Huckabee's deluded. Thompson could go down, but in all likelihood he's going to skyrocket. He's still unknown but is already beating Giuliani according to Rasmussen polling. That bodes pretty well for someone who still has yet to announce.

The right-wing kookocracy -- AKA Republican party primary stalwarts -- can put up Jesus Christ himself and they are still going to lose in a landslide next November. They say Thompson is the next Reagan -- does Fred have Alzheimers too?

Still not impress with Thompson, his views on national issues is far from American views. He is pro-illegals, and I think its the biggest issue on the coming presidential election. Brownback might go up.

When the public learns about the real Fred Thompson he will sink like a stone. People simplistically think he's like Reagan just because they were both actors. But Reagan was never a lobbyist.

Stoic Patriot is almost right. None of the pro-war Republicans can win in the general election. Ron Paul maybe a long shot, but he is the Republicans only hope.

The only loser in the next election will be the American people.Hillary made a lot of her money on big oil and Wal-Mart.Now she claims she is for blue collar America.What a joke.The Democratic congress seems more interested in pursueing lame indictments against Republicans than trying to solve some important issues like national security.They haven't accomplished a single thing since taking control except putting Libby in jail.How did that improve the average American's life.We are fighting for our survival against terrorists and this is what they waste their time on.Where are the priorities?The president is just as bad by ignoring the majority of Americans by trying to pass the immigration bill that would only help big business find cheap labor.Both parties could care less about America,they only care about making money and selling our country out to the highest bidding lobbyist.You should all be disgusted at both parties for 16+ years of lies.Didn't anyone notice Bush Sr. and Hillary's husband buddying around together? They are all in it together and continue to use our government to pass laws for their personel gain.It's all a facade,the Democrats won on the "stop the war" slogan when they have no intention of pulling us out.It was all a lie to get votes and help them to add their pork projects get added to the funding bill.Wake up America.It's not about Republicans and Democrats,it's about our government controlling us.When was the last time a law was past in Congess that substantially improved our lives?Why do they need a 1,000 pages of comprehensive immigration reform when they can make each portion a seperate bill to be voted on.It's all designed to placate the average American into believing they are actually trying to solve America's problems.We are all being dupped.

I like Huckabee and think he could still end up in the VP slot, mainly because he has strong appeal to Christian conservatives and the Republicans are going to have to get a big turn out of Christian conservatives if they're going to win the swing states -- Ohio, West Virginia, Iowa, Missouri.

Huckabee didn't actually say Thompson would be going down after awhile, but rather just that "if you enter at the top, there's only one direction you can really go." (What else can any of the candidates say?)

My own guess is that Thompson will actually go up after he gets in. His entering the race will, one by one, cause most of the other candidates to get out, and their supporters will for the most part go to Thompson.

AMEN to tumbleweedin. I like Ron Paul. He stands for a lot of values that you think the republicans and democracts would endorse. Too bad, its all about the money. I have heard Fred Thompson's views before. It's enough to make you shutter to think that this man could be the next president. His leadership and the conservative court would put our culture back in the stone age.

Huckabee was a fairly good governor. Not great but decent. (I live in Arkansas) It is possible that he was a better governor than Thompson was a senator. Their views on key issues are not far apart. Huckabee simply lacks the charisma necessary to win a presidential election. Thompson hasn’t even declared candidacy yet, but already he is first or second in every poll. Even some Democrats have begun their verbal attacks. Thompson will face Hillary in the next election. Everyone but Giuliani and Obama knows it. It will be an interesting election. Americans are mad at both parties over the war in Iraq and the invasion from Mexico. Democrats may loose control of congress and regain control of the White House. Americans may have lost so much trust in both parties to allow for a third “spoiler” party. It will be interesting at the least and one thing is for sure, the status quo will not remain. I will subscribe to the "ABC" theory for the next presidential election. Anyone But Clinton.

All main stream media black-balling aside if a person seriously listens to all the candidates in regards to the issues of the day., ie. the war in Iraq, immigration, healthcare, the proposed North American Union, cutting spending, cutting taxes, reeling in the excesssives of the Federal reserve and IRS, re-instating the Constitution as the "rule of law of this country and getting rid of all the insane trade agreements that have stripped the US of its maufacturing base, there is only one candidate that clearly states solutions to these problems and has demonstrated his commitment with a consistant voting record in Congress for 20 years and that is Ron Paul. In the next debate listen to the answers of all the candidates and see who gives honest straight forward answers, not sound bites and posturing. What do you want for the future of this country, an end to war, no more entangling alliances with despots and trade organization, no more rogue agencies stepping on your freedoms here at home, a place where a mans home is once again his castle and can feel safe in that home, where the Constitution and Bill of rights are once again the "rule of law" not the UN or the Patriot act I and II? One word can sum it all up FREEDOM. Vote for Ron Paul and be FREE again.

