President Bush Picks Former Senator [Tennessee's Fred Thompson] to Aid Supreme Court Vote

LifeNews ^ | July 6, 2005 | Steven Ertelt

[rhema]

President Bush on Wednesday named former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson to guide his eventual Supreme Court nominee through the Senate voting process. Thompson is an attorney who became an actor and then elected to the Senate. White House spokesman spokesman Scott McClellan said Thompson agreed on Monday to assist the president. He indicated Thompson will serve as an informal advisor and shepherd the nomination through the Senate.

During his tenure in the Senate, Thompson compiled a solid voting record on pro-life issues, according to the National Right to Life Committee.

Thompson voted consistently against using taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions in a number of circumstances and he voted twice against adding an amendment to the partial-birth abortion ban expressing the Senate's support for the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

Ed Gillespie, former Republican National Committee chairman, will also help President Bush with the confirmation process and help handle lobbying and media relations.

Thompson rose to fame during the Watergate era and has been a character actor on a number of movies and television shows. He currently plays a role on the NBC crime drama "Law and Order."

He was elected in 1994 to fill the term of Al Gore, who had been selected by Bill Clinton as his running mate. He was re-elected in 1996 and chose not to run again in 2002.

[cynicom]

One good thing going for Thompson is that he served one term in the senate and got out. That should be the norm not the outside exception.

[frogjerk]

During his tenure in the Senate, Thompson compiled a solid voting record on pro-life issues, according to the National Right to Life Committee.

Good to hear!

[Poser]

GWB could do a lot worse than Fred Thompson as his choice for SCOTUS. He's probably not on the list, but why not?

[RockinRight]

I've always thought of Thompson as RINOish but actually, his voting record wasn't all that bad. Bush could have done worse...

[VRWCmember]

He currently plays a role on the NBC crime drama "Law and Order."

This show normally seems like a propaganda outlet for Sam Waterston and those who share his liberal views. But on one episode, I remember Thompson's District Attorney character making a very clear, simple, straightforward speech to his two leading assistant DA's about why judicial activism was wrong and how judges should properly interpret, rather than rewrite, the law. It was one of the best commentaries I have heard on the subject and I suspect that Thompson himself authored that bit of dialogue.

[Reagan79]

good point, considering Cheney headed the search committee for Bush's Vice President pick.

[Mad Mammoth]

GWB could do a lot worse than Fred Thompson as his choice for SCOTUS. He's probably not on the list, but why not?

That's one helluva good idea! Thompson would make an EXCELLENT Supreme Court Justice!

Check out a portion of his bio:

... graduated from Memphis State University 1964; received J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University 1967; admitted to the Tennessee bar in 1967 and commenced the practice of law; assistant U.S. attorney 1969-1972; minority counsel, Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (“Watergate Committee”) 1973-1974; special counsel to Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander 1980; special counsel, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations 1980-1981; special counsel, Senate Intelligence Committee 1982; member, Tennessee Appellate Court Nominating Commission 1985-1987; actor; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in the November 8, 1994.

And you just have to KNOW the 'Rats in the Senate would have mass orgasms over that whole 'Watergate Committee' experience, that would give them an excuse to dig up Nixon and take a few more whacks at him, they'd confirm Thompson in a heartbeat!

And as has been pointed out, Thompson is a pretty damn solid conservative. I could live with him on the SCOTUS.

So how do we begin this grassroots effort? THOMPSON for the Supreme Court!

[RockinRight]

Thompson wouldn't be a Thomas...but he'd probably be comparable to Scalia. IOW he'd be a heck of a lot better than O'Connor!

[johnny7]

A 'tinge' of RINO... but good on the critical(as Rush says) 'ithues'

Wasn't he Buford Pusser in 'Walking Tall'?

[NormsRevenge]

FRed Thompson, eh?

It sure beats Howard Baker or George Mitchell.

[Galtoid]

I am wondering if Bush is pulling another "Cheney" here.
HHHMMMM . . .

[timsbella]

I'm not American, but I have to say I like him, his voting record and the messages he sends through other media. I saw that dialogue and it could have been ad lib. It was excellent and beautifully articulated.

Why not take someone who gives good sound bytes? He's a media pro and we could use a few on the right side.

[Graymatter]

This could do wonders for his acting career. ;)

[doug from upland]

Fred is too old. We need a young conservative on the court.

[TheBigB]

Wasn't he Buford Pusser in 'Walking Tall'?

That was Joe Don Baker.

[jamaksin]

Um ... odd.

I remember ye olde Fred getting "rolled" in broad daylight by John Glenn ... something about China ... ?

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Age.

[johnny7]

Explain.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

See post seven for an explanation.