Why Thompson thinks he can win

The Hill ^ | September 07, 2007 | Byron York

[2ndDivisionVet]

He will.

[W04Man]

FRED VETS, SIGN UP TODAY AT:

[trisham]

Fred will bump!

[kabar]

It’s a good line. But it is, in fact, too late for Thompson to run the kind of conventional candidacy — mega-fundraising, big ground organizations in the early primary states — that Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) have conducted.

Amazing how times have changed. Formerly, candidates didn't announce their candidacy for the Presidency until after Labor Day the year before. Obviously, Fred has done quite well by waiting. He is already a solid number two and perhaps number one candidate who immediately is considered a top-tier candidate. Not bad.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

The New York media is hell-bent to force their limousine liberals and fancy Madison Avenue designer labels on the GOP primary... Illegals, perverts, gun grabbers, etc., etc... The RNC hacks in D.C. are no different... The Larry Craig/Mark Foley strategy?

"Thompson will be strong on fiscal responsibility. But what other GOP candidate won’t?"

Answer:

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Amazing how times have changed. Formerly, candidates didn't announce their candidacy for the Presidency until after Labor Day the year before. Obviously, Fred has done quite well by waiting. He is already a solid number two and perhaps number one candidate who immediately is considered a top-tier candidate.

The leftist liars in the media deciding who is "top-tier" and the RNC hacks letting them determine it is the most disgusting thing. Even the so-called "conservative" media pundits on television and "conservative" columnists are trying to cram liberalism right down our throats...

[kabar]

The leftist liars in the media deciding who is "top-tier" and the RNC hacks letting them determine it is the most disgusting thing.

If that is indeed the case, then the rank and file of the GOP are willing accomplices.

[nathanbedford]

But how could Thompson get different results from Bush?

He cannot. And that's why it is the wrong issue. The right issue is something along the lines Gingrich has articulated: how do we give your children the best chance to compete with the Chinese and to survive the hundred years war of Islamic fundamentalism?

That means we must reform energy, education, trade imbalance, and, yes, entitlements but that works only in the context of national survival.

Our standard bearer must fashion an overarching policy that nationalizes the whole election and seizes the mood of the country while applying conservative values to the solution. Anything less and we Republicans are doomed to defeat across-the-board. Entitlement reform alone is less.

[deaconjim]

There’s no doubt Thompson will be strong on national defense and aggressive in dealing with the threat of terrorism. But what other major Republican candidate won’t be strong on national defense and aggressive in dealing with the threat of terrorism?

Rudy and Ron Paul both come to mind.

Likewise, Thompson will be strong on fiscal responsibility. But what other GOP candidate won’t?

Rudy and Mitt Romney come to mind here.

[ken21]

your comment makes too much sense for most on this forum!

/s

[Fiji Hill]

Even in those areas where he might differ from the Republican field — abortion and immigration — Thompson’s positions will still track with Iowa and New Hampshire front-runner Mitt Romney.

How does Romney stand on abortion? Up until recently, he had gone or record as supporting a constitutional amendment restricting abortion, as called for in the Republican Party's platform, but in a recent speech in Las Vegas, he told his listeners that abortion legislation should be left to the states. Will the real Romney please stand up?

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

If that is indeed the case, then the rank and file of the GOP are willing accomplices.

I think a lot of them are just uwitting dupes... too much time on the couch in front of the television with their ballcaps on backwards...

[CHEE]

To his credit, Thompson is not a “formula candidate.” He doesn’t comport with the expectations of Beltway politicos, commentators and media types, and his campaign won’t be as slick as some of his opponents in both parties. - PatriotPost.US

[Poser]

?Quien es mas macho?
Es cierto. Fred Thompson es mas macho.

[Phlap]

Insanity mixed with visions of grandeur and a dash of hubris?

[John Valentine]

Anything less and we Republicans are doomed to defeat across-the-board. Entitlement reform alone is less.

Jeez Louise.

Have you even been listening to ANYHING Fred Thompson has been saying?

Anything at all?

While entitlement reform is part of what he has on the agenda, it certainly isn't everything, and even then, Thompson has placed entitelment reform in EXACTLY the context you refer to and attribute to Newt Gingrich.

[MinuteGal]

Conservative Byron York from the conservative National Review?

Hmmm.....is he praising Fred with faint damns or damning Fred with faint praises?

Hmmmm......he appears to be damning Fred with damn faint damns, doesn't he.

Damn, another flipper.

Damn, another subscription cancellation.

Leni

[nathanbedford]

John:

Yes he is mentioned these things but they must be integrated into a holistic and synergistic program that is mutually supportive and brings people to the inevitable conclusion that the Republic is at stake and these things are urgent. A random grab bag of issues, no matter how conservative, will not seize the moment. If the Republican candidate does not seize the moment, the media will and the Democrats will win.

That message must be delivered with conviction and energy. So far, Fred Thompson has demonstrated conviction but many observers, at least in the chattering class, are yawning. So, voters must walk away with a conviction that Thompson's message is right and that Thompson is the right messenger, that is, he is the only man who sees the problem and the solution and has the energy to solve it.

Surely you cannot contend that he has done that so far.

Fred's my pick and, therefore, the criticism was meant to be constructive.

[Gritty]

[ctdonath2]

Don’t underestimate the value of extreme name/face recognition - even if the candidate was “only playing one on TV”.

Only about 5% of votes are really up for grabs (rest are blindly pre-decided). Of those in the mushy moderate middle, a significant (majority?) percentage may very well choose a candidate because “he is that nice wise strong man on TV”, while the other candidates garner a “who?”