Posted on 08/06/2007 6:24:55 PM PDT by gobucks
(snip) Much has been made about whether or not Fred Thompson is the second coming of Ronald Reagan, and while it's clear that he's not, it's also becoming fairly clear that the oddly constructed coalition that Reagan built combining fiscal conservatives, defense hawks, libertarians, Evangelicals and working-class conservative Democrats is about to fall apart unless Thompson can reinvent it.
(snip)
Among those issues, of course, abortion is the major litmus test that Thompson will need to pass to win their support. And fortunately for the candidate, his lobbying on behalf of Planned Parenthood took place 17 years before his presidential run, not unlike Reagan, who 13 years before his own run had signed a therapeautic abortion law as governor of California.
In Reagan's case, evangelical voters accepted his explanation that he had been tricked by liberal legislators who had promised him that the law would allow for abortions only for serious medical conditions, when it in fact opened the way for a "health" exception that was subsequently interpreted broadly in its application.
Similarly, future Thompson voters are likely to accept a mea culpa from the candidate if it's straightforward and doesn't fudge. These are, after all, evangelical Christians for a reason, one of the central tenets of the faith being forgiveness for an act that is repented of and is in the past, preferably the distant past.
With his Evangelical base solidified, Thompson will then be able to secure his more natural constituencies — gun owners, "lunch pail" Democrats, country music fans, star-struck Law & Order viewers, and even elements of the entertainment industry who are unlikely to see him the same way they see other conservative candidates because of his star power.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
“Fred Thompson, the Second Coming of Ronald Reagan?”
Not even close.
I think he sees a terms as president as basically a 4yr pilot of a drama series w/ an option to renew. Thus, he takes the whole marketing background from Hollywood, and notes that a well timed marketing campaign begins with lots of teasers.
Even Thompson has said he is not Ronald Reagan, that there will only ever be one Ronald Reagan.
ping
I’m still not sold on the guy...
I knew President Ronald Reagan: “Close enough for government work” as we used to say in the Army.
No more than there will ever be another Washington or Lincoln...
There are two main reasons to call someone the new Ronald Reagan - to build them up more than they deserve or to build them up to tear them down.
Either way its not helpful.
No, he is not the second coming of Reagan. I would expect President Fred Thompson to be President Fred Thompson and chart his own course in his own time.
I am an undecided as yet. Rudy McRomney is a disgusting option for the Republican party. I will need to hear more from Fred before I support his candidacy, he will probably need to enter the race and convince me first.
Take a look here, if you haven’t already: http://www.ImWithFred.com If you haven’t visited in awhile, there are updates.
Possibly so he has less money reporting and oversight compliance headaches, and to get his Law and Order appearances out of syndication for equal time issues?
And most likely, you never will.
Ping!
Other than that, Fred is Fred and Ronnie was Ronnie. I am sure they would agree about 90% of the time, and the other 10 they’d flip for...
Law and Order will be in syndication for a long time, so that isn’t it.
I'm still open to him as I am open to others and probably won't decide until at least Mar 08, but his reluctance to announce makes me doubt his decisiveness...thus, his effectiveness in the biggest Executive Position in the world.
At the very least the “new look” is screaming “Time to RUN now”
Fred Thompson, the Second Coming of Ronald Reagan?
The second, new season of L&O does not start for a few weeks, so he is contracted for reruns...
I once thought that Fred Thompson was the man but he has lost me. HIs refusal to take a stand and join the race means he is not a viable candidate and could not care less about the race. He has just been teasing us. very sad.
I liked him better before I got to know him so well.
Reagan did not have terrorist sympathizers on his campaign team.
Undoubtedly, and Fred has no authority, however he is absent in most episodes, and a polite request might be honored until after the election. Just speculating.
The Great Pumpkin WILL arrive someday! I BEEEEELLLEEEEVE!!!
Labor day is the traditional time for candidate announcement. The rest have jumped in earlier to find out where they stand with the base, and it's not good. Money isn't coming in because most of the real donations are not going to any of the candidates, deemed to be poor choices by the base.
Thompson is a true grass-roots candidate. He didn't ask to be where he is, he was pushed. That says more than all the organized campaigns that are floundering.
