Posted on 09/27/2007 12:33:01 PM PDT by RobFromGa
The Thompson fund-raising event was at the private residence of William & Christine Barr. Mr. Barr was Attorney General under Bush 41 and their home is wonderfully full of mementos like photos with the Pope, Pres. Reagan, and a host of other notables.
We got there promptly at 6pm and they valet parked our car, and we went inside where we met our hosts, the Barrs, and talked to them as people arrived. They are warm, wonderful and normal people.
At about 6:20 there were about 125-150 of us in their "library" and there was a buzz in the room that FRED was in the building. We spotted that familiar tall man through a few rooms out in the entry area making his way back. He worked his way through three rooms stopping briefly to chat and shake hands with people in these rooms. At about 630, he worked his way into the library, and I got to talk with him for a few seconds and shake his hand.
I told Fred that I was all the way from Atlanta as a friend from Georgia, and that I felt we would have no trouble delivering Georgia to him. He was warm, and friendly and energetic and very much alive and engaged in the whole event.
After about thirty minutes of meeting and greeting, Fred moved to the front of the library and at this point they introduced Jeri (his beautiful wife) and his 4 year old girl. The baby was at home. Then Fred gave about a 35 minute talk where he expounded on his reasons for running, his theme of SECURITY- PROSPERITY- and UNITY, and then he ended with an optimistic tone about what he thought could be accomplished with a THOMPSON presidency.
Then he took questions from the audience (about 6 questions in all). They ranged from Iraq, to Iran, to economic growth, to how to communicate best with the American people and get around the media filter. It was candid, honest and refreshing. And not once did Fred seem to be at a loss for words.
The entire time he came across as totally in command of his message and he was able to plainly deliver that message which I believe is going to resonate with the American people.
During the Q&A he referenced his good friend "Sen. Allen" there in the back, and there he was smiling and happy to be in good company.
At the end, we got a chance to get a quick picture with Sen. Allen and then with Fred, and I got him to sign a quick thing for me. And then we talked to a few more people, and left at about 815 to go grab some BBQ for a late dinner.
I flew home at 630am this morning and it was a day I will always remember.
Here are some pictures...
Fred Speaking
Jeri putting her name tag on
Jeri attending to their child (not shown)
RobFromGa with Sen. Allen
Fred smiling at us
RobFromGa and Fred
RobFromGa and Fred 2
A good one of Fred!
Fred looking right at us
Fred in front answering questions
Fred and Jeri
I met Fred last night. He is going to connect with the people.
ping
Good report. Thanks.
I’m glad to see Fred has started to color his hair just a bit.
That’s wonderful! Thanks for the story/pics! FRED IN ‘08!!!
By the way, no way Hillary beats Fred in a debate.
Huh?
“Jeri will make a better First Lady than Bill Clinton!”
Rob, thanks for the report. FYI: It is McLean [vice McClean] I live in McLean.
Thanks, I knew that, just typed too fast. I have asked the mods to fix the title please!
Was that last one taken when Dick Morris entered the room? :)
Notice the similarities with the Churchill picture in the background?
I have a question and the basis for it comes from media reports, so consider the source. Is Fred’s delivery “quick”? I saw Mrs. Clinton’s performance last night, and while I cringe at what she said, she has developed a formidable debating style.
I want to see Fred squash her like a bug on a windshield. Doable? (In your opinion, of course.)
Thanks so much.
Great pics, RobFromGa. Thanks for posting it.
Fred08!
Thanks for the pics and your support of our candidate.
“Notice the similarities with the Churchill picture in the background?”
Very much so.
Great report. I am jealous. I would like to meet the next President of the United States.
I would say not say he is quick, but he is fairly direct. He doesn’t use a lot of empty rhetoric and say a lot of things that sound high and mighty but aren’t.
He has a clear direct style. I think that he will still tighten up the message further and he will get better at honing the message through repeated delivery.
Since last night was a fundraiser with supporters it was more candid than the normal stump speech. He is genuinely excited to be in the race, and he feels that he has a purpose to achieve by running. He will make a great President.
And I think that he will be able to handle Hillary just fine.
What a wonderful collection of photos, it was nice to see Allen in there too.
Look at pictures from about 9 months or so ago. His hair was white.
In these photos, he has a little more color in the gray.
It looks good! He’s not that old, but the pure white hair made him look older.
Good news, indeed!
Thanks.
Impossible, he is slow witted and almost dead since dying from cancer due to his liberal stances.
It must have been an illusion created by your Fred worship. Next you’ll try and convince us that he is ahead in some national poll and Dick Morris wasn’t right about him all along...
Nice photos. It’s remarkable how good Fred looks in these real photos compared to the MSM-selected photos showing him with lighting and an expression that makes him look like a prune (not to mention their apparent photoshop oversharpening of his wrinkles.)
Give him a break! He's been mostly dead all day!
Don’t consider these as Fred’s words since they are my paraphrase.
Iraq- we are there to win, only victory is acceptable, the Iraq and Afghan battles are just the current front in the War on Terror. Iraq has enabled us to keep Iran from tuling the region, and that alone is a worthy reason for doing it and staying till it is done.
Iran- the American people need to know what we are up against, and just how long of a view that Radical Islam has, and how they do not value life or short-term things like we do. they are willing to sacrifice millions for the greater good in the long run and we need to understand that.
Prosperity- He did mention the entitlement ticking clock and how we need to have an honest discussion about it, this also tied into his unity theme. We cannot continue to evade answering these hard questions. He said he felt that our economy was solid now in spite of all that has happened and that it was unfortunate that so many think that it is bad because of what they read and see. He underatnds the importance of strong economic growth and lower taxation.
One thing that he said that just came to me: he said that he was going to talk about all these big issues in the primary, and not do a bait and switch in the general or when he is elected. He would talk about what he plans to accomplish and what his priorities are, and he would continue that SAME message all the way through till he is elected in the general, and then that is how he will govern as President.
Nice suit.
Absolutely true. The MSM picks the worst possible shots and accentuates bad lighting and wrinkles.
Rob's pics are really good. What a treat, esp the ones near 'Churchill.
~ Thank you, Rob! ~
Nice tie, Rob.
Nice report, glad you had a good time.
I agree but I also can’t help but think he looks like the Tall man from the Phantasm movies also!
~ Fantastic ~
Great pics and reporting, Rob.
You sure look glad to be there!
And yet he maintains such a lively demeanor...
He looks Wide Awake.
Those pics of Fred with the Winston Churchill portraits behind him....how appropriate. I hope its an omen...
OH. THAT Fred.
WTG Rob! Great report. As of today, I am a Hunter man. But, if he can’t make the cut, I will have no problem supporting FT.
LOL :-)
Wow... pretty harsh, and certainly lacking in any type of concept as to what is socially acceptable to say when you don’t like someone, eh?
You a Rue Paul supporter? They are the only ones I have seen act this classless.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and photos with us! Fantastic!
OOPS!!! Wasn’t wearing my spot sarcasm glasses ;-)... Sorry.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Bump!
That was sarcasm.
Shoulda read further myself. . . .
um, maybe you just haven’t seen his natural hair color up so close, as in these nice big clear photos from Rob. nice attempt at a cheap shot, though. you never disappoint.
Fred is going to have to withdraw from the race because of illness.
go back and read her tagline.
Did your Ouija board tell you that?
Good grief. He looks great. Fred is in to win. I support him 100%. The alternatives are frankly disappointing either in campaign efforts or flipflops not to mention the ones with scary positions and frightening liberal pasts.
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