Fred Thompson Fuels Speculation In Ct.

As GOPers Pay Up To $1,000 To Meet "Law and Order" Star

(AP)  Hundreds of state Republicans turned out Thursday for the party's annual fundraising dinner to listen for signs that the pool of presidential hopefuls may have another contender.

But former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson avoided any discussion of a possible White House run and instead delivered a strong speech attacking Democrats and reminding his fellow Republicans of their GOP roots.

"I'm not here to make a pitch tonight. I'm here to support what you're doing," Thompson said.

Thompson was the keynote speaker at the annual Prescott Bush Awards Dinner, named for President Bush's grandfather who was a U.S. senator from Connecticut from 1952 to 1963. About 600 guests paid between $250 to $1,000 for a chance to meet the Tennessee Republican.

Some conservatives, a sizable part of the GOP base, eagerly hope Thompson will make a bid for the party's presidential nomination.

Many backers say Thompson, who is well known for his role as prosecutor Arthur Branch in NBC's long-running drama "Law and Order," is the sole conservative candidate in the mold of Ronald Reagan, another ex-actor when he ran for president.

"People ask me why I left Washington, I said I longed for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood," Thompson joked.

In contrast, some conservatives have found fault for numerous reasons with declared candidates such as former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Arizona Sen. John McCain and ex-Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.

Thompson centered his message around traditional Republican policies of a strong national defense and a limited government.

"My friends, that's the party that I joined and I bet you that's the party you joined. I'm sure that's the party our country needs tonight," Thompson said. "We need to make sure that's still our party. I think the biggest problem is the disconnect between Washington, D.C. and the people of the United States."

He said he was inspired at the age of 21 by Sen. Barry Goldwater's book, "Conscience of a Conservative."

But since then much has changed.

He said millions of dollars in "pork barrel spending, backbiting and battles over all things large and small are creating a cynicism. I think the American people are looking for somewhere to go and we have to give them somewhere to go."

Thompson accused Democrats of trying to expand government and their constituencies and undoing the president's tax cuts.

"We must push back and push back hard," he said. "Remember how we won in the 1980 we stuck to our conservative principals."

He had strong words for those favoring withdrawal deadlines for U.S. troops in Iraq.

"Our choice is not whether or not we will fight our choice is where we will fight," Thompson said. "And the only debate going on with regard to this most important issue facing our country on the Democratic side of the aisle is the date of our surrender."

Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who introduced Thompson, urged her fellow Republican lawmakers to prod the Democratic leadership of the General Assembly to wrap up its work by the time the session ends June 6. Still outstanding is one very large item - the two-year state budget.

People close to Thompson, whose senate term spanned nearly a decade - from 1994 to 2003 - say he has not made a final decision about running. If he announces, it's expected to be sometime in the summer.

He is hiring staff, speaking to conservative groups, writing online columns and staking out positions on issues like the Senate immigration overhaul.

Thompson's expected entrance into the crowded GOP field could dramatically shake up the race but it's unclear who among the strongest contenders - Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Romney - would be affected the most.

Already, Thompson is competitive with his potential rivals in national popularity polls, perhaps due in part to his "Law and Order" recognition.

However, he lags the declared candidates in fundraising by multimillions and trails in building campaign organizations and courting grass-roots supporters in Iowa, New Hampshire and other early primary voting states.

[starleo146]

How can you put Thompson in the same catagory with Ron Paul. Thompson is an idiot and Paul is trying to get the message to his cohorts and is making headway just lacks money I am an independent with leanings to the democrats but this is a good man I think and glad he sent a book for Giuliani to read if he can read.

[forthepeopl1]

JULY 21 2007 IS WHEN AMERICANS WILL BE FREE AGAIN

EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS SHOULD BE TALKING TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AND TELLING THEM THAT AMERICANS ARE READY TO TAKE WASHINGTON ON AND ITS NOT A FEW AMERICANS ITMILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT WILL TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY..

I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY BLOOD FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK TO WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED.

AM A VET AND AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP IF WE THE PEOPLE DONT DO THIS NOW WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR..

