CAMPAIGN 2008

‘A Lackluster Candidate’

A postmortem on Thompson's failed presidential campaign

By Holly Bailey | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Jan 23, 2008 | Updated: 1:31 p.m. ET Jan 23, 2008

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Discuss

Posted By: Winghunter @ 03/27/2008 11:45:25 AM

Comment: Regurgitating the spin of the MSM as reasons for Fred's "failed" run is disngenuous at best.

IF you really want to know why Fred wasn't even given a chance to be our nominee;

AP Gives Thompson the ???04 Treatment by Jed Babbin
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24127

Conservative Blackout by Lisa Fabrizio
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12517

Getting The Story Straight by Fred Thompson 12/29
http://www.redstate.com/stories/elections/2008/getting_the_story_straight

How the Republican Party Committed National Suicide By JB Williams
http://www.michnews.com/artman/publish/article_19227.shtml

Who Hijacked the Primaries? by Brett Winterble
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24726

The Death of Conservatism? 43 Mistakes and the GOP's Dobson's Choice
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1961546/posts

GOP Leads Astray
http://gopleadsastray.blogspot.com/
Posted By: dr doug @ 01/28/2008 8:22:54 PM

Comment: Oh Please. When Thompson entered the race I read an article that said that, when he became minority counsel on the Watgergate Committee, the Nixon White House was happy noting that (1) he wasn't particularly smart and (2) he could be depended upon to give them inside information on the goings-on of the Watergate Committee - which he did. So in his first high profile priblic position he was a cheater.

Also, he conveniently couldn't remember that he had lobbied for a pro-choice group. It's hard to stay Independent when the Republicans offer up the likes of Guiliani and Thompson.
Posted By: cowen123456 @ 01/26/2008 8:46:32 AM

Comment: Who do you think Fred's supporters will turn to? and please do not go along with the media's analysis...they have been so way way off. I'm looking to hear fresh non-media views.
Posted By: sbiggs @ 01/25/2008 10:36:05 AM

Comment: I think It's time to get over Fred's withdrawal from cadidacy and stop the mud from flying his way. The way he is is just that, not flamboyant, not fancy, just down-home country. He may have appeared lazy, but who has any idea about that unless you've know him personally. Midwesternmom, I was also saddened to see him pull out and you're right one target with your comments about him AND other candidates. I want someone who will just state how they feel, what they stand for, keep to the fact and not waver. He said once that where he stands isn't dictated by where he's standing. Food for thought for some of the OTHER candidates. Thanks mom. Good message.
Posted By: Midwestmom @ 01/24/2008 6:37:37 PM

Comment: I personally was saddened to see Fred Thompson remove himself from the run for presidency. The only mistake that Mr. Thompson made in his campaign was to assume that Americans want to be treated like the intelligent beings they claim to be. Unlike many of the other candidates, Fred Thompson told you where he stood on issues and then continued to stand there. He did not "pander to the crowd" by telling them what they wanted to hear. If he was asked a stupid question, he made it clear that he thought it was a stupid question. He expected better of the population as a whole and the population let him down. I agree with Mr. Thompson's assessment that debates are a waste of time and resources. If more canditates would just come out and tell us where they stand on the issues and sticking to their guns instead of back pedaling to cover bad comments or "flip-flopping", the election process would not have to begin 2 years before the actual presidential election.
Posted By: pappala @ 01/24/2008 3:36:59 PM

Comment: Fred Is a LOSER. He is all talk, No action kinda guy. He gives good speeches(the writer should get credit). But he is downright Lazy. Thank god, he is not going to be prez. That would have Made Bush a better president.
Posted By: Potus @ 01/24/2008 2:13:11 PM

Comment: Senator Thompson initially had the excitement and attention of conservative voters. Once it came time to roll up his sleeves and spar with the other candidates, he stood silent and looked like he would rather be somewhere else. He did not have the needed "fire in his belly" to run the race. From his own comments, it looks like the quiet life would be more appealing to him anyway.
Posted By: JohnGaltlaketahoe @ 01/24/2008 1:43:11 PM

Comment:

January 24, 2008

Greetings Reno Gazette Journal Editor:

Millions of America???s voters are being marginalized as MSNBC sponsorship of Presidential debates continues to exclude viable candidate coverage.

