Thompson and the "Laziness" issue

Newsweek / msnbc ^ | 06/03/2007 | Holly Bailey

[de meanr]

June 11, 2007 issue - Does Fred Thompson have what it takes to be president? The former senator turned "Law & Order" actor, who launched an exploratory committee last week, has been dogged by rumors that he doesn't have the work ethic for a long campaign. "The book on him is he's lazy," David Keene, president of the American Conservative Union, said last week. The criticism seems fed by Thompson's time in the Senate, where he maintained a less rigorous schedule than his colleagues and was known to duck out of late-night debates. Of the 90 bills he introduced during his eight years in the Senate, only four became law.

[de meanr]

Standard Newsweek stuff, but worth a look.

I was commenting on a blog the other day when one of the other commenters said he hoped Fred! wasn't going to run a "lazy" campaign. I asked if he knew how much of this laziness is a media meme, and how much is fact. Don't think I got any response. Any insiders on FReep know the answer?

[pillut48]

In before the Fred ping! :-)

[rlmorel]

[thefactor]

i live in manhattan. i have driven across this country twice. there is a difference in the speed with which people from the north and the south do things. it’s not laziness. it’s actually northern conceit, IMHO.

[de meanr]

Hi rlmorel. Haven’t been here long enough to know quite what the emotive means. Am I in trouble?

[thefactor]

it means sit back with a bag of popcorn and get ready for some fireworks.

[Fiji Hill]

Of the 90 bills he introduced during his eight years in the Senate, only four became law.

Well, at least he did better than John F. Kennedy, who never got a single bill passed into law during his two terms in the Senate.

[Frwy]

I give up. There isn’t a Ronald Reagan in the whole country. Are we looking for a human dynamo or a man with principles and a conservative bent. Maybe he spends more time thinking before he acts. Wouldn’t that be refreshing.
Nothing can be worse than what Clinton brought with him to the White House and I never cease to be amazed at how many think he was a good to great president. Lazy would be a plus compared to Clinton’s resume.

[de meanr]

” it’s not laziness. it’s actually northern conceit, IMHO. “

Yeah. I don’t know why the media is calling Fred! “lazy”. I noticed it came pretty nonchalantly to Mara whats-her-name on Bret Hume the other day, like it was common knowledge. I want to doubt it, but I saw that comment on a conservative blog the other day. Just wondering if anyone knows the truth.

I agree completely with the northern conceit. I’ve lived both places, several times, and can attest to it.

[Rembrandt]

The Dim-o-cratz are starting on Thompson before this particular horse race gets out of the gate. Recall all the stories about Reagan falling asleep during meetings, etc.

Typical pap from the hard left.

[de meanr]

I like government gridlock, no matter how it’s accomplished.

[KoRn]

ping

[Politicalmom]

PING!!

Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

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

[de meanr]

That sounds about right. I never knew anyone that was successful in three different careers by being lazy.

[Politicalmom]

He put himself through college and law school while raising three children with his first wife. Nobody could do that and be successful.

I heard one of his former speech writers interviewed, and he said it was ridiculous. He said that Fred would often stay in the office working after his staff had left.

And I heard Mr. Gill(?), the author of the new biography interviewed, and he said in the course of writing the book he spoke with one of Fred’s Tennessee aides. She laughed when he asked that, and said that she quit working for Fred because it was killing her trying to keep up with him.

[thefactor]

i think northern suits and media types, especially, cannot understand people from the south who don’t work 14 hour days and only work 5 days per week. and god forbid you put your family first or, GASP, stay at home to raise your kids by yourself. blasphemy!

[de meanr]

I grew up in the north. I think you were right when you said a little conceit is involved. Probably nothing more than that. I live in the south now, and prefer it. I like the north also. I go there frequently.

[The Pack Knight]

Of the 90 bills he introduced during his eight years in the Senate, only four became law.

If the Senate saw fit to reject 95.5% of his bills, he must have been doing something right.

[sageb1]

“GASP, stay at home to raise your kids by yourself. blasphemy!”

Grew up in northeastern NY and was a stay-at-home mome. Lived in GA for 2 years. I didn’t meet any moms who stayed home. Think it’s the times and not necessarily the place.

[sageb1]

mome=mom