Posted on 05/17/2011 5:47:00 AM PDT by AuH2ORepublican
From Mike Allen’s morning newsletter today:
Tommy Thompson, the Republican former Wisconsin governor and George W. Bush’s first HHS secretary, has told friends he plans to run for the open Senate seat in Wisconsin. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) said Friday that he won’t seek a fifth term in 2012. Thompson’s announcement gives Republicans a popular former two-term governor of state to seriously challenge for this toss-up seat. There’s no chance Thompson would run against Paul Ryan, so the former Wisconsin Governor will await the Budget Chairman’s official announcement on the race before jumping in. Ryan has suggested in private conversations with GOP officials in recent days that he will take a pass on the race and focus on his House chairmanship.
Thompson has been meeting with political associates and telling them he wants back in the game. He is working behind the scenes on campaign, fund-raising and staffing plans — and would enter as a very strong front-runner for the GOP nomination and the seat. There is one reason to think this isn’t an absolute done deal, regardless of what Thompson’s telling friends this week: He has flirted with political runs in the past, including the Senate in 2010, only to bail.
Thompson’s presidential bid in 2008 was short-lived and unfocused, but he would immediately be a top-tier Senate challenger who knows the state well and who is well-versed in health care policy. But will Bush’s HHS guy – running health policy when the Bush administration and a GOP Congress enacted the unfunded entitlement of the Medicare prescription drug benefit – be acceptable to the Tea Parties in Wisconsin?
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
*ping*
Unexiting, tired old retread. Of course, the republican establishment will pull for him.
Tommy, why not run for Pres?
I liked Thompson. I think most republicans did too, and the current field looks a little weak
We need more GOVERNORS trying for our executive branch opening (not legislators)
Dan Coats? He chickened out in 98’ when he knew he would lose. 12 years later he picks the low hanging fruit. Him and Thompson are cut from the same cloth.
Stay home Tommy.
One nicknamed president in a lifetime is quite enough. Remember JIMMY? He is the permanent North Korea specialist now.
Uh oh, another Establishment Republican coming out of the woodwork. If I remember correctly, Thompson was Bush’s lead man on the new Medicare Drug Bill that passed in 2003. He helped to create the ‘donut hole’ that could only be filled by 0bamacare.
Anyone that thinks the Establishment Republicans want to end 0bamacare are delusional. The Establishment Republicans want to EXPAND 0bamacare as much as possible.
Yet another Bush era throwback... oh well, I guess it could be worse in Wisconsin.
I hate when old guys try to take a new Senate seat. One re-election and it’s ours for 12 years—let a younger brain and body go for it.
F that RINO POS.
heh.. So if we get rid of the hand grenade throwers (Collins and snowe) we can replace one with Tommy?
F that... We don’t need our best fighters in the fedgov, we need them in the states, but those we send should at least be loyal soldiers.
Old Guard worthless GOP’er.
Yup and yup. I agree.
/sigh
Forget the sniping. What is his record? I remember him as the architect of welfare reform. Touched third rail and survived. Then it was copied by feds. HHS chairman just might be interested in health care issues.
So I have a fairly positive memory of Thompson. How about some facts. How about where he stands on issues, instead of the instant attacks backed up with nothing but rhetoric.
Tommy is 70 years old. It would be far better to have someone 20-25 years younger get in there, serve a term or two, and then go on to be Governor or President. Tommy has had his time. We’re in deep trouble. It is time to shake things up and look to the future. Why not Paul Ryan?
Let Thompson have the Senate seat, and let Ryan run for POTUS.
Just because Ryan’s only been in the house a few years is no longer a valid argument. His experience towers over that of the current inhabitant of the White House.
I’ve had the same thought.
Ryan should be (could be) the sleeper candidate for the White House.
I don't know too much about T.T., but he should be a shoo-in and a reliable vote; way better than Herbie Kohl.
This is great news. I supported his presidential campaign, June-Aug. 2007. I thought that he shouldn’t have dropped out of the race, because of the Iowa straw poll. That event only indicated the views of about 10% of the Republicans, of one state.
Tommy Thompson is on the board of directors for Veri-Chip and was pushing as health secretary under Bush II for everyone to get micro-chipped.
F him!!!
An establishment RINO who talks the talk but doesn’t walk it.
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