HomeschoolrsRUs
04-19-2007, 08:22 AM
Conservative Republicans Starving for a Thompson Run (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/18/AR2007041802530_pf.html)
By Dana Milbank
Thursday, April 19, 2007; A02
Everywhere Fred Thompson goes these days, he seems to be followed by inflated expectations.
Those waiting outside the Capitol Hill Club yesterday for the not-quite-yet presidential candidate to arrive counted 35 House Republicans entering the building to meet with him. One participant, Rep. Walter Jones (N.C.), reported that there were 40 in the room. Another, Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C.), upped the figure to "45 to 50." Then the organizer, Rep. Zach Wamp (Tenn.) came out. "I think the number was 53," he said. "Between 50 and 60."
However hyped their numbers, the conservative lawmakers who came to hear the actor cum senator cum actor were of one voice when they spoke of Thompson as a possible white knight. To hear them tell it, the current crop of Republican presidential candidates has left them variably famished, parched and suffocating.
"People are hungry for leadership," said Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.).
"People are thirsting for a candidate that checks all the boxes," Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) reported after meeting Thompson.
"It was a breath of fresh air in the room today," added Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.).
So is Thompson running?
By Dana Milbank
Thursday, April 19, 2007; A02
Everywhere Fred Thompson goes these days, he seems to be followed by inflated expectations.
Those waiting outside the Capitol Hill Club yesterday for the not-quite-yet presidential candidate to arrive counted 35 House Republicans entering the building to meet with him. One participant, Rep. Walter Jones (N.C.), reported that there were 40 in the room. Another, Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C.), upped the figure to "45 to 50." Then the organizer, Rep. Zach Wamp (Tenn.) came out. "I think the number was 53," he said. "Between 50 and 60."
However hyped their numbers, the conservative lawmakers who came to hear the actor cum senator cum actor were of one voice when they spoke of Thompson as a possible white knight. To hear them tell it, the current crop of Republican presidential candidates has left them variably famished, parched and suffocating.
"People are hungry for leadership," said Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.).
"People are thirsting for a candidate that checks all the boxes," Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) reported after meeting Thompson.
"It was a breath of fresh air in the room today," added Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.).
So is Thompson running?