Thanks. I gave a link of this letter in my blog….

He is the consummate politician whose only reason for running is the grab for power (and in this case it’s his wife that wants the power), and he will fake his way to get that power and he has no regard for what is best for the country.

IE…”I want to “do some things” that only the president can do.” Yeah, fred?, you want to make more connections for your sickening lobbying activities. The guy lobbies for scum for 20+ years, he lobbies for Roberts once, and he thinks that balances it out.

Folks, fred? dalton thompson is nothing but a lobbyist and lobbying is all that he is concerned with and that is all he will ever be concerned with.

Taking all those assumptions as true, wouldn’t the logical thing for a thinking person, male or female, be to delay the announcement until the proper time?

Tennman on July 19, 2007 at 12:37 AM

I bring it up not to denigrate him, but it’s a valid observation I think: the boxes are checked off, yet no announcement. We are told that he will announce when it is deemed most favorable

Spirit of 1776 on July 19, 2007 at 1:36 AM

Historical precedent for the start of campaigns in the fall have no real meaning beyond the facts that (a) it costs a lot more money to run a year long primary campaign than a five month primary campaign, and (b) people did not generally start to pay attention until about that time. It seems to me that both of these reasons are outdated now, and that the debate about who will be the next President, and what direction they will take the country in, has been going on for a while. I assume (maybe I shouldn’t) that part of the process of deciding whether or not to run involves coming up with a plan as to where to lead the country, and that if Fred is as good a candidate as many hope, that he already has some ideas that he would be willing to defend in a debate. Like I said before, I wouldn’t care when he announces if there were no debates or forums going on, but he’s already missed a couple and does not seem to keen on going to the next one either. He said something in one of his one-on-one Hannity (I think) interviews/shadow debates about 10 candidates on stage and some silly questions denigrating the process. I’d say he’s coming awfully close to that himself.

Further assume that Fred, the prospective candidate is doing the same sorts of things that Mitt and McCain did in their exploratory phase: Going on talk shows, raising money, giving interviews.

Tennman on July 19, 2007 at 12:37 AM

There’s nothing “hypothetical” about any of that. The ONLY difference is between Thompson and the others is that Thompson has been infinitely more SUCCESSFUL at it than any of them were.

I know it’s easier for some people to grow wings than to think objectively. But step back here. All of the other candidates jumped the gun by doing all that stuff more than a year early (in the case of one Democrat candidate, at least five years early.) And then, like so many birds on a wire, they all felt they had to announce insanely prematurely (most around an unprecedented 22 months before the election) because they were all scared to death of losing momentum. Of course any one of them that wanted to could have “cheated” and not announced early – or been even more incredibly evil and “coyly” refused to pre-announce an announcement date.

Is anybody really stupid enough to imagine that would have catapulted him or her up in the polls? Of course not. But now they all turn around and blame Thompson for “cheating.” Why? Simple; because he got more momentum from one offhand comment on a talk show than any of them were able to generate in all that time of media whoring and all out campaigning.

Of course all of that hatred is perfectly understandable – but not one tiny bit of it is rational.

I bring it up not to denigrate him, but it’s a valid observation I think: the boxes are checked off, yet no announcement. We are told that he will announce when it is deemed most favorable. I have no objection from that from a political point of view, but it’s clearly moved into image and poll-conscious politics. He’s not the same guy, or the image isn’t the same as it was at the beginning of the draft-Fred movement. He’s not the same guy that Cavuto was impressed with.

I think there is a fairly good chance that Fred supporters are going to find out that he is not what they thought he was.

He is tacitly allowing the image to be propagated by not making a clear decision.

That and his ambiguity do not serve him well I think. In fact, I think it is problematic for his campaign. The issue at this stage, though some may disagree, is momentum. Every candidate has to continue to build momentum.

Rudy, in my mind, is running an excellent campaign by going straight at his weaknesses and trying to build momentum where there is doubt. His judge-list is example. He was front runner from the start and he has stayed there despite some pundits nay-saying.

Mitt to build momentum, needs name-recognition, so this phase includes lots of t.v. ads, etc – even to the point of loaning himself money.

But Fred, again just my take, doesn’t need the name recognition and he doesn’t need to shake the RINO name. For him if he is going to continue to build momentum, he is going to have to start to give some real answers and real specifics.

People can say that it’s early and he doesn’t need to etc, but I disagree. I think his rise so far is one of the familar/congenial/common man/common sense/comfortable sense. That will only take him so far, and regardless of when he officially announces, I think for him to continue to build momentum he will have to do more than he is now – and that means real questions, real answers.

Tennman on July 19, 2007 at 12:43 AM

Thanks for linking that. I checked his archive for June yesterday and couldn’t find these vids.

I couldn’t stomach his entire London speech again, but the part I took special exception to was the Q&A afterwards. The transcript didn’t include it and I was wondering if the video did?

