Open thread: Fred announces on Leno; Update: Web announcement video now live; Update: Leno announcement video added
posted at 11:12 pm on September 5, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Late night for the big A. If you’re staying up for it, feel free to sound off. If you just can’t be bothered, Geraghty has a sneak peek at the transcript. We’ll have the clip, of course, as well as the link to the 15-minute web video officially launching the campaign as soon as it goes live after midnight.
Update: It’s not 12:01 yet but the video’s live at Fred ‘08. Here’s the YouTube version. I’ll have comments after Leno.
Update: Re: the web announcement video, that’s a lot of talking, son, and a lot of talking points, all of it synced up with head-bob choreography. I thought he’d start with a minute or so of addressing the camera and then segue into 10 minutes of video biography, a la McCain’s recent Vietnam ad, but on and on he goes. Clearly he’s trying to leverage the success he’s had with his radio commentaries: no frills, just a straight shooter calling it like he sees it, sans gimmicks — a neat trick for a Hollywood actor delivering a 15-minute oration with stagy head turns at key moments built in. The sheer volume of information and the pace at which he runs through it is daunting, though. God, family, peace with honor, secure borders, small government, a frisson of horror at the thought of another Clinton administration — it’s all in there, but it’s a lot to digest in one go and he seems to be rushing to shoehorn it all into the time available. How many people will sit through the whole thing?
Doesn’t much matter. He’s trying to make an impression and an extended Reaganesque soliloquy does that, at least. Thank god he’s in a den in a suit and tie, too. If he tried this in a denim shirt with the pick-up truck in the background, I’d be heading for the lifeboats.
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Or they will go to work asking “Did you know Dr Phil is running for President?”
Bradky on September 6, 2007 at 12:23 AM
Fred did a pretty good job playing Rudy’s role on Law and Order; he’s doing a pretty good job of giving his 12 Commitments speech here.
Big S on September 6, 2007 at 12:23 AM
How many of those 6 million already have their minds made up or are Liberals/Democrats? Keep in mind, the opening jokes on these shows have a tendency to slam Republicans and Bush.
amerpundit on September 6, 2007 at 12:24 AM
The embed here or on Fred’s site?
steveegg on September 6, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Rudy, Mitt?
Weight of Glory on September 6, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Fred looked good to me months ago, but all the back and forth has been ridiculous. The staff turnover doesn’t look good to me either–it’s kind of incoherent and scrambled. He’s going to have to work to win me over.
INC on September 5, 2007 at 11:59 PM
Or as you said, it may be too late baby.
-wink-
MB4 on September 6, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Fred was in second place and he just walked in and stole first from Rudy, this will be reflected in the polls in the next couple of days.
doriangrey on September 6, 2007 at 12:25 AM
More like the dude from Law and Order, and that sound.
Kini on September 6, 2007 at 12:25 AM
Bob,
Do what I did on the stream, put it on hold and wait about 5min. That will buffer enough so it becomes smooth.
On the Leno clip, I liked the crack about politicians being like dentists.
bnelson44 on September 6, 2007 at 12:25 AM
“A government that’s big enough to do everything for us is powerful enough to do anything to us.”
Priceless. Awesome.
otcconan on September 6, 2007 at 12:25 AM
amerpundit on September 6, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Dude, Leno is as right as you’ll get on late night comedy shows.
VolMagic on September 6, 2007 at 12:25 AM
To gain a few style points, Fred’s gonna need to trim a few of the “Aw…ub…uh”s in his delivery.
eeyore on September 6, 2007 at 12:25 AM
I think Fred won the night. I think his site must be flooded with traffic, I’m having trouble getting it to load.
The debate was disappointing on many counts.
Btw, anyone notice that after the Leno interview, there was an ad for “Thompson’s Water Seal”. Clever marketing spot there, I thought.
CP on September 6, 2007 at 12:26 AM
Don’t call your bookie.
