Thompson's Long Hello Nears End

Weekly Standard: GOP Hopeful Will Enter Race Emphasizing Conservatism, Support For Iraq War

(Weekly Standard)  This column was written by Stephen F. Hayes.

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On March 11, Fred Thompson told Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday that he was giving "serious consideration" to joining the race for president. Within a month he had made his decision: He would run.

Almost immediately, he was a first-tier candidate. News stories noted the intriguing new prospect, previously unenthusiastic Republican activists seemed invigorated, polling by news outlets and rival candidates showed Thompson as one of the top three Republicans. And he had not yet entered the contest. Times were good. So good, in fact, that Thompson joked about delaying any announcement indefinitely.

"I told somebody the other day: I can't afford to announce. I'm doing too well."

Now, after a series of well-publicized missteps and months of being subject to media scrutiny usually reserved for announced candidates, the opposite seems to be true: Thompson can't afford not to announce.

Although he had many friends and supporters encouraging him to join the race last spring, Thompson opted instead to form a "testing-the-waters" committee that enabled him to raise money and begin putting together a campaign operation. But Thompson's noncampaign has been marked by lackluster fundraising and personnel issues more characteristic of the final days of a losing campaign than the first days of a winning effort. Thompson hired veteran Washington hand Tom Collamore to serve as his campaign manager and fired him a short time later. The top communications staffer was brought on and dismissed in similar fashion, and another press officer left, too. An early effort to raise $5 million in June came up short, and in an interview last week with the Politico's Jonathan Martin, Thompson acknowledged that the numbers from the summer would not impress. "I imagine we will fall off some in July and August and have a great September," he said.

There have been other difficulties. Thompson's team mishandled reports that he had lobbied for an abortion rights group in the early 1990s, strongly denying the story at first only to allow later that he didn't remember the details of those interactions. He told a tax reform group on videotape that he would "absolutely" sign legislation replacing the income tax with a consumption tax, but later said his answer was misunderstood.

Does any of this matter? Several Thompson supporters believe he made a mistake by waiting to join the race. They worry that his wink-and-a-nod candidacy has undermined his main strength: his ability to present himself as a plainspoken, no-nonsense conservative. What's more, they say, Thompson's refusal to actively campaign reinforces what rival campaigns have suggested is Thompson's chief weakness: laziness.

[hwy71so]

I would be concerned that his ACTing career may affect his touch with reality. Hollywood sure is loaded with liberal influences.

Allow me to be sceptical a bit.

I can not vote for a candidate who is pro abortion, or for "gay" rights. I don''t see how someone who has low moral standards can properly lead this country. Where does he stand on this?

I also eat meat. That means an animal has to die. I will either hunt it, raise it, or buy it at the supermarket. So, I either pay someone to kill it or I kill it myself. Is Thompson going to allow concessions to groups like PETA and HSUS?

How about the military? It is important our military receive the respect they diserve. Will he support those who elect to cut funds going to our troops?

I''m sure these have all been answered before and I just missed it. Anyway, these are key issues I look at, and I will be watching Thompson and the other candidates for the same.

[ih2005]

Caught Thompson on Leno - gawd, dull. You decide if Huckabee''s candidacy is rising:

(1) "Huckabee Building Support in New Hampshire" by Soren Dayton in The Daly Acts
Wed Mar 14 2007 11:04 AM

"Though he is mentioned derisively as a %u201Csecond-tier%u201D presidential candidate, former Arkansas Governor and Republican presidential aspirant Mike Huckabee is quietly making gains in New Hampshire, the earliest primary state.

Debra Vanderbeek signed on last week to run Huckabee%u2019s New Hampshire operations. Venderbeek served as chief of staff for former Rep. Jeb Bradley and is an experienced Republican political hand.

