Posted on 12/18/2007 10:46:23 AM PST by NormsRevenge
MANCHESTER, Iowa - Republican Fred Thompson says if he can be a presidential horse for conservatives to ride in the campaign, "All I've got to say is saddle me up."
Thompson was touring Iowa by bus rather than on horseback Tuesday, saying he's got the potential to come on fast in the final days before the state's Jan. 3 caucuses.
Thompson, who has occasionally been labeled a less-than-energetic campaigner, spoke with enthusiasm to about 30 people at a town hall in Manchester while his blue campaign bus, emblazoned with a huge picture of his head and shoulders, waited outside.
"We're taking it now to where it needs to be," Thompson told his audience. "This is where it starts. This is where we are. this is where we're going to be. ... We're going to make sure we meet everybody we can possibly meet."
Thompson is spending the final two weeks of the campaign in Iowa traveling the state with his wife, Jeri.
He referred to the GOP debate last week in Iowa, where he drew praise for refusing to comply when asked for a show of hands on a question about global warming.
"I said, `Nope,'" and everybody pulled their hand down and looked around," Thompson said. "I just said to my buddies up there, `How are you going to stand up to the leaders of Iran and North Korea if you can't stand up to an overbearing moderator?'"
He made his saddle-me-up comment after saying a newspaper had said he had given conservatives "a horse to ride" in the campaign.
On Tuesday, Thompson listed some of his main issues — the role of the federal government, judges, taxes, Social Security — and took questions about trade, the value of the dollar and how he would end the Iraq war and bring troops home.
"I think we have to stabilize that place so that people can get up and go to worship without fear of being blown up," he said.
He reiterated the case he made during the Iowa debate: "When our worst enemy is sitting down at the negotiating table thinking about what they can get away with, or thinking about what they might could do to the United States of America, who do you want representing us on our side of the table looking back at them?"
Thompson is battling for a third-place showing in Iowa, where former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee recently surged ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in state polls. No candidate has gone on to become the nominee without placing in the top three in Iowa.
How big is the town in the first place? I’ve been approached too many times in the past couple of weeks about my Fred08 bumpersticker, and even by a lady who could hear me listening to Senator Thompson’s interview on Laura Ingram tonight in the car, to think that Fred doesn’t stand a good chance. I think his supporters could be a silent majority. The polls are meaningless.
Woooo HOOOOO! Go FRED!
I did not ask you what your outlook on life was. The thought you expressed on this thread was a mindless parroting of someone else's thoughts. Try and have a thought of your own, thinking is so important. What do you think?
You don’t have to convince me of his strength of character(#1); or his ability to compete in banter (#2 & 3). Pointing things out does not change the image in the hearts and minds of voters. Image is not intellectual but rather an emotional perception, an instinctive reaction. For example it won’t matter how many testimonials Hillary gets about how likeable she is the “gut” reaction of the American voter is that she is not.
In the same way I think Fred must DO SOMETHING probably many somethings to change the image. Everyone wants to flame me because I won’t put my head in the sand yet I’m the only one who has made some positive suggestions in #48...
Now how can we (Fred) begin to turn the common perception around?
How about finding a young energetic celebrity, perhaps a singer, to endorse him and tour with him?
How about having an young, inspiring kick-off speaker to introduce him at each stop?
Perhaps you think these to be worthless ideas so why dont all you flamers come up with better ones that might energize the campaign.
Does that make him the Tennessee Stud??
Pray for W and Our Troops
Love that bumper sticker!
I dont know.
I listened to the Laura interview with Fred today as well, and believe I was one of the first on FR to suggest him as a viable candidate.
I would however like Fred to hit some homers in Iowa with someone watching.
I think he is waiting till after the holidays to turn up the heat.
He's got the nerve and he's got the blood.......
Your friend is exactly right. Explain the fascination with Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears.
Fred is a quality, substantial, reasoned individual. But he’s running for an office for which the voters think it reasonable to ask whether someone prefers diamonds or pearls or whether he wears boxers or briefs.
