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| Does Fred Want To Run For President?; His Answer: No | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 30 2007, 05:18 AM (521 Views) | |
| QuirtEvans | Dec 30 2007, 05:18 AM Post #1 |
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
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He doesn't want to run for President, he just wants to be President.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/ Sort of like saying you want to be a lawyer, you just don't want to go to law school. Or you want to be an NFL quarterback, you just don't want to practice or go to training camp. Or you want to own a dog, you just don't want to pick up the poop.
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| It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010. | |
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| Daniel | Dec 30 2007, 05:25 AM Post #2 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Maybe being selected to be the President would be more his style. ![]() |
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| George K | Dec 30 2007, 05:57 AM Post #3 |
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Finally
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The full quote of that is this: "Bill Theobald of Gannett News Service has been following Republican Fred Thompson around Iowa. In a dispatch today from Burlington, Bill quotes the former Tennessee senator as saying he doesn't like modern campaigning, isn't that interested in running for president and "will not be devastated" if he doesn't win." So, taken in context, what Thompson said was "I don't like the process of modern campaigning, and I don't like doing it either." Then, later, this: =-=-=-= "I don't know if you have a desire to be president," Burlington attorney Todd Chelf told Thompson during a question and answer session raising an issue that has dogged his campaign. "I am not consumed by personal ambition," Thompson responded. "I'm offering myself up." Given the volatile state of the world, the actor and former Tennessee senator said he was not "sure it is a good thing if a president has too much fire in his belly." "I'm only consumed by a few things and politics is not one of them," he said. Chelf said after the event that it was "almost refreshing to hear that approach." "I think there is a passion there," he said. "I think it's sort of a Southern gentleman passion." =-=-=-= Here's Thompsons complete answer:
So, what I read in this is that Thompson hates today's political process (in which the race for the White House starts 18 months ahead of the election) and is not driven by personal ambition. Contrast that to the former co-president who is not only driven by personal ambition, but consumed by it. This story is told third hand by Memmott and Lawrence. They're quoting the guy who was quoting Thompson (Theobald). In fact, after the original story, Theobald called to clarify what Thompson said, feeling that his comments were taken out of context, no doubt...and context is everything. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| Daniel | Dec 30 2007, 06:10 AM Post #4 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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| Mikhailoh | Dec 30 2007, 06:13 AM Post #5 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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Just goes along with what I have said forever - there are many, many honorable people in the world, and some of them do go into public service. We've become so cynical, it seems, that we cannot see it - or believe it when we do. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| Larry | Dec 30 2007, 06:17 AM Post #6 |
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
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Well, to be fair.... maybe more people can see this than you realize. After all, up until George pointed out what was *really* said, all we had was the spin of an ideologue and the head bobbing of an idiot. |
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Of the Pokatwat Tribe | |
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| Mikhailoh | Dec 30 2007, 06:19 AM Post #7 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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Well, there is that.... hopeful indeed :lol: |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| Daniel | Dec 30 2007, 06:23 AM Post #8 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Fred Thompson has run a lackluster campaign. Recognizing that has nothing to do with cynicism. It has to do with perceiving reality. I realize that's not something you're good at but try. |
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| George K | Dec 30 2007, 06:26 AM Post #9 |
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Finally
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Perhaps your perception of the reality of Thompson's campaign is colored by those who are determined to define reality as they see it - taking things out of context helps when you have an agenda. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| Larry | Dec 30 2007, 06:27 AM Post #10 |
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
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Yep, just as I've already said..... the spin of an ideologue and the head bobbing of an idiot. |
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Of the Pokatwat Tribe | |
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| George K | Dec 30 2007, 06:29 AM Post #11 |
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Finally
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Found the entire statement. " I approach life differently than a lot of people. People, I guess, are wondering how I’ve been as successful as I’ve been in everything I’ve done. I’ve won two races in Tennessee by twenty points in a state Bill Clinton carried twice. I had never run for office before. I’ve never had an acting lesson, and I guess that’s obvious. (laughter). When I did it, I did it. It wasn’t just a lark. