Althouse: What? No, Tommy?!

April 14, 2010

What? No, Tommy?!

"The only person who knows what I'm going to do is myself and I don't know what I'm going to do."

16 comments:

David said...: Come on, Tommy. One more time. Let's have a choice.; 4/14/10, 10:30 AM
MadisonMan said...: Could've been a story about Brett.; 4/14/10, 10:35 AM
Scott said...: Thompson would be a pretty strong candidate for President.; 4/14/10, 10:38 AM
MadisonMan said...: Thompson ran in '08. Fell very very flat.; 4/14/10, 10:41 AM
David said...: President of what? He tried the USA thing--didn't work out well. I love Tommy but as President he'd make a good Senator. We already have one of those.; 4/14/10, 11:01 AM
Michael Haz said...: Tommy Thompson is not going to run for the US Senate seat currently held by Russ Feingold. Here are some reasons why:

1. Feingold has about $3.7 million of campaign funds on hand. Thompson has $0, and would have to spend more time raising funds than campaigning, just to achieve parity.

2. Suppose he runs and wins and the Dems maintain a majority of the Senate seats. Thompson would then be a junior senator in the minority party, an untenable circumstance for a former governor and cabinet official.

3. His victory against Feingold is not a sure thing by any stretch. If he loses, the Thompson brand would be damaged, as would be his ability earn a good living as a lobbyist and deal maker.

4. The "everybody likes Tommy" meme changes the day he announces to "half the people in Wisconsin hate Tommy". He doesn't want that as his legacy, win or lose.

5. While he was a member of Bush's cabinet as HHS Secretary, he mad no secret of his belief in a government health care plan. He cannot now run against that.

If he enters politics again, I'd bet that it would be at the executive, not the Congressional level.; 4/14/10, 11:03 AM
former law student said...: Tommy Thompson -- is he still around? I thought he was in the old pols home, along with Spencer Abraham.

How's that "welfare to work" thing working out in Wis, anyways?; 4/14/10, 11:04 AM
Kenneth Silber said...: Funny, I thought this would be some kind of philosophical argument about free will until I clicked on the link.; 4/14/10, 11:56 AM
Calypso Facto said...: IMHO Tommy's popularity had already worn thin at the end of his Governorship and died a slow death while he was at HHS. Endorse Dick Leinenkugel and enjoy your retirement (and free beer?), Mr. Thompson!; 4/14/10, 12:02 PM
MadisonMan said...: Leinenkugel would be a formidable opponent to Feingold, I think. He sure would have name recognition in spades!

Would Feingold seek out an endorsement from Capitol Brewery?; 4/14/10, 12:06 PM
kjbe said...: "He sure would have name recognition in spades!"

I agree, but the biggest thing he's done lately is to work for Doyle, a dem. I'd like to hear where he stands - on anything. He's the new blank slate.

As for Tommy, Michael, you make a lot of very good points. I don't see it happening.; 4/14/10, 12:32 PM
ricpic said...: "I don't know what I'm going to do next," shows that he's human.

Obama, on the other hand, always radiates supreme confidence in the drivel he does and will do next and the drivel he says and will say next. Godlike he is.; 4/14/10, 1:12 PM
John Salmon said...: I don't know if his indecisiveness is refreshing (no overweening ambition?) or distressing (not enough ambition?).; 4/14/10, 1:13 PM
Big Mike said...: Then I guess the Republicans will just have to beat Feingold with someone else, make Thompson an interesting footnote to history.; 4/14/10, 1:23 PM
KCFleming said...: ""What? No, Tommy?!""

Well, he sure plays a mean pinball.; 4/14/10, 2:01 PM
Irene said...: Tommy Thompson will speak at tomorrow's Madison Tea Party rally.; 4/14/10, 7:06 PM