Must be some fear of Thompson already as the liberals are starting their attacks already. And the man hasn't even announced yet.

Go Fred Go!

Craig, Topeka, KS

There is no way on this great earth that this nation would vote in a muslim / liberal / us hating puppet like Obama Osama. He was installed by the dems some 3 years ago by breaking sealed divorce records of a republican senator. He is a product of some scurge that needs to be defeated soundly.

Ed, The Woodlands, TX

If you pay even the most modest attention to Thompson's actual voting record -- you won't be so all-fired confident that an actual conservative Republican is running. Thompson's a trojan horse, just like Bush, for the Howard Baker, CFR, one-world wacko camp. Have a ball baby! Enjoy those internal passports they are producing for all you "conservative" suckers who can't tell your constitutional rights from a fast-food meal.

Ron Paul '08 Hope for America

Jeff Willis, Roseburg, OR

There are sectors of this country that will never understand America and will vote for any ambitious, lieing scum that has a gift for gab (Obama) or a good used car pitch (Clintons). RR was our best in modern times (Seattle child notwithstanding) because he said it right and he did it right. Fred is beginning to look a lot like him....

HD Parker, Ocala, Florida

The only candidate that is truly like Ronald Reagan (i.e. a true conservative) is Dr. Ron Paul. When he talks about limited government he really means it and has the voting record to back it up.

Jim, Plymouth, MI USA

Ron Paul IS the only conservative but is an unknown who can't get any airtime, because to the average United States citizen, the U.S. Constitution is an unknown document viewed with disdain in Washington D.C., and hated by the liberal press. NEWT is a "has been" and a sham conservative who hopefully won't announce. McCain did his time in Nam but is no hero to the real heros. He sold out to the Reds while in Hanoi and jeopardized his fellow POW's. He cracked up 2 or 3 jet planes hotdogging. Romney is "pretty" with experience and might get the nod. Guliani has a snowballs chance in hell of getting anywhere, and the others are too far down in the polls. Mike Huckabee had a good record as Gov. of Ark., but like Sam Brownback is a relative unknown. Rep Duncan Hunter won a Texas straw poll in a low turn out and Rep. Tom Tancredo is out because of his stand on illegal immigration. This really leaves Thompson because of his facial recognition and somewhat conservative record.

Jim, FAIRBURN, United States, GA.

Fred Thompson is one of the only hopes the Republican Party has! as for Osama (oops! I mean Obama) his campaign is over before it began. If it came down to it Hillary beats him hands down. I don't want to see neither of them in the White House. Thompson all the way in '08! As for nightmare, have we been attacked in this country by terrorists since 2001? I think not so Bush has not done such a bad job at all I don't care what anyone says! Republican power!

Shadmin, Blackfoot, Idaho

I think I can safely say, that most non-Americans and people around the world are hoping and praying that Ron Paul gets elected. An honest, decent, upstanding and principled man in the sleaze pit of Washington politics. Just on the 2 points that he wants to abolish the "Federal" Reserve and cut taxes should enamour him to most right thinking Americans.
When the US government can spend half a trillion dollars (and counting) on an illegal war, where no WMD's were found and nothing has been achieved, that money could be better spent on Healthcare provision for US citizens.
Let the IsraOIL vested interests fight their own wars. America subsidizes each Israeli citizen to the tune of $500 annually. This is a country whose economy on a par with Spain or South Korea. Don't see them getting any aid or handouts. In fact, the Israeli's get more aid than Africa (excluding Egypt), Latin America and the Carribean combined. Shameful.
Don't forget the USS Liberty either!
Vote Ron Paul 08!

Rod Polisher, Scunthorpe, UK

A man who left politics to become an actor....who now wants to be president.

At least Reagan got it the right way round...

Stay behind the camera please...

F.Summers, NY.,

I was originally intrigued by a potential Thompson run. As he kept delaying and delaying, I looked at the rest of the field once again and was drawn to the Huckabee campaign. Since then, the more I learn about Mike Huckabee, the more I like. Sorry Fred.

Brian C., Londonderry, New Hampshire

Ron Paul could not even win the straw poll in his own state. His 9/11 theories will keep him from the white house. I'm with Fred!

Matt, Austin, TX

Mr. Thompson has the experience needed to manage this country, as well as down home attractive personality this country is in dire need of to pull us together.

No more Clinton's. No more Bush's. No need for an ambulance chaser. No need for a symbolic man of color. No need for any politician that runs around the country buying our votes on a promise to mend your problems or provide a chicken in every pot.

