What's in a name?

Apparently a lot if you are a burly Southerner presumably seeking the Republican nomination for President;

Fred, Fred, Fred: Thompson's Challenge Has a Name

By Monica Hesse

In the swampy soup of hopefuls for the 2008 presidential election, there is a man with a funny name. (No, not that one.)

We're thinking of the one named Fred (Thompson).

Say it out loud. Do it. Fred. Fred. In the South, Fray-ud.

Fur-red-duh.

It has the tonal quality of something being dropped on the floor, something heavy and damp-ish.

Waterlogged paper towel.

Fred.

Some simple searches of all of the tubes on all of the internetz clearly shows the source of Ms. Hesse's hostility towards the Fred. He doesn't attend many 'Guerilla Queer Bars' . He is certainly not cerebral enough to wite or even read a thesis entitled "Queering the Cannibal: Race and the Eroticizing of Consumptive Narratives in American Literature.". He might even drive an SUV.

So, ya know, he's just so outta touch.

Our wonderful and illustrious author on the monthly Guerilla Queer Bar jaunt.

Fred Thompson's 'trophy wife' runs the show

Another anti-Fred screed, this one from across the pond:

She has sometimes been dismissed as a tanned and bleached blonde "trophy wife", only ever glimpsed in sleek and glamorous outfits on the arm of her much older spouse.

Ok, I'll bite. Who dismissed her as such? That is the most virulent and sexist characterization I have seen of Thompson's wife. What lazy pissant journalism it is to fall back on the old, 'some have said' routine to mask one's own political slant.

Another anti-Fred hitpiece

Walter Todd Houston does an excellent job dissecting Fred Thompson's ever-so-slanted 'bio' on Bloomberg's 'News' Service. I decided to do some fact-checking myself, and, lo and behold, gasp, one of the 'bio's' authors has done some politicking herself. Yes, that's $202 to Mr Heinz in the last Presidential election.

And have we forgotten this?

The Fred pulls even with America's Favorite Yankee Fan

per Rasmussen:

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds New York Senator Hillary Clinton (D) tied with former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson (R) in an Election 2008 match-up. Both candidates attract support from 45% of voters. Given a Clinton-Thompson match-up, 5% of voters say they’d pull the lever for some other candidate and 4% are not sure.

And its not a blip but big mo:

Compared to our previous survey of these matchups, conducted early in June, Clinton has lost a net five points against both Thompson and Romney. In May, Clinton led both of these GOP hopefuls by three points.

The Newt that won't die

and we dont want you to, but please, please, disappear. Newt, deal with reality. Stop flirting with a Presidential run.

Your personal problems make you unelectable, and you arent worth the effort of a defense. You resigned as Speaker under a cloud. You abandoned the constituents that elected you. You were usually a sane voice of conservative reason but I am still dumbfounded by the 'man made global warming' confession to your debate partner, John Kerry. I don't think conservatives should lend any support to such a zeitgeist surfer.

*Brought to you by a blogger that supports Fred and only Fred.

Mr Thompson goes to Washington

and

Woos smitten Congressmen

WASHINGTON - The welcome for Fred Thompson wasn't just warm, it was effusive.
The former Tennessee senator and actor is still weighing whether to run for the GOP presidential nomination but House Republicans who met with him Wednesday gushed over the prospects of Thompson candidacy.

They called him presidential, a leader, a proven conservative, an exciting prospect and "a breath of fresh air."

"I wanted to come over and see some of my old friends and make some new friends and tell them what was on my mind and listen and to see what was on their minds," Thompson said in a brief statement to reporters camped outside the Capitol Hill Club.

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (news, bio, voting record), R-Ga., said: "there was a breath of fresh air in the room today," while Rep. Steve Buyer (news, bio, voting record), R-Ind., added: "he spoke as though he was a president." Rep. David Davis (news, bio, voting record), R-Tenn., said people are looking for a candidate with a proven conservative voting record and "Fred Thompson's the man."

