Dour Thompson Says I'm ``Just Fred'

The Guardian ^ | November 21, 2007 | Mike Glover

[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)

[Route66]

This is another example of an article that is far more positive than the headline, which is intended to create an impression. While this interviewer could have asked anything, he decided to use his time with Fred ask about one of the most pressing issues of our time... Fred's "demeanor" which the writer described as "dour". I noticed that in some places, the article was packaged along with a carefully selected photo to complete the created image.

From the article:

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."

I guess I don't think it's funny either. I'm just fine with "Just Fred".

[Michael A. Velli]

LOL! Position papers? What is he, a ninth-grade English student?

This may come as a great shock to you, but "position papers" don't win one the presidency. Energy, action, and executive experience win the presidency.

[SergeiRachmaninov]

The fact that Fred seems to be too old, too tired, too uninterested, too dour...people will understandably see these things differently. It is a style that many of us find unappealling. But it is not -- if it gets results in the campaign -- disqualifying. I am not surprised that those who strongly support Fred may be able to overlook these things.

But here is this: The knocks on Fred's style were not invented but people trying to knock him down. They comprise a tough, but not unreasonable critique of his demeanor. Sure, people will use his negative attributes against him. But they are not making these things up.

[mylife]

The only “action” I have seen are
Fred’s “papers”.

All the others are just spinning and gladhanding

[Blue Highway]

Answers like this is why people don’t “get him”. Lack of energy? These are the same people that would have attacked Dick Cheney because he “has a bad heart” BS, so he can’t be out president. People that believe this horse manure, should go ahead now and vote for Ron Paul.

[Blue Highway]

And your name is a little presumtuous. Good luck on him becoming President in 2008. Looks like his biggest rival now is the Huckster who spend a fraction of what Romney poured into the early stages.

[varon]

Fred is going to need more than ``I'm just Fred,'' persona

Agreed. If Fred doesn't kick it up a notch or two, he'll be saying "I'm just Fred" on January 20, 2009 while another candidate will be saying "I'm the President"!

[gitmogrunt]

Imagine that another Fred Thompson thread on FR

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

[Names Ash Housewares]

"No energy whatsoever. No chance."

Dean had "energy". And led in the polls greatly. Now that was dems I know, but the lesson is still there. This far out anything goes.

[W04Man]

"TERRORISM IS NOT FUNNY - nuff said..."

Bump to "Just Fred"

FRED VETS, SIGN UP TODAY AT:

[SHEENA26]

The guy’s as dumb as a doorknob. Worst GOP candidate ever...oops, forgot about Ron Paul.

[Bobbisox]

I will take a man with wisdom, foreign policy experience, and commons sense over executive experience any day.

Leaders like Fred Thompson hire executives like Romney and Rudy. This is one office Romney can’t buy.

This is one office that WE THE PEOPLE will fill, not the MSM.

[Bobbisox]

Sorry...I posted to the wrong person.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[lesser_satan]

I'm Irish. I like drunk and dour too. I also have no problem with Fred.

The only time I'm NOT dour is when I'm drunk, although I'm occasionally dour then too.

[skinkinthegrass]

....Its really amazing, all these Anti-FRed postings.....its as if, $hrillary et al were running a Klassic Klintoon dis-information campaign, like in '92/'96/'00/'04/'06....all the same tactics.

[mylife]

Ive been critical of Fred myself, but you are correct.
There are folks waging a Jihad on Fred.

[2111USMC]

"His wife is a trophy wife!

I think that's a positive.

:)

[Fred]

Onslow is an intellectual, and he takes full advantage of the nany state in the UK.

[Fred]

"well... South Carolina is not Iowa and New Hampshire."

Thank God!

[TN4Liberty]

The sad thing is that folks like you keep talking about how you “feel” about FDT with these trivial, petty little reasons that I would expect of someone who was completely politically unaware. It sounds like the reasons a 5th grader would not like someone for president, regurgitating exactly the pitch that the MSM has put out there. Fire in the belly? Pretty cliche’ and frankly, meaningless. Old and tired? Not pretty enough? What kind of idiots come up with that as reasons to vote against someone?

Until the other candidates, of either party, are as willing to put out what they plan to do in specific terms like Thompson, none of them deserve our support.

It is sad that you put politics over leadership. That’s what the dems are doing. It is the nation that will suffer for it.

Until you can talk about specific positions that your candidate - hell, any candidate - has that is superior, you don’t deserve to be listened to. Sadly, you don’t have to be informed or particularly intelligent to vote or to post.