Fred Thompson Watch: Thompson in the OC
Los Angeles Times: Fred Thompson calls for continued presence in Iraq
Actor and former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson — whose potential candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination has drawn more attention than some of the declared candidates — Friday urged a continued military presence in Iraq as a barrier to even further destabilization in the Middle East.
“I don’t think it’s any question that if we leave Iraq before there is some semblance of stability brought about in that nation … that the world is going to be a more dangerous place,” Thompson said, adding that “as long as those brave people on the front lines who are making our sacrifices for us … say that they have a chance, we need to give them that opportunity to make that work there.”
Thompson, speaking before about 450 people at the annual Lincoln Club of Orange County dinner, warned that failure to stabilize Iraq would lead to more troubles in the future.
“Under the worst set of circumstance there, we’re going to leave a new haven for terrorism; we’re going to leave an area of the world that becomes more and more nuclear,” he said. “Those Sunni nations surrounding Iraq will respond to what Iran is doing … and the whole place will be nuclearized, and that will be bad for us.”
Thompson, who spoke for more than 30 minutes, strayed far from prepared remarks he had posted earlier in the day on his blog at ABCRadio.com.
The San Francisco Chronicle: TV actor, a former senator, lets buzz build in GOP race
OC Register: Thompson makes a pitch
Los Angeles Times: Fred Thompson: Actor. Senator. Presidential candidate?
As a candidate, Thompson would bring a compelling personal saga worthy of People magazine: From humble beginnings, he married at 17, did a star turn in the Senate’s Watergate hearings, dated splashy younger women after his divorce, won a Senate seat and then left it amid the pain of a daughter’s death. Now, at 64, he finds himself the remarried father of an infant and a toddler.
But some associates doubt that Thompson has the driving ambition needed to run for president. Many of the key decisions and opportunities of Thompson’s life have been thrust upon him, not passionately made or sought. He became chairman of a Senate committee by a fluke, not by a laborious climb up the seniority ladder. His acting career began spontaneously, and since then he has not chosen roles that expand his range or challenge his skills.
“Fred is generally playing a version of himself,” said producer Mace Neufeld, who has worked with Thompson on five films. “I wouldn’t cast him as a Frenchman or a villain.”
Thompson did not make his mark with any big legislative initiatives. “It never occurred to us he would bring much more than his one vote,” said a senior GOP Senate strategist.
He cast the only vote against a bill setting a tougher federal standard for drunk driving, and the lone vote against a bill banning guns in schools. Mark Corallo, who is helping Thompson deal with the media, says those votes reflected Thompson’s view that many issues are better handled by the states.
That belief is also behind the fact that Thompson, while saying he opposes abortion, did not support a constitutional amendment banning abortion, which many conservatives favor.
One big departure from conservatives was Thompson’s support for campaign finance legislation they bitterly opposed. Otherwise, his voting record was in sync with party orthodoxy on such issues as tax cuts, gun control and national security.
Associates say Thompson found the Senate intensely frustrating, with its endless meetings and sluggish procedures.
“One got the impression that he wasn’t excited about being a United States senator,” said G. William Hoagland, a former Senate aide. What is more, he missed acting.
An interview with Fred Thompson after his Lincoln Club Speech is here.
The scrutiny of Fred Thompson has just begun.
Hugh Hewitt who attended last night’s Lincoln Club event said Thompson’s speech was “workmanlike, but given the build-up, underwhelming. With Bob Novak, Carl Cameron, John Fund etc in the room, I was expecting Big Fred to use the occasion to, if not declare, at least show the stuff that has many excited about the prospect of a Thompson race. He may have the music, but he didn’t bring the band last night…. “
“….a man of accomplishment though looking older than I had expected. Is he, I wondered, really running for veep? From six feet away I just didn’t see the energy that will be absolutely required to power the next year-and-a-half of daily meet-and-greets, or the display of the sort of grasp of the new and the emerging to keep an electorate interested.” Emphasis Flap’s
But, of course, Hugh is a flak for the Mitt Romney campaign and knows like Flap that a Fred Thompson candidacy would be a “STAKE IN THE HEART” of a Romney candidacy.
Flap continues to believe that Thompson will be Rudy’s Vice Presidential pick and that indeed he will NOT declare his Presidential candidacy.
If Thompson does declare, the scrutiny will intensify and he will sink like a stone in the polls, delivering the nomination to Rudy Giuliani.
Stay tuned……..
Update:
From David Brody at Christian News
I thought the speech was a mixed bag. It was folksy and funny at times, yet it also felt a little dull and rambling. But that’s the style part. In terms of the more important substance, he seemed to hit all the main conservative red meat themes.
Actor, and former U.S. Senator, Fred Thompson shakes hands with one of the Sea Scouts who performed as color guard at a Lincoln Club Dinner in Newport Beach, California May 4, 2007.
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Fred Thompson Watch: The Southern Problem
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Giuliani Notes: Giuliani – Thompson Ticket?
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Fred Thompson Watch: Thompson Takes Bites Out of Rudy and Mitt
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