It seems to me that the Democrats can have any skeletons, stealing White House furniture, and being involved in all kinds of illegal things, take money and the press does not say a word, but let the Republicans do one thing and they are on them like wolves.  

who is Fred Thompson ? never heard of him .

I always liked Senator Thompson but he seems to be a real opportunist here.  If the race was going to be the slightest challenging for him, he'd have never entered it.  It seems to be his trophy wife that is egging him on here.

RH Oregon; I fully understand why you GOP propagandists can't tolerate hearng the truth from
the Democrats, considering that you don't even expect to hear the truth from your very own party!

I just hate when future candidates for president think that they need to answering questions for the public. I wish they would just ignore and stone wall us like the current administration. I’m also getting really tired of all these investigations that are exposing corruption in our government. Republican politicians are just trying to make a decent living of our ever growing ignorant public. It’s sad that some of you blogger’s are willing to overlook possible corruption because of the party a political figure belongs too. Ever heard of checks and balances? Thank god someone’s investigating these people Demarcate or Republican.

Everyone knows Lane Hudson is a looser looking for his 2mins of fame. I he or anyone else thinks he somehow suprised the Thompson camp he has another thing comming. The only reason he waited this long is so he can be splash in the pan. He doesn't have a chance with the FEC, so quit whinning Lane, stick to KOS for that.

Liberals mean spirited? Ever heard of Anne Coulter? Enough with the Liberal/ neo-con/ conservative name calling playground 2 year old BS!!!! If he broke the law, so be it. If the dems grow some nuts, so be it. At least dems are talking ideas now. Retardicans still blaming the war on Clinton. Here's a clue people. Vote for the dude with the (I) next to the name. Screw political parties. They are nothing but street gangs with nice suits and billion dollar weapons. Flame on yall

Another day, another Republican messing up the works!

i read all of these comments supporting Freddy and the GOP in general...when Bush ran in 2000, he stated clearly that he was "a uniter and not a divider"; he then proceeded to spend his entire presidency doing exactly opposite while totally poisoning our gov't.
Does ANYONE honestly believe a republican has been born yet who can bring anything other than a continuing mess to gov't...DOUBT it.

Let former heavyweight Lobbyist Fred have his fun for now...he's goin down in flames...and i want front row tickets..

Joe in California..."im going to puke".  Is that the best you can do?  Are you five years old?  And yes, Joe, debates are infomercials.  There would be no point in having them if they weren't.  Sheesh, get with the program.  

As for Thompson, I certainly hope no one is planning on voting for him simply because they like his wise, strong and assertive character on Law & Order.  That's a character, not the candidate. This man is an ultra conservative that even republicans know spells trouble.  In my personal view, anyone who has voted AGAINST requiring criminal background checks for purchases at gun shows, as Thompson did as a senator, should not be in a position to represent me as an American.

This whole campaign seems more like a TV show than anything else. The republicans have a drag queen, a Mormon who changes his values annually with five boys who run around in a camper, an old vet who is a Bush warmonger; while the Democrats have an unlikeable female attached to a cheating husband, a black dude who is half Muslim, and a guy who thinks a $400 haircut is OK while there are people starving in his own state ... with all that, who cares what Fred does; it's just another scene in this soap opera. It's time we have just a plain old American party, get rid of all these jerks and find someone normal who is there for patriotic reasons.

Fred should be able to do whatever he wants.  Leave it to liberals,  they act like the law is sacred.  Democrats are just jealous that they can't get the big dollar contributions from Exon and psizer.  I mean if they were on the right side of issues the dollars would follow them especially in a capitalistic society.

what a bunch of hooey from all of you.  The "republicans" whom are sounding more like fascists every day, and the liberals who are sounding like a bunch of idealistic tree-huggers.  The man is a joke or he wouldn't be "testing the waters" for the last...what? 6 months or so?  As to the debates...have yu ever seen a debate that WASN'T anything other than a party funded infomercial?  You know, the kind that has 100 different products - yet they make out no matter what you buy.

It's interesting how scared the Libs are of Fred. Just looking at this board, it appears that they're all wetting their pants at the thought of Fred entering the race because they all know Hillary and OsamaObama are un-electable.
Go Fred! He's the only candidate not in the Libertarian party worth electing.

Hillary has more cash stuffed in her knickers than Fred has in his "testing the waters" chest.  Lane needs to get a real job.

If you want a candidate that actually stands up fpr what American values this country was based on...check out Ron Paul!!

