http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070514-124527-5197r.htm

If so, the gloves are really bound to come off.

I still don't know much about Senator Thompson, but am willing to listen. Especially if he's stronger on terror, the pro-life issue and border security, than the other presidential hopefuls currently running for the nomination.

Herb

What's that, Herb? The gloves are really going to come off this time?

Thompson was good in a bit role in "Cape Fear" with Robert De Niro years ago. Maybe De Niro could be his Secretary of State. ("Putin...ya talkin' ta me? Ya talkin' ta ME???)

Andrew

"If so, the gloves are really bound to come off."

And reveal ham-fists?!?

His voting history is fairly well aligned with your posts here Herb. He's got some star power too.

I don't know about gloves coming off though... The GOP field is not looking all that sweet. I'll bet they are working Fred over pretty solid. They need somebody more viable, all things considered.

His voting record can be found here:

http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Fred_Thompson.htm

That site offers a quick synopsis about anyone that matters, and more than a few that don't! Use it to compare Fred with the others.

I would wish the GOP luck with that, but you know how I feel about them right now!

What if the gloves come off and all that is revealed are gnarled, arthritic fingers?

Or a claw
Or serpent heads?!?

Good one, Magic eye.

You got me.

Herb

Couldn't resist, Herb! ;)

Why not throw his hat in the ring. At least we know he is an actor.

>>>"The GOP field is not looking all that sweet."

Nativity at it's best, well, maybe wishful thinking.

The GOP has some great possibilities: Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Gulliani. All exceptionally intelligent and capable.

Can you name one worthwhile Democrat? Just one?

DO NOT GO FOR THE BAIT!

Actually, if Joe Lieberman ran, he would be pretty viable.

Ralph Nader is a possible independent or green candidate.

Aside from that, most democrats seem soft on terror, anti-life on the pro-life issue and a mixed bag at best on border security.

I want to consider at least one democrat for my vote, I really do. But the democrat party insists on keeping their candidates on the reservation regarding these important issues.

Herb

"The GOP has some great possibilities: Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Gulliani. All exceptionally intelligent and capable."

Don't know enough about Fred Thompson ... Romney is the GOP equivalent of Hillary Clinton, he changes his stance like I change my socks ... Newt Gingrich has NO chance, he is too similar to the current administration and Guiliani has some serious skeletons in the closet that the Democrats would drag out, dust off and showcase to the nation.

I really think this could be McCain's time to shine, but as long as he supports and suggests escalating the mess in Iraq he will lose a lot of votes.

The Democrats have some star power for sure ... Edwards, Clinton, Obama (I doubt it's his time yet but it will be soon), certainly more than the Republicans. That said, I honestly don't think Hillary is that electable and Edwards IS, but has a lot of personal strife with his wife's cancer which could take away.

Herb writes:
Joe Lieberman ran, he would be pretty viable.

No, Lieberman wasn't viable when he ran in the Democratic primaries in 2004. The liberal wing of the Democratic party has certainly abandoned him. Some moderate Republicans might support him but his pro-choice, pro-gay stand will hurt him the way it hurts Rudy in the Republican race.

Andrew

Warner: Close one! Caught me in time!

Deane: To quote RIP, "Your team took it in the sack!". Why? Because the reality of this GOP being nearly completely unable to govern is finally hitting home.

(took long enough)



The GOP field looks weak because everybody is gonna have to explain how they are gonna not do what the (P)resident has done to us, and how that happens while keeping the extreme right base happy all at the same time. You know, that 20 something percent of us that thinks with their brain stem?

Yeah, those guys. They are the way, the truth and the life where winning elections are concerned.

Fuck it, you might as well just run Cheney!

Hahahahaha....

Until you guys sort all of that out, asking about the Dems is more or less off the table.

After having thought about it some more, it's not a case of the gloves coming off at all. It's needing Fred bad enough to start jonesing about it.

"No, Lieberman wasn't viable when he ran in the Democratic primaries in 2004."

Nice try.

Mr. Lieberman is indeed viable and showed in the most recent election that voters are willing to look beyond party.

I know the left hates him like Ralph Nader, but you're way off on Mr. Lieberman. The guy ran as an independent and STILL won handily.

Whistle past the graveyard all you want. Mr. Lieberman would balance either presidential ticket nicely.

Herbert Milhous

Herb writes:
Mr. Lieberman is indeed viable and showed in the most recent election that voters are willing to look beyond party.

