limited achievement, and it was, but Thompson has had such tough going recently that even a limited success is a win for him. Nervous staffers can now feel a little better about their boss, and disaffected GOP voters anxious to believe that Thompson is the candidate they've been looking for were given enough material to extend their dream.

The low expectations that Thompson cleared were a little phony. In retrospect, it shouldn't surprise us that an actor trained in memorizing short snippets of dialogue was able to perform in a setting where candidates are cut off if they speak in anything but short snippets of dialogue. But for those who watch debates like car races—only for the crashes—Thompson's first appearance had offered promise.(continued)

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Canada; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Michigan; US: Tennessee; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: 2008; aldamato; economy; election; electionpresident; elections; federalism; firstprinciples; fred; fredthompson; giuliani; gop; lizcheney; mittromney; republicans; rinorudy; romney; rudygiuliani; rudymcromney; stephenharper; thompson
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To: Slump Tester
Fred's a midget when you compare his record to Hunter's.

You could hardly manage a more absurd claim. Thompson's record in Congress is at least the equal of Hunter's, and I'm not knocking Hunter. He's a good man, just unable to get significant traction, that's all.

And it is really disingenuous to drag out the "let Clinton off the hook" canard. Fred voted to convict on the perjury count. Either one of them would have been enough to remove the bent one from office, but you know as well as I do that the ENTIRE Senate chickened out of doing its duty.

21 posted on 10/10/2007 10:02:24 PM PDT by John Valentine
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To: Paperdoll

Wow...

Funny how Fred is in favor of NONE of that...


22 posted on 10/10/2007 10:05:34 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (265 pound Lemming with attitude for Thompson!)
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To: Paperdoll

Boring!


23 posted on 10/10/2007 10:06:56 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: Paperdoll

Wake me up when you have something substantial to say!


24 posted on 10/10/2007 10:07:38 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; Politicalmom
It seems like the WHOLE political spectrum is scared sh*tless of Fred Thompson! I've seen nothing but put-downs so obvious it's sickening. Some of these writers seem amazed he doesn't show up with the remnants of a meadow muffin stuck to his boot or a pint of corn squeezins in his hip pocket.

I love seeing the left and the RINOs FEAR Fred's candidacy. GOOD !

Nam Vet

25 posted on 10/10/2007 10:09:47 PM PDT by Nam Vet (Timely reporting from Attila's right flank)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

>Look at my profile. I know all about what you are commenting on. If it’s true, they’re hiding it from some VERY bright people.<

2nd, we checked each other out months ago, remember?

Incidentally, today in the parking lot of Borders Books, a young man approached me because of my Duncan Hunter bumper sticker and waxed so enthusiastic about DH. I asked him if he had a bumper sticker, or if he wanted one. Of course he did, so I opened the trunk and gave him about six, with a brochure and a contribution envelope. We stood there and talked for quite a while, mostly why he likes Hunter so much.

Came to find out that he’d just retired from the military after 22 years, and had been stationed on a ship in the middle East where the president had visited. He said the men and women serving over there are spectacular people, very dedicated. He said the media here has the story all wrong, that things are going very well in Iraq.

A very nice young man actually thanked me for the gift of meeting me! We exchanged phone numbers so he can help with the Hunter campaign here. A very pleasant experience. We really do have unusually fine people in our military, very polite and clean cut. Prayers going up for each and every one of them daily. And thank you again for your fine service.


26 posted on 10/10/2007 10:11:10 PM PDT by Paperdoll ( Duncan Hunter '08)
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To: Slump Tester
"He lets Clinton off the hook on obstruction of justice charges"

Gee, is being wrong a habit.

Thompson did not let Clinton "off" on anything. He voted FOR the obstruction charge and in a very well prepared statement could not support that the perjury rose to an impeachable offense.

The end result is Fred said he should be impeached, the obstruction charge was more than sufficient.

Remember RIF many years ago, Reading is fundamental? Try it, and get your damn facts straight.

http://australianpolitics.com/usa/clinton/trial/statements/thompson.shtml

27 posted on 10/10/2007 10:17:26 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (265 pound Lemming with attitude for Thompson!)
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To: John Valentine
It was the more serious obstruction count, not the perjury count he voted guilty on.

Just want to keep clarity.

28 posted on 10/10/2007 10:19:41 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (265 pound Lemming with attitude for Thompson!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

are the dems freeping the FR poll and voting for ron paul?
i suspect they are...


29 posted on 10/10/2007 10:21:03 PM PDT by rogernz
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To: rogernz

Yes, and FRed has still managed to be on top, with over twice as many votes as the runner up.

Have I mentioned that Free Republic is FRed Country?


30 posted on 10/10/2007 10:35:03 PM PDT by Politicalmom (Of the potential GOP front runners, FT has one of the better records on immigration.- NumbersUSA)
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To: Paperdoll
Not to be a thompson supporting critic, but on alot of these threads, there is misunderstanding due to the initials used,i.e. "CFR".

Most folks think "Campaign finance reform" when instead it means councle of foreign relation, etc.

Please, please use the full wording instead of the initials, since everyone winds up looking like they are fighting in the tower of babble.

31 posted on 10/10/2007 10:46:42 PM PDT by Sonny M ("oderint dum metuant")
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To: ejonesie22

You are right. I had it backwards. Thanks.


32 posted on 10/10/2007 10:46:47 PM PDT by John Valentine
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
He came off as genuinely unaffected instead of irritatingly folksy.

Looks like we keep the cork in it on this one, folks.

33 posted on 10/10/2007 11:14:12 PM PDT by rogue yam
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To: rogue yam

Good. I don’t think I should drink and ping.


34 posted on 10/10/2007 11:17:42 PM PDT by Politicalmom (Of the potential GOP front runners, FT has one of the better records on immigration.- NumbersUSA)
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To: Slump Tester

Hunter’s a midget when you compare his electability to Fred’s.


35 posted on 10/10/2007 11:37:58 PM PDT by Rudder
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To: Sonny M

Thank you, Sonny, I’ll do that. :)


36 posted on 10/11/2007 12:03:34 AM PDT by Paperdoll ( Duncan Hunter '08)
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To: Paperdoll

That’s a great story! Thanks for sharing!


37 posted on 10/11/2007 12:15:01 AM PDT by upsdriver (DUNCAN HUNTER FOR PRESIDENT!!!!)
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To: Rudder

Oh, ye of little vision.


38 posted on 10/11/2007 12:16:37 AM PDT by upsdriver (DUNCAN HUNTER FOR PRESIDENT!!!!)
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To: upsdriver

You are welcome, ups. It makes all our hard work well worth the trouble when you meet people like that doesn’t it? :)


39 posted on 10/11/2007 12:21:39 AM PDT by Paperdoll ( Duncan Hunter '08)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
OK, I checked out the SC race on RealClearPolitics and I don't know what to think. The spread between the polls is insane, at least some of them must be worthless. If you throw out the most contrary one (from "American Res Group") it looks pretty good for Fred.
40 posted on 10/11/2007 12:22:39 AM PDT by AndyTheBear (Disastrous social experimentation is the opiate of elitist snobs.)
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