It's good to see republicans watch the dem debates, it shows open mindedness. The irony is everything said negative not regarding the question seems to be an attack. Cant we stay civilized? After all thats what the court are for. There is nothing wrong with someone questioning the legality of pro-actively not campainging.

The self-righteous schadenfreude being expressed here by those instinctively opposed to Republicans might want to consider that both Democrats and Republicans have had there share of candidates and party apparatchiks engaging in shenanigans when it comes to electioneering.  That does not make it right for members of either party to do it, but it does mean that you might want to be a little less smug about your assumed lack of potential for mischief among Democrats.

Amazing. If the Republicans are called on the carpet about breaking the rules and laws regarding campaigning (or anythign else for that manner) then it is those evil, liberal, democrats that want to put down American loving Republicans that want to serve. However, catch a Democrat putting a toe out of line, and then they are trying to destroy America. Thompson is playing the system. With the Whitehouse we have now though, nothing will come of it. It will be called an 'honest' mistake.  The 'Uniter' strikes again. All of these career politicians are criminal, playing to the mob.

I agree.  Since when should a Republican be held acountable to the laws of the land.  Didn't everyone realize in 2000 that they aren't held accountable to congress, the Judicial branch or the constitution?  I wish these stupid liberals would quit whining about "the law" and "ethics".  The Republicans love our country, that is why they are so determined to change it!!

This seems like a lawsuit for the a clu...since they are always getting involved when it is none of their business; perhaps Lane Hudson should hook up with them since are so much alike! Senator Thompson has all the qualifications for POTUS and he is far above commiting any acts against this Nation...such as Hudson claims. Senator Thompson has made it very clear to put all our for the public to see, asks for nothing, and has not YET DECLARED!!! SO???  He has done nothing wrong, and needs no explaining, but can if he must. Certainly anyone knows that he must make certain that he violates no FED regulations since he has been involved with that TV program...it is too his advantage, for if he violates that, he must allow equal time to all other candidates, and that would not be wise. This is the typical gestapo tactic Hudson uses - he attacks people who are on the winning side, looking for anything that the ignorant will read and blow out of proportion without investigating for the truth as most of "We The People" do. Hudson loves to smear those who have character and integrity because he has none!!! Those like him of low self-esteem do this in hopes his attacks will bring those he attacks down, to his low level. Hudson looks for anything at all to twist and turn into his usual soap-opera slime, and dips his pen into, for feed to the slight-of-mind left as his  support system in his off-the-wall poly-ticking rhetoric. Leave him alone, and he'll be gone, dragging his tail behind him!!! Even if he were successful to get something started, it takes YEARS IN THE COURT SYSTEM and it is just not worth the time! "WE THE PEOPLE" WILL DEFEAT GARBAGE LIKE LANE HUDSON, WE DO IT EVERY DAY, JUST FOR EXERCISE!!!Senator Fred Dalton Thompson is a man of character and integrity; he knows all about what he has seen in the political arena and those who get in trouble. He had fine advisors like Michael Toner, Bill Lacy, and other men of strong character on his team...those are also wise choices!!! AND, you MUST admire Senator Thompson as a probable candidate who is saving the taxpayers a boatload of money by his interacting with the public like he is doing; after all, the money he spends comes from "WE THE PEOPLE", SO THERE!!! You jealous idiotic troublemakers!!!

i totally hope Fred gets the nomination, he's going to get trounced.  Actually any Repub is, and then with all of the power that Bush stole from the other branches we'll have 8 years of Hillary, and then another 8 of whoever the Dems decide to run and by that point the repubs well be too busy hitting on pages to even exist as a party anymore.  Thank god for Bush.  Greatest democratic asset ever.

One more...Bonnie, you need to get off the "Hannity Train" and get back to the "Reality Train."  Would you prefer that the liberals ask Rupert Murdoch to start a totally liberal TV station that the candidates can go to one on one and get easy questions?  I would like to see Dumb Dumb Bush get up on stage and respond to a few of my (a 10 year military officer's) questions.

But then you probably think we are winning.  We have bought a year for Iraq with American blood, and what have they done with that precious investment?

Are there any GOP candidates who are saying that?  No, we just need to pay in more American blood and maybe the Iraqi's will be able to eat lunch in the same room...in 10 years.

I have had two guys in my command die.  How many have you or your Republicans cronies?  They just sit in comfortable offices, do nothing and ask for the troops to have "more time." Maybe one of them will come to an open forum and take audience questions!!

