Prediction: Fred Thompson will be the next U.S. President

[Redbear]

During the long, hot summer of 2007:

1. There will be revelations about Dick Cheney's direct involvement in military contracts and he will suddenly decide his health requires he retire immediately.

2. The DA from Law and Order will be appointed the new VP.

3. Continuing revelations drop Bush's approval numbers below 20.

4. The House actually sets impeachment hearings for the fall.

5. McCain, Romney, and Guliani continue to weaken.

6. GOP heavy-hitters convince W to resign and let Fred run as the incumbent. W immediately leaves for Costa Rica.

7. Joe Lieberman becomes the new vice-president.

8. Thompson immediately re-deploys all American troops out of Iraq.

[displacedtexan]

1. Lymphoma

IMHO, Repubs in power would never approve of him now.

[HereSince1628]

3. I think you're right... it'd be more likely Jeb Bush. n/t

[aquart]

2. Thank you for your concern.

We should all just give up now, right?

A disgusting paean to hopelessness.

[Botany]

4. Thompson = S & L mess

He was the lobbyist that got the deregulation on the S & Ls pushed through.

Hang that around his neck.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

20. many had forgotten about that

[TwilightGardener]

5. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! A senior citizen with cancer is going

to be president. And the Senate will allow this to happen...and Thompson, friend of Dick Cheney, will deploy the troops out of Iraq---BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[napi21]

6. Interesting story. I'm wondering if Thompson really WANTS to

be the President. So far all we've heard was from the media and some Pub activists who think they WANT him, but nothing really from Fred. Think about it. Fred isan older man who has admitted he has cancer...though it's in remission. I do believe he's a fairly intelligent man and he must know it's a very difficult and physically taxing job. All you have to do is look atcomparrison pictures of ANY president before and after he was President. ALL of them have aged dramatically! Even Shrub, the one who took the most vacations and pawned most of the "hard work" off on others, looks much more than 6 years older than he was in 2000.

Does Fred REALLY WANT that job right now? I'm not so sure.

[TwilightGardener]

8. Fred is seeking fawning publicity, which is what his acting and Senate careers

were all about, until the Senate work got "irrelevant"--yes, it's hard work to be Senator! Have to listen to constituents, come up with legislation and resolutions, and all that boring nonsense! The POTUS, now, that's a powerful acting gig...Fred is a self-glorifying publicity hound who is in love with the sound of his own voice.

[earthside]

7. It is More Simple Than That

Democrats nominate Hillary Clinton.

[Nedsdag]

9. If that happens,

then Fred Thompson becomes the 44th President of the United States.

[TwilightGardener]

10. If Hillary is the nominee, then ANY GOPer will be the prez.

[ChiciB1]

36. I AGREE!!! n/t

[Redbear]

12. I agree.

I don't think the Repubs win in 2008 regardless of who they run.

I just see George and Dick leaving town, Fred becoming the 44th president, and the Democratic nominee becoming the 45th.

[Clark2008]

13. Or any of the top three.

This is something I'd hate to be correct on - but, if I don't see any of our front-runners beating F. Thompson. They can't flip any purple/red states because none of them can get the white male Bubba swing vote (and, yes, there are plenty of swing Bubba voters - these are the folks who voted for B. Clinton).

[NormanYorkstein]

11. Lieberman WILL be involved in something like this

I have no doubt that Lieberman is going to switch or get appointed to something for the GOP.

[fasttense]

14. You are forgetting one thing

When the economy tanks, people tend to vote out the current political power. True they can rig the elections but there will be so much required rigging that they wont be able to overturn the people's votes. Just like in the 2006 elections, the rigging wont matter because they can't switch enough votes.

[LiberalFighter]

15. Bush would never resign. Idiots like him never resign.

[ddeclue]

16. Except that Democrats don't have to approve any Republican nominee.

They can:

Impeach Cheney

Bush nominates Thompson

The Democrats don't approve him and meanwhile proceed to impeach Bush.

President Pelosi gets to pick Democratic Veep.

Doug D.

