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Fred Thompson's First Iowa Trip
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ShareAugust 17, 2007 7:39 PM
ABC's Christine Byun reports: Undeclared Republican candidate Fred Thompson spent the day at the Iowa State Fair today in his first trip to the key election state since announcing his testing-the-waters committee.
At the fairgrounds, Thompson told supporters to "keep their powder dry," and that he would be back to visit them in the future.
Like other presidential hopefuls, Thompson took his turn at the Des Moines Register Soapbox - where he touted his conservative credentials and declared, "I am unabashedly pro-life." He talked about some of the issues like national security and Iraq, the economy and Federalism.
Thompson - clad in a blue polo and khakis - was constantly surrounded by a bubble of media. He traveled with a very small entourage, among them Senior Advisor and longtime Republican strategist Rich Galen. During the latter part of the afternoon, Thompson linked up with Republican Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley for a tour of the fairgrounds. Thompson and Grassley admired the infamous butter cow sculpture and drifted through several livestock exhibits. In passing, many fairgoers had to ask who "that tall man" was, to which the more knowledgeable answered, "He's the Law and Order guy who's running for President."
During one encounter, a former Marine approached Thompson about the situation in Iraq. Thompson promised he would look into a what is being done overseas -- he told the man, "I know what you're saying is truth and I'm doing everything I can to support what you're saying" when the man said troops were making progress in Iraq.
Thompson also chatted with local radioshow host Jan Mickelson during a 15 minute interview and stopped by the Iowa GOP booth for pictures and autographs, as well. Earlier in the day, Thompson made efforts to meet with local activists; he held a closed door conference this morning with local conservatives and GOP supporters.
Unlike other candidates who made their way through the fair in the past week, Thompson did not eat anything off-a-stick (save for the sample of a meat patty thrust in front of him), but drank lots of water in the hot August sun. His wife and children were supposed to accompany him, but stayed home because his son was sick, according to a staffer.
About 50 people gathered at the airport to send Thompson off -- where he made a few more remarks and took pictures with supporters. He hopped on his private back to the DC area - where he will celebrate his 65th birthday on Sunday.
August 17, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (6)
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Perhaps actor-senator-actor-lobbyist Thompson's apparent inability to choose between Tinseltown and Washington stems from the fact that neither location has any connection whatsoever to the real world.
Posted by: Kurt Klaus | Aug 17, 2007 10:21:01 PM
I wonder if Fred said anything about the $378,000 worth of PAC funds he took with him when he left the senate, as he toured the fairgrounds today. Unfortunate that one is allowed to take donated, unused, campaign funds with them upon leaving a political position. In Fred's case it appears highly un-ethical by paying the bulk of those funds to the Daniel Thompson Consulting firm, a company owned by his son, without an address, a phone number or employee's. Keep looking Republicans, hopefully you may find a viable, honest, moral, and ethical candidate prior to election day. So far, of all the candidate's offered up by the Republicans, RON PAUL appears to be the one falling under the "most ethical" standard. Unfortunately, the majority of his political positions look to return us to colonial standard's, and while it might look to be a good move to return America to Jeffersonian era standard's, that would be unrealistic in today's world. Keep in mind, the architect's of the Constitution left the door open for the right to amend in order to reflect the changing views and needs of those being governed.
Posted by: GC | Aug 18, 2007 2:34:13 AM
Which is the pubs want, a lawyer, or a part of the Hollyweird elite? In 2004 these types got the scorn of the republican machine but it seems now that those are good qualities? Hmmmmm, I wonder exactly how many republicans actually know what the word hypocricy means?
Posted by: dkeller33 | Aug 18, 2007 7:38:20 AM
Mister, we could use a man like Ronald Reagan again. Go, Fred, Go!
Posted by: Jethro Bodine | Aug 18, 2007 9:11:44 AM
Fred should not only go to the back of the bus, he should go to the back of the line, any line. After taking his $378k with him when he quit the Senate in a huff (you know how egotistical many actors are). I watched him on TV smoking his big cigar and mouthing off about Michael Moore moving to Havana etc. etc. This guy would make a terrible President. If the Republicans can't come up with a better man to run for the job, they should become Independents like many of Americans are doing. Our country is so messed up because of George Bush and his gas house gang, that Fred's great-great grandchildren will wonder what the heck their ancestors did to screw up their lives so badly. Of course, they will have to speak there comments in Chinese of Spanish.
A note to the Democrats on Sundays program. "Beware the Greek!"
Posted by: Jo T | Aug 18, 2007 8:08:57 PM
Fred's rebuttal to Michael Moore was outstanding. And I looked up what he said about Guillen - it's true.
So far, I see no better Republican candidate than Fred. We all know he's running, right?
Posted by: Scott Kerchner | Aug 19, 2007 1:16:28 AM
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