A Few Questions For Fred Thompson

**Terri** · #1 09-07-2007, 08:32 AM

By Michael Reagan
September 7, 2007

Fred Thompson's opening shot in launching his campaign on the Jay Leno show was impressive, but now he has to forget the sound bites and the folksy advice and get down to brass tacks.

To begin with, he has to give the voters in the primary states a good reason to pick him over all the other Republican candidates. He has to tell them not only where he stands on the issues, but also what he plans to do about them.

It's not enough to say he wants a better America -- after all, everybody wants that. He has to spell out how he plans to get there.

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83ragtop50 · #2 09-07-2007, 09:10 AM

Very good article. Now let's see how Fred responds. I sure hope he is more than a smile, a little country wit and makeup. The remainder of the Republican candidates leaves me without much hope.

gpiacenti · #3 09-07-2007, 09:28 AM

I think America needs to take a look at the second
tier candidates. They are the better candidates, but won't get the media time the others do. I hope Fred can be the man, if my preferred candidate is unelectable. I'd really like to see Duncan Hunter rise to the top tier. If it were a choice between Thompson and Hunter, Id choose Hunter. As things stand now Thompson may be our only hope for a truly conservative candidate.

Jamble · #4 09-07-2007, 10:01 AM

As I've been reading all the "draft Fred" hype here and on other forums, I realize that I don't know much about the man.

All I know is that he's an actor, a lawyer and a 1-term Senator. There must be more if he's to be our candidate.

Answering Mr. Reagan's article is an excellent place for Mr. Thompson to start showing us why he deserves our support.

pmck · #5 09-07-2007, 10:20 AM

It is a sad state of affairs when people jumping on Fred Thompson because he did not take part in a boring debate in New Hampshire on Wednesday night.

I agree that he will now have to answer many questions detailing his plans and why he would be a better person to run for President than the other hopefuls. Before he formally announced that he was running, I personally did not see much excitement for the other people that were running for President.

ricJ · #6 09-07-2007, 11:07 AM

What does the GOP have against Fred Thompson? Why the downplay of this candidate?

gebruce · #7 09-07-2007, 11:21 AM

I can't speak for the GOP, but so far Fred is all show and talk. I want truth honesty and the American way. All of the candidates have so far lied to us, treated us as ignorant and unintelligent unaware people. The time for BS, smoke and mirrors has past. We need hard facts backed up with past actions and some indication that we can trust this candidate. So far, my trust has been shaken so badly that I don't trust any of them.

RiverKing · #8 09-07-2007, 12:28 PM

"A Few Questions for Fred Thompson" was misnamed. A few declarative sentences identified Fred Thompson or were addressed to him but all of the questions should be posed to all of the candidates.

The trick, then, is to listen to the answers. This seems to be beyond the capabilities of most political pundits, particularly in regard to Fred Thompson.

Speedway · #9 09-07-2007, 12:28 PM

gebruce, I'm glad you don't speak for the GOP. I can't say anything about the first two characteristics, but you do seem to be a bit unaware.

Broad sweeping generalizations of they "all lie" is what Democrats say about Republicans.

I invite you to take a look at Duncan Hunter and cite one instance in which your characterization of him (you did say ALL) applies.

As for Thompson, the guy just announced. I'd at least wait to find out what his plans are before I throw him under a bus.

gpiacenti, I agree with your assessment of the 2nd tier candidates. The media picked the front-runners and uninformed GOP voters have allowed it by continually focusing on Guiliani, McCain and Romney.

It seems many GOP voters just want to gripe and complain about the candidates rather than spend time really learning anything about them.

TWM1942 · #10 09-07-2007, 01:11 PM

An excellent article by Michael Reagan! Thompson does need to reply, not by writing a reply, but by demonstration with his campaign actions.

Aside from McCain and Paul, the GOP candidates are all good, but are not likely to ever get much traction in the current MSM environment. Thompson has received, and will get more, traction in the media; which like it or not, is required in order to garner enough votes to win an election.

If he really can demonstrate himself to be a leader, any of the other candidates, would make a good VP choice, or better yet, my personal choice of J.C. Watts.

We should not be trashing our good candidates. With Obama (the empty suit), Clinton (the overbearing carpetbagger), and Edwards (the sleezebag lawyer) on the Democrat side, there are plenty of good targets without having to trash other Republicans.