# Senator Fred Thompson is taking formal steps toward a presidential bid. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 30, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108 "2007-05-30T19:34:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/121 "2007-06-01T17:21:10Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Huh? There aren’t enough Muslims in the US to skew a poll like that. Every poll I’ve ever seen has shown that Americans think the SCOTUS has gone too far in eliminating religion from the public sphere when it comes to things like prayer in school, or the 10 Commandments. 83% want prayer in school and you can be damned sure that 90% of those responding are not Muslims or Jews. They’re happy to ignore the fact that some schools might have Muslim prayers, because they know they have little chance of being affected. This is not rocket science, here, **E-S.** And we’re not talking about what I want, but what most appeals to mainstream Americans. I ain’t mainstream. [/QUOTE] I have a feeling the two of you might be arguing the same point. The proper muslim prayer statement was likely sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Built\_To\_Last](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Built\_To\_Last](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Built_To_Last)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/122 "2007-06-01T17:21:33Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] It’s phony when he doesn’t actually drive one anymore, and uses it as a prop. It doesn’t matter what his roots are. Problem is, if we decide to never vote for a “phony politician” the list gets rather short. I think people generally use that type of an excuse to just cut the debate short. No need to talk about the issues-- he’s a phony. Right? [/QUOTE] If **Apos** meant only using a pickup as a prop than I suppose my reply - if I would have bothered - would be ‘big deal.’ I thought he was discussing Thompson’s personality - which is genuine as far as I can tell. And yes, I’m from Tennessee. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/123 "2007-06-01T17:47:20Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] No. I’m sure you don’t define separation of church and state simply as prayer in school, do you? [/quote] No, but it’s a very good proxy because it’s the issue that seems to come up the most. Well over 50% support a constitutional amendment to allow prayer in school. Which party would be more likely to offer that up? > [@](#): > > I’ll grant that that appears to be one issue that the secularism the Democrats are “pushing” (and I keep quoting you on “pushing” because I don’t believe the Democrats have the guts to “push” anything of the sort, but do act in defense on occasion). OK, I can agree that “pushing” might have been a loaded term. All that really matters is that Republican Politicians are, generally speaking, more apt to want more rather than less religion in the public sphere. And your pew cite addresses that general issue quite well. Look at the table “Religious Influence Growing or Shrinking” and then look at “On Government”. 51% say that religion’s influence is either growing and it’s a good thing or shrinking and it’s a bad thing. Turn it around and only 32% think it’s growing and it’s a bad thing or shrinking and it’s a good thing. You can ask people the very generally question about separation of church and state, and you’ll get a high level of “yes, that’s a good thing”. But when you talk about specific policy issues, people want to be able to insert religion into public life more than the current conditions in the US allow. > [@](#): > > In general, I think on issues like abortion, stem cells, general separation of church and state, the Democrats are very much in keeping with the will of the majority of the people. I don’t think there’s much evidence to support your statement that the majority of the people share Thompson’s view. What do you mean by “in general”? That may be true of embryonic stem cell research, but I don’t know about the other two. People want abortion to be legal, but most think there should be more restrictions. See above for SoCaS. But I’m only talking about SoCaS here. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/124 "2007-06-01T18:17:05Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] OK, I can agree that “pushing” might have been a loaded term. All that really matters is that Republican Politicians are, generally speaking, more apt to want more rather than less religion in the public sphere. [/quote] Very true. > [@](#): > > And your pew cite addresses that general issue quite well. Look at the table “Religious Influence Growing or Shrinking” and then look at “On Government”. 51% say that religion’s influence is either growing and it’s a good thing or shrinking and it’s a bad thing. Turn it around and only 32% think it’s growing and it’s a bad thing or shrinking and it’s a good thing. I did see that, and it suggests that the issue is complex. Even though people think the perceived shrinking role of religion is a bad thing, they still respond in favor of separation of church and state. Democrats do continue to be regarded negatively in religious terms, but it still seems to be the case that on specific issues, people like keeping religion out of government. Look at the Terri Shiavo thing. Republicans wagered that your opinion would hold true in that circumstance, and they were dead wrong. