From the AP:

The presidential candidates are wild about Harry. And Teddy. And Martin?

The Associated Press asked them to name their favorite 20th century president from the opposing party. Two presidents swept the standings — Theodore Roosevelt, the Republican who was the nation’s 26th chief executive, 1901 to 1909; and Harry S. Truman, the Democrat who was the 33rd president, 1945-1953. The runner-up: a guy who played a president on TV.

Responses to the question, Who is your favorite 20th century president from the other party?

DEMOCRATS:

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: “Teddy Roosevelt. He busted the trusts. He knew we couldn’t have monopolies. He had an idea that I consider to be just as relevant today. That the welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us.”

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: “Teddy Roosevelt, because he stood up for what I would describe as the little guy, stood up for the little guy with a lot courage against some very powerful opposition.”

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: “Teddy Roosevelt, because he challenged special interests to lead a progressive movement.”

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: “Teddy Roosevelt, because I broke his handshaking record. I also admire him because he was a great conservationist.” Richardson shook 13,392 hands in eight hours Sept. 14, 2002, while campaigning for governor, breaking Roosevelt’s record of handshakes by a politician. Roosevelt shook 8,513 hands while greeting guests at the White House on a day in 1907.

REPUBLICANS:

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: “Harry Truman”

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: “Harry Truman”

Arizona Sen. John McCain: Harry Truman, for standing his ground against public pressure to withdraw troops from Korea. “The history, I think, of the Cold War would have been very different if he had been swayed by public opinion.”

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Harry Truman. “I like the fact he was able to make tough decisions. He had some of the toughest decisions in the history of this country to make. I find a bit of a kindred spirit in one sense — he was a deliberative, thoughtful, analytical president. … And he did what he thought was right and he suffered the consequences of doing what he thought was right. But looking back, you say, this man was a great president. We were lucky to have had him in that office.”

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: “Martin Sheen.” The fellow actor played two Democratic presidents on TV, the fictional Josiah Bartlet in “The West Wing” and John Kennedy in a miniseries.

................................................................................................................................................................................................
comments (3) | digg this | reddit | facebook | del.icio.us | stumble | permalink

In an official AP questionnaire, GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson responded that his most prized possession is his MILF “trophy wife,” Jeri (Kehn) Thompson.

Before Thompson married Jeri in 2002, she lived with a boyfriend “whose main claim to fame was getting arrested in Red Square for unfurling a pizza-parlor banner in the last days of the Cold War.”

Jeri, 41, told People earlier this year that she’s never been “an older-man-dater kind of girl.” In her first interview after her husband declared his candidacy, she recalled being attracted to Fred’s “passion for a campaign finance investigation.” Reports indicate that she was the motivating factor behind Thompson’s decision to run.

In the same AP questionnaire, Rudy Giuliani said his most prized possession is his “grandfather’s pocket watch.”

................................................................................................................................................................................................
comments (1) | digg this | reddit | facebook | del.icio.us | stumble | permalink

I was hoping to get as rich as Mitt Romney, so I don’t have to worry about taxes, Fred Thompson said at one point during the GOP presidential debate this afternoon.

Zing.

To which Romney replied something quite lame, to the effect of, “Hey, I want to be more like you.”

Then Thompson, quick as lightning, shot back: “Well, you are getting to be a pretty good actor.”

The crowd went wild. And Romney actually quietly murmured, “Takes one to know one.”

................................................................................................................................................................................................
comments (1) | digg this | reddit | facebook | del.icio.us | stumble | permalink

Update, noon: Terry McAuliffe, the leader of the HRC team, is already taking to the airwaves to declare that there is no shake-up in the makeup of the campaign staff. Yes, kids, the rumors are apparently stinging. And McAuliffe has got to be pretty mad at his friend Bill Clinton for taking the internal squabbles public.

Original, 11:02 a.m.: Various campaign insiders are leaking to press outlets that Bill Clinton is peeved big time that campaign leaders for Hillary Clinton have allowed Barack Obama to take so many potshots at his wife without receiving a similarly negative response.

