Excellent point Matt Pope. Rush is pop culture in which case maybe he's right and it is one of the lowest common denominators in our society. Either way, it's Thompson's announcement, he should be allowed to make it where ever he wants.
Hey "sick of washington" we focus on gay republicans because your whole argument is that people CHOOSE to be gay which is why they just shouldn't have rights. We like gay republicans because it's proof that sexuality isn't a choice- if ANYone would choose not to be gay, it would be a conservative gay republican.

I like how you people aren't even concerned with the issue here. It's not about Rush taking drugs. In fact, it's not about Rush at all. It's about pop culture and how Presidential candidates should have more class then to go on a talk show such as Leno or Letterman just to get publicity. They should be out doing good and making a difference then doing nothing but trying to become popular. Popularity wont get you very far... just look at Clinton... he was always a screw up waiting to fail and he did.

Well,the world is still the same in one place at least. That would be New Jersey,where FBI agents have lassoed eleven state politicians and parked them in jail. Each and every one of them, Democrats. Somebody get Jimmy Hoffa on the set.

where's Jerry?

As a moderately conservative Republican, I gotta say that the presidency cannot be dumbed down more than Limbaugh did it with 8 years of attacks on Bill Clinton.

I rather suspect that Rush "The Druggie" Limbaugh isn't a fan of the late night shows for two reasons. a) Leno never asked him to be on, and b) the one time that Letterman had him on, he made Limbaugh look like a fool. Chided his radio shows as being the next closest thing to pro wrestling.
As for Thomspon, he's just a YAWN, a dud, a big nothing with a hole in it.....whether Limbaugh likes him or not.

Interesting comments from a drug addict and pill head. I rather see Fred on Leno than in an airport restroom or hiding in a congressional office sending sexy emails to the House pages or sitting in front of a congressional hearing repeating 'I dont think I can recall the facts'

.....oh and by the way;
George DUMBYA Bush has destroyed a great deal of the prestige that used to be associated with The Oval Office.
He is living proof that anyone who has money and a political machine behind them,...not necesarrily an education or other qualifications,...can become President. If this nincompoop can be President, any ordinary individual can be, too.
Neither Jay Leno nor David Letterman made it that way....But, people like Rush Limbaugh did.
Thompson aint going nowhere. But that won't be because of late night TV.
It will be because the man is a do-nothing slacker who offered no added value to our congress while he was there.

I think the standard of the office has been lowered considerably the last fifteen years.  Clinton was a hack.  Today it's even worse.  Of all the idiots in Washington, we have the Grand High Llama in the Oval Office.
Even though I don't like Rush, I reluctantly agree with him.  Not a good place to announce your presidency.  Imus was a good place to announce it until somebody pulled the plug on him.  Was Rush just jealous he didn't pick his show to announce?  If you are going to pick a show, pick a news network or a show whose regular guests are elected officials.  I do believe a presidential candidate should be above the pop culture.

"Stature of the office"? Definitely not tied to the intellect of the office holder we have now and NOT worthy of esteem.. We do not need royalty but rather intergity and connection.

With his three failed relationships, his drug addiction issues, and his self-professed narcissistic tendencies, ol' Rush isn't exactly one who should be taken seriously about anything. Poor Rush... all dressed up in a zillion square foot Florida palace with absolutely nowhere to go except to the sanctuary of his mike. LOL...

Perhaps he is just letting off a little steam over Freddy's 'gal pal' for all we know... jealousy can be a killa sometimes. LOL again...

Appearing on a late-night TV show is the least of the problem.  It's what these idiots do in office that cheapens the prestige of the position.  It's hard to imagine Cheney doing himself more harm by going on Letterman than when he shot his hunting buddy in the face.  It's hard to imagine Bush doing himself more harm by going on the Colbert Report than by his reaction to Hurricane Katrina.  Come on people, pull the stick(s) out of your rear-ends.

The days of holding politicians to a higher standard should be forgotten.  We elect these fools and somehow forget that they are human.  Mark Foley, Senator Craig, Tom DeLay all come to mind.  A Late-Night television show is the least of these people's concerns.

Anyone else find it interesting that Limbaugh is denouncing pop culture when he depends on pop culture to spread his venom and hatred?  How anything this pill-popping idiot says isn't instantaneously discredited is simply amazing.

