A thriving dark horse (Fred Thompson)

BaltimoreSun.com ^ | May 29, 2007 | Paul West

[Politicalmom]

Ex-Sen. Fred Thompson is doing well outside the usual Republican channels

STAMFORD, Conn. "All right," Fred Thompson told a Connecticut Republican audience. "Let's get the announcement out of the way."

After a dramatic pause, the would-be presidential candidate declared: "Law & Order will return for an 18th season."

Thompson's teasing about an '08 campaign announcement could end soon. If reports out of his home base of Tennessee are accurate, he'll join the Republican contest in July.

For now, the former senator, better known as Arthur Branch, the gruff prosecutor on the television drama Law & Order, is doing quite well as an undeclared candidate.

"You got a guy that hasn't raised one penny ... and he's showing up second, third" in some polls, said Bob Davis Jr., a close adviser.

[Politicalmom]

Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

Please FReepmail jellybean if you want on/off this list. WARNING: This ping list is EXTREMELY active.

[davisfh]

I believe that "Fred" is going to be "the man." All the rest have too much "baggage" and won't be able to "make the cut."

He's the only one who looks "Presidential" to me.

[Calpernia]

>>>>”Law & Order will return for an 18th season.”

Was that a tease? Doesn’t that mean he signed the contract? I thought his announcement for a run was pending his contract coming up for renewal?

[fatnotlazy]

If Mr. Thompson did formally announce, I think he wouldn’t be classified as a “dark horse” for long.

[sageb1]

He’s not interested in being the “tallest midget” in the room? I doubt there’s any danger of that happening.

[Calpernia]

Excerpt from May 14th, 2007:

NBC Entertainment’s Kevin Reilly said today it’s “highly unlikely” potential Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson will return to Law & Order next season. “It’s pretty clear that Fred is going to be leaving the cast of the show no matter what,” Reilly said at a news conference on NBC’s fall schedule. But I’ve been checking, and Thompson has yet to inform ABC Radio Networks about his plans to run or not run.

[sanjacjake]

Fred should call John EDdards and get a nice looking
$400. wig. He needs some jazz to get the young
votes...or does he?? JK

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

I am not so sure about that...see my tagline...;-)

[MamaB]

I will support him.

[Calpernia]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070513/tv_nm/law_dc_1;_ylt=AoZIBuj7F0yEpxQawCQ0P4QE1vAI

Excerpt:

After months of intense negotiations, NBC has agreed to renew its low-rated veteran crime drama “Law & Order” for an 18th season.

And a message rumor here: http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/05/13/law-and-order-and-law-and-order-ci-both-renewed
says, “the actors even signed a multi year deal.”

[Mensius]

He needs some jazz to get the young votes...or does he??

Don't think he does. Found this and was surprised to see he has a kind of cult following as well.

Note: Not for the humor challenged.

[mmichaels1970]

Doesn’t that mean he signed the contract?

I think it means exactly what it says. L&O will return for an 18th season. That doesn't mean Thompson will be on it. It was a joke. Happy Days continued without Richie Cunningham for years. Mary Tyler Moore returned after losing Rhoda.

[kevkrom]

Was that a tease?

It's customary to start a speech with a joke, to "warm up" the audience. In this case, Thompson was playing up the "when will he announce" buzz.

[DesScorp]

Run, Fred, Run!

[Calpernia]

L&O is now renewed through the 20th season now.

They were debating canceling it if Fred Thompson ran for presidency.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i2ee5d9aaef69379cf5938bc55550eb8e

http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/05/13/law-and-order-and-law-and-order-ci-both-renewed

[Calpernia]

Not if he renewed his contract; then, it wasn’t a joke.

[mmichaels1970]

L&O is now renewed through the 20th season now.

Great for them!

They were debating canceling it if Fred Thompson ran for presidency.

I thought they were debating it because L&O's ratings were in the tank.

I agree that if Fred were to reup with L&O he couldn't/wouldn't run. However, there's no evidence he signed anything with them. He used that joke because he knows everyone is waiting for him to announce his run.

[Calpernia]

>>>I agree that if Fred were to reup with L&O he couldn’t/wouldn’t run.

And my post for said....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1841419/posts?page=4#4

[Calpernia]

for = four