[tritsofme]

25. Then it looks like a power grab of the WH by Democrats

If it ever gets to that stage, which I severely doubt it will, a consensus VP nominee would be allowed through by Bush, ala Gerald Ford.

[Beetwasher]

17. Not Unless They Steal The Election Again

Which I admit is possible.

However, if you think a Republican will be legitimately elected in '08, you're dreaming. No way in hell. And yes, I'm calling it this far out. Even running incumbent he would not win.

[Redbear]

18. I agree. Things look so bad for them in '08.

Thats why I predict something this radical.

[w4rma]

19. That is highly dependent on who wins the Democratic primary. (nt)

[Dr Fate]

21. If Hillary wins the nom, Thompson could win. That's the only way. n/t

n/t

[Hart2008]

22. A Repuke Gov could beat a Dem Senator who voted for IWR

since he would not be burdened with supporting the IWR.

Thompson is the same. He wasn't in the Senate for the IWR. That is why he polls well against the Senate Dems who have supported the war.

Gary Hart would beat Thompson in the West, unlocking the Electoral College.

:kick: HART 2008! :kick:

[Dr Fate]

23. I would LOVE for Gary Hart to jump in- I want MORE choices, not less. n/t

n/t

[Hart2008]

24. We are working on it! n/t

[Alexander]

37. Fred Thompson WAS in the Senate for IWR - he voted for it.

He left the Senate three months later.

I don't see him winning anything, particularly since he doesn't seem serious about running, he's had cancer, a recently deceased daughter, a trophy wife, and he just isn't that telegenic.

These are all shallow reasons, but they're the same kinds of reasons people gave for supporting Bush.

How did a former raging alcoholic who claimed to have not touched alcohol since he found Jesus become the candidate people wanted to "have a beer with"? (I attribute this to the Bush campaign's history of getting the press corps drunk and letting them do *whatever* they wanted on the plane he borrowed from Kenny boy)

[Hersheygirl]

26. Strongly disagree.

By the end of this year and the beginning of 2008, things will have gotten so out of hand for the Republicans that the majority of Americans will turn to the Democrats to save this union from itself. The Democrats could put up their donkey mascot and win by landslide, that is how bad it will be for Republicans.

I come from a very conservative area and believe me, it is being seen here already. The trust is gone.

[TwilightGardener]

27. This is the most whacked-out, crack-smoking football fantasy I have

ever read on DU. I initially thought you were kidding, but I actually see people on here discussing this rationally. Holy shit, people, even if Dick steps down, there won't necessarily be another VP--we've lived without one before. And even if there is, it would probably have to be an elected official, or the person would have to pass some sort of Congressional approval. And even if Repugs could choose someone, they would probably choose a wise old Senator or cabinet member. And even if they chose a candidate, it would be McCain. Or Brownback. It sure as hell wouldn't be a sick-looking, elderly current actor with cancer whose last year in any kind of elected office was five years ago. He's toast, politically. Any shot he had, and that was dubious, is effectively cancelled, even if he tries to run. Can I have a hit of what y'all are smoking?

[Redbear]

28. You forget we are dealing with the whole "reality" is a thing of the past guys.

Thompson is already at 12% in the polls and isn't even running yet.

[TwilightGardener]

29. So was Gingrich. He's not going to be Prez either.

[GreenArrow]

30. Chuck Hagel

.

[TwilightGardener]

31. If this were actually to come to pass (and it won't), he's the only 'Pug Senator who would

be acceptable to Dems.

[jcrew2001]

32. Condi would be selected as VP imo

because Bush cares more about Legacy than having another repub win the white house. Condi won't run for the presidency, but Bush wants to reward her as his friend and as the first Black VP.

Thompson would be an interesting choice though, but he should run with Waterston as his VP!

[Redbear]

35. Interesting thought.

My guess is Bush won't have enough power left to choose his own VP.

I agree Thompson/Waterston would be an imposing ticket.

[mitchtv]

33. Bwahahahahahaha

make that Paraguay

[Felix Mala]

34. I've thought they might choose Santorum, too, if they think the

"Christian" might abandon them in '08.