Bradky on September 6, 2007 at 12:26 AM
Yes. I ws just saying that Fred could have helped fuel some general interest in the Republican candidates if he had gone on Leno last night and announced, plugged the debate tonight (which would have had a huge viewership if Fred appeared) and helped himself with a stellar performance (if he were able) though helping the conservative cause, also, by stimulating interest in the Republican debate.
Instead, what he did looked very cowardly, to me, and put me in the position of just hoping that Fred doesn’t mess up the arguments for the positions he adopts that I agree with, and the intersection is large. I am not very confident about that.
True enough.
Like I said, I am starting to worry that Fred might hurt the conservative cause with a lackluster performance and poor arguments (as on Leno, to my eye). I think that Tancredo and Hunter serve that purpose well enough, though I am with you on hoping that Fred makes it a bigger pull right.
Well, we’ll know in a couple of weeks, I think.
progressoverpeace on September 6, 2007 at 12:26 AM
Slight problem with that off-the-cuff remark from Giuliani; he was the US Attorney for Southern New York, while the character Thompson played was the District Attorney for Manhattan. Slight difference.
steveegg on September 6, 2007 at 12:27 AM
Fred forfeited the debate by default. Huckabee had it nailed. Maybe next time Fred, maybe next time.
BKennedy on September 6, 2007 at 12:27 AM
Is anyone else encouraged that criticism of Fred is so unsubstantive?
Waaaah! Fred didn’t announce in the time and place of my choosing!
Waaah! Fred is a poopyhead and his wife is smart and ambitious!
Waaah! Fred isn’t running HIS campaign the way I would! I’m not gonna vote for him.
Oooooh! Fred’s mannerisms are distracting.
It’s good to see that the only people bashing Fred are campaign volunteers for Romney, Huckabee, and Guliani. This is gonna get fun.
The Apologist on September 6, 2007 at 12:27 AM
Doesnt matter, as far as most of them are concerned Arthur Branch just announced and believe me that counts for all the money that Rudy and Mitt have spent campaigning for the last year.
doriangrey on September 6, 2007 at 12:28 AM
LOL that doink doink sound is what I predict he will be feeling when he takes on the others in the debates.
Bradky on September 6, 2007 at 12:28 AM
That’s like saying “____ is as moderate a jihadist as you can get.”
amerpundit on September 6, 2007 at 12:28 AM
Aw-ub-uh…Jamaica…ooh I wanna to take ya…
and with that I’m going to bed.
Weight of Glory on September 6, 2007 at 12:28 AM
The Tonight Show is the perfect forum to announce. Most conservatives that watch late night TV watch Leno. Do you think the watch Letterman????
And after that we go to bed because we have jobs to go to in the morning.
That being said, good night all
conservnut on September 6, 2007 at 12:29 AM
Fred’s job now is not to advertise the other Repulican candidates. They’ve had 8 months to do that themselves.
bnelson44 on September 6, 2007 at 12:29 AM
I liked how he speaks to the American people
“I wasn’t in the room when they made the rules”
Refering to the 100 million dollars needed to run as voiced by the “pundits”
Refering to the criticism that he got in too late
Fred replied:
“I don’t think a voters going to say that that guy would have made a great president if he had just got in the race alittle sooner”
Don’t be thinking he’s going to participate in the squawking shrill debates either, he’s going to campaign directly to the people and not raise 9 figures
Weird huh?
EricPWJohnson on September 6, 2007 at 12:29 AM
Yep.
Don’t look at the national numbers; it’s state-by-state.
steveegg on September 6, 2007 at 12:29 AM
Ding, ding, ding!
RushBaby on September 6, 2007 at 12:30 AM
steveegg on September 6, 2007 at 12:27 AM
It was a reference to Giuliani’s line at the start of the debate.
Big S on September 6, 2007 at 12:31 AM
Geez, the way some of you people are talking you’d almost think that these early debates are important or that anybody actually watches them.
Of course, you’re just acting like you give a crap because Fred is beating the crap out of your preferred candidates without actually trying, but it still sounds pretty retarded. The reality, of course, is that Thompson looks like a grownup while all of the kids are on stage yapping at each other in those debates.
