Grandpa Fred's slow fade

Maybe Thompson isn't as studly as the pundits think he is...

Rasmussen Reports combines nightly Presidential Tracking Poll results into full-week averages and support for Fred Thompson has declined in each of the past three weeks. He earned 28% for the week ending September 16 and then saw his numbers fall to 26% and 25% in subsequent weeks. Now, for the week ending October 7, his support is down to 22% and he trails Rudy Giuliani by a single percentage point. This marks the first time since Thompson formally entered the race that he has trailed Giuliani in a full week of polling by Rasmussen Reports.

For his part, Giuliani’s numbers have remained fairly stable. With the exception of one week in September, he has remained at the 22% or 23% level each week since the end of summer.

Guiliani is stable, but "gaining" by sheer fact that Thompson's campaign has generated nothing but derision and narcolepsy.

Twenty-four minutes after he began speaking in a small restaurant the other day, Fred Thompson brought his remarks to a close with a nod of his head and an expression of thanks to Iowans for allowing him to “give my thoughts about some things.”

Then he stood face to a face with a silent audience.

“Can I have a round of applause?” Mr. Thompson said, drawing a rustle of clapping and some laughter.

“Well, I had to drag that out of you,” he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds (if not more) people are getting bizarre automated calls from the number 615-349-9441, with nothing but silence on the other end. When people call back, they get a message from the Friends of Fred Thompson campaign (I called to verify it).

Dirty trick or an inept Thompson campaign? Either way, it's another great way to piss off voters.

•  He looks like an ANCIENT turtle.

  hiya cecil!

  by Fan of Man on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:26:08 PM PDT

  •  SNL nailed it in their sketch - says everything

    you need to know about the turtle.

    http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

    by rhfactor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:30:35 PM PDT

    •  Here ya go -- the youtube clip

      by rhfactor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:31:46 PM PDT

  •  Grandpa Kermie n/t

    by dss on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:34:21 PM PDT

    •  kos has a real gift for headline writing; amazing

      Not only is he a good analyst, but he's got a great ability to frame just by use of a headline. Deconstructing it spoils it, like it does a joke. But he packs a lot of emotional imagery into his titles -- and that is beyond wordsmithing. It's influence-messaging, and I love it when I see it from Dems... in general not their strength, though it should be.

      just a tip o' the hat to one of the hidden qualities that helped propel this blog into one of the highest visibility blogs in the world.

      by rhfactor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:02:10 PM PDT

  •  The silence is Thompson waiting for applause (nt)

    by ShadowSD on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:34:59 PM PDT

  •  hey, if u were 192 years old, you'd be lucky to

    look that good.

    by Cartoon Peril on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 03:27:45 PM PDT

    •  He's relatively young.

      He just looks old.  Thompson is 65, same as Biden,a year older than Kerry, two years older than Dodd, four older than Kucinich and Bush and younger than many robust political leaders in D.C.  Thompson has lymphoma which he says is in remission and may be but it's clearly taken a toll. What I see is not so much an old man but one too debilitated to handle an intense campaign. BTW, I looked this info up because I was shocked at his appearance. Wonder why he threw his hat in?  

      by cas2 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 06:41:31 PM PDT

•  this is like professional wrestling

  he is going to switch allegiances momentarily.

  I bet he is going to start supporting Ron Paul.

  by jalapeno on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:28:01 PM PDT

•  How old is he anyways?

  (Since I'm too lazy to Google)

  Of course age shouldn't determine the best person to run the country, but he looks in the pictures like he's already been embalmed...

  by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:28:02 PM PDT

  •  He's only 65,

    but looks like Art Linkletter's grandfather.

    by Greasy Grant on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:29:00 PM PDT

    •  What will Fred Thompson wear to his inauguration?

      Depends...

      by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:29:58 PM PDT

      •  ha hah!

        y'all are on-fire with these comments today!