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/125 "2007-06-01T18:30:34Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] I did see that, and it suggests that the issue is complex. Even though people think the perceived shrinking role of religion is a bad thing, they still respond in favor of separation of church and state. Democrats do continue to be regarded negatively in religious terms, but it still seems to be the case that on specific issues, people like keeping religion out of government. Look at the Terri Shiavo thing. Republicans wagered that your opinion would hold true in that circumstance, and they were dead wrong. [/QUOTE] T.S. was not an issue of SoCaS. But maybe we can should get back to the original issue, which is whether that quote from FT would help or hurt him the general election: > [@Fred Thompson](#): > > Many federal judges seem intent on eliminating God from the public schools and the public square in ways that would astound our founding fathers. I think most people would agree with this ( **RTF** ’s comment about the FF’s being confused about what a public school was notwithstanding-- they were a quick study, and I think they’d catch on fast). This is the classic prayer-in-school and 10 Cs issue. > [@](#): > > We never know when a five to four Supreme Court decision will uphold them. Again, ring one up for FT. Most people disagreed with the most recent SCOTUS decision concerning the 10 Cs. > [@](#): > > They ignore the fact that the founders were protecting the church from the state and not the other way around. Well, I believe they were doing both, but I think more people would be either confused by this or agree with it than would disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/126 "2007-06-01T19:15:09Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] > [@](#): > > Many federal judges seem intent on eliminating God from the public schools and the public square in ways that would astound our founding fathers. I think most people would agree with this… [/quote] You’re probably right on that account. Although I think that the statement is incorrect wrt the FF’s opinions on the matter, many people seem to understand their positions differently than I do, and would probably agree. I have more trouble believing that there would be wide agreement with the sentence that comes after the one. However, perhaps you are right, sadly, and a majority would agree that the intent is to protect the church from the state. Here is where I think a push would be of use - helping to establish the opposing point of view and benefits of a strong separation of church and state, helping to describe the real ramifications of established prayer in school and so forth. It won’t come from the Democrats, and there is no secular organization equivalent to the Christian right. There are just too few crazy, rabid, wild-eyed secularlists! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/127 "2007-06-01T19:43:03Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] I have more trouble believing that there would be wide agreement with the sentence that comes after the one. However, perhaps you are right, sadly, and a majority would agree that the intent is to protect the church from the state. [/quote] I’m actually thinking the majority would be made up of people who 1) agreed with him or 2) didn’t understand what it meant. It’s one of those things you have to think about for awhile before you see what the implications are. I’m not so much saying this would help him, as it probably wouldn’t hurt him. > [@](#): > > Here is where I think a push would be of use - helping to establish the opposing point of view and benefits of a strong separation of church and state, helping to describe the real ramifications of established prayer in school and so forth. It won’t come from the Democrats, and there is no secular organization equivalent to the Christian right. There are just too few crazy, rabid, wild-eyed secularlists! Well, there’s prayer in school and there’s prayer in school… Prayer in school: _OK, class, I want you all to stand up and say this prayer to Jesus with me._ Prayer in school: _Welcome class of 2007! As the valedictorian, I’d like begin my speech with a prayer._ IMO, I don’t think the establishment clause, as written, is strong enough to prevent the second one. As an atheist myself, I prefer not to be subject to prayers. But there are a lot of things I prefer not to be subject to. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/128 "2007-06-01T20:00:03Z")
[QUOTE=Built To Last] I don’t see Thompson’s personality as “phony” - recall that he was born in a small Alabama town and grew up in middle tennessee. His family apparently wasn’t from the upper classes since his bio (at wikipedia) claims both parents worked to put him through school. Would be surprised if his family, early friends, and near relatives all were ‘good ole boys’ who owned pickup trucks. [/QUOTE] But he doesn’t drive a pickup truck. So driving somewhere in an SUV, getting out behind a building, getting into a pickup truck, and then driving a block to an event is just silly. He should stop doing it. Thompson was also born a baby. That doesn’t mean he should walk into a meeting wearing only diapers and a bonnet and demand that a hot chick in the audience change him and pat his butt. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/129 "2007-06-01T20:31:34Z")
[QUOTE=Apos] Thompson was also born a baby. That doesn’t mean he should walk into a meeting wearing only diapers and a bonnet and demand that a hot chick in the audience change him and pat his butt. [/QUOTE] No, he probably shouldn’t. But goddamit, that would get my vote! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/130 "2007-06-01T20:49:37Z")
[It’s now official.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18984877/) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/131 "2007-06-01T20:51:43Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] [It’s now official.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18984877/) [/QUOTE] Bye, bye Rudy! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/132 "2007-06-01T20:53:55Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Bye, bye Rudy! [/QUOTE] Again I ask, which Republican Candidates do you think he hurts the most? It seems to me he has the least effect on Rudy? Can you tell me why you are sure he will beat Rudy for the nomination? Jim ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/133 "2007-06-01T21:09:12Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Well, there’s prayer in school and there’s prayer in school… Prayer in school: _OK, class, I want you all to stand up and say this prayer to Jesus with me._ Prayer in school: _Welcome class of 2007! As the valedictorian, I’d like begin my speech with a prayer._ [/QUOTE] What I had in mind, in terms of explaning the full import of what prayer in school would mean would be the implications of giving official time and recognition to all prayers and religions equally. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/134 "2007-06-01T23:14:47Z")