If he’s smart, he won’t do any debates at all until December, even though he’s announced.
DaveS on September 6, 2007 at 12:33 AM
Me still Fred-Head…
Me still Fred-Head…
Sorry dudes, I’ve been gone for a very long time and am trying to adjust.
Loved Fred! on Leno.
I have NO love for any of the other so-called “top-tiered” Republican candidates, ie: Guiliani, Romney, McCain(????) Geez!!!
Me still Fred-Head…
Me still Fred-Head…
SouthernPride on September 6, 2007 at 12:34 AM
Yes. I did. From here on out it will be all about Fred. The MSM, the New Yorkers, and Fox News will do all they can to push their NY RUDY/HILLERY nanny state view of the world on us but it will fail.
Ordinary Americans will put Fred over the top.
AZCON on September 6, 2007 at 12:34 AM
Why would someone who’s smart and has a clear vision of what should be done not debate at every opportunity?
I don’t care about the format or the questioners, a smart person can shine in every one.
progressoverpeace on September 6, 2007 at 12:35 AM
He took his damn sweet time when the decision he’d make is popular. How long will he take when it’s not?
One of his top campaign members is Spencer Abraham. Previous members of his staff apparently aren’t thrilled with him.
He repeatedly bobs his head, and every few words is, as eeyore pointed out, “Aw…ub…uh”.
Additionally, his campaign flatly denied he consulted abortion groups. He did. He supported McCain-Feingold.
His wife, BTW, was apparently annoying enough to draw staffers away from the campaign.
amerpundit on September 6, 2007 at 12:35 AM
So any word on when he’s going to stop slapping his thigh about every 30 seconds?
And how many Republicans watch Jay Leno?
Seixon on September 6, 2007 at 12:37 AM
Maybe Fred will bring back some sense to the whole shbang and get people fired up when the time is right to order off the menu.
Cook politics to order. Everyone else has been in the ball park boiling all summer.
Kini on September 6, 2007 at 12:38 AM
amerpundit on September 6, 2007 at 12:35 AM
Give it up, man. You either live in NY or you are LDS, right?
AZCON on September 6, 2007 at 12:39 AM
Carl Cameron reported on Fox that Abraham was one of the main writers of this speech.
Big S on September 6, 2007 at 12:39 AM
Which I thought I noted.
steveegg on September 6, 2007 at 12:40 AM
amerpundit on September 6, 2007 at 12:28 AM
I don’t wanna anger, but you must not be a Leno fan. Yeah, he pokes fun at the administration, but if you watch him over a length of time you will see he is at worst a moderate, at best a center-right.
VolMagic on September 6, 2007 at 12:40 AM
Kind of obvious wasnt it, he didnt even show up and he still won, this is what the third debate he didnt attend and won anyway…No wonder the Rudy and Mitt supporters heads are exploding. They prematurely shot their loads and now dont have anything to shot when the fight is really here. Thats really got to suck…Hmmm something about keeping your powder dry and not shooting until you see the whites of their eyes comes to mind.
doriangrey on September 6, 2007 at 12:40 AM
I’m sorry, LDS?
amerpundit on September 6, 2007 at 12:41 AM
Hmmmm I was a week off.
Anyway, he had this planned back in the begining of when to announce. If anyone can calculate a way to get someone confirmed to the Supreme court under these circumstances
1. Nominated by Bush
2. A real conservative
3. Now multiply by the fact that he was confirmed for Chief.
I think he knows what he’s doing. Of course the MSM will be talking about how late he got in during the General Election.
- The Cat
P.S. For everyone that thinks that the outside world (as in non die hards) even cares to know who’s even running at this point in the game . . . HA!
MirCat on September 6, 2007 at 12:41 AM
Yeah, noone watches the debates, just us non-voting loons in the right-wing blogosphere and anyone who even knows what the hell a primary is.
Following your logic, Fred should go on American Idol because there just might be a chance those brainless boob tube sacks will check out the governance systems of the US.
Leno would be a brilliant move for the general, but its a pointless one for the primary. It doesn’t matter how many people are watching, it matters how many likely Republican Primary voters are watching.
