Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A 'Law & Order' Presidential Candidate?
Washington Post ^ | March 29, 2007 | Michael D. Shear

Posted on 03/29/2007 3:00:09 PM PDT by RWR8189

"Law & Order" star and former U.S. senator Fred Dalton Thompson is considering a bid for the White House that would test whether Hollywood can once again launch a Republican to the world's premier political stage.

His interest, confirmed in a brief interview this week, is generating buzz in Washington. He was third among Republican-leaning voters in a recent Gallup-USA Today survey, behind Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and ahead of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

The onetime senator from Tennessee is known to many Americans for playing New York District Attorney Arthur Branch on "Law & Order" and an admiral in the film "The Hunt for Red October." But his real-life record as a no-nonsense lawmaker who also served as the minority counsel to the Senate Watergate committee is appealing to party activists dissatisfied with the current crop of Republican hopefuls.

"He has a conservative bearing and a conservative presence, but he's independent in his thinking and his voting record," said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who added that Thompson is "seriously considering" a presidential campaign at the urging of many friends. "He has a commanding television presence that makes every other politician in America jealous."

Alexander, a friend of 40 years and twice a presidential candidate himself, said Thompson is likely to take his time deciding and could wait to enter the contest until around Labor Day. Recalling a well-attended Washington cocktail gathering held Sunday, Alexander said: "Fred Thompson was the talk of the party."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: electionpresident; fred; fredownsall; fredthompson; thompson; thompson08
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

1 posted on 03/29/2007 3:00:10 PM PDT by RWR8189
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: RWR8189

Too bad he's not Christian enough for Dobson or he could have been President. /sarcasm


2 posted on 03/29/2007 3:02:51 PM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (There once was a dream called "Hippy Beat Down." The mere whisper of it made officers smile.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RWR8189

Labor Day. Not sure if that's soon enough.


3 posted on 03/29/2007 3:05:19 PM PDT by Columbine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig

Dobson has kind of said he spoke too hastily.


4 posted on 03/29/2007 3:05:53 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: RWR8189; jellybean; Howlin; STARWISE; Sturm Ruger

ping for Fred:)


5 posted on 03/29/2007 3:15:40 PM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Columbine

"Labor Day. Not sure if that's soon enough."

I like Thompson, but Labor Day is simply ridiculous. It raises the question as to why he feels he should be able to spend the rest of the spring and summer relaxing while everyone other candidate is out busting their tail.

He's a good candidate, but I do worry that a lot of what people like about him is his voice and presidential demeanor. That's all well and good, but with that kind of candidate, it's particularly important that the voters get to kick the tires for an extended period of time.

It's between Thompson and Rudy for me, but Fred is going to have to earn my vote and show me that he respects the office of President of the United States enough to work very hard for it. He's not a coronation-type candidate. Not enough of a past record for that.


6 posted on 03/29/2007 3:19:46 PM PDT by MittFan08 (Anybody but McCain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: MittFan08
I do worry that a lot of what people like about him is his voice and presidential demeanor

Well let the public see and hear the other front runner's voice (screech) and demeanor (arrogant and overbearing) long enough, and Thompson will be a shoo-in.

7 posted on 03/29/2007 3:27:31 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: RWR8189

He ought to run just to get back at Dobson for his stupid position.


8 posted on 03/29/2007 3:32:03 PM PDT by joesbucks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RWR8189

Does anyone know the shooting schedule for Law And Order?


9 posted on 03/29/2007 3:32:47 PM PDT by Graymatter (a Frederalist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: joesbucks

Dobson clarified.

I suspect the media was trying to make a preacher look like a twit.


10 posted on 03/29/2007 3:37:05 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Lezahal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cicero

Well that's good. I hadn't heard that yet. He really stuck hi foot in his mouth with that one.


11 posted on 03/29/2007 4:01:09 PM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (There once was a dream called "Hippy Beat Down." The mere whisper of it made officers smile.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: RWR8189

Thompson is exactly what this country needs. Plain spoken common sense with real intelligence backing it up. Rudy will never get my vote.


12 posted on 03/29/2007 4:03:16 PM PDT by A1 Southern Man (Fred Thompson , the one who can win.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A1 Southern Man

I am leaning his way. I just know the people I will not support. Rudy and John.


13 posted on 03/29/2007 4:04:41 PM PDT by MamaB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: MeanWestTexan

Noticed that Dobson has had to clarify more and more recently?


14 posted on 03/29/2007 4:18:00 PM PDT by joesbucks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: RWR8189

Brer Fox he lay low....


15 posted on 03/29/2007 4:20:52 PM PDT by TUX
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RWR8189
could wait to enter the contest until around Labor Day.

All the money and the prime endorsements will be sucked up by then.

16 posted on 03/29/2007 4:25:45 PM PDT by My2Cents
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: joesbucks

Dobson seems to be suffering from "Pat Robertson Disease."


17 posted on 03/29/2007 4:26:17 PM PDT by My2Cents
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: RWR8189

Fred's got the Leftists scared, that's for sure.


18 posted on 03/29/2007 4:27:47 PM PDT by FormerLib (Sacrificing our land and our blood cannot buy protection from jihad.-Bishop Artemije of Kosovo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FormerLib

Fred's got more than the Leftists scared. He has all the Repub candidates looking over their shoulders too.


19 posted on 03/29/2007 4:28:53 PM PDT by Pistolshot (Being a successful mayor of a cesspool doesn't change the fact it is still a cesspool.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: RWR8189
Labor Day gives you plenty of time when you have "...a commanding television presence that makes every other politician in America jealous."
20 posted on 03/29/2007 4:29:59 PM PDT by APRPEH (Hillary probably wouldn't approve, but I can live with that....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson