Fred Thompson Inches Closer To '08 Run
Senator-Turned-Actor Creates Committee To Test Support For Presidential Bid
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Capitol Bob On '08 Candidates
CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer speaks with Julie Chen about Al Gore and Fred Thompson, two men who have not announced '08 campaigns, but are stirring up support.
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Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson has established a preliminary campaign committee, another step toward an expected run for president. (Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla)
The "testing the waters" committee allows Thompson — a former Tennessee senator and now best known for his film and television roles, including as a prosecutor on NBC's "Law & Order" — to raise money, hire staff and gauge support without officially committing to a White House bid and without having to publicly disclose donations or expenditures.
The "Friends of Fred Thompson" committee was incorporated in papers filed with the state in Nashville, Tenn.
Thompson, 64, a Southern conservative, would likely shake up an already unsettled race for the GOP nomination led by Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney. Many conservatives have expressed dissatisfaction with the current field of 10 candidates.
By creating the committee now, Thompson avoids having to report to the Federal Election Commission his fundraising totals, donor identities or expenditures on July 15. That's the filing deadline for the second quarter of the year, and the top-tier GOP candidates, as well as seven underdog contenders, must abide by it.
Thompson's timing could significantly dampen the fundraising ability of his potential GOP rivals during the homestretch of the second-quarter financial reporting period. Donors who otherwise would have contributed to other Republicans may choose instead to give to Thompson.
Officials close to Thompson say he's more likely than not to formally enter the race, perhaps as early as July, and open headquarters in Nashville and the Washington, D.C., area. However, they caution, he's made no final decision about going forward.
Over the past few weeks, Thompson has begun surrounding himself with advisers who served under Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Among those also expected to play a role: Mary Matalin, a former adviser in the current Bush administration, and Tim Griffin, an ex-aide at the Republican National Committee who as a U.S. attorney in Arkansas was involved in the controversy over the firings of federal prosecutors.
Although he ranks well in national popularity polls, Thompson would enter the race several months behind Giuliani, McCain and Romney in building a campaign organization, raising money and collecting key endorsements.
Given the disparities, he has indicated he favors a nontraditional campaign and already has a strong presence on the Internet, raising the possibility that he could eschew a traditional media strategy.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



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See all 62 CommentsHey CBS, I have some scoop for you, not reported anywhere yet.
Ready?
pssst.... Fred Thompson might run for president
he should stick with what he knows best - acting
I think he will die of the cancer he has before the election comes.
this is the same knucklehead that was Rove's right hand man and was appointed by Alberto Gonzolez after the firings
so basically in Thompson we can expect more of the same from the Repubs - smear, fear and a lack of integrity
That's what the Republicans look for, all style and no substance.
And his acting credentials will help in promoting another round of scam and fraud on the American people.
How about another 600 billion dollar giveaway to the pharmaceutical companies?
Or perhaps another war to keep ******** Cheney's buddies at Halliburton busy?
Or another snub at the Kyoto accord to keep the oil companies happy?
Lots on the Republican agenda and Fred Thompson is the man for the job!
414,000 Americans have moved from the unemployment lines to employment in the past 90 days. Most with health care again and now pay taxes into the US Treasury which is forcing the deficit down sharply.
A "Conservative Wave" is sweeping the planet right now. New Conservative governments in Germany, Mexico, France, and Canada.......................WHY ?? It not because of the war in Iraq ........ These countries are looking across the oceans and from the north of us and to the south and watching this "Republican" economy create millions of jobs........... so many jobs that we have employed 12 million people from other countries.
The Great American Economy.................the greatest story never told by our Corrupt Liberal MSM Wolfpack who work very hard on behalf of their close pals, the Dems, to "derail" our economy with stories on "sub-prime mortgages" and "housing bubble bust" and lying that all the new jobs are just minimum wage (one of the favorite lies)
Thank you Mr. President for doing a great job at managing the economy.........the French, Germans, Mexicans, and Canadians have been getting the "news" from their news organizations......... over here in the States our Corrupt Liberal Wolfpack is "censoring" this great and TRUE story...........REALLY SAD feels like Germany 1938 with America's "free left-wing press".
and AINTTAKEN is one flaming contaminated liberal!
414,000 Americans have moved from the unemployment lines to employment in the past 90 days. Most with health care again and now pay taxes into the US Treasury which is forcing the deficit down sharply.
