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Exchanges in Latest Debate Highlight a New Dynamic in the Republican Field (Fred Thompson)
NY Times ^ | January 11, 2008 | MICHAEL COOPER and MICHAEL LUO

Posted on 01/10/2008 11:51:32 PM PST by neverdem

Fred D. Thompson tried...

--snip--

But it was Mr. Thompson’s performance, in which he shook off the laid-back style that has defined his candidacy, that provided...

“This is a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party and its future,” said Mr. Thompson, who has staked his run on a strong showing in South Carolina. The primary there is Jan. 19.

“On the one hand,” he said, “you have the Reagan revolution, you have the Reagan coalition of limited government and strong national security. And the other hand, you have the direction that Governor Huckabee would take us in. He would be a Christian leader, but he would also bring about liberal economic policies, liberal foreign policies.”

Mr. Thompson then lit into Mr. Huckabee, the former Baptist preacher and Arkansas governor who won the Iowa caucus, for wanting to close the prison at Guantánamo Bay, for supporting what he called “taxpayer-funded programs for illegals” and for wanting to sign a law restricting smoking.

“That’s not the model of the Reagan coalition, that’s the model of the Democratic Party,” he said.

--snip--

Mr. Thompson leavened his responses with the kind of one-liners that many supporters had hoped he would use sooner.

Asked about the United States response in a confrontation with Iranian speedboats, Mr. Thompson said, “I think one more step and they would have been introduced to those virgins that they’re looking forward to seeing.” At another point, he offered that “you can tell that the news is good coming out of Iraq because you read so little about it in The New York Times.”

He also went after Mr. McCain on immigration.

“I disagree with my friend John McCain on the bill that they proposed last year,” Mr. Thompson said. “I disagree with my friend Governor Huckabee...”

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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; election; elections; fred; fredthompson; gop; sc2008; thompson
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To: americanophile
He was good tonight, but he has no chance in the general.

That reminds me of comments about Reagan. IMHO, Thompson is the only one who can appeal to the religious right supporters of Huckabee, small 'l' libertarian supporters of Dr. Paul's domestic policies, keep the rest of our base and appeal to the independents and donkeys who are incensed against giving illegal aliens driver's licences.

21 posted on 01/11/2008 12:12:42 AM PST by neverdem (Call talk radio. We need a Constitutional Amendment for Congressional term limits. Let's Roll!)
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To: americanophile
should we all just write laudatory comments about Fred Thompson ad infinitum?

Sounds good to me!

22 posted on 01/11/2008 12:12:49 AM PST by Prokopton
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To: americanophile

More nonsense, you are excellent at posting drivel.


23 posted on 01/11/2008 12:13:33 AM PST by Onerom99
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To: americanophile

Admit it, you thought that about Reagan, too, right?


24 posted on 01/11/2008 12:14:48 AM PST by Darkwolf377 (Pro-Life atheist who will vote Fred in the primary, Republican in November)
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To: americanophile
But...it’s a discussion forum right? Don’t you want to hear other opinions, or should we all just write laudatory comments about Fred Thompson ad infinitum?

Discussion, yes. Making silly assertions isn't discussion.

25 posted on 01/11/2008 12:15:56 AM PST by Darkwolf377 (Pro-Life atheist who will vote Fred in the primary, Republican in November)
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To: neverdem

Wow, maybe Fred does want to be President.


26 posted on 01/11/2008 12:16:00 AM PST by HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath (Christ's Kingdom on Earth is the answer. What is your question?)
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To: americanophile

Yeah, like Mitt has any chance in the general election. He wouldn’t even be able to carry his home state.


27 posted on 01/11/2008 12:16:39 AM PST by Steve_Stifler
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To: americanophile
He was good tonight, but he has no chance in the general.



Fred did very well tonight. You may very well be the one who won't make it to the next round ...
28 posted on 01/11/2008 12:16:49 AM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: My Favorite Headache
With all due respect, I think FR is a ceaselessly pro-Thompson campaign machine...I’m just trying to bring some alternative viewpoints, and if “shut up” is the best defense of Thompson against the doubts of a fellow Republican...then you’re all grossly unprepared to deal with the attacks that will come from the left.
29 posted on 01/11/2008 12:17:02 AM PST by americanophile
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To: americanophile

I think you should keep writing the same canned lines that you have written in every discussion of Fred Thompson. The repeat lines make me think of the Bubba administration. If you repeat a lie often enough . . . All Republicans should aspire to be like the Clintons. No?


30 posted on 01/11/2008 12:17:20 AM PST by petitfour
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To: americanophile
but I think everyone here underestimates both Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and the unmitigated fervor of the liberals in the country to “take back” the White House.

