He's old and ugly, and he's got a much younger wife.

[Telly Savalas]

If these are the only criticisms that can be drudged up against a candidate, then he's must be a good guy that's worth supporting.

If there are actual flaws in a candidate, then perhaps it would be better to point them out rather than fixating on a bunch of childish Rush Limbaugh-style bullshit.

[NYCGirl]

1. How about he's a rabid, fire-breathing neo-con and 10x more conservative than

Goldwater?

[Telly Savalas]

2. That's pretty much what's turned me off to the guy.

[Double T]

3. mccain is the second coming of bush

[NYCGirl]

5. So's Thompson, only fakier. NT

[Double T]

7. thompson is hollywood; therefore the second coming of raygun

[Cha]

16. He's a lyin' ,hypocritical,

fetid breath, egomaniacal, fascistass megalomaniac, .

[KittyWampus]

31. He spent 20 years lobbying for the Savings & Loan industry thus helping set up the S&L Scandal

[Telly Savalas]

53. Good point.

[Hobarticus]

45. Even worse, he's long known as being lazy and "phoning it in"

far more interested in the trappings of Congress and DC than actually doing anything.

I know a lazy conservative beats a Santorum any day, but still. Nothing chaps me more than lazy elected officials.

Funny, his proponents keep brining up his question during the Nixon hearings: "what did the President know, and when did he know it?" Which was indeed a Kodak moment. But since then he's been pretty quiet, not known for groundbreaking legislation, if any at all. Kind of like Al Michels, still riding his Olympic moment and not doing much since.

[acmavm]

4. He only plays like a law and order guy on tv. He's really a perfect fit

for the bush** & Co. crime family.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Naw, that's just the obvious intial stuff, like Rudy's wife trifecta and cross-dressing.

I'm sure there will be lots more to come.

[dweller]

8. oops, thought this was a Kucinich slam ...

nm

dp

[AlCzervik]

9. i thought you were talking about my Dad.

[Telly Savalas]

11. Is he going to run?

Or do I need to scrape my "Chimpsrsmarter's Dad '08" bumpersticker off my car?

[AlCzervik]

14. My dad would totally win the gun lobby's vote and he's socially liberal

but loves himself a tax loop hole, all in all probably not the best choice but better than Fred i suspect.

[Virginia Dare]

43. A Libertarian Liberal...

not a bad combo, there's worse...and he's got himself a honey, yeehaw the total package...I think you should have a serious talk with Daddy chimpy.

[Wiley50]

10. If we start throwing this stuff about Thompson

(as much as I hate him and as a Tennessean I have a right to)

They're gonna start throwing the same stuff out about Kucinich

just sayin"

[aquart]

12. In Kucinich's case, it just ups the respect.

Sorry, but it's true. When a mousy clerk type weds a young wowzer, one feels the need to re-inspect the man to see what she saw.

In Thompson's case, you simply assume it was the money.

[dweller]

13. tis true

and the Kooch doesn't have the $$.

he's got what $$ can't buy.
dp

[bunkerbuster1]

30. Dennis' wife doesn't have the plastic boobs.

Just sayin'.

[onenote]

42. so what?

Just sayin'.

[Virginia Dare]

44. Trash vs. class...n/t

[onenote]

46. I don't think attacking Thompson's wife as "trash" is a politically astute move

Why does anyone here care? Its not as if anyone here would be voting for Thompson no matter who his wife was. And its rather naieve to think that the repub base cares that much. And if they do, they'll make it an issue. I just don't see where Democrats launching hypocritcal personal attacks is a productive strategy.

What next -- do we lead the "don't elect Romney, he's a Mormon" charge?

[TwilightGardener]

47. Why not? We all agree that Judy Giuliani is a bit of a skank. No one

wants her as first lady. I don't want this gold-digger as first lady either.

[Virginia Dare]

48. There is a slight difference here...

Thompson's wife IS politically connected. She will be the driving force behind the campaign. She's not just the dutiful spouse. SHE is the political operative and point person. Behind the barbie doll facade is a GOP viper, her looks are all part of the ruse, and the hypocritical "but we're just normal folks like you" schtick. She's fair game as far as I'm concerned, but point taken, I will make a concentrated effort to criticize what she is, not what she looks like.

[onenote]

51. Right. I have no problem in focusing on anything she's ever said or written

But attacking her for her appearance? I think that would be hypocrisy of the highest order by Democrats who, in my experience, generally take offense when people are judged by the color of their skin, the way they talk, what they wear, etc.

[Ellipsis]

15. Catch him tomorrow on HBO as President Ulysses S. Grant

in "I buried my heart at wounded knee"

A bit of an Irony that.

