Thompson To Take First Step Toward '08 Run

Sources Say Senator-Turned-Actor Will Form "Testing The Waters" Committee Next Week

(CBS/AP)  Fred Thompson, a former Republican senator from Tennessee and now an actor on "Law & Order," is methodically moving ahead with a likely presidential bid, several officials with knowledge of the plans said Wednesday.

An all-but-declared candidate for months, Thompson will establish an official organization next week to weigh a White House bid while launching his first major fundraising effort. He also may visit early primary states in late June and could officially enter the race as early as the first week in July, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plans were not public.

Despite the movement, they cautioned that Thompson has made no final decision about whether to run or where and when to get in the race should he decide to go forward.

They said he is considering several options for a possible formal announcement, and that one scenario has him officially announcing his candidacy over the July 4 holiday. It's also possible, they said, that Thompson could wait until later in the summer to declare his intentions.

"Senator Thompson is still seriously considering getting into the presidential contest and he is doing everything he has to do to make that final decision," said Mark Corallo, a Thompson spokesman. "Stay tuned."

A summertime announcement has been widely expected and numerous signs have pointed to a Thompson candidacy, including his disclosure in April that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of cancer, but is in remission. Officials say it's more likely than not he will join a crowded GOP field that's led by Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney.

Thompson has been competitive with the top-tier trio in national popularity polls, which largely measure name recognition early in the campaign. He is well-known nationally for his acting role as gruff district attorney Arthur Branch on NBC's long-running drama "Law & Order."

His expected entrance in the race could dramatically shake up the GOP field, but it's unclear exactly who among the top GOP candidates — Giuliani, McCain or Romney — would be affected the most by his candidacy.

Thompson has been casting himself as a straight-talking conservative in the mold of former President Reagan — even though as a senator, he took some positions that angered the party's base.

According to a CBS News/New York Times poll taken last week, just 38 percent of Republican primary voters said they were satisfied with their current choices while 57 percent said they wanted more options in the race.

While former New York City Mayor Giuliani led in that poll, there are concerns among Republicans. The poll found that less than half of GOP respondents said that Giuliani shares Republican values. Many in the party are upset with McCain, once viewed as the party’s front-runner, for co-sponsoring the immigration bill now under debate in the Senate. Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, has surged in surveys of late but is still less well known than many others in the field.

"Conservatives are looking for a candidate they can buy into," said CBSNews.com Senior Political Editor Vaughn Ververs, "and for the moment at least, Fred Thompson is filling that void."

[imarltool2u]

Someone make Fred come back to life in the photo.

[perception5]

Fred, no disrespect but stay out of the race.

Our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack would want nothing more than to have a "conservative" to attack during the 2008 elections. Don't take the bait.

The GOP needs to go with the two best "moderates" and both great leaders in Mit Romney and Rudy.

The country is moving to the "center" in 2008 and Mit and Rudy are both strong moderates.

Unfortunately for the Dems they are fielding three pretty "left" leaning liberals.........who are out there everyday "dividing" our country with their liberal hate and constant attacks against this war-time President.

[terrapin78]

Who would want to vote for a candidate that is KNOWN to have cancer in his/her body?

Sorry, Fred but you are disqualified due to health issues.

[perception5]

Not sure if CBS is going to share this information with their viewers............ so I will:


COURIC HITS NEW ALL-TIME LOW FOR 'CBS EVENING NEWS'

VIEWERS, WEEK OF 5/21/07
ABC: 7,780,000
NBC: 7,190,000
CBS: 5,960,000

[oeangus]

At this point, can't imagine anything will help the Republicans win the White House in 08, but who knows?

[nolalou]

Mit Romney and Rudy both support the war in Iraq, and the troop 'surge'. How the hell do you define that as 'moderate'?