Mr. Thompson is a man that seems to hold basic truths as his badge of honor. Compassion for every American, regardless of affiliation or his personal views. Believes in personal responsibility. Low taxes, States rights. A strong defense. Walk softly and carry a big stick when necessary. A Federalist with principles this country was founded on. I like that!

John Bernardo, Springfield, OH

McCain hiked the Grand Canyon from one rim to the other to get in shape. Advantage: McCain

sampo, Denver,

If the last 8 years were a nightmare, then the 8 years before that were..... Nope I can't think of a word to describe the horror of the Clinton years in.

Fred Thompson may or may not be a viable candidate for office. I liked his style when he was in the Senate and I like his style now. He speaks with force and conviction. He appears to hold some of the same conservative views that I do.

Whether it continues after Thursday, we shall see.

I really do not care if he were driving around in a golf cart at a fair. I don't care if he works out or not. I only care that he will try to get the Federal Government doing what it ought to be doing by taking care of international affairs, interstate commerce, environmental issues and the Military and most importantly getting out of the affairs of the states and individuals.

B. Seeley, Colchester, CT

to those of you who won't vote if Fred doesn't run: WHY!! Do you want to see the Dems finish ruining this country? In my opinion its either Mit Rommney or Fred for Pres. I like Rudy, but havent made up my mind whether I would vote for him as Pres. I think he's tough, but a little too liberal. Sometimes you have to take the bad with the good tho.

Whatever you do, don't throw your vote away. You are just giving the Dems a chance of getting in full power. We need balance.

MFD, Rohnert Park, CA

Marlene, Rohnert Park, CA

Fred's delay only proved that he was not the typical Presidential Hopeful. We don't need another one of the same. We need a man who is quick to the point, quick with an answer and slow to take more of our money to try to accomplish it. I'm hopeful for FRED.

Jerry Knode, Lake Wylie, SC

Yea... Better be Fit.. going to Have to Keep young significant other happy on campaign trail not to mention all those cinema experts proclaiming RMART!!!!!!!

2gsmr, Anchorage, AK

Fred is the real deal. I've met him and I've been around Republican politics for a long time. I can say with authority that he's an actual conservative and as honest as someone running for president can be. As for Romney's organization and support...he got in early and those Republican politicos who have backed him started when Romney was the only game in town. Now they're stuck in an awkward limbo, sort of hoping that Romney doesn't get the nomination, because they know he can' t win in the general. That's something only Thompson can do. I will advise anyone who wants a Republican in the White House to stop your fantasy about Romney, Rudy or any other moderate or flip flopper. Fred is the ONLY hope we have. The other conservatives in the race (Hunter, Tnacredo, et. al) have been marginalized by the press and have zero chance. All the negative press Fred has been getting is proof that the libs are running scared. Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot and nominate a loser.

Mike G., St.Louis, MO

Fred is the best choice to guide America. The Clinton's and Obama would do nothing to stop terrorism or help the economy.

Bruce, Duluth, Georgia

and just what Constitutional Law has Pres. Bush broken? You are just buying in to the political rhetoric of the left.
Educate yourself!

As for Fred, I can't wait for him to announce and get started on his campaign. I want to hear what he has to say before I make up my mind on who to vote for. The Democrats have no one....all of them want to "give away the ranch"....re: all of the give away/entitlment programs.....the Dems just say all the feel good.....give away $$ talk that some people just love. People with their hands out for government freebies. The working people have to pay for all those "freebies". I for one and tired of it.

GO FRED!!

Marlene, Rohnert Park, CA

While I don't like that he dithered about deciding to run or not, at least you can tell he's not a power hungry carnivore like Hillary.

Joe, Fort Wayne, Indiana

There is a real REASON Thompson does not have, and never will have, Romney's organization. FT's merely an ex-US Senator with zero (read: ZERO, ZIP, ZILCH) executive experience. The guy can't make a tough decision (that's what his wife is for). That's why he's waited so long to jump in. Can't make an tough executive decision.

Nor does he know anything about execution. Romney could literally hand over his total strategy to Thompson and Fred would fail miserably in its execution because FT doesn't know how to implement. Execution requires executive experience. Fred has none. FT is a lazy, immoral hollywood actor, ahh make that wannabe actor.

I know Mitt Romney, I've watcherd Mitt Romney; and Fred Thompson is no Mitt Romney!

Did I mention that ex-US Senator has no executive experience required of the President of the United States of America! Did you know that Mitt Romney has more executive experience than all other candidates (Dem & GOP combined). Think about that!

