TVSquad

Bill Frist

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Beyond the fact that this guy has no national credentials other than playing a president in the movies, it really shows how desperate the GOP is to find a candidate.

They like him because he "projects" a presidential image, even though he has supported abortion rights, which is a big no no with the conservative base.

Anyone interested in politics should read this article in USAToday that explains why it is extremely unlikely that the next president will be a Republican.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-05-02-gop-landscape_N.htm

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What are you talknig about? Do you live in a bubble? He had a "successful political career" in what dream world of yours? he's a one term senator what 20-30 years ago?

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Yep MacGuffin, no national credentials other than assistant U.S. attorney, co-chief counsel to the Watergate Committee (and pretty much responsible for bringing down Nixon), and US senator. He's more qualified than Kerry ever was.

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Donald Sutherland

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@4, junyo, you are absolutely right.

Fred Thompson does have a lot of Washington experience.

In 2006, Thompson served as a key advisory board member of the legal defense fund for "Scooter" Libby who convicted on four felony charges for lying to federal investigators during their investigation of the Plame affair

Thompson has also hosted several fundraisers for the Libby Legal Defense Trust. Source: http://www.scooterlibby.com/

And this is the conservatives' Great White Hope against Rudy McRomney?

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David, YOU must live in a bubble. Thompson was U.S. Senator from December 2, 1994 to January 3, 2003. Do the math. That's hardly "20 or 30 years ago."

THOMPSON, Fred Dalton, a Senator from Tennessee; born in Sheffield, Ala., on August 19, 1942; attended the public schools in Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; graduated from Memphis State University 1964; received J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University 1967; admitted to the Tennessee bar in 1967 and commenced the practice of law; assistant U.S. attorney 1969-1972; minority counsel, Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (“Watergate Committee”) 1973-1974; special counsel to Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander 1980; special counsel, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations 1980-1981; special counsel, Senate Intelligence Committee 1982; member, Tennessee Appellate Court Nominating Commission 1985-1987; actor; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in the November 8, 1994, special election to fill the unexpired portion of the term ending January 3, 1997, left vacant by the resignation of Albert Gore, Jr.; took the oath of office on December 2, 1994; reelected in 1996 for the term ending January 3, 2003; not a candidate for reelection in 2002; chair, Committee on Governmental Affairs (One Hundred Fifth and One Hundred Sixth Congresses; One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 20, 2001-June 6, 2001]); resumed acting career.

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I think they should promote Sam Waterston to D.A. He's still the center of the show, but he doesn't have the energy for the courtroom scenes (or for sleeping with his assistants) that he used to.

Then they could hire someone fresher to take his place -- I'm sure there are plenty of fairly well-known actors (or actresses) who would jump at the chance.

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Judge for yourself:

http://www.ontheissues.org/Fred_Thompson.htm

From where I sit - Republican with serious libertarian leanings - Thompson's too religious and too eager to waste my money on frivolous things like wars, nea and medicare.

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New D.A.? Simple: Tim Thomerson. Recognizable face, good actor, neither too old nor to young to play the DA.

Or if they want to shake things up a bit - how about an african american DA? Bill Cobbs anyone?

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On second thought, Frank Langella or Brian Dennehy would also be a good fit

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More qualified than Kerry? Is that supposed to be some kind of joke? Do you know how many years Kerry has been in the senate and the important committees he has presided on during that time. Give me a break.

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I don't think the problem is finding a replacement for him on the current show. That is the easy part. The major problem comes for the cable channels who air repeats of Law and order episodes. They can't air any episodes that he is in due to unfair face time, and he is in (according to IMDB) 115 episodes. Plus he's in numerous episodes of the various incarnations of the show. Considering that it is a long shot that he will get the nomination and an even longer shot that he would win, he is really inconveniencing a lot of people for a far fetched presidential nod. And that's not going to endear him to anyone.

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"More qualified than Kerry?"
No.
MUCH more qualified than Kerry.
Oh and Fred is sane to boot.
Now if we're talking about romancing mentally unstable women to get their money, well then Kerry is your "man".

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I for one will be glad that his reruns will be pulled. It seems that everytime I look at what my TIVO's recorded, I happen to see the same episodes over and over again - maybe this will force them to run some more of the first few seasons without Branch (or McCoy for that matter, they overlapped a lot).

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John Kerry was accomplished? important committees? what was his record on the Senate? I'm from MA, and he does jack

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Why is there a picture of Kelsey Grammer with this post?

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Jim: Damn! That's funny!

I always liked Thompson on L&O, his character seemed real - more so than Weist. I didn't really care for his character, but I don't hold that against Thompson - L&O is a drama, not a documentary and Thompson doesn't write the episodes.

As for helping with the defense of Scooter Libby, so what? He also helped bring down Nixon, sounds like the guy is about justice and not politics - which is kind of what being Libertarian is all about.

And for his replacement,..... did we forget the nod towards McCoy for a recent episode? Not that he would/should take it. Where did Robinette go to? That would be interesting.

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The last former actor who was president was the best in my lifetime. Bring on Fred Thompson!

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That's right so what if he helpped raise money for somebody who committed perjury's legal defense fund. I mean it's not like perjury is a big deal....well unless your name is Bill Clinton then it's an impeachable offense.

Oh yeah while John Kerry was fighting in Vietnam what was Fred Thompson doing?

I'd rather be married to a rich crazy women then have some Stepford wife like Laura Bush. But I will give Fred Thompson credit his wife looks MUCH better then that old, wrinkly, sack of bones that George Bush 41 calls a wife and George Bush 43 calls a mother. Babs looked like Grandma Moses back when Bush 41 was Vice-President.

Boy you Republicans really backed the wrong pony back in 2000. Thanks to your boy Dubya you guys are going to be in the political wilderness for the next 30 years. You'll should have listen to Fred Thompson back in 2000 when he said vote for McCain.

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