Zach Wamp Is Just Like A Bunch Of People Many Of Whom Will Be Behind His Opponents
Posted on May 5, 2009 at 9:46 pmSo proclaims his press release:
“Zach combines the clear vision and laser-like focus of a Lamar Alexander, the energy and drive of a Bob Corker, the command of complex issues like a Bill Frist or a Bill Brock, the common sense and straight talk of a Fred Thompson, and the ability to relate to and communicate with folks from all walks of life like a Winfield Dunn or a Howard Baker. That makes Zach a uniquely talented candidate and a major political force, and I believe his momentum will simply be unstoppable as voters in Middle and West Tennessee get to know him as well as folks already do in East Tennessee.”
The Fred Show
Posted on March 2, 2009 at 12:59 pmThe maiden voyage of Fred Thompson’s radio show is today.
The Biggest Since O’Reilly: Fred Thompson Show To Launch
Posted on February 23, 2009 at 11:15 amFrom a press release:
Westwood One is pleased to announce that The Fred Thompson Show will debut on March 2nd on more than 125 stations including key market clearances in Washington D.C., Dallas, Houston and Minneapolis.
“Of all the radio talkers out there, how many can say they’ve debated in the Senate; campaigned for President of the United States; had a successful TV career on Law and Order and shared the screen with Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, Robert De Niro and Sissy Spacek?” said Bart Tessler, EVP Westwood One News & Talk Programming. “Thompson is as unique as they come and that will make for exceptional radio.”
“This will be the biggest talk radio launch since Bill O’Reilly,” said Dennis Green, Westwood One EVP Affiliate Sales. “We have not even hit the air and radio stations from coast to coast are ready for Fred Thompson to speak to their audiences about the issues that matter.”
WTN 99.7 will be the Thompson Nashville affiliate.
Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Gave Extensively To Republicans
Posted on at 8:09 am
It would appear that the Tennessee Democratic Party’s new treasurer is not the only Democrat of note with a history of contributing money to both Democratic and Republican causes.
Post Politics has learned that Ward Cammack, one of two Democrats actively campaigning to succeed Governor Phil Bredesen in 2010, has given to a myriad of Tennessee Republican candidates starting in 1979 with a donation to Senator Howard Baker’s 1980 Presidential run.
While Cammack has supported Congressman Jim Cooper with financial donations steadily throughout his career, a large majority of his donations have gone to Tennessee Republican candidates for federal office. In 1994, the year of the Republican Revolution, Cammack gave extensively to both Bill Frist and Fred Thompson who were victorious in grabbing both of Tennessee’s U.S. Senate seats that year.
Cammack also gave heavily to Lamar Alexander contributing to both his Presidential run in 1996 as well as his initial 2002 Senate run. In 2008, Cammack gave heavily to Alexander’s opponent Bob Tuke.
Cammack’s most recent Republican donation was in late 2005 when he contributed $500 to Bob Corker’s 2006 Senate primary campaign though Cammack tells Post Politics he ultimately voted for Corker’s opponent Harold Ford, Jr.
In discussing his party shift, Cammack cannot point to any “Road to Damacus” moment but admits that he is “clearly a convert” to the Democratic cause and credits the Bush years for his shift in worldview.
“Everything has changed. A lot of things people thought they had to protect, be it money or a set of so-called moral beliefs, have proved illusory,” Cammack explains. “All we really have is each other.”
Cammack, whose first Democratic vote for President was cast last fall for Barack Obama, said it was the exclusionary tactics of the GOP which led him to begin to question the staunch Republicanism he had learned as a child.
“Eventually you just have to ask: What is this all about? Why are we marginalizing people like this?” Cammack explains.
When asked whether he could pinpoint whether it was Republican policies on social issues, economic issues or foreign policy that ultimate let to his conversion, Cammack was unequivocal.
“All of the above,” replied Cammack.
