Thompson Stump Speech Draws Standing Ovation (says Drudge)

[maxparrish]

Matt Druge just reported that Fred Thompson has honed his stump speech and drew a standing ovation half-way through his Richmond speech. The Powerline folks report that it was NOT just good, but excellent.

This man looks for REAL, a real contender that honors Reagan. Here's the powerline blurb:


Fred Thompson's stump speech, delivered in Richmond, Virginia, gets a pretty good review from the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/02/AR2007060201163.html). And a journalist who was there tells Glenn Reynolds (http://www.instapundit.com/) that Thompson's speech was better than the Post report indicates.

Acording to the Post, Thompson received his biggest applause for blasting the immigration reform bill, which he called unworkable. Thompson stated, "We are a nation of compassion, a nation of immigrants, but this is our home . . . and we get to decide who comes into our home."

C-SPAN apparently will air the speech tonight at 6:30 and again at 9:30.
UPDATE: I just saw the replay, and it was an excellent speech. Thompson has a knack for stating conservative principles simply and with what seems like deep conviction. And, perhaps most importantly, he states them strongly but palatably. My wife, who is an independent, liked the speech as much as I did. She said Thompson seems like a different kind of candidate, a reaction that should be music to the ears of the Thompson camp.

www.powerlineblog.com (http://www.powerlineblog.com)

[dPrasse]

Run Fred Run !! Woo Hooo !

[M.C.]

Does anyone have a link to Thompson's speech, I'm assuming I missed both of the replays on C-SPAN.

[noncom]

Fred Thompson's stump speech, delivered in Richmond, Virginia, gets a pretty good review from the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/02/AR2007060201163.html).
1. The Post is one of the most liberal papers in the country. If he's making an impact on these guys, he's really got something on the ball.

2. Remember that most of the other candidates have been shooting for the Presidency for years. Thompson's Senatorial campaigns would have focused on parochial issues, and his radio messages were much too cerebral for a general audience. So when it comes to focusing his core message toward a Presidential campaign, he could still have a ways to go.

3. You don't really get the best speechwriters until the fundraising is underway.

[maxparrish]

I managed to catch the speech on CSPAN (Road to the White House). I would have rated it a B plus...

I am a bit surprised that he is not as polished as I might have expected from a former attorney and an actor. His delivery seemed a bit nervous at the beginning BUT as he progressed he got better till he became very good.

His folksy approach is great, he seemed SO genuine. He talked about reading Barry Goldwater's Conscience of a Conservative when he was young, which he said made him what he is today.

His greatest delivery was the second half, he slowed down and made some comments regarding the greatness of America, optimism, a Congress that no longer works for the country, and finally, a classic line on immigration. Something like

"We are a nation of immigrants, we owe our greatness to the 'variety' of immigrants. We have not forgotten who we are, whether we have been here for 3 generations, 1 generation, or were naturalized this year. But this is OUR home and we get to say who comes inti it."

TWO things were clear: First, The Virginia Republicans were ready for a true conservative and waited for his comments on immigration. People were really really angry over the issue.

Second, while Fred is no Ronald Reagan his core folksy style is wonderful. He is very different than the egoists that are running. He needs more practice and a good speech writer - but given the right material his intelligence and talent would shine even more (PEGGY NOONAN would be perfect)

And yes, he is the real deal.

[Lazarus]

Im tellin yall, when this man gets up to full speed he's gonna be a freight train... McCain, Giuliani, and all the others better just graciously step off the tracks because he's gonna be unstoppable... All those who aspire to the Whitehouse now shoul simply throw their support behind him and negotiate for cabinet positions...

[noncom]

Second, while Fred is no Ronald Reagan his core folksy style is wonderful. He is very different than the egoists that are running.
That makes Fred Thompson the perfect counterpoint to Hillary. Her attempts to "talk like a commoner" come off as not just awkward, but downright PAINFUL.

We need someone as unlike Hillary as possible. If we try to beat the Clintons at their own game, we're dead, because their "game" is the tactic of constantly changing the rules.

The last thing we need is someone from our stable of Bush-leaguers who thinks the best way to guarantee victory is to out-moderate your oponent and hope our spin machine can score an electoral vote or two higher than their spin machine. The Clintons would eat a guy like that for breakfast.

I am a bit surprised that he is not as polished as I might have expected from a former attorney and an actor.
What's the first rule of show business? Always leave 'em wanting more. If you start at the top of your game, you got nothing to build up to.

[Lazarus]

That makes Fred Thompson the perfect counterpoint to Hillary. Her attempts to "talk like a commoner" come off as not just awkward, but downright PAINFUL.

We need someone as unlike Hillary as possible. If we try to beat the Clintons at their own game, we're dead, because their "game" is the tactic of constantly changing the rules.

