Thompson Cancels Date With the Press

The Caucus (NYT Blog) ^ | October 5, 2007 | Jim Rutenberg

[Plutarch]

Fred Thompson, appearing at the Americans for Prosperity event today, was supposed to give a press availability, which would have been his first big question-and-answer session with the national press corps in Washington. The availability never happened, and the campaign’s description for why has a decidedly, anti-Washington press corps bent – which probably won’t hurt him too much with key constituencies. (That is, outside the one with all those barrels of ink, television viewers and Web readers.)

Todd Harris, a campaign spokesman, said Mr. Thompson’s speaking engagement ran later than expected and “it came to a decision between doing a media availability or spending time with the Virginia delegation,’’ adding, “We opted to spend time with the delegates as opposed to the Washington press corps.”

For good measure, Mr. Harris added, “It’s not all about the D.C. press corps.” Though, he added, Mr. Thompson – whose performance on the stump has come under withering criticism that continued through his appearance at the Americans for Prosperity event – has held plenty of press availabilities out on the road.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

The Romney Sleaze Machine has a cheering section now? Sort of like a portable peanut gallery, I guess.

[b9]

Thanks for that post, ellery.
You’re always very thorough. “;^)

[Neenah]

"And I'll tell you one thing, that wild horses aren't gonna drag me off this floor until those people have heard everything I've got to say, even if it takes all winter." --Senator Smith.

"Senator Smith learns very quickly how the political machine in his state is trying to manipulate him, and he starts to fight back. They start their gears in motion to crush him however, and his last resort is a filibuster on the floor of the Senate. As long as he keeps talking and remains standing, he can hold the floor, but as soon as either his voice or his legs give out, he loses everything. This filibuster is one of the greatest David v. Goliath stories on film."

From: Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939 )

( If you have never watched this classic...DO SO ! I think of the character played by Jimmy Stewart every time I see and hear Fred Thompson....but that's just me. )

[b9]

It was wonderful, Paperdoll. Thanks for the reminder. He won that election by over 60%, from 20 points behind.

Hope we see more of Fred’s ‘conviction’ on Tuesday.

[Paperdoll]

Thanks, prs. I put a dot in where it didn’t belong.

[Clara Lou]

Thanks for posting that information about Traynham, ellery. It’s good to have someone as knowledgeable as you here at FR.

[winodog]

I have nothing to do with Romney.
I just agreed with what was said.
And I am not a sleaze cheerleader or a dung throwing monkey

[Paperdoll]

>He won that election by over 60% from 20 points behind.<

Hey b9. That’s not my idea of behavior becoming in a gentleman. The red pickup won that race for him.

A statesman can fire his ammo without losing his cool. That’s what I mean when I say that Duncan Hunter has a cool head and a steady hand. A very highly prized quality to possess when it comes to diplomacy, and admirable at any time.

[restornu]

Prima Donna pampering I guess!

[restornu]

Please don’t say that about Fred, after we went through with Giuliani friends!

[AuntB]

Just once I’d like to see other candidate supporters give some examples of conservative values in their man or admit why they like non-conservative positions so much, instead of playing that age old subversive ‘kill the messenger’ game. Change the names and dates and the words are the same ones used by the Clinton supporters in the 80’s. Dishonest debate is so boring and a waste of good Americans time.

We know the democrats will settle for less than decent in a candidate just as long as it has a D beside it. It appears the republicans are willing to do so yet again. The republican party has not given us a conservative candidate since Reagan. That’s exactly what got us Perot. People were fed up with with both parties. I wish they’d just come out and admit they don’t care if the candidate is a conservative. But they rather be rude and arrogant and of course, much smarter than the rest of us. Knowing that there are more voters that consider themselves independant than republican doesn’t even phase them.

If Duncan Hunter had a weekly TV show, he’d be the front runner too, and that is the only thing Thompson has over him. What a shame.

BTW, something I read here frequently is that Perot was nothing but a ‘clinton’ plant, etc....Did anyone watch those debates? Those were real debates and Perot went for Clinton’s jugular. Bush? He never crossed or criticized Bill Clinton when he had the chance. But then they’re policies weren’t much different, were they?

Arnie is last republican I’ll ever vote for ‘because he can win’.
.

“Won what?” Thomas asks. “What was the game? There was no game, Steve. This wasn’t about winning anything, this wasn’t a football game. This was about our country. This was about a process. This was about our courts. This was about our Constitution. Who won?”

“Well, I mean, you know it’s about a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States,” Kroft says.

“So what?” Thomas asks.

“They don’t come open, they come open that…,” Kroft says.

“That’s not a holy grail for me Steve,” Thomas says.

Was it worth it in the end?

“I think it was always worth it to stand on principle. No matter what the ultimate goal is. Wrong is wrong even if it was over a penny,” Thomas says.

Part of this is because people don’t see the difference in ‘reasons’ and ‘excuses’. We have ‘reasons’ to vote for Duncan Hunter. They find ‘excuses’ to vote for Fred.

[EternalVigilance]

Every media story, every candidate action, needs to be judged on its intrinsic value and importance by this question:

“What does this have to do with helping to restore and defend our free republic?”

[AuntB]

As I said, your motives are clearer than you’d like.

Are you man enough to come out and say what you are failing to imply or is being a sneaky little cretin the only way you can approach any subject? Hide out on the internet and insult women just because you feel like it and can get away with it. I have a feeling your candidate is just about as much a man. He can't even face the press.

Spout away. I don't bother to read your replies.

Good night all!

[b9]

Fred’s ammo WORKS on jerks.

His humor especially. One of his recent videos had praise for Jim Cooper.
Jim Cooper deserved Fred’s ire ~ Cooper was a royal jerk in that debate.

Fred’s a gentleman to gentlemen ~ the rest get what they deserve.

Scold him all you want for not being Duncan.
He’s his own man and I love it.

[Clara Lou]

Hide out on the internet and insult women just because you feel like it and can get away with it.
Lady, you are off the wall. This is FR, not the Ladies Knitting Circle. And you are taking a cheap shot and then telling us that you haven't got the guts to wait for or read a reply. Shame on you.

He can't even face the press.
The difference between Thompson and Hunter is that Thompson is a viable candidate. Thompson's also running a genuine campaign. Something Hunter has yet to do.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

And I am not a sleaze cheerleader or a dung throwing monkey

Thanks for clearing that up. :)

[mewzilla]

Maybe then he shouldn't have scheduled the Q&A in the first place...

Then how could he get kudos for stiffing them? :)

[greyfoxx39]

Willard’s Vapid Response Team

[seekthetruth]

“Regardless FDT’s campaign is not inspiring confidence.”
“First of all can I have a round of applause?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6936344909224393681&q=fred+thompson+applause&total=4&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Do you happen to have a link to the whole video so I can see what was said prior to and after the clip you posted? I would really like to see the video of the whole appearance. Thanks so much! :)

[truth_seeker]

“Do you happen to have a link to the whole video so I can see what was said prior to and after the clip you posted? I would really like to see the video of the whole appearance. Thanks so much! :)”

I have no idea about a longer video.

I heard about, then saw this, and it was in the context that Fred is pretty boring; so boring he asked for applause in the middle of his informal talk.

I neither especially favor or oppose him. There is plenty of time to see if any of them really stand out, positively or negatively.

I will admit at this point, I don’t see Fred as quite the really big deal that some have made him out to be.