# Fred Thompson to announce his candidacy for POTUS September 6 **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 31, 2007, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582 "2007-08-31T04:18:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/21 "2007-09-06T14:54:04Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] Well, I saw his appearance on Leno. He spoke well, but I thought he seemed ill. It looks like he’s lost some weight, his voice doesn’t sound as deep as it usually does, and he kept clearing his throat. Maybe it’s just a cold, but I wonder if his cancer is a little more serious than has been let on? [/QUOTE] He didn’t seem ill in his pre-recorded commercial, but it was kinda flat and nondescript. I doubt that many people who saw it could tell you why Thompson said he was running. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/22 "2007-09-06T16:37:30Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] Which we’ll never know because Thompson delayed his announcement until after the final Republican debate. [/QUOTE] There are more debates scheduled. Here’s a Wikipedia article listing the Republican debates: > **[2008 Republican Party presidential debates and forums](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_presidential_debates,_2008)** > > The first political debate before the 2008 Republican primaries was held on May 3, 2007, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. Other debates have taken place in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida. They were generally broadcast by television networks. The debates can have a substantial effect on the primaries and are important chances for the public to compare the candidates side-by-side. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/23 "2007-09-06T17:22:15Z")
Seems pretty dumb to announce the night of the Fox debate. Gotta figure that Fox is the network of choice amongst Repub primary voters, and if he chose another night to announce, even if it was one with a prez debate on another channel, he could’ve gotten a lot more air time on Fox. But since the debate was on their network, they’re almost certain to devote most of their Campaign 2008 reporting for the next few days to the debate, and Thompson will get a lot less coverage of his announcement then he would’ve otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/24 "2007-09-06T17:53:48Z")
McCain, God love him, got in a zinger last night, suggesting that mebbe ol’ Fred failed to appear for the debate because it would have kept him up past his bedtime. 😃 The NYT had a good recent examination of Thompson’s role in the Watergate investigation. Long story short: He sometimes acted as the GOP panel members’ conduit to the White House, but worked well with the majority counsel, and looking back, is still considered honorable and a straight shooter by committee Democrats. Not a peep about lacking a serious work ethic (perhaps that was more during his own Senate years). I kinda agree with the Wesley Clark analogy. I suspect Fred will not wow the voters of Iowa and New Hampshire (or whichever state leapfrogs ahead of them) quite as much as some thought, now that he’ll actually be out there, y’know, campaigning. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/25 "2007-09-06T19:12:40Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] The NYT had a good recent examination of Thompson’s role in the Watergate investigation. Long story short: He sometimes acted as the GOP panel members’ conduit to the White House, but worked well with the majority counsel, and looking back, is still considered honorable and a straight shooter by committee Democrats. [/QUOTE] Got a link? My main question about his Senate Watergate Committee experience is: did he actually _do_ anything that made a difference? I followed those hearings pretty damned closely, and while I was quite aware of who Sam Dash (majority counsel) was, and had a pretty good idea of what his role was, I have no recollection at all of Fred Thompson from that time. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/26 "2007-09-06T19:26:28Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Got a link? My main question about his Senate Watergate Committee experience is: did he actually _do_ anything that made a difference? I followed those hearings pretty damned closely, and while I was quite aware of who Sam Dash (majority counsel) was, and had a pretty good idea of what his role was, I have no recollection at all of Fred Thompson from that time. [/QUOTE] [Wikipedia:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_thompson#Role_in_Watergate_hearings) > [@](#): > > Thompson was appointed minority counsel for the hearings surrounding the Watergate scandal.[20] He was responsible for Sen. Baker’s asking one of the questions that is said to have led directly to the downfall of President Richard Nixon—“What did the President know, and when did he know it?”[21] Thompson himself asked former White House aide Alexander Butterfield at a public committee hearing about listening devices in the White House, although the committee already knew the answer to that question, because Butterfield had been interviewed earlier by Senate investigators in closed session.[20][18] > > Nixon was reportedly angry that Thompson had been selected as minority counsel to the Senate Watergate committee; Nixon believed the young Thompson was not skilled enough to interrogate unfriendly witnesses and would be outfoxed by committee Democrats.[22] According to historian Stanley Kutler, Thompson and Baker “carried water for the White House, but I have to give them credit — they were watching out for their interests, too… They weren’t going to mindlessly go down the tubes” for Nixon.[22] > > In his Watergate memoir, Thompson acknowledged that he provided information to President Nixon’s lawyer even though he had no authority to act for the committee. Thompson “believed it would be in everyone’s interest if the White House realized, before making any public statements, the probable position of both the majority and the minority of the Watergate committee” regarding the Watergate tapes.[22] In response to renewed interest in this matter, Thompson says, “I’m glad all of this has finally caused someone to read my Watergate book, even though it’s taken them over thirty years.”[23] (Of course, that entry might be changed at any time by any body, as we know.) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/27 "2007-09-06T21:44:46Z")
