Posted on 11/21/2007 2:40:50 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
AMES, Iowa - Fred Thompson says his often-dour demeanor simply reflects his seriousness about the issues facing the country. ``I'm just Fred,'' he says, and the image that's served him through a successful political career won't be changing.
Thompson, who played a tough-minded and gruff district attorney on television's ``Law & Order,'' offers precisely that image as he campaigns for the GOP presidential nomination. He's generally serious and direct, with little of the backslapping and joking of many of his rivals.
``I laugh when I am amused and I'm amused a lot,'' said Thompson, in an interview with The Associated Press. ``When I'm talking about terrorism, when I'm talking about bankrupting the next generation, when I talk about what is going on in Washington, I am not amused. I don't think it's funny.''
He said he's ``no less chirpy'' on the campaign trail than when he won election and then re-election to the U.S. Senate in Tennessee. ``There's only one thing I can guarantee and that is I will be me, and it's served me pretty well politically,'' he said.
Like most of the candidates for the GOP nomination, Thompson is seeking to convince Republican primary voters that he is the natural heir to the political legacy of President Reagan, a former actor who was known both for his staunch conservatism and his sunny disposition.
Thompson has a take on Reagan's political success that plays into his own strengths.
``Reagan's success was that he was Reagan,'' said Thompson. ``When he did his television presentations, when he made his speeches, it was not all sunlight and music and a walk in the park. That was pretty serious stuff, he was talking about the Soviet Union.(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
L0L
Take your willard/rootie/huck talking points and go to one of their threads. This crap was old back in August when charlie gibson, george stephanopolis and james carville were first saying it. All you do is piss off potential future voters for whomever “may” win the nomination.
LLS
I’m mostly German, and I don’t need any stinking emotion. Just give me leadership.
LLS
Although I’m skeptical of this parTICular report, because (1) The Guardian is a leftist rag and (2) Thompson KNOWS it is a leftist rag (and thus probably wasn’t going to bother turning on the charm; they were going to write a bad piece on him in any case),
still,
about 2/3 of the times I’ve seen Fred on the campaign trail, he’s been a little blah. It’s true. I wish it weren’t because, while Fred is a mixed bag, overall he is my top choice right now.
He does need to find a way to energize his appearances without (!) doing some fake “Hillary’s Cackle” makeover.
Says tne n00b who signed up just to flack for Romney. Fanatical and obsessive? LOL
Yawn...it is the standard FredHead attack on motives of all who don't drink the Kool-Aid. They really known how to sell thier product, don't they, GAD? LOL
I ain't Irish, but I can get down with a little drunk and dour, myself.
It'd be a fool, though, who'd wish me in the White House (though I have a good heart...when awake, sober, and alert).
Many people try to compare this GOP primary to Reagan's 1980 primary to compare Fred to Reagan
This primary race is far different, in many diverse and fundamental ways
The GOP field is far more recognizable, well known and well funded than who Reagan faced in 1980.
Fred is going to need more than ``I'm just Fred,'' persona
I like Fred just as he is, but he needs to be a whole lot more aggressive and smarter or he will not break though the pack to win the nomination.
Yawn...see my no. 27.
Do you FredHeads read these ad hominems off a crib sheet or do you put together a few of the usual putdowns on the fly for each new poster not cheering Fred's brilliant campaign?
Yea, except we provide proof, just like I did.
To many of you anti-fredheads pretend to like Fred so much or to be a supporter of Fred, yet you do a little digging into the posting history and what do you find?
The truth!
And Yawn to you too buddy!
I usually reply in kind when Fredheads are called fanatical and obsessive.
Clever, you go right for the throat out of the box.
Charming.
You live in denial. I speaketh the truth.
Prayers up for you.
“He’s too old!
He’s too tired!
He has no fire in the Belly!
His wife is a trophy wife!”
I don’t care about any of those, but he hasn’t exactly run a whirlwind campaign. He’s been trending down in the last month or so. He did get a bump of a couple of points since NRTL endorsed him last week, but a couple of points is all he’s gained back so far. I don’t think he’s too old...or too tired, but I do think he’s got to join the battle at some point, or else get out of the race. There are plenty of people like myself who are still waiting to see what Fred’s going to do. So far he’s not done much since he announced. I don’t think the “I’m just Fred” style of campaign is going to get it done.
“I like Fred, too. But I think his followers are a little fanatical and obsessive. LOL”
Some are, some aren’t like FReepers for any candidate. Many of our Thompson supporters like myself, were for Hunter first. The MSM has refused to give him airtime from day one
so he has been effectively shut out of the process. I grew up in Massachusetts. A conservative politician is unheard of there. Romney’s platform is not conducive to his history.
I don’t believe politicians who move to the right all of a sudden, and run for POTUS. Huckabee looks like a boy scout, and lies like a rug. Rudy? Fuhgetaboutit!!
What a riot. I guess you've never seen pissant in action on a Duncan Hunter thread. Talk about fanatical, you'd think his guy can walk on water and cure lepers.
“Kinda like the ad hominem attacks on Fred right?
He’s too old!
He’s too tired!
He has no fire in the Belly!
His wife is a trophy wife!”
The MSM has caused most of this, especially The Fox Rudy Network(Rudy’s law firm worked for Murdoch)
LLS
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