I just had to come out and say it, Fred rules. You might not vote for him, but you can’t deny it anymore. When the AP asked each candidate the quote “yearbook” questions, check out Fred’s responses. Hat tip to Erik at Redstate for independentthinking link:
there’s the AP dog-and-pony show, wherein they ask the candidates stupid yearbook questions, instead of dealing with substance. Thompson’s responses, while certainly not pleasing to the AP (that is, they wouldn’t have been had the AP gotten the joke) were sure-fire crowd-pleasers to those of us who understood where Thompson was coming from:
What’s your favorite joke? Presidential debates.
What’s your favorite keepsake? Trophy wife.
What’s your favorite nickname? Mr. President.
And, of course, there’s my new favorite poke in the eye:
What do you like to do on a ‘lazy day’? Campaigning.
To quote Erik, “dude refuses to pander.” For those of us who appreciate Thompson’s style, this is classic Fred.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Tommy, if he wanted the job and actually had a shat at it, he would not be making the same comments. He’s given up.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Micah,
How wrong you are… That’s coming from somebody who has watched him from day one. This is classic Fred. He doesn’t care what the media thinks, and refuses to be a tool.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
I must say fred has certainly impressed me over the last few weeks. A few weeks ago i’d have voted for giuliani second if romney failed, now i’ve knocked rudy off that post and replaced fred. if for some reason romney fails i’ll gladly vote thompson.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Fred is still my #2. Had he really wanted this instead of doing it for Mrs. Thompson he would have made a good President and would probably be pulling all of Mitt’s and Huck’s supporters along with a good portion of Rudy’s and JMac’s – in other words: he would be the clear frontrunner and would have run away with this thing.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
micah, and “day one” meaning I’ve followed his career since 1994. This is Fred being Fred.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
And his numbers couldn’t be worse. A “trophy wife”, come on. At least he’s having fun not being a contender.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
This is pretty cool. I’d like to see how the others answered.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Richard P,
Let me find the link real quick
December 15th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
There’s a link for each question, here’s where you can find them:
http://independentthinking.wordpress.com/2007/12/15/are-you-listening-fred-will-not-pander/
December 15th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/white-house-hopefuls-crack-best-jokes/n20071207135009990020
REPUBLICANS:
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: Campaign says his favorite joke is “the most recent one that made him laugh.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: “Probably the one, and it’s a true story, telling about riding a bobsled at the Olympic track at Salt Lake City in February of 2001, one year before the Olympics. … It’s pretty funny because I had never seen a bobsled until I was in one. It was the most horrifying moment I think I ever had in my entire life. But I think when I tell the story, people can imagine themselves in a similar situation and I usually I get a pretty good laugh out of it.”
Arizona Sen. John McCain: “Long story about a guy walking into a bar and noticing another guy at the end. They strike up a conversation and notice many similarities. Another guy walks in later and asks the bartender about the commotion. ‘Oh, that’s just the O’Reilly brothers getting drunk again.”‘
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, referring to his wife: “Well, the best one, of course, is the, ‘Ann, did you in your wildest dreams see me running for president?’ And then I say that she says, ‘You weren’t in my wildest dreams.’ That gets the best response.”
Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: Favorite joke is “presidential debates,” campaign says.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Fred is moving up to #2 for me. I never thought that would happen.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I have always liked Fred for these reasons! Classic. I just wish he had a chance in hell to win it. Mitt/Fred ticket would be nice.
December 15th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Favorite Keepsake:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jjlPXCIEskuJPnLjdmppNryd2csQD8TGNOSG0
REPUBLICANS:
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: “My grandfather’s pocket watch.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: “Probably my Tobias bass guitar or maybe, I’ve got a handmade musket rifle that was made by a guy in Eureka Springs, Ark. I’ve hunted turkey with it. It’s really an amazing firearm. Probably one of those two as far as just real heirlooms.”
Arizona Sen. John McCain: “I have a baseball signed by Ted Williams, my childhood hero, a Marine pilot as well.”
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: 1962 Rambler American, which his sons bought for him. “The last year that my dad was president of American Motors and made Ramblers was 1962, so it’s a connection with my dad and that era.”
Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: “Trophy wife.”
December 15th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Candidates’ nicknames:
REPUBLICANS:
Former New York Mayor Rudolph William Louis Giuliani: Rudy
Former Arkansas Gov. Michael Dale Huckabee: Mike and Huck
Arizona Sen. John Sidney McCain III: Johnny
Former Massachusetts Gov. Willard Mitt Romney: “In high school, my friends called me Bird Legs. And how did I get it? Take a guess.”
Former Tennessee Sen. Freddie Dalton Thompson: Mr. President
http://www.cfnews13.com/Politics/PoliticsHeadlines/2007/12/11/2008_candidates_and_their_nicknames.html
December 15th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
What do you like to do on your ‘lazy’ day?:
REPUBLICANS:
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: “Golf or reading, depending on the weather.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: “Running, hunting, fishing, or being at home with family and my three dogs.”