%u201CI was surprised to see Deb go with Huckabee,%u201D one Republican state legislator told The Daily Acts. %u201CThat fact alone is enough to get me to take a second look at him. I respect Deb%u2019s judgment.%u201D

http://www.thedailyacts.com/stories.php?story_id=59&comment_added=true

(2) "Democrats Beware: An Economic Populist Is Rising In the GOP''s Presidential" by David Sirota in SirotaBLOG 8/14/07

"Huckabee has an extraordinarily different message than any of the other Republican presidential contenders - a populist economic message that may be shunned by conservative operatives and K Street lobbyists in the GOP-dominated Money Party in Washington, but likely has an appeal among rank-and-file working-class Republican voters."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/dems-beware-an-economic-_b_60370.html#postComment

[juwboy]

Blue Dastard:

Jews are outnumbered by about 50-to-1 in the US.

So, why are Gentile-Americans like yourself so weak and ineffective at presenting your case to the Government?

[oleander8]

He dangled the carrott for so long it is inedible....BIG yawn.......LOUD snore...

[trillion1]

A B actor and a D politician. This is the GOPs hope?

[bluestardad]

THE BLITZ IS ON TO FRAME THE DEBATE OF STAY THE COURSE FOR IRAQ WAR...

PROVIDING COVER FOR ALL THE AIPAC INFLUENCED POLITICIANS TO VOTE FOR MORE FUNDING OF THIS ILLEGAL WAR.

[brianbwb-2009]

Weekly Standard: GOP Hopeful Will Enter Race Emphasizing Conservatism, Support For Iraq War

Weekly Brian: GOP Hopeful Will Enter Race Emphasizing Continued Corruption, Support For Iraq War. More To Die So He Can Get A Piece Of The Pie

[omega39-2009]

Thompson should easily generate support among that 30% that still support Bush, only that 30% though.

[freedomway1]

Fred Thompson will stay on offense against terrorism.

www.fredthompsonforum.com

[gkc99]

So, how did Thompson dodge the Vietnam draft?

Or won''t we hear this from the Slime Boat Party?

[klifton2-2009]

Bring ''em on! Hey! The more the merrier. Bush has lowered the qualification bar so low just about everyone or everybody can give a shot at being prez. Remember, the most scary part of a democracy is that if there are enough stupid voters, an idiot can be president. Look what''s in the White House today. Can it get worst? Possibly. Knowing the IQ of your average American voter, anything is possible. Some way some how there will be another idiot occupying the White House that will make Bush Jr look like a genius. America is the land of the voting blind where a one-eye man or woman is King. Don''t take my word for it! Look very closely what you have in the WH, Congress, and the Senate!

[ianlou]

Mudrose, it''''s "Je ne sais quoi". It is a French term which means "I don''''t know what". Is this an example of the intelligence of the republican field?
Posted by heartlight3 at 03:28 PM : Sep 04, 2007

What makes me look twice is a Repub speaking French? What happened to the right wing blather like... "Those Ungrateful Frogs..." and "we''ll call them Freedom Fries"? that we''ve all come to expect from this lot?

[feelfree1]

There are recent claims that Cheney has instructed the anry eunuchs at the Weakly Slander, the Wall Street Journal, etc., to launch a propaganda blitz this week, in support of yet another illegal war of aggression against Iran.

I wonder if this claim pans out?

[perimogi]

Fred is my man, we shall see if he prevails.
Go Fred.

[heartlight3]

Mudrose, it''s "Je ne sais quoi". It is a French term which means "I don''t know what". Is this an example of the intelligence of the republican field?

[tejasdemo]

Thompson is one of the best options the USA has to achieve the change and consistant success it strives for. Fred is direct and straightforward and is a far cry from the manipulative liars and scammers that are presently playing games with our heads at this time.
Posted by jack3213 at 12:02 PM : Sep 04, 2007

Which episode of Law and Order did you see this ? Lol.

[tejasdemo]

Lol. C''mon in the race ya ol hillbilly geezer.
I bet the country cant wait for another southern idiot to run us right in the ground.

Lol

[alicia64]

Does it bother anyone that he takes a limo to his public appearances - stops a couple of blocks short of the rally and gets in a Pick-up and drives in to show he is a good old boy?

[oleander8]

Go away, Fred...the carrott you''ve been dangling for 6 months is no longer edible.

[getit1776]

Another boring old *** for president. Let''s pair him with Huckabee for a real snoozer.