I pretended to be Jim Geraghty from National Review Online and snuck onto a conference call with Fred Thompson campaign manager Bill Lacy. According to him, no matter how huge your expectations are for the debate this afternoon, make them even huger! He expects both Rudy and Mitt to drop out of the race in shame afterwards. Also, he says they will win Iowa by at least 20 points or they’re just going to go ahead and give up!
No, he didn’t say any of that. Instead, the bloggers on the call asked lots of smart, boring questions. Surprisingly, none of them were very pointed. The real Jim (cut and past last name here) has a write up of all the questions asked (I chimed in with the only substantial one).
Anyway, the debate is on CNBC at 4pm ET, and Jon Henke will be liveblogging it at the Fred File (I’m guessing he’ll be biased, though… but who couldn’t be; it’s Fred Thompson!). The debate will also be rerun at 9pm on MSNBC right after Keith Olbermann (Keith Olbermann had this to say), but that’s the same time House is on. Did you know the actor who plays House is British? So is the woman playing the the Bionic Woman. We can’t even find American actors to play Americans anymore? That’s being outsourced to? I hope they’re asked about that in the debate.
UPDATE:
Erick of Redstate and Tommy Oliver of Race 4 2008 on the conference call.
UPDATE 2
Here’s Matt Lewis of Townhall.com’s take and here’s what John Hawkins of Right Wing News thought.
Hey, I find events somewhat significant if I’m involved in some way.
I was also in on the call, and you represented yourself well. And your analysis is spot on.
I fell for the olberman thing again
and laughed my ass off
I see your question was:
Frank J: Pleased with Darrell Hammond’s impression of Fred on Saturday Night Live? He may be doing it for the next eight years.
Does the Thompson campaign know how to use humor?
Fred will probably do well enough at the debate to keep people who support his party interested. He will then go on to lose the nomination to Giuliani or Romney. Giuliani or Romney will then go on to lose the election to Hillary. Don’t worry though ultra conservatives because Frank J. will be here during Hillary’s reign of practicality to make you LOL.
“Hillary’s reign of practicality”… Since when did the words practicality and terror become interchangeable? I’d rather watch paint dry while I set my hair on fire as someone drags their fingernails down a chalk board than listen to her speak…
Moral courage isn’t one of Sarcasm Man’s strong suits.
Anyone know how to remotely set your DVR to record All Things Fred? I won’t be home from work in time to record the debate.
Guess I’ll have to catch the replay.
“Hillary’s reign of practicality”…kinda like the “night of the long knifes” for us conservatives! I’m wondering if my family will be billed for the bullet used for my “re-education” or if the clintonisim party elects will decide to pay for it?
Sorry…spell check changed it…”Night of the long knives”…
Proper Question: Will Fred Thompson make Matthews wet his pants?