Fred Thompson announces he is considering Presidential run!

[saracat]

Fred Thompson, the Law and Order actor and former Tenn. Senator said he was considering a run for the presidency .Any thoughts on this Repug candidate? This was jusr reported on CBS News.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Yes, and none of them kind.

[AlCzervik]

2. his senate record--there isn't much of one and he's only been on L & O for a few

seasons and quite frankly he's no Adam Schiff. The gop is getting desperate or they really think he's be a pissa running mate. Just cause Fred played presidents in the movies doesn't mean he can play one in real life.

[Spiffarino]

3. As awful as any other Repub

Just another Bush enabler only worse because he gets free TV time. Screw him.

[foo_bar]

19. no, he's in a special class of bush enabler

Actor and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson will help raise funds for the defense of Vice President Dick Cheney's indicted former chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

Libby is facing trial in January on five counts of perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI about how he learned of the identity of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame and what he told reporters once he learned the information from Cheney, the State Department and the CIA.

Thompson has signed up to help raise at least $5 million for Libby's defense.

http://www.wbir.com/news/regional/story.aspx?storyid=32294

Thompson, who describes himself as a friend of Libby's, is one of the members of the board of his legal defense fund, which is trying to raise $5 million. So far, the fund has taken in more than $3.5 million, an official with the fund said.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/09/libby.grand.jury/index.html

[Norquist Nemesis]

33. He was also front and center with SCOTUS nominations

I don't recall whether it was Alito or Roberts. He was at the hearings testifying for one, and taking him around for one on ones with the Senators.

[KoKo]

45. Running Scared Repugs..think they can turn "Fred" into "St. Ronnie"

by finding another Actor that their RW Christian Fundies (their only base left standing) will RALLY AROUND as if he's the SECOND COMING!

BUT...WAIT 'til they get an EYEFUL of his NEW WIFIE! OMG!

[job777]

26. Not another actor.

Help them they need medical attention.

[AshevilleGuy]

4. Doubleplusungood.

If Gore comes in and gets our nomination, they could run Thompson for VP with Rudy. It could counter Gore in TN. Hey, do not underestimate Thompson: he is the type who could draw millions of whlte male voters!

[saltpoint]

5. Had McCain somehow gone on to win the 2000 GOP nomination, Fred

Thompson would have been on the shortlist for the veep slot, IMO.

Thompson was very prominent in advising John McCain in those early primaries against Bush.

I dont think the fundies will flock to his candidacy, although it's been some time, and they won't reject it outright either.

Tomorrow's headlines belong to Hagel. Let's see what he's up to and then re-assess Thompson's chances then.

If Thompson jumps in, there'd be 2 Thompsons in the Republican primaries. Fred and Tommy.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Hmmm--the timing of Thompson's announcement, and

Thompson appearing on Fox News Sunday morning, right before Hagel's announcement--does seem a little like a headline-stealing attempt, doesn't it? Ha! I love it when the 'Pugs crap on each other! And both of them screwing their old best buddy, McCain--priceless!

[saltpoint]

13. Hi, wienerdoggie. Very good observation. Yes, it does look as if

Fred and his boys wanted to upstage Chuck and his boys in the backalley brawl.

With both of them beating up on hapless McCain.

Agree with you -- it's a damn pleasure to watch.

[TwilightGardener]

14. Can't wait to see all three amigos go head to head in debate!

[saltpoint]

16. And they likely know a lot of the same donors too. Here's a round for

a hell of a GOP knife fight! Bottoms up!
:toast:

[JI7]

21. i think Fred Thompson might be trying to help McCain if he runs

i don't see him as a serious candidate. especially since he is currently acting and has been out of politics for a while.

he might get in it to attack McCain's opponents while allowing McCain to stay out as much as he can and look good.

if Hagel has intentions to run it might also be to upstage and take away from Hagel.

in 2000 only 3 Senators endorsed and supported John McCain in the primary run. they were Chuck HAgel, Fred Thompson, and McCain's other home state Senator Jon Kyl. the rest of the Republicans had endorsed BUsh.

is Tommy Thompson also still considering running ?

[Leilani]

23. Mike DeWine, recently defeated Senator from Ohio

also supported McCain in 2000.