> [@Wikipedia](#): > > He was responsible for Sen. Baker’s asking one of the questions that is said to have led directly to the downfall of President Richard Nixon—“What did the President know, and when did he know it?” “Is said”?? By _whom_?? Fox News, according to Wikipedia. So much for _that_. The idea that that question led to Nixon’s downfall is absurd. It’s not really clear that it made much of a difference. Even at the time, the question was regarded as being ‘for show’ more than anything else. IIRC, the question was asked of John Dean, who was eager to divulge everything he knew, so it wasn’t like Howard Baker had to twist his arm to get this vital information out of him. > [@](#): > > Thompson himself asked former White House aide Alexander Butterfield at a public committee hearing about listening devices in the White House, although the committee already knew the answer to that question, because Butterfield had been interviewed earlier by Senate investigators in closed session. Doesn’t seem to be much ‘there’ there, either. So far, zilch, then. ---
**Author:** ![Micro\_Dot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Micro\_Dot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Micro_Dot)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/28 "2007-09-06T21:53:57Z")
I worry a lot about this candidate. Seems people are tired enough of the status quo to vote for anyone “fresh”, no matter how lightweight they are. Ross Perot got tons of votes just by complaining that things needed shaking up. But the lightweight guys end up puppets for the real power brokers. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/29 "2007-09-06T22:03:32Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Got a [[NYT.com](http://NYT.com)] link?.. [/QUOTE] Here you go. You’ll have to sign in, but it’s free. Has a bit about his Reagan-era freelancing, too: [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/us/politics/27thompson.html?ex=1189224000&en=2d244c7a415fd460&ei=5070](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/us/politics/27thompson.html?ex=1189224000&en=2d244c7a415fd460&ei=5070) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/30 "2007-09-07T00:25:58Z")
I hate the guy, just because all the nimrods here in Tennessee will vote for him “'cause he is a lo-cal boah”. :smack: :smack: :smack: Knee-jerk voters… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/31 "2007-09-07T00:50:15Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] I hate the guy, just because all the nimrods here in Tennessee will vote for him “'cause he is a lo-cal boah”. :smack: :smack: :smack: [/QUOTE] Didn’t work for Gore. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/32 "2007-09-07T01:09:07Z")
Is ‘lightweight’ the new Democratic talking point against Thompson or something? Look at the record I posted earlier. Thompson has plenty of experience. He’s been moving around in the highest levels of government for 30 years. He’s been elected twice as a Senator, both times in a landslide (and the first time, he came from 20 points behind to finish 20 points ahead). He’s a skilled lawyer, he’s got an impeccable record for being fair and honest. He was a US attorney and council to the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee. He became an actor because a movie was being made which was in part _about him_ and his role in bringing down a corrupt governor, and they couldn’t find anyone to play Fred Thompson as well as Fred Thompson could. So he got the part, and impressed people in Hollywood so much that he’s been working steadily ever since. So a ‘lightweight’ he’s not. He’s an experienced player and two-term Senator. Maybe this is just typical Democratic arrogance against anyone who’s got a southern accent or something, or you’re equating ‘actor’ with ‘lightweight’. That’s what the Democrats did with Reagan - they called him an inexperienced actor, a bumpkin, and a know-nothing who was nothing more than a puppet for the real hidden players - the dark forces of evil that Democrats think lurk in the shadows of the Republican party. I remember the Reagan election in '80. There was plenty of ‘lightweight’ talk. Of course, Reagan was a two-term governor of the largest state in the country, and had been making a name for himself in politics for 15 years before he ran. But his ‘aw shucks’ demeanor and the fact that he was an actor caused Democrats to completely underestimate him - to their detriment. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/33 "2007-09-07T01:12:24Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] I hate the guy, just because all the nimrods here in Tennessee will vote for him “'cause he is a lo-cal boah”. :smack: :smack: :smack: Knee-jerk voters… :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Does anyone else see the humor in this statement? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/34 "2007-09-07T01:17:39Z")
FT is being interviewed right now on Fox News . . . He’s talking about the possibility of a revolution in Iran, and the U.S.-military option should be a last resort but “nothing should be taken off the table” . . . ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/35 "2007-09-07T01:37:56Z")