[perception5]

At this point, can't imagine anything will help the Republicans win the White House in 08, but who knows?
Posted by oeangus at 11:02 AM : May 30, 2007

.....oeangus, if Mit Romney or Rudy gets through the smear and distortions of our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack ............ I predict that either one of them will sweep all 50 US States except for Washington DC which typically, like alot of the country, votes for the candidate with the "D" behind their name.....really sad

[mcvet]

.....oeangus, if Mit Romney or Rudy gets through the smear and distortions of our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack ............ I predict that either one of them will sweep all 50 US States except for Washington DC which typically, like alot of the country, votes for the candidate with the "D" behind their name.....really sad
Posted by perception5 at 11:06 AM : May 30, 2007

BAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA Yeah right!! American's are going to go right out and vote for the Do NOTHING Repigs after all the FAILURE of the last 6 years. Now I know you carry your magic Swastika EVERYWHERE but Sparky you know VERY little about this nation. The Republican Party is on LIFE SUPPORT in most states outside the Fascist South!! LOL What do you think the last election was about anyway? ROFLMAO God but you Nazi's are dumb!! Sieg Heil and go to sleep.... We'll wake you when the nations headed in the RIGHT direction again!!

[terrapin78]

perception5 is delusional.

LOL

[mcvet]

Unfortunately for the Dems they are fielding three pretty "left" leaning liberals.........who are out there everyday "dividing" our country with their liberal hate and constant attacks against this war-time President.

Posted by perception5 at 10:32 AM : May 30, 2007


You mean the IDIOT who is so INCOMPETENT he attacked the WRONG country? ROFLMAO What an idiot!! Now I don't know if you can hear with that Swastika in your ears but Main Stream Repub's and RETIRED GENERALS have been telling us just how stupid and INCOMPETENT the Southern Nazi you like so much is. But I guess when your a Nazi the PARTY is all that's important huh? ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Y'all

[oeangus]

Perception5 wrote: %u201Cif Mit Romney or Rudy gets through the smear and distortions of our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack ............ I predict that either one of them will sweep all 50 US States except for Washington DC which typically, like alot of the country, votes for the candidate with the %u201CD%u201D behind their name.....really sad%u201D

I agree less smear and distortion along with more balance is needed these days when it comes to, well, pretty much everything :) I%u2019m surprised by your Romney or Rudi predictions. I would think it could be and most probably will be another tight race, given how politically split the American populace is.

[oeangus]

MCVet wrote: %u201CYou mean the IDIOT who is so INCOMPETENT he attacked the WRONG country? ROFLMAO What an idiot!! Now I don't know if you can hear with that Swastika in your ears but Main Stream Repub's and RETIRED GENERALS have been telling us just how stupid and INCOMPETENT the Southern Nazi you like so much is. But I guess when your a Nazi the PARTY is all that's important huh? ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Y'all%u201D

You%u2019re responding here to perception5, whose point I believe is that some politicians are %u201Cdividing the country%u201D. Regardless of who you or I think could be or might be dividing the country, this seems to be the concern %u2013 that America is divided right now. And while I appreciate everyone%u2019s right to an opinion, the fact remains that calling the President an %u201Cidiot%u201D and %u201Cincompetent%u201D, only widens that divide.

[cozzicon]

Most of this debate is useless.

This country will vote along the lines of wedge issues like war, abortion, gay rights, and health care.

The candidate that should win is the one that offers the most liberty, at the lowest cost.

The candidate that will win will be the best marketer.

The voters will lose (That's everyone except the extremists).

As far as Fred Thompson is concerned, he's way too socially conservative for me. Those are my wedge issues. I'll deal with them.

[lastdance2]

Snow Job - Snow Job

I enjoy watching these "Republican"
Party members, who post saying :

People should have more respect :
For a decent man.

Republican candidates are nothing more than :
"A Trojan Horse"

With the "Nazi Manifesto" in their back pockets.
If they didn't -

The Republican Party - would never, endorse them ! ! !

Another Snow Job -

Lastdance

[nolalou]

perception5,

While I have no idea who the eventual major party nominees will be, I can pretty much guarantee that no candidate from either party will sweep all 50 states, or even come close to that. The country is just too divided on too many issues. If the war is still going badly, and if troop withdrawal hasn't started yet, I think any Republican candidate who still supports the war will be at a big disadvantage. In addition, Republican voters from the Christian-right wing of the party are not going to flock to either Romney or Guiliani. If either of those guys gets the nomination, I'd bet some right-wing 3rd party candidate will get in the race.

Normaly, I'd say the Democrats are in a very good position to win it in 2008, except they do sometimes have a knack for shooting themselves in the foot! (as Will Rogers once said "I don't belong to any organised party, I'm a Democrat!")

