Revisions/extensions (5:02 pm 1/3/2008 – steveegg) – I don’t know how Curt got this post from Fred Dooley (who is also supporting Thompson) instead of my own Thompson endorsement, but as long as it’s on the list, I’ll take it)
Fred, Fred, Fred: Thompson’s Challenge Has a Name
By Monica Hesse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 12, 2007; D01
In the swampy soup of hopefuls for the 2008 presidential election, there is a man with a funny name. (No, not that one.)
We’re thinking of the one named Fred (Thompson).
Say it out loud. Do it. Fred. Fred. In the South, Fray-ud.
Fur-red-duh.
It has the tonal quality of something being dropped on the floor, something heavy and damp-ish.
Waterlogged paper towel.
Fred.
The phonetics of the name seem integral to its image problem: On Urbandictionary.com, a “Fred” is defined as “a person who does stupid, annoying, or idiotic things” (Fred Flintstone, Fred Mertz). The best-case descriptors a Fred can hope for are terms like well-intentioned, predictable, benign (Fred Rogers).
There has never before been a major presidential candidate named Fred. There were two Alfreds, in 1928 and 1936. But Alfred, being all British and Batman-y, is not the same.
Then, out of almost nowhere, came Thompson, who is transcending the notion of Fred.
Some of the regular readers on No Runny Eggs may not know my name is not actually Real Debate, it is Fred. The Washington Post can kiss my fanny.
Fred is a fine name, worthy of Presidential stature. Ever heard of Frederick the Great? How about the brilliant Fred Astaire? Fred Savage, come on now, The Wonder Years.
Need I say Frederick Mellinger, inventer of the pushup bra and founder of Fredericks of Hollywood?
What of sausage genius Fred Usinger, or beer pioneer Frederick Pabst?
Need I remind you of Fred Jones? Come on he drove The Mystery Machine for cryin’ out loud.
Frederick Banting co-discovered insulin and won a nobel prize!
How about some Fred’s of Royalty?
Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195-1198
Frederick II, Duke of Austria (1219-1246), last Duke of Austria from the Babenberg dynasty
Frederick I of Austria (Habsburg) (1286-1330), Duke of Austria and King of the Romans
Frederick III, Elector of Saxony
Frederick I of Denmark (1471-1533), King of Denmark and Norway
Frederick II of Denmark (1534-1588), King of Denmark and Norway
Frederick III of Denmark (1609-1670), King of Denmark and Norway
Frederick IV of Denmark (1671-1730), King of Denmark and Norway
Frederick V of Denmark (1723-1766), King of Denmark and Norway
Frederick VI of Denmark (1768-1839), King of Denmark and Norway
Frederick VII of Denmark (, King of Denmark
Frederick IX of Denmark (1899-1972), King of Denmark
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark (1968-), Crown Prince of Denmark
Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor (1125-1190), king & emperor
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor (1196-1250), king & emperor
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor (1415-1493), German ruler
Frederick IV, Elector Palatine (1574-1610), German aristocrat
Frederick V, Elector Palatine (1619-1620), Bohemian aristocrat
Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg (1413-1470), margrave of Brandenburg
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg (1620-1688), Duke of Prussia
Frederick I of Prussia (1657-1713), Elector of Brandenburg
Frederick II of Prussia (1712-1786), King of Prussia, Frederick the Great
Frederick William I of Prussia (1688-1740), King of Prussia
Frederick William II of Prussia (1744-1797), King of Prussia
Frederick William III of Prussia (1770-1840), King of Prussia
Frederick William IV of Prussia (1795-1861), King of Prussia
Frederick, Prince of Wales (1707-1751), the eldest son of King George II
Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (1750-1827), Elector and King of Saxony
Frederick Augustus II of Saxony (1797-1854), King of Saxony
Frederick Augustus III of Saxony (1865-1932), King of Saxony
Frederick I of Sweden (1676-1751), King of Sweden
Frederick I of Württemberg (1754-1816), Duke, Elector, and King of Württemberg
Frederick, Archbishop of Tyre (died 1173), the sixth Latin archbishop of Tyre
Frederick III, German Emperor (1831-1888), German Emperor
I think I have made my case.
Fred for President is a fine idea. He looks quite Presidential doesn’t he?
You forgot Fred Allen, Fred Flintstone and Frederick of Hollywood.
Frederick of Hollywood is up there Grumps….
Frederick of Hollywood is up there Grumps!
Oh Fooey. So is Fred Flintstone. My apologies for scanning your list and not deeply reading the original post.
Let’s add Fred from Scooby-Doo and Fred from A Christmas Carol and just keep moving on. ;)
Fred from Scooby Doo is there too, Fred Jones, who drove the Mystery Machine.
Dude, coffee.
Somebody has a case of the Mondays, apparently.
Let’s put on Rodney Carrington’s Fred Song and take the afternoon off.
Igor: Dr. Frankenstein…
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: “Fronkensteen.”
Igor: You’re putting me on.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: No, it’s pronounced “Fronkensteen.”
Igor: Do you also say “Froaderick”?
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: No…"Frederick.”
Igor: Well, why isn’t it “Froaderick Fronkensteen”?
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: It isn’t; it’s “Frederick Fronkensteen.”
Igor: I see.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: You must be Igor.
[He pronounces it ee-gor]
Igor: No, it’s pronounced “eye-gor.”
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: But they told me it was “ee-gor.”
Igor: Well, they were wrong then, weren’t they?
Fredo Corleone: I’m your older brother, Mike, and I was stepped over!
Michael Corleone: That’s the way Pop wanted it.
Fredo Corleone: It ain’t the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I’m smart! Not like everybody says… like dumb… I’m smart and I want respect!
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[…] My Two Cents Worth, Beth at My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, Doug at My View On Politics, Nice Deb, No Runny Eggs, Terresa Monroe-Hamilton at NoisyRoom.net, Chris at One Man’s View, S. Sunder at Ox’s […]