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HOW HE GOT HERE: Bigger Than Life (Fred Thompson-Must Read!)
The Washington Post ^ | December 12, 2007 | Joel Achenbach

Posted on 12/11/2007 9:03:28 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

click here to read article


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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Maybe they realize that Huckabee is a flash in the pan and don't want to get on the wrong side of a potential president.

Those "in the know" can see the huge wave about to crash down on Mike Huckabee. The man is a media-driven creation and is in for a savage reconciliation with his dismal record as governor.

41 posted on 12/12/2007 2:18:21 AM PST by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: singfreedom
You know, I’ve always wondered about that angle as well. People complain about Fred’s low-key campaign style, but I get SO TIRED of having candidates jammed down my throat 24/7!

I think it is still very early in the race and Fred is letting the others expose themselves so much that people will tire of them.

JulieJulie and GomerHuck are certainly doing that.McCrazy is gone and the Son of Rambler is leading in his own mind.

42 posted on 12/12/2007 3:25:00 AM PST by leadhead (Democracy can withstand anything but democrats)
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To: Caipirabob

The news on the huckster is starting to turn on him.I have been waiting for this.I think FDT will be alright.They said RR was lazy as well.


43 posted on 12/12/2007 3:27:22 AM PST by HANG THE EXPENSE (Defeat liberalism, its the right thing to do for America.)
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To: originalbuckeye

“As I said, if he has stuff he needs to show it and now....”

Aw heck!! If Fred was a lesbian trans-gendered black Jewish female who lived alternative lifestyles and was a open participant in the secular abortion sacrament AND happened to be a presidential candidate....he would be plastered all over the evening news and every weekly birdcage sheet and daily rag...but because he’s one of “us” he’s lucky to get this Compost Puff Piece.....


44 posted on 12/12/2007 3:41:32 AM PST by mo
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To: originalbuckeye

There’s one in the field who’s noticeably not reluctant. HINT: she wears pantsuits.


45 posted on 12/12/2007 3:41:59 AM PST by steve8714 (Build the fence, ship 'em out, legalize teen workers.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

My favorite Fred Thompson story is a personal one.

In 1992 when I graduated from the University of Memphis law school, our class had to select a speaker for the graduation ceremony. Memphis law school students that year were predominantly Republican in contrast to the faculty.

It was generally agreed among the students to ask Tony Thompson’s father to be the speaker. Tony was in our class, and his father had been on Matlock and in the movies.

At the time, Fred Thompson had been hinted as a possible candidate for governor but his claim to notoriety, notwithstanding his earlier involvement in politics such as Watergate or the ousting of Ray Blanton in Tennessee (Marie), was in the entertainment field.

Word circulated that the Dean was a bit disappointed with our choice. By the way, Dean Fred Davis leaned, I am fairly certain, Republican. He didn’t see what our class saw. One, Thompson would probably attend his son’s graduation. Two, he was a person of notoriety and thus interesting. Three, there was some unknown factor that he would assume some role in some way in the future which would help shape the country.

Fred Thompson gave a good, down to earth speech and impressed everyone with his common sense and lack of an obnoxious ego that the insecure often exhibit.

Two years later, he was elected as United States Senator for Tennessee.

Fred Thompson would make a good President because his personality is grounded in common sense. The very fact that he doesn’t want to go out an pander and create media events is a plus factor for me.


46 posted on 12/12/2007 4:04:29 AM PST by Harris ((optional, printed after your name on post))
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To: originalbuckeye
FDT needs to put himself out there to see and be heard. And he needs to get out there now and be heard now

A recent report showed that only McCain was making more public appearances than Thompson on the GOP side. Just because the MSM is under-reporting him doesn't mean he's not out there doing the work.

47 posted on 12/12/2007 5:00:36 AM PST by kevkrom ("Should government be doing this? And if so, then at what level of government?" - FDT)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
don't want to get on the wrong side of a potential president.

Dream on.

48 posted on 12/12/2007 5:02:12 AM PST by Jim Noble (Trails of trouble, roads of battle, paths of victory we shall walk.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The WaPo has been doing a front page series, a profile on all of the candidates - one each day. Glad it’s not a total attack.


49 posted on 12/12/2007 5:15:24 AM PST by RDTF (Remember Pearl Harbor)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Fred Thompson in his high school football uniform.

50 posted on 12/12/2007 5:18:43 AM PST by RDTF (Remember Pearl Harbor)
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To: Harris

great story!


51 posted on 12/12/2007 5:25:07 AM PST by RDTF (Remember Pearl Harbor)
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To: volunbeer
We have become conditioned to seek cheerleaders instead of wise men to govern

Sadly, there's probably a lot of truth to this. But have we actually changed that much since 1996? And does this mean that we as Republicans are just as obtuse as the American sheeple at large? Weren't the obtuse sheeple supposed to be on the rat side, while we in the GOP were supposed to be the thoughtful and responsible voters?

52 posted on 12/12/2007 6:35:16 AM PST by rhinohunter (Thompson/Steele '08)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
In 1977, he was hired by Marie Ragghianti, who had been fired after blowing the whistle on corruption in the Tennessee parole system, to represent her in a lawsuit against Gov. Ray Blanton. She recalls Thompson's effect on her antagonists: "When I walked in with Fred, they were visibly intimidated. I never felt so secure in my life."


53 posted on 12/12/2007 7:54:32 AM PST by Donald Rumsfeld Fan (NY Times: "fake but accurate")
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To: marsh2
"My impression of Fred is that he is authentic. His story is a very human American story people can identify with. He is not just a whirlwind of soundbytes. He has substance and I think his decisions would be Presidential - studied, decisive, confident."

bump

54 posted on 12/12/2007 8:00:56 AM PST by sweet_diane (Adoption, the beautiful alternative.)
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To: originalbuckeye
but FDT needs to put himself out there to see and be heard. And he needs to get out there now and be heard now.

Uhh....that's what he's doing.

55 posted on 12/12/2007 8:07:13 AM PST by Donald Rumsfeld Fan (NY Times: "fake but accurate")
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To: Harris
"Fred Thompson would make a good President because his personality is grounded in common sense. The very fact that he doesn’t want to go out an pander and create media events is a plus factor for me."

A plus for me as well. I am so tired of being 'politicked' to, if that makes since. I apprecitate that Fred Thompson is comfortable saying what he believes.

56 posted on 12/12/2007 8:10:02 AM PST by sweet_diane (Adoption, the beautiful alternative.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; colorcountry; MHGinTN

Ping


57 posted on 12/12/2007 8:19:08 AM PST by greyfoxx39 (Romney, fooled TWICE by a Columbian gardener...what kind of discernment for POTUS is this?)
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To: greyfoxx39

Great article! Thanks for the ping.


58 posted on 12/12/2007 8:28:11 AM PST by colorcountry (To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: rhinohunter

rhino -

I read this board often and there are plenty of “conservatives” that want a cheerleader. I prefer steady and sober in a leader from my military/law enforcement days but different folks - different strokes.

The media coverage of Thompson is stuck on “lazy and lackluster” when he is possibly the hardest working candidate in the race if you take his life record and examine it closely.

Unfortunately, the nomination process looks much like the Heisman trophy award (whomever ESPN and the sports commentators promote wins).

I like Tancredo, Hunter, and Thompson but according to the media all three of those lack “gravitas” but despite the repeated negative coverage he is still polling pretty well IMO.


59 posted on 12/12/2007 9:43:02 AM PST by volunbeer (Dear heaven.... we really need President Reagan again!)
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