[melody]

17. Ah, Telly, back stumping for Half-Dead-Fred again?

Just kidding ... ;) I know you're just seeking to alert your fellow Dems to the dangers of the Evil
Thompson, however, he's not dangerous. Rush Limbaugh style attacks? Why do you think he has
been so successful? He goes for the crap people notice and care about. Should they not? Of
course, but then Freddie shouldn't be sticking his nose into my reproductive life and gay peoples'
sex lives.

It's just being pointed out that Fred is going to be seriously hampered by the same extremist
judgmental group that would be otherwise supporting him.

[Telly Savalas]

54. Those extremist judgmental groups are notorious for being hypocrites.

I don't think too many Republicans will care about his wife. The GOP has a really weak field this time around, and Thompson is probably their only shot.

The success of Rush style rightwingers stems from the fact that the ends they aim for are so closely aligned with the means they use to get them. If you want a government based on pettiness and hatred, then petty and hateful discourse is a good way of getting it.

Democrats are dreaming if they think they can get a just, responsible and thoughtful government by keeping the national dialogue on par with the Jerry Springer show.

[alfredo]

18. Health issues could derail him. His lymphoma is

in remission, still it raises doubts about him.

[Berry Cool]

19. I don't see why.

Honestly, I'm not a fan, but I fail to see why some people insist on acting as if the man's at death's door. Also, I think the OP has an excellent point. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Not everyone looks at an old guy married to a younger hottie and thinks "Wow, he must really be something if he can get someone as beautiful as her to love him." Most of them think "Wow, he must be loaded." End of story.

[rasputin1952]

23. Overall health of a candidate is importatnt for several reasons...

We should have learned from Reagan, that Alzheimer's can affect how a president can not just make some poor decisions, but also, when a debilitating illness is in the cards, mainpulation of the individual is far easier.

The most obvious reason to look at at a candidates health is that the VP, who often is overlooked, can easily become the PotUS and if that individual is a real dud, (think cheney, Andrew Johnson).

Personally, I think Thompson is a dud, but I'm no GOP screechmonkey either.

[Virginia Dare]

49. It'll be a very big concern if he picks Jebby for running mate...n/t

[alfredo]

50. I know enough to research the type of cancer he has to know

it is not a big problem, but a large segment of society will see "cancer" and figure he is a goner. Perception is everything.

[mitchum]

55. But I hear that FRED THOMPSON IS DYING...

I just don't understand why the gop would run a weak and terminal candidate

[orpupilofnature57]

20. How did we get shrub? worrying more about a blow job than a good job.

[Vinca]

21. I say we keep ALL criticisms out there.

Who honestly thinks the Republicans wouldn't bring up the wife if the tables were turned? That's why they win: they use everything and we're polite.

[onenote]

22. so let's be more like repubs -- that's the ticket!

:sarcasm:

And exactly what about his wife should be attacking. If there was something about her behavior, some shady financial dealings, unethical conduct, etc., okay. Her appearance? Explain who that is going to alienate? Fundies? Hell, I know a lot of fundies with wives and daughters who don't differ in appearance that much from Fred's wife. Democrats? But for Thompson's wife's appearance they might decide to vote for him? Don't think so.

[Vinca]

24. Yep, this is why Democrats lose. We're too considerate, too polite,

too eager to make nice, never attack, never even consider an attack. Some say Democrats have no spine - others just use the word "pussy." I don't know a darn thing about Fred Thompson's wife, but if the tables were turned the Republicans would already be making Jerry Lee Lewis jokes. If we don't beat them at their own game we're going to be whining about President Thompson. Actually, you'll be whining about President Thompson. I'll be a Canadian.

[onenote]

25. So you think making fun of Thompson's wife is needed to keep him from being president?

That's so pathetic I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[Vinca]

26. I'll send you a postcard. nt

[Virginia Dare]

38. Now that you mention it...

she's a GOP political operative whore. She's a conniving manipulative hack. She's every bit the fake she appears to be.

[Missy Vixen]

40. Here's a question, and I'm sure I'll be flambed

Was it a marriage, or a merger?

Did he suddenly decide to run for President one day? If he didn't, and this decision was made awhile ago, how much did his wife's profession figure into his thinking?

IMHO, YMMV, you know damn well we've listened to 12 years now of "Bill and Hillary Clinton don't have a REAL marriage"...

Julie

[Virginia Dare]

41. Well, I'll put it this way...

I think I know what the attraction was, on both parts...;)

[Telly Savalas]

52. It's all bullshit.

If the cable news wankers obsessed about a candidates wife, they'd be gossiping Heathers, but if we do it, we're showing a spine?

Gimme a break.