<em>He was unremarkable in the Senate..</em>

LMAO....."obama"

Just another lazy old slob repub "not" running for office.

Just another lazy old slob repub "not" running for office.

the BEST Exit Strategy at this point is for Bush to both leave the WH and to leave Gov't in such ruin it wont matter which R is running...

even Fred knows...that Mission has BEEN Accomplished...

Typical cry baby Democrat who is too busy making sure everyone gets equal share, including him, even though he does not contribute.

hey lane better get your facts right. all that money you get from george to make up thing will catch up with you. and another thing. tell george that his plan is not going to work. because i will bring him down before the election. george soros will be crying in nov of 2008

STUPID, STUPID, STUPID people.  All of the stupid people who are obviously pro-Republican or pro-Democrat should get a non-partisan perspective.  If some politician breaks the law, he/she should be brought to bear the consequences, just as Michael Vick should be brought to justice if, indeed, he was involved in dog fighting or dog killing.  The law is the law and every person who violates the law should expect to bear the consequences of his/her illegal acts.  
I have no knowledge of facts as to whether Thompson did or did not violate the law, but if he did, he should admit it and suffer whatever the law dictates.  Thompson supporters should, if they're honest citizens, demand the law be enforced, if violations occurred.

x

Fred Thompson-----  ah yes.  Nixon's chief defender in Watergate, who warned him that the taping system had been discovered!! Just what we need as president!!  BTW,   if he broke the law,  then he BROKE THE LAW!!! I cant imagine the law and order GOP supporting law breaking!!  Right???

Joe, get that barf bucket ready, baby.

Oh give me a break! After 8 years of Bill and Hillary Clinton's lies and half truths, after Bill's wholesale assault on ordinary language and word parsing, after Hillary's botched secret health care task force, after watching Cheney's similar, and also secret, energy task force and manipulation of intelligence, after 6 years of Bush's mocking our very Constitutional government, you're going to carry a story from some fool blathering about Fred Thompson's flirting with being a non-declared candidate? Ah, excuse me, we aren't exactly getting rid of these dirtbags. Another Clinton is running and, if you believe the fools in the press, she is actually leading.....

This is just an opinion. but i dont think any money for campaigning should be collected until the year of the election.  There should be no adds, no debates , and no announcements until that year.  I think special interests should be banned from political donations so that all politicians will focus on the job and not the cause .  Just an opinion has nothing to do with law just and opinion. I am a very independent voter and have not voted for parties only the person .  and as a voter i am responsible for obtain information about that candidate.

This is just an opinion. but i dont think any money for campaigning should be collected until the year of the election.  There should be no adds, no debates , and no announcements until that year.  I think special interests should be banned from political donations so that all politicians will focus on the job and not the cause .  Just an opinion has nothing to do with law just and opinion. I am a very independent voter and have not voted for parties only the person .  and as a voter i am responsible for obtain information about that candidate.

VOTE FOR FRED THOMPSON. STAMP OUT THE COMMIES/ LIKE THE BITCH TOYOKO HILLARY CLINTON / AND THE HALF BREED / PART NIGGER PART MEXICAN, PART WALP, PART COMMIE, PART LIER, PART , SPICK, PART  FULL OF COMMIE IDEAS. DONT LET THE COMMIE BILLY BOY CLINTON GET TO BE THE FIRST MAN. THER WOULD BE BEER / DRUG PARTYS IN THE OVAL OFFICE . BLOW JOBS/ GANG BANGS/ WITH TWO MEN ON ONE WOMAN/ ONE BANGEN HER IN THE ASS DOG STILE/ ANE ONE MAN FUCKING HER IN THE MOUTH AT THE SAME TIME. HILLARY USED TO GET GANG BANGED ONCE A  WEEK BY BILLY AND FOSTER> ILL BET THEY BOTH GOT THERE NUTS TO SHOOT OUT A GOOD 6 SQUIRTS OF SPRIM AT THE SAME TIME. IT BLOWED HILLARY AWAY. SHE GOT LOUBED AT BOTH ENDS AT T^HE SAME TIME. DONT LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN AT THE WHITE HOUSE. STOP THE GANG BANGEN VOTE FOR FRED

Fred is doing what any smart Republican would do!  Let's see what happens in 15 days. Keep watching LAW & ORDER.  Go!!! Fred.

