Is The Arlington Group Coalescing Around Fred Thompson?

The Atlantic Online ^ | 21 Jun 2007 | Marc Ambinder

[Hostage]

FDT has said that the tax system in this country needs a major overhaul.

FDT has said he goes along with the Milton Friedman approach to take any tax cut anytime, any size, anywhere.

FDT is holding his cards to his vest and is likely undecided because the gnats will call in the hornets if he shows his hand.

Fred is a federalist. He knows the FairTax is absolutely constitutional and he will wait to see what the American people want.

I think he will wait until he gets into office and then see how the FairTax movement in Congress does with the electorate. Right now the movement is growing rapidly.

And here’s the real kicker, Zach Wamp is a U.S. Congressman from Tennessee and he is one of FDT’s closest friends and advisors.

Zach Wamp just yesterday signed on as a cosponsor of the FairTax Bill!

That can only mean one thing for certain. FDT is going to be in close contact with the FairTax movement.

[Hostage]

You show your ignorance here. An IPO doesn’t exist until it is priced yet people show interest in subscribing.

The analogy is perfect.

As for your comments about FDT not declaring yet being asinine and irritating, these descriptions are not insults, they are facts.

Your comments along this line are asinine and they are irritating, those are facts.

As for insults, it was you that insulted those that support Fred Thompson by insinuating that they were somehow not justified in supporting a draft movement for Fred Thompson. You feigned some sort of ‘amazement’, if that is not an insult it is surely condescension.

And I don’t see any substance in your presence that would justify any degree of condescension.

[Hostage]

Why? That company made $2.3 billion last year. A similar company that recently had an IPO released nearly doubled in price.

The IPO for Blackstone was oversubscribed meaning many professional funds wanted it. These people are not amateurs.

[jellybean]

You know, the Thompson candidacy was born here on Free Republic in 2006. I remember someone here suggesting him as a candidate.

The serious Draft Fred Thompson campaign started on FR January 9, 2007.

[Man50D]

So, why are you so worried that Fred hasn’t announced yet? Why does it bother you so much?

Why so worried about all the support Fred is generating

You obviously haven't been reading any of my previous posts and are making an incorrect assumption as a result.

MY post #50:You're not paying attention. As I stated in post #23 I haven't decided on a candidate and won't for some time. It may very well be Thompson if he declares he is running and if I agree with his positions on the issues.

My post #56:Hopefully those are signs he is running and hopefully he will drive the socialists nuts. I will have no problem "getting used to it" if he runs but not until he runs.

Once again like everyone else you misinterpret my point. More power to Fred if he runs. I may end up voting for him but I won't consider anybody including Fred Thompson until a person declares he or she is a candidate.

[Man50D]

As for insults, it was you that insulted those that support Fred Thompson by insinuating that they were somehow not justified in supporting a draft movement for Fred Thompson. You feigned some sort of ‘amazement’, if that is not an insult it is surely condescension.

And I don’t see any substance in your presence that would justify any degree of condescension.

A little touchy aren't we? You are insulted by the fact someone merely points out he has not yet declared his candidacy and yet many on this thread respond with insults. Talk about condescending.

[bcsco]

It's tantamount to wanting to bet on a horse that has not yet been entered in the race!

It's called encouragement. Hopefully, he'll be encouraged by the support he sees, and this will assist in his making a positive decision. It's no different than proponents of a Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, whoever, hoping and encouraging that individual to run when the time comes. I see nothing wrong with it.

Frankly, the only ones who see something wrong with it have another horse in the race, because our horse in the stable is polling far better than theirs, who's lagging in the first turn. That kinda puts things in perspective.

[Norman Bates]

There’s certainly more than one; even more than the number who vote for him. But they do well to avoid the intimidation, condescention, and bad posts by those like yourself.

[Norman Bates]

Why can't I be? Rudy's too liberal, and Mitt doesn't have a long track record. The other candidates are vacations from reality (with Fred currently being a non-candidate). However, if Fred were currently a candidate, I still wouldn't support him over McCain. Why? McCain served, Fred didn't. McCain has much more experience. McCain is a mover and a shaker, Fred wasn't. Before the Senate, McCain was a Naval liason to Congress; before the Senate, Fred was a lobbyist. Fred was even a "McCain guy" when he was in the Senate. Their politics are comparable, which is to say they are both middle-of-the-road conservatives. McCain has his faults (don't delude yourself that Fred doesn't), but I know where he stands.

[not bad at all]

The Fred Thompson candidacy has been somewhat of a strange phenomenon. It wasn't long before he went on Fox News that I said to my wife that I wished he would run. It is obvious that a lot of people have felt the same way. I guess we want a leader that shares our beliefs/ideas and can unite our nation. I don't believe in coincidences.

[Retired Greyhound]

I saw the idea floating around FR months before he went on Fox.

I believe his candidacy was born here.

[barker]

Just wanted you to know I “borrowed” that picture of Fred to be used whenever and where ever I feel it needs to be seen.