        Nice one ...!

        by rhfactor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:55:43 PM PDT

        •  Think of it this way...

          if schmucks like me can rip apart Grandpa Fred, the professionals will have a field day...

          by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:00:15 PM PDT

    •  Tips for mentioning Art Linkletter

      And Fred Thompson in the same phrase!

      Is Art Linkletter dead yet?

      And while we're on the subject, how can Paul Harvey still be around?

      by klw1963 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:33:06 PM PDT

      •  Art is 95

        And still with us, as far as I can tell.

        by Tuba Les on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:36:49 PM PDT

        •  Yeah I looked him up

          Senile Old Men say the Darndest Things.

          by klw1963 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:39:09 PM PDT

      •  Paul Harvey was old...

        when I listened to him on the radio as a kid...and I'm 42...

        by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:37:05 PM PDT

        •  Yeah - - I remember back in the 60's

          My Democrat mom used to hate him.  We had to go to bed right after he came on TV (about 7:30).

          That must account for the nightmares.

          by klw1963 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:38:43 PM PDT

          •  I still have waking nightmares...

            seeing Lawrence Welk on PBS...my mom watched that show every Saturday night and I sat on the couch and watched along.  The horror...the horror...

            by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:41:52 PM PDT

            •  Do bubbles freak you out? n/t

              by GTPinNJ on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:51:12 PM PDT

              •  I can only imagine...

                Beethoven and Bach doing fugues in their graves every time Lawrence Welk is broadcast...

                by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:02:08 PM PDT

            •  I remember that his show lasted an hour

              A whole hour.

              Do you know that if you practice holding your breath, you can probably breathe only 45 times during an hour?  I have Lawrence Welk to thank for that revelation.

              by klw1963 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:58:00 PM PDT

            •  Ahhhh!

              The lovely Lennon Sisters and Joe Feeney! My in-laws listened to it on KTLA Channel 5 in LA for YEARS!!! Every Saturday night!

              Myron Floren would start up the old stomach Steinway and my husband and I would bolt for the door. Even my dear departed mother with her questionable taste in music couldn't take that old fart.

              Something to add to your trove of useless information: Bobby Burgess, that dancing stooge with the huge clodhoppers, has cotillion classes for adolescent boys in Long Beach, CA. He teaches them ballroom dancing and etiquette.

              by ellefarr on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 08:24:15 PM PDT

          •  Paul Harvey

            has always really creeped me out.

            And it's not really so much that he's conservative.

            It's that he's just weird.

            by SadTexan on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:01:34 PM PDT

            •  Just imagine getting a hug from Paul Harvey

              eeeeeewwwwww.  The smell . . ..

              by klw1963 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 03:11:14 PM PDT

      •  has Art announced yet? Rs could use a fresh face

        by Cartoon Peril on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 03:29:12 PM PDT

        •  Art Linkletter

          A more energetic version of Fred Thompson.

          by klw1963 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 03:55:05 PM PDT

    •  Funniest comment of the day. n/t

      by ivorybill on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:41:52 PM PDT

      •  In all modesty,

        I thought the first response to this comment was a lot funnier:

        http://www.dailykos.com/...

        by Greasy Grant on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:46:29 PM PDT

        •  That was good...

          but I thought that this one was better.

          by GTPinNJ on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:52:53 PM PDT

    •  Greasy Grant, that was an off-the-wall image

      now THAT's ancient....

      that was inspired!

      by rhfactor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:55:00 PM PDT

•  That's not silence. . .

  people are getting bizarre automated calls from the number 615-349-9441, with nothing but silence on the other end.

  That's Fred Thompson giving his stump speech.

  by LarryInNYC on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:28:23 PM PDT

  •  I REALLY almost spit my coffee on my keyboard!n/t

    by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:29:10 PM PDT

  •  nice, although

    it's worth mentioning that if it's a dirty trick, then they at least covered their bases a little bit by simulating where Fred is from - 615 is the area code for Nashville

    by Dem partisan on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:35:54 PM PDT

    •  When in doubt

      Use this tool:

      http://whocalled.us/

      The nice thing about this, is that it is a database that grows with every reported call. All you do is enter the number, and then leave a little blurb about your 'experience' for everyone to see.

