The Thompson Reviews Are In

NY Sun

I just attended Fred Thompson's first campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa. The quick take: This is a whimper of a start.

I'm writing from the filing center that the Thompson campaign has set up in the Polk County Convention Complex, and the verdict from the grizzled and cynical Des Moines press corps is harsh: "Pathetic" was the word used by one vet. "Small" and "low energy" were the words used to describe the crowd.

Washington Post

Written, aides said, by Thompson himself and contained in notecards that the candidate took with him to the podium, the speech was unnaturally quiet and reserved. There were a few moments of stirring language that gave rise to some applause. But for the most part, it was serious and thoughtful and - boring?

That's Fred, say campaign aides. He's not a podium-pounding, voice-rising, preacher-like speaker. In fact, they said afterward, the opening words of his speech promised "a conversation" with voters - and that's what he offered.

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Conversations are fine. But opening a campaign with a conversation is an interesting choice that might not play well on television screens - something that could be a first for the "Law & Order" star.

Hotline

Fred Thompson seemed a bit more like an actor than a candidate 9/6 in Des Moines.

His good ol' boy persona certainly seemed genuine enough, but his speech had the cadence of a dramatic monologue, not a rallying cry for undecided voters. There were large gaps of not-so-dramatic silence between a few of his main points. And instead of building the crowd's energy to a roar throughout the speech, he seemed to inadvertantly lull them into a patriotic stupor. The crowd still cheered at the end, but not quite as loudly as on the way in.

Des Moines Register

Fred Thompson's announcement speech Thursday in Des Moines was underwhelming.

The former U.S. Senator and movie actor formally announced his long-awaited candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination at the Des Moines Convention Complex. It wasn't very impressive.

The crowd of a few hundred didn't seem enthused. Thompson's oratory didn't soar but was somewhat rambling.

He would have been better off just to repeat the announcement statement he posted on his web site. It is much better written and cogently delivered.

Comments

[RichardD]

You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

[ReverendBob]

Actually, you can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Arthur D. Little Company did it in 1921 by studying silkworms, melting down some sow's ears, and then made silk-like thread that was woven into purses.

http://libraries.mit.edu/archives/exhibits/purse/index.html

However, Fred is still dead.

[ReverendBob]

Fred's dead.

[connski]

Thompson's statement that Bin Laden is just a symbol has to be one of the most feckless I've heard from a presidential candidate. If the man can give a signal for coordinated Al Qaeda attacks by releasing a video (see reuters article Saturday, Sept 8.) he's a lot more than a symbol. He's an authority and commander. If Bush had eliminated or captured him, Al Qaeda would have had to promote another prominent leader, probably Al Zawahiri. The disruption that process would cause could have revealed a great deal to intelligence agencies.

[ajax2]

From this picture of Fred I can now see why Tucker Carlson and Chris Matthews are gushing. This man is hot.

[MoeJava]

Thompson explained that his campaign started out "around our kitchen table a few months ago" with "Jeri and me and a couple of friends."

How sweet - I suppose she was baking cookies simultaneously planning this strategy. By all appearances, women are only good if they are helping you run for president. All other occasions when they try to express their own thoughts, they are banished to the Nunnery (the modern-day equivilent is: told to shut up)

Republicans believe in male supremacy. Women are only there for child-rearing (what? Mark Folley has been out-sourced?) and housekeeping.

[patanderson]

Maybe Fred should hire an acting coach. One that would point out that in public , there are no re-takes.

Or...maybe Fred could drop out of the race for a couple of months, take a job in a stage play, where cue cards and retakes are non-existent, you know, learn how to talk in public without a director, voice coach, wardrobe person.

It's just a thought

[Qbear]

Jeri's help is GIGANTIC, and her GRAVITY DEFYING support, gives Fred great joy.
Nothing PUSHES UP a politician's ego like the little woman RACKing her brain to fulfill his every dream.

[Ginzaman]

Nobody cares what you have to say, Fred. Give it up now and just go away.

[larstein]

Maybe if he used a long cigar, like in his mouth at a 45% angle, and wore either a cowboy or Uncle Sam hat at a jaunty tilt, like Reagan, he could channel both FDR and Reagan at the same time, thus inspiring Gops to vote for him. On the other hand, the cigar idea might make him look too much like a Borscht Belt comedian, but even that would be metaphorically appropriate, seeing as how the Gops are turning out to be such a bad joke.

[kempis]

Where *are* all the Thompson supporters, anyway? I thought this guy was the GOP's savior.

I can't believe no one has appeared on this thread to mock the "hufftards" for missing Fred's obvious charm and presidenti­al-ness...­.

[fourex]

Fred may have flopped, but from the picture it's easy to see why Tucker Carlson and Chris Matthews find Fred so manly and attractive.

[Colmore]

As a woman, I find Fred repulsive. Can he not afford a dentist? His teeth are HORRIBLE. His cone-pone accent is jarring, and even after cosmetic surgury his wrinkles are deep. I figured out that the reason repugs. thought Reagan was so wonderful was because he appeared in public in makeup. He really loved the rouge, and hair dyes. With all of them being "outed" lately it makes me wonder. Reagan never did anything for the working class, that's for sure.

[kempis]

"fourex: Fred may have flopped, but from the picture it's easy to see why Tucker Carlson and Chris Matthews find Fred so manly and attractive."

**********­**********­*

Only if Tucker and Tweety are female Shar-peis....

[drblack]

There is almost no difference between Guiliani and Thompson except one is an actor...Giuliani played his role well on 9-11. ( he did nothing...but was great at taking advantage of photo-ops and the rescue workers true heroics)

[WIDESTANCE]

at least thompson managed to flop without flipping, unlike romney, who has taken flop-flipping to a new level...

[VOTER]

Your moniker is so current!

And a tribute to the high moral standards found in the Republican Party.

Welcome!

[researcher]

he has the main qualities of reagan. second rate actor who tends to have one liners on law and order.

that is what we need in washington one liners.

god the neo cons have a second rate actor, a morman, and a bunch with trophy wifes and a self proclaimed genius that put new york's security center on the 23rd floor of the twin towers.

a couple hundred fire fighters died due to that decision and guess what he is leading in the repub polls and he is running on a tough terrorist agenda. those neo cons are one bright group of folks.

I suspect the terrorists are voting for the genius.

the chicken has come home to roost. or is it what we sow we reap.

[mexamerican]

old sack of bullshit.