Fred Thompson Seeks Thatcher's Blessing

Ex-Senator's Campaign Hopes U.K. Trip Will Boost Foreign Policy Profile Ahead Of Formal Entry Into GOP Race

(The Politico)  By The Politico's Mike Allen.

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Fred Thompson, the actor and former Tennessee senator who is expected to announce next month that he's running for president, flew to London on Monday to meet Margaret Thatcher and deliver a foreign policy speech, his advisers tell The Politico.

Thompson's advisers aim to use the London events to bolster his foreign policy credentials and elevate him above the increasingly contentious fray of the GOP race.

On Wednesday, he will pose for photos with Thatcher, which his advisers hope will enhance his support among devotees of former President Ronald Reagan.

Thompson will deliver the foreign policy speech, "Strengthening the Transatlantic Alliance," on Tuesday at the Policy Exchange, a conservative think tank based in London.

It will stress the importance of American alliances abroad, his advisers said.

"The speech is mostly about the unique and special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K," an adviser said on condition of anonymity, because the prospective campaign has not publicly announced details of the address. "It is about how we have a responsibility to stand together and lead the Western democracies, protect our civilization and stand together for freedom."

The audience will include British business, opinion and political leaders.

Thompson will follow it with a dinner Tuesday night with British journalists, businessmen and policymakers.

The "Law & Order" actor and former senator from Tennessee will meet Wednesday with Lady Margaret Thatcher, the United Kingdom's first female prime minister, and David Cameron, the current leader of the Conservative Party.

The foreign trip comes as Thompson prepares for the formal launch of his quest for the Republican nomination, likely in the first few weeks of July.

Thompson also plans a trip to Israel later this year, advisers said.

Even before Thompson's formal entry into the race, his campaign is likely to announce twin headquarters in Northern Virginia, where policy, communications and research will be based; and Nashville, which will be the home of organization, outreach and other departments.

The campaign will also begin rolling out a slate of advisers.

Liz Cheney, the former State Department official and the vice president's elder daughter, is consulting on foreign policy. Longtime GOP guru Mary Matalin, a friend of Thompson, will help shape the campaign's message.

Although Thompson is formally just testing the waters, his operation is quickly picking up the trappings of a full-fledged campaign. He traveled to London with his new personal aide, a former staffer in his Senate office who had gone on to the Republican National Committee.

Advisers were debating an announcement date on Monday, and said it was likely to be in early to mid-July, perhaps a few days later than originally planned.

"That's the starting gun for everyone to start harassing him about why he doesn't know everything about every issue," said one adviser.

Over the weekend, a Mason-Dixon poll published by The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C., showed Thompson leading the Republican field in that crucial early-voting state, with 25 percent, compared with Rudy Giuliani at 21 percent, Mitt Romney at 11 percent and John McCain at 7 percent.

Thompson is scheduled to visit South Carolina for a state party fundraiser next week.

[j4401]

I guess the only comment about Thompson that seems appropriate is: WHO CARES!

[j4401]

I guess the only comment about Thompson that seems appropriate is: WHO CARES!

[starleo146]

I don't know if Ron Paul would go with this guy. He is still after the skirts, even if it was an elderly skirt, go to a foreign land and look folks see I am doing foreign policy. All these republicans spending money to be elected and the media is electing Thompson YOU WILL BE SORRY!!!!!

[gunnerv1]

Cattlecate, I don't think your ever going to be able to stop it, I try not to give in, but the Liberals (Palieolibs) and Democrats (DimocRats)always seem to be the first to sink and start slinging the mud. I look at it and fight fire with fire. In my responses, I'm being very mild in comparison to others.

[cattlekate]

"Palieolibs/DimocRats are running like the rats they are."

gunnerv1 - please try to rise above name-calling. It's not clever - it is shallow, juvenile, and adds nothing to the discussion.

We have posted items about Thompson's participation in the S&L lining of the Bush&Co pockets, the attempts to hurt the working man with unfair asbestos liability changes (to save Halliburton from Cheney's Dressler acquisition), and his open-border position.

These items do not warrant crude verbal assaults.

[cfin5]

Fred Thompson and Ron Paul in '08!!!

