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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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Not too bad for a liberal website, except their saying Fred trails Rudy in South Carolina--he doesn't. (See RealClearPolitics)
1 posted on 10/10/2007 8:55:04 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Stands to reason. CFR member Fred is prompted by this globalist CFR administration to shine. This administration who is pushing to get L.O.S.T. passed, and get comprehensive amnesty for illegals sneaked into any bill coming up; who has signed away our sovereignty with the NAU, and is now pushing to get one of their very own nominated to inherit “the throne”. No thank you very much!


2 posted on 10/10/2007 9:05:37 PM PDT by Paperdoll ( Duncan Hunter '08)
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To: Paperdoll

Yeah, that’s why Chrissy Matthews, Saturday Night Live, George Will, and 98% of the drive-by media are going after him hammer & tongs. Right, that’s them trying to get him coronated as King of the NAU. Do you realize how freaking silly you sound? You’re a Hunterite? You sound more like a Paulestinian to me...


3 posted on 10/10/2007 9:10:57 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Security * Unity * Prosperity | Fred08.com)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Fred? An absolute outrage, I mean who the heck wants some Mayor of Massachusets as President. Those people haven’t gotten over their energy crisis yet, what would he know?


4 posted on 10/10/2007 9:15:39 PM PDT by Professional
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Now, did I call you any names for how you view the situation?

The country is just where it is because no one wants to listen to what has been going on for decades now, or take the responsibility to do anything about it.

Actually, I’ve heard some rather nice things said about Fred Thompson’s appearance in the debate, though I think Duncan Hunter called him out royally.

It could be he is just a nice guy who is being used. It wouldn’t be the first time.


5 posted on 10/10/2007 9:18:02 PM PDT by Paperdoll ( Duncan Hunter '08)
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To: Paperdoll
CFR member Fred is prompted by this globalist CFR administration to shine.

Don't forget the Bilderberg Group and the Trilateral Commission .

< / sarc >

6 posted on 10/10/2007 9:21:22 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (Take the wheel, Fred.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; Paperdoll
He doesn't sound nearly as silly as the folks do who think Fred is a "conservative's conservative".

He lets Clinton off the hook on obstruction of justice charges, and his NBC/Hollywood pals reward him with more face time. Now he's recognizable because America watches TV.

The drivebys are going after him because they see him as a threat to Hillary.

Fred's a midget when you compare his record to Hunter's.

7 posted on 10/10/2007 9:22:26 PM PDT by Slump Tester ( What if I'm pregnant Teddy? Errr-ahh Calm down Mary Jo, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it)
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To: Paperdoll

At least Fred knows the correct procedure if he ever has to take out certain Nuclear, Military and Industrial complexes that threaten the lives and safety of Americans... He also does not have to ask his “attorney’s” what to do... he is an experienced US Attorney... a three term Senator... and by golly... he is somewhat of a Constitutional Scholar... but them mitt did look so dashing in that $2800.00 suit!

LLS


8 posted on 10/10/2007 9:30:32 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (Support America, Kill terrorists, Destroy dims!)
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To: Paperdoll

Absolute horsepucky.


9 posted on 10/10/2007 9:34:18 PM PDT by John Valentine
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Fred stood tall above the herd. He is real and down to earth. He impresses me as someone who understands the common man. Unlike Rommney the fact spewing robot. Rudy is too liberal. Huckabee suffers from inheriting Bll Clintons former position in Arkansas. Do they watch cartoons and Andy Griffith reruns all day in the Governors mansion what was up with his two tv references. The rest of them haven’t got a chance much less a clue.


10 posted on 10/10/2007 9:35:41 PM PDT by cquiggy
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Obviously, somebody missed this major article from yesterday.

Bartlett on the GOP Field: A Hick, a “Dud” and a “Flip-Flopper”

Washington Post ^ | 10/9/08 | The Trail
One of President Bush’s closest advisers has a brutally candid analysis of the Republican nomination battle: Fred Thompson is the campaign’s “biggest dud,” Mitt Romney has “a real problem in the South” because people will not vote for a Mormon, Mike Huckabee’s last name is too hick and John McCain could end up repeating 2000 by winning New Hampshire but losing the nomination... ...Bartlett was harshest in his judgment of Thompson, the former Tennessee senator who jumped into the contest a month ago and faces his first televised debate today.