DAVID A BELANGER,VET US ARMY,[e-mail]

ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION


they cant kill millions of americans at once so if we charge them all at once we will win and take them out and hang them all..

just like in the old days of the west...hang them from the trees in front of the whitehouse and see how many start telling the truth about what they have done to all us americans..


if the american NOW dont stand up and start a NATIONAL REVOUTION ON THIS WASHINGTON BULL S/H/I/T/ THEN we as TRUE AMERICANS can say nothing!!!

its time to take all this *** and take our government back now..

they are the ones that started this and we will finnish it now..we the people will take our country back and everyone in washington can sit there and thinks we the people are ok with what they are doing..go ahead and let them think that we are comming to take them out

[incog-nito]

Let's hope Gingrich also runs. C'mon down!

[incog-nito]

Oh good, yet another GOP candidate. The more the merrier. Now the circular firing squad is complete.

[motherjones-2009]

If Fred Thompson is the best the rethugs have to offer, they're toast! Thompson is a washed up old coot who spent 20 years as a lobbyist,sat out the Vietnam War and is married to a woman younger than his kids! He spent eight do nothing years in the Senate chasing skirts. So much for the rethug "family values" ***.

[jegibbons]

'The Dems' haven't got a reasonable chance of recovering the White House in '08, AS IT IS.

If Fred Thompson gets the GOP nod 'The Dems will have NO CHANCE.

Rosie's gone. Fred's getting closer
LIFE IS GOOD!

Honor our Troops
This Memorial Day!

[cfin5]

Fred Thompson and Ron Paul do not need all of the millions of campaign dollars in this presidential election. Most of that money is used to "spin" a candidates reputation in the news media which plenty of folks like me DO NOT WATCH/BELIEVE ANYMORE. I can do/have done my own non-partisan research on the internet thank you very much. Cheaper that way. Guessing that Mr. Thompson will run, all the two of them have to do is just keep their names on the ballot for us come voting day no matter what the press "predicts".

[mommajomma-2009]

you libs better pray, well scratch that.... hope that fred doesnt run. hitler-y will pee down her leg the day he announces.

[delta7757]

Run Fred. You'll have my vote Fred.

[rfield9]

Except for his record of rubberstamping the
neo-facist agenda of Gingrich / Bush, Thompson
is a blank slate nationally - whom would lose
support as soon as he had to start taking
positions on Iraq, national health care, bio-
fuels conversion and RNC "wedge" issues like
abortion and stem-cell research.

So run Fred. Please. Bring Gingrich in with
you. Regardless of the clown on that side,
Clinton blows them out once toe-to-toe in
the debates. Mark words. Corporation Media
is all caught up on the female angle, while
R's think it's a big chance to shake more
money and fervor out of the few dupes they
have left.

Here is what they are all missing and will be
surprised by, once Hillary gets the national
floor: She is smarter. She's going to cut
any R opponent up - bank it. She is being
underestimated for how well she will play
on the national stage.

Hey, maybe R's can dig up pot smoking, Monica
& the fake scandal known as Whitewater again...

;-)

[forthepeopl1]

JULY 21 2007 IS WHEN AMERICANS WILL BE FREE AGAIN

EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS SHOULD BE TALKING TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AND TELLING THEM THAT AMERICANS ARE READY TO TAKE WASHINGTON ON AND ITS NOT A FEW AMERICANS ITMILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT WILL TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY..

I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY BLOOD FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK TO WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED.

AM A VET AND AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP IF WE THE PEOPLE DONT DO THIS NOW WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR..

DAVID A BELANGER,VET US ARMY,[e-mail]

ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION


they cant kill millions of americans at once so if we charge them all at once we will win and take them out and hang them all..

just like in the old days of the west...hang them from the trees in front of the whitehouse and see how many start telling the truth about what they have done to all us americans..


if the american NOW dont stand up and start a NATIONAL REVOUTION ON THIS WASHINGTON BULL S/H/I/T/ THEN we as TRUE AMERICANS can say nothing!!!

its time to take all this *** and take our government back now..

they are the ones that started this and we will finnish it now..we the people will take our country back and everyone in washington can sit there and thinks we the people are ok with what they are doing..go ahead and let them think that we are comming to take them out

[tucano2]

Here are some 5/07 poll results for you (Rasmussen Poll).
52 percent USA voters LESS likely to support any candidate favoring illegal aliens to stay and be converted to "citizens"

56 percent favor ENFORCE CURRENT LAWS instead of granting either legal status or "citizenship" to illegal aliens

79 percent favor increased border security, PENALIZING EMPLOYERS who hire illegals, and INCREASED cooperation between local police and ICE.

