CNN

I really hope Thompson wins the Republican nomination...it would be fun smashing another neo conservative right wing into the ground next year.

I'll Bet here is something you never knew about ol' Freddy Boy back in his Nixon Aid Days….

The day before Senate Watergate Committee minority counsel Fred Thompson made the inquiry that launched him into the national spotlight — asking an aide to President Nixon whether there was a White House taping system — he telephoned Nixon's lawyer.
Thompson tipped off the White House that the committee knew about the taping system and would be making the information public. In his all-but-forgotten Watergate memoir, "At That Point in Time," Thompson said he acted with "no authority" in divulging the committee's knowledge of the tapes, which provided the evidence that led to Nixon's resignation. It was one of many Thompson leaks to the Nixon team. …

"Thompson was a mole for the White House … Fred was working hammer and tong to defeat the investigation of finding out what happened to authorize Watergate and find out what the role of the president was."

I’ve talked to a lot of liberals and never met one that wanted to repeal the second amendment. I’ve talked to a lot of conservatives and never met one that wanted to legalize private ownership of tactical nuclear warheads. Once we’ve agreed on those points, everything else is deciding where we draw the line.

Out here in the west we like our guns, and we aren’t too likely to give them up to anybody. On the other hand, we did have a pretty famous lawman who kept the peace by banning firearms in the city limits. His name was Wyatt Earp.

I tried to watch his speech to the V.A. and I was so bored by him I turned it off half way through.

He obviously wants money and endorsement from the NRA, so he'll play up the fact that people who get guns from badly oversighted gunshows and other shady means supported by the gun industry shouldn't be able to sue.

Welcome to George Bush's America Part II.

This guy should go back to SAG because he's sagging [....].

I have no worries about the possiblities of this guy being the republican candiate. He is sooooo boring.

Not only is he behind the times he is an extremely dull speaker. He will put everyone to sleep. Just because someone is tall and has enough acting chops to pull of acting presidential does not mean he will be good at being president.

Sorry, Freddy, but you're a little late.

Your platform of pro-lfe (even though you lobbied for PRO-CHOICE causes earlier in your career), pro-2nd Amendment (NO ONE cares) was better suited for past elections, NOT this one.

Think this guy will just get bored in the middle of a debate and say "F this I am out of here"?

Try telling that to my wife when you break into our house..

If I broke into your house my gun would already be in my hand. The odds are real good that she would get shot first.

"activist judges" eh? More conservative talking points for the lowest base audience. Yeah, I suppose you need their votes. After all, they are a big part of our population.

Gonna end womens' rights of choice, too, eh Fred? Have everyone carrying automatic rifles and millions more unwanted babies to grow up to be targets for trigger-happy yokels to shoot in "self defense"?

The comments by the liberal anti-gun crowd are hilarious.

The problem is not guns but lack of proper training by those who own and use them.

What's next for the anti-gun libs? Ban cars because of drunk drivers? How about restricting martial arts to the military and law enforcement? Knives are dangerous. Maybe we shouldn't have those either. We can all use sporks.

There are times I think the socialist liberals in this country will not be happy until we live in a nanny state where we need the government's permission to blow our own noses.

Everyone that knows anything about the increased violence amongst the youth in our country all agree that the increased use and availabilty of guns is the leading cause. Show me some statistical evidence, Senator, that backs up your claim. No one else has ever seen it so where do you come up with this brilliant statement?

Anyone who owns a gun thinking they are safer than the next Joe is either naive or a fool.
–Posted By David, Gilbert Arizona

Try telling that to my wife when you break into our house..

It Looks more and more like he’s gone beyond “testing the waters” into Campaign Finance Violations. Can Laws stop the corrupt?

"That statement isn't true. The violent crime rate per capita in Great Britain, where guns are banned, is consistant with the violent crime rate in the United States. What that means is banning guns does not reduce violent crime. Owning guns does not reduce violent crime either. The stark truth is that people own guns because they are fun to own, plain and simple. Anyone who owns a gun thinking they are safer than the next Joe is either naive or a fool."

Too bad the violent crime rate is on the rise at an enormous rate in Great Britain. Wanna know why? If you have a guarantee that the guy you're about to mug or house you're about to break into does not have a gun or means of self defense whereas you do have a weapon of some form, you have nothing to worry about. Banning guns is one of the classic first steps of a totalitarian government. National ID (Show me your papers Comrade, oh you dont have them? Off to siberia with you!) is as well.

I'm already sick of this guy.

New election, same old shenanigans.

When the smoke clears and the field is open to view Hillary will be the demo candidate and the dems will succeed in pulling defeat out of the jaws of victory. She can't win; she won't win because the majority of the public can't stomach her. Even Bill can't stomach her...look at his running around record. Bill hangs around because he can't get away from potential power and the Clinton marriage was an agreement from the beginning to be a political partnership. Unfortunately, this is an election that will be decided by emotion and we will see a continuation of a republican presidency, irrespective of who the republican candidate will be.

