Exchanges in Latest Debate Highlight a New Dynamic in the Republican Field (Fred Thompson)

NY Times ^ | January 11, 2008 | MICHAEL COOPER and MICHAEL LUO

[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...”

[Madame Dufarge]

then you’re all grossly unprepared to deal with the attacks that will come from the left.

Seems to me that the responses on this thread to your assertions show a marvelous preparedness.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Good analysis but I'm amazed at those who believe that Fred has finally come alive. For those saying this, they were the ones who were not paying attention before. At the very least, they were believing the lies put out by the MSM.

Fred has been very much alive and Freepers have known for a long time that Fred is the one with real substance and definitely the most conservative of the lot.

Go, Fred, Go.

[big'ol_freeper]

It was really fun watching Fred outshine the RINOs last night. He needs to keep pounding them.

U.S. Army Retired

[normy]

This is the second debate where Fred and Rudy dominated.

I thought Ron Paul did well but his unrealistic view of our role in the world is crazy. He probably would be a great Supreme Court Justice but in his world Saddam owns all of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. North Korea owns South Korea and Taiwan is owned by China.

Mitt placed a respectable 3rd

Huckabee was 4th. His whining about religious questions is tiring since he wears it on his sleeve. His weaseling out of the "wives submit to you husbands" made me like him less. If you believe the Bible and as a former preacher you should, stand up for what you believe, don't qualify Gods word for him.

McCain looked bad for the last 2/3rds of the debate. I loved his line "I know how to secure the borders, I come from a border state that is being overrun" (of course I am paraphrasing).

Fred/Rudy 08

[TornadoAlley3]

Huckabee on Morning Joe, both are beating Fred to death:)

[TornadoAlley3]

Huckabee....”Fred won’t be getting the NRA endorsement if he can’t shoot better than that.”

[TomGuy]

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

But, the question regarding Thompson's performance, is it sustainable?

Each time Thompson shows a burst of energy, it seems to be only momentary.

He was great in the ABC/Gibson debate (NH). The next night, he should have called in his performace in the FoxNews debate (NH).

Thompson came across stong last evening (SC). Is it sustainable?

[primatreat]

I attended one of the very early campaign mini speeches of Regan. It was at one of the conferences attended by Jesse Owens, etc. Be “all you can be” type of speeches.
Regan did not do well in this early outing, sort of like Fred. Only when he got mad and “I paid for this microphone” set him apart did he find his footing.
Fred found his “footing” last night.

[TomGuy]

Huckabee is on F&F this morning whining about Fred being mean to him last evening.

Huckabee claims the others keep attacking him. Ironically, Huckabee’s claims are, themselves, attacks on his opponents.

[LibLieSlayer]

He is the only man that can unite the Party and defeat the dims. If you listened to luntz’s focus group last night... the others ARE TOO LIBERAL. Even moderates know a great man like Reagan when they see him.

LLS

[keeper53]

I beg to differ.
If/when it becomes a choice between Hillary!/Obama or Fred.......FDT will be our next president!

[LibLieSlayer]

No, he thinks your statement points to how ignorant YOU are.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

It’s your ilk we have tolerated for far too long. Go to the DUmp where you belong.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

mitt’s like gore... those that know him best... vote against him!

LLS

[the808bass]

then you’re all grossly unprepared to deal with the attacks that will come from the left

So far, you've posted a dozen times or so on a thread without a single supporting fact to your point. I would posit that a person like that is a practiced obfuscator and likely a company shill.

Fred Thompson has the experience and the "fervor" (chuckle, chuckle, good try with using a new word for an old talking point) to win in the general election. It remains to be seen if his campaign can get traction.

[LibLieSlayer]

My opinion is that you are a liberal arse!

LLS

[Jim Robinson]

GO, FRed, GO!!

[MARTIAL MONK]

I’m open to, and actually hoping for, Fwed to live up to the potential. I’m all for him if he does.

[LibLieSlayer]

That was not a bomb but a thread turd that he dumped.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

Those two are meant for each other... liberal news networks and liberal hosts (even those liberal hosts that share the (r) with huckster) fit huckster’s politics to a tee. LIBERAL!

LLS