The last thing we need is someone from our stable of Bush-leaguers who thinks the best way to guarantee victory is to out-moderate your oponent and hope our PR machine can score an electoral vote or two higher than their PR machine. The Clintons would eat a guy like that for breakfast.Exactly... Thompson just needs to be his honest, common-sense, courageous American self... No one on the left can stand up to that... Its what America is hungry for - A common-sense leader who isnt afraid to put America first...

[noncom]

Im tellin yall, when this man gets up to full speed he's gonna be a freight train... McCain, Giuliani, and all the others better just graciously step off the tracks because he's gonna be unstoppable... All those who aspire to the Whitehouse now shoul simply throw their support behind him and negotiate for cabinet positions...
McCain: Secretary of Defense (it is the ONLY issue he can be trusted with)

Giuliani: Homeland Security.

Romney: Um, I'm not really sure. Do we have a Department of Game Show Host Lookalikes?

[Lazarus]

McCain: Secretary of Defense (it is the ONLY issue he can be trusted with)

Giuliani: Homeland Security.

Romney: Um, I'm not really sure. Do we have a Department of Game Show Host Lookalikes?Now that I think about it, Im not sure I want any of those clowns in a Thompson cabinet...

Honestly, I cant see McCain in the Administration under any title... He is now, and has always been, a liberal in Republican clothing, and for all his military posturing and legendary POW status, I dont trust him as far as I can throw him... In the world according to Laz, McCain is out...

Giuliani - He's too lax on the Mexican invasion to be put in charge of homeland secuirity... Besides, what has he ever done to demonstrate that he is qualified for such a job? Ok maybe he gained something of a crime-fighter reputation... I might allow him to head up FEMA - We definitely need someone to get that fiasco under control and Giuliani appears to be competent at cleaning up disasters... So he gets FEMA...

Romney... Honestly I cant take this guy seriously... He's like the Republican answer to John Kerry - which means he's become something of a joke... Make him the ambassador to some political hot spot - say, Canada or Switzerland...

[noncom]

Ok maybe he gained something of a crime-fighter reputation... I might allow him to head up FEMA - We definitely need someone to get that fiasco under control and Giuliani appears to be competent at cleaning up disasters... So he gets FEMA...
That's what I meant to say. Giuliani's been getting a lot of mileage out of cleaning up after 9/11. And more power to him - that's certainly fair game. But it doesn't have anything to do with being President.

Of course McCain is a snake. But it would be nice if you could put him somewhere you could keep an eye on him, and decapitate his little cabal of moderate Senators. You were the one who suggested cabinet positions. McCain would try to do some damage no matter where you put him, but he seems more consistent with regard to supporting the troops than with anything else. Without that, he's got nothing, and he knows it. When there is nothing else, political necessity is the closest thing to "trust" you can get.

[DesertFox]

We need someone as unlike Hillary as possible. If we try to beat the Clintons at their own game, we're dead, because their "game" is the tactic of constantly changing the rules.

The last thing we need is someone from our stable of Bush-leaguers who thinks the best way to guarantee victory is to out-moderate your oponent and hope our spin machine can score an electoral vote or two higher than their spin machine. The Clintons would eat a guy like that for breakfast. This is a superb analysis.

[cerebraldebris]

McCain: Secretary of Defense (it is the ONLY issue he can be trusted with)


I don't trust the guy in any way, shape or form. He's lost all credibility with me... long time ago.

[Pennville_Bill]

McCain = LIAR

Liberal
Impersonating
A
Republican

[M.C.]

If neither Tancredo or Brownback are chosen to run as Thompson's vice president, I certainly hope they are both given cabinet positions, though I'd like to see one as the VP.

This speech sounds like it was good, too bad I can't seem to find a place to watch it.

[Lazarus]

...You were the one who suggested cabinet positions...Actually I said they should withdraw from the race and "negotiate for cabinet positions"... In the case of McCain, I would also advise Thompson to politely take it under advisement - And then reject him outright... Unless we could find some hole we could bury him in where he cant cause any of his usual mayhem... :biggrin:

[Kathy30]

John McCain is an out and out coward. When he said that we should give illegals amnesty or they will riot, that said it all.

I'd give Guliani a spot as National Security Advisor. The rest - bupkis.

[DesertFox]

bupkis.:question:

[Rhino]

Main Entry: bupkis
Part of Speech: n
Definition: something worthless; nothing

[MrSanity]

Thompson and Tancredo are getting standing ovations.

McCain and his fellow Agents of Amnesty are getting booed at.

So, why is McCain such a viable candidate amongst mindless independents?

The majority of Americans are against amnesty, especially without enforceable laws to prevent more invasions.