[saltpoint]

30. Hi, J17. So far as I know Tommy Thompson is still very much interested

in the job. I think he represents a potential problem for our side if he loses the presidential nomination for the GOP but is selected as the veep. Wisconsin has purple patches all over its map and we have to fight tooth and nail every time there. He might dangerously tilt the balance toward red.

Good point on Thompson as stalking horse for McCain. Hadn't considered that angle, and it makes it more complex and more interesting.

Wow is this primary season going to be a barnburner, or what.

[Leilani]

24. No, if McCain won, Thompson was slated for Attorney General

I supported McCain in 2000 till he dropped out. I then supported Gore.

I followed McCain very closely. Fred Thompson traveled everywhere with McCain in 2000 & they're very good friends.

I think Dems underestimate Thompson. He's very popular with his party & would pull it together. More importantly, he comes across as very reassuring & reasonable. He has higher name? face recognititon than minor candidates, & I think he would be a very powerful candidate.

IMO, he would blow away several Dem candidates.

[saltpoint]

31. Agree that Fred has an authoritarian charm to him but as a McCain

guy, doesn't he distance himself from the Republican base that dislikes and distrusts John McCain?

That's not to say he and McCain aren't tight -- that's true -- but in some GOP quarters any friend of McCain is an enemy of the rabid Right voter.

If McCain's war record and personal appeal can't overcome that misgiving, I'm not seeing exactly how Thompson could either.

Maybe. But while the blue team thinks of Fred Thompson as a way-too-far-right conservative, many Republicans might see him as a "moderate." If you're one of those rabid red voters, why would you pick Thompson over say, Brownback?

[Leilani]

43. Even the Fundies know Brownback is a loser

They're looking for a conservative with a personality that is not threatening, like a Reagan.

[saltpoint]

44. I was about to type that they'll have to dig up Reagan from the dead,

but remembered that he was more or less dead when he was alive.

Agree that they'd love to have 'em a Reagan to slap on the ticket, but there are no Reagans out there.

That's why they're having such difficulties. Brownback's financiers are all crazies, to be sure, but quite a few of them have deep pockets.

I think he's a formidable presence in that Iowa caucus. A first- or second-place finish.

[xxqqqzme]

6. why does every rethug actor think he'd

make a great - whatever - senator, governor, president? Has a Democratic actor ever run for anything?

I know the actor who played John Walton - cannot remember his name - ran against mary bono a couple of campaigns ago but any others?


Ralph Waite! I remembered!

[AlCzervik]

8. fred thompson was a senator, an unremarkable one.

[TwilightGardener]

9. But he thinks he has "star power"--he said so! I guess that's good enough!

[NoodleBoy]

12. whenever a dem actor thinks of running for anything, the right wing media jumps on them

you know, "you're an actor, what do you know about government???"

I'm inclined to agree with them, that actors don't make the best politicians-- just look at what Ronald Reagan did to our country.

[beaconess]

34. Actors make great politicians - Ronald Reagan was the best.

He was a terrible president, but a brilliant politician.

While I strongly believe that all successful presidents are good politicians, it doesn't follow that all good politicians make good presidents.

[Syrinx]

10. he's a cousin to a DU'er

I'm not saying who the DU'er is, but from what I've been told Thompson is "from the asshole side of the family." :)

[AlCzervik]

11. i believe it and i resent Dick Wolf for hiring him, i've been watching L & O since

the days of Michael Moriarty and George Dzundza.

[Syrinx]

15. my favorite is the Belz as Munch

I know that's on SVU, but still. I wish Munch got more airtime.

[thatsrightimirish]

17. I like him on Law and Order

He should stay there.

[Eurobabe]

18. Another CON shill

Not impressed. Liked him on L&O until I found out he was a friend of the Asshat in Charge :nuke:

From Wolf Blitzer in Summer 2000:

BLITZER: Thanks for joining us.

SEN. FRED THOMPSON (R), TENNESSEE: Thank you.

BLITZER: Dick Cheney, someone you know, you were interviewed by him at one point as a potential vice presidential running mate. What do you think about this nomination of Dick Cheney?