      Try it, you will have fun outing all the unwanted calls to your house!!

      H/T to Waldo Jaquith

      by Dems2004 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:14:01 PM PDT

      •  For instance

        Is this guy THOMPSON making a pass at my wife ?
        He calls us relentlessly like nobody's business.
        Hey THOMPSON, you have just violated our right to privacy sir. We know you are a freaking spy but please leave us honest Americans alone. STOP CALLING US FOR YOU CAUSE.
        Place a commercial. an add or something, just don't call us, WE'LL CALL YOU IF WE ARE INTERESTED OF YOUR CAUSE!!!!

        by Dems2004 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:17:14 PM PDT

  •  Nice to see Republicans eating their own

    I wonder if this isn't a scam by the Ghouliani campaign.  I mean, it sounds to me like a dirty trick.

    by ivorybill on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:36:53 PM PDT

    •  And Right Up

      Ghouliani's alley.  I would not be surprised to find out that ol' Rudy is behind this.

      by feebog on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:56:45 PM PDT

•  the silence is take two

  i heard the first set of calls had Thompson breathing heavily

  by guyermo on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:29:41 PM PDT

•  I finally realize where I know Grampa Fred from

  Grandma Helen: Oh Sam, let me take a look at you. Fred, she's gotten her boobies.
  Grandpa Fred: I better get my magnifying glass. Ha Ha Ha.
  Grandma Helen: Oh, and they are so PERKY.
  [reaches to cup them]

  [cut to:]

  Samantha: I can't believe my grandmother actually felt me up.

  Sixteen Candles

  by Crisis Corps Volunteer on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:30:32 PM PDT

  •  OK, now Fred is even deeper on my sh$t list.

    First he fires a hot blonde prosecutor on Law & Order.  Now, thanks to your brilliant oppo. research, we now know that Thompson has dissed Molly Ringwald's rack.  How evil can you get?

    by Greasy Grant on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:38:02 PM PDT

•  Be still my beating heart

  When Giuliani first entered the race, I never imagined the republicans would be stupid enough to nominate him.

  Get ready for Dukakis's revenge.

  by Zackpunk on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:30:37 PM PDT

  •  Ghouliani is dangerous

    Make no mistake about it.  He and Huckabee are the two most dangerous Republicans for us.  Unless we are totally incompetent, we will win in 2008, but don't underestimate the ability of the media to create a symathetic narrative for Ghouliani.  And, at the end of the day, the fundies may end up supporting the Republicans once again.  Hate of foreigners and Muslims will overcome their one-issue fixation.  

    by ivorybill on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:39:33 PM PDT

    •  I don't know...

      his kids hate him and he's had more relationships than Zsa Zsa Gabor...

      by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:44:53 PM PDT

      •  And he's a cross-dresser

        The guy has more negatives than a calculus textbook.

        by Zackpunk on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:46:49 PM PDT

        •  I think if we work together...

          we could make the banquet circuit?

          by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:48:11 PM PDT

          •  I'm looking for my bow tie as we speak...

            by Zackpunk on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:53:48 PM PDT

•  Classic example

  Thompson and his "support" touted in the press before he entered the race is a classic example of how things sound better the less you know about them.

  by elishastephens on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:32:57 PM PDT

  •  Fred Thompson is like haggis.

    When you first hear about it & that it is a local delicacy, you think, "hey, maybe it's not so bad."  Then you find out what's in it.

    Thompson should have stayed out of the race until the day before the first primary.

    by GTPinNJ on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:43:38 PM PDT

    •  don't let Groundskeeper Willie hear that!

      by Cartoon Peril on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 03:31:43 PM PDT

  •  Fred is the girl you never had in high school.

