If you can read this, either the style sheet didn't load or you have an older browser that doesn't support style sheets. Try clearing your browser cache and refreshing the page.
Fark SearchWeb Fark

         more options... Create account

(CNN) Unlikely If you've ever said, "The ideal president is someone who doesn't want the job", your candidate has arrived   (politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com) divider line 49
More: Unlikely  
•       •       •

4467 clicks; posted to Politics » on 29 Dec 2007 at 11:48 PM   |  Make this a Fark FavoriteFavorite    |   share: Share on OMGTWITTER WEB2.0share on StumbleUponshare on Facebook  more»   |    Get this fabulous T-Shirt and impress the methane out of your friends! shirt it!

49 Comments   (+0 »)


Fark.com's  Political Inclination Thermometric Analyzer:
Neutral 3.28% Fascist
Archived thread
 
DrBenway [TotalFark] 2007-12-29 10:52:34 PM  
"Unlikely"? Are you kidding? More like "Obvious." Or "DUH."

 
MasterThief [TotalFark] 2007-12-29 10:52:40 PM  
"You keep using that quote. I do not think he said what you think he said." (new window)

So where does this fall in the list of Fark? My vote is for "headline contradicted by actual article quote."

 
bitteroldman 2007-12-29 11:15:52 PM  
...The former actor...
WHAT!
Has he announced his retirement from acting?
Or does this reporter just use the English language any way he wants without actually meaning anything?
WORDS HAVE MEANING!
Did the reporter get his degree from Hollywood Upstairs Journalism College? Likely finished first in his class.

 
KramericaWallet 2007-12-29 11:53:58 PM  
Wonderful, in one sentence he reinforces two ideas: that he's lazy and that he's a liar.

 
Smellvin 2007-12-29 11:56:17 PM  
Thompson's too late. Guess the candidate:

Q: What made you think that you should be president?

A: It's probably the other way around. I yielded to those who think I should. I run for a completely different reason than most of the others. They run because they think they know what's best for you, and what you should do and what rights you should have and how much freedom you have to yield for me to take care of you. I run for the presidency because I don't want to run anybody's life. I don't want to run the economy, because I don't know how to run the economy - nobody does. Anybody who claims they can are lying to themselves or are deliberately lying to the people. And I don't want to run the world. I want to be president for the things I don't want to do. It takes a bit of wisdom in the sense that you know you can't do certain things. I think it's more important that you know what you can't do than bragging about doing things you're not supposed to do.

/Hint: He's both seen and touched more vaginas than Bill Clinton.

 
Slamguy 2007-12-29 11:57:01 PM  
sucks.

 
State_College_Arsonist 2007-12-30 12:01:07 AM  
I'd vote for Fred over the rest of the pack, though I might vote for Ron in the primary to make a point. The less a president wants to spend the time messing with my life, and the lives of everyone else, the better.

 
Sweaty Jerry 2007-12-30 12:02:11 AM  
Smellvin:

/Hint: He's both seen and touched more vaginas than Bill Clinton.


You underestimate the virility of the former President.

 
Cowboy Spencer 2007-12-30 12:09:04 AM  
Al Gore? Please say Al Gore.

/re-elect Gore :)

 
CravenMorehead 2007-12-30 12:09:50 AM  
He looks like a George Bush wannabe in that picture. What a douche bag.

 
Axolotl 2007-12-30 12:11:34 AM  
As a small business owner (really), I have never hired an entry-level staffer, let alone a manager, who gave me the impression they didn't want the specific job they applied for. If it sounds like they want, well, A job, and this is a job, maybe they'll learn to like it... sorry, I need people who want to be there.

 
idsfa 2007-12-30 12:17:05 AM  
I believe you have mistaken necessary for sufficient.

Plenty of the guys on skid row don't want to be President either.

 
1. Put snakes on plane 2007-12-30 12:22:55 AM  
Axolotl: As a small business owner (really), I have never hired an entry-level staffer, let alone a manager, who gave me the impression they didn't want the specific job they applied for. If it sounds like they want, well, A job, and this is a job, maybe they'll learn to like it... sorry, I need people who want to be there.

I'd rather have a president who saw the position as a duty. I like Thompson's attitude even if I don't agree with his politics.

 
Angel of Death 2007-12-30 12:32:50 AM  
Axolotl: I have never hired an entry-level staffer, let alone a manager, who gave me the impression they didn't want the specific job they applied for. If it sounds like they want, well, A job, and this is a job, maybe they'll learn to like it... sorry, I need people who want to be there.

I'm not the owner of any business, big or small, nor do I hire or fire people, but...is this really realistic? Is McDonald's supposed to hold out for people who really want to cook fries?

Some jobs suck. What's the sense in pretending that they don't?

 
KramericaWallet 2007-12-30 12:33:01 AM  
put

Are you saying you actually believe him?

 
LavenderWolf 2007-12-30 12:35:04 AM  
bitteroldman

It did say that he had cancelled his last acting gigs. Ergo he has (temporarily) retired from acting in favour of politics.