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. I’ve always been a little more laid back than most. I like to say I’m only consumed by very few things, and politics is not one of them. The welfare of my country, and my kids and grandkids, growing up, is one of them. (applause) If what people really want in their president is a super type A personality, someone who has gotten up every morning and gone to bed every night and been thinking about, for years how they can be president of the United States… someone who can look you straight in the eye and say they’ve enjoyed every minute of campaigning… (laughter) I ain’t that guy. (more laughter) [To questioner] So I hope I’ve discussed that, or I haven’t talked you out of anything. I honestly want… I can’t imagine a worse set of circumstances than achieving the presidency under a false pretenses, especially if you feel the way I do. I’ve gone out of my way to be myself, because I don’t want anybody to think they’re getting something they’re not getting. I’m not consumed by this process, I’m not consumed with the notion of being president. I’m simply saying I’m willing to do what’s necessary to achieve it if I’m in sync with the people. And if the people want me, or somebody like me, I will do what I’ve always done with everything else in my life. I will take it on and do a good job. You’ll have the disadvantage of having someone who probably cna’t jump up and click their heels three times, but will tell you the truth. And you’ll know where the president stands at all times." Sorta reads different from "I don't want to run for President," doesn't it? |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| Daniel | Dec 30 2007, 06:35 AM Post #12 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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So are you saying that he has not run a lackluster campaign and that the media is biased against him? In my opinion, talking about not liking modern campaigning and saying you're not interested in running is a strange way to campaign. |
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| Larry | Dec 30 2007, 06:41 AM Post #13 |
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
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Daniel, that's because you're a head bobbing idiot. |
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Of the Pokatwat Tribe | |
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| George K | Dec 30 2007, 06:44 AM Post #14 |
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Finally
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You made the statement that his campaign has been lackluster. Other than what you read from half-quotes, do you have any support for that statement? If so, I'd be thrilled to read it. If you don't, then just maybe, you're relying on reporters that quote partial statements to make political points. Here's a good summary of this story. Tell me what's "lackluster" in the quote. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| George K | Dec 30 2007, 06:53 AM Post #15 |
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Finally
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Oh, and here's what Fred Thomspon himself says about the quote: Getting the Story Straight By Fred Thompson Posted in 2008 Every once in a while I am more thankful than ever for today’s technology which allows me to talk to you directly instead of having to go through the filter of the main stream media. Some of them are intent on making the outcome of the campaign dependent upon their pre-conceived notions. Every once in a while their incomplete and slanted coverage makes this clear. Today I had this story written about me regarding what I said at a Town Hall event in Burlington, Iowa by a reporter who wasn’t even at the event. Incidentally, I declined to be interviewed by this particular reporter yesterday for reasons which will soon be apparent. In referring to me, she reported “he doesn’t like modern campaigning, isn’t interested in running for President, and will not be devastated” if he doesn’t win. Below is a transcript of what I actually said in response to a question by a local Burlington resident which was the basis of the reporter’s story. It is clear that there are those in the media who will exact a high price for candor and from those whom they consider to be insufficiently ambitious. But it is with increasing amazement that we see that those who are willing to slant or leave out important parts of a story to make their point. If a candidate succumbs to this he will be reduced to nothing more than a sound bite machine. As for me I am going to continue to say exactly what is in my heart and is on my mind and give straight and honest answers to those who ask straight and honest questions. Incidentally, the audience in Burlington broke into applause in the middle of my answer. The reporter wouldn’t know that because she wasn’t even there. Q: (Courtesy ABC News) My only problem with you and why I haven’t thrown all my support behind you is that I don’t know if you have the desire to be President. If I caucus for you next week, are you still going to be there two months from now? That is a very good question, not because it’s difficult to answer, but I’m gonna answer it in a little different way than what you might expect. In the first place, I got into the race about the time people normally get into get into it. The fact of the matter is people get into it a lot earlier than they used to. For some of them, they were juniors in high school. The first place, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. I wouldn’t be doing this. I grew up in very modest circumstances. I left government and I and my family have made sacrifices to be sitting here today. I haven’t had any income for a long time because I figured to be clean, you’ve got to cut everything off. I was doing speaking engagements and I had a contract to do a tv show. I had a contract with abc radio…and so forth. A man would have to be a total fool to do all those things and to be leaving his family which is not a joyful thing if he didn’’t want to do it. I am not consumed by personal ambition. I will not be devastated if I don’t do it. I want the people to have the best president they can have. When this talk first originated from people around the country both directly and through polls, liked the idea of me stepping up and of course, you always look better form a distance. But most of those people are still there. I approached it from the standpoint of a deal. A kind of a marriage. If one side of a marriage really has to be talked into the marriage, it probably ain’t going to be a good deal. But if you mutually decide it’s going to be a good thing. In this case, if you think this is a good thing for the country, then we have an opportunity to do some wonderful things together. I’m offering myself up. I’m saying that I have the background, the capability and concern to do this and do it for the right reasons. I’m not particularly interested in running for president, but I think I’d make a good president. Nowadays, the process has become much more important than it used to be. I don’t know that they ever asked George Washington a question like this. I don’t know that they ever asked Dwight D. Eisenhower a question like this. But nowadays, it’s all about fire in the belly. I’m not sure in the world we live in today it’s a good thing if a president has too much fire in the belly. I approach life differently than a lot of people. People, I guess, wonder how I’ve been as successful as I’ve been in everything that I’ve done. I won two races in TN by 20 point margins in a state that bill Clinton carried twice. I’ve never had an acting lesson. I guess that’s obvious by people who’ve watched me… When I did it, I did it. Wasn’t just a lark. Anything that’s worth doing is worth doing well. But I’ve always been a little more laid back than most. I’m only consumed by very, very few things. Politics is not one of them. The welfare of our country and our kids and grandkids is one of them. If people really want in their president super type-a personality, someone who has gotten up every morning and gone to bed every night and been thinking about for years how they win the presidency of the united states, someone who can look you straight in the eye and say they enjoy every minute of campaigning, I ain’t that guy. So I hope I’ve discussed that and didn’t talk you out of anything. I honestly want – I can’t imagine a worse set of circumstances [than] achieving the Presidency of the United States under false pretenses. I go out of my way to be myself. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| QuirtEvans | Dec 30 2007, 07:05 AM Post #16 |
