Nixon on Fred Thompson

[akaoni 0]

From the Blotter:

 

In this May 1973 recording, he shared his concern with then-chief of staff Alexander Haig.

 

"He's talking to Fred Thompson. I said you're not --," Haig begins.

 

"Oh sh--, he's dumb as hell. Fred Thompson," Nixon interjects. "Who is he? He won't say anything."

 

In another conversation some weeks later, Nixon and his advisers were still describing Thompson as not very smart but at least beginning to play ball.

 

"Our approach is now, we've got a pretty good rapport with Fred Thompson. He came through fine for us this morning," White House counsel Fred Buzhardt says on a tape from June 6.

 

"He isn't very smart, is he?" Nixon asks.

 

"Not extremely so, but --," Buzhardt says, interrupted by the president.

 

"But he's friendly," Nixon says.

 

"But he's, he's friendly," Buzhardt echoes.

 

"Good."

 

[Snuff 10]

34 years ago.

Also, old news.

[akaoni 0]

34 years ago.

Also, old news.

 

Funny 34 years ago, still funny today.

[Snuff 10]

Funny 34 years ago, still funny today.

 

Funny, yeah, relevant, not so much.

[wiffleball 4,800]

Well, he DOES keep trying to project himself as the next Ronald Reagan. This'll go a long way toward helping cement that idea.

[akaoni 0]

Funny, yeah, relevant, not so much.

 

I don't know, this is the general impression I get when listening to him speak today.

 

Pleasant, but not the sharpest knife in the drawer...

[wiffleball 4,800]

I don't know, this is the general impression I get when listening to him speak today.

 

Pleasant, but not the sharpest knife in the drawer...

 

Heck, he makes the current President look like a damn spoon.

[heavy-set 39]

34 years ago.

Also, old news.

bubba getting sucked off was 10 years ago. yet people still remember

 

 

freddie, dumb but a nice guy

[gocolts 300]

bubba getting sucked off was 10 years ago. yet people still remember

Because that changed the country.

 

This discussion that happened 34 years ago, not so much.

[akaoni 0]

Because that changed the country.

 

This discussion that happened 34 years ago, not so much.

 

Agreed, Watergate had almost no impact on American History...

[gocolts 300]

Agreed, Watergate had almost no impact on American History...

Watergate???? Who said anything about Watergate???? This discussion that happened 34 years ago had absolutely nothing to do with Watergate, numbnuts.

 

That was the comparison heavy set made. The Clinton BJ/lying under oath thing, to this conversation Nixon had about if Fred was a dumbfock. Nothing to do with Watergate, nor did it change the Country.

[akaoni 0]

Watergate???? Who said anything about Watergate???? This discussion that happened 34 years ago had absolutely nothing to do with Watergate, numbnuts.

 

That was the comparison heavy set made. The Clinton BJ/lying under oath thing, to this conversation Nixon had about if Fred was a dumbfock. Nothing to do with Watergate, nor did it change the Country.

 

Wow, I was just going to append my post to try to make it a bit less snarky, but I guess it's too late for that. I would recommend you click on the link and read the context of the quote. Here's a relevent passage:

 

Fred Thompson has made much of his role 30 years ago as a young Senate lawyer helping to lead the investigation of the Watergate scandal and President Richard Nixon.

 

But a much different, less valiant picture of Thompson emerges from listening to the White House audiotapes made at the time, as President Nixon plotted strategy with his aides in the Oval Office.

 

Thompson's job on the Watergate committee was to lead the Republican side of the investigation. He was appointed by his mentor, Sen. Howard Baker of Tennessee, who is now co-chair of Thompson's 2008 presidential bid.

 

You see, Nixon was concerned that he wouldn't do a good enough job defending him in the Watergate investigation. That's the entire reason the conversations about Thompson were going down. Now, I'm not saying that these comments about Thompson should sway people's opinion about him significantly (although his conduct in the Watergate investigation is certianly part of his political record, and should be considered), but they have everything to do with Watergate.

[Snoopy1 0]

Wow, I was just going to append my post to try to make it a bit less snarky, but I guess it's too late for that. I would recommend you click on the link and read the context of the quote. Here's a relevent passage:

You see, Nixon was concerned that he wouldn't do a good enough job defending him in the Watergate investigation. That's the entire reason the conversations about Thompson were going down. Now, I'm not saying that these comments about Thompson should sway people's opinion about him significantly (although his conduct in the Watergate investigation is certianly part of his political record, and should be considered), but they have everything to do with Watergate.

A few days later, White House aides are heard saying Thompson will be even more helpful than his boss, Sen. Baker, and that Thompson agreed to secretly help undercut the credibility of White House whistleblower John Dean...

 

Later in the tape, Buzhardt says, "[Thompson is] willing to go, you know, pretty much the distance now. And he said he realized his responsibility was going to have to be as a Republican increasingly."

 

In his memoir of the Watergate era, Thompson admits to secretly alerting the White House to key evidence as it was discovered by congressional investigators.

 

Guess he'll run on a "restoring integrity" platform too.

[heavy-set 39]

Because that changed the country.

 

This discussion that happened 34 years ago, not so much.

it sure did change the country.

 

cable news ratings sky rocketed

[akaoni 0]

Guess he'll run on a "restoring integrity" platform too.

 

Well, he is a very "friendly" guy, I'm sure that will serve him well in getting the nomination.