 
Sarcasticus 2007-12-30 12:36:41 AM  
Let's not forget this man was in Die Hard 2.

/Get John McClane for a running mate.

 
Genta [TotalFark] 2007-12-30 12:45:18 AM  
Axolotl: As a small business owner (really), I have never hired an entry-level staffer, let alone a manager, who gave me the impression they didn't want the specific job they applied for. If it sounds like they want, well, A job, and this is a job, maybe they'll learn to like it... sorry, I need people who want to be there.

nice for small businesses...

but for president ill take a philosopher king over someone with ambition like hillary any day.

 
Axolotl 2007-12-30 12:46:06 AM  
1. Put snakes on plane I'd rather have a president who saw the position as a duty. I like Thompson's attitude even if I don't agree with his politics.

Angel of Death I'm not the owner of any business, big or small, nor do I hire or fire people, but...is this really realistic? Is McDonald's supposed to hold out for people who really want to cook fries?

Some jobs suck. What's the sense in pretending that they don't?


Perhaps I should clarify - I own a motorcycle dealership. Everyone in the industry, myself included, could make more money doing a job in some other industry. It only works if you want to be there - if you have a passion, our customers get that. If it's just a job, go make more money doing something dull and profitable.

Most people who could get elected POTUS could make more money doing something else, except GWB, who couldn't get a job managing a Walmart without family influence. So if it ain't about the money, you better have a passion for the job. Or go away.

 
Aughsum 2007-12-30 12:50:37 AM  
hes definitely running an interesting campaign..

 
FecalMatters 2007-12-30 12:57:35 AM  
I thought we already had a president that didn't have an interest in being president.

Presidentin' is hard, y'all.

 
Dave The Slushy 2007-12-30 01:03:52 AM  
Jack Ryan? No? Ah crap. Jack Ryan would be awesome. He'd be even better than that teacher lady...

/Fictional presidents for '08
//Sometimes, it's better when they aren't real people

 
ukiah 2007-12-30 01:14:54 AM  
I thought of Thompson as soon as I read this headline. Conan did a great spoof a couple months ago saying Fred's new slogan was going to be "Fred Thompson for president...or not...whatever...I don't care."

 
1. Put snakes on plane 2007-12-30 01:19:54 AM  
Axolotl:
Perhaps I should clarify - I own a motorcycle dealership. Everyone in the industry, myself included, could make more money doing a job in some other industry. It only works if you want to be there - if you have a passion, our customers get that. If it's just a job, go make more money doing something dull and profitable.

Most people who could get elected POTUS could make more money doing something else, except GWB, who couldn't get a job managing a Walmart without family influence. So if it ain't about the money, you better have a passion for the job. Or go away.


Comparing your job to the presidency doesn't work. Effectiveness at the kind of job the presidency is has nothing to do with wanting to do it.

I'd rather have someone who sees the job as fulfilling a duty to the country because they think they are going to be the best person for the job than someone chomping at the bit to be there because that's what they want to do. If Thompson sees the position as a roll-up-the-sleeves-and-get-to-work kind of thing, more power to him. The worst reason for running for president is wanting to be president for its own sake.

 
sage37 2007-12-30 01:27:35 AM  
I don't really see the problem here... He doesn't like the idea of incessantly campaigning and fund-raising, and would rather just sit down and start signing or vetoing bills.

Sure, so I would never vote for the guy, but you have to love his attitude.

 
keylock71 2007-12-30 02:01:37 AM  
Yeah right... just more of the same old shiat, if you look at his record.


He's just old... very old. It's probably hard for him to urinate, never mind run for president.

 
NewportBarGuy [TotalFark] 2007-12-30 02:06:07 AM  
img292.imageshack.us


"With all my heart, no."

Go back to the movies, Fred.

 
NewportBarGuy [TotalFark] 2007-12-30 02:22:31 AM  
rush_limbaugh_sent_me: liberals contend this is a bad thing and a reason not to vote for him.

Your definition of "liberal" needs a tweak, son. He's a lazy douchebag who leaked secret Senate testimony to the Nixon White House.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

 
Befuddled 2007-12-30 03:18:58 AM  
I guess that is a better way than most to describe why Thompson has been such a dud all along; he's not an idiot, he's just not really trying. Elect him and then you'll see the whiz bang guy he really is.

/The nation's backwash fell for Bush's bullshiat, so why not this

 
bobsagatsbleedingdemocracy 2007-12-30 03:31:22 AM  
As a Republican presidential candidate, I am really getting a kick out of these replies.

 
Angel of Death 2007-12-30 03:33:39 AM  
Axolotl: So if it ain't about the money, you better have a passion for the job. Or go away.