    You crush on her for years, run into her at a reunion, go out with her. . .

    and listen to her talk (with her mouth full) about her stuffed toy collection and her dream of Dancing With the Stars, notice her habit of singing along with commercial jingles (every damn one), and watch her drink (and  later messily return) fruity umbrella drinks.

    Later, after taking her home, you wonder what the hell you were thinking back in high school (and if you can ever save those shoes).

    by Crashing Vor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:01:54 PM PDT

    •  This sounds

      like the voice of experience....

      by SadTexan on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:03:33 PM PDT

      •  Yeah, a bit too detailed, isn't it? n/t

        by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:07:31 PM PDT

        •  Be grateful I left out the kiss.

          by Crashing Vor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:10:27 PM PDT

•  Darrell Hammond on Saturday Night Live

  has already got him down (and the joke is "lazy" and "not very enthusiastic").

  by Marinesquire on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:33:04 PM PDT

•  Zzzzzzzzzzz, eeeeehaw, zzzzzzzzzzz, eeeeehaaaw

  Why anyone was worried about this old codger being a threat is sort of funny in hindsight.  Chance of Grandpa Fred becoming the next Preznit is about 1 in a billion.

  by rrheard on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:33:08 PM PDT

•  I read somewhere that there will be a

  Hollywood writers' strike coming up sometime at either the end of October or the beginning of November. Maybe grandpa Fred should fork over some cash and hire a striker from Law & Order to write a good political script for him.

  by Spathiphyllum on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:33:21 PM PDT

•  This guy is old and irrelevant...

  I cannot believe the Repugs think he is "the Answer" to their prayers.  Geez.

  by jdmorg on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:34:41 PM PDT

  •  I pray he gets the nomination

    It's always fun to speculate.  Thompson versus any of our candidates would be a reprise of Bill Clinton vs Bob Dole.  My personal favorite fantasy is Thompson v Obama. Could there be a more profound comparison between the past and the future?

    by ivorybill on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:47:51 PM PDT

  •  Guess they couldn't

    talk Bob Dole into running.

    by aggressiveprogressive on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:49:18 PM PDT

•  Thompson's campaign called our house

  the other day.  Being registered as an "I", I get to hear from everyone.  The woman said "I have a personal message for you from Fred Thompson.  Hold on one second and I'll play it for you."

  I laughed and told her it would not be necessary....that I had absolutely no intention whatsoever of ever voting for Cementhead Fred and that I was educating all of my friends and family on his platform, every single plank of which is what I despise about republicans.  The woman audibly gasped and I said "good day".

  by PsychoSavannah on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:35:12 PM PDT

  •  Did you have to hold on for a second...

    because Fred was having gas?

    by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:46:18 PM PDT

    •  I like the idea

      that a taped message played for thousands of potential primary voters is considered "personal".

      by GTPinNJ on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:50:06 PM PDT

      •  That is what originally

        got me laughing..."hold on one second and I'll play it for you."

        I try to be nice to these people, but man-oh-man, it's just pathetic....to call it a "personal message".  Ugh.

        I should have listened to hear what he had to say, but was afraid I might fall asleep.....

        by PsychoSavannah on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:55:58 PM PDT

        •  so dumb: AT&T does same thing, please hold for an

          impt message from AT&T...

          Then, if you're dumb enough to wait the 3-4 seconds of switching time, you get an AT&T billing rep telling you your bill is late...

          I was dumb enough once, but whenever i get any kind of "please hold for" automated call, i just hang up.

          Sometimes you gotta wonder about the direct marketing industry...

          by rhfactor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:09:11 PM PDT

        •  maybe he gets personal

          in the message, like he says all this personal stuff about himself you don't want to hear...drunken complaints about his friends, intestinal problems,

          by HenryVane on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 04:30:59 PM PDT

•  Fredriczzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

  of Hollywood.

  by Kdoug on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:35:31 PM PDT

•  Wow!