11 posted on 10/10/2007 9:37:38 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
He lets Clinton off the hook on obstruction of justice charges,

Not quite. He voted guilty on article II, obstruction of justice. He voted not guilty on article I, perjury. He stated that in spite of his personal feelings in the matter, the evidence actually presented on the first article did not support a guilty vote. If you're going to knock him, at least do so for the correct thing.

12 posted on 10/10/2007 9:46:43 PM PDT by Ingtar (The LDS problem that Romney is facing is not his religion, but his Lacking Decisive Stands.)
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To: cquiggy
Fred has been studying Sun Tzu. "If strong, appear weak"--He has got everyone lulled into thinking he's too late, too old, too nice. HA! He's like a freaking coiled steel-spring rattlesnake with boiling arsenic venom, just l a y i n g in wait. You watch: the week of the Primary, the teeth come out and ker-SPROIIINGGG!!! Ripped-up dead liberal, Mormon, Texan, Californian, Huckleberry meat everywhere.
13 posted on 10/10/2007 9:46:50 PM PDT by RedQuill
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"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. "

ROFL!

14 posted on 10/10/2007 9:49:02 PM PDT by Theresawithanh (FRED!)
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To: Paperdoll

Paperdoll, your support of Hunter is admirable. Your connect-the-dots game with Fred is silly.


15 posted on 10/10/2007 9:51:48 PM PDT by Theresawithanh (FRED!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Rudy didn’t win the night although he did very well. I would say that Fred won the night with Mitt right behind. Mitt’s huge gaff may have really hurt his chances. Rudy is by far the most articulate and personable with no fear of mixing it up. Obviously not a Republican.

Pray for W and Our Troops


16 posted on 10/10/2007 9:56:15 PM PDT by bray (Think "Betray U.S." Think Democrat)
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To: Politicalmom

For all of Romney’s problems in the South, Giuliani has it worse. As the primaries approach and people pay more attention, he will have a hard time carrying any southern states. I find it funny that Thompson takes it on the chin for being part of the Powers That Be and yet also takes it on the chin from those same Powers because they fear him.

I started as a Hunter fan. Seeing the attitude of some of the others made me drop back and watch. When Fred came along, I decided that I could support my former Senator. At least he is someone that I learned to trust to follow his convictions and to tell the truth. If Hunter pulls a miracle and becomes competitive, I would reevaluate him and I would pull the lever for him in the General with no hesitation.

Romney has changed too much, too recently. He leaves me with the feeling that he is saying whatever it takes with no real understanding or conviction. Giuliani is no Conservative, at least not one that I could pull the lever for. Huckabee has problems of his own on immigration and other issues that disqualify him in the primary for me.

There is no candidate with a chance for me to support other than Thompson.


17 posted on 10/10/2007 9:56:24 PM PDT by Ingtar (The LDS problem that Romney is facing is not his religion, but his Lacking Decisive Stands.)
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To: Paperdoll

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.


18 posted on 10/10/2007 9:57:50 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Security * Unity * Prosperity | Fred08.com)
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To: LibLieSlayer

A three term Senator? That’s news to me. I didn’t criticise Thompson’s appearance in the debate or anything he said. I thought he did rather well as a matter of fact.
The only other candidate I mentioned was not the “dashing” Mitt Romney, but the serious and sincere Duncan Hunter. :)


19 posted on 10/10/2007 9:58:35 PM PDT by Paperdoll ( Duncan Hunter '08)
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To: jellybean; girlangler; KoRn; Shortstop7; Lunatic Fringe; Darnright; babygene; pitbully; granite; ...
PING!!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

*FRed Derangement Syndrome

Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

WARNING: If you wish to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.

20 posted on 10/10/2007 10:00:37 PM PDT by Politicalmom (Of the potential GOP front runners, FT has one of the better records on immigration.- NumbersUSA)
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