It’s not the syndication, it is still in seasonal repeat. That is his contract and he has an obligation to let that run until the new season begins without him. That has been the delay.
As far as syndication, they will have to pull the episodes with him for equal time until this is over. just like Arnold in CA.
You were never with him then.
Fred Thompson is simply a moderate-conservative Republican who many find to be the most electable. If President, he will be another GWB and likely hold the line on Pro-Life, 2nd Amendment and judges, but continue to be indifferent or even adversarial to reducing government.
Uh huh...
So he has to be released from contract, or the contract must run out, before he can declare without conflict of interest, and or equal time?
How about “the first coming of Fred Thompson”?
I’m not either. Get on the horse or get off it, But stop pussy footing arround. He’s not scoring points by skipping the review, He’s in fact going to lose support. He might be timber, but you have to get the anal review , and pass to get the votes
Even as a supporter of Fred Thompson I can totally agree...There will never be another Reagan.
If this is not done, conservatism and the GOP will suffer greatly in the future. This is the way forward to restoring our civilization and to political victory. Among those running for office, I do not see anyone other than Fred who can pull this off.
Oh my, what to do? Fred won’t jump right in 15 months before the election! Oh woe is me! Waaaaa! Waaaaa! Waaaaa!
Sorry, but nobody’s interested before Thanksgiving. Fred is exactly right to not waste his money or time now.
Who is Fred Thompson?
And that’s my gripe with Thompson. He has no vision to bring to the game. He’s been at best vague in addressing important issues like immigration. And been vague as in more vague than other candidate out there.
He is a remarkable, compelling orator with a script. Not so great in an interview, but not bad, either. He seems pretty solidly conservative.
I just don’t think he has the spark of leadership. As he said, he has “never wanted to be President.” Spin that as you may, I can’t see that as anything but a negative.
Does he have the fight in him? Maybe. Maybe not. I was never overwhelmed by him as my Senator. That said, he’s pretty solid. We’ll see.
Got it!
Does Fred Thompson have traits similar to Reagan? Of course! Therein lies his appeal.
But I sure wish that observers on the Right and Left would get off this "Second Coming of Reagan" kick.
If he's elected, and I hope he will be, we should expect Fred Thompson to be none other than the First Coming of...Fred Thompson.
I’ve been watching the whole mess w/ dismay; but we collectively get what we deserve. I can’t imagine someone like Reagan ever coming along again.
CSPAN recently had a new book review, discussing at great length his exploits as a lifeguard. But I can’t for the life of me remember the title.
(Great tag line, btw)
More media BS.
>>>Sorry, but nobody’s interested before Thanksgiving. Fred is exactly right to not waste his money or time now.<<<
The Iowa Caucus is January 14. A failure to build a network of support across the country months before then is an almost guaranteed assurance of failure.
Traditionally, the Ames Straw Poll has served as a point at which the wagons began to circle around a select group of candidates.
Not only does Thompson’s failure to make an appearance hurt his own campaign, but it also hurts the party by leaving a grey cloud hanging over the horizon.
Even if Fred Thompson did take the Republican nomination, he’d do so at a disadvantage to the Dim nominee, who would have been building a nationwide network of support for well over a year.
That is nonsense. The only other candidates in the race who have a more consistent record than Fred on federalism and limited government are Ron Paul and Tom Tancredo. Fred has been on the losing end of multiple 99 - 1 votes in the Senate because he did not believe that the issue in question was within the jurisdiction of the federal government. This is an area where he has proved himself, in contrast to GWB, who ran as a big government conservative before he was even elected and had no record of taking a tough stand in support of limited government. When it comes to taking a tough stand in support of federalism, it does not get any better than being the lone hold out on numerous Senate votes where federalism was an issue. Fred has proved that he will defend the principles of federalism even when doing so is not popular and he will be the only one taking that stand. Very few politicians can say the same.
“Fred Thompson, the second coming of Reagan?”
UMM, NO.
Well, he’ll win for sure then if there is no 3rd party candidate, and Fred enters.
But I have to say, there will be a 3rd Party candidate for certain ... and I predict Hillary will win as a result. It was THE factor that caused Bill to win, and it will happen again.
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