This should make things even more crazy for the nomination.

Hopefully Romney, Hunter, and now Fred Thompson won't split the nomination vote too much, thus giving us Guiliani or McCain.

Even a few months back Fred Thompson was polling towards the top of the pack. I don't think the ticket will be split. Fred Thompson offers a viable candidacy of a real conservative. Already, folks who worked for Reagan and Bush Sr. are lining up to work the Thompson ticket. Guilianni is the 800lbs gorilla in this race but I think he faces a few major hurdles specifically that his liberal politics will not play in the south in a primary. McCain has very few supporters in the conservative base of the republican party. Mitt does have and will continue to have questions about his faith cloud the condidacy plus his opponents will continue to point to his "change of mind" on abortion and his stumble on hunting and gun rights. It may not be fair but that is going to happen and the media will keep going along with it. Hunter's biggest problem is the fact that no one has a clue who the guy is. Ron Paul runs the same problem as well as some of his ideas appeal to some but turn off a lot. Newt Gengrich has a whole mess of baggage some legit and some hyped by a media that hates his guts.

Fred Thompson is going to remind a lot of people of Reagan in the party. He is an actor just like Reagan who also became a politician. He will be instantly recognized by the nation. I don't discount this because I saw it here in California with the governator. His list of acting credits is extensive: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000669/ His politics are also very similar to Reagan. He served in the Senate from a southern state, Tennesee. The south is a key area for securing a primary or a general election. He was very popular and didn't generate too much controversy while in office. He left office before much of the bruhaha of the war on terror so he has none of that baggage to fight in the media and during debates with the other candidates. He is extremely charismatic and his southern accent can be dissarming to reporters and critics. Even those who don't agree with him politically generally like the guy.

I also believe that if his polling looks as strong or stronger as it did when he wasn't a candidate then he will get many of those who were supporting Gulianni and McCain who were holding their noses to jump ship. Another big factor is that by coming into the race so late, the media hasn't been talking about him. He is new and fresh. He will get a lot of press in the months before the primary without the media fatigue of the other candidates. Like Arnold, you will see him in movies and television over and over because of his acting which gives him more face time. Generally, his roles are good guy roles so he gets a lot of "free" feel good points among T.V. watchers.

His biggest asset is that there isn't a lot about the man that's not likable or presidential. His biggest weekness may be questions about his cancer and health. If he looks healthy and is up front on everything then he may overcome it.

I am personally excited about the primary where before I wasn't really into it. I think we may actually have an interesting race on our hands. Before I was ready to pretty much concede the primary to Gulianni but now I'm not so sure.

-- Edited by salesortonscom at 14:55, 2007-05-30

More like seven to eight months. Primary voting starts in January of 2008 in some states. For the general election you are correct that we are quite a bit further. Still not a lot of time to get your message out if you are relatively unknown.

-- Edited by fear of shiz at 18:36, 2007-05-30

The Case for Fred Thompson is made here:

http://www.kungfuquip.com/archives/677

Note that this is based on his style/gravitas and his political positions/speeches/voting record, etc. 

There is a case for Fred Thompson in 2008, and it is not just because the grass is always greener on Fred Thompson's lawn. Always.

Hey. I went to your link expecting a humor piece (It's called Kung Fu Quip, for heaven's sake), but it's a serious discussion. I'll have more to think about the primaries...

I did hear one strong point though. When Fred Thompson goes swimming, he doesn't get wet. Water gets Fred Thompson.

If Thompson gets in the race will end up being between him and Mitt. Either one, if they hold true, can defeat any of the Demo candidates.

Picture this, Romney and Thompson meeting with either the Chinese or N. Korean leaders. Talk about intimidation. Those guys are giants compared to the Asians.

As I have said before, I would like any combination of Romney, (Fred) Thompson, or Hunter for president and vice-president. If not that, I would be ok with any Republican instead of a Democrat (Although I wouldn't care much for some Republicans).

Lets see how things go.

hey... I like the car talk guys... 

I cracked up when I realized it was them doing those voices. What an excellent choice....

I just got my Fred 08 sticker in the mail. Now things are gonna get interesting.

Yea for Anarchy!!!

I think Fred has a chance if he campaigns like he did for the Senate in the primary. The vote is going to be split in the general no matter who runs. The sides are too polarized. I actually hope Hillary gets the nomination on the left because the cooky anti war left hates her and will vote for Cindy Sheehan or some other out there candidate who doesn't have a prayer.

Cat Herder wrote:

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Thompson is sadly going to end up being the Ross Perot of this election within the Republican Party. He may have the charisma to carry a lot of votes, but in the end, he is only going to further turn any momentum the party creates into a race for the plurality for the nomination. I don't think he honestly has what it takes to be a viable president. But do any of the candidates from either of the two major parties? Third parties are not even part of the equation, because none of them have viable candidates or platforms. Period.

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 I wonder what your definition of "viable" is. I'm hoping it's not some sort of circular logic like "They're viable because they're electable. And why are they electable? Because they're viable."

 

My definition of viable president is one that isn't likely to die in office... ta-da-dum!

Ron Paul and Fred Thompson are like old geezers, kind of like McCain! If they got elected, they may get pneumonia at the inauguration swearing in ceremony, and we definitely don't need another William Henry Harrison, unless say his vice pres was Mitt...

Circular logic is too, ahem, curved. I prefer the randomness of quantum physics logic...

shiz: fix your .sig... it should be a "coconut" laden swallow...