But everyone should check out the Hoover interview. It’s a revealing look into the tactics of a professional BS artist….oops, I mean actor.

You don’t have to agree with the hypothetical, but that’s what I see happening at this time. Anything else, until the proper announcement is made, is purely crystal-gazing, in my opinion.

Tennman on July 19, 2007 at 12:37 AM

That is completely logical and I have considered the same thoughts.

My problem with his tactic is the teasing of dates. He knows about the constant date changing and he should make a clear announcement that he will not announce until after “X” date and that we should all ignore any other dates. He is tacitly allowing the image to be propagated by not making a clear decision.

You’re wrong there. Newt has done exactly that and there are lots of folks that still respect him and hope he decides to run.

Echoed.

csdeven on July 19, 2007 at 12:31 AM

He’s got all kinds of links, including the RTL, London, and audio commentaries. Here’s the video links. Easily obtainable by anyone.

There is no good reason for fred? to play coy with his announcement date. Poker or no, tipping yer hand or no, it shows a serious lack of respect to the people he wants support from. Namely me.

csdeven on July 19, 2007 at 12:21 AM

Cs, taking that statement at face value, I can understand and appreciate the frustration.

Let’s take it hypothetically and assume for the sake of argument that Fred is doing all the things all the other candidates did in their exploratory phase: Putting together staff, putting out position papers, putting in a national infrastructure for a national campaign — all the things that the law allows a prospective candidate to do before making the announcement.

Further assume that Fred, the prospective candidate is doing the same sorts of things that Mitt and McCain did in their exploratory phase: Going on talk shows, raising money, giving interviews.

Further assume that the idea of a national campaign starting before September or October the year before the primaries is an unwarranted development in this nation’s history, as logis said in his 11:53 post, and as I am reminded that I’ve said the very same thing in the past, as have others. The sheer amount of voter fatigue and uselessly spent money alone should prove that point.

Taking all those assumptions as true, wouldn’t the logical thing for a thinking person, male or female, be to delay the announcement until the proper time? Wouldn’t you say that it absolutely shows more respect for the voters to give a vetting time where the issues are foremost in their minds instead of in the distant past?

You don’t have to agree with the hypothetical, but that’s what I see happening at this time. Anything else, until the proper announcement is made, is purely crystal-gazing, in my opinion.

Big S on July 19, 2007 at 12:04 AM

Another interesting tidbit….I have asked several times if fred? linked to his three dismal interviews on his website. The Leno debacle, the Robinson ruse, and the London Q&A disaster. As of yet, no fred? supporter has provided that info, so I gather he is ashamed of them and doesn’t want anyone to see them. Any of you who are even the slight bit curious about what fred? really thinks, and are interested to watch his changing stances over the months, should watch them and memorize his answers. (or lack of them in most cases) It’ll become clear that fred? will start parroting what others have already said. And his wife will be behind the scenes with the balls and motivation.

Announcing that you’re going to announce would be both a logical absurdity and a strategic blunder.
logis on July 18, 2007 at 11:53 PM

You’re wrong there. Newt has done exactly that and there are lots of folks that still respect him and hope he decides to run.

There is no good reason for fred? to play coy with his announcement date. Poker or no, tipping yer hand or no, it shows a serious lack of respect to the people he wants support from. Namely me.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, the other candidates are not watching to see what fred? does. They are running their campaigns on their ideas for the country and what candidates are in the race has little to do with their vision. So, the only other groups left to be affected by freds? non-announcement are the dems, the MSM, and the voters. The dems do not matter before the primary, and the MSM is only brining the message to the target group, so that leaves the voter.

fred? is playing silly games with his announcement date because of the voters. We all know he knows a lot of his support is coming from those who only know him as Cliff Branch. That’s a pretty thin group to rely on, and it’s insults their intelligence when fred? uses them as ignorant pawns in his grab for power. Or I should say for Jeri’s grab for power.

Anyway, if that is not apropos to your discussion, I apologize.

I guess I tend to get a little carried away. Sorry.
Big S on July 19, 2007 at 12:04 AM

Me too. When I get into a debate, Logical-the-Attack-Dog comes out. Forgive my vanity.

Big S, I wasn’t saying Fred was hiding anything other than an announcement.

The metaphor was this: Fred was not going to announce his candidacy on the Tonight Show. That’s the whole metaphor. Nothing more; nothing less.

Tennman on July 18, 2007 at 11:43 PM

I guess I tend to get a little carried away. Sorry. I just feel like we need more discussion of issues, not less. Not only is he sucking up a lot of the political oxygen with this whole campaign announcement thing, he’s spending too much of his own time on it too, in my opinion. He had the opportunity to reach a huge audience and say something really meaningful on the Tonight show, but he gave lukewarm responses to questions. Now, it looks like he might even miss the next Republican debate. I’m just annoyed by the reluctance to get in, and the treatment of the campaign as a game to be won by outsmarting your opponent on tactics rather than on ideas.

