Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Quick Reference
Fred Thompson FAQ: THE Fred Thompson Web Resource
Posted on 06/30/2007 1:08:23 PM PDT by hardback
Newt Gingrich is telling Republican insiders that his decision in September whether to run for president in 2008 depends on the progress of Fred Thompson's imminent candidacy.
If Thompson runs a vigorous and effective campaign, Gingrich says privately, he probably will not get in the race himself. If Thompson proves a dud, however, the former House speaker will seriously consider making a run. That implies that the others in the field look to Gingrich like losers in the general election.
A footnote: Gingrich has weighed in more heavily on the immigration issue than any of the major Republican presidential hopefuls. He has bombarded Republican Senate offices with material attacking the immigration bill backed by President Bush, even sending proposed talking points to senators about to meet with the president.
TAXES AND THOMPSON
Dropping into what will be the key state of South Carolina for his prospective presidential campaign, Fred Thompson was ambushed Wednesday by advocates of the "Fair Tax" plan to repeal the federal income tax and replace it with a national sales tax.
The former senator addressed a Republican state fund-raising luncheon in the state capital of Columbia. He appeared surprised to see more people wearing "Fair Tax" stickers than "Thompson for President" badges. He did not seem prepared to answer questions about the sweeping tax reform.
South Carolina on Feb. 2 will be the second Republican presidential primary after New Hampshire (on Jan. 22), and polls show that its GOP voters are inclined to fellow Southerner Thompson. He would need a win there after a possible win in New Hampshire by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
HILLARY MOVING RIGHT?
Sen. Hillary Clinton recently conferred with conservative health care analyst Regina Herzlinger, who advocates universal health insurance provided by the private sector and who has sharply criticized the 1994 "Hillarycare" as Mrs. Clinton's "bid for a centrally controlled system."
Herzlinger, a Harvard Business School professor, was one of several health care experts heard by Clinton during a two-hour "listening" conference call. "I was thrilled that she was sympathetic and interested in what I said," Herzlinger told me.
Although Clinton currently is sponsoring a massive expansion of SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program), several conservatives speculate that she as president might take the same path to the right on health care that President Clinton did on public welfare.
PATRICK'S BILLIONAIRE
Billionaire financier Stephen Schwarzman was listed as one of the hosts of a 40th birthday party for Democratic Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island Thursday night at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan. An individual ticket cost $1,000, with $5,000 required to be a VIP.
Schwarzman, co-founder and CEO of the Blackstone Group, made newspaper front pages when it was reported he would earn $7.5 billion from the public offering of his private-equity firm. Other big money Democrats listed on the invitation included David Boies, Norman Hsu, Felix Rohatyn, Bernard Schwartz, Todd Slotkin and Kenneth I. Starr. The principal host was the congressman's father, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
The location of the party could be found only by phoning a Washington telephone number to R.S.V.P.
PARTY SWITCHER
John N. Kennedy, Louisiana's conservative Democratic state treasurer, is expected to change parties and run against Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu as a Republican at the urging of White House aide Karl Rove, despite harassment from the Democratic-controlled state legislature.
Kennedy long has considered changing parties, but wanted to wait until the current state legislative session ended. His switch was discussed on Mother's Day in a private lunch attended by Kennedy, Rove and David Vitter, Louisiana's Republican senator. When Vitter leaked Kennedy's intentions, the legislature began machinations to obstruct operations of the state treasurer's office.
A strong fiscal conservative, Kennedy is fighting maneuvers intended to chew up a state budget surplus, as a Republican, Rep. Bobby Jindal, is expected to be elected governor of Louisiana this year
Um he was a Senator that puts him in the group.
So would a Congressman be better? Or do you prefer a liberal Governor or Mare?
I like Fred but I will vote for Newt if he runs.
Just hangin’ and waitin’.........
Newt better get his ass in gear if he’s going to run. Thompson has waited about a slong as he can. Any more delay and your campign has a better chance of losing.
I’d like to see Newt team up with Fred and help the election, then become chief of staff to President Thompson.
American women(and many men) have been generally brain washed.. Universal Health Care will be bought like a Yugo with a Candy Apple paint job.. in 2008..
For president, possibly. But as VP he'd be great. A Thompson-Gingrich ticket could be a winner.
That didn't stop Ted Kennedy from getting eight terms in the Senate.
Will mold grow on the cheese in my fridge? I care more about that than I do about Newt Gingrich.
Most of the congressmen voted on a bill that should have been passed last year. They seem to be a little closer to where the people are in real life. I would prefer someone not even in politics or big business.
Interesting fact I didn't know.
I still don't like his attention to Hillarycare earlier and think his character is sufficiently weak that if in a prolonged spotlight he could find himself in trouble just like he did before. Maybe not the same trouble, but trouble nonetheless.
I do think he's inventive and not bad as an idea point man for conservatives, but have doubts about him as President let alone his chances of winning.
I suspected the reason he didn't announce is because of Thompson.
I do think if Thompson self destructed Newt would probably have a strong chance of getting the nomination. While I may be less then warm toward him, I know the movement would flock to him.
Loser in all of this? Romney. His hope is that Thompson flames out so conservatives have no alternative but him. Newt is all but announcing he'll make himself the alternative in that event.
John N. Kennedy, Louisiana's conservative Democratic state treasurer, is expected to change parties and run against Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu as a Republican at the urging of White House aide Karl Rove, despite harassment from the Democratic-controlled state legislature. Kennedy long has considered changing parties, but wanted to wait until the current state legislative session ended. His switch was discussed on Mother's Day in a private lunch attended by Kennedy, Rove and David Vitter, Louisiana's Republican senator.
Did Rove make him swear an amnesty oath? Hopefully Vitter hols more weight with him then Rove does. I'm wary of a Democrat turned republican. Trent is the poster child for why that's not always a good thing. Is he really a conservative, or a Rovian "compassionate conservative"? If the latter I'd rather Mary keep the seat. At least she turned down amnesty.
Newt is waiting to be somebody’s chief of staff.
Also heard of a report that Thompson staffers set up a meeting for him with conservatives in Congress last week, and they were not impressed. Not a good sign.
“I suspected the reason he didn’t announce is because of Thompson.”
Newt has been very clear from the very beginning about his intentions, and when he will make a decision. The problem is half the people on FR don’t even listen to what he says. He’s been very clear about this..... he is spending the year building a non-partisan grassroots movement (American Solutions) to solve the country’s problems, and offering those solutions to candidates from BOTH parties. If there is not a candidate he feels will implement the bold changes needed, he will consider running.
Anyone NOT watching what Newt has been doing should start paying attention.
No argument from me there!
Whatever you think about his policies, I think Gingrich would be a disaster for the Republican party because his personal character leaves so much to be desired. Which is a shame, because he’s obviously a brilliant man with a lot to offer.
Even if you don’t care about his personal life, you have to realize the Democrats are going to have an absolute field day excoriating anyone who advocates “family values” while falling so short of the mark himself.
Thompson is an infinitely better choices to provide the moral leadership many Republicans are looking for.
Now Newt's only shot is if Thompson isn't as billed, or self destructs. In that instance, while I personally do not and probably will never like Newt, the majority of the movement does based on the Contract with America and the fact he'd at least give conservatives a seat at the table unlike this President who isolates them, and would corronate him their nominee swiftly to prevent a Rudy nomination.
I do not want Newt, one bimbo eruption in the white house recently is enough..if newt would of had his tools clean, he could of pushed for the impeachment with more gusto, but alas he was very quite...
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