September 13, 2007
Is Fred! Lazy? Does anyone care?
Is it just me or does it seem like the only criticism that has been leveled against Fred Thompson thus far has referred to his lazy and tired demeanor?
Not only does this line of attack seem rather weak, but, as a political cynic, I actually find this description of a lazy Thompson a bit endearing:
2008 Race Posted by Harrison Bergeron at September 13, 2007 10:44 PM
He had long complained that he found Senate life suffocating. "I don't like spending 14- and 16-hour days voting on 'sense of the Senate' resolutions on irrelevant matters," Thompson said in 1998. It was, he said, "very frustrating." He may have wished the Senate spent its time on more-important issues, but Thompson himself didn't have the patience, or the desire, to do the kind of ego stroking and horse trading it takes to get bills to the president's desk.
I would love 544 more men like Ron Paul, but 544 more like Fred will do. If they're all too "lazy," as his critics charge, to vote on all these matters...then so much less of their BS will pass.
Posted by: Perry Eidelbus at September 14, 2007 10:16 AMGood point. Perhaps there's a shade of "Silent Cal" Coolidge in the Senator?
The lazy tag, however, is a little disconcerting for a partisan hack like me. Senator Clinton will pull no punches to win the general, and I might hesitate to support someone in the primary whom I thought would not give 100%.
Posted by: jk at September 14, 2007 11:25 AMIf Hillary "pulls no punches" and Fred! "pulls no punches" I like Fred!'s chances much better.
There have been other criticisms, by the way. He wears Gucci shoes to a country fair, has a too-attractive wife, replaces employees from time to time, at least once sponsored a campaign finance bill in congress (and shared his opinion on the matter with SCOTUS) and kept the MSM and hyperactive bloggers waiting far longer than they thought proper.
Such a load of baggage. How does he shoulder it all?
Posted by: johngalt at September 14, 2007 4:20 PMJG, you are in the bag for the Senator. I thought I was bad.
McCain-Feingold was the most serious frontal assault on a basic Constitutional right in recent memory. I have already disqualified one GOP candidate over it (rhymes with Buck Train…) Senator Thompson cosponsored the bill, filed an amicus curiae brief over it, and stands by it to this day.
That may not be instant disqualification, but to compare it to a media meme of laziness, or campaign tactics seems out of character for you. Ideas matter -- and the Senator backs at least one terrible idea.
Posted by: jk at September 14, 2007 8:57 PM | What do you think? [4]