It is appalling that Thompson really thinks an increase in gun sales leads to a decrease in crime. Here we go-let's throw another dumb redneck into office.

He stands for all things republican. He is the face of the republican party and rides the hard right. He is someone who can get the republican base excited....ohhh if he were only actually a candidate.

I dislike the way he thinks this race is a game, how he thinks he can play the American public, or that he thinks he can skirt the laws by waiting to announce he is running. I hope that everyone else sees that he is not the kind of person who should be running our country (no matter which side of the aisle he stands on).

Thompson is walking a strict republican party line, pro-life, traditional family values, strong military, and pro-gun. One very telling thing about Thompson's non-campaign is that he truly believes in what he says. While he was in public office his voting record was consistantly republican values, despite his employment as a lobbyist.

Our Constitution gives us the right to own and bare arms. I have no issue with that. If the majority are anti-gun then change the Constitution. Don't take it out on a candidate who upholds Constitutional rights.

The only issue I have with Thompson's position is this statement: "an increase in gun ownership rates leads to a decrease in crime"

That statement isn't true. The violent crime rate per capita in Great Britain, where guns are banned, is consistant with the violent crime rate in the United States. What that means is banning guns does not reduce violent crime. Owning guns does not reduce violent crime either. The stark truth is that people own guns because they are fun to own, plain and simple. Anyone who owns a gun thinking they are safer than the next Joe is either naive or a fool.

Get in or shut up...theres no consequences for someone who has not officially entered the race!

What a disengenuous neandrathal !!! Is this the opening salvo of a Presidential campaign???

I would agree with any parties candidate that is for tightening our gun laws in regards to sales over the internet and at gun shows. Too many loopholes that allow bad people to get them way to easily.

The laws vary from state to state way too much, and we should have one set of laws for all citizens that want to obtain a gun.

I am not anti-gun, I just want to know who is buying them and where.

Yesterday it was the fear factor. Last week it was abortion and gay marriage. Next on the agenda is gun control. This guy is soooooo predictable! YAAAAAAWWWWWN!

The Republican candidates, one after another, are all vying to accept the baton from George W. Bush, to have the opportunity to continue to receive the strong support, the vast contributions, the effective enabling and the responsibility for the focused cause of the rich and powerful. All of the candidates, Democrats included, with their unchecked egos leave much to be desired but it really seems doubtful that this country can ever benefit from another puppet aggressively performing for the select few: ignoring a decaying infrastructure; pursuing policies creating richer rich and poorer poor; patronizing ‘big money’ resulting in a run away deficit; neglecting the real needs of the average American; and with deception and subterfuge justifying the costs in lives and taxpayer dollars for fighting the wrong war. George W. Bush clearly demonstrates that we can’t trust their words and rationalizations as he consistently and arrogantly pursues a private agenda for the benefit of special interests and a select few, and now we are asked to support a continuation of that same mentality. No, it just doesn’t seem like this country can take ‘more of the same’.

Secondly, Senator Dodd’s position that initiating impeachment proceedings against President Bush (and necessarily against Dick Cheney) would be a mistake, simply fails to recognize that it would be a strong, positive message to the world, a powerful warning to future administrations and needed encouragement to the American people. Rather than their always concentrating on what may be the least politically risky course, it would be nice to see them responsibly take the action they honestly know is best for the country. "More of the same' is not what this country needs.

Either get in the race or get out, Fred, you CFR cronie.

Giuliani was a fascist mayor who thought that the Constitution only applied to a certain class of people. Rudy allowed only one way in NYC, HIS way! If you did not agree with him, you were cast out. When he was elected for his first term, NYC needed a fascist leader. America does not need him now.

So Thompson thinks we'ld be better off if everyone was able to carry a gun anywhere and anytime! And he's a potential presidential candidate who's polling well? That's scary.

fred is just as ridiculous as the rest of the gun-crazy republicans!

Judges "who apply the law as written."

GASP! But what if I think those laws are unconstitutional??

Oh my God...He's slamming Giuliani for "forcing his ways on us?" This from his right-wing, moral majority, live-by-my-christian beliefs platform? He doesn't want Giuliani to force gun control on him, but he JUST SAID 2 days ago he wants to force anti-abortion laws on everybody? What a hypocrite! Everytime this guy opens his mouth My jaw drops in disbelief.

Didn't I tell you this guy was going to rear his head as the msiah to the NASCAR neanderthals?

Heeeeee's baaaaaaaack!

What part of “well regulated” does the NRA not understand?

It is a verifiable fact: In communities where there is above average legal gun ownership, there is below average violent crime. Maybe a well armed society really is a polite society?

I'm no Guiliani fan, but as a New Yorker, Thompson's and Romney's anti-NY comments are in very bad taste and highly offensive [I would dare say racist and a bit red-necked as well].

Guns don't kill people. People kill people, guns just help people kill people. I'm confused then how more guns = less crime. Maybe it slightly deters it but at least ERs across the US will get to enjoy more GSW victims.