You suggest perhaps we should all hide in the basement and concede. Hillary is having trouble with Obama for crying out loud. That guy is smoke. His every speech is smoke. Dems are in big trouble because they are believing there own press. With the right (no pun intended) candidate, this election will be a cake walk.

31 posted on 01/11/2008 12:17:39 AM PST by Mensius
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To: americanophile

I don’t think that’s why you’re getting ripped. If you can provide some reasons why you think he won’t get elected, by all means do so. Too old? Too conservative? Too southern?


32 posted on 01/11/2008 12:18:34 AM PST by saganite (Lust type what you what in the “tagline” space)
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To: americanophile
I think everyone here underestimates both Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and the unmitigated fervor of the liberals in the country to “take back” the White House.

I don't see that at all, but where is this argument/debate you want? Let's have it. Simply asserting little sound bites as you have on this thread is neither.

Don't just throw out silly one-liners: discuss. Make a point and back it up. Don't just make a ridiculous assertion like "The NYT wants Fred to be the nominee" and then go all boo-hoo because people think it's silly, because it is silly without some kind of evidence.

33 posted on 01/11/2008 12:19:04 AM PST by Darkwolf377 (Pro-Life atheist who will vote Fred in the primary, Republican in November)
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To: americanophile
(Fred) was good tonight, but he has no chance in the general.

Because you say so, right?

34 posted on 01/11/2008 12:19:39 AM PST by rogue yam
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To: americanophile

Fred can appeal to the younger generation on the issue of spending, intergenerational debt and getting some control over social security so that their futures are not so burdened. He can get the soccer moms on his experience with national security and returning control over education to local levels. He can appeal to the small business person and the western libertarians by emphasizing federalism as a return to limited government and local control to reflect local values. He can appeal to a large number of Americans on his immigration stand - strong border security and and removing the incentives that draw illegals here. He can emphasize tax cuts for the middle class. He would appoint conservative judges. He has a consistent pro-life voting record. The list goes on and on as to how conservative principles can win over the socialist candidates.

He does need to work on his economic policy to help make us more competitive in the international market.


35 posted on 01/11/2008 12:22:32 AM PST by marsh2
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To: americanophile
But...it’s a discussion forum right?

What discussion? You just throw out a stupid 1-liner "he has no chance in the general" with NOTHING to back it up. Then you say later that the liberals really, really want the WH. No kidding? And they'll want it a lot, lot more if Fred is the nominee than if one of the other GOPs is the candidate? Give me a break!

You don't think there's a HUGE number of people that want to keep Hillary out of the WH?

36 posted on 01/11/2008 12:23:30 AM PST by GLDNGUN
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To: Darkwolf377
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh please. We've had six straight months of "Vote Fred, 'nuf said" and every other possible permutation of naked assertions of Fred's invincibility and conservative bona fides. This despite the fact that he run a terrible, lazy-man's campaign, he's losing in the primaries to people like Ron Paul, he has no money, and South Carolina is widely regarded as his last stand before dropping out (and endorsing McCain).
37 posted on 01/11/2008 12:23:37 AM PST by americanophile
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To: rogue yam

right. it’s MY opinion.


38 posted on 01/11/2008 12:24:32 AM PST by americanophile
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To: americanophile
right. it’s MY opinion.

And you think THAT'S how to win a debate? LOL

39 posted on 01/11/2008 12:26:15 AM PST by GLDNGUN
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To: americanophile
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh please. We've had six straight months of "Vote Fred, 'nuf said" and every other possible permutation of naked assertions of Fred's invincibility and conservative bona fides. This despite the fact that he run a terrible, lazy-man's campaign, he's losing in the primaries to people like Ron Paul, he has no money, and South Carolina is widely regarded as his last stand before dropping out (and endorsing McCain).

The above from someone who complained that there was no "discussion" here.

Your simpleton's view of the campaign--with no insight into why a conservative who's not running the way the others run, and is in fact running the kind of campaign we all SAY we want someone to run, is losing--proves the lie of your "oh, boo-hoo, I just want to talk!" bullcrap.

You just hate Thompson, which makes you no better than those you complain about. And if you truly think ALL we have had here on FR is "Vote Fred, 'nuf said" and assertions of invincibility, I have to wonder about your ability to read outside of those things that support your weary, prevailing-wisdom ideas.

You claimed you wanted discussion. I invited you to do so, and not just make assertions.

Your answer above shows you're incapable of more than just assertions based on things you've read in your paper of choice. As I expected.

40 posted on 01/11/2008 12:28:17 AM PST by Darkwolf377 (Pro-Life atheist who will vote Fred in the primary, Republican in November)
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