As far as I can determine, the last time a candidate almost won all 50 states is when Reagan won re-election over Mondale. (Mondale won only his home state). Even Michal Dukakis managed to win 10 states when he ran against George H.W. Bush!

[trillion1]

Just another B actor with a pr stunt red pick-up.

[kevboom]

Great, just what America needs, another actor in the white house. The first one did such wonders for the economy. Judging from the look of this guy's picture on the CBS web site, he may not even be around for the 2008 election. Don't we have an upper age limit on who can run for president? Maybe we should.

[cbgb31]

This guy's looking a little old to me. Let's hope his running mate is younger.

[skyhawk761]

You%u2019re responding here to perception5, whose point I believe is that some politicians are %u201Cdividing the country%u201D. Regardless of who you or I think could be or might be dividing the country, this seems to be the concern %u2013 that America is divided right now. And while I appreciate everyone%u2019s right to an opinion, the fact remains that calling the President an %u201Cidiot%u201D and %u201Cincompetent%u201D, only widens that divide.
Posted by oeangus at 11:28 AM : May 30, 2007

This country started becoming divided when Rush Limpbaugh began his career by calling the Clintons and their daughter every name you can think of. If you didn't know it Clinton was President also and the right wing gave him no respect. As far as respect, it is not given, it is earned and I do not believe W has earned it from me. From day one he has been a class divider and had 6 years of free run under a republican rubber stamp.

[realpatriot1]

perception5,

There's certainly a wealth of hate from both sides spewing forth on this board everyday but if you want to talk about hate coming from the candidates themselves, Guliani is the absolute King so far.

Anyone who says that any Republican would do more than any Democrat to protect us from being attacked is the last person who can unite the country.

As I said previously about Hillary, I don't see Guliani or Romney as being right or center, I see them as asking which way the wind is blowing today. Guliani is "pro-choice" but he wouldn't care if Roe vs. Wade was overturned. Romney is fighting mad about illegal immigrants, except the ones tending his lawn.

It's really too early and all too superficial at this point to get very excited about any of these folks.

[marcodele]

Another senile actor for president. The neocons will eat him up like candy.

[ioweign]

Another senile actor for president. The neocons will eat him up like candy.
Posted by marcodele at 12:23 PM : May 30, 2007

Yes...and you can even see where they are going to attach the strings!!!

[lars008-2009]

NOW CAN WE KILL THEM???
If they can kill us, we can kill them

Hizbullah Deputy Sec-Gen Sheikh Naim Qassem: We Have Jurisprudent Permission to Carry Out 'Martyrdom' Operations, Fire Missiles on Israeli Civilians From Ayatollah Khomeini
http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD154907

Switching Sides: Inside The Enemy Camp

But then in 2000, well before his arrest, something happened which would make Abas question everything he believed in: a fatwa, a religious edict, was issued by Osama bin Laden.

"It should be understood that killing Americans and Jews anywhere found are the highest act of worship and the highest form of good deeds in the eyes of Allah," Simon quotes bin Laden.

Abas and his fellow commanders were ordered to read the fatwa to their men and make sure they carried it out. The others obeyed, but Abas refused. It was his moment of truth. He firmly believed that jihad was to be fought only on the battlefield in defense of Islam; he had always been taught that the killing of civilians had nothing to do with holy war and that it was forbidden.

The fatwa justified killing non-Muslim civilians everywhere.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/04/60minutes/main2761108.shtml?source=RSSattr=60Minutes_2761108
American Al Qaeda Member Threatens Attack
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/29/terror/main2865282.shtml

[terrapin78]

Haven't I seen this BS before. Of course I have. It is posted by lars008.

Get some new hatred to spew the old, tired diatribes are just that. OLD and TIRED. Cut and paste.

[jmagarotz]

Here is an idea! Listen to the man, dont judge him by what team he is on, you people look at politics like its NASCAR or Baseball, which is dumb. We are all on the same team and at heart want the same things, the way we go about it is different.
Posted by darkmeat4 at 12:45 PM : May 30, 2007

Best idea I've heard all day.

[terrapin78]

Anyone who supports continued action in Iraq will NEVER get my vote.

I was against the war of choice before it started. And I am still against it now.

[lars008-2009]

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! March 23, 1775 Patrick Henry

USA's PLEDGE 2 THE WORLD GIVEN BY JFK!!