Several staff members may be fired and replaced, Big Head DC hears, with the likes of James Carville — someone who definitely knows how to play dirty politics. And a close Bill pal still.

Although Carville’s wife, Mary Matalin, is actively advising Fred Thompson’s GOP presidential campaign, Carville has rarely been involved in political campaigns as a principal adviser to a candidate since Clinton’s 1992 presidential victory.

................................................................................................................................................................................................
comments (4) | digg this | reddit | facebook | del.icio.us | stumble | permalink

In an interview with FOX News after CNN’s debate last night, Sen. Fred Thompson offered an odd challenge to his opponents. “I would like for each of us in small groups – two or three – to sit in small groups and to have a discussion, a round table discussion about issues,” he said during an interview. “(With) anybody who’s a serious contender for the nomination. I would get to decide as to who I wanted sit down with, but it would be several, and I’d do it one on one or one on three, or whatever.” Sounds like quite the exclusive tea party, Fred. But, based on the polls, why exactly should you be invited?

................................................................................................................................................................................................
comments (1) | digg this | reddit | facebook | del.icio.us | stumble | permalink

While GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said FOX News is the channel he turns on to avoid liberal bias, contender Fred Thompson has a much different view. In fact, this weekend Thompson told host Chris Wallace that he believes “FOX News is biased against his campaign.” After FOX aired clips of Fred Barnes and Charles Krauthammer attacking Thompson’s candidacy, Thompson responded, “This has been a constant mantra of FOX, to tell you the truth.” “I don’t know that FOX has been going after you,” Wallace said. Thompson replied, “You have the right to put in your one side, and put in the FOX side, and I have the right to respond to it.”

................................................................................................................................................................................................
comment | digg this | reddit | facebook | del.icio.us | stumble | permalink

Although Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson already had a child decades ago, his opinions on abortion didn’t firm up until four years ago when his second wife Jeri became pregnant with his second round of kids. That’s what he told Tim Russert today when pressed on his personal views on the controversial topic. Thompson contends he’s always been pro-life in his mind, but many conservatives have questioned his stance. He believes that states should be able to individually decide on abortion laws.

................................................................................................................................................................................................
comment | digg this | reddit | facebook | del.icio.us | stumble | permalink

A ringing endorsement from beyond the grave, via the Blotter:

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.

When Nixon’s aide H.R. Haldeman told Nixon of Thompson’s appointment, Nixon was less than impressed.

“Baker has appointed Fred Thompson as minority counsel,” Haldeman is heard saying on one tape.

“Oh sh–, that kid,” Nixon responds.

“I guess so,” Haldeman replies.

Nixon worried that Thompson’s Democratic counterpart, Sam Dash, would outsmart Thompson. Read more…

................................................................................................................................................................................................
comment | digg this | reddit | facebook | del.icio.us | stumble | permalink

Jeri Thompson, 41, the subject of many a stripper pole joke since her 65-year-old husband Fred began mulling a presidential run, tells People that she’s never been “an older-man-dater kind of girl.” In her first interview since her husband declared his candidacy, which hits newsstands on Friday, she recalls being attracted to Fred’s “passion for a campaign finance investigation.” Yikes!

She also says it’s hard for her not to be defensive regarding allegations that she’s a kept woman. “I almost think they had to fabricate that trophy-wife stuff because there’s nothing interesting to say,” she said. Still, she says she can understand why some call her a MILF.

Earlier: “Jeri the Tyrant” Reluctantly Gives Up Some Power

And: Fred Thompson Sticks Cigars in Dirty Places

................................................................................................................................................................................................
comments (4) | digg this | reddit | facebook | del.icio.us | stumble | permalink

Recently uncovered documents stored in a public archive at the University of Tennessee reveal that during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Fred Thompson sent a risqué note to former President Bill Clinton’s chief of staff, joking that he shared the former President’s notorious taste in cigars.

Related: Popular BHDC Search: Jeri Thompson Nude Pics

................................................................................................................................................................................................
comments (3) | digg this | reddit | facebook | del.icio.us | stumble | permalink