[ElRushbo]

senator thompson will not run for reelection, tenn. big neg. , easy win to open contested seat

[Catspaw]

There were rumors he wouldn't run again, but he just announced it? I hope he helps the R candidate raise money, because it's a little late to be getting out of the race.

[codebreaker]

Dang, beat me by 2 minutes!

[doug from upland]

I don't like this. Unless we take the Senate back, they will stop all but liberal Supreme Court nominees.

[JMK]

VP running mate in '04 if Cheney decides not to run?

[aristeides]

I could have sworn I heard Thompson on C-SPAN a couple of months ago announcing that he was running for reelection, despite earlier doubts and largely because of 9/11. If it is true that he changed his mind after that public announcement, I wonder what made him do it.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee will not seek re-election, White House and Senate officials said Friday,

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Thompsom will serve out his term, which expires next January. One Republican Senate official said the lawyer and former actor was resigning for personal reasons dealing with his family.

Thompson's daughter, Elizabeth, died Jan. 20 from a brain injury following a heart attack. She was 38.

Asked by a reporter Friday if he planned to seek re-election, Thompson replied: "I have nothing to say about that now." He indicated there would be a statement later.

[Republican Wildcat]

This is indeed very bad news.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

07:52 PST (AP) -- Thompson, 59, had looked hard at announcing last year that he would retire from the Senate after only one term. But he announced two weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that he would seek re-election.

"Seeing all that happen and all those people looking for ways to contribute when I had one right here before me, in my lap, so to speak, it became obvious," Thompson said then. "Now is clearly not the time to leave."

Democrats now have a one-seat edge in the Senate. Three other Senate Republicans, Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, Phil Gramm of Texas and Jesse Helms of North Carolina, also have announced that this is their last year in office.

[PaulJ]

Maybe heading back to Hollywood? TV series, perhaps?

[rightwing2]

"Tenn. Sen . Thompson won't seek re-election"

Good news since that saves us a lot of time effort, and money that would have otherwise gone in to trying to defeat him and his fellow RINO Democrat Incumbent Protection Act supporters!

[1Old Pro]

Turnover is good. Perhaps a good conservative will seek the office. Now if only Ted Kennedy and his ilk would realize that government is not a career.

[RetiredArmy]

We are going to have a very tough time getting the Senate back now. Now we have to fight for this seat also. Really hurts the cause.

[The Mayor]

my last name is Thompson, maybe i could just slide in,
i'm a little more conservative than him though....

[Rhetorical pi2]

Senate Race in Tennessee: Best potential candidate for the Republicans is Ed Bryant. He is from the Western part of Tennessee, helping him get votes in an area that frequently votes democrat. He is Conservative, and good campaigner, but not well known in the rest of the state.

Politically, Tennessee is divided into three distinct parts: East Tennessee is solid GOP for over 100 years. Central Tennessee is Liberal Democrat (tremendous influence by the Nashville Tennessean newspaper.)

West Tennessee is Conservative democrat in the rural areas,Republican in the suburbs of Memphis/Shelby County, and ultra-liberal democrat (Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.)in the urban, inner-city of Memphis.

Therefore, the candidate with the best chance of winning is a moderate Republican from West Tennessee. This was the base from which Gov. Sundquist (who has now lost practically ALL support from Conservatives due to his insisting on raising taxes each year), Senator Thompson, and former Governor Lamar Alexander.

Harold Ford,Jr. may decide to run. He would have near 100%support from the Black voters across the state. But he turns off white voters due to his family's incredible scandals and borderline criminal activites. But the Fords have a tremendous political machine - the likes of which Mayor Daly would have admired.

Best hope of those who read FR: Ed Bryant. Second choice: Lamar Alexander (just to keep the seat).

Honest assessment: This is gonna be a war with no clear winner 'til the very end. You can be certain that Algore will use this to "reconnect" with "his people".

[GraniteStateConservative]

Senator Harold Ford, Jr. -- Oh, Lord help us.

[kellynla]

LAMAR ALEXANDER: A seventh generation Tennessean; At Maryville High School an Eagle Scout and Boys State Governor. Worked his way through Vanderbilt University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with honors in Latin-American history. As student newspaper editor, he led a campaign to desegregate Vanderbilt. Member of the 440-yard relay team that set the school record. Law review editor at New York University Law School and clerk to the Hon. John Minor Wisdom, of the U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans. In 1967, legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Howard Baker; in 1969, executive assistant to Bryce Harlow, counselor to President Nixon; in 1970, returned to Tennessee. Republican nominee for Governor in 1974; defeated in the general election by Ray Blanton. After a 1000 mile walk across Tennessee in 1978, elected Governor and sworn into office three days early at the U.S. Attorney's request to prevent Gov. Blanton from selling pardons for cash; re-elected in 1982. As Governor, helped Tennessee become the leading state in attracting new Japanese investment; appointed first African-American ever to serve on the Tennessee Supreme Court; left office with AAA Bond rating, less debt and fewer state employees. Served as chairman of the Southern Regional Education Board; Chosen "Conservationist of the Year" by the Tennessee Conservation League. Founder, Southern Republican Exchange Network (1986); Founder and Chairman of the Republican Exchange Satellite Network (1993-1995) First Tennessee Governor to serve successive four-year terms. Chaired Alexander-James Commission on Educational Assessment (1986) and National Council on Philanthropy and Civic Renewal (1997); member, President Bush's Education Advisory Committee (1989-1990) and Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics (1990). Unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate as Education Secretary in 1991. As U.S. Secretary of Education (1991-93), organized first U.S.-Mexico Border Conference on Education to open dialogue and improve education on both sides of the border and was responsible for planning, implementing the first-ever meeting of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Education Ministers to look at education standards for the 21st Century. Co-director, Empower America (with William Bennett, Jack Kemp and Jeanne Kirkpatrick) (1994-1995). Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute (1994-1995). Publicly reported tax returns and financial activities every year since 1977, the year before he first was elected to public office. In high school won two statewide piano competitions; as law clerk in New Orleans played trombone at night at "Your Father's Moustache."

[WyCoKsRepublican]

I had heard and read as long ago as a year ago that Sen Thompson wouldn't run. I wish him the best in whatever his endeavor. He has been a champion of our Constitution and freedom. We need more conservatives like him. He has my highest respect and just maybe we'll look for him in some future acting roles, and definitely as a campaigner for Republican candidates in Tennessee and other states. God Bless you Senator!........ one Kansas Boy

[arielb]

Thompson is also a big supporter of McCain Feingold campaign finance reform

[Free the USA]

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