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HOW HE GOT HERE: Bigger Than Life (Fred Thompson-Must Read!)
The Washington Post ^ | December 12, 2007 | Joel Achenbach

Posted on 12/11/2007 9:03:28 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Freddie Thompson hit full height in the 10th grade, some 6 feet, 5 3/4 inches. His buddies called him "Stick." He was a nice-looking kid, played football and basketball, chased girls, horsed around in class, rarely cracked a book.

"Basically, just a carefree, underachieving kid," he says today. "Pretty good kid. Never gotten in trouble or anything like that. But didn't care much about my studies." Years ago, he put it a different way in an interview with The Washington Post: "I was interested in two things -- and sports was one of them."

He must have had something going for him, because he caught the eye of Sarah Lindsey. Freddie was smitten. She was a year older, a pretty brunette, smart, bookish and on her way to becoming salutatorian at Lawrenceburg High School in Lawrenceburg, Tenn. She planned to study English at Vanderbilt University. The Lindseys were pillars of the community, a clan that peopled the important jobs such as mayor and lawyer and county administrator. They owned a business manufacturing church pews.

The Thompsons were a rung down on the social ladder. Freddie's parents, Fletcher and Ruth, had grown up on farms during the Depression, and neither had made it beyond the eighth grade. They lived at the edge of town in a one-story house on a hillside that plunged to a creek. Fletcher sold cars for a living, on Route 43, and did it well, selling to the same folks again and again, eventually opening his own used-car lot. Freddie admired his father's manner, how he could be at ease with anybody, whether it was a guy who didn't have two nickels to rub together or the governor passing through town on a campaign stop.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: conservatism; electionpresident; elections; firstprinciples; fredthompson; gop; hardwork; republicans
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To: snarkybob
... he should start running a little bit harder...

What is your evidence that Fred isn't running hard?

21 posted on 12/11/2007 10:05:56 PM PST by jellybean (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=dailyfread Proud Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Definite bump...


22 posted on 12/11/2007 10:12:39 PM PST by Route66 (America's Main Street - - - Fred D. Thompson / Consistent Conservative...The One with Gravitas)
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To: Route66

bump the bump...


23 posted on 12/11/2007 10:26:00 PM PST by fabian
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To: snarkybob
...convince the American People why he should get the job.

He's convinced me. What does he need to do to convince you?

24 posted on 12/11/2007 10:26:33 PM PST by John Valentine
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To: originalbuckeye
If Fred has stuff to show, he needs to show it and now. I am not too familiar with him but my impression is that he’s too dozy to catch fire anytime soon. I’d like to know more about him but he seems a reluctant candidate.

WOW!

And they talk about FRED being lazy. Dang, man, hook yourself up! Read a bit.

You can make it real easy on yourself and just go to www.fred08.ocm and everything is there, position papers, events, videos, you name it.

But most likely nobody is going to come by your house with all this stuff. You have to make a bit of an effort yourself. It's called "DYOR". Do your own research.

25 posted on 12/11/2007 10:31:12 PM PST by John Valentine
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To: msnpatriot

Couldn’t have agreed more.


26 posted on 12/11/2007 10:39:19 PM PST by a_chronic_whiner
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To: John Valentine

“He’s convinced me. What does he need to do to convince you?”

I’ll vote for him if he gets the nomination. I’m voting Hunter in the primary.


27 posted on 12/11/2007 10:46:34 PM PST by snarkybob
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

28 posted on 12/11/2007 10:51:14 PM PST by maine-iac7 (",,,but you can't fool all of the people all the time" LINCOLN)
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To: John Valentine
But most likely nobody is going to come by your house with all this stuff. You have to make a bit of an effort yourself. It's called "DYOR". Do your own research.

I tried to say the same thing diplomatically, but dang you've got a way with words!

29 posted on 12/11/2007 10:51:21 PM PST by jellybean (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=dailyfread Proud Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It really was a good article. Even the dig that one Democrat made about Fred during the Watergate hearings was offset by the positive comments of other Democrat staffers during that time.