Great reporting. How do you miss the number of Southern conservatives in the race?

Mark, where did you read that Thompson is “pro-illegals”. I too think that is a big issue. Every candidate other than Huckabee practically wants to fill the buses in Mexico City and empty them in the US. I know Tumbleweedin, Ron Paul..................Is he your brother-in-law?

Like Ron Paul says, Fred Thompson will only split the pro-war vote even further. He's waiting in the wings, hoping Americans won't pay much attention to his record as a lobbyist for clients like Haiti's Aristide.

Royce, Here ya go:

IMMIGRATION PROFILE OF SEN. FRED THOMPSON:

Voted to grant amnesty to close to one million illegal aliens from Nicaragua and Cuba in 1997

Sen. Thompson voted to grant legal status to Nicaraguans and Cubans who had lived in the United States illegally since 1995, along with their spouses and minor unmarried children. The overall ten year impact of this legislation will be the addition of some 967,000 people to U.S. population.

Voted in 1996 to continue chain migration

Sen. Thompson in 1996 voted against the Simpson Amendment to S.1664. It was a vote in favor of a chain migration system that has been the primary reason for annual immigration levels snowballing from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million. Sen. Thompson supported provisions that allow immigrants to send for their adult relatives. Then each of those relatives can send for their and their spouse’s adult relatives, creating a never-ending and ever-growing chain. The bi-partisan Barbara Jordan Commission recommended doing away with the adult relative categories (begun only in the 1950s) in order to lessen wage depression among lower-paid American workers. The Simpson Amendment attempted to carry out that recommendation. But Sen. Thompson helped kill the reform by voting with the 80-20 majority against the amendment. Sen. Thompson’s vote helped continue a level of immigration that the Census Bureau projects will result in a doubled U.S. population in the next century.

Voted in favor of chain migration in 1996

Sen. Thompson voted in 1996 against the Feinstein Amendment to S.1664. The Feinstein Amendment would have reduced annual admission of spouses and minor children of citizens to 480,000 and significantly reduced annual limits other categories of chain migration such as parents of citizens and adult unmarried children of citizens. By voting against the Feinstein Amendment, Sen. Thompson voted in favor of a system of chain migration that has been the primary reason for annual immigration levels snowballing from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million today.

Voted to allow firms to lay off Americans to make room for foreign workers in 1998

Before the Senate passed the H-1B doubling bill (S.1723), Sen. Thompson had an opportunity to vote for a measure requiring U.S. firms to check a box on a form attesting that they had first sought an American worker for the job. Sen. Thompson voted against that, joining those who said the requirement would give government too much authority over corporations’ right to hire whomever they please from whatever country.

In 1996, removed higher fines for businesses which hire illegal aliens

Sen. Thompson, in committee consideration of S.1664 protected businesses from having to pay higher fines when they are caught hiring illegal aliens. Under the idea that current fines were not enough of a deterrent against businesses cutting their labor costs by hiring illegal aliens, the Senate immigration subcommittee approved higher fines. Various study commissions have found that the willingness of U.S. businesses to hire illegal aliens is the No. 1 incentive for foreign workers to become illegal aliens here. But Sen. Thompson voted with a 10-8 majority in the Judiciary Committee to remove the higher fines from the 1996 legislation against illegal immigration.

Tried to kill voluntary pilot programs for workplace verification in 1996

Sen. Thompson voted IN FAVOR of the Abraham Amendment to S.1664. He was part of a coalition of pro-business conservatives and liberal civil libertarians who tried to use the amendment to kill the establishment of voluntary pilot programs in high-immigration states. The programs were intended to assist employers in verifying whether people they had just hired had the legal right to work in this country. Such verification is considered by many experts to be an essential tool for withdrawing the job magnet from illegal aliens. The verification system established by S.1664 did not involve an ID card. Rather it provided that when new workers wrote down their Social Security number on an application, employers could phone into a national verification system to help assure that the number was a real number and belonged to the person giving it. In earlier smaller pilot programs, businesses had hailed the verification system for making it easier for them to avoid hiring illegal aliens. Sen. Thompson was unsuccessful in stopping the voluntary verification system. The Senate tabled the by a 54-46 vote.