Doesn't Rush own show qualify as part of "pop culture"?  Or is pop culture liberal culture "by definition"?

BTW, hasn't Cheney gone on Rush's show several times before?

What he says sounds like it makes sense but I wouldn't give Limbaugh any credence. Bush has done far more damage to the office than any appearance on late night TV ever could have done. Even Clinton to a degree did the same. It's at a state now where I myself wish the president was more of a figurehead. Entrusting one sole person with so much power seems like an idea past it's time.

Rush is just yet another closet gay republican. 3 failed marriages and looks like Karl Roves brother. Yuck! I saw a documentary on him several years ago and hes obviously gay.

How did Rush get this news? He's deaf (no big deal, he never listened anyway), he is a blind follower of a President that can't read a whole book...and he is dumb enough not to realize that mega-dittos should now be referred to as giga-suckups. A news source for the deaf, blind and dumb? Oh...he must be getting his news from talk radio.

Fred Thompson appears to have the demeaner that many of the "common people" want from a candidate: truth, honesty, and telling "like it is" rather lies, half truths and deceitfulness. Fred must clear on his policies and positions and be true to them to survive the brickbats and attacks that will surely come in the coming months. If Rush thinks he is the spokesman for the "common man", who would get more votes today: Fred or Rush?

jtb - You said "no one, agewise or demographically invested in the pop culture, VOTES."  You might want to rethink that statement.  I gorge myself on reality TV (big-time pop culture) 4 or 5 nights a week.  I also vote.

If the stature of the Presidency can get any lower than it now is, somebody please explain it to me.

windrider, Columbus, OH

you missed the point

"Lush"Slimebaugh,is no position to judge Fred Thompson, who obviously had more brains then those other Republican candidates, and waited till now to announce.

Slimebaugh is jealous because Thompson did not choose his show to make his announcement.  He should be happy he can always invite those two big crooks now in the white house, but then they would not be able to select their faithful mice to be their audience

All these whack jobs agreeing with Rush about Fred going on Leno I'm sure have no problem with Clinton or Obama going on Oprah. Once again they bitch for the sake of bitching. BTW I think the way Fred handled it was smart, and I don't give a damn what Rush says :-)

"and the trained seals (slaves)sit up and bark at once. He's done drugs....... He's done drugs "  I agree, Dave TN! It's only democrats that should this shoved in their face - a coke / oxycontin / booze-addled repug - forgit aboutit! Not important! What's the point of having double standards if you're not going to be hypocrite enough to use them?

JL Smith: '...As for Thompson, he's the only one so far who realizes that many of us don't really need 6 months to listen to candidates say NOTHING!!'

Yeah, JL Smith Freddy can say nothing in one month !!

Ted Kennedy's drinking and the 1963 death of Mary Jo "hardly get mentioned"? It took a real ass to say that.

"Red truck rising" out of the Tennessee hills and the Kool-aid crowd is howling---Oh, this IS going to be fun!

Eveything said about Rush, I second. But, I hate to say this, on this point he's right. Of course a blind hog can occasionally find an acorn.

 Is this the same Fred Thompson that was an "Armani" that was a DC lobbyist, went out and rented an old pickemup, bought some flannel shirts and then claimed to be a "good old boy" :o) But then again could anyone be any worse then the Crawford Texas Village Idiot????? Probably not!!!!

OK Let's add up how many times the party of tolerance has used "gay" as an attack or a slur in this thread.

Jim, Santa Cruz: Reagan was not only a pop culture figure, but a liberal during his acting days and as spokeman for the General Electric Corporation during the 50s and 60s. He not only transformed into a politician, but transformed into a Republican when it was obvious that he could not get the Democratic nomination for Governor of California. Similar to today's career politicians...Anything, to get elected, even assuming a new character. Once an actor, always an actor. Thompson included.

what about George W. on American Idol?  I think that, far more than a late-night talk show, is the LOWEST form of Media "entertainment"

Fred Thompson is a joke, so he belongs on a comedy show.

And how is this qualitatively different from Dick Cheney calling in to the Limbo Show from an undisclosed location. Oops, I forgot! Leno and Letterman are truly funny.

I don't like Limbaugh one bit, but he has a point here, and having read most of the previous posts it's also worth noting the following:

1) The faults of the messenger do not automatically invalidate the message.
2) Limbaugh isn't running for president, ergo his behaviour has nothing to do with the point in question.

