GOP debate tonight! For "Law & Order"'s Thompson, it's showtime!

[DeepModem Mom]

WP, pg1: For Thompson, It's Showtime
Michigan Debate Is Seen as a Crucial Test
By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 9, 2007; Page A01

In his month-old quest for the White House, Fred D. Thompson has already endured withering criticism from evangelical leader James Dobson, who observed that the former "Law & Order" star and onetime senator from Tennessee "has no passion, no zeal and no apparent 'want-to.' "

Old friends in Hollywood have been no kinder. Playing a laconic Thompson on "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend, comic Darrell Hammond seized on a story line that has already become conventional wisdom about his presidential bid. "I'm not sayin' I don't want to be your president, because I kinda do," Hammond drawled. "A little bit."

And after helping to create huge expectations for Thompson's late entry into the Republican race, the Washington establishment has proclaimed itself underwhelmed by his early performance. Columnist George Will compared him to New Coke and said his entry into the race was "more belly flop than swan dive."

This afternoon, when Republican presidential candidates gather in Dearborn, Mich., for their sixth major debate, much of the focus will be on the former actor and whether he can seize the moment, not only to distinguish himself from the rest of the field but also to rebut accusations that he is too lazy, too ill-prepared and too vague to be the GOP nominee....

***

Before finally announcing after Labor Day, Thompson spent months "testing the waters," and the tease seemed to work. Polls suggested that the non-candidate could rocket to the top of the national surveys once he formally joined the less-than-inspiring field. That didn't happen, and his performance on the stump since he announced on "The Tonight Show" has been uneven....One rival gleefully began a "gaffe-a-day calendar," tracking Thompson's misstatements under the headline "A gaffe a day keeps the voters away."...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/08/AR2007100801553.html

[Bitwit1234]

1. He probably won't get called on

they want the public to think he's gonna be the man.

[Bake]

2. But he's been a-studyin' those briefin' books!

Shucks, this ought to be a real knee-slapper!

Bake

[DeepModem Mom]

3. I hope expectations haven't been lowered to the point that he'll pull a Bush --

and be lauded for just standing upright, and managing a few words. It will be interesting, though, especially if he comes out with one of his gaffes!

[Bake]

4. I think Fred's been tryin' to lower them expectations

But he's not as blatantly dumb as George was. Nothing like "misunderestimate" or "put food on your family."

Fred's not illiterate, and he can speak coherently ... when he has a script. I don't think the expectations are as low for him, despite his best efforts to make them so.

Bake