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
--John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1961 "

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." --John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1961 "

One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Winston Churchill

Edmund Burke: All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.

[mudrose-2009]

Gore will announce within the next two months.

Posted by george2221

What will he announce? That he's out to steal another Presidency. Hahahahaha

[rightrevtodd]

I am so proud to hear about this possible candidacy. Fred Thompsom would be a very good person for our nation as president.

[marcodele]

IOWEIGN! You owe me a new monitor. You made me spray diet coke all over mine.

[chicnlittle]

Anyone who supports continued action in Iraq will NEVER get my vote.

I was against the war of choice before it started. And I am still against it now.
Posted by Terrapin78 at 01:30 PM : May 30, 2007

Terrapin, whether you like it or not, we're going to be there for a long time. The democrats know this - that's why they caved on the timeline. They made there point, but that's the end of it. I don't think they would pull us out of there for the main reason that it would destabilize the area even more, which would increase the exposure of Israel. The Jewish community contributes way to much money to each party for us to just walk away. I just don't think it will happen.

[skyhawk761]

Terrapin, whether you like it or not, we're going to be there for a long time. The democrats know this - that's why they caved on the timeline. They made there point, but that's the end of it. I don't think they would pull us out of there for the main reason that it would destabilize the area even more, which would increase the exposure of Israel. The Jewish community contributes way to much money to each party for us to just walk away. I just don't think it will happen.
Posted by chicnlittle at 02:06 PM : May 30, 2007

Agreed. Not only that, but my understanding is we have already built and they are operable 3 bases with the plans of adding 2 more. I would still like to see a draw down in the numbers but my own party played politics as usual and didn't stick to their promise. I will remember it next election.

[chicnlittle]

Agreed. Not only that, but my understanding is we have already built and they are operable 3 bases with the plans of adding 2 more. I would still like to see a draw down in the numbers but my own party played politics as usual and didn't stick to their promise. I will remember it next election.
Posted by skyhawk761 at 02:15 PM : May 30, 2007

Howdy grandpop! I doubly agree. It's going to take some sort of REAL multi-nation force to get in there and settle things down. I don't see that happening anytime soon either.

[marcodele]

Spectrum said "I guess he's hoping to grab that majority out there that are not in their right minds!"

why not? It worked for Junior!

[jn122736]

For the corporate owned/controlled government America is now saddled with, Fred Thompson, like Reagan before him, is the perfect candidate.

All the directors/handlers want is someone to play the role of president while doing exactly as he/she is told. Bush does a very good job of doing what is expected of him but his intelligence (or lack of) is an embarrassment to his handlers.

[crater7]

FRESH MEAT!

NOW, Look at that face; How can one risist a face and a smile like that? Its got CROOK, oops I ment republician, written all over it.
TRUST MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[marcodele]

I guess this means D/ck Cheney would have to stay on as CEO, I mean Vice President.

[motherjones-2009]

If Fred Thompson's the best the rethugs have to offer, they're toast! He spent 20 years as a corporate lobbyist, and eight undistinquished years in the senate chasing skirts. His current wife is younger than his kids from his first marriage (how's that goning to play with the family values crowd), and he sat out Vietnam. Just another rethug chickhawk like Bush, Cheney and co.

[lars008-2009]

NOW CAN WE KILL THEM???
If they can kill us, we can kill them

Qaeda warns of attacks 'worse than 9/11'
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070530102648.wuwa6k96&show_article=1

Hizbullah Deputy Sec-Gen Sheikh Naim Qassem: We Have Jurisprudent Permission to Carry Out 'Martyrdom' Operations, Fire Missiles on Israeli Civilians From Ayatollah Khomeini
http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD154907

Switching Sides: Inside The Enemy Camp

But then in 2000, well before his arrest, something happened which would make Abas question everything he believed in: a fatwa, a religious edict, was issued by Osama bin Laden.

"It should be understood that killing Americans and Jews anywhere found are the highest act of worship and the highest form of good deeds in the eyes of Allah," Simon quotes bin Laden.

Abas and his fellow commanders were ordered to read the fatwa to their men and make sure they carried it out. The others obeyed, but Abas refused. It was his moment of truth. He firmly believed that jihad was to be fought only on the battlefield in defense of Islam; he had always been taught that the killing of civilians had nothing to do with holy war and that it was forbidden.

