Fred Thompson Obtains The Services Of Tim Griffin

The Atlantic Online ^ | 6/6/07 | Marc Ambinder

[The Blitherer]

Here's an interesting addition to the growing, un-revealed, unofficial presidential campaign of Ex-Sen. Fred Thompson :

J. Timothy Griffin, the former RNC research whiz and Army JAG prosecutor who served, briefly, as a U.S. Attorney in the second district in Arkansas.

Griffin, you'll no doubt recall, was selected with White House input to replace prosecutor Bud Cummins in AR when Griffin returned from serving a tour of duty in Iraq.

Griffin is advising Thompson on communications and message and will probably be a consultant to Thompson's presidential campaign.

Griffin was a very early, very informal adviser to AR Gov. Mike Huckabee. He is a protege of GOP strategist Barbara Comstock, who now works for Mitt Romney. Comstock co-owns a consulting firm with Thompson's unofficial press secretary, Mark Corallo.

Griffin is very unpopular with liberals who believe he was part of a 2004 scheme to disenfranchise black voters in Florida. But he is highly regarded by Republicans, having served as a dep. pol. dir. in the White House before his Army Reserve service.

[HAL9000]

Big Mistake.

[The Blitherer]

How come?

[NonValueAdded]

He has the services of NVA too!

[SE Mom]

Because?

[SolidWood]

Iraq vet who is hated by liberals. Sounds good to me.

[The Blitherer]

Seriously, if there’s a problem with this guy, or if he’ll be bad for the team I’d like to know.

[HAL9000]

Griffin is the fool who started the whole controversy about the U.S. Attorneys. While Gonzales was telling Pryor that Griffin would be nominated, Griffin was running around telling people that he was going to bypass the Senate confirmation process.

Griffin was highly regarded by the Arkansas GOP - until the memos were released showing how he got the job. The prosecutor that Griffin replaced got fired and trashed for no legitimate reason.

I'm sorry to see Fred getting stuck with Griffin.

[The Blitherer]

Ah. Is this connected in any way to the complaints that he “disenfranchised” black voters in Florida, or is that separate?

[A CA Guy]

2004 election controversy
Journalist and author Greg Palast alleged that Griffin was involved in an effort to target 70,000 voters - students, deployed military personnel and homeless people in predominantly African American and Democratic areas for caging during the 2004 election Griffin.[3][4].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Griffin

On May 30, 2007, Greg Palast turns over a series of 500 emails — potential evidence of a crime — by request from House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers; that were inadvertedly sent to the wrong email address, by Griffin. [1]

On May 30, 2007, it was announced that Griffin will resign from his position effective June 1, 2007.[17]

[The Blitherer]

I don’t like how closely he worked with Chertoff or Rove either.

[cricket]

Big Mistake.

Mary Matalin; may be another. . .

[cricket]

. . .another mistake is his wardroble advisor. . .

[SunStar]

He is a protege of GOP strategist Barbara Comstock, who now works for Mitt Romney. Comstock co-owns a consulting firm with Thompson's unofficial press secretary, Mark Corallo.

Hmm... Thompson/Romney?

[SolidWood]

With Hunter as SecDef and Bolton as SecState. Just an idea... but I’d like it.

[traderrob6]

Mary Matalin; may be another. . .

WHY?

[HAL9000]

Ah. Is this connected in any way to the complaints that he “disenfranchised” black voters in Florida, or is that separate?

It's separate. I'm referring to his own mishandling of his appointment as U.S. Attorney.

[SunStar]

With Hunter as SecDef and Bolton as SecState. Just an idea... but I’d like it.

Definitely. That would be sweet! (I might have a heart attack it would be so great.)

[cookcounty]

"Griffin was running around telling people that he was going to bypass the Senate confirmation process. "

The US Attorney situation is so convoluted that this is right in front of my nose and I still don't understand it......how could anyone bypass the confirmation process? It's like saying he's going to fly to Washington without getting on an airplane.

[unspun]

Caging?

(Not like 'dancing the pole,' is it?)

[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.

[A CA Guy]

Don’t know, that is a Wikipedia deal and that text my be the byproduct of some Ebonics or something.

[unspun]

Don’t know, that is a Wikipedia deal and that text my be the byproduct of some Ebonics or something.

It probably involves dragging from the rear bumper of a station wagon.

[cricket]

Mary Matalin; may be another. . .

I like Mary. ..but never thought she did much for H.W. Bush. . .but 'who knows'. . .

[A CA Guy]

Our whole country is being dragged behind the rear bumper of a station wagon with this amnesty for immigration deals.

[traderrob6]

She worked for Dick Cheney’s office not GW’s.

[xcamel]

Source?

[xcamel]

His use of Mary might be the fruition of “Keep your friends colse, and your enemies closer”

[xcamel]

I don’t think anything in wikipedofoolya can be considered “definitive”

[A CA Guy]

That is exactly why we need to hear from Rosie on her video blog... ;-)

[The Pack Knight]

Romney's saying the right things to keep that option open. I'd once thought Huckabee might be an interesting choice, but he was rather mocking in his comments on Fred joining the race. Of course, the Reagan-Bush race in the 1980 primaries was a bit contentious, so who knows?

I do like the VP speculation myself, but I'm not taking it for granted yet that Fred will be the nominee. This will not be a coronation for anyone.

[xcamel]

Egg-Zactly!

[cricket]

His use of Mary might be the fruition of “Keep your friends colse, and your enemies closer

LOL. . .and well could be. Which reminds me; have not seen 'James' at all; these past months. With elections heating up; wonder where he is. . .May be he is irrelevant or what?

[SunStar]

I'd once thought Huckabee might be an interesting choice, but he was rather mocking in his comments on Fred joining the race.

Huckabee has gotten annoying now that he thinks he needs to continuously make "clever" jokes on every media appearance. I really liked him at first, but now I just want him, Brownback, Gilmore and Tommy Thompson to just go away.

[The Pack Knight]

I agree, though Tommy Thompson might have some value yet. Brownback was pretty weak last night, while Gilmore was his usual forgettable self.

[SunStar]

I agree, though Tommy Thompson might have some value yet. Brownback was pretty weak last night, while Gilmore was his usual forgettable self.

Let's be realistic though... He's very goofy and looks a little like Frankenstein. I'm not trying to be mean, but jeez, he really has a face for radio!

[calcowgirl]

From the left... but informative nonetheless.
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/040307b.html

Hiring Griffin is a horrible move.

[Hostage]

This piece doesn't pass the smell test.

First, it is taken from an editor that is listening to 2nd, 3rd or more derived messages from 'roadshows' and then he puts it out on a blog.

The suspect snippets are here:

1. Griffin is advising Thompson on communications and message

I doubt anyone is advising FDT on 'communications and message'. I would guess that FDT will employ alot of liason gophers to gather facts, make preparations and scheduling and act as...gophers.

and

2. and will probably be a consultant to Thompson's presidential campaign.

Is this wishful thinking?

I know there will be alot of persons seeking to ride the coattails and cash in on a great candidate, but this piece seems almost relayed by Griffin himself to the author, IOW it appears self-serving.

Another 'communications' name that appears to be doing the same is Mary Matalin. I read that she would be an 'unpaid' consultant. That tells me she is climbing on the bandwagon whether invited or not.

I agree with HAL9000, we need some fresh faces that reflect the candidate. These wannabes may detract more than anything else.

[bacterialalbatross]

Idiotic move on Fred’s part, if true......

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070525/123513.shtml