Even those congressmen who wouldn't yet commit offered praise.

"Very impressive," said Rep. Adam Putnam (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla. "He has the charisma and the fortitude to lead our nation at what is a very difficult time." And Rep. Walter Jones (news, bio, voting record), R-N.C., called Thompson a straight shooter, and said: "I'm looking for somebody that can excite America again

UPDATE: Cong. Zach Wamp, "not if, but when"

Thompson considered the strongest potential candidate

My instincts tell me this is a given, but it is nice to see it on paper:

The National Journal asked its group of political insiders which potential candidates, if any, will emerge as a strong contender for president.

The Democrats gave the following responses:

Fred Thompson: 46% *Al Gore: 24% Newt Gingrich: 12 %Michael Bloomberg: 11% Chuck Hagel: 8% None of the above: 29%

On the Republican side:

Fred Thompson: 43% Al Gore: 21% Newt Gingrich: 15% Michael Bloomberg: 11% Chuck Hagel: 4% None of the above: 35%

Nice to see on the Repub side, but are the Dems starting to take notice?

But notions of FDT's viability as a candidate are still raised. And the conclusion is - YES.

FDT - charged and ready

Ratchetin it up...

WASHINGTON - After disclosing Wednesday that he has lymphatic cancer, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, perhaps best known for his TV role as District Attorney Arthur Branch on NBC's "Law and Order," is accelerating his schedule of public appearances. Advisors say this reflects his growing seriousness about entering the race for the White House.

On Friday morning Thompson is scheduled to attend the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington. He will be there with his wife Jeri at the Washington Hilton's ballroom event. President Bush will be there to make remarks.

A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll released Wednesday indicates Thompson, who has yet to announce his candidacy, has risen to #2, ahead of Arizona Senator John McCain.

George Will spends an entire column to say..

that non-candidate Fred Thompson, the "political flavor du jour", was wrong on McCain/Feingold. What conservative disagrees? I don't. But why devote an entire column to a single position of a non-candidate? Will is too young, too smart and too skinny to be officially labelled 'curmudgeon'. Why is he lobbying for the title now? Maybe he should suggest a viable candidate, better able to accept the Ronald Reagan mantle.

Link here.

Fred Thompson - "The Pirates of Tehran"

Fred continues on his Shermanesque march towards the Presidency (apologies to my numerous Georgian friends). In just a couple of months and without even having announced his candidacy, Thompson has become the conservative of choice in the blogosphere. He is craftily using the internet and radio to launch a campaign without the need to announce.

McCain is all but done. He has deliberately ignored the conservative base. Romney's has a tremendous war chest but money doesn't buy gravitas, nor can it erase his tortured positions and inconsistent voting record. Rudy is popular but sinking. And he has more baggage than Thurston and Lovey brought on the Minnow. Run Fred, run.

Wednesday afternoon Fred Thompson

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Religious and Ethics Liberty Commission, has some nice words about Thompson:

“Fred Thompson reminds me of a Southern-fried Reagan,” Land said. “To see Fred work a crowd must be what it was like to watch Rembrandt paint.”

***

The New Yorker with a thorough and generally well-balanced article on Thompson.

***

Editor & Publisher sees him as lacking in name recognition. Bruce Walker at The American Daily would bristle at E & P's conlusions of 'President-Elect Fred Thompson'.

***

Fred is IN... Paleo Bob Novak says so...

Bob Novak, amiable curmudgeon of the Right, says so:

In just three weeks, Fred Thompson has transformed the contest for the Republican presidential nomination. It is not merely that he has come from nowhere to double digits in polls. He is the talk of GOP political circles because he is filling the conservative void in the field.

Republican activists have complained for months that none of the Big Three -- Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney-- fits the conservative model of a conservative leader for a conservative party. The party faithful have been waiting for another Ronald Reagan. But in conversations with them the past year, nobody mentioned Thompson as the messiah until he appeared March 11 on "Fox News Sunday."

