Presidential
Hugh Hewitt:
One reason I suspect the Fred boom may be over before it has even really begun is the recognition that on the stump Fred will be seen as the southerner he is --slow, folksy, plain spoken. In a year when an anti-Bush may be needed, a Brooklyn-born Mob-busting tough guy, or the hyper-intelligent, hyper-eloquent investment banker turnaround executive may emerge quickly as far more likely to be the "something completely different " that Reagan was in 1980, and thus the strong preference of the Al Davis GOPers.
Lone Star Times:
Come on, already Fred! The current president just handed you the nomination by calling conservatives un-American. None of the other candidates has denounced this stupidity. Run, Fred, run!
Michelle:
People are asking me to comment on the non-announcement announcement by unnamed Fred Thompson advisers about a non-public public non-plan plan to officially non-officially test the waters for a presidential bid that may or may not happen on July 4, but probably the first week of July, which "could culminate in a formal announcement over the July 4th weekend," but maybe not at all because nothing is official yet.
What's there to say?
Daily Kos:
This is the last great hope for the GOP presidential prospects? Um, ok.
Huffington Post:
And this is the conservatives' Great White Hope against Rudy McRomney? On this showing, I could make a better President out of paper maché.
David Weigel
Memes grow up so fast these days. Over the course of a few hours last night, the liberal blogs (inspired by Ana Marie Cox) agreed that Fred Thompson is this year's Wesley Clark. From Matt Yglesias' omnibus post:
Time Magazine via Ana Marie Cox (as linked above):
People all over are weighing in on how Fred Thompson's entry into the GOP race will affect other campaigns. I continue to believe that he's the Wesley Clark of the right and will flame out rather quickly, once he realizes that running for president requires more of him than sitting in an overstuffed leather chair dispensing gruff wisdom to earnest Assistant District Attorneys over whiskey. (Yes, I'd rather him stay on the show.)
My personal opinion? Just like in the early nineties and post-Carter, the country's temperature is all about change. Republican's are tired of being marred as Nazis and everything being their fault and Democrat's are tired of being number 2. What do I think? I think we'll end up with either a Liberal Republican (ala Guiliani, if he can stay in) or the Democrat Nominee. Anybody's guess at this point to who that will be. I'm hedging my bets ... I don't know that Hillary can win ... but just because no one's done it before doesn't mean it can't be done. And she does have some serious drawbacks in the campaigning portion. She talks and speaks like a shrill school marm lecturing a class. She doesn't inspire anyone other than those that already love her ... and a lot (A LOT) of people really dislike her just because. Me? I dislike her as a candidate because I think she'll ruin the health care system and turn us into a Nanny state more than any other candidate. And Bill was already in the White House once ... what if like, Hillary's just a robot and Bill's using a remote control to weasel his way into another 8 years?
Yeah, yeah ... that's the crazy in me talking.
Obama I think stands less of a chance than any other of the front runners. Why? Because his record on divisive issues that move bases (conservative ones) is stunning. He's got some pretty nasty votes on abortion. And is widely regarding as being more liberal than Hillary. My personal opinion (and not all that educated an opinion) is the the country wants a center, not a fringe. In 2000, I thought we were getting a center. Or at least a fiscal conservative.
Hindsight is 20/20. And granted in 2000 I was 19. Live and learn. And I didn't really vote in any primaries. But maybe if Gore had been President he wouldn't be the wacko he is today. And maybe not as overweight. (I contend that the nations health care problem could be solved if the American public admitted we had a serious weight problem and collectively lost a million pounds.)
Personally, I agree with the notion that when Fred starts talking about hunting, fishing and NASCAR tepid middle of the roaders will hear Bush-speak and run the other way. Last time we weren't ready for an East Coaster, it just didn't fit. This time ... well it might be there time.
One reason I suspect the Fred boom may be over before it has even really begun is the recognition that on the stump Fred will be seen as the southerner he is --slow, folksy, plain spoken. In a year when an anti-Bush may be needed, a Brooklyn-born Mob-busting tough guy, or the hyper-intelligent, hyper-eloquent investment banker turnaround executive may emerge quickly as far more likely to be the "something completely different " that Reagan was in 1980, and thus the strong preference of the Al Davis GOPers.
Lone Star Times:
Come on, already Fred! The current president just handed you the nomination by calling conservatives un-American. None of the other candidates has denounced this stupidity. Run, Fred, run!
Michelle:
People are asking me to comment on the non-announcement announcement by unnamed Fred Thompson advisers about a non-public public non-plan plan to officially non-officially test the waters for a presidential bid that may or may not happen on July 4, but probably the first week of July, which "could culminate in a formal announcement over the July 4th weekend," but maybe not at all because nothing is official yet.
What's there to say?
Daily Kos:
This is the last great hope for the GOP presidential prospects? Um, ok.
Huffington Post:
And this is the conservatives' Great White Hope against Rudy McRomney? On this showing, I could make a better President out of paper maché.
David Weigel
Memes grow up so fast these days. Over the course of a few hours last night, the liberal blogs (inspired by Ana Marie Cox) agreed that Fred Thompson is this year's Wesley Clark. From Matt Yglesias' omnibus post:
Time Magazine via Ana Marie Cox (as linked above):
People all over are weighing in on how Fred Thompson's entry into the GOP race will affect other campaigns. I continue to believe that he's the Wesley Clark of the right and will flame out rather quickly, once he realizes that running for president requires more of him than sitting in an overstuffed leather chair dispensing gruff wisdom to earnest Assistant District Attorneys over whiskey. (Yes, I'd rather him stay on the show.)
My personal opinion? Just like in the early nineties and post-Carter, the country's temperature is all about change. Republican's are tired of being marred as Nazis and everything being their fault and Democrat's are tired of being number 2. What do I think? I think we'll end up with either a Liberal Republican (ala Guiliani, if he can stay in) or the Democrat Nominee. Anybody's guess at this point to who that will be. I'm hedging my bets ... I don't know that Hillary can win ... but just because no one's done it before doesn't mean it can't be done. And she does have some serious drawbacks in the campaigning portion. She talks and speaks like a shrill school marm lecturing a class. She doesn't inspire anyone other than those that already love her ... and a lot (A LOT) of people really dislike her just because. Me? I dislike her as a candidate because I think she'll ruin the health care system and turn us into a Nanny state more than any other candidate. And Bill was already in the White House once ... what if like, Hillary's just a robot and Bill's using a remote control to weasel his way into another 8 years?
Yeah, yeah ... that's the crazy in me talking.
Obama I think stands less of a chance than any other of the front runners. Why? Because his record on divisive issues that move bases (conservative ones) is stunning. He's got some pretty nasty votes on abortion. And is widely regarding as being more liberal than Hillary. My personal opinion (and not all that educated an opinion) is the the country wants a center, not a fringe. In 2000, I thought we were getting a center. Or at least a fiscal conservative.
Hindsight is 20/20. And granted in 2000 I was 19. Live and learn. And I didn't really vote in any primaries. But maybe if Gore had been President he wouldn't be the wacko he is today. And maybe not as overweight. (I contend that the nations health care problem could be solved if the American public admitted we had a serious weight problem and collectively lost a million pounds.)
Personally, I agree with the notion that when Fred starts talking about hunting, fishing and NASCAR tepid middle of the roaders will hear Bush-speak and run the other way. Last time we weren't ready for an East Coaster, it just didn't fit. This time ... well it might be there time.
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