Of that 20 minute interview that included Sen. Thompson's excellent analysis of the social security problem - including smackdown on George S for wondering why we should worry about this now when it won't actually be bankrupt for 30 or more years - you come up with this for a headline??? Sen. Thompson also discussed how he would handle our national defense issues as President. But the one items that you deem "news" is that he conceded that Huckabee has gone up in the polls in Iowa? Huh? The news is that he admits a fact?

Careful. Your bias is showing ABC!

Let's hope Mike will continue to move up and up!

Was this interview with Fred Thompson about Fred Thompson or just to get his opinion on Huckabee? I missed the interview and I'm definitely not sure from reading your article!

Bias is alive and well at ABC, but then I've always known that.

The title and the point of this article is right, in that they hit on the essence of the race for Thompson.

This essence of the race for Thompson is that he has been sliding way down and Huckabee has been going up.

The reason Thompson has been going down is that many social conservatives have left him and gone to Huckabee.

The reason so many social conservatives have left Thompson and gone to Huckabee is that Thompson is against constitutional amendments banning homosexual marriage and abortion, while Huckabee is strongly in favor of those amendments.

That's the essence of the race, which the title to the article so well captures.

It's really very simple.

Lady Gator is correct. The discussion about Mike Huckabee's surge in the polls was not the primary thought coming from Fred Thompson. His views on social security were far more important.

Thompson's appearance does make me wonder why presidential candidates are so unprepared to talk about issues and why they even bother to appear on morning talk shows. It’s not just Fred Thompson that has come on to these shows unprepared. Tim Russert of Meet the Press is a master of interviewing. He invariably surfaces some really embarrassing contradictions in the previous campaign events or other events that fly in the face of the candidates current positions.

Fred appears to be a nice man who has had the benefit of small appearances on the TV series “Law and Order” and has filled in for Paul Harvey on ABC radio. His views or positions are not well thought out for a man running for president. Today’s interview brought out the following:
1. He is in favor of state laws helping to determine the maintainence of life when someone is seriously ill or may be brain dead.
2. We should address the coming social security funding issue now rather than later but offers no solution.
3. The fight against radical Islam is primarily a military fight.

Fred offered no vision for America and no road map for the 21st century.

Candidates who have no message or vision are wasting our time. “The Audacity of Hope” by Barack Obama was at least a vision of the future. It’s too bad he has not followed up on his book when appearing on television.

Unprepared!? LOL! You must be spinning.

1. As per our Constitutional instructions, Rights flow from the individual to the State THEN to Federal and only those specifically defined...no others. Your implication that it flows in the opposite direction is laughable. To then go even farther in suggesting that these facts are not "well thought of" is complete spin or utter ignorance, you may choose which one.

2. Fred defines his plan on Social Security where no other dares to talk about it and it is very highly thought of.
You must not care enough to look or are spinning again.

3. Don must be correct on this one although, meaningful diplomatic dialogue with infrequently sent videotapes of beheadings and threats shouldn't stop us from talking to terrorists, eh Don?? Thanks for the belly-laugh.

Self-appointed spinswayers such as Don offer the citizenry confusion and misinformation. Don't let him nor others like him the chance. The truth is on the net and your fellow citizens have made it available to you....use it to America's benefit.

As for the Huckster, search for these articles;

The Dark Side of Mike Huckabee by Max Brantley

There are many more articles and sources, don't be fooled twice by governors of Hope, Arkansas.

the national polls have never been so wrong - inacurrate.

Thompson is hopelessly unprepared. He bores me to tears. There is no way he would capture the attention of young voters if he got the GOP nomination. He doesn't even strike one as even particulalrly likeable, not like Huck. I can see why mike is trouncing him. At this point, we have no good GOP candidates, well, except for maybe Ron Paul except I do believe it would be dangerous to pull out of the Wr. So, we might as well secretly hope a uniter on the Dem side gets in. I'm hoping, if it's got to be liberal, it's either Obama --a real change agent and a uniter, or Edwards who will confront all the corruption better than Hillary ever would want to.

