In the swampy soup of hopefuls for the 2008 presidential election, there is a man with a funny name. (No, not that one.)Oh dear Lord, look how far the Washington Post has fallen. The story is apparently on the front page of Sunday's "D" section, but still. Do we now have to endure stories like this about "Rudy," "Hillary" and..."Barack"? Or is this a single snide attack on one candidate, a Republican, before he officially enters the race -- a sign of the quality of things to come from the Post regarding Fred Thompson?
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.
The phonetics of the name seem integral to its image problem: On Urbandictionary.com, a "Fred" is defined as "a person who does stupid, annoying, or idiotic things" (Fred Flintstone, Fred Mertz). The best-case descriptors a Fred can hope for are terms like well-intentioned, predictable, benign (Fred Rogers).
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Washington Post Makes Fun of 'Fred' Name
When one runs for public office, especially the presidency, one expects attacks of all kinds, including personal. But a staff writer for the Washington Post has surprised even my cynical mind by making fun of, and a whole article out of, the moniker "Fred": Fred, Fred, Fred: Thompson's Challenge Has a Name.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 4)
1. Talk about "a person who does stupid, annoying, or idiotic things" The staff writter for the Washington Post tops the list
Dan Turner at 12:28PM on Aug 13th 2007
2. Is it any wonder todays newspapers are losing subscribers? The Washington Post wants you to take them seriously. Get real. Typical libs can't argue there position so resort to name calling.
Don Stagnaro at 1:05PM on Aug 13th 2007
3. In a world of names like Jalen and Caden, I appreciate the beauty of traditional names like Frederick which just happens to be my great great great-grandfather's name, straight from Germany. How lame is it to make fun of his name? By the way, the writer "Pat" has no room to criticize.
pamela at 2:08PM on Aug 13th 2007
4. Mr. Thompson...
pay no attention to the idiot reporters. This country needs to return to the right track with a straight-thinking leader.
Bobbie Farley at 2:11PM on Aug 13th 2007
5. Elections in this country are just a big game. They really don't mean a thing.
Peasants feel so engerized because MY GOD, I AM GOING TO VOTE...
Just like in 2000, it does not mean a damn thing.
The Electoral college dosn't even recognize most votes. Waste of time. This is a domacracy!!!!
adele roberson at 2:47PM on Aug 13th 2007
6. And you want us to take you seriously as a newspaper? Let me add to your sorry name/game playing. Obama has the "tonal quality" of osama. the "phonetics of the name seem integral to its image problem". put that in the pipe youre smoking.
Mary at 6:57PM on Aug 13th 2007
7. Still review this person as a possible to vote for. He has alot of common sense and is able to understand people's differences especially in age and lifestyles. Would like to have a little more info concerning his thoughts on Iraq and whether he would be a let's work on the issues here in America instead of overseas.
pci510 at 9:38PM on Aug 13th 2007
8. I cannot believe so much silliness over a name! Even though most recognize Mr. Thompson from Law and Order, he has served in Washington, before and is a welcome sign of possible things to come by using his knowledge and skill. Is that why only his name is attacked?
Judy Borrosco at 11:23PM on Aug 13th 2007
9. I hope Fred wins. He will bring something to the white house that the dems just can't offer.
concernedvoter at 12:11AM on Aug 14th 2007
10. I sincerely hope that Fred wins. We could use a man like him in the White house. No more Clintons please.
concernedvoter at 12:12AM on Aug 14th 2007
11. I will vote for Mr. Fred Thompson, because I feel that he is the only one with enough brains to attempt to run this country...No one else seems to care..All they want is the public attention and the back stabbing.. I am not the most intelligent person around, but he gives me the impression, that he cares about the American citizen.
Phyllis Edwards at 5:07PM on Aug 15th 2007
12. Fred, Fred, Fred. Yep, sounds pretty darned good to me...
BTW ~ The Washington Post translates as The Democrat's Liberal Communist Manifesto. Take that for name-calling, you idiotic writer!
Don Naylor at 3:44AM on Aug 14th 2007
13. I can remember years ago when the post had some good articles.I cannot see any reason to buy one anymore,I can hear that kind of trash anywhere.It sure is funny that when the left gets shook up that the only thing they can think of is to degrade someone with articles like that.remember when Reagon ran for office and the only thing they could say was that naive actor,But seems he had more knowledge than they gave him credit
Steve Chandler at 8:58AM on Aug 14th 2007
14. What a pity the Washington Post reporter didn't bother to look up where the name "Fred" comes from. The old Germanic derivation is "frid" (Peaceful) and ric (ruler), which became Freidrich, then Frederick. Other famous Fredericks include Frederick I (Holy Roman Empire 1123-1190), Frederick II (Holy Roman Empire, King of Sicily 1215-1250), Frederick I (King of Prussis 1657-1713), Frederick II ("Frederick the Great", King of Prussia 1740-1786), Frederick IX (King of Denmark), Frederick William (four separate kings of Prussia), and of course Frederick Douglass, an American ex-slave who became a leading advocate of abolition. Not a bad name for one who would be President.
Fred Jones at 9:54AM on Aug 14th 2007
15. I simply can,t believe what has happened to the media in every form in the last 25 or more years. Why don,t they find something significant to write about like who recently became an Eagle Scout or some other interesting thing. I can only hope that the reporter who wrote this article goes to work for a local newspaper in Alaska or some other place that is worth all his effort. Washinton Post, find a job for this guy!
Action Jackson at 11:47AM on Aug 14th 2007