Lieberman won re-election in Connecticut, where he has been a fixture for decades. That has nada to do with his chances in a national election. A more telling indication of his national appeal came in the 2004 Democratic primary, where he polled way behind just about everyone else running, until he finally dropped out.

As I said, his appeal in the Democratic party is DEAD now, especially after 2006. That leaves some moderate Democrats and independents. Right-wing Republicans may respect Lieberman, but he's not a Republican now and couldn't win their nomination...and he's pro-choice/pro-gay. Rudy has the Republcan angle on that all to himself, and he's already facing an uphill battle trying to win support from the influential pro-lifer wing of the Republican party, for whom Lieberman holds no appeal.

Lieberman has NO national future on ANY ticket - although it's touching to you know you like ANOTHER pro-choice politician and will soon be criticizing other leaders for being pro-choice just like your pals Joe and Rudy.

Andrew

Knocks against Mr. Lieberman (whom I also like, Herb) ...

1) He's Jewish. It's ridiculous, but it weighs in ... just like there's a big chunk of the population that won't vote for Romney because he's Mormon.

2) He's pro-Iraq war. I can handle anyone who is "pro-defense" within reason, but this war is a joke and a sham and the American people recognize that in spades. I laud the fact that he went against his own party, to the point where he LEFT his party, but the majority again disagrees.

3) What would he run as? He could make some noise on the GOP ticket for sure, but he has always been a Democrat and socially is left-leaning. The Democrats want nothing to do with him, and as an independent he would do nothing more than take votes from another candidate, Ralph Nader-style.

May I also remind you that he had to run as an independent because he lost in the PRIMARY to the Democratic runner. Winning the Senate seat in Connecticut isn't winning the White House. Not even close.

It would be nice for the GOP to run a smart moderate thinking candidate like the kind that used to dominate Oregon politics -- they generally managed to please most everyone. While I'm never gonna see another McCall Republican in my lifetime, a Hatfield or Paulus would be nice. Heck, even a Frohnmayer would be ok.

But I'm dreaming . . . the GOP has transported itself back 200 years. Anyone wanna go hunt down and burn some witches?

There might be a schizm!

Hagel is considering some kind of Independant run.

Could it be we end up with a neutered GOP, left to serve the stem thinkers, the Democratic party doing it's thing and another GOP doppleganger, pulling a Lieberman?

Pro-war does not automatically make you pro-soldier. So far, only McCain has shown he any clue what that experience is like. After this many years, the GOP is going to have to recognize how big that gap has become to a man or woman in uniform.

They do not address it with many of these candidates. The scandals with contractors only deepens that divide. Remember, the rank and file has had enough of watching profiteers draw fire on our troops, and riding shotgun with high-paid civilian truckers who brag about going home in a week.

"Winning the Senate seat in Connecticut isn't winning the White House."

It's not necessarily about about being President. Like I said, he would balance the ticket nicely. Given Hillary's even higher negatives, a LOT of democrats would find reasons to vote for him.

Herb

So, the purveyors of six plus years of "Sore Loserman" are suddenly inviting Joe for a nosh? You are kidding, right? Right?

So you have a Ron Paul/Joe Lieberman ticket? Or would that be Joe first and Paul second? Connecticut and Texas is a shrewd combination. The old Southerner and Yankee one-two combo. Bing-bang. Oh, a hitch, that's right, nobody knows who Ron Paul is yet.

Pair him with Fred Thompson? Can you really imagine that? They will look like Orson Welles and Don Knotts when the appear together. Trust me, funny at first, but not a go. A whale and a pilot fish inspires little trust in voters when they watch the television.

Pairing him with Romney would boil the Great Salt Lake. Jews are fine to folks in Utah, so long as they aren't folks in Utah. Every other faith would look at this ticket like a horseman of the Apocalypse and run for shelter. Bad move that would shred the neo-conservative religious base.

Rudy Giuliani as a running mate would insure wins in Connecticut, and nowhere else. For whatever reason, overtly ethnic names do not win national elections. Time and time again, the country has shown they are prepared for them to run a deli together, but not the government.

Newt Gingrich and Joseph Lieberman on a ticket. Sure, right, yeah. Those two gentleman represent the Senate. More than anywhere, except perhaps the Oval Office, this body has failed the American people. Together, they are forever associated with that den of liars and thieves.

No, Joe aint a go.

Could I then interest you in a slightly used Lieberman for Supreme Court justice, perchance?

Herb

Fred Thompson will do well because he's on TV. Just the kind of candidate to appeal to the GOP base.

He has a chance as long as nobody sees his wife. Oops, I guess he's not running.