THOMPSON: I think it's a great one. I think it says an awful lot about George W. Bush. I think it shows that he's got self- confidence. I think it shows that he's thinking about governing.

A lot of people point out that Dick may not help all that much on the campaign trail. I don't know if that's true or not. He'll probably surprise some people. But it's definitely true that he's ready to govern from day one, and I think that's what the governor was looking at.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0007/31/se.18.html

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[regnaD kciN]

20. Or, as he is known to the average American voter...

..."who???"

;-)

[ShortnFiery]

22. Fred Thompson for President!

:rofl: I think Fred is losing a grip on reality. :shrug:

Who will be his running mate, Duncan Hunter. :rofl:

[Leilani]

25. I think you underestimate him

Just my opinion, but he's more dangerous to Dems than Hagel.

[TwilightGardener]

27. You and I talked about this on another thread, and I gotta say--

saw them both on the teevee this morning, and Chuck's definitely got the TV appeal edge--that counts for something, I suppose, but he's still not as "articulate" as Thompson--LOL!

[ShortnFiery]

29. He's a paper tiger. Hell, he even sucks on L & O reruns.

Crack me up: Duncan Hunter / Fred Thompson Ticket. :rofl:

If that ever materializes then yes, I've lost my country. ;)

[AshevilleGuy]

37. He's obviously running for VP - watch out.

Seriously he would draw a lot more white male voters, as if they need that! He would NOT be good news for us!

[ShortnFiery]

39. He's not only a koolaid swigging morAn, but

also a second rate B actor. He sucks and we all know it.

Well, most everyone knows it but him. ;)

[AshevilleGuy]

47. B-Actor - so was Ronnie!

Good thing HE was never taken seriously by the voters... :)

[zbdent]

28. That would be ironic ... "Law and Order"

and blatant disregard for the rule of law ... when it came to Bush ...

[BlueIris]

32. I've been predicting for the longest time that the GOP '08 is going to be McCain/Thompson.

Didn't know FDT was going to strike out on his own first.

[terrya]

35. He should stick to acting.

That's what I think.

[bluedog]

36. what would Detective Lennie Briscoe have said?

Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe.....I really miss this man.

[paulk]

38. even if it's an act - he's got the "presidential demeanor " thing

down cold...

and there are a lot of Americans who don't look much past that...

---


he could be a threat - it really depends on how willing the American people are going to be in 2008 to listen to what the candidates are actually saying rather than the way they say it. I think that after 8 years of Bush, any Republican like Thompson, who was a down the line Bush man, will have an uphill battle.

[styersc]

40. Most People forget Thompson was the Senate Co-counsel

during Watergate. He was a mediocre Senator but he's an intellectual heavy weight. If he runs, he's one to watch out for.

[liberalpress]

41. Being from Tennessee, I agree with that

Thompson appeals to the Mexican hating, gay-bashing, gun-toting. reproductive-rights denying wing of the party. Plus the average American who knows or cares nothing about politics will see the name, think "Oh, yeah the Law and Order guy. I know him" and mindlessly pull the lever. Unfortunately, he's got a pretty good chance to win .. IF he can raise enough money

[AshevilleGuy]

48. Yep, he is their ideal VP nominee. n/t

[bluedog]

42. james carville said JEB Bush would

unite the GOP and don't be surprised if the GOP Party tries to get him to run......he was on either CNN or MSNBC with Watts........script isn't up yet on either

[TwilightGardener]

50. I saw that too, about Jeb. Mary is destroying James's brain cells.

Not even the 'Pugs want another Bush--sure loser, WAYYY too toxic--that would be like throwing the election.

[DemKR]

46. Hollywood...liberals? n/t

[TwilightGardener]

49. Everybody on MSNBC tonight said he doesn't seem to be serious about a bid.

They're downplaying it, but weirdly, CNN is absolutely hyping it.

[saracat]

51. Was Law and Order and NBC show?

[TwilightGardener]

52. Yeah, that's what I can't figure out, unless NBC knows sumpin' about him

or his contract that they're not saying...

[politicasista]

53. What a joke

He didn't do nothing for TN as a senator either. He only won cause he drove a red pickup and acted. :puke:.

[PresidentObama]

54. Let him run. We'll crush him like a soda can. n/t