Who was more substantial and experienced in 1960, Richard Nixon or John F Kennedy. It’s been said over the years that their TV debate in which Kennedy looked young and vigorous and Nixon look haggard and sweating was the tipping point for Kennedy.
Image matters. Deniers serve the cause more poorly than those looking for solutions.
I saw that comment after I had alredy posted my response to your original post.
You said then; "He (Thompson) is my second choice after Hunter..."
It still sounds to me like you are a "Hunter supporter," but I retract the die-hard comment, as obviously you are not thinking he can win. Thompson himself is a long shot, but he has my support for as long as he wants it.
Your anti-Pollish bigotry is shocking..:)
It’s not enough for a candidate to be right any more. They must be packaged and marketed properly, too. People have to “FEEL” that the candidate is right for them as well as “THINK” it.
I have not said lazy. I have not attempted to explain the MSM’s accusation.
I have said that the average voter believes that Fred looks tired, unenthusiastic, and old. I’m not saying this is so. I am saying this is the appearance perceived by the average voter. For Fred to win this perception has to change. If it can’t be changed or if the campaign refuses to change it the more youthful and exciting person will win.
I’ve not said he’s lazy. See post #92.
I’m not perpetuating a false image of Fred. I’m talking to folks who believe in him and want him to win not to undecided people who could be influenced to support another candidate.
So as a Fred supporter what ideas do you have to recomend to the campaign that could positively affect his image among average voters?
Republicans
2004- George W. Bush* (unopposed)
2000- George W. Bush* (41%) defeated Steve Forbes (30%), Alan Keyes (14%), Gary Bauer (9%), John McCain (5%) and Orrin Hatch (1%)
1996- Bob Dole (26%) defeated Pat Buchanan (23%), Lamar Alexander (18%), Steve Forbes (10%), Phil Gramm (9%), Alan Keyes (7%), Richard Lugar (4%) and Morry Taylor (1%)
1992- George H. W. Bush (unopposed)
1988- Bob Dole (37%) defeated Pat Robertson (25%), George H. W. Bush* (19%), Jack Kemp (11%) and Pete DuPont (7%)
1984- Ronald Reagan* (unopposed)
1980- George H. W. Bush (32%) defeated Ronald Reagan* (30%), Howard Baker (15%), John Connally (9%), Phil Crane (7%), John B. Anderson (4%) and Bob Dole (2%)
1976- Gerald Ford defeated Ronald Reagan
How about dealing with the issue instead of dismissing it because it is not original or instead of demeaning me.
The issue is that Fred needs an image change. What ideas do you have that might accomplish that?
I offered a couple in #48. What do you suggest?
I admire your loyalty.
I truly hope Fred catches fire. But he gotta DOOO Something to make himself combustible. Something’s gotta change or ...
The context of the article itself "deals with it." Within the first 10 or so comments to the very article that demonstrates concrete action that Fred is doing to "deal with it," you cannot help but hiccup out some mindless drivel you picked up from a snippet you heard or read from you can't remember where. Do we need to light a candle for you to see the sun?
Politics inflame the passions. Passion is an emotional human response not an intellectual one. Good people will say things in the heat of the moment in a way they don’t really mean.
Although I’m not a Huckabee supporter, for the sake of civil discourse I urge you to continue to interact with others with civility, respect and with your intellect even when they do not do likewise.
Good luck, Freeper.
“interact with others with civility, respect and with your intellect even when they do not do likewise.”
I will do this inspite of the fact in your last post you called me a flamer...
I talk to people one on one...and continue to spread the word. They in turn talk to someone else and so on. I point out that contrary to what seems to be popular belief ..Fred is anything but uninspiring and I direct them to links where they can witness it for themselves.
As for your suggestions...I dont know if that would work.
I am saddened that we need fluff to sell something that is so important and literally life altering.
In the meantime ...check out this post. Life comes to Iowa.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1941465/posts
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