So if you just want Fred to coast through and not answer a single difficult question on any issue of substance and absorb his rhetoric like a sponge, be my guest. I for one don’t plan on leaving my brain at home and letting President Arthur Branch rule the United States of America.
The only reason Fred has any support at all at this stage is because people think a cartoon character, Arthur Branch, is running for president. They know him only as the DA who can make no mistakes and has no flaws, not as a real human being.
You will see as Fred moves from “I’m the hopes and dreams of all conservatives” to the cold hard reality that is lobbyist, washington insider, and Hollyweird acting shill, Fred’s numbers will plummet. You can’t sell America a dream in these serious times.
BKennedy on September 6, 2007 at 12:42 AM
My thoughts also. I think ratings will show more people tuned in to Leno rather than the debates. The remaining week will show just how strong Fred is, or isn’t. The next three months will thin the herd.
Kini on September 6, 2007 at 12:42 AM
None of the points you make are substantive. He’s solid on immigration POLICY. He’s solid on anti-jihad POLICY. Spencer “my dear old friend” Abraham doesn’t scare me any more than Grover Norquist does.
He’s solidly Federalist on abortion. I’m anti-abortion, but I know the Federalist option is the best we’re gonna get these days and it’s certainly preferable to Roe v. Wade.
His staffers are completely irrelevant to my descision. I don’t care what McCain’s or Guliani’s staff say about them. I won’t vote for them because of their POLICY positions.
The Apologist on September 6, 2007 at 12:43 AM
Yea, its that stuff you took to much of in the sixties…
doriangrey on September 6, 2007 at 12:44 AM
Agreed. And with that, ladies and gents, I bow out for the evening. Night all…
amerpundit on September 6, 2007 at 12:44 AM
I’m sorry, LDS?
amerpundit on September 6, 2007 at 12:41 AM
New Yorker, then.
AZCON on September 6, 2007 at 12:44 AM
Judging by some comments here, it seems – unfortunately – perhaps you can.
thedecider on September 6, 2007 at 12:44 AM
Fred looked really great on Leno. As to not being in the debates, I don’t think it really harmed him. There will be more debates and he’ll probably get more press, good and bad, than if he announced yesterday and showed up for the debate today.
And announcing on Leno was fine. As doriangrey pointed out, he reached a large audience. Showing up on lightweight television shows gets his face out to people that wouldn’t normally see him and makes him more identifiable to the average person that doesn’t read blogs like HotAir.
Politicians up here in Canada have been showing up on our CBC political comedy shows for years. They use each other. Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper had a segment where he had comedian Rick Mercer stay overnight at the PM’s residence. Harper read him bedtime stories from a government report, tucked Mercer in, handed out lunches to Mercer and the kids in the morning. It made Harper look good, which was needed because he does have a warmth problem.
Canadian Infidel on September 6, 2007 at 12:44 AM
Best field in a long long time. Tanc to Paul. Fred! to Rudy.
What is not to like. HA has traffic and we have more to jaw about.
Now if we can just keep the cannibalism to a minimum.
Limerick on September 6, 2007 at 12:45 AM
Just like Bill Clinton should have never shown up on MTV.
- The Cat
P.S. Meaning him showing up on Idol would actually be a good idea.
MirCat on September 6, 2007 at 12:46 AM
Oh come on! If I were to use a military analogy it would be “To date Fred has campaigned like a Frenchman”
Bradky on September 6, 2007 at 12:46 AM
So it appears Fred has traded in the head-bobbling for knee slapping.
Not good Fred, not good.
This is about what I expected from him. Vague generalities and tired old folksy colloquialisms. C’mon Fred. Give us some specifics!
csdeven on September 6, 2007 at 12:46 AM
Either you weren’t around in 1980 or you were a George HW Bush supporter then.
steveegg on September 6, 2007 at 12:47 AM
I trust you’re not holding your breath.
thedecider on September 6, 2007 at 12:47 AM
Oy. I thought I’d be hitting the sack. Ok, on immigration, Michelle obviously thought it’s a problem.