Congressman Dennis Kucinich continues to be rated by MSNBC with a zero percent acceptance rate among voters yet, that same corporation is responsible for excluding Dennis Kucinich in the Las Vegas Presidential debate of January 15, 2008, four days before the Nevada caucus. That same corporation is responsible for a form of voter fraud perpetrated upon the American electorate while it continues to marginalize and pervert the American electoral system.

The players that are silencing the voices of millions of Americans in this election are MSNBC, the Commission on Presidential Debates, and in the case of the Las Vegas debate, the Nevada Supreme Court.
Posted By: Thomas Everett Davis @ 01/23/2008 7:20:33 PM

Comment: Thompson's performance in the debate to attract South Carolina Voters was as unimpressive as his stump speeches. It was obvious he was reading prepared notes for some of his points, instead of speaking on his feet. If he was lackluster there, think what he would have been as president.
Posted By: Thomas Everett Davis @ 01/23/2008 7:15:17 PM

Comment: Thompson did not do any better in the debate for South Carolina voters than he did on the stump. It was obvious he was reading notes to make some of his points, instead of giving thinking on his feet. His campaign was as unimpressive as his single term in the Senate. __Thomas in Wyoming
- Posted By: Winghunter @ 03/27/2008 12:12:17 PM
  
  Comment: Your attempt to rewrite history merely to suit your political agenda is as pathetic and obvious as your ignorance of even how many times he was elected as Senator with the laughable added implication that he lost re-election! How unconscionably dishonest of you.
  
  Clearly, you've revealed that beyond parroting the spin of the MSM you have no idea who he is nor what he offered in real experience, principles, values and detailed plans that would not only work in the real world but, would be implementable in successfully passing legislation through the quagmire of Congress.
Posted By: Dave in NM @ 01/23/2008 6:19:02 PM

Comment: Perhaps he was just another socially conservative white guy in a country that's seen what that kind of President does to us? Social conservatives need to practice their values, and stop trying to force them on the rest of us. The smart money says our next President will agree.
Posted By: lukeliberty @ 01/23/2008 6:06:04 PM

Comment: A President needs energy. He did not have whatever it took to be a credible candidate. Every time I listened to him, I winced, and I generally agreed with his views. His participation though, may be determinative in keeping Huckabee out of further serious consideration. Huck almost certainly would have won SC if Fred dropped out sooner. Now, his Iowa victory is farther and farther in the rear-view mirror.
Posted By: midnight05 @ 01/23/2008 5:03:25 PM

Comment: Were we looking at Fred Thompson and actually seeing Arthur Branch?
Posted By: SlickWillie @ 01/23/2008 5:01:41 PM

Comment: Where Fred Thompson went wrong was failing to run for President while he was still alive.
Posted By: uuforyou @ 01/23/2008 4:39:49 PM

Comment: Where Thompson went wrong was to be a conservative.
The Conservative agenda is over.....and America knows it.
- Posted By: Dave in NM @ 01/23/2008 6:20:59 PM
  
  Comment: Yep - this.
  
  Though I think portions of America are a little slow in coming to the realization...
  - Posted By: Winghunter @ 03/27/2008 11:47:14 AM
    
    Comment: Absolutely, we should all strive to achieve the following;
    
    "At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child - miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill disciplined, despotic, and useless. Liberalism is the philosophy of sniveling brats." - P.J. O'Rourke
Posted By: pbr90 @ 01/23/2008 2:59:42 PM

Comment: It's possible that Thompson was a wedge candidate the way some are claiming Obama is a wedge candidate to try and draw votes from the front runner, and disrupt the course of what otherwise might have been a simpler election with anticipated candidates.

Everyone is familiar with wedge issues, but now wedge candidates?