[Newsbot]

<strong>Filibuster Cartoon</strong>
<strong>Title: </strong> <a href="http://www.filibustercartoons.com/archive.php?id=20070608" target="_blank">Pool Party</a> (click to view)
<strong>Date: </strong> June 08, 2007

Watched the Republican debate the other night. I was impressed at how thuroughly articulate everyone was. <br> <br>But the whole thing felt a bit pointless, considering the absence of Fred Thompson. Mr. Thompson is a former Republican Senator and TV actor who has said he intends to eventually declare his candidacy for president, but not until July. Reliably conservative on all major issues- unlike some of the other GOP candidates- the punditocracy has declared Thompson to be an instant front-runner once he formally jumps into the race.

[Psudo]

I have to admit, I was glad to get the news when I first heard Fred Thompson was running. I've really liked him in the past in his acting roles (Law & Order jumps to mind), speeches and appearances, and when he fills in for Paul Harvey on his radio show. He's a likable guy, and generally matches my views. I'll be researching more in the coming weeks and months in order to decide who to vote for in the primaries. Romney will probably win my state's primary by a landslide because of the 2002 Olympics and such, but that's no reason to skip my research and vote in the primaries.

[Pitchfork]

Personally, I'd have no problem voting for Fred Thompson, but I just can't get myself enthused about him running. We already had one actor for President, is the American public ready for another?
He also has no military experience, which could hurt him. (remember how much some Lefties cried chickenhawk in '04?)

[Psudo]

Pitchfork wrote:

We already had one actor for President, is the American public ready for another?

A good portion of the American public, especially the Republican base, has been clamoring for a President like the previous actor for about two decades. I'd call that "ready".

Pitchfork wrote:

remember how much some Lefties cried chickenhawk in '04?

Remember who won in '04? Clearly, the Lefties weren't persuasive.

[Voyager]

One of Thomson's big edges is he's completely unashamed to be a conservative.

Every other candidate on the field seems to have his list of "Top Ten Reasons Why I'm Not as Conservative as the Other Guy", that they're ready to whip out on demand.

[EmperorLiam]

"Every other candidate on the field seems to have his list of "Top Ten Reasons Why I'm Not as Conservative"

Obviously you have not even watched any of the 3 GOP debates, they are in fact doing the EXACT opposite.

Ron Paul 2008!

[Psudo]

I think it's the press whipping those things out as often as possible rather than the candidates, but I otherwise agree.

[Kjorteo]

Am I the only one who senses a sort of cop-out in that he's making every intention of letting people know he's interested, but not actually jumping in until after most of the debates are over?

It's like he wants to cruise on by on sheer name recognition without having to actually fight for it.

[Psudo]

It's weird, I'll give you that, Kjorteo. I'm not yet ready to say it's intended to avoid the debates, It could be intended to avoid the fatigue the rest are going to be experiencing after such a long campaign. Everyone but Thompson got a very early start this election cycle.

[Calbeck]

Kjorteo wrote:

It's like he wants to cruise on by on sheer name recognition without having to actually fight for it.

*shrugs*

Bush Sr., Bush Jr., Dole, Clinton (second run) and Gore all did the same thing. None of them had to actually debate anyone in order to win their respective primaries. That's why they were all referred to as "coronations". Thompson may get the same. We might also see the same if either Hillary or Obama step aside or reach some sort of accomodation.

[Les-R]

So Thompson is 'unashamedly conservative'... does that include social issues?

[Pitchfork]

Les-R wrote:

So Thompson is 'unashamedly conservative'... does that include social issues?

Yup, I think it's safe to say that.

[Murray_Smith]

He was on Leno the other night. He apparently isn't jumping in because he noticed that people don't pay that much attention to the candidates until election day looms closer.

I mean, I found it a little stupid that campaign season started early this year, when the actual election is still over sixteen months away, so I haven't paid much attention to anyone's campaign.

[Les-R]

Pitchfork wrote:

Les-R wrote:

So Thompson is 'unashamedly conservative'... does that include social issues?

Yup, I think it's safe to say that.

*sigh* So much for my dream of the Republican Party finally ditching the boat-anchor of social conservativism.

[Kjorteo]

Cue Dr. Ron Paul?

Well, even he's pro-life, but he's pretty Libertarian on most other social issues.