On anti-jihad policy, everyone (ok, not Paul) in the R field is.
The Federalist stance on abortion is one Rudy takes, and one I take as well.
The thing that worries me about his staffers is, they joined the campaign because they liked him, like you do. They left, having met him and working with him.
amerpundit on September 6, 2007 at 12:48 AM
But the Fred!Heads and the anti-Freddites must eat.
steveegg on September 6, 2007 at 12:48 AM
Ok, now again, good night.
amerpundit on September 6, 2007 at 12:48 AM
Agreed, it’s like the difference between cold pizza and just outta the oven fresh. Although, cold pizza is still like sex, it’s still pretty good.
Kini on September 6, 2007 at 12:49 AM
VOTE OR DIE!
VOTE OR DIE!
P. Diddy in the House sellin’ pie in the sky
VOTE OR DIE!
VOTE OR DIE!
He’s got a f*&^ing Magnum; you don’t vote, you’ll know why!
BKennedy on September 6, 2007 at 12:50 AM
‘nite!
AZCON on September 6, 2007 at 12:50 AM
Put the crack pipe down and back slowly away from it. If we were to honestly were to use a military analogy it would be “To date Fred has campaigned like Sun Tzu.” Who said “If you allow your enemy to choose the time and place of your battle than you have already lost that battle” He also said “If you allow the battle to go on for to long your warriors will become tired and you will lose.”
doriangrey on September 6, 2007 at 12:51 AM
Fred had a valid point.
Normally, politicians do not announce until after Labor Day.
Shrillary and the others have been banging their gums for months and for what?
I’m with Fred!
MITX on September 6, 2007 at 12:52 AM
Someone who didn’t show up for the “debate” didn’t win the debate by default. That’s silly. Unless your opinions can be challenged in the same forum as your competitors, you are not, in fact, competing, and there is no way you are either a winner or a loser. You simply are a non-issue (such as Fred).
thedecider on September 6, 2007 at 12:52 AM
Ok, I finally got to watch Fred’s announcement via YouTube and I thought it was fantastic. I think Fred is Fred! again.
CP on September 6, 2007 at 12:52 AM
And so you did.
Big S on September 6, 2007 at 12:52 AM
MB4/FC on September 6, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Exactly.
INC on September 6, 2007 at 12:53 AM
If that is really what you think, you have ignored every single criticism of Fred’s record.
1) McCain/Feingold
2) Lobbied for a dictator
3) Funneled campaign cash to his son
4) Is very weak on immigration
5) Flip-flopped on abortion
6) Has a reputation as being lazy
All legitimate issues he will be required to answer. Something you fredheads have been avoiding for several months now. Well, it’s time for Fred to put it out there.
csdeven on September 6, 2007 at 12:54 AM
I wasn’t aware Sun Tzu advised letting all of his top aides leave on the eve of the battle….
Bradky on September 6, 2007 at 12:54 AM
Right…you are so clueless, helloieeee, anybody home in their Mcfly? The man was in second place before he even announced…Yes he won by default…
doriangrey on September 6, 2007 at 12:56 AM
Again, you are impressed by silly sayings. The rest of us want substance. Something Fred is sorely lacking in.
csdeven on September 6, 2007 at 12:56 AM
Agreed!
I think the strategy was brilliant. Besides, how many people are really paying attention to any of the candidates, at this time in the game. It’s all noise.
Kini on September 6, 2007 at 12:56 AM
Fred’s announcement video is great, he goes through important topics and succinctly explains his position. I’m still in a wait and see stance when it comes to supporting him (I really want to see him in a debate) but his two appearances tonight on the web and tv were pretty good.
Complete7 on September 6, 2007 at 12:57 AM
Oh you mean like sending the amateurs home and calling the real professionals in to do the heavy lifting, yea that really cant be a very good strategy…
doriangrey on September 6, 2007 at 12:58 AM
Michelle’s an immigration fanatic. I’m not. Fred is solid on POLICY. That’s what attracts me. I don’t fear the Spencer connection.