Cammack does expect that some may be skeptical of his political past but insists that the Democratic Party is a “very comfortable skin for him.”
“Yes, I have given [money] to Republicans in the past and I have voted for Republicans in the past. I have never tried to hide that,” Cammack says. “But if you ask me if I believe in the Democratic Party, the answer is yes. Yes, I do.”
SEE ALSO: The Rotunda asks: “[I]s there a prominent Democrat expanding the tent of the party to reach the affluent white guys like Ward Cammack and Bill Freeman?”
Fred To The Air: The Official Release
Posted on December 22, 2008 at 9:40 amWestwood One confirms what the New York Times reported last night:
NEW YORK, Dec. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Westwood One is pleased to announce the debut of The Fred Thompson Show on March 2, 2009. The show will replace The Radio Factor with Bill O’Reilly when the program ends its successful six-year run on February 27, 2009. Former U.S. senator and 2008 presidential candidate, Fred Thompson will share his views on politics, topical issues, pop culture and water cooler stories, as well as welcome guest interviews and take listener calls. The Fred Thompson Show will be a two-hour daily talk show and will air live Noon-2pm, Monday - Friday from the Westwood One studios in Washington DC.
“There is no prerequisite for a great talk show host, but if I were going to make one up, senator, presidential candidate, federal prosecutor, radio commentator, film and TV star would be a pretty good start,” said Bart Tessler, EVP Westwood One News & Talk Programming.
“When folks listen to a radio show, they make an appointment with it. It is the ideal way for me to continue my dialog with America about the issues we all face each day,” said Thompson.
“Senator Thompson is a perfect fit for radio,” said Gary Schonfeld, President of Westwood One Networks. “His unique set of qualifications will make him a huge hit with both listeners and advertisers.”
Fred Thompson To Take To The Air To Succeed O’Reilly
Posted on at 12:43 amThe NY Times reports on the former Senator and Presidential candidate’s latest venture:
Several of the supporting actors in this year’s Republican primary are showing interest in the medium, too. Fred Thompson, the “Law & Order” star turned presidential candidate, will begin hosting a two-hour show in March, as the syndicator Westwood One is expected to announce this week. Mr. Thompson’s show would take the place of Mr. O’Reilly’s.
Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City and a Republican presidential candidate, had been in negotiations with Westwood One for Mr. O’Reilly’s time slot, according to two people with knowledge of the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity because a deal was not struck.
SEE ALSO:
Fred Thompson News
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The Problem Solver
Posted on December 10, 2008 at 10:02 amPolitico profiles Lamar Alexander’s Chief of Staff, Tom Ingram:
Ingram says he means what he says about bipartisanship. For the past several years, Ingram — whom colleagues call a social butterfly — has put together a regular bipartisan breakfast for more than 60 chiefs of staff to discuss ways in which their bosses can work together. The breakfasts have evolved into dinners and drinks and have given Ingram a sort of rock star status among Hill staffers.
“I am nuts about Tom Ingram,” said Tamara Luzzatto, chief of staff to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. “He has invested his precious time, wonderful sense of humor and terrific leadership skills into serving as a co-shepherd of a bipartisan flock of Senate chiefs of staff who hope, like he does, that by getting to know one another and learning from one another, we just might work more effectively together.
“I just wish he weren’t as good at electing Republicans,” Luzzatto said.
Fred Holds The Line In Georgia
Posted on November 20, 2008 at 3:30 pmFred Thompson comes to the GOP’s aide in Georgia’s runoff Senate election:
Mr. Thompson, through his political action committee, Fred PAC, is asking supporters to reach for their checkbooks to aid Senator Chambliss in his runoff effort. In an e-mail message today, Will Andrews of Fred PAC, lays out the stakes:
“Holding the Georgia seat could very well be the difference in blocking the Obama administration’s most radical social policies,” he writes. “And winning in Georgia could mean stopping ever higher taxes on the ‘Average Joe.’”
