Former District Attorney Arthur Branch - a.k.a. former Senator Fred Thompson - came back to New York City to speak at a NY State Conservative Party event. He made clear he's really conservative, saying, "Some think the way to beat the Democrats next year is to be more like them. I could not disagree more. My friends, I suggest it's not time for psychological flexibilities in terms of our principles. That's the surefire way of making sure we don't win."
He added, "I was a conservative yesterday. I am a conservative today, and I will be a conservative tomorrow," and later referenced Giuliani's endorsement of Mario Cuomo (over Pataki) and Giuliani's support from the Liberal Party. (That also sounds like a swipe at Democrat- turned-Republican -turned-Independent Mayor Bloomberg!) At any rate, Giuliani's spokespeople said, "Fred Thompson can talk about labels all he wants, but labels are meaningless without results. Mayor Giuliani has done more than just talk like a conservative, he's governed like one and has the record to prove it." Snap?
Later this week, Thompson, as well as Giuliani and Mitt Romney, will be attending the Values Voter Summit in D.C., to win over Christian conservatives. This is where Giuliani has the most to prove, as he's no favorite of the group; this also suggests that Thompson and Romney have the most to gain.
Thompson isn't doing very well in the polls, but we do love the idea of a Law & Order cabinet. And this reminds us of Gail Collins' funny Campaign So-Far Quiz op-ed in the Times this past weekend. Here's a question about Thompson:
16. When Richard Nixon learned that Fred Thompson was going to be the Republicans’ counsel on the Watergate investigation, he told aides Thompson was:
A) Fair but lazy.
B) Lazy but tall.
C) Dumb but friendly.
Answer after the jump.
Photograph of Fred Thompson and his smoking wife Jeri by Stuart Ramson/AP