P.S. I think you’re the first one to read my poor, neglected blog. Thanks!

The poker metaphor I originally used was specifically to point out that Fred hadn’t made the announcement and wasn’t going to make it on the Tonight Show; therefore, not tipping his hand.

Tennman on July 18, 2007 at 11:04 PM

Announcing that you’re going to announce would be both a logical absurdity and a strategic blunder.

As for the “impatience” thing; it’s perfectly natural to feel that way. But it would be the height of immaturity to imagine that could somehow be blamed on Fred Thompson.

This country has been having Presidential elections for two hundred years now. The media invented this idiotic new pre-primary primary schedule and started telling us all it was the Only Way To Run An Election six months ago.

If somebody we’d never heard of announced in October, it would make sense to wonder what he thinks he’s doing. If Thompson waits until December or later, then that could pose an organizational challenge for him. But even then, so what? Wait until your state’s Primary comes up and see who has the best campaign then.

Who gives a rat’s ass? The airheads on TV, the idiots who think the world revolves around them, and nobody else.

The metaphor was this: Fred was not going to announce his candidacy on the Tonight Show. That’s the whole metaphor. Nothing more; nothing less.

I didn’t say any such thing. I wasn’t referring to Fred. I said he wasn’t tipping his hand…again the metaphor thingy

.

My point is that he gets to choose his hand. The ideas and plans he thinks are best to take the country forward. There’s no reason not to “tip your hand” if you really believe them. Politics should not be treated like poker, and politicians should not try to win based on hiding their positions from voters, or “bluffing.” Neither one of these methods is constructive, so if that’s his M.O., screw him! Some candidates (Reagan) actually sought to debate, going so far as to sponsor them. I have no respect for those who choose not to “tip their hands.”

Spirit of 1776 on July 18, 2007 at 11:16 PM

Gotcha. It’s very hard to be patient when we’re faced with Clinton/Obama/Silky Pony every day. I want him in the race now! But I know that I’m not running his campaign, and so far, with no expenditures (other than a few staff) he’s polling very, very well.

I don’t have anything against Rudy or Mitt or any of the other candidates than some muzzy “feelings” and I don’t vote on feelings. If I am faced with the choice of voting for Rudy or Hillary, I’ll cast as many votes as I can (g) for Rudy. Same with Mitt. I’m just hanging my hat on the local boy right now. I think he can win it all.

Hollowpoint on July 18, 2007 at 9:58 PM

Doesn’t compute because you don’t want to consider it. 2004 was about 120,000 votes difference. Are you really that confident that Fred can clinch it?
You are also overlooking what I mentioned regarding strategy. With Rudy the Dems spend a lot more money to hold some states that will not be in play in a Fred matchup. With Fred running they can focus on Ohio, Virginia and a couple of others which would give them the win.
Doesn’t really matter to me – but the Fredheads have stardust in their eyes when thinking he is going to walk on the stage and have everyone bow down – especially moderate Democrats, some of who they will need to win.

Tennman on July 18, 2007 at 11:04 PM

Ah. Well I assure you I do not think you not intelligent enough to understand the use of your own metaphor, and if I take issue with you, I will not do so obliquely. :)

I think Fred’s values are what we make them to be at this stage, though he has given some indication of though his various speeches etc (but even those are generalities). I find that I cannot take him seriously because he said, yes on Leno, but also w/ Cavuto, that there are things that a president, etc. That means specifics were in mind, so since that is his own manner of measuring his worth in this election, I adopt it as my own. Now if he would be so kind as to share them, lol!

Spirit of 1776 on July 18, 2007 at 10:50 PM

I wish I knew. Logis put it very well in his 10:10 post. His reasons are sound for what he thinks the plan is, and I don’t disagree. I’d still like to see specifics, like you would, about what results the core values will bring.

The poker metaphor I originally used was specifically to point out that Fred hadn’t made the announcement and wasn’t going to make it on the Tonight Show; therefore, not tipping his hand.

The metaphor discussion, of course, was a response to the contention that I wasn’t intelligent enough to have used it correctly, and a response to a misconception on what I meant by using it. NBD. More of a visceral response than anything, I suppose, of my own vanity. :-)

Tennman on July 18, 2007 at 9:19 PM

Okay. Which was it is, just so I don’t put words in your mouth? Are his core values his plan or is the cards that he is still holding the plan? Just so I know how to appropriately respond.

I think it is likely that Rudy or Thompson will be the 2 contenders at the end of the day for the R mantle. So I have every hope that he is everything we all want him to be. But in the meantime you will have to forgive my doubt as it requires a suspension of disbelief for me to believe it now.