What if it's about lust for power and the desire to advance personal agendas regardless of the good of the country? I imagine that a person motivated thereby would "really want to be President" with a great passion, but I certainly don't want him or her in the White House.

 
wildcardjack 2007-12-30 05:38:35 AM  
Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.
Douglas Adams

 
Befuddled 2007-12-30 05:44:35 AM  
The guy who "Doesn't want the job" isn't someone who has been both a Senator and lobbyist whoring for big business for decades. Thompson is not the reluctant yet noble draftee. Thompson is just an idiot opportunist.

 
one moment please 2007-12-30 07:20:38 AM  
At least he says what he thinks - even if you asshats don't like it. When did Fark become so liberal and close minded and just downright mean?

/won't vote for Fred
//like his style though
///don't really want my job either

 
copper1861 2007-12-30 07:35:58 AM  
Smellvin: It's probably the other way around. I yielded to those who think I should. I run for a completely different reason than most of the others. They run because they think they know what's best for you, and what you should do and what rights you should have and how much freedom you have to yield for me to take care of you. I run for the presidency because I don't want to run anybody's life.

I absolutely agree that Ron Paul was drafted by his fans to run the president. They tried to get him to run against Bush in 2004, too. One big difference between Paul and Thompson, though, is that once Ron Paul agreed to run, his agreement was wholehearted. Even though he admits to being cajoled into running, his campaign schedule has been dense, and he's definitely putting his heart into it.

 
Disgruntled Postal Worker 2007-12-30 08:27:48 AM  
one moment please: When did Fark become so liberal and close minded and just downright mean?

You must be new here

 
varmitydog 2007-12-30 08:29:00 AM  
Just like Al Gore, the state that he is from will cause me not to vote for him. Tennessee is where our local prison industrial complex contractors come from (CCA). They are skilled in bribery and political games, and managed to get the locals to build (for them at our expense) new jails. They have now also lost at least one previously healthy inmate, due to mysterious circumstances, in each of the past five years. And had a jailbreak. And have mistakenly released inmates early. And that's just in our little county.

Tennessee also gave us outsourced labor for the local hospital. Filled it up with Pakistani, Indian and other assorted foreign doctors. The hospital is known as "infection junction" because the
cleaning standards have been lowered. That, and the fact that a lot of the doctors have trouble speaking English, makes that hospital a place to avoid.

Tennessee is one big frigging menace to society. Be it Al Gore or this phony actor, why would anyone even consider voting for a playboy plutocrat from that place?

 
Macular Degenerate 2007-12-30 11:38:08 AM  
Since the article is farked, I surmise from the comments that we're talking about Thompson.

*sigh*

He's got no chance.

That said, let's have some pics of his hot trophy wife

graphics8.nytimes.com

/he looks even creepier when he's smiling at her like that.

 
cretinbob [TotalFark] 2007-12-30 11:48:26 AM  
i36.photobucket.com

 
BornfromPain 2007-12-30 01:01:34 PM  
Axolotl: As a small business owner (really), I have never hired an entry-level staffer, let alone a manager, who gave me the impression they didn't want the specific job they applied for. If it sounds like they want, well, A job, and this is a job, maybe they'll learn to like it... sorry, I need people who want to be there.

wow wish I could get hired by a company like yours. Little do they care about emotion and desire to be a hard worker all they want is a stacked resume. Little do they care that even though that person may have a stacked resume I could still out work them, and usually do in work when I have gone head to head against them.

/hr departments are full of morans
//mostly old bitter women

 
ZangTT 2007-12-30 01:19:30 PM  
That's cool, I'm not interested in Fred running for President either.

 
magical_mystery_meat 2007-12-30 01:46:02 PM  
In other news, actors make their living by saying things that they don't mean in a convincing manner.

 
Dr. Baird 2007-12-30 02:16:24 PM  
Feingold, that is all.

 
benmecha 2007-12-30 03:01:03 PM  
Jack Thompson is now Jack Ryan?

/not obscure I hope

 
Gordon Bennett 2007-12-30 03:26:50 PM  
I don't want the job, but that doesn't mean that I should have it.

Mind you, if offered I would take it, but I would be quite open about the fact that I was only doing it for the money and the women.

 
Lexx 2007-12-30 03:40:05 PM  
"Power attracts the corruptible. Suspect all who seek it ... We should grant power over our affairs only to those who are reluctant to hold it and then only under conditions that increase that reluctance." (Chapter House Dune, p151)

Frank Herbert was right...

 
ChaoticLimbs 2007-12-30 03:47:22 PM  
Meh. Show me a socially liberal and financially conservative politician who believes in the Bill of Rights, maybe I'll vote for that one.

So far, no takers.

 
Saiga410 2007-12-30 03:53:14 PM  
Lexx: "Power attracts the corruptible. Suspect all who seek it ... We should grant power over our affairs only to those who are reluctant to hold it and then only under conditions that increase that reluctance." (Chapter House Dune, p151)

Frank Herbert was right...


Win

 
Saiga410 2007-12-30 04:14:06 PM  
Fred addresses this issue (new window)on FNS today. The response is within the first minute of the first video. Watch, enjoy, and evaluate.

 
Displayed 49 of 49 comments


[Continue Farking]