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
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Come on, George, it's fairly obvious to even the casual observer that Fred has run a lackluster campaign. Other than showing up (sometimes) and being himself, can you point to one thing he's done to distinguish himself? Is there a major policy address he's given, a major speech defining his candidacy that has captured anyone's imagination? As I said, saying he'd be happy to be President, if he didn't have to run a campaign, is like saying that he wants to own a dog, but doesn't want to pick up the poop. Guess what, the two things go together. You can't have one without the other. His campaign has been the political equivalent of dropping a rock in a tub of molasses. It makes a small splash, rests at the top for a brief moment, and then sinks slowly to the bottom. Now, that said, I do like the larger quote that you provided. I think the guy has some integrity, and some sense of humor. But he's too detached, he's not actually invested in anything. Fred wants people to vote for him, not because of what he believes, but simply because he's Fred. I don't think that's a good reason to vote for a President. If he thought he was the right guy for the job, I'd expect him to care about it more. Giuliani cares. Huckabee cares. McCain cares. Romney cares (for all the wrong reasons). But I don't get the sense that Fred cares all that much. At best, he'd be a caretaker President ... no bold visions, steady at the helm, decent judgment, a decent fellow, but he'd let events control him. He wouldn't take charge. All tactics, and no strategy. No vision. |
| It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010. | |
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| George K | Dec 30 2007, 07:17 AM Post #17 |
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Finally
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Quirt, in some respects, I agree with you, but in others I don't. We've talked about how you feel Thompson is lazy, but my googling that came up with precious little. You said that you've heard that it's the case. So be it. That's OK if that's your perception. I don't have that perception because I've seen nothing to substantiate it. Is Fred running on personality? Maybe he is. I can't point to specific policy statements he's made (perhaps, because as you say they're not there), but I can point to the hack job done by a reporter with an agenda. His comments were taken out of context, and paint a different picture of what he stands for.
Unlike other petulant politicians who can't let it go. That doesn't smack of laziness, at least not to me.
I read this as saying that the process - the whole campaign thing - has become a beast and he wants no part of it. Of course, I see your point - to run with the big dogs you gotta bark like a big dog. But Thompson's point is valid: the process has become too big. Look at his statement about joining the campaign late - he didn't join late; everyone else joined early. As to your statements about caretakership (is that even a word?) I again understand your points (and perhaps even agree - Thompson's not my favorite at the moment) but at least he had the stones to come out and respond to a hit piece. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| QuirtEvans | Dec 30 2007, 07:25 AM Post #18 |
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
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I can agree with that. The problem is, you have to play by the same rules as everyone else. Even if that's the case, he hasn't done anything to distinguish himself since he entered the race. He started with a lot of hype and hope, and in the space of a few short months he's become an afterthought. In contrast, Ron Paul ... who I find to be a much less attractive candidate, overall ... has been building positive momentum. He seems to have the fire in his belly that Fred is lacking. |
| It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010. | |
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| George K | Dec 30 2007, 07:27 AM Post #19 |
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Finally
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Fred:
At least he speaks to that. As I said, I'm not a Fredhead, or even a Ronulan, but I find his candor refreshing. And you're right about the rules of the game - whatever they are. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| OperaTenor | Dec 30 2007, 07:53 AM Post #20 |
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Pisa-Carp
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I think Fred would rather this be an audition..... |
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| Daniel | Dec 30 2007, 08:22 AM Post #21 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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| George K | Dec 30 2007, 01:23 PM Post #22 |
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Finally
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| The 89th Key | Dec 30 2007, 02:00 PM Post #23 |
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Thompson is the man.
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| QuirtEvans | Dec 30 2007, 02:04 PM Post #24 |
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
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If you like rocks that sink to the bottom of the ocean and are never heard from again.
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| It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010. | |
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| ivorythumper | Dec 30 2007, 02:08 PM Post #25 |
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
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Now Quirt, you'll still be able to catch him on reruns of Law & Order. |
| The dogma lives loudly within me. | |
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12:07 AM Jul 11