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EDITORIAL: Get a life (Fred Alert!)
Las Vegas Review-Journal ^ | Aug. 22, 2007 | Editorial Staff

Posted on 08/24/2007 11:20:14 AM PDT by Josh Painter

Lane Hudson, an Internet gadfly, filed a complaint with the FEC on Monday, accusing Sen. Thompson of illegally raising more money than he needs to decide whether to run for president.

Federal law allows potential candidates to raise money to travel, conduct polls and pay for other expenses related to "testing the waters" for a political campaign, without any requirement that the prospective candidate file financial reports with the Federal Elections Commission during that exploratory period.

But the law prohibits anyone who is "testing the waters" from hoarding the money thus raised for use during his actual campaign. "We're following the law," Thompson spokesman Jim Mills said in response to the complaint...

The most sensible goal of the campaign finance laws is to allow voters to figure out who's financing these candidates. Huge contributions from teacher unions or mining companies are far better indicators of where a candidate will come down on issues related to those parties than any carefully massaged campaign sound bites.

But to do that, the law has to choose a "start date." And the official announcement of candidacy seems an obvious date to choose...

If Sen. Thompson is as politically savvy as he appears, he will reveal the sources of all the money he has raised to date, whether he is technically required to do so or not.

Under federal guidelines, the FEC will now give Sen. Thompson 15 days to respond to the complaint. At that point, it's highly likely he will be an announced candidate, and this complaint will be dismissed under the "get a life" rule.

As it should be.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: electionpresident; elections; fred; fredthompson; gop; nomination; republicans; runfredrun
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Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Quick Reference

Fred Thompson FAQ: THE Fred Thompson Web Resource
1 posted on 08/24/2007 11:20:15 AM PDT by Josh Painter
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To: Sturm Ruger

I doubt he minds revealing his funding sources, at least eventually. I think this whole thing is very hilarious.


2 posted on 08/24/2007 11:25:20 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: Sturm Ruger

This Lane Hudson is all worried about maybe someone doing something wrong. And doesn’t care at all about definite for sure over many years Clinton corruption. Why doesn’t he sue the dragon lady, if he actually had a conscience?


3 posted on 08/24/2007 11:31:34 AM PDT by hoosierpearl (To God be the glory.)
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To: Sturm Ruger

Apologies for political incorrectness, but I think Lane Hudson should spend less time worrying about Fred Thompson’s campaign and more time worrying about Lane Hudson’s T-cell count.


4 posted on 08/24/2007 11:32:57 AM PDT by Petronski (Why would Romney lie about Ronald Reagan's record?)
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To: Sturm Ruger
They Fear the Fred on both sides and the closer it get to Sept the more shrill they get.
5 posted on 08/24/2007 11:34:04 AM PDT by Beagle8U (FreeRepublic -- One stop shopping ....... Its the Conservative Super Walmart for news .)
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To: Sturm Ruger

they are reaching ...and trying so dang hard to nail him for something because he is a threat. he has everything they wished their candidates did, and he has done this his way. He doesnt care what they say about him and isnt afraid to go toe to toe with them. (remembering his video answer to michael moore). you got to love it that Lanee
is spending so much time and energy on Fred.


6 posted on 08/24/2007 11:46:13 AM PDT by donnab (call me a hater...ive been called worse.)
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To: Sturm Ruger
Lane Hudson, an Internet gadfly gay guy

Fixed that little issue...

7 posted on 08/24/2007 12:11:14 PM PDT by ejonesie22 (I don't use a sarcasm tag, it kills the effect...)
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To: Sturm Ruger
Does this mean the Thompson campaign is spending the $3 million they raised on “testing the waters?”
8 posted on 08/24/2007 12:11:38 PM PDT by elizabetty (The funding dried up and I can no longer afford Tagline Messages.)
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To: elizabetty

He hired someone who worked for the FEC for his staff, so I’m sure that is to be sure he is obeying the law. Which is probably why they are confident that they are obeying the law. Fred is a lawyer, and I’m sure he knows what questions to ask.


