WASHINGTON, March 12, 2007
Fred Thompson Considering A 2008 Run
"Law & Order" Star, GOP Stalwart And Former U.S. Senator Says He's Thinking About It
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"Law & Order" star Fred Thompson, who has been a U.S. senator and was the lead attorney advising GOP lawmakers at the Watergate hearings, is considering a run for president. (AP/FOX News Sunday, Freddie Lee)
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The versatile 64-year-old, who plays district attorney Arthur Branch on NBC's crime and punishment drama "Law & Order" and all of its spinoffs, said Sunday that he is considering running for president.
"I'm giving some thought to it, going to leave the door open" and decide in the coming months, said Thompson, adding that his consideration of the idea is "not really a reflection on the current field" of candidates.
"I'm just going to wait and see what happens," said the former Senator from Tennessee, commenting in an appearance on "Fox News Sunday."
"I wanted to see how my colleagues who are on the campaign trail do now, what they say, what they emphasize, what they're addressing, and how successful they are in doing that, and whether or not they can carry the ball in next November."
Thompson said he began thinking about running after former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker (Thompson's former boss, having run Baker's 1972 re-election campaign) and other Tennessee Republicans began drumming up support for his possible GOP candidacy, citing his conservative credentials.
"I think people are somewhat disillusioned. I think a lot of people are cynical out there. I think they're looking for something different. ... and I think that they're going to be open to different things," he said.
"It will be interesting to me as I listen to people and learn and watch what's going on and what's the reaction, and the poll numbers and so forth, as to whether or not my instinct on that is right."
On the issues, Thompson said he:
Thompson said he is not setting a deadline to make a decision and believes he won't be at a disadvantage if he waited until summer. "The lay of the land will be different in a few months than it is today, one way or the other."
He added, "One advantage you have in not ... having this as lifelong ambition is that if it turns out that your calculation is wrong, it's not the end of the world."
Thompson, the minority counsel in the Watergate investigation, wrote a book about the experience: "At That Point in Time: The Inside Story of the Senate Watergate Committee."
Even he hadn't put pen to paper, Thompson would still be memorable for his role in the 1973 Watergate hearings, which were televised and recorded for posterity.
Thompson was the one to ask Alexander Butterfield, an aide to White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman, what would become a sensational question - "Are you aware of the installation of any listening devices in the Oval Office of the President?" - prompting a sensational answer: "Yes, sir."
In 1994, nearly twenty years later, Thompson was elected to the Senate to fill the unexpired term of Vice President Al Gore. He was chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and left the Senate in 2003 to resume his acting career.
Thompson has appeared in over 20 films including "The Hunt for Red October," "Cape Fear," and "In the Line of Fire."
While maintaining a list of acting credits that could spark envy in any colleague, Thompson has kept an active hand in more weighty pursuits and is a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative-leaning although officially independent think-tank. Thompson's area of expertise: National Security and Intelligence Issues, focusing on China, North Korea and Russia.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- In an article by the conservative journal National Review (6/27/94), Thompson was written as "pro-choice," but favors parental notification. An earlier post claims he's "pro-life BUT specifically has stated he does not favor overturning Roe v Wade." It's either the media is misrepresenting the nuances in his positions or that he's pulling a fast one on the conservatives. Trying to appeal to the Republican base perhaps. Not surprising since it seems conservatives are easily fooled by soundbites, especially when they speak to wedge issues. Not necessarily saying Senator Thompson is one of them, but politicians certainly know how to make conservatives froth in the mouth and lead them along. How else could we have gotten "big government" under a Republican administration?
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- In an article by the conservative journal National Review (6/27/94), Thompson was written as "pro-choice," but favors parental notification. An earlier post claims he's "pro-life BUT specifically has stated he does not favor overturning Roe v Wade." It's either the media is misrepresenting the nuances in his positions or that he's pulling a fast one on the conservatives. Trying to appeal to the Republican base perhaps. Not surprising since it seems conservatives are easily fooled by soundbites, especially when they speak to wedge issues. Not necessarily saying Senator Thompson is one of them, but politicians certainly know how to make conservatives froth in the mouth and lead them along. How else could we have gotten "big government" under a Republican administration?
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- I have never declared myself as Rep or Dem but rather tried to vote for the candidates who I felt represented this countries best interests and moral values. These past going on 8 years have caused far too much cynicism in the general public from the corruption, lies, and deceit of the Bush administration. This administrations constant use of its fear mongering tactics in our daily lives, along with everything mentioned above has gotten this country into a hornets nest of a mess with the rest of the world, and oh let's not forget the immense debt as we are now in hock up to our grandchildrens eyeballs most of which is owed to ehmmm excuse me The Communist countries!!!
The possible candidates I have seen coming out to campaign now are all rediculous!!! Do we really want another election filled with candidates nobody in their right minds wishes to have to choose between? I think not! Fred Thompson and whoever he might run with in my mind would be the perfect candidate for the 08 elections on the republican ticket. He represents just about every possible ideal I as a middle class citizen can think of not to mention his moral fiber that flies in the face of liberal gay marriage advocates, gun control freaks, abortionist thinking murders, and I am sure a slew of other groups that are neither moral or representative of the majority of responsible Americans. Fred you run and you will have reformed me into a true Republican!!! - Reply to this comment
- I am not a big Bush fan, but this is a no brainer.
Thompson/Rice would be a slam dunk landslide ticket over Clinton/Obama.. I really dont think they would have to campaign much. I see 3 senate seat pickups also for the Republicans.. I have been following and guessing politics, ever since I picked Jimmy Carter in 76, when he was just thinking about it. - Reply to this comment
- Muslim versus Chritian, simple as that.
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- "As usual, the liberal responses above have to resort to the ever tiring name calling and labeling that seem to be the trademarks of the left. How sad that you don't seem able to have an individual thought of your own. Sad for you that you will continue to feed at the trough of bile."
This is because liberal ideas are anti-constitutional and anti-american, and they KNOW the majority of Americans oppose these ideals. So they can't TELL us what they think or want to do for fear of us voting against them for it. They dont have a positive agenda for our country because they thrive on the concept of misery.
And who says our country NEEDS to change, anyway? Things look pretty good to me, and I am poor. But if liberals have their way, I will always BE poor, too, with no hope of prosperity as long as they are in charge. - Reply to this comment
- The key word here is LIAR!
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time!
Posted by jerr11 at 12:15 PM : Mar 12, 2007
Looks like they did a pretty good job of fooling YOU all the time. - Reply to this comment
- The Paleolibs must be shook up about former Sen. Thompson thinking about running in'08 or they wouldn't be so negative in this blog. Don't deny it boys and girls. You know it bothers you that he has the best chance (and win) up against Seig Hiel Hillery and Obama Rama. (McCain is a nut case)
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- And Now Just to PIS* 'EM OFF, "THESE COLORS NEVER RUN (unless your a liberal)"
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- He wants judges to over turn Roe vs Wade, but doesn't think judges ought to decide Same Gender Marriage! That is ethics of convienence for you.
It would be a great thing for Democrats if he does run for the GOP ticket.
Posted by BKS59 at 12:18 PM : Mar 12, 2007
Actually, he is pro life BUT specifically has stated he does not favor overturning Roe v Wade. - Reply to this comment
