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Actor Fred Thompson says he'd like nation's top job (but stops short of jumping in)
AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 6/12/07 | AP

Posted on 06/12/2007 7:52:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

Fred Thompson didn't enter the 2008 presidential race Tuesday, but he talked like he was getting close to jumping in.

Asked by Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" if he'd like the nation's top job, the former Tennessee senator said, "I've never craved the job of president, but I want to do some things that only a president can do.

"So," Thompson added, "the answer is yes."

Thompson - a Republican best known for playing a prosecutor on NBC's "Law & Order" - has formed a presidential exploratory committee and is expected to join the GOP race this summer.

He insisted he wasn't ready to make any announcements on Leno's couch, but made a point to mention the Web site for his political committee. When asked by Leno about his reaction to the political waters, Thompson said he found them "warm."

"I'm at a stage of my life now when I think about my country, I think about the kind of country my kids are going to grow up in," he said.

He griped about campaigns that "are entirely too long." And he took a swipe at Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, saying she was "trying to balance ... her prior positions with the new requirements of politics in the Democratic Party."

If he runs it will be as a Washington outsider.

Referring to his time in the U.S. Senate, he said, "I often say after eight years in Washington, I longed for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood."


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: actor; fredthompson; jayleno; leno; topjob
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To: NormsRevenge

why the coyness about the “fredhead” thing? Got myself a handful of those buttons at the rally in Cookeville TN a month or so ago.


21 posted on 06/12/2007 9:24:56 PM PDT by jdub
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To: pillut48

No.


22 posted on 06/12/2007 9:25:30 PM PDT by ridge
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To: Norman Bates
Well, criminey. The Dems will attack him no matter what. The only way they wouldn't attack him would be if he was either too useful as an idiot, or a hopeless looser. And even then, they couldn't resist attacking him for being a stupid looser.

If the lobbyist attack is the best the Dems have, then I look forward to eight good years of President Thompson.

23 posted on 06/12/2007 9:51:54 PM PDT by ThePythonicCow (The Greens steal in fear of pollution, The Reds in fear of greed; Fear arising from a lack of Faith.)
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To: mylife

I’d rather hear about some issues than “campaign slogans”


Given the profound surplus of Fred’s political writings, linked widespread around here, I’d say that you are:

A BIG FAT LIAR.

Which RINO do liars like you support?


24 posted on 06/12/2007 9:54:24 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (Your FRiendly FReeper Patent Attorney (...and another "Constitution-bot"))
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To: Beelzebubba

Thats a snappy rejoinder.

G’night FRiend


25 posted on 06/12/2007 9:56:08 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Prokopton
"There are plenty of discussions of Fred Thompsons positions on the issues right here at FR. The Tonight Show probably isn't the best place to go if you're looking for serious political debate."

I prefer a serious political debate. Too bad he refuses to participate.
26 posted on 06/12/2007 11:23:18 PM PDT by Kimberly GG (DUNCAN HUNTER '08.....lframerica.com.....MARCH TO TAKE BACK AMERICA)
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To: Beelzebubba; mylife

“I’d rather hear about some issues than “campaign slogans””

_________________________________
Given the profound surplus of Fred’s political writings, linked widespread around here, I’d say that you are:”

A BIG FAT LIAR.

Which RINO do liars like you support?”


good grief, here we go again.


27 posted on 06/12/2007 11:29:21 PM PDT by Kimberly GG (DUNCAN HUNTER '08.....lframerica.com.....MARCH TO TAKE BACK AMERICA)
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To: rbg81
Agree. Thompson needs to sh!t or get off the pot. Does he think the GOP is just going to hand him the nomination?

If the latest polls are any indication, the answer is yes.

28 posted on 06/13/2007 4:08:15 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: Kimberly GG
I prefer a serious political debate. Too bad he refuses to participate.

There are more than 6 months prior to primaries. Deadline are still several months away. There hasn't been a serious debate yet, just a 10 person circle jerk with everyone trying to get face time. Fred is doing all kinds of TV and radio interviews. Fred is doing podcasts. Fred has a radio show where he does political commentary on a daily basis. Fred is on YouTube putting out responses. When a serious debate comes, Fred will be there.

29 posted on 06/13/2007 4:12:19 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: Always Right
When a serious debate comes, Fred will be there.

Well written, Always Right.

30 posted on 06/13/2007 4:21:35 AM PDT by proud2beconservativeinNJ ("In God We Trust")
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To: rbg81

“Agree. Thompson needs to sh!t or get off the pot. Does he think the GOP is just going to hand him the nomination?”

If you mean the majority of the GOP base that see a slew of nobodies and libs running on our side right now, then the answer is hell yeah we are!