[gunnerv1]

Real, it's not a mistake, just by reading all the acid blog inputs here from the Palieolibs/DimocRats proves it out

[realpatriot1]

gunnerv'

You seem to be mistaking laughing for running.

[realpatriot1]

gunnerv'

You seem to be mistaking laughing for running.

[gunnerv1]

I see that the Palieolibs/DimocRats are running like the rats they are. Fred must be spooking them.

[whitedove2-2009]

I FEEL THAT FRED THOMPSON WOULD MAKE A GOOD PRESIDENT. AS FAR AS LAW & ORDER I FEEL THAT THEY CAN MAKE IT WITH OUT HIM. THERE WAS OTHERS BEFORE HIM. I DON'T THINK YOU PEOPLE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. HE'S ROLL ON LAW & ORDER HE WAS A GREAT LEADER AND KNOWS HE'S BUSINESS. I ALSO THINK YOU'LL NEED TO LAY OFF.

[realpatriot1]

Thompson's last lobbying job was to limit liability for asbestos manufacturers.

So, he has a "No un-brain damaged child left behind" policy.

[prinzowhales]

cattlekate-- Great post! I wasn't aware of Thompson's role in the S&L rip-off...so he did do something as a Senator after all.

[cattlekate]

"He'll be your new daddy."

Yeah. That's what I think too. The Sheep want a new daddy figure so bad they are lying to themselves about Fred Thompson.

Fred's wife isn't going to help his run. She's no Nancy Reagan. (Meow)

There's still some of us around who remember Neil Bush & Silverado, and the money we lost. Mr. Thompson helped the cause of ripping off the middle class to line the pockets of the uber-rich:

From Wikipedia: "In 1975, Thompson began his eighteen year engagement as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., eventually representing clients including Westinghouse, General Electric (the current corporate owner of the NBC Universal-NBC television network), and the Tennessee Savings and Loan League."

"By 1982, Thompson worked the U.S. Senate membership for passage of the Depository Institutions Amendments of 1982 --- legislation desired by the Tennessee Savings and Loan League --- a deregulation bill provided for additional government support of ailing S&Ls; increased thrifts' freedom to invest in potentially more profitable, but riskier, ventures; and eliminated interest-rate ceilings on new accounts to increase S&Ls' competitiveness. Enacted into law during in September 1982, the Senate bill pushed by Thompson became part of the Garnet. St. Germain Act. widely credited with having laid the groundwork for the S&L collapse of the late 1980s."

[rushlimpdrug]

Ok, who's head is bigger Fred Flintstone's or Fred Thompson's?

[realpatriot1]

Once Helmet Hair talks to Fred she might not want to give her blessing.

[thisandthat1]

I have to laugh looking at this picture of Thompson. I saw another one of him last night that was very similiar. He's obviously been practicing his phoney Bill Clinton "lockjaw" expression in the hopes of looking more Presidential. Clinton was trying to imitate Ronald Reagan's "Well, gee willikers" look, but was never able to pull it off. It's like ... for 30 years after John Kennedy was the Prez, almost every politician felt the need to do their best JFK impersonation, thrusting their bent knuckle forward to accentuate each phrase. Remember Michael Dukakis? Sheeesh! Old Fred looks like he's going to pull a muscle in his face if he keeps it up!

[smirk5]

The Daily Show and Colbert will have a field day with this guy. I greatly hope Fred Thompson gets the GOP nomination.

[smirk5]

"That's the starting gun for everyone to start harassing him about why he doesn't know everything about every issue," said one adviser.

Nicely setting a low bar for the aging actor.

[smirk5]

Here he comes GOP. Fred Thompson is the Big Corporate Bush 2.0 with a cigar and a better act. He'll be your new daddy. He's setting up his photo-ops for the "Rouse the Rednecks" tour he's about to embark upon for the GOP nomination. He'll try to swindle you on immigration. You'll fall for it. This corporate tool knows who he works for. He'll continue the borrow and spend policies you want (he'll package it in a comprehensive plan to cut waste in gov't; you'll fall for it.).
Nascar and Tony Keith will be front and center.
But, I think America will see through it in the general election, because this old, lazy *** is going to slip up in the debates. America will be looking for a serious problem solver. It has just endured (almost) a rough 6.5 years of hole digging by Bush 1.0 and it's looking for solutions you can't fit on a bumper sticker.