Fred Thompson hates campaigning. End of story. You can all stop pointing that out now. Thanks.

I’m from the SW corner of Iowa, so I’m not sure how much I can help. I am planning on going to the Meet Fred event in Council Bluffs tomorrow night though.

Gianni on December 19, 2007

Nice… I’m a bit out of the way.. tell em he’s in.

Where are the Iowa HotAir folks? Are there any Iowa HotAir folks? Some direct input about the campaigns from Des Moines or Waterloo or the Green River area would be nice.

Maybe we can offer i-Phones to any Iowa HA commenters.

Limerick on December 19, 2007 at 12:39 PM

I’m from the SW corner of Iowa, so I’m not sure how much I can help. I am planning on going to the Meet Fred event in Council Bluffs tomorrow night though.

ok… Jeri 2012! /Fred First Gent.

“Let’s just take the one appointment that he’s gotten early on in his life. He happens to be working for Sen. Howard Baker in Washington. You think there’s a shortage of lawyers in Washington? Why would he choose someone like Fred Thompson? What was it that he saw in Fred Thompson that made him choose Fred Thompson to be Watergate Minority Council? “

Other than that, pretty bland, and off mark. Listen, honey…(can I call Thompson’s wife honey?)….the media is an equal opportunity hammer. Everyone’s toes gets it. Even billary.

I thought 30 was the new 20 :-D. Or was it 40?

BKennedy on December 19, 2007 at 4:09 PM

Well, I feel compelled to admit at this point that I’m far closer to 40 than 30 (38 last month, to be exact). But I certainly don’t feel like “the new 20,” that’s for sure! I had to pull an all-nighter recently in order to hit a deadline, and it felt like I had been kicked by a large horse for a couple of days after. I used to be able to pull all-nighters a couple of times a week without it bothering me overmuch. Now–no.

aero on December 19, 2007 at 3:50 PM

I thought 30 was the new 20 :-D. Or was it 40?

That Thompson will not be duped and that Thompson will not play dunce to the media pied pipers and squealing spoiled brats does not equate to “hate”–that hatred is your own word. Thompson makes no more out of something than it is. That maturity marks a reliable and self confident President for a positive response from many American factions, not merely conservative Republicans.

Dude, Thompson’s answers were “trophy wife (most treasured keepsake)” and “Martin Sheen (best 20th century President from the other party).”

The only thing that does for Thompson is show he hasn’t a clue how to deal wih the media. Once is enough to make the point, especially if it is actually an intelligible jab at the media. The second was just idiotic and unneccesary. Thompson looks plenty duped to me: He’s feeding into the media perception that he’s lazy and doesn’t really take the time to do anything thoughtful.

If Fred think’s he’s winning by giving the media a black eye before he’s even nominated, it shows he’s a fool.

“Our first lady is SMOKIN’ hot!”

You’re in your 30’s and counldn’t handle traveling to a new state in every 4 days?

BKennedy on December 19, 2007 at 3:38 PM

For months on end, with two small children in tow and cameras on me all the time? I’d be dog tired by now and wishing desperately that I were at home relaxing with a good book. You must still be in your Energizer Bunny years (early 20s, I’m guessing) if you don’t believe me. I was ready to collapse after a a two-week vacation to San Diego with my husband and children last summer.

Plus, I don’t sleep well in any bed but my own. Many people are like that. It’s why I’d never want a job that involves a lot of travel. Long-term travel, even sprinkled with rest days, can wear you out. Add the stress of a political campaign and a few decades of age, and you can bet I’m sympathetic to these candidates–even Hillary.

I think these blitz tours and hand-shaking monkey shows should no longer be necessary–they don’t tell us anything about how the candidate will lead the nation. But clearly I don’t run the political process. ;-)

You would despise wisdom.

That Thompson will not be duped and that Thompson will not play dunce to the media pied pipers and squealing spoiled brats does not equate to “hate”–that hatred is your own word. Thompson makes no more out of something than it is. That maturity marks a reliable and self confident President for a positive response from many American factions, not merely conservative Republicans.

From his political beginning, those in the know have consistently recognized Thompson’s like-ability. From his personal past relations, his cordiality trumps spades of hate that the likes of you would attempt to insert into this setting. Thompson knows who he is and who he is not is something that you, BKennedy, have yet to appreciate. He established his platform for the Republican Party to gather ’round in friendship and unity.