The fatwa justified killing non-Muslim civilians everywhere.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/04/60minutes/main2761108.shtml?source=RSSattr=60Minutes_2761108
American Al Qaeda Member Threatens Attack
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/29/terror/main2865282.shtml

[chicnlittle]

For the corporate owned/controlled government America is now saddled with, Fred Thompson, like Reagan before him, is the perfect candidate.

All the directors/handlers want is someone to play the role of president while doing exactly as he/she is told. Bush does a very good job of doing what is expected of him but his intelligence (or lack of) is an embarrassment to his handlers.

Posted by jn122736 at 03:06 PM : May 30, 2007

That's it, bash corporations. Corporations create millions of jobs, give billions to charities and make this country great. Do you use toothpaste, soap, drive a car, shop at supermarkets, drink beer, watch television, etc., etc., etc. Oh yea, and how about a computer? All owned by corporations. If you want to live in the stoneage, there's plenty of 3rd world countries out there.

[stevepdx1]

Im sorry, but what exactly is it about Fred Thompson that makes republicans feel he is such a good candidate? He had a largely uneventful senate term, most of which was pre-9/11 in the 1990s. What has he done in the last 5-6 years to make himself a stronger candidate or even improve this country? Nothing except act on TV and read scripts. His only recent political work was to raise money for Scooter Libby's defense team - talk about classy. For those republicans who harp on Edwards experience for only 6 years in the senate, or even Obama who will have 4 years by the time the election rolls around, how is Thompson any more qualified? I'm sorry, but picking a candidate because he said some cool lines in a movie in the late 1980s is pathetic

[pwrslm]

for a guy that has yet to come out and establish his position on the issues, you folks are ready to crucify him

pure lynch mob mentality, by the ignorant for the ignorant

[dakotaclark]

Right...

He looks like death warmed over, and he has the charisma of a cabbage.

His chances of getting elected president are the exact same as him becoming the next Czar of Russia.

[chicnlittle]

He looks like death warmed over, and he has the charisma of a cabbage.

His chances of getting elected president are the exact same as him becoming the next Czar of Russia.


Posted by dakotaclark at 03:52 PM : May 30, 2007

You might be right. Especially if he goes up against a good-looker like Hillary.

[noplace2poop]

If this bird brain gets elected, I swear I'll never vote again for a Republican!

Have you been impressed today with the lack of great men in politics? The so called great men of today would be pygmies and dwarfs in the days of Teddy Roosevelt or George Washington! I say this very kindly and I am not talking about any particular political party. One hundred years ago, the so called great men of today would be called "cheap politicians".

We have many ambitious young men and older men that apparently have no qualifications whatsoever of being statesmen! But we continue to call them statesmen ANYWAY because of our PRIDE! We don't want to admit that we're not producing great men.

In reality, these so called statesmen are nothing more than cleaver politicians. (Totally incompetent in their positions of leadership!)

They don't care about the poor. How long has it been since you've seen homes being built that poor people could afford to purchase? (40 years--50 years?)
Believe it or not, there was a time in the America when ANYONE could afford a home. Nowadays, people want $150,000 for a clapboard shack and $185,000 for a two bedroom, concrete block home! It's disgusting and loathing how our community has regressed to this level of degenerate character.

When these types of conditions exist in a society, it's the mark of a decadent age for that society.

[jolsonbear]

This is the man who lobbied congress for deregulation of the savings and loans industry recommendations were incorporated into the Garn - St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 which is credited for leading to the Savings and Loan scandal of the 1980's.

[juliemd]

Oh, dear God help us! Not another Republican actor as President. Where can we run to???

[chicnlittle]

Oh, dear God help us! Not another Republican actor as President. Where can we run to???
Posted by juliemd at 04:01 PM : May 30, 2007

So tell me juliemd, who are you supporting?

[marcodele]

Of all the republicans, he's the least repulsive.
But I can't see Halliburton allowing him.

[realpatriot1]

pwrslm,

You're right about the rush to crucify. I don't expect to vote for him but I'd like to at least listen to what he has to say before pigeonholing him.

It's pretty sad when we start swiftboating candidates before we even know what they're thinking.