Thanks to this post at ElephantBiz, it's now obvious that all current GOP candidates will blow away and Fred Thompson will step in to save the day. OK it's not that obvious, but there are many admirers of the former senator from Tennessee, including this Web site.
Hotline on Call quotes the WH Bulletin:
Thompson, the former Tennessee Republican senator who's now a Law & Order prosecutor and regular replacement for radio host Paul Harvey, is being urged by supporters to consider entering the presidential race, according to associates. "The draft Fred movement is growing," says one ally. They say that Thompson is flattered by the suggestions, but it is unclear if he is turning away their appeals. The effort is growing among conservative blogs, where several boards are pushing the folksy straight-talker to get in.But then throws cold water all over the idea:
Most importantly, Sen. John McCain is one of Thompson's best friends. They talk regularly. A source close to Thompson said that Thompson will not run for president, period.But what if McCain faded?This is more a symptom of certain conservatives in the party looking at the current field and realizing that there is no conservative hero among them. The only solution then is to draft one. Huckabee and Brownback don't have the stature and gravitas that Fred Thompson exudes without even trying. Unfortunately Senator Thompson has never indicated much of a desire to be president.
If McCain fades sure, Thompson could step in but don't bet on it. what I'm wondering is that given Rudy's liberal record on things, will there be a conservative Stop Rudy campaign coalescing to draft a champion? Just because conservatives can handle Rudy's liberal values doesn't mean they like it. All things equal, they'd rather have Rudy's qualities plus a social conservative as well.
Fred Thompson may not be the only one to face a draft.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 23)
1. I won't vote for anyone, Democrat or Republican, that will keep us in Iraq. I don't think there is a Republican that will get us out of there and there are some of the Dems who will not either.
lynne at 12:08PM on Mar 2nd 2007
2. Senator Thompson does have face recognition from his TV work, and he is a nice guy, from all accounts. His Senate tenure, though, was rather humdrum, from what I recall.
Lynne, I haven't seen a single candidate, regardless of party, who wants us to stay in Iraq. The question is only if we should get out by finishing the job, or just turn tail and run. To do the latter would be surrendering the fates of millions of people to the wrath of mass murderers who will not surrender until they get their 72 virgins. Which will contribute more to peace in the long run?
Pastor Dan at 10:19PM on Mar 2nd 2007
3. Fred Thompson is not going to be a candidate for President. He's not conservative enough to be the right-wing candidate, and this field surely doesn't lack for bland, establishment-type moderates. Pastor Dan, your cliched "turn tail and run" and "72 virgins" remarks are just plain embarrassing. As a conservative Republican, I was always against going to war in Iraq, but if we had pursued a rational and intelligent occupation strategy in the spring and summer of 2003, then perhaps a meaningful victory could have been achieved. Instead we pursued the Bush/Cheney, neo-"conservative" strategy, which included such gems as only sending 140,000 troops when we clearly needed at least twice that number, the reckless abolition of the Iraqi Army, and permitting Baghdad to be looted and ransacked upon its liberation. Since the war is already lost, and there's bound to be an intensified Iraqi civil war when we leave, regardless of how many more American soldiers die in the meantime, and how many more hundreds of billions of U.S. tax dollars we continue to flush down the toilet, we might as wel get out now. Lynne, there is one anti-war Republican candidate; U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who is a solid, pro-Life conservative. That's who I plan to vote for.
Kevin Riley OKeeffe at 12:46AM on Mar 3rd 2007
4. It is for certain that someone needs to be drafted. All of the candidates we now have cary negative baggage. My first choice for the draft? Colin Powell. But Thompson could be a viable alternative.
Bill Waters at 10:36AM on Mar 3rd 2007
5. If Democrat Obama can get Hollywood Geffen's support, then Republics can win with Fred Thompson 2008 Presidential candidate. We see Fred on TV Law and Order all the time. Thompson is great and has an aura of importance about him.
Alan Klaus at 2:11PM on Mar 3rd 2007
6. While Fred Thompson would be preferable to any of the rabble running out there, Democrat or Republican, I'd REALLY like to see a candidate who would, you know, like, maybe protect our southern border from the INVASION of America currently taking place by Mexico? Nobody seems to have the guts to stand up to that! Well, Tom Tancredo would. And he's running. But the Press is too busy telling us about Anna Nicole and Britney and Paris, and how everything is George Bush's fault. Tancredo doesn't get a minute of mention. A shame; he'd make a great "America FIRST" President.
Doctor Bob at 6:07PM on Mar 3rd 2007
7. I would vote for Sen. Thompson over any Dem. or replubican
Jonathan M at 6:33PM on Mar 3rd 2007
8. I really don't care about any of the Republican candidates, but then again, after reading about Obama going in front of a pro-Israel group telling them he was going after Iran, I would vote for a candidate in either party who has the "cojones" to not genuflect before such groups. Obama sounds like Bush all over again.
Robert at 6:35PM on Mar 3rd 2007
9. Last year I thought he was running for office.
thomasearlwelch at 6:43PM on Mar 3rd 2007
10. I would vote for him in a heartbeat. He has great credibility. As far as I know, he doesn't say nor do anything without weighing the facts; and he does so, with serious consideration and conviction.
Kathy N at 7:07PM on Mar 3rd 2007
11. I haven't voted for a presidential cantidate in 30 years, no one seemed just right for the job. I'd vote for this guy no matter what party he ran under! He seems like a real straight shooter, honest.
Reprobatejim at 7:13PM on Mar 3rd 2007
12. i thought we were sick of hollywood? ao, we're over al gore?
holly woodlib at 7:33PM on Mar 3rd 2007
13. Your story failed to mention anything that Thompson represents. I assume he's anti-abortion, anti-gay, anti-immigration, pro-anywar that helps out the biggest corporations, etc. etc. but it's hard to tell. Those of us in the frozen and snow-socked northlanf haven't heard of him. I and 55% of the country will only vote for someone who will get us out of this budget mess, meaning will get us out of Iraq, meaning start withdrawing now and getting it done by a reasonable time horizon, and stop the US taxpayers (that's you and me Pastor Dan) footing the bill for the oil companies' wars. And Pastor Dan, please stop parroting that disproven fallacy that the Islamicists are out to get you. I know plenty of Muslims and they're more or less like you and me and just want to live in peace. I'll grant you that some of them in the middle east do get a bit ticked when we invade their countries for oil.
sharon at 7:35PM on Mar 3rd 2007
14. FRED THOMPSON IS A VERY SMART MAN, SO DO NOT EXPECT HIM TO HAVE THE HUGE EGO REQUIRED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. HE LEFT THE SENATE BECAUSE HE WAS DISGUSTED WITH THE SENATE'S RULES, WHICH MAKE THAT BODY ALMOST USELESS. HE REALIZED THAT ITS RULES CONTRIBUTE TO AMERICANS' FIERCE DISLIKE FOR THE WASHINGTON ESTABLISHMENT.
FLETCHER PHELAN at 7:36PM on Mar 3rd 2007
15. #7 Robert, if Obama had gone in front of a pro- Israel group and told them he was going after Iran. It would have been on every news show out there. Since I have not heard or read it anywhere, you need to take that garbage to the dump. Obama could not sound like Bush on his worse day. As a matter of fact no one running could sound that dumb. I love law and order, but I would have to know where Thompson stands on the issues.
Ed at 8:58PM on Mar 3rd 2007