Posted on 11/10/2008 2:02:15 PM PST by RatherBiased.com
Republicans desperate to rebuild their party are looking for a new leader, and former Sen. Fred Thompson may seek the job.
Thompson, a Tennessee conservative and former actor, is mulling a run for chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Though he ran a lackluster campaign for the GOP presidential nomination, he remains popular in his party because of his ability to articulate conservative values in a plainspoken way.
“Fred isn’t looking to run for national office again,” a close Thompson adviser said, adding that no official decision had been made. “He is looking to rebuild the party and help elevate the [conservative] movement and its principles.”
While the Republican National Committee considers who will take the helm when the term of the current chairman, Mike Duncan of Kentucky, ends in January, conservatives in Congress are already working to re-brand their party.
(Excerpt) Read more at dcexaminer.com ...
I’ve always suspected that about Fred’s conservatism. He speaks a good founding-father’s game, but seems to be all establishment when it comes to big Republican programs. Again, too bad.
They can put whoever they want up there. It matters not a twit. We are going to have to retake the party from the bottom up. The first step is to dry up the money gravy train, use all the money locally to elect local candidates, don’t give the RNC a dime.
Sorry, DJ, looks like the verdict is all over this thread. I like Fred but I think he is better suited to fundraising and campaigning in the South and midwest.
Good God, if you want to keep repeating the “no fire in the belly B.S., go to the Daily Kos where they appreciate MSM talking points.
In what way did Fred lack “fire in the belly” Have you compared number of campaign stops, interviews given etc. The answer to that question is obviously no, because Fred was doing as many of both as any candidate.
Unfortunately, too many on the right started parroting the Left Wing Mantra about Thompson just as they are now doing with Palin. In both cases, but especially Thompson, we are disgarding someone who can both fire up the crowd as Thompson and Palin did at the RNC and who can forcefully articulate actual conservative positions.
But hey, if you want Mitt (RINO) or a global warming lemming who is as inspiring as a monotone college professor (Newt) or a RINO populist (Huckabee) then be my guest. Maybe 40 years of Democrat rule will wake us up to the need for an actual conservative to lead the party.
Fred is too lazy..
In my opinion, a politician's first responsibility is as a teacher, something Reagan did particularly well. It is a leader's job to build and form public opinion (not respond to it) by which the consensus is developed that consolidates and enforces public will.
As a TV personality, Thompson knows this very well. Even so, he did a very poor job of taking it public, IMO by not writing and distributing enough material to empower a base to support him, nor did he use the "T word" as was appropriate.
While it was true at the time that the Internet was not what it is now, channels existed to distribute well-articulated rhetoric that could have (and should have) elevated Chinagate to Watergate.
Anyway, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it unless I can be shown otherwise.
How about....JERI Thompson? Or LYNN Cheney? OR....someone with some B*lls....which seems to be the bailiwick of the women these days.....
A verdict based on mis (or dis-)information and misperception. I was very sickened to see people regurgitating the same old talking points by the media that are absolutely false.
Chairman of the RNC is not exactly a stepping stone to ANYTHING. It’s usually a post held by a long time office holder or very active partisan. It is usually assumed after the chairman has concluded his elective career. See Howard Dean at DNC. It’s a perfect position for Newt Gingrich or Fred Thompson, the two present frontrunners (if rumors are true).
The only person I can think of who did a stint as RNC Chmn and went on to higher office is GHWB, who also happened to serve at a high-profile time. But he did a helluva lot in between. See Envoy to China, CIA Director, VPOTUS.
The RNC Chairmanship would be a hugh step back for Gov. Palin. The only possible reason for her to take the position, which I doubt strongly she would want, would be if she decides not to run for national office for several election cycles, but wanted to help rebuild the Republican Party.
Well they do need to be old enough to qualify...
I think you are overestimating or misunderstanding what a Senate Committee Chairman does or can do. No Committee Chair goes about suggesting what you did. First of all, you have to have COOPERATION. He expected Committee Democrats to cooperate with the investigation in the same manner with which Republicans cooperated during Watergate. They had absolutely no intention of cooperating. It was a total joke, and they were there to obstruct and run out the clock. He was literally SHOCKED at their conduct, because he had reached what he thought was an honorable arrangement. Was that his fault for acting honorably towards people who proved deceitful ? It was entirely the Democrats fault here. He was up against an immoveable force, both them, their media apologists, and the Clintons.
Remember John Glenn, who sold his soul for a second ride in space, deliberately obstructed the work of the committee investigation. I’ll never forget when upon his retirement from the Senate, CNN came to Thompson to get some feel-good soundbyte on Glenn. He told the reporter he couldn’t say how he REALLY felt about Glenn on camera (how truly despicable and phony he was).
One big reason he chose not to run for a third term in 2002 was because he was completely and utterly disgusted at the deceitfulness in DC and he no longer wished to associate with people of no or disreputable character. When he lost his daughter, that was the final straw. It all had broken his heart.
I think if the man chooses to offer himself up for the job, since he can devote all his energies to it (since, AGAIN, he is NOT a lazy individual), we’d be stupid not to give it strong consideration. Is he my sole choice for the job ? No. I’d like to see all the other potential candidates who would like to fill the position step up, but we do need someone who can give the position their undivided attention (why Gov. Palin can’t do it, short of having her resign as Governor or cloning her).
“...we need a SHARK...with TEETH!!!”
How about a SARAHCUDA?
This really changed my head about NEWT, CINO indeed. The time for fake conservatives is over, we need real people with real values if we are going to do battle with the Obamunists.
LLS
LLS
LLS
Problem is, Fred, John McCain and Obamsa are all members of the Council on Foreign Relations (the establishment elite).
Virtually all senior-level pols are members of the CFR.
I know. As I said, THAT is the problem! To my knowledge either Sarah Palin and Duncan Hunter are memberw of that ‘august’ body.
neither.
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