The reason our government is so fucked isn't because Republicans are better at puerile attacks than the Democrats, it's because the puerile attacks exist in the first place. It's possible to launch a full-throttle offensive at the guy without resorting to childish personal attacks.

[bunkerbuster1]

27. He'll continue to appoint shitheads like Alito and Roberts to the SCOTUS.

Isn't that enough of a reason to oppose him?

Seriously, even the bestest Republican candidate ever will continue to appoint freedom-hating judges, against the wishes of the majority of Americans. That's the common bond between all, from Ron Paul to Rudy G. It isn't brought up nearly often enough.

[NewJeffCT]

28. Are many going to be turned off by a politician with a younger wife?

I mean, we have Kucinich and Dodd running, and both of them have much younger wives, too. And, neither man is going to be mistaken for Brad Pitt. Ted Kennedy also has a much younger wife.

And, I'm sure Republics will retort that Monica was much younger than Bill, and also not his wife...

And, is anybody really shocked when a male politician and/or an actor has a much younger woman at his side?

[bunkerbuster1]

29. You forgot the plastic boobs.

We should definitely bring up the plastic boobs on the trophy wife at every opportunity.

And no, I'm not joking. The Repigs wouldn't hesitate for a nanosecond to do it to us.

[NewJeffCT]

34. There is a difference, though

It's okay if you're a Republican.

Chelsea Clinton - criticized for being ugly.
Bush twins - wild drunken parties, but little criticisms outside of the occasional remark on Leno/Letterman.

Gary Condit - has affair with intern who mysteriously disappears. Media goes into 24/7 saturation coverage.
Joe Scarborough - affair with intern who winds up mysteriously dead. Not a peep from the media.

Bill Clinton - constant coverage of "alleged" affairs despite no credible evidence.
George H.W. Bush - strong evidence he had lengthy affair - even RW Newsmax wrote about it - gets barely a media peep.

Billy Carter - national embarrassment for drinking problems with Jimmy was in office.
George W. Bush - no coverage of his coke use or alcoholism while Bush Sr. was in office.

[bunkerbuster1]

35. no, no, no.

It's not really ok if you're a republican (INROKIYAR.)

It's only ok because our side doesn't fight dirty; doesn't hammer these fuckheads with personal attacks of the ferocity of FoxNews' "Barak Hussein Obama wuz skooled at a Madrassa!"

Ok, we get this stuff out in the left blogosphere, but we don't have our A-teamers out there in the media hacking away at it. Lest we forget, the "Madrassa" story was kicked on Fox and Friends.

Maybe we don't have the stomach for it. But until we do, we'll continue to lose where we could win.

Honestly, the morality stuff does play. Bush's DUI really did hurt him in 2000. Americans really were grossed out by the congressional page thing last summer. Helps us, hurts them. More of this, please.

[NewJeffCT]

36. I know it's not okay

But, you would have thought the media would have jumped all over the Scarborough/dead intern story because it was happening at the same time as Condit/Levy. Imagine the headlines about dead & missing interns, a parade of psychologists on TV analyzing Congressmen and their relationships with interns...

Or, how about Duke Cunningham trading votes for hookers at the Watergate? Yes, that Watergate. It got a few days of mid-week coverage but died quickly.

How about the DC madam from a few weeks back? One Bush official resigns, but not much since.

[bunkerbuster1]

37. I know we sound like broken records, but--media companies, bread's buttered...

big media doesn't hammer Rethugs quite like Democrats for the same reason sharks don't eat lawyers: Professional courtesy.

[kimmylavin]

32. Okay...

Thompson - while a member of SAG - usually took the anti-union side in his government dealings.
Guiliani - more fear-mongering than the current White House crop.
McCain - more of a flip-flopper than Kerry was ever even accused of being, and directly responsible (via photo-op) for the deaths over over 20 people.


How's that? :)

[NewJeffCT]

33. Need to boil it down further

Thompson being anti-SAG is not exactly going to lose him votes among fundies.

Instead of calling McCain a flip-flopper, call him "Weathervane" McCain.

Rudy "Blame the Troops" Giuliani

[kskiska]

39. Whatever happened to "Shut Up and Sing (Act)?"

The wingnuts are strangely silent when one of their own runs.

[Kat45]

56. i find it amusing that its the repubs who find actors to run for office,

to exploit the publc's fascination with celebrity, while they're constantly screaming about the debauched liberal Hollywood pals of the Democratic party, who of course are debauched by associateion. Meanwhile, the celebrities-turned-politicians all seem to be comnservative and republicans: Reagan, Schwartzeneggar, Sonny Bono, Fred Grandy, Fred Thompson--I'm probably missing some.