A "Conservative Wave" is sweeping the planet right now. New Conservative governments in Germany, Mexico, France, and Canada.......................WHY ?? It not because of the war in Iraq ........ These countries are looking across the oceans and from the north of us and to the south and watching this "Republican" economy create millions of jobs........... so many jobs that we have employed 12 million people from other countries.
The Great American Economy.................the greatest story never told by our Corrupt Liberal MSM Wolfpack who work very hard on behalf of their close pals, the Dems, to "derail" our economy with stories on "sub-prime mortgages" and "housing bubble bust" and lying that all the new jobs are just minimum wage (one of the favorite lies)
Thank you Mr. President for doing a great job at managing the economy.........the French, Germans, Mexicans, and Canadians have been getting the "news" from their news organizations......... over here in the States our Corrupt Liberal Wolfpack is "censoring" this great and TRUE story...........REALLY SAD feels like Germany 1938 with America's "free left-wing press".
You may be the only ones who think that the housing market is healthy. Record home ownership is good, record foreclosures and stalled home buying/construction is not.
Natioanl unemployment is great but there are pockets of poverty(and I mean entire states and regions) that are in recession and need help they aren't receiving.
I'll give the administration more credit for the generally low unemployment than you blinded conservatives ever gave Clinton for the same.
However, the fundamentals that drive the long term health of the economy stink. The deficit is heading moderately down from the outer limits but is still in the stratosphere. The highest gas prices in history are a drain on economic activity and government revenue and consumer prices.
Are things terrible?No. Are they wonderful?No.
Posted by mommajomma at 08:21 PM : Jun 01, 2007
Yeah, I suppose the 3,400+ deaths of our brave soldiers in Iraq over a misfocused war, the Katrina debacle, politicization of our judicial system, health care mismanagement, illegally spying on our own citizens, etc., are less important than selling more houses.
Those stupid Democrats with their agenda of cleaning government, finding a sane solution to the Iraq quagmire and restoring some semblance of balance in our judicial system. Why don't they celebrate all the new houses being sold these days instead?
Posted by mommajomma at 09:40 PM : Jun 01, 2007
*sniff sniff*
Ahh, the scent of blatent desperation in the air. Fred Thompson's the Republican "great white hope" of 2008, and he's not even officially running yet? Good luck with that. Sure is a strong statement about everyone already running - except MAYBE Ron Paul, he actually seems to have some brainpower.
Look to 2008 for increase in Democratic control of Senate and House, as well as Democratic president. This is only the start of a long, long period of Democrat government, so all you neo-cons, don't forget to pace yourselves on all the hateful comments so you don't tucker out too quickly.
Congressman Ron Paul now has twice as many YouTube subscribers as all of the other Republican candidates for president combined. Here are the numbers:
Paul - 12,103
Romney - 2,059
Giuliani - 1,429
McCain - 1,291
Hunter - 413
Huckabee - 342
Tancredo - 211
Brownback - 111
Gilmore - 60
Thompson - 0
Total - 5,916
Congressman Paul also has twice as many YouTube subscribers as Barack Obama who has 5,988, and nearly four times as many as Hillary Clinton who has 3,517 subscribers
in case you didn't notice, ALL of the GOP candidates are 'the great WHITE hope'.
the list of GOP candidates in 2008 will be forever known as 'the old angry white male' club.
Bill Bennett's gambling and *** predilections were exposed; after demagogic Rush Limbaugh stands accused of being a multiple marriage, doctor-shopping, pill popping felon, after Bill O'Reilly's phone *** scandal .Michael Savage: While he's more entertaining than Limbaugh because apparent drug abuse in his earlier years,(I'm referring to the days when his name was Mike Weiner and he spent his free time hanging out with pen pal Allen Ginsberg, writing poetry and teaching botany at the University of Hawaii) . .after all this, and more, their loyal listeners still refuse to see the truth. So as long as there's another buck to squeeze out of this tired old routine, these pretenders will continue flapping their lips, and fooling the fools. Eventually, hopefully, they will eventually be seen for what they are. But until then, block your ears, and hold your nose
Not enough make up in Hollywood to clean up that ugly mess. Looks like the GOP poster for ill-gotten gain.
This is funny, i was thinking just today of the term 'RoveBot'. as in, there are a lot of neo-con RoveBots on this blog today blindly repeating all of Rove's neo-con talking points.