Rudy is good on some things, but he sucks on many others.
Staffers come and go. Nobody is writing about anyone else’s fired and retired staff. Remember a few weeks ago when McCain fired people and other people quit? No one said boo about McCain’s character because of that. People bitch about it with Fred because he’s kicking the ass of every other goofball in the field and he just announced today.
People fear the Fred. It’s why they feel compelled to make vague and unsubstantial criticism.
The Apologist on September 6, 2007 at 12:58 AM
And you’re not suppose to wear white shoes either after Labor Day.
Kini on September 6, 2007 at 12:59 AM
That was tough took me 30 minutes at Fred’s website,just to get through it all,BUT he’s got my vote,
Bob
Bobnormal on September 6, 2007 at 1:00 AM
Egads! if that is the kind of manager he is a Thompson administration will approach Carter’s in terms of hillbilly drama. He can pretend he is Trump when saying “you’re fired”
Bradky on September 6, 2007 at 1:00 AM
And you have gotten specifics from who so far? Give me one concrete, set in stone, behold the written word moment from one of the candidates (except Silky saying you gotta go to the doctor).
Limerick on September 6, 2007 at 1:00 AM
thedecider,
McCain won the debate. Fred won the night.
It will be interesting to watch the polls in the next week.
bnelson44 on September 6, 2007 at 1:01 AM
Narrow or wide? LOL
Bradky on September 6, 2007 at 1:01 AM
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FRED!
msipes on September 6, 2007 at 1:02 AM
In case no one said it yet, Fred Thompson is awesome.
frankj on September 6, 2007 at 1:03 AM
I liked Fred’s announcement and the 15 minute message. Well done, in my opinion. He hit all the main conservative talking points and said pretty much what I wanted to hear. Good start. That’s scripted Fred, though, which I’ve heard before and already liked. Now I wanna see some more off-the-cuff Fred, which has been a weak point for him in the past. Would have been nice to see him in the debate tonight.
The head-bobbing doesn’t bother me. Nor do the ums and uhs. Nobody is as bad with the ums and uhs as our current president–Fred is smooth in comparison to Bush. And the head bob and/or knee slap is no more distracting than Rudy’s lisp or Mitt’s sorta creepy ultra-smooth politiciany-ness (just made up a word).
Fred didn’t fall off my “Maybe List” tonight.
aero on September 6, 2007 at 1:03 AM
Yup, Ronald Reagen did the same thing, shame it cost him the election…
doriangrey on September 6, 2007 at 1:05 AM
It’s so easy to ask the same question of you. I can’t wait until his position(?) (who even really knows what that is at this point as all we hear are sound bites and platitudes) is openly debated, and your over-the-top worship of the party savior (in your opinion) begins to wilt like spinach in a boiling pot of water. Yes, I’ll be waiting.
thedecider on September 6, 2007 at 1:06 AM
Well, Rudy’s record speaks for itself. Like him or no, it’s pretty clear he will do what he has always done.
Mitt has been the most articulate with his plans. The three legged stool etc.
None of them are going to be completely specific, but Fred hasn’t laid out one single position that anyone can say is specific in nature.
csdeven on September 6, 2007 at 1:08 AM
Here we go with the Fred is Reagan reincarnated sidebar…
Bradky on September 6, 2007 at 1:08 AM
White shoes after Labor Day? We wear shorts in the winter,get real GO Fred!
Bob
Bobnormal on September 6, 2007 at 1:08 AM
“To date Fred has campaigned like Sun Tzu.”
“In the practical art of war, you must be prepared to fight at any time in the future. In the impractical art of war, you should have been prepared quite some time ago, and it’s probably already too late. You’re screwed.”
- Sun Tzu’s nephew
MB4 on September 6, 2007 at 1:09 AM
LOL
Bradky on September 6, 2007 at 1:10 AM
I can hear the whisper… FFFFFfffffred…
Mojave Mark on September 6, 2007 at 1:11 AM
Please, all year long. Just no white belts.
Kini on September 6, 2007 at 1:11 AM
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