30 posted on 12/11/2007 11:29:03 PM PST by SuziQ
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To: originalbuckeye
I’d like to know more about him but he seems a reluctant candidate.

Since there hasn't been much about Fred in the MSM, at least in the positive sense, you need to go to his website, Fred08.com, to get a real feel for where he's been campaigning (lots of places) and what he's been saying (serious proposals on the issues).

31 posted on 12/11/2007 11:32:12 PM PST by SuziQ
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

My impression of Fred is that he is authentic. His story is a very human American story people can identify with. He is not just a whirlwind of soundbytes. He has substance and I think his decisions would be Presidential - studied, decisive, confident.


32 posted on 12/11/2007 11:52:08 PM PST by marsh2
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To: snarkybob

Fair enough. And, if Duncan Hunter gets the nomination, I’ll be out there for him doing whatever I can, and I’ll proudly vote for him as a strong, honorable Republican.


33 posted on 12/12/2007 12:12:43 AM PST by John Valentine
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To: jellybean

Nobody has ever accused me of diplomacy... I have a tradition to carry on. ;>)


34 posted on 12/12/2007 12:13:48 AM PST by John Valentine
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To: Jet Jaguar

You must read the article. It is very good and it makes Fred sound very Presidential! Definitely worth reading.


35 posted on 12/12/2007 12:17:44 AM PST by singfreedom ("Victory at all costs,.....for without victory there is no survival." Winston Churchill)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

And that article right there is why we need to vote for this man. His past has taken him through the whole spectrum of life from non-politician all the way to contending for the presidency.

Based on the info provided, it isn’t likely that he will ever become too disconnected from what normal day to day life is like for the majority of us.

Elect Fred Thompson!


36 posted on 12/12/2007 12:20:50 AM PST by Advil000
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
You know, I’ve always wondered about that angle as well. People complain about Fred’s low-key campaign style, but I get SO TIRED of having candidates jammed down my throat 24/7!

I want to know their positions on the issues and nothing more.

37 posted on 12/12/2007 12:21:51 AM PST by singfreedom ("Victory at all costs,.....for without victory there is no survival." Winston Churchill)
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To: jellybean
Actually, both of you have a way with words. Imagine what it was like for voters who wanted to do “research” before the advent of the Internet.

We have public schools in the interest of promoting an informed electorate. I don’t think the role of “informed voter” has ever been an easy one. You’ve always had to “do your research”.

38 posted on 12/12/2007 12:30:44 AM PST by singfreedom ("Victory at all costs,.....for without victory there is no survival." Winston Churchill)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
It seems that the overwhelming majority of Republicans would be backing Fred based on his policy positions and track record. However, since he is seen as dull, old, and a laconic campaigner, he is currently the bottom choice in a field of nobodys.

But then, couldn't the same be said of Bob Dole in '96? (ie. 100% conservative positions and record, but dull, old and boring). And yet, he won the GOP nomination handily.

What am I missing here?

39 posted on 12/12/2007 12:35:22 AM PST by rhinohunter (Thompson/Steele '08)
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To: rhinohunter

what are you missing?

We have become conditioned to seek cheerleaders instead of wise men to govern.... seek sound-bites instead of substance.... seek those who tell us what we want to hear instead of what we need to hear (social security).

Modern politics has become as much theater as reality and while it is surprising that a great actor is not “playing the role we expect” I respect him for not doing so.

Fred is in a good spot right now IMO. This is a VERY long presidential campaign and people are going to get sick of it sooner or later so the guy who does not act like a desperate high school kid looking for a date at the prom might have more appeal. The media for whatever reason does not seem to give him a fair shake but I suspect they want other candidates in the GOP to emerge. Fred would clean Hillary’s clock and he makes Obama look like the youngster he is.

Don’t count him out just yet! He is certainly not lazy and he is at his best when nobody gives him a chance (see his first senate race in Tennessee).


40 posted on 12/12/2007 12:59:26 AM PST by volunbeer (Dear heaven.... we really need President Reagan again!)
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