Cautionary opinion: Fred Thompson GOP savior nominee

First off this is mostly opinion and anecdote but it is something that has been hammered home to me in the last couple days. I post because as we pay a lot of attention to the clowning of Rudi or the flopping of Mitt and the wired angst of John McCain, good 'ol boy Fred Thompson might be getting an early pass.

Last night cruising the late nite talk radio dial, which lets face it, is almost wholly wing-nut leaning, I was struck by the number of times Thompson's name came up as a wish-for candidate from the pug base, almost all callers and host voicing dissatisfaction with the current GOP crop. They don't like Rudi or Mitt because of past policy differences and McCain is too unstable and not just likable. Besides, they are beginning to think these guys cannot win. The pug base is deathly worried about Hillary. Their own pundits are now saying Rudi, Mitt and McCain will lose.

Thompson is biding his time. He did a stealth announcement about his medical history a few weeks ago, getting that out of the way. He seems to be going after that Reagan charisma comparison. He, like Reagan has increased name and face recognition simply because of movie and television exposure, the kind of thing that gets people elected. I even think he left the senate to work in TV with an eventual prez run in mind. Uncanny though it might seem, with today's electorate TV might be a better platform to launch from than the senate.

Then, this morning on DU I see this: File under trophy wife


Goggle News Thompson, he's HOT right now, like this on a tale of the tape comparison between Thompson and St. Ronnie.

D.C. Shuffle
Tale of the Tape: Fred Thompson vs. Ronald Reagan
KINDRED SPIRITS?


He's an actor, a Republican, and even has the support of wicked '80s spinster Michael Deaver—it didn't take long for the press and prominent Republicans to start comparing presumed '08 presidential candidate Fred Thompson to Ronald Reagan.

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2007/05/ronald-reagan-fred-thompson.php

I'm thinking look for his announcement soon, and look out!

poll.
I think Fred is only hot because no one knows much about Fred. One things for sure. He's in favor of fighting Iraq to the last drop of YOUR blood.

Fred is to republicans what Gore is to democrats. If I were a betting man, I would bet Gore and Thompson will be the two

I am not sure what Gore is to Dems. He isn't running. We have fine, fine candidates other than a non-candidate Gore.
So what is it that Fred Thompson is to Republicans?

Gore is not running, but he is third in the polls. At least the ones I have seen. Thompson is not running yet he is third in the polls. I am not implying they have anything in common other than wishful thinking from their appropriate sides. Is this clear?

like the repukes had. Dems have great choices which makes the chance of a Gore run less likely. Repugs have some gawd-awful choices which makes the chances of a Fred the savior run more likely. I believe when Fred finally runs and he becomes known they will find Fred little better than any of their others. And he probably won't be as pretty on TV as Mittens.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/06/AR2007050600914.html

GOPers are hoping FT will come save the day(!) but I think he will disappoint. Don't get me wrong, Repubs would love to rally around an empty vessel.

underestimate the public's capacity to mistake TV fiction for reality.

Federico just finished a long stint subbing for Paul Harvey. His polished 'warm and fuzzy' delivery of GOP talking points and half-truths must have won over a huge following of Harvey listeners. I am not underestimating his appeal, he is a threat.

Anyone remember Reagan's daily radio spot in his run-up to running for office?
It was kinda like the Harvey bombast, a little ditty mon-fri expounding on his eventual talking points.

she's a cross between Charo and Evita.

Look what happened to Giuliani. He peaked way too soon and is now speeding downhill like he just waxed his skis. Bet on Thompson to let the other candidates spend their money and beat each other up, and make his own announcement as close to the Iowa caucus as possible so that there's no time to look at his record.

Repigs have to walk a fine line of appealing to moderate Repigs while still capturing the hearts and minds of the fanatic fundie freaks.

So the shorter the time he is campaigning, the less he will have to actually say about his positions. And the less he needs to say, the less likely it is that all of the contradicitons in modern "conservative" thought will be exposed as fraud and lies.

He has that "fatherly", "man of the people", image that the drooling idiot Reagan had, minus the drool. With that "good old boy" drawl he can convince a lot of gullible people that he's just the guy to save them from all the bogeymen lurking under their beds.

However, he does have a major drawback. He's a Republican when Republicans are not in good odor to the electorate.

Some DUers already know about the juicier stuff.

I don't see him running, unless he inherits Bush Sr.'s blackmail network.

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I'm thinking look for his announcement soon, and look out!

No, I don't think so. If he does announce, he'll wilt soon under the assault. You think Delay
had bones in his closet?

Thompson is just the freeper's last hope for clinging to the fascist, hate-filled America they so love. They bring him out to feel "manly" and wave him around like a fire stick. It's kind of pathetic, but not a real threat.

I'm just being cautious and on the look-out for a dark horse to emerge in this race.
Evaluating the other pug candidate chances right now it doesn't look like there are any winners in that crowd so I hope you are right.
We shall see.

and hates campaigning (which is why he left politics).

I hope you are right, for now he is the "great white hope" for the right's base. They get all excited for him, like they did (and some still do) dubya.

He is neocon through & through.

But, he is a lawyer, a lobbyist and an actor that NEVER SERVED in the military (another friggin chickenhawk, loves war but refused to serve when he could.) His record as a senator was nothing exciting (actully, I like his campaign finance stance) and he was co-chair of McCain's previous runs for prez. He has baggage that isn't easily discarded.

He isn't perfect or bullet proof and we can use his history to respond to the right's bullshit attacks on our candidates, the lawyer (Edwards), the actor/hollywood (Gore), etc

Here is something to read on the man