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The Reviews Keep Coming In: Unimpressed by Fred Thompson's Campaign Roll-out, Conservatives Are...
democrats.org ^

Posted on 09/13/2007 4:43:19 PM PDT by Sub-Driver

The Reviews Keep Coming In: Unimpressed by Fred Thompson's Campaign Roll-out, Conservatives Are "Still Looking"

It's been only one week since lobbyist turned Senator turned actor Fred Thompson announced his candidacy for president, but it's been plenty of time for conservative commentators to see what they need to and call him unimpressive. Today two prominent conservative columnists criticized Thompson and said Republicans were unenthusiastic about his presidential prospects and would keep on looking for a candidate to rally behind.

According to the columnists, conservatives' worst fears have been realized. Fred Thompson is just not the candidate they've been waiting for. George Will called Thompson's campaign a "belly-flop" and wondered if voters would ask "Is this product necessary?" Will criticized Thompson for being "unfamiliar with the details of his own positions" and botching his record during interviews. [Indianapolis Star, 9/13/07] Robert Novak goes further, writing that Thompson is not the "white knight whom worried Republican loyalists desperately desire" and that the "Republican electorate is still looking for the forceful, dynamic conservative many have thought Thompson might be." [Washington Post, 9/13/07] In addition, Thompson has failed to win the support of prominent fundraisers in Florida because of the "former Tennessee senator's unimpressive early organization and late entry into the presidential race." [New York Sun, 9/13/07]

This bad news for Thompson comes just days after news of his poor performance his first day of campaigning in Iowa was dubbed boring, unimpressive, rambling, and low-energy, as well as stories saying that a Thompson aide chided the role of Iowa's "first in the nation" status and that Thompson accepted donations from a family charged with ripping off state and local government Medicaid funds.

"After just one week of campaigning, the reviews are starting to come in on Fred Thompson's presidential prospects, and they're not good," said Democratic National Committee press secretary Stacie Paxton. "If Fred can't convince conservative commentators he's worthy of their support, how can he ever convince conservative voters? After years of failed leadership, Americans are looking for a president with a vision for our country, but Thompson has shown he's just another pandering, flip-flopping Republican candidate who doesn't have what it takes."

Thompson's First Act Disappoints Conservatives

After Thompson's Campaign, Conservatives Still Looking for Candidate. Conservative columnist Robert Novak thinks Thompson's campaign leaves much to be desired. "â€|[I]it had been conceded in party circles that when Thompson finally became a candidate, his beginning needed to be memorable. It was not. While Thompson offered obligatory conservative slogans in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina, he was not the white knight whom worried Republican loyalists desperately desireâ€| The Republican electorate is still looking for the forceful, dynamic conservative many have thought Thompson might be." [Washington Post, 9/13/07]

Thompson's Campaign a "Belly-Flop." Conservative columnist George Will calls Thompson's rollout a "belly-flop." "Fred Thompson's plunge into the presidential pool -- more belly-flop than swan dive -- was the strangest product launch since that of New Coke in 1985. Then the question was: Is this product necessary? A similar question stumped Thompson the day he plungedâ€|New Coke was announced on April 23, 1985, with the company's president piling on adjectives usually reserved for Lafite Rothschild -- "smoother, rounder yet bolder." Almost 80 days later, the public having sampled it, the company pulled the product from stores. Perhaps Thompson's candidacy will last longer than New Coke did." [Indianapolis Star, 9/13/07]

Thompson Not Winning Over Prominent Supporters: Thompson has lost support from prominent Florida fundraisers, including a Bush Ranger, because of the "former Tennessee senator's unimpressive early organization and late entry into the presidential raceâ€|Explaining his and his colleagues' choice, Mr. Rood cited Mr. Thompson's late entry into the race as a key factor. 'Many in the group were eager to make a decision,' Mr. Rood said.

'Thompson not being a candidate means that, you know, we really looked at the top three, which included Senator McCain and Governor Romney and Mayor Giuliani, as announced candidates that we were going to pick between.'" [New York Sun, 9/13/07]


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: blahblahblah; bowtiedaddy; elections; fredthompson; georgewill; novak; will
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the opposition.........laughable
1 posted on 09/13/2007 4:43:20 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
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To: Sub-Driver

Novak and Will. *spit*


2 posted on 09/13/2007 4:44:37 PM PDT by eureka! (Is power so important to the Democrats that they are willing to betray our country? Sadly, yes.)
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To: Sub-Driver

I know democrats.org is the first place I go to get an unbiased and objective critique on Republican campaign efforts.


3 posted on 09/13/2007 4:45:37 PM PDT by CaptRon (Pedicaris alive or Raisuli dead)
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To: Sub-Driver

Barf Alert implied. ;)


4 posted on 09/13/2007 4:46:11 PM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle ("Proudly keeping one iron boot on the necks of libertarian faux 'conservatives' since 1958!")
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To: CaptRon

Oh. I left out truthful.


