Thompson says he's interested in serving, not running for president

The Altoona Herald ^ | December 29, 2007 | William Theobald

[2ndDivisionVet]

Burlington, Ia. -- Fred Thompson said today he does not much like the modern form of presidential campaigning and that he "will not be devastated" if he doesn't win the election.

"I'm not particularly interested in running for president," Thompson said, but rather he feels called to serve his country.

"I don't know if you have a desire to be president," Burlington attorney Todd Chelf told Thompson during a question-and-answer session raising an issue that has dogged his campaign.

"I am not consumed by personal ambition," Thompson responded. "I'm offering myself up."

Given the volatile state of the world, the actor and former Tennessee senator said he was not "sure it is a good thing if a president has too much fire in his belly."

"I'm only consumed by a few things and politics is not one of them," he said.

Chelf said after the event that it was "almost refreshing to hear that approach."

"I think there is a passion there," he said. "I think its sort of a Southern gentleman passion."

Thompson also had stops scheduled today in Washington, Williamsburg, Montezuma, and Newton.

[2ndDivisionVet]

This is why we Fredheads drafted him. I also find that attitude refreshing, like George Washington, "Ike" Eisenhower or even Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus.

[SolidWood]

He is the total Anti-Hillary.

[mnehring]

That is the difference between a Statesman and a Politician.

[gusopol3]

not "sure it is a good thing if a president has too much fire in his belly."

well, maybe not when you're visiting Montezuma

[Scarchin]

Okay - I’m not a Fred guy - but that headline is BS.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

How refreshing. The man’s the Anti-Edwards, the Anti-Gore, the Anti-Clinton... the Anti-every-politician-whose-voices-in-their-heads-say-they-deserve-the-Presidency. And he’s right on the issues, too.

Go Fred!

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"Okay - I’m not a Fred guy - but that headline is BS."

In what way?

Fred is regularly excoriated as not having a passion for the Presidency. I've been saying for months that that's a good thing. Here he is acknowledging it, and further separating himself from the throngs of political whores on both sides who feel the Presidency is their rightful destiny. What's not to like?

[JohnnyZ]

Fred is not an egomaniacal political whore like Romney & co. --

film at 11.

[gusopol3]

a lot of people would like to be anointed President, I would guess.

[visualops]

It’s goofy and almost makes it sound like he doesn’t want to run/win.
What the headline should read is “interested in serving his country, not politics” or some such.

[jwalsh07]

"I'm not particularly interested in running for president," Thompson said, but rather he feels called to serve his country.

I noticed Fred.

[SE Mom]

Not really- Fred said he’s not interested in RUNNING..he’s interested in SERVING.

[mad_as_he$$]

Anyone who WANTS the job is suspect.....

[Politicalmom]

PING!!

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[mysterio]

"I am not consumed by personal ambition," Thompson responded. "I'm offering myself up."

This is the correct attitude to have. He loves his country, not his own ambitions.

[Rick_Michael]

“He is the total Anti-Hillary.”

That’s all I need to know.

[ellery]

Exactly.

[ajay_kumar]

Sounds like Fred wants to be annoited without having
to go through the grind of an exhausting campaign.
Unfortunately Fred is the right guy to be president but
the American way is through a grinding, exhasting campaign
to prove the person has fire in the belly.

[Romneyfor President2008]

America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser. — Patton

[rightinthemiddle]

Fred reminds me of Mel Gibson’s character in the movie “The Patriot.”