But buried near the bottom of the message is this curious line: “Barack Obama is going to Atlanta to drum up support for his Democrat candidate.”
Though the Obama team dispatched volunteers to Georgia to help the Martin campaign in the general election and in advance of the Dec. 2 runoff, there have been no indications yet that President-elect Obama will travel there to campaign in person.
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Fred On Meet The Press
Posted on November 2, 2008 at 6:45 pmThe former Senator breaks down what John McCain is up against:
Thompson agreed with the premise that McCain was “swimming against a tsunami,” trying to be elected as a Republican candidate after eight years of President George Bush, who is unpopular with a large portion of the voting public, including many in his own party.
The former senator said that McCain “is going against the strongest headwind I have ever seen” in a presidential election.
However, Thompson said that the party nominated “the only fella who would have a chance under these circumstances,” primarily pointing to McCain’s character, as evidenced by his military record as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam and his political career in the Senate.
SEE ALSO: Politico
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Early Word: FDT On MTP
Posted on October 30, 2008 at 7:26 pmPost Politics has been told that former Senator and Presidential candidate Fred Thompson will appear on Meet the Press with Tom Brokaw this Sunday.
Thompson has been talked up recently, mostly on conservative blogs, as a potential candidate for chairman of the Republican National Committee.
UPDATE: Mark Halperin
Fred Phones It In For Sarah
Posted on October 22, 2008 at 11:44 amFrom Townhall:
The Million Woman Townhall is a special telephone townhall focused on one million women voters in battleground states.
Former Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN)’s iconic voice will launch the Million Woman Townhall by inviting women voters to participate over the telephone this Saturday. Once on the line, voters will be able to pose questions about the McCain-Palin ticket to a panel of women leaders including Jeri Thompson, actress Janine Turner, pollster Kellyanne Conway, policy expert Barbara Comstock, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser and Susan B. Anthony List General Chairman Jane Abraham as moderator.
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Could Fred Thompson Be The Next RNC Chairman?
Posted on October 21, 2008 at 2:10 pmSave the GOP floats the trial balloon:
1.) Liked, and trusted, by McCain. McCain will want to have some influence over who the pick is, and he and Fred are very close.
2.) Loved by the conservative grassroots. This goes without saying.
3.) A great spokesman for the party. Fred is fantastic in interviews on TV, he’s been one of the best surrogates for McCain on the cable networks through the general election campaign.
4.) He’s not gonna run for President again. Thus, there shouldn’t be a lot of opposition from the Huckabee and Romney folks who competed with him for the nomination last time around.
Fred Thompson For Governor
Posted on September 14, 2008 at 4:02 pmThat’s the craziness Terry Frank is blogging about:
Tennessee is in need of an inspiring, genuine leader at the helm. I argued long, long ago that it was Fred, not Van Hilleary who should have run for Governor. No offense to Van, but Fred could have turned this corrupt state around with his sheer ability to communicate with people. Maybe it’s not too late for that to happen, though I can certainly picture Fred Thompson in a position to make a difference in a McCain administration. Whether that means a seat on the bench or something else, I don’t know.
But Tennessee could sure use a Fred.
Red Said Fred: Thompson Brings The Beef
Posted on September 3, 2008 at 5:52 amKen Whitehouse has the report from the hall on Fred Thompson’s address to Republican National Convention:
Thompson took several shots at the Democrats’ criticism of Palin, Alaska’s governor, as inexperienced.
“She is from a small town, with small-town values, but that’s not good enough for those folks who are attacking her and her family,” he said. “Let’s be clear… she is a courageous, successful reformer who is not afraid to take on the establishment.”
He also drew laughs in lampooning Palin the huntress.
“I can say without fear of contradiction that she is the only nominee in the history of the either party who knows how to properly field dress a moose… with the possible exception of Teddy Roosevelt.”
On the GOP litmus issue of abortion, the roof nearly came off the room when Thompson said, “We need a President that doesn’t think protecting the unborn is above his pay grade.”
