Fred Thompson and His Phony Little Red Pick-up Truck (folksy, indeed!)

[NYCGirl]

directed from The Daily Howler (www.dailyhowler.com)

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_05/011261.php

-snipped-

By the time Fred Thompson decides whether or not to join the presidential fray, you will have heard the story of his red pickup truck at least a dozen times. The truck in question is a 1990 Chevy, which the famed statesman-thespian rented during his maiden Senate campaign in 1994. The idea was that Thompson would dress up in blue jeans and shabby boots and drive himself to campaign events around the state.

-snipped-

We'll see. But in fact, the red pickup is even phonier than Scheiber and Somerby make it sound. Not only was the truck rented, but Thompson didn't even deign to drive the thing himself. Here is Michelle Cottle describing a Thompson campaign event a couple of years later when he was running for reelection:

"Seated in the audience is a childhood friend of mine....My friend stands talking with her colleagues as the senator is driven away by a blond, all-American staffer. A few minutes later, my friend gets into her car to head home. As she pulls up to the stop sign at the parking lot exit, rolling up to the intersection is Senator Thompson, now behind the wheel of a sweet silver luxury sedan. He gives my friend a slight nod as he drives past. Turning onto the main road, my friend passes the school's small, side parking area. Lo and behold: There sits the abandoned red pickup, along with the all-American staffer.

Basically, he just drove the thing the final few hundred feet before each campaign event, and then ditched it for something nicer as soon as he was out of sight of the yokels. Quite a man of the people, no?"

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Jusr another scene...

In a movie, to Ol' Fred.

[rodeodance]

2. didn't Hasturd do the same thing while promoting small fuel efficient cars-then

they photographed him jumping into a big SUV a few blocks away

[NYCGirl]

4. Yes, I remember that. NT

[MaineProgressive]

3. Disgusting. eom

[Arkansas Granny]

5. Kind of like Bush buying a "ranch" in Texas and clearing brush

for the same effect.

;)

[AtomicKitten]

6. It's the traveling GOP dog and pony show

... aimed at folks distracted by shiny objects.

[Bitwit1234]

7. Get this too

Hallmark and some of the other channels are showing over and over the few movies that Fred Thompson had bit parts in, especially the Matlock ones. Wonder why....Haven't seen em in years.

[AtomicKitten]

8. (((gagging)))

This seriously makes me want to yak.

[LiberalFighter]

9. How much you want to bet he tries it again?

If he does decide to run and uses the same ploy someone will need to tag him and video the start and end.

[OHdem10]

10. Gop consider the Heartland Flyover Country so

intellectually lacking (challenged) that they will perceive
Thompson as the Characters he plays on TV. Thus he looks
like a "good leader" and therefore people will come out
in droves to vote for him. Sadly, there are a few who will
do this.

He is no "southern fried Regan" and it will be up to the
Dems to prove this.

In his first speech to Californians--he made me do a knee-jerk.
He said he was sure that Grandma and Grandpa would be willing
to have their SS adusted to help out the Grandkids. We must
sacrifice. Grandma and Grandpa are willing to sacrifice some
Meidicare to help the Grandkids.

Slick way to present turning over SS to Wallstreet.You know
Privatize SS.

Re War ---WQe must sacrifice. Our country is going to have
a mushroom cloud hanging over us for years and years. We
have to build up our defense. Sacrifice will be required.

He is homespun. One Regan was enough.

[TwilightGardener]

11. I wouldn't say he's "homespun"--that's just his "schtick". He's a complete

and utter phony, shoveling the standard GOP and neocon bullshit with "folksy" phrases and analogies--another attempt to fool us, just like the Rovian creation of the plain-spoken "cowboy" with the Texas twang, cutting brush on his cattle-less ranch. And yet there are people on this forum who defend him and really seem to like him. Go figure.

[Sapere aude]

12. I think the wing nuts like him because of his accent and his height.

Thompson is and actor who literally sounds good. That southern drawl is what attracts the wing nuts. To them he is the penultimate daddy that they need to lead them.

[nealmhughes]

13. The jeans and truck is a rip off of Lamar Alexander who got elected Gov. of Tenn. by walking across

the state in a plaid flannel shirt and jeans. Did he really "walk" I have to wonder? It's a long way from Bristol to Memphis!

[TwilightGardener]

14. Why are Tennesseeans so freakin' stupid, that they fall for this shit?

[Elidor]

16. Tennessean here...

The whole country falls for this stupid shit, in case you hadn't noticed.

[a kennedy]

15. NYCGirl, I just love that picture of Tipper and Al.....

:patriot:

[woo me with science]

17. ROFL!

What a great story. If he wins the nomination, I suspect that one of the best ways to make him go down will be to emphasize the effort to be Reagan #2. There have got to be a million stories like this.

[Alexander]

18. He has skeletons in his closet...

Which could be why Thompson isn't quite in the race yet. He wants to see if any stories will come out first.

[mitchum]

19. He's a dirtbag and a merely adequate actor...he's no GD Spradlin

edit to add:
I also love the picture
and the hope