Fred Thompson is not the 2008 Messiah. Very sorry, but this guy doesn't really stand for much, just acts that way.
Still need a true moderate...Bloomberg anyone?
In 1786, Thomas Jefferson, then U.S. ambassador to France, and John Adams, then American Ambassador to Britain, met in London with Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja, the Dey%u2019s ambassador to Britain, in an attempt to negotiate a peace treaty based on Congress%u2019 vote of funding. To Congress, these two future presidents later reported the reasons for the Muslims%u2019 hostility towards America, a nation with which they had no previous contacts.
%u2026that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman (Muslim) who should be slain in Battle was sure to go to Paradise.
Sound familiar?
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison defeated the fascist nazi muslims 200 years ago
And again 100 years ago with Theodore Roosevelt
Tunisia in 1881 by France and Libya in 1911 by Italy. By then most of the Islamic world was under Christian domination. With the Ottoman Empire defeated in WW1, secularist Turkish rebels in 1923 overthrew the last Islamic Caliphate,
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?6bdec278-6a71-4436-bc4d-29d1c54b0ad7
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
if it is ok for fascist nazi islamic muslims to kill all non muslims everywhere.... is it ok for the non muslims to kill all fascist nazi islamic muslims???
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
fascist nazi islam is already waging war against non muslims...
McCain is right...
bomb bomb bomb%u2026 bomb bomb iran...
Iran's secret plan for summer offensive to force US out of Iraq
Iran is secretly forging ties with al-Qaida elements and Sunni Arab militias in Iraq in preparation for a summer showdown with coalition forces intended to tip a wavering US Congress into voting for full military withdrawal, US officials say.
"Iran is fighting a proxy war in Iraq and it's a very dangerous course for them to be following. They are already committing daily acts of war against US and British forces," a senior US official in Baghdad warned. "They [Iran] are behind a lot of high-profile attacks meant to undermine US will and British will, such as the rocket attacks on Basra palace and the Green Zone [in Baghdad]. The attacks are directed by the Revolutionary Guard who are connected right to the top [of the Iranian government]."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2085195,00.html
Iran says close to reaching its "ultimate goals"
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2339794220070524?feedType=RSS&rpc=22
The Truth about Islamic Crusades and Imperialism
Historical facts say that Islam has been imperialistic%u2014and would still like to be, if only for religious reasons. Many Muslim clerics, scholars, and activists, for example, would like to impose Islamic law around the world. Historical facts say that Islam, including Muhammad, launched their own Crusades against Christianity long before the European Crusades.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2005/11/the_truth_about_islamic_crusad.html
http://www.americanthinker.com/2004/08/the_muslim_crusades.html
Islamic origins
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/pdf/compass/hico_058.pdf
Origin of Islam
http://www.allaboutreligion.org/origin-of-islam.htm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Origin+of Islam%3A Secular History
Muhammad suicide attempts
http://www.answering-islam.de/Main/Silas/suicide.htm
http://www.answering-islam.de/Main///Silas/fatrah.htm
the religion of peace%u2026. NOT!!!!
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/
623 - Battle of Waddan
623 - Battle of Safwan
623 - Battle of Dul-'Ashir
624 - Muhammad and converts begin raids on caravans to fund the movement.
624 - Zakat becomes mandatory
624 - Battle of Badr
624 - Battle of Bani Salim
624 - Battle of Eid-ul-Fitr and Zakat-ul-Fitr
624 - Battle of Bani Qainuqa'
624 - Battle of Sawiq
624 - Battle of Ghatfan
624 - Battle of Bahran
625 - Battle of Uhud. 70 Muslims are killed.
625 - Battle of Humra-ul-Asad
625 - Battle of Banu Nudair
625 - Battle of Dhatur-Riqa
626 - Battle of Badru-Ukhra
626 - Battle of Dumatul-Jandal
626 - Battle of Banu Mustalaq Nikah
627 - Battle of the Trench
627 - Battle of Ahzab
627 - Battle of Bani Quraiza
627 - Battle of Bani Lahyan
627 - Battle of Ghaiba
627 - Battle of Khaibar
628 - Muhammad signs treaty with Quraish.
630 - Muhammad conquers Mecca.
630 - Battle of Hunsin.
630 - Battle of Tabuk
632 - Muhammad dies.
http://www.carm.org/islam/islam_c
hronology.htm
Have you noticed that none of the major party candidates are talking about publically funded elections and campaign finance reform?