David, Irvine, CA

Any person who does not have enough foresight to start a new family in his 60s... He'll be in his 80s if he's still alive when his children really need a father's guidence... Does not have enough foresight to run a country! The biggiest problem America has now is Greed... "to heck with the future give me all I can get now" is what has killed us with Bush!

Inga, Hanceville,

Run Fred Run!!!. The only way to stop Hillary is to get a man who is more of a man than she is.

Jeff, coopersburg, PA

Expectations for Fred are high, but keep in mind that the election is still over a YEAR away. Fred has plenty of time to espouse his reasons why he should be the next president.

Gary, Green Valley, AZ

The specter of a Newt Gingrich campaign if Thompson falters should energize Republicans to get behind Fred. While I agree with Newt on virtually every policy, I think he has very low credibility with the American public, and has been so tainted by the media that he is unelectable.

Max, Ottawa, Canada

Fred Thompson is just another C.F.R. member, and would be a puppet president just like Bush. Vote Ron Paul in 2008, the only candidiate that can win against a democrat is 08. Oh Yeah he also is the only republican against the war and that supports the Constitution.

Cody B/, Provo, UT

Who is Ron Paul ? - There is a saying that teaches us to never trust anyone who has two first names.

Robert, Orlando, Florida

Thompson is leaning too heavily on his image. It's a disorganized, shallow campaign. In the second-to-last paragraph of the article, his campaign even admits that it is disorganized. A man with no previous executive experience--and who can't get a campaign organized after five months--is not qualified for the most intense, complicated executive job in the world. If the race comes down to Hillary v. Thompson, I recommend getting out of the country, fast.

M Thomson, Chicago,

The only candidate like Ronald Reagan (i.e. a true conservative) is Dr. Ron Paul.

When he talks about limited government he's serious and has the voting record to back it up.

Jim, Plymouth, MI USA

Fred Thompson would likely be an improvement over Romney & Giuliani. Giuliani behaved abhorrently in his prosecution of Mike Milken & Drexel Burnham. Sending interrogators to badger Milken's 92 year old grandfather is way over the line -- we do not need someone like that at the helm. Thompson, sadly, voted for McCain-Feingold which was a grave mistake & a blow against freedom. I do believe that Ron Paul is far & away the best candidate. If people can get over the fact that he is not part of the Republican machine & nominate him, he will win!

Eric G. Wruck, Columbus, OH

Hey era in Boston, re international dimplomacy, you know anything of the new conservatism in old Europe?

At 31, and never having had a chance to vote for the great one Ronaldus Magnus, I've only voted once in my life and it made me so sick afterwards that I never did it again.

Then came Fred, and I think I could vote for this man. And Newt would be nice too.

Love freedom, now more than ever.

Matt Welp, St Paul, USA / MN

mitt could take the whole thing if he put his religion in a trust for 4 years. I am not against his belief --it just is strange to understand in the year 2007.

fred to late -don't see the charge!

william, newport beach, orange/california

Love the Fred/Newt ticket idea. Can we get them to bring on Dennis Miller as press secretary? -- That'd have the dems apoplectic!

Bob, Reno, NV, USA

Fred as evident by having Chaney's daughter as foriegn policy advisor will only extend the present foreign policy that is the W Legacy.
That will prevent him beating any democrat in the general election since over 70 percent of the public is against the the strategic disaster known as Iraq. There would be very few cross-over demos or Indepedents voting to extend Bush's neocon legacy.
There is a Goldwater Republican who does have a chance to beat the Demos, who has been against this non-constitutional and non-just war from the start.
Its time to boot the neocons back to Israel and elect a president who believes in America First! Ron Paul!

Dave R, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA

Fred's a good candidate....if he gets into the race! Although I think he's going to have a tough time in debates against Romney as he doesn't have the credentials that Romney does. Either one is a better than the alternatives though.

T. Long, Draper, Utah

The only Republican who can win in the general election in 2008 is Ron Paul. If they nominate anyone else, the Republicans will deservedly lose, plain and simple.

Liz, New Hamphsire, USA

FiNALLY! An actual CONSERVATIVE republican. It's about time. And I was about to stop voting altogether.

Jonathan , Austin, TX, USA

Is there ANYONE who is in, or has been in the Senate that has shown ANY leadership?
On what issue ?
Economy? Iraq? Health Care ....
oh!.... by the way National Health Care
should be viewed like Slavery;
the slave master tells you where to go,
what to do.........and that was abolished in 1865.
Health care is stop smoking, drink moderately,
and YOU are in charge of what you eat today, not the Feds

K, Raleigh,

Thompson LOOKS attractive on the surface, but do we know any more about him than we do about Obama?

