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 ...
Since he hasn't been out on the campaign trail, we have no idea what he'll be like. Why not give him a chance? As for 'not wanting to be President" his entire life, I think that's a plus!
No, it's not. Maybe, many years ago, when the MSM was the only outlet for news, and they pushed hard the idea of winners and losers in state caucus and straw polls, but that time has come and gone. There have been many a candidate who wiped the floor with their fellows in state polls, and went on to drop out later for lack of success in the primaries.
“I liked him better before I got to know him so well.”
lol!! That’s going to happen to a lot of folks.
Only if voters allow their emotions to rule, and go for someone like Ross Perot again.
I guess that’s one of those “fact filled” criticisms we’re supposed to welcome, huh?
So if ABC was to show T3, they had to do something else for the affiliates in CA, but FX or AMC were ok.
Same with L&O as I understand it. On TNT it should be fine, but not on an NBC outlet. I think we are about to see that tested though. This happening at the national level is new ground. There maybe changes already, my buddy John has been out for a couple of years. As far as seeing Arnold now, the race is over. It will be interesting to see how that plays as the next election nears. I guess they will wait until someone cries foul...
“If RR was still around he’d be kickin’ tail and telling people to be themselves and quit chasing ghosts.”
And RR would be telling everyone to support Duncan Hunter because Fred Thompson is no dang good!
Hey, two can play at that game!:)
“Fred spent his entire time in the Senate trying to cut taxes, waste, and regulation, trying to increase the efficiency of the government, and trying to bring the government back to the principles of Federalism.”
Amen!! He is every bit the equal of John McCain!
Well, since the recent re-runs on NBC will end around the end of August or so, that should be fine. The only other place they’re shown is on a cable channel, but I can’t remember which one.
Funny how those of you supposedly so close the the so called "Reaganesque" candidates forget that...
(And here is a clue, if you have to look that up, you really should stay out of any debate involving camping anything to RR)
There is your September announcement...
“John Kerry didn’t enter the race until September and it didn’t stop him from being the Demoncrats nominee if I recall correctly.”
And the Democrats nominated Kerry to fend off Howard Dean. I guess that would make Fred Thompson our John Kerry, wouldn’t it? I do feel better!
Hum, sure you have the right guy in your tag line. Maybe you got mixed up and meant to put John Edwards...
“That said, similar to Reagan, I predict Fred will run an across the board conservative campaign. His speeches, interviews and essays over the past 5 months all point to that.”
And then he will govern as a moderate, thereby p!ssing off all his loyal supporters.
Just having a little fun.
I didn’t speak ill of anyone. Just a little humor for my own enjoyment, apparently.
“So your are against cutting taxes, waste, regulations and the principals of Federalism?”
Nope, I am all for it and also some humor now and then. I didn’t say anything that is going to hurt your candidate. Just poking a little fun.
At least Fred isn’t a lazy porker like your candidate.
I really want to know why he is accepting money for a job he isn’t showing up to do while he acts as a stalking horse to get his son a cushy government job so he can belly up to the trough for the next 20 years or so, just like Daddy.
Super Tuesday is likely going to be in mid-January 2008, instead of March as in 2004. That backs everything up about seven weeks from "traditional".
Your post made me curious, so I looked it up. Here's when the candidates entered the 2004 race:
LaRouche: Dec. 27, 2000
Dean: March, 2002
Edwards: Jan. 2, 2003
Gephardt: Jan. 5, 2003
Sharpton: Jan. 5, 2003
Leiberman: Jan. 13, 2003
Braun: Feb. 18, 2003
Kuchinich: Feb. 22, 2003
Bush: May, 16, 2003
Kerry: Sept. 2, 2003
Clark: Sept. 16, 2003
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