Thompson, who was briefly in the GOP race for the presidency before withdrawing, touched on some other hot topics that he said illustrated big differences between McCain and Obama.
“We need a president that doesn’t think protecting the unborn is above his pay grade,” said Thompson, a comment on the GOP litmus issue of abortion that drew loud cheers.
“People love to see Fred,” said Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander. “He did a great job today in showing the party and the country why John McCain is the best person to be president.”
Bill Phillips, former Deputy Mayor of Nashville, also in St. Paul for the convention, was equally has impressed as Alexander.
“[He was] fantastic, he hit every major point that needed to be hit. And because of his other career, he was the most recognizable person in the room,” Phillips said.
SEE ALSO:
Angelia
Fore Left
Ol’ Broad
Talk Left
Associated Press
A breath of fresh air
Fred gets Republicans fired up…finally
Get the man a cough drop
Throat irritant
The Full Remarks
Where Was This Guy Last Year?
Michael Crowley
USA TODAY
Boston Globe
Trailblazers
Three Times More Fred: Thompson To Pinch-Hit For Arnold At Convention
Posted on August 31, 2008 at 6:00 pmVia the Weekly Standard:
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is skipping the Republican National Convention this week in Minnesota to manage an ongoing budget dispute in Sacramento. Republican officials say Fred Thompson will take his place in the prime-time lineup Monday night and onetime presidential candidate will have nearly three times longer to speak than he was originally given for his speech on Tuesday.
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FRED PAC
Posted on August 28, 2008 at 9:12 amFred Thompson has started a political action committee:
I’m pleased to announce the formation of FRED PAC. FRED PAC will help identify and support candidates on every level who support a platform of conservative, principles-based leadership and policies.
I want to make clear that FRED PAC is nothing like what has been set by others with an eye toward their own political futures four or eight years from now. I’m doing this with an eye toward OUR political future right now. We need conservatives on every level of politics winning, taking seats from Democrats and holding seats to rebuild our majorities. We need to develop and promote the kind of innovative, free market and principles-based policies that led to our great political victories in 1980 and 1994.
FRED PAC and its supporters will do all that. And perhaps most important, the support of FRED PAC will send a clear message to our fellow conservatives and supporters nationally that our causes and candidates who believe in our principles and who will defend them are in need of our help, leveraging the kind of support and activism that has served our movement well for two generations. Now it’s our turn to make it work.
The American people are waiting for us to step up, protect our values, defend our principles and our country. Together we can do something great for America. I welcome that challenge, and I hope you will join me in this effort.
UPDATE: John Henke is excited.
Fred Thompson To Campaign In Middle Tennessee
Posted on August 14, 2008 at 11:28 amFor Senator Jim Tracy:
The Jim Tracy for State Senate Campaign is pleased to announce that former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson will attend a campaign fundraiser in Murfreesboro on Saturday, August 23, 2008 from 4PM-6PM at the home of Shane & Amanda Reeves.
“I am honored to have Fred Thompson campaign for me in my race for the State Senate,” Jim Tracy said. “He is an iconic figure in Tennessee politics and is in great demand throughout the country. In the U.S. Senate, Fred worked across party lines to produce positive results for the people of Tennessee. I have worked hard at the state level to accomplish the same goal, working across party lines to get positive results for Rutherford, Bedford, and Moore Counties.”
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Fred Thompson’s Former Web Man Lands With Lamar
Posted on August 3, 2008 at 11:36 pmSean Hackbarth, Fred Thompson’s former internet guru lampooned for his job search tactics by Wonkette, has landed a job with Lamar Alexander’s Senate Republican Conference:
Congratulations to longtime blogger Sean Hackbarth, who starts tomorrow as the Online Communications Specialist for the Senate Republican Conference. Sean worked briefly for the stillborn Fred Thompson presidential campaign and has worked in the PR/politics nexus since.
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