@George K. - I don't think anyone can "turn this nation around," alas.

Blogger1947, Gwynn Oak, MD

Thank God for Fred. Really we need to rally behind him
to obtain his goals. Take a moment and read about him
and his thoughts. He has no hidden agenda and wants
us all to be safe, and to secure the future for our children.

Louis, St. Louis, Missouri

I do not agree with Jake B. from St Pete, Florida?
This country, my United States, will not vote for a man with dubious views favoring other countries. This Fred Thompson actor extraordinaire will be lucky if he even gets 18% of votes.

Jack Crowe, New York, USA/NY

Ron Paul is the only conservative republican running
Thompson is just another CFR stooge that wants more spending and nation building.

Tim, Mercer, Maine

I think John mc`Cain should be appointed , President of the US for life and forget an election which is nothing more than an expensive Dog and Pony show. In my 75 years on earth he is the only man I know of that has earned this right and honor!!!

Floyd L Ingle, Lynn Haven, USA, Florida

There was a time in America when the average man didn't need attorney's. A deal was closed with a handshake. There was something called trust. Fred Thompson elicit's that kind of feeling from the voters.

ET, New Iberia, LA

Sad to me that the focus is on looking svelte. What does he believe? What does he want to accomplish. The media has created a system where style truly does trump substance. Hillary, Obama, Fred - They are all creations of a marketing team. We will not hear one time throughout this gagging election process what these people truly believe, we will only hear the spin that has been focus group tested. Is democracy dead? If not, it is on life-support.

Steve Larson, Newbury Park, CA

I'm delighted he's running so that there is a candidate on the Republican side who is not a make-believe or 'recent convert' or 'except for these issues' conservative. Let's just have an actual conservative.

The Democrat candidates seem to stand for Socialism, Appeasement and Decline--it's SAD for the country...

Carl Roessler, Las Vegas, NV

Fred should pick up Newt as his VP early.. that would be a powerful team.

Harley W Daugherty, La Grange, USA/ Missouri

Fred is da man, if Fred cant do it Newt can.

bill harper, cordova, tn

Fred Thompson is a corporate insider. He lobbied on K street for years. He's just another actor like Raygoon. And all the sheep will fall for it because that's what the TV tells them to do. Remember sheeple acting is FICTION.

Jason Jarvis, Seattle , WA

Reading the Times, I am always struck by the exceptional prose and editing of the editorial pieces. Then again, you people did perfect the language. One gets the feeling that Fred himself might not be quite so eloquent, though he does manifest a certain home-spun American appeal. One can't help but picture him on Law and Order, sporting a large bib and querying "who'd like to get some ribs, people?"

We've had and have worse choices for president.

Rick M, Brooklyn, NY

Fred Thompson is the best thing to happen since Ronald Reagan as I could vote *for* a candidate rather than vote for the lesser of two evils...

Grumpy, Austin, Texas

I have a feeling Fred is going to be the next President. I simply can't picture any other of these monkeys making it to the White House, republican OR democrat..

Jake B, St. Pete, usa

If you love Bush, you'll love Thompson. The problem is that Bush is only favored by 30% in the states.

When people realize that the Bush machine is backing Thompson, they will be turned off big time.

matt, Harvest, Alabama

Fred Thompson's campaign is over before it began.
Republicans are dead in the water. They cannot be saved by Thompson, Romney, Guliani, or McCain. George W. Bush is such a disaster and downright embarassment to public service, constitutional law and international diplomacy (not to mention presidential rhetoric) that he's practically given the presidency to the Democrats...and America deserves better leadership. Obama in '08!
It's been an eight-year nightmare but it will soon be over!

era, Boston, MA

go fred, he is the only repub. i would vote for so if he doesn't run i won't be voting...

h.hunter, indianapolis, indiana

go fred, he is the only repub. i would vote for so if he doesn't run i won't be voting...

h.hunter, indianapolis, indiana

Fred may be the one person who can turn this nation around.

George Killian, fort Payne, Alabama

Correction. Newt Gingrich is a neoconservative ideologue. Ron Paul is the only conservative running for president.

Nicolas Martin, Indianapolis, IN

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often misunderstood . . Some accuse the Church of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion . . http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early (First Century) Christianity's understanding of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres to Early Christian theology more closely than other Christian denominations.

Bot, Springfield, USA