That should be domestic priority #1!
kills you if you don't join it...
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=82201&ln=eng&txt=islam%20law%20kill%20kaafir
kills you if you leave it...
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=696&ln=eng&txt=kaafir%20kill
kills you if you don't do what they tell you to do..
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=6035&ln=eng&txt=kaafir%20kill
kills you if you speak against it%u2026.
http://islamqa.com/index.php?QR=22809&ln=eng
kills anybody that is not a member of it...
http://www.hauns.com/~DCQu4E5g/koran5.html
still practices pagan rituals...
http://answering-islam.org/Silas/pagansources.htm
allows the r a p e of babies and animals...
http://www.homa.org/default.asp?TOCID=2083225445
a. satanic cult???
b. islam???
c. all the above???
Our Prophet commanded us to fight the kaafirs when we are able and to attack them in their homelands and to give them three choices before we enter their lands: either they become Muslim and be like us, sharing our rights and duties; or they pay the jizyah (poll tax) and feel themselves subdued; or they fight, in which case their wealth, women, children and homes become permissible as booty for the Muslims.
http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=13759&ln=eng&txt=before%20islam%20arabia%20pagan
HAMAS MICKEY MOUSE SAYS
Islamic rule will benefit Christians and Jews
by Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook - May 14, 2007
The force behind Hamas TV%u2019s controversial Mickey Mouse clone said today that his children%u2019s television program will continue to promote worldwide Islamic supremacy, for everyone's benefit, including Christians and Jews.
In a long interview on Hamas TV, Hazim Al-Sha%u2019arawi, Deputy Director of Al-Aqsa TV and one of the creators of the Hamas children%u2019s TV show Tomorrow%u2019s Pioneers, said that using the program to promote Islamic rule over other religions is actually promoting %u201Cjustice, goodness and world love.%u201D
Al-Aqsa TV and the Palestinian Authority have been under fire since PMW reported last week that Tomorrow%u2019s Pioneers was using a character named Farfur, a knockoff of Disney%u2019s Mickey Mouse character, to convey messages about Islamic supremacy as well as hatred of Jews, Israel and the U.S. Despite public statements by PA Minister of Information Mustafa Barghouti that the show would be taken off the air until it could be reviewed and revised, a new episode of the program %u2013 featuring Al-Sha%u2019arawi as one of the hosts %u2013 ran Friday.
http://pmw.org.il/bulletins_may2007.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S995NCeaUg
WHY IS IT NOT ONE ISLAMIC MUSLIM COUNTRY GRANTS EQUAL RIGHTS TO NON MUSLIMS???
FASCIST NAZI ISLAM SAYS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATES ISLAM LAW...
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
For example, in 1981, the Iranian representative to the United Nations, Said Rajaie-Khorassani, articulated the position of his country regarding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by saying that the UDHR was "a secular understanding of the Judeo-Christian tradition", which could not be implemented by Muslims without trespassing the Islamic law.
http://www.un.org/terrorism/
http://www.un.org/terrorism/strategy-counter-terrorism.html
http://www.un.org/
But the accepted assumption in India is that most of India's Muslims were converted to Islam through the sword. Meaning the Indians were given an option between death or adopting Islam. The third option was getting examined in Islam religion along with heavy taxes- Jeziya (poll tax) and Kharaj (property tax).
http://adaniel.tripod.com/Islam.htm
this is what fascist nazi islam calls peace....
are you ready to live under islam rule as a non muslim???
apartheid fascist nazi islamic style
Rights of Non-Muslims in an Islamic State
http://www.sullivan-county.com/id3/islamic_state.htm
the future of the non muslim world under islam....
But the accepted assumption in India is that most of India's Muslims were converted to Islam through the sword. Meaning the Indians were given an option between death or adopting Islam. The third option was getting examined in Islam religion along with heavy taxes- Jeziya (poll tax) and Kharaj (property tax).
http://adaniel.tripod.com/Islam.htm
this is what fascist nazi islam calls peace....
are you ready to live under islam rule as a non muslim???
apartheid fascist nazi islamic style
Rights of Non-Muslims in an Islamic State
http://www.sullivan-county.com/id3/islamic_state.htm
GO RON PAUL
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
December 8, 1941/September 12, 2001
The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.
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