  Granpa Fred looks awful in that picture of him wearing the green hard hat.

  Freddie is to old, to dumb, and can't talk his way out of a paper bag...end of story.

  I'd vote for his trophy wife, but not him.

  by Jeff Y on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:36:12 PM PDT

•  Fred Thompson is a good sleep enhancer

  by Churchill on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:38:22 PM PDT

•  Dude does everything in s-l-o-w motion

  including running the race to irrelevancy.

  by rightiswrong on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:39:27 PM PDT

  •  Foghorn Leghorn on quaaludes. n/t

    by Crashing Vor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:07:48 PM PDT

    •  BWAHAHAHAHA! n/t

      by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:08:56 PM PDT

•  Record his speeches & playback before bedtime

  cheaper than Sominex.

  He really has a monotone voice that puts people to sleep.  And his speeches are best of "Ronald Reagan".  Over and over and over and over and over and over again again again.

  by Churchill on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:39:46 PM PDT

•  there's an R debate tomorrow on MSNBC;

  Fast Freddy's first! ;)

  Maybe we need a drinking game? hmmm ....

  by PhillyGal on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:39:47 PM PDT

  •  That is going to be great.

    I hope Ron Paul makes Freddie cry.

    by citizenx on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:40:47 PM PDT

  •  Here's the script:

    Freddy: I was on Law & Order. So vote for me.
    Rudy: I was in NY on 9-11. So vote for me.
    Freddy: Law & Order. Law & Order. You saw me on TV.
    Rudy: 9-11. 9-11. 9-11. 9-11. I was on TV.

    Now to Tweety for analysis.

    You know, it might actually be worthwhile TV if KO, Tweety and Scarborough are hosting the telecast.

    by aggressiveprogressive on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:53:50 PM PDT

    •  then, all comments on YouTube are

      End the insanity. Ron Paul for President.

      by rhfactor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:10:50 PM PDT

•  There's an old sayin' in Tennessee...

  by JWH on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:39:58 PM PDT

  •  Fool me can't get fooled again!! nt

    by HenryVane on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 04:34:09 PM PDT

•  Fred is in the Debate Tonight

  He will be THE topic of conversation tomorrow, except for the 300 million americans that don't watch the debate. It's ok, I am sure Broder, et al, will be glad to tell me what happened.

  by Tuba Les on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:40:01 PM PDT

  •  I thought the debate was Tues. night?

    Don't tell Fred though.

    by citizenx on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:42:26 PM PDT

  •  Hell, I can't wait for Tweety to...

    ...cream himself when he gets that first whiff of English Leather...

    by Ken in MN on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:52:02 PM PDT

    •  English Leather?

      My money is on Old Spice...

      by wry twinger on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:04:54 PM PDT

      •  Aqua Velva.

        n/t

        by Zaq on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:08:10 PM PDT

        •  Jovan Musk For Men

          He started wearing it when he got a divorce from Starter Wife and thinks it helped him get Trophy Wife. It smells like bug spray.

          by ellefarr on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 08:36:05 PM PDT

•  the narcoleptic candidacy. LOL

  despite the unfortunate Agism that some people exhibit here, (If you can, try to remember this 148  yrs from now, when you approach Freddie's age), we should honor our elders.

  In fred's case, that would involve putting him in front of the camera, providing him with a script, and telling him that he really is president, while he is safely locked away, far away from the public.

  Many of us realize that as we age, we realize how little we knew earlier in life. In Fred's case, it was all his fellow senators saying it about him.

  by agnostic on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:47:28 PM PDT

  •  Will the narcoleptic geezers be

    this year's soccer Mom?

    by aggressiveprogressive on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:55:41 PM PDT

•  Time to bust out the...