Hope springs eternal.

You clearly didn’t know that Fred has been in almost 20 states in a little over 3 months’ time–I didn’t either until I looked, and I’ll bet most of us didn’t realize how active he’s been. We just believed the media’s meme that Fred has been MIA for months now. And we’re political junkies! So you tell me: is he being covered fairly? I say no. The lazy meme they’ve been touting applies more to their coverage than to Fred’s actual activity level. I don’t think I could keep up that travel schedule, and I’m in my 30s!

aero on December 19, 2007 at 1:50 PM

20 states in 90 days. Color me impressed. /sarc.

So he spends 4 1/2 days in each state he visits, and he’s got 3rd to show for it in Iowa? That’s weak. You’re in your 30′s and counldn’t handle traveling to a new state in every 4 days? I highly doubt that. You could hole a function, a forum, a fundraiser, and rest for a day before heading to the next state.

It would be Camelot II.

Instead it’s snarky comments about trophy wives and age gaps.

On another note, does anybody see a resemblance between Jeri Thompson speaking and Lynne Cheney speaking.

That’s it! I couldn’t figure out who she reminded me of…

thirteen28 on December 19, 2007 at 12:19 PM

I agree with your critique of the Thompson campaign but I think that it is a good idea to have Jeri out there talking about how much her husband has accomplished for two reasons. It needed to be said and he couldn’t say it and this little spin session puts Jeri into the national spotlight doing something you would expect a wife to do, defend her husband. Kinda gave me the warm and fuzzies.

On another note, does anybody see a resemblance between Jeri Thompson speaking and Lynne Cheney speaking. I think Jeri is one smart cookie.

GO FRED.

You clearly didn’t know hat Fred has been in almost 20 states in a little over 3 months’ time

That is correct, I didn’t.

And we’re political junkies!

Eh, I’m just trying to be an informed citizen post 9.11.

So you tell me: is he being covered fairly?

Yes, accounting for the normal left-bias, I think so.

Does Fred not have press that travel with him everywhere like the other candidates?

Spirit of 1776 on December 19, 2007 at 1:42 PM

If he does, it would seem their employers just don’t run what they write and say. Nor do the major media outlets typically pick up local affiliate coverage of Fred’s stops in all these states.

You clearly didn’t know that Fred has been in almost 20 states in a little over 3 months’ time–I didn’t either until I looked, and I’ll bet most of us didn’t realize how active he’s been. We just believed the media’s meme that Fred has been MIA for months now. And we’re political junkies! So you tell me: is he being covered fairly? I say no. The lazy meme they’ve been touting applies more to their coverage than to Fred’s actual activity level. I don’t think I could keep up that travel schedule, and I’m in my 30s!

I seriously think he is campaigning for the VP slot.

RobG on December 19, 2007 at 1:38 PM

He has repeatedly said that he’s not interested in VP, and he says it quite convincingly. But we’ll see.

He went places the national press corps wasn’t.

Does Fred not have press that travel with him everywhere like the other candidates?

But he was campaigning somewhere, yes?

I don’t think so.
Spirit of 1776 on December 19, 2007 at 1:12 PM

Just skimming the press releases and photo galleries on Fred’s site, it looks like between September and now, he’s visited Texas, Michigan, Wyoming, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Minnesota, California, Virginia, D.C., Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, and of course Iowa. He doesn’t have a detailed itinerary and history, which is unfortunate. But the photo evidence alone suggests the guy’s been all over. He just didn’t spend ALL his time and ALL his money on 2-3 states like the others seem to be doing. He went places the national press corps wasn’t. He went to the voters of many states, which should not be a bad thing.

Previously Hot Air pundits used the epitaphs dead, lazy or dinosaur that are seemingly unfair to the wife of this conservative candidate whose behind the scene political preparations have not catered to the MSM/public gah-gah-goo “give it to me now” expectations. It’s Jeri’s right to speak her mind.

Regarding the latest MSM zogby hyped news:
“The poll was taken last Wednesday to Friday. It surveyed 436 likely Democratic primary voters and 432 likely Republican primary voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points for both parties.”

We members of the NATIONAL OPINION are NOT represented by the answers to God only know what questions that were asked of 432 LIKELY voters, whoever the hell they were. What a crock! That is INCREDIBLE, literally UNBELIEVABLE to expect any person with a brain to swallow such crap as the ultimate truth.