Fred Thompson, airing a cable TV ad tonight while other Republicans debate, is at home on a TV set -- shown here taping an episode of NBC's Law and Order, which the TNT cable channel is replaying in a run of 23 episodes starting this week. (AP Photo by Matt Moyer)
by Mark Silva
This could be the last time that Fred Thompson, soon-to-be-Republican-candidate-for-president, gets to wage the campaign debate on his own terms like this:
Tonight, while the already-announced-Republican-candidates-for-president are debating in New Hampshire, with an encounter sponsored and broadcast by the Fox News Channel, Thompson will be airing his first TV campaign ad on Fox – and taping his own, personal appearance on NBC’s The Tonight Show.
Thompson, standing by an American flag with a paneled wall and window for a backdrop and serene strings playing a quiet anthem in the soundtrack, faces the audience of his TV ad with these words:
“On the next president’s watch, our country will make decisions that will affect our lives and our families far into the future. We can’t allow ourselves to become a weaker, less prosperous and more divided nation. Today, as before, the fate of milions across the world depends upon the unity and resolve of the American people. I talk about this tomorrow on fred 08.com. I invite you to take a look and join us.’’
The ad, slated to appear once during the debate tonight and “all day’’ tomorrow, according to the Thompson campaign, ends with three scrolling words on the screen: “Security, Unity, Prosperity.’’
And with that nod to his own, also self-controlled campaign announcement on his Web-site tomorrow, accompanied by his run of TV ads tomorrow, Thompson’s 30-second ad slips away – leaving a field of Republican candidates to compete amongst themselves on a University of New Hampshire stage.
How will this all play?
"People here are used to seeing candidates face to face, asking them questions face to face," New Hampshire Republican Party chairman Fergus Cullen told the San Francisco Chronicle, writing about the play which Thompson has borrowed from the book of another silver-screen molded candidate – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"They are not satisfied with 30-second commercials or perhaps a new webcast or something on Jay Leno,'' Cullen said. "I really think the Thompson campaign is at risk of getting off on the wrong foot here, even though there's definitely a lot of general and genuine interest in him.''
All the party’s major candidates, with the exception of Thompson, the former Tennessee senator and television and film star, will take part in the Granite State debate sponsored by the state GOP, the UNH and Fox.
The Fox News Channel will air the 90-minute debate, as well as Thompson’s paid ad during it.
And late tonight, Thompson will have Jay Leno to himself.
In 2003, Schwarzenegger used The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to announce his surprise recall campaign against the former governor. Two veterans of the Schwarzenegger campaigns, Todd Harris and Karen Hanretty, have joined Thompson, Harris as communications director, Hanretty as deputy.
The former senator’s Web-site presidential campaign launch tomorrow will be accompanied by an “all-day’’ run of the Thompson ad directing viewers to the Web-site, Harris says.
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Comments
Speed of lightning, roar of thunder, to boldly go where no one with a little red rented pickumup truck has never gone before, trumpets blaring - it's Fred Thompson!
yawn.
Posted by: Doug Zook | September 5, 2007 2:17 PM
“On the next president’s watch, our country will make decisions that will affect our lives and our families far into the future."
Wow. Yuh thank? A president is'n 'portant feller then.
If he ever does show up for a debate, the first question should be "What have you been hiding from?"
Posted by: Anonymous | September 5, 2007 2:22 PM
I think Fred Thompson should start his campaign with a BANG! Really let the "Wide Stance" party know he shares their values!
Maybe that bang should take place in an airport bathroom?
Posted by: nisleib | September 5, 2007 2:42 PM
Alternate Caption:
Hello, I'm not a Presidential Candidate, but I play one on TV.
Posted by: Tony | September 5, 2007 2:49 PM
One moment Nislieb can make a coherant, thoughtful post. The next moment, he can come up with this:
I think Fred Thompson should start his campaign with a BANG! Really let the "Wide Stance" party know he shares their values!
Maybe that bang should take place in an airport bathroom?
Posted by: nisleib | September 5, 2007 2:42 PM
Just when I was to take you off the Loony Left list and onto the Liberal but that's Ok list, he puts out trash like the above.
By the way, Anonymous, while the quote from Thompson you cited is typical political feel-good stuff, I'll take that over John Edwards' "Two America's," Barack Obama's "change" nonsense, and Hillary's, well, whatever she says this day, that day, the next day nonsense.
Posted by: John D | September 5, 2007 3:13 PM
Granpa Fred is supposed to be the Republican savior?
Fredrick of Hollywood is so afraid of a debate that he's going to wait until AFTER the GOP debate to announce his candidacy...and the "debate" is on Republican owned and operated Fixed News Channel no less...what a wimp.
Posted by: John E | September 5, 2007 3:15 PM
Just when I was to take you off the Loony Left list and onto the Liberal but that's Ok list, he puts out trash like the above.
By the way, Anonymous, while the quote from Thompson you cited is typical political feel-good stuff, I'll take that over John Edwards' "Two America's," Barack Obama's "change" nonsense, and Hillary's, well, whatever she says this day, that day, the next day nonsense.
Posted by: John D | September 5, 2007 3:13 PM
nisleib is not brain dead like you are Lil Johnny WideStance:
Little GOP Johnny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c-4krcj9JI
Hey Johnny why you all alone?
You're staring out your window again
Hey little Johnny, can I come inside, dear?
