Actor and former republican U.S. Senator Fred Thompson is reportedly considering running for president in 2008. Thompson was a U.S. Senator for Tennessee from 1994-2003. He decided not to run for re-election when he was cast as District Attorney Arthur Branch on Law & Order in 2002. He has also appeared in that same role on SVU and Criminal Intent, as well as short-lived shows, Conviction and Trial by Jury. Thompson definitely has that "I could kick your ass, punk"-thing about him.Thompson has an unusual past that will make him an interesting candidate. Besides appearing in a big ol' pile of television shows and movies, he also has some serious experience in Washington, D.C. Before becoming an actor or a Senator, he was an attorney and was on the Watergate committee. If he does join the race for president, he'll be running against fellow republicans Rudolph Giuliani and John McCain for the nomination. And, in 2005, he returned to politics briefly when President Bush appointed him to be an advisor for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts during his confirmation process.
Hell. If Arnold Schwarzenegger can do it...
Seven greatest hand cannons in TV history
TV Squad previews NBC's new shows (part 1)
TV 101: How ESPN controls the world and what the other networks can learn from it
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-13-2007 @ 9:48AM
Bill said...
I think it would be hilarious if he ran. Imagine all the fun the Daily Show would have with that... any time he talked about gay issues they'd get to run clips from him firing Eliazabth Rohm.
http://popculturejunk.blogspot.com/
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 10:38AM
Captain Obvious said...
"Hell. If Arnold Schwarzenegger can do it..."
Actually, Arnold can't do it. How about "If Ronald Reagan can do it..."
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 10:49AM
RSL said...
Seriously? I hate this guy more than anyone currently on teevee. Except that guy shilling the Experian's sly screw-you to the American populace, FreeCreditReport.com. You can even print _this_ [insert obscene gesture] out if you want, jerk! Whew! Sorry about that. Anyhow, Branch [and I can only presume] Thompson is just the kind of politician that the world has more than enough of. We don't need another chief who's interest in the common man extends no further than page three of the newspaper.
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 11:03AM
Gordy said...
He seems principaled...not easily swayed. I like that in a politician. So many of them just go with the latest polls.
Time will tell.
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 12:16PM
RSL said...
@ Gordy: Branch seems principled?!!?! [I can't speak about Thompson on this.] Have you ever _watched_ Law & Order? 'Cause Branch is _constantly_ making references to the fact that his decisions are heavily based on what the papers and populace say. While there's something to be said for having your finger on the pulse of the people, there's also something to be said for having principles and standing by them. Branch is the kind of politician who clears falls in the former camp and not the latter. I can only assume, because he's a Republican and they have no scruples, that Thompson isn't far from Branch on this. [Only half joking there, sweet kittens.]
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 12:21PM
thegoddesskiara said...
He was a Senator and a Lawyer and actually has experience in politics. Which makes him more qualified then our sitting president.
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 12:25PM
VSJ said...
Well, Die Hard 4 is in post production - what happened Thompson was not invited back to reprise his role as Dulles Airport Control Tower supervisor?!
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 12:31PM
Gordy said...
Umm...RSL, surely you're not referring to the TV character? His name is Fred Thompson...and yes. As you said, "[You] can't speak about Thompson on this." Some of us knew of him long before L&O.
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 1:56PM
David said...
Stick to your 1 minute a week acting job.
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 2:04PM
erroneous_nick said...
I don't know much about his political record, but he would definitely have the face and name recognition factors on his side. No swipe to Thompson, but sadly that's often what many people use as a deciding factor for casting a vote.
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 2:53PM
RSL said...
@ Gordy: I _was_ talking about the character and not the actor. [Mostly. wink wink] He constantly backs down from things he knows to be right just because he doesn't want to piss some constituency off. Surely I'm not the only one who seems him like that?
Reply
3-13-2007 @ 6:25PM
paintist said...
@RSL
At first I thought you were being facetious but it seems now you aren't differentiating that the actor is running not the _character_ he plays. The politics of the actor are not always complimentary to the politics of his/her character.
It's like saying Mel Gibson is a revolutionary hero for fighting against English occupation in Scotland.
Reply
3-14-2007 @ 7:40AM
RSL said...
@ Paintist, Oh I was being facetious about Thompson the first time. 'Cause he's a Republican and all Republicans are evil, one-dimensional caricatures and all. But I was really talking about Branch's attitude though. I did get confused by what Gordy said. I thought he [sorry if you're a she, Gordy] was referring to the character somehow. I think I missed my meds. Another joke.
Reply