Without a campaign, Fred Thompson gains support

The Whittier Daily News ^ | June 3, 2007 | Robert Novak

[Clintonfatigued]

Fred Thompson sat at the end of a long table in The Monocle restaurant on Capitol Hill Tuesday night for dinner with some 20 fellow conservatives, mostly journalists. He sent two signals. First, he sounded like a man who has decided to run for president. Second, his candidacy will be something different from other Republicans, in both substance and style.

This was one of the irregular sessions of the Saturday Evening Club, which is not a club and never meets on Saturday. The name was purloined from H.L. Mencken's Baltimore discussion club by R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr., editor-in-chief of The American Spectator. Tyrrell arranges and presides over these events, always featuring a guest newsmaker - usually a Republican presidential hopeful over the past two years. Former Sen. Thompson was the most intriguing of them because he has become a leading prospect for president even though he has not announced his candidacy and has no real campaign.

Thompson's performance Tuesday night, with his remarks off the record, helped show why many Republican insiders are ready to support him. Thompson is winning straw polls at Republican conferences and running well in polls mainly because of dissatisfaction, for varying three leading GOP candidates - Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney. But Thompson at the dinner table confirmed the widespread perception inside the party of his potential to be an extraordinary candidate.

[Clintonfatigued]

It certainly looks promising. Thompson may very well be the Ronald Reagan of our times.

[Mamzelle]

He has to look promising compared with the pack...I’m hoping he continues to look promising. If he just speaks common sense about immigration, he’s got my support.

[LdSentinal]

He should be his own man.

Ronald Reagan wasn't the Ronald Reagan that conservatives proclaim he was.

[VictoryGal]

Grass roots is a marvelous and beautiful thing.

[tcrlaf]

Fred’s also gaining the ire of liberal propogandic spammers...

Just a couple of the Drive-By sloganeering from the LAST FEW MINUTES on a FINANCIAL MESSAGE bord I visit:

Fred Thompson: Killing 500,000 innocent Iraqis in US battle vs evil is ok...
(This has one positive rating, already)

Thompson: Starting unprovoked wars in US battle vs evil is ok....

Thomspon: Torture of innocent Iraqis in US battle vs evil is ok...

And so, the demonization begins....

[VictoryGal]

> If he just speaks common sense about immigration, he’s got my support.

Has anyone heard anything about how he thinks here? It’s kinda important.

[Clintonfatigued]

His record in border security could be better. But he’s not another John McCain on the topic.

[Atlas Sneezed]

His record in border security could be better.

---

I predict it will be better, and (with national security being the justification) may be the cornerstone of his winning campaign.

[mnehring]

His record in border security could be better

Could be because he didn't have any votes on border security come up during his Senate tenure? From the recored I saw, he had four immigration bills pass, and all were related to legal immigration, not border security or illegal immigration.

[Paperdoll]

And Dan Rather loves him.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

What better way to hear it than from Fred himself? :)

For the commentaries, you can click on the link and hear him read it in his own voice if you prefer.

Here is his commentary on the senate bill:

http://abcradio.com/article.asp?id=409614&SPID=15663

Here is part of a speech that addresses the problem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H3zhZu0S5w

Here is a Fox News Interview that deals with the issue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN3z4mqRn7I

And here's a little commentary of Fred's on how he feels about the policies of the Mexican government:

http://www.abcradio.com/article.asp?id=386577&SPID=15663

[johnny7]

There was only one Reagan... but Thompson may have an opportunity to be remembered with the same respect and reverence... time will tell.

[Clintonfatigued]

Could be.

I realize that there is no perfect candidate and everyone makes mistakes. So I’m willing to overlook his flaws on this aspect of his record. His record taken as a whole is very good.

[Politicalmom]

Duplicate, so NOT a PING!!

Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

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

[Politicalmom]

He also voted against welfare for illegals, which was killed before it reached the final stage.

[sageb1]

It’s funny how Fred Thompson seems to be getting taller. He was 6’5”, then he was 6’6”. Now he’s 6’7” By the 4th of July, he might be 7’ tall! :)

[hershey]

Liberal journalists badmouth him every chance they get...which should tell you something. They’re terrified of his candidacy.

[hershey]

RR was a card carrying FDR democrat for years before switching parties...so there’s hope that people can change. I like what Fred has to say about illegal immigration.

[Use It Or Lose It]

Of course Fred seems tall to the mental midgets in the media.

Snicker.