What a disconnect. Any person with a sense of the pulse of the party knows that FDT is the candidate of choice. No other viable candidate embodies all of the principles conservatives do. There is no longer such thing as a 'paleo Conservative'. Modern technology and communication has obliterated that ideal. It officially died on 9/11.

Like in the 40's, we must engage the world, and do so in a way to protect our freedoms. Europe is abrogating the responsibility of defending individual freedoms, while they are the worst affected. We need to carry the mantle. Fred Thompson embodies that spirit, the vigor, and the voice to do it.

Lanny Davis on Fred Thompson

Everyone remembers Lanny, the lil Bill Clinton schmuck, now a Hill shill, has been thrown out by the former Royal Family to throw all 'enemies' under the bus. But he is scared. Not by Mitt. Not by Rudy. Not by McClain......... But by FRED:

So let me just limit my positive comments by saying: He is authentic and powerfully smart and very fair.

I hope he isn’t the GOP nominee because he would be very difficult to beat — although my candidate, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), and he, if they were the Democratic and Republican nominees, respectively, would ensure a great and high level of debate on the issues, rather than “gotcha” attacks back and forth that both of them, I am certain, completely reject.

So Sen. Thompson — you can say that I strongly disagree with you because you are too conservative and am supporting Sen. Clinton. But honestly: I think an awful lot of Democrats and independents would share with me their high level of respect for you, as well as their concern that you may be the most difficult Republican to beat in November 2008.

This isn't a nefarious plot, it is respect, that the enemy has for the man who should be Prez.

UPDATE: And Margaret Carlson 'drools'.

No more Law and Order reruns?

Probably not, if Fred Thompson enters the race:

If Fred Thompson, the one-time Tennessee senator better known to most Americans as district attorney Arthur Branch on "Law & Order," runs for president, some of his fans may be in for a letdown. Television stations are expected to drop reruns of the show temporarily if he makes a real-life bid for the White House.

Federal campaign law requires broadcasters to give all candidates equal time on the airwaves. That rule applies to entertainment programs like "Law & Order," meaning stations which run the show would be required to give other GOP candidates a like amount of prime time television exposure.

This the kind of stupid thing which happens when the government decides to regulate political speech.

McCain Successful at Garnering European Vote

Its settled. France, Belgium, the Netherlands are in the bag. Only a time before Germany and Austria are there too. McCain is sewing up the Eurpoean vote with a vengeance.

I love that new tag - John McCain, formerly the leading Republican presidential contender.

John McCain, give up your pursuit of the Republican nomination. You will NEVER become President.

Support Fred Thompson and become his Secretary of Veterans Affairs. We need it back. We need a veteran to lead it.

Add pragmatism to the list

...of reasons why you should support Fred Thompson for President. Captain Ed reports that Thompson is questioning his support for the McCain-Feingold anti-speech abomination. Hallmark of a good leader - when ya dunn fud up, ya tern aroun and fix'er up.

***UPDATE*** The LA Times chimes in on our 'folksy' candidate.

Fred Thompson Update

"Draft Fred" PAC being announced today

Michael - I wanted to give you the heads up. The official "Draft Fred Thompson 2008" political committee is being filed with the F.E.C. as we speak and will be announced sometime tomorrow. It is being set up as an unauthorized/non-connected 527 committee and will serve as a vehicle for supporters from across the country to express their desire to see Senator Thompson run.

Momentum builds, Myra smiles. :)

***UPDATE*** Dan Riehl is encouraged by a Thompson call in to a radio show this morning.

***UPDATE DEUX*** Congresman Zach Wamp gives us 10 reasons why Thompson is the man:

1. He personifies strength and trust - the two primary characteristics people look for in a President.

2. He is a natural leader - let's face it. Some politicians are but most are not.

3. He is a consistent conservative - from national security and second amendment rights to the sanctity of life and traditional marriage, Fred is a strong conservative.

