Fight For The Spotlight

AP:

DURHAM, N.H. - Illegal immigration and progress in the Iraq war headed the agenda for the Republican debate Wednesday pitting eight candidates who knew they likely would share the spotlight with a potential ninth -- Fred Thompson.
ADVERTISEMENT

The actor-politician skipped the debate but tried to steal the show by airing a commercial during the debate and appearing on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." Thompson planned to announce his candidacy at midnight on the Internet.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[mach]

11:36 PM on 09/06/2007

FLASH: Last night's New Hampshire debate on FOXNEWS was most watched debate of '07 election season..3.1 million viewers tuned in (854,000 in the 25-54 demo) ... Debate blows out CNN's Bill Clinton appearance on KING which averaged just 1.4 million viewers.

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

08:29 AM on 09/07/2007

another BUSH boot licker cheering for the nazi wing of U.S. politics.

[JackNasty]

10:19 PM on 09/06/2007

It's reassuring that General Electric has entered its own candidate into the GOP slime fest. It implies GE executives believe the Bush Administration hasn't completely destroyed the United States . . . yet.

[luckysun]

09:36 PM on 09/06/2007

He seemed really bored on Leno. It was like, "Here I am, I'm a good old boy, a actor that oozes old school machismo. I'm tall and I drive a truck. I'm a shoe-in. Yawn..."
I heard he takes limos to appearances but then switches to his red pick-up when he gets close. He seems VERY intellectually un-curious. But he does have that red-state vibe that duped red-staters gobble up like barbecue. Yuck.

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

10:20 PM on 09/06/2007

Fred Thompson is not curious because he's an inbred hick!

[Lisette]

03:20 AM on 09/07/2007

Right and all that thigh slapping got on my nerves.
Plus he is for the war??? Who are his advisers????

[realitycheck7]

09:20 PM on 09/06/2007

fitting...

a lame candidate announces on the show of a complete hack,.

HA!

[jackjett]

08:38 PM on 09/06/2007

He will be fun to watch crumble before our very eyes, like John McGetmemyCane.

I heard him speak today and it was like he was auditioning for Mannix.

How did he get that Law and Order gig?

jack jett
the widest stancer

[noamjunior]

07:57 PM on 09/06/2007

Any law and order fans out there

as a regular viewer- I think Thompson was easily the worst DA ever on the show, probably the worst regular character

[Lisette]

03:14 AM on 09/07/2007

I agree noamjunior, he ruins the show.

[loki]

07:24 PM on 09/06/2007

"Fred Thompson Flubs the Facts on Tonight Show"

In response to a question from Jay Leno about why America is so disliked worldwide, new presidential candidate Fred Thompson had this to say (transcript here):

Well, part of that comes with being the strongest, most powerful, most prosperous country in the history of the world. I think that goes with the territory. We're more unpopular than we need to be. That's for sure, but our people have shed more blood for the liberty and freedom of other peoples in this country than all the other countries put together. (Applause.) And I don't feel any need to apologize for the United States of America.

First, this is silly. As the "strongest, most powerful, most prosperous country in the history of the world," we can be the most popular or least popular country around, depending on our actions. There's nothing inherent about being on top that makes people hate you.

Second, this is false. The Soviet Union lost over 20 million people in World War II, an astonishing 10-13 percent of the country's total population. The U.S. lost 418,500 in WWII, 117,465 in WWI, and roughly 60,000 in Vietnam. More on those numbers here; point is, it's not even close.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2007/09/5390_fred_thompson_f.html

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

10:18 PM on 09/06/2007

His answers to Jay Leno were babbled and slurred. He sounded like an alzheimers patient.

No offense to altzheiemrs patients. But Fred
Thompson isn't fit to jump in the race for POTUS. He looks older than John McCain.

[racetoinfinity]

07:23 PM on 09/06/2007

Fred Thompson - of the rich and for the rich ONLY. Don't be fooled. Trickle down officially declared a gross fraud 15 yrs. ago.

btw - Rick Sanchez of CNN fame is a national joke.

[ceasenake]

07:07 PM on 09/06/2007

The Repub debate on Fox had 3 Million viewers or about double or triple the Dem debates on (snicker) CNN & MSNBC so far.

A) Do the Dems know how bad they screwed up?

B) Are they too dumb to know how bad they screwed up?

C) Do they know, but are too afraid to go on Fox and answer real questions?

D) Do they know, but are too afraid of the far left kool-aiders who would reject them for simply going on Fox?

[PeteChrisman]

08:06 PM on 09/06/2007

yea, but Ron Paul won and then Hannity lied about it--not exactly what you neocon deadenders wanted huh?

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig8/kramer1.html ron paul’s inauguration speech

http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=48404 paul wins maryland straw poll

http://prisonplanet.com/articles/september2007/060907_hannity_lies.htm fox smears paul in NH debate

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18963731/ paul trounces opposition in new hampshire debate msnbc poll

[ceasenake]

09:37 PM on 09/06/2007

Don't appreciate Shaun Hannity?

I don't like all the "personalities" on Fox, either.

THe highest rated alternative, though ... Larry King at CNN - 'nuf said. Fox at least addresses the issues.

The real laugh will be when the Dem primary is over and the general election is at hand, the Dem candidate will debate the Repub on Fox, because the influence of the extreme left will be much less than the need for a broad appeal.

[JMark64]

06:46 PM on 09/06/2007

Fred looks like 500 miles of bad road. He better not buy any green bananas.

[JohnKemp]

06:01 PM on 09/06/2007

WOW! Really got to love all of these libs' comments about Thompson's age.

He's the same age as Kerry, much younger than Fat Teddy, & much, much younger than Robert Bird (you know, the "Conscience of the Senate") & Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

Hell, Stevens & Bird cannot even stay awake, but the libs have no problem with their sleepwalking.

Go figure.

[taylorndncar]

05:57 PM on 09/06/2007

i am not the sharpest tool in the shed, but i am tired of the rhe rhetoric and money-counting of the democrats and the distancing of the republicans from the existing presidency. the media is stuck on the war and most people don't care because the terrorists are attacking the civilian population, and the media is making a big deal about it.

if i was thompson, i would sit back, listen to what's going on, feel the reaction of the public, take notes, then, at the last minute, jump in and make my case,...i would let my opponents boggle down into their "same-ol'-same ol', then step up and: "...what a bunch of crock...!" then, criticize everyone for their short-sightedness...!!!

this country is stronger economically, militarily, and defensively than ever before since world war ii. the clintons cushioned a weak economy by stripping the military and the intelligence agencies.

debates of any kind are like benefit concerts,...they are so retro...!!!

[shaefromTn]

05:47 PM on 09/06/2007

Phony Fred too sick and old needs to go the the nursing home!!!!!

[VOTER]

05:11 PM on 09/06/2007

Old Wrinkled Freddie's First Campaign Stop in Iowa

was received with "moderate" applause.

As the spokesperson said, "They missed the APPLAUSE

Sign from the Leno show. LOL

[ResistanceisFutile]

04:56 PM on 09/06/2007

Great! Another brain dead GOPer with no agenda for the working class stiff. We don't need or want a caretaker, who sits by while Corporate America rapes the American citizen.

John Edwards has dealt with corporate america on behalf of the consumer. He knows that corporate america can not be allowed at the table, making policy for the public.

Corporate america has prevented universal healthcare in this country, done away with bankruptcy laws and swindled the home owner seven ways to Sunday.

[demsaredangerous]

05:35 PM on 09/06/2007

Get a JOB

[chronic]

05:53 PM on 09/06/2007

Get a CLUE