I wanna show you the light
I wanna be the only one
I know you like nobody ever has, baby
Little Johnny can't you find another way
No more livin life behind a shadow
You can whisper secrets in my ear
Slowly dancing cheek to cheek
It's such a sweet thing when you open up and see the light, baby
GOP will only do you wrong
We come together cause I understand your sickness
I know who you really are, Johnny
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eexlebots/513709851/
Posted by: John E | September 5, 2007 3:20 PM
"less prosperous"?
Thanks to Dubya & Neocons like you, Fred, America has already flushed $500 Billion dollars down the Iraq drain with no end in sight. That is, until we get a president with a backbone to pull US troops out of our occupation of Iraq.
Posted by: BC | September 5, 2007 3:43 PM
Man did he stick to his good buddy McRant.Promised him he would stay out of the race.
Put a fork in old Johnny boy.
Posted by: Raving Loon | September 5, 2007 3:46 PM
Maybe the voters will have that sence of urgency that Fred had and cast there vote..oh...sometime in 2oo9.
Posted by: bill r. | September 5, 2007 3:49 PM
No, John D, I know how you need to keep your lists.
FYI - I've never been a member of either party. I am a civil libertarian and a fiscal conservative. As such I hate Bush. Used to be I would be a Republican. Now days that makes me plug my nose and, in most cases, vote for democrats.
If you think only "Looney lefties" hate Bush you are seriously underestimating what is going on in the world. As to my many, and often funny, comments about the Republican Party (sorry, the Wide Stance Party) they are motivated by one simple truth - The Republican Party stands for NOTHING. Small Government? No. Government out of the bedroom. No. Government out of the boardroom? Well, the boardroom owns the Government, but I don't think that is a good thing. Family Values? Yeah, the Dahmer family maybe.
I attack you and yours not out of partisan rage, but because you, and the GOP, are turning this country into a Kleptocracy. You fear monger and divide us using wedge issues and terror alerts and don't understand the disgust independent voters feel. The governments main purpose should NOT be to funnel money to private corporations, and that is what Bush has made it become. In fairness Clinton did a lot of the same stuff and Hillary, God forbid she gets elected, would do the same thing. So would Romney. (This is, of course, just my opinion.)
Keep me on your Looney leftists list. I don't belong there, but then, neither do most of the people on the list and I consider myself to be in good company.
Posted by: nisleib | September 5, 2007 3:51 PM
Really, Mark, is that post from Demented John E. worthy of your approval of being posted?
John E., I know you have a thing for me. Between your investigations in my work life, private life and wherever else you look, I'm not your type. And, your little love song to me, won't work either. I don't play that way, OK?
Now, if you really want a little lovin, touchin, squeezin, I suggest you ring up Doug Zook. It's clear the two of you have a thing for each other.
And, I'm sure the two of you can find an outhouse or bathroom somewhere in the Chicago area where the two of you can really hit it off. Right?
Posted by: John D | September 5, 2007 3:52 PM
Big Fred on that list?
Soon, a new name will pop up on Mike Rogers's hit list.
Larry Craig wasn't "the first on my list," the gay blogger says. And the Idaho senator, who announced his resignation Saturday, "won't be the last."
In the coming months, he plans to post the names of "a few more" closeted Congress members on his blog, he says, all of them Republicans. There are 33 names on his published list, most of them men, 30 from the GOP. That fact reveals more about the Republicans, he says, than about him. Although a registered Democrat, he says he is bipartisan.
Posted by: Raving Loon | September 5, 2007 3:52 PM
Wow, another movie star running for President. You can't get any more experience for politics than you can with an acting backround.
I mean, don't they all just act like they know stuff and then when you get them into office nothing they promise ever gets done, because they know nothing. They do nothing... I did not have sexual relations with that girl, I did not tap my foot to get gay sex, I did not know there weren't any WMD's in Iraq... I dont know , I dont know, I dont know!!!
Its all a big act anyway just to get your votes, so why not have an actual actor/politician who can be even better at acting like he knows nothing!!
Posted by: Bella | September 5, 2007 4:30 PM
What is it with Republicans and actors? The pundits rail on liberal minded actors as elitist and busy-bodies. But conservative actors, republican actors, well that's a different story.
If they're going to treat the most important job in the world like a reality show, why not throw Dennis Miller's hat into the ring? He's a cowboy and he'd usher in the end of the world as we know it, but at least he's smart (not to be confused with wise) funny and entertaining. He might even be able to make Armageddon fun.
Posted by: dt | September 5, 2007 4:38 PM
Just when I was to take you off the Loony Left list and onto the Liberal but that's Ok list, he puts out trash like the above.
Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
juannieD is angry as heck and he's not going to take it anymore. So NOW you're on the bad cookie list. Oohh, it hurts, make it stop, please, make it stop. Thompson is a Hollywood start, like two other republitard politicians, ronald rayguns and herr gropinator. He is an actor. Of course, it looks like earboy is just acting too, so maybe electing actors makes sense. But you betcha the wingnuts won't stop criticizing loony leftie actors and musicians for taking a public political stance. It's only correct if juanniee and terrieee and brucieee and miss pillow approve. Otherwise, its all loony to them.
Posted by: snitramc | September 5, 2007 5:10 PM
Loony Lefties: 14
nisleib: 5
John E: 2
Man-child John D: -10
Posted by: Swamp Scoreboard | September 5, 2007 5:12 PM
Another rich white OLD republican lobbyist. Four bills in eight years. LOSER!
Posted by: Force of Darkness | September 5, 2007 8:33 PM
Trickled On has learned how to copy and paste.
Posted by: Terry | September 5, 2007 10:22 PM
John D I have a thing for you! I love your third grader imitations and daily childish rants.
Posted by: queer as folk | September 6, 2007 5:23 AM