I don’t know how non-biased [this site](http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Fred_Thompson.htm) is, but it seems reasonably accurate. Thompson apparently: Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002) Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000) Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996) Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996) Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995) Voted YES on limiting death penalty appeals. (Apr 1996) Voted YES on limiting product liability punitive damage awards. (Mar 1996) Voted YES on restricting class-action lawsuits. (Dec 1995) Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001) Voted NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001) Voted YES on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996) Voted YES on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002) Voted YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002) Voted YES on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. (Apr 2000) Voted YES on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002) Voted YES on Approving the presidential line-item veto. (Mar 1996) Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999) Voted NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999) Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (May 1999) Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. (Jul 1998) Voted NO on allowing reimportation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002) Voted NO on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001) Voted YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001) Voted NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000) Voted YES on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999) Voted NO on increasing tobacco restrictions. (Jun 1998) Although I did find the odd vote here and there that I could support, by and large I disagree with virtually everything he did and stands for. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/36 "2007-09-07T02:12:34Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] Is ‘lightweight’ the new Democratic talking point against Thompson or something? [/quote] I have no idea. It’s certainly _my_ conclusion. > [@](#): > > Look at the record I posted earlier. I did, and commented. > [@](#): > > Thompson has plenty of experience. He’s been moving around in the highest levels of government for 30 years. No, he hasn’t. He’s never been “at the highest levels of government” by any definition I would apply, not for one day. He never had an Executive Branch position of the sort that gets you direct access to the President. He never had a leadership position in the Senate. And he hasn’t been _in_ government for anything approaching 30 years. If you pile it all together, you might get, what, 12-15 years? **Sam** , you’re guilty of gross exaggeration here. Your crush on ol’ [Freddie](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2007/09/freddie.html) is showing. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/37 "2007-09-07T02:30:17Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] I have no idea. It’s certainly _my_ conclusion. I did, and commented. No, he hasn’t. He’s never been “at the highest levels of government” by any definition I would apply, not for one day. He never had an Executive Branch position of the sort that gets you direct access to the President. He never had a leadership position in the Senate. And he hasn’t been _in_ government for anything approaching 30 years. If you pile it all together, you might get, what, 12-15 years? **Sam** , you’re guilty of gross exaggeration here. Your crush on ol’ [Freddie](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2007/09/freddie.html) is showing. [/QUOTE] No, it’s your bias that’s showing. How is being a 2-term Senator NOT being ‘at the highest levels of government’? Do you consider Barack Obama to be a lightweight? How do you think his resume stacks up against Thompson’s? How about Hillary’s? Aside from being a first lady, she looks a lot like Thompson - successful lawyer, 2-term Senator (term and a half, really - just like Thompson), worked in Washington as a lawyer. Thompson has the added experience of being council to two Senate committees and the Watergate Commission, and having about 10 years more experience. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/38 "2007-09-07T02:48:47Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] I hate the guy, just because all the nimrods here in Tennessee will vote for him “'cause he is a lo-cal boah”. :smack: :smack: :smack: Knee-jerk voters… :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Yeah, darn knee-jerk voters. How dare they do something! :rolleyes: > [@BobLibDem](#): > > Although I did find the odd vote here and there that I could support, by and large I disagree with virtually everything he did and stands for. Somehow, Bob_ **LIB** _ **DEM** , I don’t think he’s angling for your vote… ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/39 "2007-09-07T08:49:20Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] No, it’s your bias that’s showing. [/quote] Hey, I’m not the one who’s turning eight years as a Senator, and another five or six years of this and that, into ‘30 years at the highest levels of government.’ > [@](#): > > How is being a 2-term Senator NOT being ‘at the highest levels of government’? Sorry, but being (on a weighted basis) 1/200 of the legislative branch doesn’t qualify, in and of itself. So many Senators have come and gone, and made little difference besides their votes. Nobody thinks of them has having been “at the highest levels of government,” because they didn’t, as individuals, affect how America was governed; any other warm body of their party, from their state, would have done as well. > [@](#): > > Do you consider Barack Obama to be a lightweight? How do you think his resume stacks up against Thompson’s? How about Hillary’s? If you want to start a “who is a lightweight and who isn’t” thread, go for it. I’ll discuss Freddie here, but I’m not going to comparatively evaluate every Tom, Dick, and Harriet you care to bring up. I came to this thread to discuss Freddie Dalton Thompson. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2007, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582/40 "2007-09-07T09:49:48Z")
[QUOTE=smiling bandit] Somehow, Bob_ **LIB** _ **DEM** , I don’t think he’s angling for your vote… [/QUOTE] Yeah, that occurred to me. But his record doesn’t show him to be substantially different than your run of the mill right wing Republican. If people think he’s going to pull one tenth of the crossover voters that Reagan did, I think they’re sadly mistaken. One advantage Reagan had was that he didn’t leave a trail of votes in the Senate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-thompson-to-announce-his-candidacy-for-potus-september-6/417582.md?page=3)