Eddie
Why is everyone in America so obsessed with having a "likeable" president. I find this hilarious since 99% of you wont meet the president and for those who do a handshake is about all you'll receive. You dont elect someone for their looks (romney) or their sense of humor (huck) or just their past job performance (Rudy) you hire them for their ideas, knowledge and character. This job is far too important for you to be fantasizing about cool summer nights around the barbeque chatting with your new buddy the president of the united states, since its not going to happen

As usual, on the campaign trail, not one candidate seems willing to step and offer comments of stregnth with passion. I guess politicians forgot about Wheaties and spinach a long time ago. In the beginning I was hopeful that Thompson was going to be that man who steps up, but so far it doesn't seem to have happened. I like Most of Ron Paul's ideas (except for pulling out of Iraq pre-maturely) but the guy has zero passion in his delivery and I do hope that whatever happens we don't get a "Cream Of Wheat" character in office. The highest office in this country should not be occupied by a benign bureucrat who does'nt have a fist to pound at the roundtable, when it's needed. I realize that America has been pretty much diluted by International Banking conglomerates, The Fed, and corporate super systems that have become more like drug "pushers" than free-market economists; but while I still have breath to breathe I am hoping for a "Real Leader" this time around. If that doesn't happen...well there's not much left to talk about. I am beginning to think that while Mc Cain may not be popular because he's willing to step-up and it offends some, he may be just what we need in this time of moral, political, financial, social crisis. I'll be watching him...

These guys are light-weights. Mitt Romney is the real deal. Romney is far stronger than these two or any other candidate on values, ability to control govt. spending, and sheer intellect. Sit down Huckabee and Thompson, Romney is ready to lead!

Jared
Brooklyn, NY

Giuliani is a political clone of Clinton, (association with a sexual pervert and all). McCain wants to open our borders and grant amnesty and citizenship to illegal aliens, as do Giuliani and all the Democrats. Huckabee wanted to give college scholarships to illegal aliens in Arkansas. Romney became an NRA member only after announcing his candidacy. I hate a hypocrite. Looks like the race is narrowing to Paul and Thompson. Paul panders to the religious right. That leaves Thompson.

Fred is wrong on Huckabee's positions. He is not liberal, in fact he is dead on with the same positions as Reagan. He is more conservative than Fred. Mike is the true and pure straight across the board conservative. Look at his positions and straight forward answers. Mike is a Christian man with family, faith and freedom values.

"Mike is a Christian man with family, faith and freedom values." Freedom for illegal aliens to come to Arkansas and receive education at expense of the taxpayers of one of the poorest states in the Union. Our own children don’t get the education they deserve but we can spend money on illegal aliens. Yup, family values. As long as you’re not an American family.

Fred Thompson is awful and his wife is worse. It's an insult to the process to have this guy running as a serious candidate. The man makes no sense at all. Every time he speaks he displays his ignorance about whatever issue is under discussion. And what's embarrassing is that he delivers these idiotic lines with that solemn air of gravity that makes him seem, to the easily-duped, "presidential."

Reagan was an actor who left acting to take up governing. Thompson is an actor who left government to take up acting. In other words, the guy tried being a politician and found it too much work. He didn't like it. He abandoned the Senate and went home to Hollywood. What on earth makes him think he can be president?! Did somebody double-dog dare him? Is he trying to win a bet? What's the deal??

Thompson has more to worry about than Huckabee and vice versa. Ron Paul is coming up fast in the Polls. Not only that I just read some very awesome news about Ron Paul. It was announced today that GQ's 2007 Men of the Year has listed Ron Paul as one of the Honorees, he is the sole Presidential Candidate named as well. I hope some our main stream media will do him a favor and pick up that story, and give him the credit he deserves.

Ron Paul has my vote and support. Our Freedom and Liberty depends on our support.

The only sensible blog here is from Winghunter. There isn't an intelligent individual on this site. Fred is so Presidential and informed and full of wisdom and practical experience that will lead this country where it should be going. Please, I am from Ar. lived here 60 years, am Baptist and know personally enough about Huckabee that never in a million years would I X a vote for him. Wise up America. We need a leader.. and for those of you who apparently don't have the education to understand the outlines on SS, Immigration, Taxes, and why Fred's plan will work in the end re: Abortion, get some help. Since 1980, the ammendment to ban abortion has been shot down in the congress and Fred is smart enough to know another way to protect the unborn. This talk about a constitutional ammendment will NEVER in any of our lifetimes pass the congress of the US...Listen to Fred and understand his words, I would rather have someone with his character, strength across the table from leaders of Russia, Iran, etc. than the Huckabee from Hope. We, in Arkansas, that is, the majority of voters, do not want Hillary and Bill(they are a team) nor, do we want Huckabee.