  ...Campaign Viagra, if Drop Dead Fred has any chance of keeping up this worthless (though Hi-lairious) endeavour...

  by Ken in MN on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:51:10 PM PDT

•  Could we can it with the "Grandpa" references?

  Surely we can come up with a better line of attack than that. Fred's 65 years old--it looks to me like he's lost a lot of weight in the last two years, which leaves him looking jowly in the face. BFD!

  Whether you want to call this ageism or merely poking a cheap shot at a candidate's lesser physical attributes, it reflects poorly on Daily Kos as a community. How different is this than Ann Coulter's making fun of Hillary's "stubby legs"? I thought our side was supposed to be better than that.

  by Inky on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:54:25 PM PDT

  •  Make that "Great-grandpa". Better? n/t

    Besides, I will NOT vote for a candidate with stubby legs.

    by bobdevo on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:57:52 PM PDT

    •  Oh well ...

      It's just a pet peeve of mine. And to be honest, I've been around here too long to actually expect our level of discourse to be more elevated.

      by Inky on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:13:32 PM PDT

      •  Your effort was commendable. n/t

        by bobdevo on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:17:32 PM PDT

  •  You have a point there

    But for all the touting him as being "of Hollywood" he really shows his age (as we all do, eventually).

    I don't get his candidacy - he hasn't shown any fire at all.  I don't think he's really in it to win.

    by kfred on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:07:58 PM PDT

  •  seriously? only 65? geez. . . . . .

    McCain is far older, yet far more energetic and aware, even if he is going nuts.

    I would have placed Ole Fred at McCain's age or older.

    by agnostic on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:16:00 PM PDT

  •  inky it's actually a brilliant 'framing' strategy

    with the power of suggestion repeated. Campaigns are rough & tumble... but associating Thompson with "old-looking" (regardless of actual age), is smart in that realm. It helps to set the expectations that he is not up for the pace of the job. As someone mentioned above, Dole vs Clinton couldn't have been more dramatic presentation of choices for America: going backwards, or going forwards.

    it's not quite the same thing, to me at least, as a blind catty insult.  It's no diferent than attaching "flip-flopper" to Kerry -- an association that came out of a thinktank, then was quite brilliantly choreographeed to be picked up by every right wing venue rapidly hitting the critical mass of the echo chamber effect.

    I think it's fair game, smart, and not equivalent to some kind of ageism insult.

    Reagan's team was all over that potential -- and they flipped it into a win, in a brillaint Presidential Debate soundbite that will stand the test of time.

    by rhfactor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:34:21 PM PDT

•  How can it be anyone except Mitt?

  I mean really, come on:

  McCain is a crazy old coot.

  Thompson is a lazy old coot.

  Rudy G. is like Freddy Munster with ADHD.  He is unelectable in a general election, even without the Christian right fragmenting. And have you seen his wife???  A ditz with a 2 year degree and a career in medical sales???  Skin crawl.

  Brownback & Huckabee?  

  Sounds like an Peculiar, Missouri law firm.

  by bobdevo on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:56:46 PM PDT

•  this campaign ad is pretty funny too

  http://www.youtube.com/...

  by moeman on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:57:36 PM PDT

  •  that is great! thanks 4 sighting, citing, siting

    Take 743. LOL

    by agnostic on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:14:18 PM PDT

    •  credit where its due

      Saw it at Firedoglake this morning.

      http://www.firedoglake.com/...

      by moeman on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:50:21 PM PDT

  •  reminds me of this Orson Welles "take 3, 4, 5"

    this is not a sketch! It's real... Poor Orson... reduced to this crap in order to make money. Pretty unbelievable how out of it he was for a TV ad filming gig.

    the start of the second one is just a thing to behold...