31 posted on 06/13/2007 4:31:01 AM PDT by VanDeKoik
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To: Always Right

“There are more than 6 months prior to primaries. Deadline are still several months away. There hasn’t been a serious debate yet, just a 10 person circle jerk with everyone trying to get face time. Fred is doing all kinds of TV and radio interviews. Fred is doing podcasts. Fred has a radio show where he does political commentary on a daily basis. Fred is on YouTube putting out responses. When a serious debate comes, Fred will be there.”

Fred is running a 21st century style campaign. This whole standing on stage with 13 other people to answer canned questions for an hour is just a relic of the late 20th century when all your info came from the big three nets.

I couldn’t care less if there is ever another one of these “debates”.


32 posted on 06/13/2007 4:35:20 AM PDT by VanDeKoik
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To: P-40
I'm suspect. As I said elsewhere, I wouldn't be surprised to see him bow out and throw his support behind McCain. After this amnesty bill and the way Bush/McCain/Graham seem not to be able to listen or don't want to, and knowing Thompson was a McCain supporter, I am suspect of his motivations.

I will now don my tin foil hat.

33 posted on 06/13/2007 4:40:43 AM PDT by nativist (Weigh into them!)
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To: VanDeKoik

Okay, let me say this in the nicest way possible: you’re dead wrong. I have nothing against Thompson—he may well be the best man for the job. But he’s got to get into the arena and prove it like everyone else. This aloof man staying “above the fray” crap doesn’t cut it with me and many other GOP voters.

It would be a grave mistake for anyone to get the nomination without breaking a sweat—which is what Thompson looks like he wants. The GOP candidate needs to be fully vetted—if he can’t pass muster on our side. We have seen what happens if someone talks the talk, but doesn’t walk the walk (sadly, I am talking about Bush here). In addition, he will get eaten alive by the Dems & MSM if he isn’t steeled by the nomination process.

One more thing: Thompson may be an actor, but that doesn’t make him Ronald Reagan.


34 posted on 06/13/2007 4:46:19 AM PDT by rbg81 (1)
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To: P-40

“Fish...or cut bait.”

Why? So far he’s running a brilliant campaign. A conteneder without even declaring and yet to spend a dime.


35 posted on 06/13/2007 4:58:15 AM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0 (The Republican party of today is the Whig party of 1856.)
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To: zerosix

Dear Citizen:

Sarcasm aside, I’m weighing this decision in the most sober and thoughtful way I know. I hope you want a president you governs the same way.

But if you’d like a president who has dreamed of being president since he was 12, there are plenty of other candidates.

Oh, and if you can get my ratings without even having declared officially, go right ahead and try to get declared president.

Me, I’m going to run for president. And win.

Your good friend,

Fred Dalton Thompson


36 posted on 06/13/2007 5:03:09 AM PDT by Silly (http://www.paulklenk.us)
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To: Rb ver. 2.0

How many people consider him a contender? He’s got name recognition now, which is good, but how much do people really know about him?


37 posted on 06/13/2007 5:26:09 AM PDT by P-40 (Al Qaeda was working in Iraq. They were just undocumented.)
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To: word_warrior_bob

“This is the biggest primary mismatch ever, Fred Thompson all 6 foot 6 of him against the lilliputians.”

LOL Skeptical observers should recall he won his Senate seat by the LARGEST MARGIN In Tennessee history.


38 posted on 06/13/2007 5:34:29 AM PDT by NavyCanDo
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To: NormsRevenge
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket - working...
39 posted on 06/13/2007 5:45:28 AM PDT by davidlachnicht ("IF WE'RE ALL TO BE TARGETS, THEN WE ALL MUST BE SOLDIERS.")
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To: P-40

Yeah, it used to...Somehow the longer campaigns seem to be dictated by the media needing “stuff” to legitimize their existance...

I can see where you are coming from on that first post you made up there...And so far in the ranks of the list of folks we have so far seeking the job, there are only two that impress me enough to say so...

When Fred Thompson jumps in, it is going to jostle the ranks so much its going to cause a frenzy like you’ve never seen before...

Its going to cause campaigns to exend money to maintain visibility, and it may cost them too much to remain in the mix...For others its going to knock them down off the media pedestal and rightfully so! I don’t care much for assumptions by the media darlings that believe they know more than I or you do about this stuff...

So if your tired of hearing about it...I kinda agree...

But I know that if we jumped ahead to November 2008...And you and I that crisp morning, waiting to get your chance to throw that lever (or in my case press a “cast ballot” button), I bet we will be happy we got it done...

Remember this post “P-40”...I’ll be election judging my precincts poll, so I’ll be there all day...I’d love to see how close we are when that day comes to the decision we both will make...


40 posted on 06/13/2007 5:47:59 AM PDT by stevie_d_64 (Houston Area Texans (I've always been hated))
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