Moronic behaviour and speech is what it is, and there's plenty of it to be found in many of the posts to this story, among other places. Attacking Limbaugh for past indiscretions doesn't change the fact that he's made a valid point here. Similarly, those posts that mention using Leno and similar shows to reach non-traditional segments of the population also raise an interesting point, especially in light of the more active political activities of younger, tech-savvy generations.

It's one thing to go on these shows.  There's a segment of the population that you're just not going to reach otherwise.  I do think it's a cowardly way to handle the announcement of your presidency.  You're going to get softball questions and the Ed McMahon treatment for lame jokes.

If Thompson had a pair he would have at least gone on Letterman.

And the trained seals bark "hypocrisy"  "hypocrisy" as they recall the many times comedian Rush Screwbaugh called someone 'maggot-infested' because they smoked pot.....
Geez, Dave, TN- get real.  For once.

"Sock it to me." Richard Nixon, Laugh In 1968

Tom, Sarasota:  

A gentle reminder that Jay Leno and David Letterman are not journalists and their shows are not "Meet the Press".  

Aside from imparting the information that he's going to run, Thompson, or anyone else for that matter, shouldn't have to expect to be grilled on policy by entertaining guys who are journalistic and political lightweights.

Can't there be one venue where candidates can lighten up a bit and not have to be equipped with an extra-stalwart "pair"?

Professorjoe:  From Wikipedia:

An admirer of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Reagan supported the New Deal as well as the presidential candidacies of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, and that of Richard Nixon in 1960, as a registered Democrat. His political loyalties soon shifted to the Republican Party, however, for he thought that the Democrats had repudiated Thomas Jefferson's beliefs and created a larger government.[31] Following the election of John F. Kennedy, Reagan formally switched parties in 1962, saying "I didn't leave the Democratic Party. The party left me."[32] During his work for General Electric, Reagan wrote his own speeches, laboring diligently and daily upon his prose. Although he had speechwriters later in the White House, he continued editing, and even occasionally writing, many of them.[33]

Two years after switching parties, Reagan joined the campaign of conservative Presidential contender Barry Goldwater. Speaking on Goldwater's behalf, Reagan revealed his ideological motivation in a famed speech given on October 27, 1964: "The Founding Fathers knew a government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government set out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. So we have come to a time for choosing."[34] The address soon became known as the "Time for Choosing" speech, and is considered the speech that launched Reagan's political career.[35]

California Republicans were impressed with Reagan's political views and charisma after his "Time for Choosing" speech,[36] and nominated him for Governor of California in 1966. In Reagan's campaign, he emphasized two main themes: "to send the welfare bums back to work", and in reference to burgeoning anti-war and anti-establishment student protests at the University of California at Berkeley, "to clean up the mess at Berkeley".

I'm sure you'll disagree, but this does not describe a political opportunist to me.

Actually, Thompson's exposure on the Rush Limbaugh show would probably be just as great as going on Leno.  Audience size is similar.

So much hatred expressed here.  It seems most of it comes from liberals.  I am not an extreme conservative, but all I hear is democrats complaining and blaming conservatives for everything that goes on the world, but not offering any solutions.  In my opinion, William Jefferson Clinton (who BTW played his sax on Leno) degraded the OVAL OFFICE, not on his own time, but on taxpayers' time, more than anyone.  I really think Hillary knew about his many affairs at LEAST as far back as his Governor days, and was willing to overlook them as long as he didn't get caught. If she really didn't know,  do we need someone that dumb as our next president?

Rush is just a conservative....his brain is mush!

Neoconservatism is the way! I AM a liberal who was mugged by reality like Irving Kristol!

We love you so much Fred Thompson we devoted an entire forum to you!

It’s the best one on the net since it is run by Neoconservatives like myself and Fred Thompson!

If you LIKE George W Bush!

You'll LOVE Fred D Thompson!

http://www.fredthompsonforum.com/

Didn't Bush appear on Letterman after winning in 2000 but before the beginning of his term?  I seem to remember him reading a top 10 list: Top 10 Things I'll Do at the White House. I remember one of them was "give it a good scrubbing." I hate Bush but he was pretty funny on Letterman. Sounds like Rush has no historical basis for his oversweeping statement ... big surprise.

Who cares about Rush... we all know Thompson will win the nomination.

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