    (Now Thompson, on the other hand, is no genius, never was, never will be. He's a third rate hack, whereas Welles is in the pantheon of greatness, tragic as it was after bursting out the gate with one of the best films of all time...)

    by rhfactor on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:43:49 PM PDT

•  Fred knew he would never be more popular

  than the day he announced, so he waited as long as possible.  His only hope is the self-destruction of two other major candidates.

  by illinifan17 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:01:14 PM PDT

•  I will be blunt....

  Fred Thompson is a turkey-necked, old fool and only in ReichWing America's delusional universe of Xtian Zombie Death Cultists could he be considered for a job that involved anything more than sitting on the porch in his rocker sucking down a Coors.

  by Nestor Makhnow on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:13:12 PM PDT

  •  and sitting on porch sucking Coors is MY job

    so that leaves Fred unemployed, I guess.

    by Cartoon Peril on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 03:37:29 PM PDT

    •  Heh!

      by Nestor Makhnow on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 04:37:46 PM PDT

•  Thompson - Rove's sort of has-been

  I think that Thompson fits the "Rove" mold for a candidate quite well. For awhile I thought he might opt for McCain. Also, I could see Giuliani fitting into a Rovian narrative. However, based on who's supporting Thompson and considering his supposed "charisma" (which hasn't materialized yet in the real world, despite what commentators say), I think he'd be a perfect comeback boy for Rove. Why would anyone care what Rove thinks at this point? I don't think anyone does, but I also don't think Rove wants to sit on his hands and not participate in an election this year. His model of government didn't work (at least the Cheney and Rove version), but he did win an election or two. Maybe he'll be the Republican's version of the dreaded Democrat "consultant"?

  by poserp on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:13:24 PM PDT

•  Fred Thompson dwindling

  Music to my ears! Now if only Guiliani, Romney and McCain would leave the country we'd be in good shape.

  by mavtek on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:39:07 PM PDT

•  Generic, onmibus rec to you all

  My back was killing me today and getting to work was an agony, but the comments on this thread made me laugh until the tears were streaming down my face.

  If laughter is the best medicine than I advise all bad back sufferers to take two Kosses and call me in the morning.

  by Metro99 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 01:44:13 PM PDT

•  NASHVILLE, TN area code

  615-349-9441

  by siamesewonka on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 02:00:31 PM PDT

•  Having Known Fred for thirty years

  I find it amazing that the national press has not focused on his long time position as General Counsel to the South East Teamsters Pension Fund. A position from which he resigned during a Justice Dept. investigation during the 90s.

  by Yarddog on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 02:01:15 PM PDT

•  Depends on How He Does During the Debate

  It's sink or swim. If he screws up or bores everyone to death (both very likely) it's over. If he scores a knockout he can still turn it around.  

  by alice40 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 02:13:09 PM PDT

•  The great hope for the repub party that isn't.

  They have no good (aka known as anyone acceptable to their myriad bases of theology purists, pro-choice, drown government in the bathtub, candidates.  Fred was their great hope.

  Personally, I'm enjoying the show.  

  by Sixty Something on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 02:31:03 PM PDT

•  The Funny thing is even Nashville

  His hometown he held a Rally and had 300 people show up. Where as another GOP candidate held a rally in Nashville and had over 1500 people show up to a packed house.

  http://www.youtube.com/...

  by mavtek on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 02:40:55 PM PDT

•  team

  Sen. Fred Thompson announced today the members of his National Campaign Leadership Team: Sen. Howard H. Baker will serve as honorary chairman of his presidential campaign and Sen. Spencer Abraham, Sen. George Allen, and Elizabeth Cheney will serve as campaign co-chairs.

  Eliz is Cheney's older daughter, had state department jobs involving the middle east from 2002-6. Baker is from Tennessee, the Watergate hearings and Reagan's staff (after being Sen.)

  by HenryVane on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 04:18:37 PM PDT

•  Fred Thompson is

  four days shy of being four months older than I am.  If I was married to his trophy wife, I would not have the energy left to campaign either.

  by jimG on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 07:54:53 PM PDT