Arizona Sen. John McCain: “Probably hiking around a place we have up near Sedona. It’s so beautiful up there in the Red Rock country, and we have a place that’s on Oak Creek. … and we have picnics. It’s not just strenuous hiking. You know, it’s just kind of a recreational outing.” In August 2006, he and son Jack hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim — “which almost killed me and he thought was a day at the beach.”
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: “Probably riding horses. In winter time, it’s skiing. In summer time — I mean, the thing I like most is being with my kids and grandkids, so sort of being with them, regardless of where it is.”
Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: “Campaigning.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071214/ap_on_el_pr/2008_personal_side_lazy_days
December 15th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
That is true about Fred and admirable. It doesn’t make him a good presidential candidate though. He has been the biggest disaster in a long time. He squandered what could have been an easy ride to the nomination. he could have knocked romney right out and taken on giuliani and been done with him be summers end. instead he spent 6 weeks debating on how to announce. HORRIBLE campaign he has ran. he is virtually dead now in every poll with almost zilch time to catch up.
these funny jokes and taking on debate moderators won’t be enough.
i have actually been thinking lately though about how much i like a rudy fred ticket. vp kind of fits fred’s style i think.
December 15th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Tommy,
What has impressed me with Fred are is policy proposals. I was initially against him (as I am sure you well remember) but really think he has some good ideas, etc.
This stuff is funny, but it’s what I don’t like in a candidate. I am about as abnoxious and uncouth as you could ask for when hanging out. Voted class clown, love dry humor, etc. but I just think when you are running for President, you have to take it a little more seriously.
December 15th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
If Ron Paul were to drop out of the race for some weird reason, I might just have to vote Fred Thompson. Not just because of his good humor, but because he’s the only other candidate who comes anywhere close to being a Constitutionalist.
December 15th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
This is nothing but pure gallows humor…
December 15th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Romney’s joke about his wife is so old and over used it hurts to hear him bring it up again. His sons have said that he is legitimately cheesy though, so I’m not surprised he’d mention it again.
December 15th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Jason,
On the contrary, FDT is refusing to lower himself to these standards. If they ask him stupid questions he doesn’t have time for, then that’s the type of response they are going to get.
December 15th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Peter,
At least he didn’t skip the foreign policy briefings to stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night…
December 15th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
I don’t see how he doesn’t have time to answer these questions. It’s not a big deal to me, but it comes off like frat boy stuff.
December 15th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Oh my God, Tommy. This man is awesome.
I love dry humor. Fred has been killing me with his subtle jokes in the recent debates. It’s such a shame that he’s fallen so far behind in the polls. He’d make a great consensus candidate if it weren’t too late.
December 15th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
This is Fred’s way of giving up before he actually gives up (to save face).
My guess is he’ll bow out after SC.
December 15th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Fred has always been #1 from the first time I heard him speak. He has always stood out as a true honest leader. The more people get to know him the more they like him. He always has been and always will be Mr President in my eyes. Men of Honor running for president do not come along too often. Fred is that man of Honor. Go Fred!
December 15th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
And Fred did not enter too late. The others started too early, he could not enter until his contract with NBC was up. But he is the comeback kid just like he was in Tennessee. He does have a silent following that will show up come primary day.
December 16th, 2007 at 2:05 am
Fred’s #1 with me. Hunter is good – maybe VP. Romney is acceptable as VP if he drops nanny-state health care. Go ahead and argue that, but manditory healthcare still smacks of nanny-statism.
December 16th, 2007 at 3:14 am
I agree with #23. If he’s finally (supposedly) getting a look from people, you’d think he’d try to be presidential. Instead, he’s acting like he’s on a movie set, yukking it up with the camera guy. Answers like this might win him a frat presidency, but not the US Presidency.
Dumb questions, yes. But even dumber answers.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:57 am
Fred’s principled and folksy demeanor is downright Reaganesque. Look out his campaign is about to kick into phase 3.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Fred’s answers are flippant and self-deprecating. But they require the reader to know enough about the main politicians to get the jokes. This makes a reasonable assumption that only political junkies are likely to seek out and read them.
Funny that Fred’s responses are the shortest, followed by Rudy’s responses. Not sure if I can think of anything specific that says to a distant news consumer.
Huck’s responses really illustrate what a country boy he is.
JMac’s responses strike me as similarly “normal guy” to Huck’s, but it’s on a more blue-collar, nationwide level.
Romney’s responses definitely highlight the centrality of his family life. Uncharitably, they could come across as self absorbed.
But at least these silly questions do show how differently the candidates respond to mundane trivialities. Three of the candidates are willing to engage at greater length. Some normal, apolitical people will appreciate the longer discourse because they have other everyday concerns and don’t pay much attention to national and international politics.