Why is Fred Thompson even running for President?

[Dulcinea]

He clearly doesn't have the fire in the belly necessary for campaigning, he's lazy, and he doesn't seem to be very well-received. Has anyone here actually seen him on the campaign trail? What were your thoughts? Just curious. Personally, he leaves me cold.

[beberocks]

1. Sounds like his wife wanted to be a first lady. She's been running his campaign. n/t

[jmp]

3. Sounds about right. (nm)

...

[NoPasaran]

22. She gave him an ultimatum

Build a deck on the house or run for president. Scrotum Face took the easy way out.

[Mabus]

2. Because, like Reagan before him,

he has Alzheimer's and knows not what he does.

[Cogito ergo doleo]

4. On the off chance he may get the part. n/t

[liberal N proud]

5. An attempt at that ol' Reagan mystic

Hollywood actor turned politician, it worked for Ronny why can't it work for Freddy?

It would be just as disastrous as the Reagan years and we can't afford another period like that given the current circumstances in this country.

[eFriendly]

6. I saw him here in Jacksonville.

And about 5 minutes into his appearance he was so boring that me and a few others just walked away, back to our cars. The crowd that he managed to draw was only about 50-60 people. And that is rather pathetic considering the fact that Duval is a red county.

[Ganja Ninja]

7. His campaign is bombing out in Iowa.

(snip)
NEVADA, Iowa, Oct. 3 — Twenty-four minutes after he began speaking in a small restaurant the other day, Fred D. Thompson brought his remarks to a close with a nod of his head and an expression of thanks to Iowans for allowing him to “give my thoughts about some things.”

Then he stood face to face with a silent audience.

“Can I have a round of applause?” Mr. Thompson said, drawing a rustle of clapping and some laughter.

“Well, I had to drag that out of you,” he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/us/politics/04thompso...

[trusty elf]

16. “Can I have a round of applause?” ! ? ! ?

How embarrassingly pathetic.

[Auggie]

8. Comic relief?

He's got me laughing

[aquart]

10. I'm betting they told him he'd be hailed as a savior.

Which, considering the Republican field, is reasonable.

[youthere]

13. And people think he serves no purpose!

[Froward69]

9. I think it is

a few bullshit reasons.
1)name recognition
2)Reganesque employment (actor)
3)like regan and bushjr easy puppet.
4)age, attract older voters for their last vote "conservative".

[radfringe]

11. he's running? no, don't think so

more like a slow ambling walk, with lots of rest breaks

[hedgehog]

12. Given his age and his slow motion cancer, he just may not have the

energy he thought he had. A lot of people gradually reduce their daily activities without realizing it. Now that he has to be places doing things, he can't summon the energy.

[JNelson6563]

14. Oh that's an easy one!

Over-inflated ego. :puffpiece:

[CK_John]

15. The matching funds for an out of work actor. IMO

[dugggy]

21. You hit it on the nail!

Millions of campaign dollars to use as he pleases plus
taxpayer supported matching dollars, and then more parts
in show biz with the noteriety of a presidential candidate.

[TwilightGardener]

17. Here's a mental exercise for you: it's 2008, and Thompson either

has lost the nomination, or made it to the General and loses. What does he do next? Many folks who lose the Presidency go on to do prominent work in other areas, driven by their ambition and their desire to "make a difference". Something tells me 'ol Fred will be keeping his gig on the Paul Harvey show, feeding America folksy stories and pre-digested news items. And napping. A lot. And golfing. And making cameo appearances in TV and movies. Kind of what he's been doing for the past 6 years, if you think about it. He has no reason or real desire to run for Prez, and it shows--daily.

[Dulcinea]

20. What a waste of time & taxpayer money. eom

[momto3]

18. I don't know.

But, there are a lot of people here in Nashville that think he is the next best thing to sliced bread. I get serious road rage every time I see a Fred 08 bumper sticker!!!:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Auggie]

19. Welcome to DU PhDmom. I'm sure they conducted research of some kind

that indicated interest in this clown. But he's really been a bust so far, hasn't he?

[ncteechur]

23. So his kid can have a larger supply of diaphragms to chew on? nm

[killbotfactory]

24. Because republicans vote for people who suck

obviously he thought he would have a chance.

[PretzelWarrior]

25. He saw Bush...his f***ups....his vacations and thought...

I could do that.