Fred Thompson.... about to fall flat, again?

[salin]

Initially the troubled repubs being disappointed with their current field of presidential hopefuls, pined and waxed poetically about how great a candidate TVSTAR Thompson would be. One of his first stops out - in New Hampshire - he gave a lack luster speech that left attendees unimpressed. More recently ole Fred was at the state fair in Ames - trying to veer away from attendees - Senator Grassley had to lead him by the arm to meet and talk with people. Again - fell fairly flat.

So what is Freddy doing next - just after finally jumping into the race (with a little bit of possible legal trouble per his fundraising and organizations)? Skipping the GOP debate to go on Leno.

See - repubs you don't matter to him - he believes he has been annointed by you and doesn't need to bother with primary campaign stuff... instead skipping that to talk on the TV - right fitting for a TVSTAR - and one whose arrogance suggests he start running for the general election just days after he gets into the Republican primary.

Me, I don't think ole Fred is going to do as well as in the primaries the initial swooners thought.

[MADem]

1. High Definition television is NOT kind to that man--he looks like a drunken shar pei.

And having his granddaughter er, wife, there, Boobsie McChestyHuge, by his side, well, he looks like a total fucking joke. He epitomizes the phrase "There's no fool like an old fool."

[calimary]

4. GOP stands for Grumpy Old Putz.

His "charisma" won't carry him too far once he actually steps into the crucible. He's been having a nice time so far because he's been a noncombatant, off at a safe distance, untouchable, not really involved so there was no reason to amp it up about him. Yet. Once he formally declares, all bets are off, and he'll be subject to all the probing and gaffes and gotchas that wind up on YouTube from which he was previously able to distance himself. The honeymoon will be OVER.

And if he's making ho-hum first impressions in New Hampshire before he's even official (I saw that, too), what happens when it counts? If that's the best he can do when the heat's NOT on him, what the hell is going to happen when the heat is ON? Especially when the other republi-CON candidates start in on him and begin to take him apart? Uh, freddy, dear, you DO realize that they don't call it "the hot seat" for nothing.

[salin]

12. he is making himself an instant target with this decision to skip

the debate. Wonder how many barbs will be thrown his way in his absence.

[calimary]

21. Probably a lot. "Fair Game" I think is the operative phrase here.

He would have been safer standing on the sidelines and not jumping into the mudpit. But hey, freddy, you wanted it, so here it is.

[salin]

23. They should put a cardboard cut-out of him at a microphone

remind folks that he is stiff - and he stiffed the GOP primary voter/viewers.

[intaglio]

5. That is ... Bwahahahahaha

he looks like a drunken shar pei

:headbang: :applause: :rofl:

[Warren DeMontague]

25. Dan Aykroyd in "Nothing But Trouble"

[napi21]

2. I found it really funny that when he visited that Iowa State Fair, he

wore a casual shirt and slacks to make him look just like "one of the regular folks" but...he also wroe Gucci shoes!!!!!! I don't live in Ia. but I'm positive the locals weren't fooled one bit! I also read about how quickly he loses interest in pandering to the locals by paying a little attention to the things that are important to them, like meeting the "Butter Queen". Sad rich b'd isn't playin' this NEW ROLE very well at all!

[Graybeard]

7. He used to ride in his limo and change to the red pick-up...

...just before they got to the next campaign stop when he ran in Tenn. A total complete phony.

[salin]

14. in this day of cell phone cameras

with quick upload ability to the internet... I don't think he is going for that gimmick again, lest he actually have to ride around in the pick-up truck.

[salin]

13. apparently he doesn't think he needs to campaign

but that he should just be annointed.

[napi21]

20. Well, after all the favorable publicity and fairly high ranking in the polls,

I can't say that I blame him. There's at least some group that sure has been giving that impression!

[LiberalAndProud]

3. He's not announcing his candidacy for 3 more days.

Definitions of disingenuous on the Web:

not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness; "an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who...exemplified...the most disagreeable traits of his time"- David Cannadine; "a disingenuous excuse"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

[salin]

15. those definitions do seem to fit

him and his gucci shoes (Iowa state fair reference up thread.)

[Demit]

6. I agree. I still believe his function is to be a diversion for as long as possible...

So pundits don't have to look too closely at the other, real candidates. He hasn't raised serious money, he doesn't have a serious campaign staff. This is a production, centered around a guy who not only doesn't have the desire to go out on the stump, he also doesn't have the chops. They're gonna have to keep him away from real events as long as possible. To stave off the inevitable falling-flat-on-his face he's going to do. I myself can't wait for the inevitable, cringe-inducing whopper he'll make, the one people won't be able to ignore. He is so not ready for prime time, it should be a doozy.

[Hamlette]

9. He has Mary Matlin!

she was on Tim Russert yesterday shilling for him. She was absolutely dreadful.

It used to be, honest, I remember, when republicans occasionally seemed sane. Mary yesterday was nothing but rant and mean and lie.

[MADem]

24. Well, at least she ditched the Hobbit hairdo for something that hides those EARS!! nt

[salin]

16. Hadn't thought of the whole operation as an ntentional sham...

you make some very interesting - ponder worthy - points.

[WI_DEM]

8. I wonder how many takes he needed to get it right on L&O?

[stillcool]

10. he needs a new script writer...as well

as seriously practicing his lines...get into character. I haven't seen much of his post L&O work, but what I have seen..well he bombed.

[salin]

18. also wonder what his castmates think of his little diversion.

Have they filmed the whole season? Is he being replaced? Is the entire operation put on haitus (that would mean no pay) for the duration of his candidacy? I haven't paid enough attention to know what the show is doing to deal with his campaign.

[DFW]

11. It's not easy to teach an old shar-pei new tricks

Or new lines. Hume Cronyn he is not.

[tularetom]

17. Does anyone actually believe that New Yorkers would elect a DA

who talks like Gomer Pyle and looks like he is ready to puke at any moment?

I don't think NY voters would be impressed by all the cutesy poo "country" sayings.

Frederick of Hollywood will be yesterdays news before Thanksgiving.

[salin]

19. Frederick of Hollywood...

good one :thumbsup:

[Disturbed]

22. Fox Noise is not supporting him which spells trouble for his

bid. Seems that Fox Noise has received the memo to promote Rudy G.