51 percent favor having an effective fence all the way from San Diego to Brownsville, some 2000 miles.

71 percent have little or NO CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT to weed out bomb-throwing terrorists

64 percent favor immediate deportation of illegal aliens

IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR EXCUSE THE INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY IN THE SENATE ARE DEAF TO WHAT REAL AMERICANS DEMAND OF THEM? We need to question each one as to their loyalty to the AMERICAN people.

[gkc99]

Thompson's just the kind of phony redneck (like his pickup truck routine) Kentucky Fried chicken type BS artist that the neofascists would love! Too dumb to see past the shell. That's why they'd all love to have a BBQ with the Bonzo Bushit and Darth Chickenshit.

[gunnerv1]

Who actually owns the Big Oil Companies? The Stock/share owners, ya big dummies, There is where your $9 Billion is getting sliced up at. It no just some lone, big fat cat.

[antoniof123]

From a former Republican Fred change parties and maybe wait a few years then we will talk.

[forthepeopl1]

JULY 21 2007 IS WHEN AMERICANS WILL BE FREE AGAIN

EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS SHOULD BE TALKING TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AND TELLING THEM THAT AMERICANS ARE READY TO TAKE WASHINGTON ON AND ITS NOT A FEW AMERICANS ITMILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT WILL TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY..

I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY BLOOD FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK TO WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED.

AM A VET AND AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP IF WE THE PEOPLE DONT DO THIS NOW WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR..

DAVID A BELANGER,VET US ARMY,[e-mail]

ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION


they cant kill millions of americans at once so if we charge them all at once we will win and take them out and hang them all..

just like in the old days of the west...hang them from the trees in front of the whitehouse and see how many start telling the truth about what they have done to all us americans..


if the american NOW dont stand up and start a NATIONAL REVOUTION ON THIS WASHINGTON BULL S/H/I/T/ THEN we as TRUE AMERICANS can say nothing!!!

its time to take all this *** and take our government back now..

they are the ones that started this and we will finnish it now..we the people will take our country back and everyone in washington can sit there and thinks we the people are ok with what they are doing..go ahead and let them think that we are comming to take them out

[harp1963]

Fred shouldn't even waste his time. The Republicans could raise Ronald Reagan from the dead and they wouldn't be able to defeat anyone who is the Democratic candidate. After eight years of King George and the misfits, the Republicans don't have a snowballs chance in hell.

Paying 4 dollars a gallon, while Exxon makes 9 billion in the first quarter, has totally destroyed any hope the Republicans had, if they had any. But they'll get some "bought and paid for" economist to try and tell us about supply and demand to explain why it makes perfect sense for us to like them raping us at the pump.

Don't waste your time Fred.

[hissteps4u]

As a Republician there is no one in the field I would curently trust to run the country. I wont vote for any of them.

I am so sick and tired of this Political Nightmare we have created. Congress is Broken

TERM LIMITS NEED TO COME INTO PLAY We must somehow give the government back to the people instead of the Professional Polititions who's pork barrel mentality and Power hungry grabs have done nothing more than bring this country down farther than ever in our history.

TERM LIMITS

citizen legislators its the only way we can clean this Mess up!

Unfortunately those who seek Power wont ever ask for their power to be taken away or consider such an initative which could free us from our eventual outcome if we do not heed the call.

[ab1l1ty]

Fred is holding out as long as possible as to avoid the american public finding out he has no substance. It's actually a great tatic. Rudy should have tried it. Now Rudy is suffering the consequences that previous perception is being replaced by a harsh reality. Romney is the best qualified candidate, hands down.

[crater7]

HMMMMMMMM, ISN'T THIS THE SAME GUY, THAT RECENTLY SAID THAT AMERICANS DID NOT TRUST ITS ELECTED OFFICIALS?

WHY SHOULD AMERICANS TRUST FRED THOMPSON?
MORE OF THE SAME "STAY THE COURSE"