I feel great pity for anyone who is so able to dehumanize another because of his or her beliefs, that they can call them "liberals" or "conservatives" in a pejorative manner, as though they were rival members of a gang, and not fellow citizens.  The dialogue we have amongst one another needs to change if we ever expect it to change amongst those we have entrusted with our political power.  Never forget that the people who cast the ballots have the power, and that they, that WE give that power to another.  If we cannot ourselves take pride in our democracy, if we use our power to destroy one another, to damage one another, then what right do we have to demand that those to whom we have vested with our democratic authority to behave with any more decorum than ourselves?  And in that vein, look at our public figures and how they represent us.  Let those in each party, policies and ideologies aside, let their conduct be a refelction on those who supported them.  Those who hold up a dishonest man, a cruel man, an unjust man, they themselves are all of those things.  Demand better from your elected officials, but demand better from yourselves as well.  And never forget, we are all in this together, trying to do what will be the best for us as a nation and a people.

Bonnie,  I remember a time when the Republican party stood for "tough on crime."  What does it stand for now?

Clinton's have been breaking the law for years and no one complains about them.

Lane, GET A JOB.  You have too much time and posion ink to be taken seriously. You know the devils workshop---------

O.K. What is with the party loyalty thing.  We all need to look for the best person for the job.  Parties be damned.  Mr. Bush didn't even win that first election, and look what he has done for our country, constitution and creating generations of new terrorists.

How can he violate election laws if he is not running yet?

I feel the need to start with this, YouTube "WMD LIES", "BUSH LIES," and "OREILY LIES," and see the truth straight from those in the Bush Administration who say they care about what's best for America. The conservative Republicans can be such republidumbs ... the only example anyone needs to assure themselves the conservative christian right is nothing more than a herd of "sheeple," seek out the ones who still think W. Bush is the next best thing since our founding fathers, who by the way were liberal enough to question their government then do something about the injustices (anyone remember the governments who first sent people to our shores?) ... The Bush crew has no clue and has left the liberal person who succeeds them with a lot to do ... And it's time for someone, anyone, who cares more about the middle class than the top 5% financially secured people up top. Thank goodness Jesus and the Founding Fathers were liberal !!!

I WONDER IF MARK FOLEY CONSIDERS LANE HUDSON A WHINER? OR A WUSS? WEREN'T THE SAME THINGS SAID ABOUT BERNSTEIN AND WOODWARD? THE LAW IS THE LAW. YOU VIOLATE IT AND YOU PAY. UNLESS THE PRESIDENT COMMUTES YOUR PENALTY AND WE ALL KNOW THAT HAPPENS ONCE IN A BLUE MOON! A LAW WAS PASSED REGARDING WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO AS A CANDIDATE OR POTENTIAL CANDIDATE. FRED THOMPSON, AN ABLE D.A. ON 'LAW AND ORDER', ALLEGEDLY VIOLATED THAT LAW. LET'S FIND OUT. NOW YOU ON THE 'RIGHT': GET A LIFE. YOU ON THE 'LEFT': GET A LIFE. THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO REALLY CONCERN OURSELVES ABOUT; LIKE WHAT IS PARIS HILTON UP TO?

FLASH: BLUE MOON SPOTTED OVER D.C.

When I shed my grace on thee, I intended for the laws of your land to apply to everyone - including Republicans.  I know this will come as a shock to about 30% of you, but George isn't really my son.  It's not like I'm bragging about my handiwork when his name gets mentioned.

GB - Are you that void of reason? Free air time? What? Isn't a democracy founded on the rights for the citizenry to be informed to the extent possible of the political process? No one is stopping the Republicans from doing the same thing

Doesn't matter.  The law is the law, right?  Goofy
info-mercials disguised as debates (really, Keith Olberman, as a "moderator"?) is nothing but a sham.


GB --take a deep breath

Not until you take your last.

BC - Uh, Bonnie, what law is it that you think the Dems are violating?  Please cite to the United States Code or the Code of Federal Regulations.

The same law the liberal loon in the article thinks Thompson broke. You did read the article, didn't you BC?  If not, see if you can find someone that can read it to you.

BD - If you haven't figured it out, Bonnie, it already matters.

To who?  The election is a year away, and so many of the issues of today will change considerably in the next year.

Can we expect the Democrats to begin the debates for the 2012 election right after they lose the 2008 election?  The Democrats really need to get a life instead of constantly being in election mode.  Don't these people have day jobs?

Dee, Sarasota?  Sorry, but Fred Thompson will most likely be your next president.
So, you deal with that.  If you don't like it, MOVE.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):