9 posted on 08/24/2007 12:21:06 PM PDT by hoosierpearl (To God be the glory.)
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To: hoosierpearl

you’d think so but I’ve also seen lawyers do some stupid and illegal things, I know one who is being sued right now for $50,000 because she sold her house and allowed her realtor to make all kind of claims about the place that weren’t true, like it having a new roof when is was 10 years old. My first reaction was “shouldn’t a lawyer have known better?”


10 posted on 08/24/2007 1:06:50 PM PDT by houston1
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To: houston1

What does your hypothetical lawyer and his house have to do with Fred Thompson and his political organization?


11 posted on 08/24/2007 2:35:38 PM PDT by Clara Lou
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To: Petronski
I can't stop laughing. That WAS politically correct!
12 posted on 08/24/2007 3:45:48 PM PDT by papasmurf (<<<<< Click there to see my dogs! Oh, and I have FRed one liners, too.)
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To: elizabetty
It means they can turn that into campaign money.
13 posted on 08/24/2007 3:47:15 PM PDT by papasmurf (<<<<< Click there to see my dogs! Oh, and I have FRed one liners, too.)
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To: jellybean; girlangler; KoRn; Shortstop7; Lunatic Fringe; Darnright; babygene; pitbully; granite; ...
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

WARNING: If you want to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.

14 posted on 08/24/2007 3:55:08 PM PDT by Politicalmom (Of the potential GOP front runners, FT has one of the better records on immigration.- NumbersUSA)
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To: hoosierpearl; Petronski

Not only Lane Hudson, but a few FReepers of the Romney/Paul persuasions could get a life over this. They were adamant a couple days ago that FDT was in doo doo. I spelled it out through links to the actual regs, but no one wanted the facts.


15 posted on 08/24/2007 4:16:01 PM PDT by bcsco ("The American Indians found out what happens when you don't control immigration.")
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To: Sturm Ruger
"Lane Hudson, an Internet gadfly,...." and Lefty.
16 posted on 08/24/2007 4:18:50 PM PDT by oneamericanvoice (Support freedom! Support the troops! Surrender is not an option!)
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To: hoosierpearl

Lefties don’t have consciences.


17 posted on 08/24/2007 4:19:40 PM PDT by oneamericanvoice (Support freedom! Support the troops! Surrender is not an option!)
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To: Sturm Ruger
This storm of controversy because Fred is entering the race when he damn well feels like it is not just funny to me, it's bloody HILARIOUS.

If Fred enters the race in September, he will be entering it earlier than Reagan, Bush 41 or Clinton did. But it's getting people so FREAKED!

All these other candidates are leading their little sheep around by their noses, as are the MSM. Wow, he's ONLY announcing over a YEAR before election day!

It's so funny watching people piss and moan about such a nothing issue. His record is out there. He's obviously going to be a candidate. You'd think if there was nothing in his record to scare people (including the candidates of both parties) they'd be laughing at him--instead they're all in a panic, because they see that he is right on the issues, isn't some oogah-boogah eeeevil right winger, and he can use the media far better than any of those goofballs running right now.

The Dem and Republicans candidates and their followers all have one thing in common: They've seen what Thompson brings to the table, and instead of dismissing this supposed "also-ran," they're trying to undermine him with this non-issue. The only explanation I can find for these disparate groups being united against Thompson is because they're scared of him.

18 posted on 08/24/2007 5:40:07 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (Atheist pro-lifer)
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To: oneamericanvoice

“Lefties don’t have consciences.”

I agree, for the most part.


19 posted on 08/24/2007 8:06:57 PM PDT by hoosierpearl (To God be the glory.)
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To: bcsco

If it is okay, I’m going to go through some of your posts and check out these links. I would love to see what the actual regs are. I missed that.

You’d think people would be up in arms at Hillary’s trashing of campaign finance law, but even with a lot of freepers it is ho hum, nothing to see here. They’re always corrupt so what’s the big deal. We ought to be able to make a stink about her. I for one don’t get that.

When do Democrats ever do what is right when there is corruption in their own ranks? Never.


20 posted on 08/24/2007 8:11:27 PM PDT by hoosierpearl (To God be the glory.)
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