4. He has charisma - in the Senate they call it "gravitas." At home it's just plain old confidence. Fred knows who he is, where he came from and where we, as a nation, should go together.

5. He has plenty of experience - not a career politician, but from cleaning up government corruption to chairing select committees on Chinese missile technology, Fred Thompson has the right amount of experience.

6. He is highly electable - Fred Thompson has always been likeable. From the movie set to the Senate floor, he is just "good ol' Fred" to everyone he comes in contact with.

7. He has "star quality" - let's face it, we are at the height of the information age. The media overdoes it so someone who is media friendly and has some celebrity is advantaged.

8. He has a great sense of humor - during the difficult times in which we live, we need a touch of humor. Fred is serious minded but does not take himself too seriously.

9. He is comfortable in his own skin - What you see is what you get. Fred Thompson is the real deal and it shows.

10. He is a Tennessean - perhaps the biggest plus of all and sorry y'all...you have to be one to really understand.

This Dawg must take issue with number 10, but batting .900 aint too shabby.

RUN FRED RUN

Scroll down for updates

I have been disappointed in the field Republican candidates. Nobobody excites me. I knew I'd have to hold my nose for one reason or another, whomever I ended up voting for. Maybe the horizon isn't all that bleak now. Seems there is a "draft Fred Thompson" groundswell starting on the internet.

For those unfamiliar with him, please check his Wikipedia entry. I bet you have seen one of his movies. He possesses all of the qualities Republicans need in a candidate - tough, articulate, witty and drips with credibility.

I now have a visual I can't erase from my noggin. I can just see Republican candidate Thompson standing next to Democratic candidate Edwards on a podium after a debate. Thompson is confident and assured, waving to the crowd. A disheveled Edwards tries to raise a smile but has difficulty holding back the tears after the ass whoopin he just took.

RUN FRED, RUN.

UPDATE: Fred Rules Freeperland:



UPDATE II: Howard Baker solicits support.

UPDATE III: Barnes, Kondracke and Krauthammer DON'T get it:

ANGLE: All right, we don't have much time left. There was some talk today that Fred Thompson might get into the race. Fred Thompson, who's now on Law and Order, but a senator and a jovial fellow who's known around town is also involved in the Scooter Libby defense fund. What are the prospects of that?
KRAUTHAMMER: Look, we've had an actor in a White House, but he also was a two-term governor of the largest state in the union and quite an accomplished political thinker. In getting a guy right out of a television show -- it's not going to happen, especially in wartime.
KONDRACKE: I completely agree with that. And Fred Thompson, you know, was the chairman of the government operations committee in the Senate and basically did nothing while he was there. I mean, he doesn't have much of a record.
BARNES: There's a space for more candidates, I suppose, always, but I agree with Charles, it's -- I mean Ronald Reagan, you know, was governor, he didn't just jump from Death Valley Days right to a presidential campaign.
KRAUTHAMMER: I'd say he's finished.

Tom Bevan correctly dispels their misgivings:

Personally, I'm not so sure. Thompson may have a shot for two reasons. First, experience is generally overrated. Two of the top-tier candidates on the Democratic side (Obama & Edwards) currently have eight years in the Senate between them - the same as Thompson. Second, persona matters a tremendous amount in modern politics and there are very few people who project more of an aura of strength and seriousness than Fred Thompson. It's hard to envision him standing on a stage debating Obama, Clinton, or Edwards and coming away looking like a lightweight.

I think the biggest challenge for Thompson is meeting the desire requirement. Is this something he really wants, and is really ready to put forth the effort it will take to keep up the grueling schedule of a presidential bid over the next twenty months? However popular Thompson may be with the party faithful, his entry into the race would be light years away from a coronation. He'd have to fight hard for it, especially against his good pal John McCain