I was thinking, specifically, of the Minneapolis Taxi Muslims, who have issues with alcohol, actually. My point on the matter is as follows: ‘Most’ of the people who answer that poll don’t think of religion of all except as a thing they do. Some of them obsess. The obsessive ones are those who would grab any ruling on the matter and force prayers for their religion on the rest. This would present some interesting results as soon as two obsessive sorts of different religions collide. Further, I should state that freedom from religion is important, not least because the word ‘judeo-christian’ is complete bullshit. Jews and Christians have very little in common, in matters of faith. But moreso than that, our founding fathers came here not least to escape religious persecution, to follow their own faith in their own ways. Thus, to practice their religion, free from imposition of the religion of others. And lo, my ancestors were there, the first Irish off the boat. And they were to practice their religion at the church the Pilgrims built. But the Pilgrims forced them out, despite agreements. So they built a new church. And the Pilgrims came and tore it down. Another ancestor of mine was hung for witchcraft. Still in America, still due to religious faiths impinging on state actions. You know that story, I’m sure. That is what Europe had. That is, in great parts, what the Founding Fathers sought to avoid. And they did. It is not the minor matter to be allowed to worship in your own way, that we see as the great and golden goal of this land, but that we be allowed to do so, free of the impositions of other religions. The Ten Commandments in every school… but whose? Protestant, Catholic, or Jewish? Blue laws, commanding no work on the Sabbath, imposed on Seventh Day Adventists? Or would you mind being taught in the fashion of the Scientologists, and educated in science according to the creed of the Young Earth Creationists? All representative art of humans outlawed, according to the Muslim faith? The government _must_ be a neutral actor, for how else can they be equal to all faiths? And thus, it must act in favor of no religion at all, not out of hatred for faith, but out of love for it. Sorry about the hijack. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2007, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/135 "2007-06-02T01:57:15Z")
Forming an exploratory doesn’t make it official, although it’s yet another step in the process. Amazingly, the intrade real-time markets have Thompson virtually tied with Guliani for first place now. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/136 "2007-06-02T02:16:25Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Bye, bye Rudy! [/QUOTE] Rudy? I dare say he will siphon off more votes from McCain than Rudy. Stick a fork in McCain, he’s done. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/137 "2007-06-02T02:20:09Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Again I ask, which Republican Candidates do you think he hurts the most? It seems to me he has the least effect on Rudy? Can you tell me why you are sure he will beat Rudy for the nomination? Jim [/QUOTE] Rudy is the guy that the Republicans are settling for since they don’t have a “real” conservative-- a Reagan conservative. When a “real” conservative shows up, the support for Rudy will be drawn away. But that’s just MHO. What the fuck do I know? ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/138 "2007-06-02T02:26:48Z")
[QUOTE=Apos] …because I can’t fully trust a guy who really thinks that government RUN healthcare is ultimately a good idea in a democracy and capitalism, but running around calling people stooges and dupes just isn’t cutting it. [/QUOTE] Has Moore called for government run healthcare? Has any prominent U.S. politician ever called for such a thing? I only see Dems talking about a single payer system (aka socialized health insurance) like the rest of the industrialized Western democracies enjoy, except the U.K. and Spain IIRC, which is a different beast entirely. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/139 "2007-06-03T05:16:56Z")
Yes, Moore has called for government “controlled” healthcare (which is “run” enough for me). > **[TIME | Current & Breaking News | National & World Updates](https://time.com/)** > > Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. > [@](#): > > Then Kucinich, but he doesn’t go far enough. He supports what he’s calling a single- payer nonprofit plan, but from my read, it would still allow [private] entities to control things, as opposed to the government. What’s wrong with the government? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2007, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108/140 "2007-07-30T23:38:22Z")
[Uh-oh](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0707/5156.html). So much for all the Fredmentum that had been building up. > [@](#): > > Many Republicans had seen the “Law & Order” actor and former U.S. senator from Tennessee as a potential savior in a tough election cycle. > > He attracted support from such top-shelf party figures as Mary Matalin, Liz Cheney, George P. Bush and other GOP stalwarts who saw him as a potential Hillary Clinton slayer. > > But many Republicans have turned queasy as Thompson has ousted part of his original brain trust and repeatedly delayed his official announcement, which is now planned for shortly after Labor Day, in the first two weeks of September. > > Some are already saying a prospective Thompson run is a flop. “I just don’t see it anymore,” said a key Republican who had been extremely enthusiastic about a Thompson candidacy. > > “That number is really underwhelming. There were indications it could be double that. They’ve been saying that people were waiting for Fred, and the money was going to pour in. He looks like he’s already losing momentum.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-fred-thompson-is-taking-formal-steps-toward-a-presidential-bid/406108.md?page=8)