5 posted on 09/13/2007 4:46:16 PM PDT by CaptRon (Pedicaris alive or Raisuli dead)
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To: Sub-Driver

I love the smell of fear in the morning.


6 posted on 09/13/2007 4:46:33 PM PDT by doc1019 (Fred Thompson '08)
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To: CaptRon

Didn’t the pundits say the same thing about Reagan in 1980?


7 posted on 09/13/2007 4:47:37 PM PDT by Mr_Moonlight
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To: Sub-Driver

They’re crappin’ in their boots, knowing Fred will only continue to rise in support as he gets his common sense, Federalist positions out in the public, without the assistance of MSM whatsoever.


8 posted on 09/13/2007 4:49:46 PM PDT by traditional1 ( Fred Thompson-The ONLY electable Republican Candidate)
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To: Sub-Driver; TrueKnightGalahad; blackie; null and void; Larry Lucido; Eric Blair 2084; ...
Re: George Will called Thompson's campaign a "belly-flop"

It has been a long time... since I took any of George Will's opinions as being conservative. He's drank way too much at Cokie's and Stephanopoulos' horsesass troff for me to care!

9 posted on 09/13/2007 4:50:11 PM PDT by Bender2 ("I've got a twisted sense of humor, and everything amuses me." RAH Beyond this Horizon)
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To: jellybean; girlangler; KoRn; Shortstop7; Lunatic Fringe; Darnright; babygene; pitbully; granite; ...
When I saw the title, I thought this was authored by some people around here....

PING!!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

WARNING: If you wish to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.

10 posted on 09/13/2007 4:50:33 PM PDT by Politicalmom (Of the potential GOP front runners, FT has one of the better records on immigration.- NumbersUSA)
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To: Sub-Driver

Man, does he scare them or what?

And with Will and Novak taking shots at him I’m 100% convinced that I’ve picked the right man for the job... and the times.


11 posted on 09/13/2007 4:51:02 PM PDT by Phsstpok (When you don't know where you are, but you don't care, you're not lost, you're exploring!)
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To: Sub-Driver

When polls are showing Thompson leading!! pretty damn funny.


12 posted on 09/13/2007 4:51:50 PM PDT by Williams
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To: Sub-Driver

“It’s been only one week since lobbyist turned Senator turned actor Fred Thompson announced his candidacy for president, but it’s been plenty of time for conservative commentators to see what they need to and call him unimpressive.”

Yet Thompson has stormed to first place in the polls. His competition must be REALLY unimpressive. ;-)

Fred Thompson ‘08!


13 posted on 09/13/2007 4:52:55 PM PDT by PreciousLiberty
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To: Sub-Driver

Dem.org?

Must mean Thompson’s The One.


14 posted on 09/13/2007 4:53:02 PM PDT by toddlintown (Five bullets and Lennon goes down. Yet not one hit Yoko. Discuss.)
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To: eureka!

“Novak and Will. *spit*”

BUMP


15 posted on 09/13/2007 4:53:11 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! "Read my lips....No new RINO's" !!)
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To: Sub-Driver

Save this article for a few months from now when the Fredster is kicking ass. It’ll look even more ludicrous than it does now, if that’s even conceivable.


16 posted on 09/13/2007 4:53:50 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (When Bubba lies, the finger flies!)
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To: Sub-Driver

If it’d so laughable, why the f$%k did the dhimmiKKK-Rats bother writing this vapid shill piece?


17 posted on 09/13/2007 4:54:37 PM PDT by lesser_satan (FRED THOMPSON '08)
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To: lesser_satan

Oops, that should have been: If it’d so unimpressive, why the f$%k did the dhimmiKKK-Rats bother writing this vapid shill piece?


18 posted on 09/13/2007 4:55:37 PM PDT by lesser_satan (FRED THOMPSON '08)
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To: Sub-Driver

I’d bet that they would pay attention if Newt was Fred’s Vice-President.


19 posted on 09/13/2007 4:57:52 PM PDT by RC2
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To: Sub-Driver
Almost 80 days later, the public having sampled it, the company pulled the product from stores.

Will couldn't even get the facts on "new" Coke right. Coke Classic was reintroduced, but "New" Coke was still on the store shelves, had ads featuring Max Headroom promoting it. New Coke was drunk by the the president of Coca-Cola, Roberto Goizueta, until the day he died. Eventually it was rechristened "Coke II". It is still sold in parts of Quebec. It took many years for new Coke to disappear outright.
20 posted on 09/13/2007 4:57:59 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ((Not a newbie, just wanted a new screen name... heh, heh, heh))
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