Hotline After Dark -- Right Said Fred

While the GOP field debated on CNN, Fred Thompson had FNC's Hannity all to himself:

Hannity: “Let's talk about where you stand now. You've created a testing the waters committee. It allows you to raise money, hire staff, gauge support. There's been talk you may announce the Fourth of July, the week of the Fourth of July. Where are you now?”

Thompson: “ImwithFred.com.”

Hannity: “Wait a minute. Is this a big announcement?”

Thompson: “Kind of get that out of the way. … We just put it up. And we want to hear from the folks and check it out.

Asked again about the July 4th date, Thompson: “We haven't decided on a date. The Fourth of July is just as plausible as any other, but it doesn't mean it's going to be the Fourth of July.”

Asked what it means when a sen votes to send troops to war and then to cut off funds: “That means you want to be president worse than anything in the world. And they know how to read public opinion polls.”

Asked if he would pardon Scooter Libby: “I would, absolutely.”

Asked if Bush should: “It's a gross injustice perpetuated in large part by this CIA, and this Justice Department, and this special counsel, who they appointed, and it ought to be rectified.”

On how his family is handling the attention: “I have a wife who's as strong, and sweet. ... I'm not going to be dissuaded by all of this. It's another disconnect between the professional politicians and the press and Washington and all of that from the American people, who are sick and tired of all that. So it's a badge of honor to get attacked by some of these bozos” (FNC, 6/5).

AND ON ANOTHER NETWORK

CNN held its second debate, which was the third GOP debate of the 08 cycle:

CNN’s J. King: “Many of the Republican candidates did separate themselves more than we have seen in the past from the Republican administration of George W. Bush on the issue of immigration, on the issue of managing the war in Iraq” (“AC 360,” 6/5).

MSNBC's Abrams: "The big winner, Fred Thompson. The non-candidate wasn't even present but was still the subject of questions and discussion that sure made him seem like a potential frontrunner. The loser, the other Thompson, candidate Tommy, whose most memorable moments only came when he was asked about the more high-profile Fred" ("Scarborough Country," 6/5).

CNN’s Crowley: “There were two targets this evening, two main targets. One was the Democrats. And the other, in some ways, George W. Bush” (“LKL,” 6/5).

John McCain, on how the debate went: “It was good. I wish we could get more into the details, you know, of immigration reform. That's a hot button issue. You know, there were things said about it that I was kind of astonished because they're in the bill. But I enjoyed the debate. I thought the questions were good" ("LKL," CNN, 6/5).

Rudy Giuliani: "I'm not running against the people on that stage. … My disagreements are with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and John Edwards. John Edwards saying that the war on terror was just a bumper sticker, and not even amending that after this plot in New York was uncovered to attack Kennedy Airport. It's not a bumper sticker. It is a real war. And whatever you think about Iraq, it's bigger than Iraq" ("LKL," CNN, 6/5).

Mitt Romney, asked if he’s tired of the Mormon question: “You know, that keeps coming up. You know, it's fine. You take what people give you. And if people have interest in that, in the media or otherwise, then I'm going to take the question and respond. You know, I really think that the people of America, however, are saying, you know, enough already. This is America. We're not going to choose someone to lead our country on the basis of what church they go to. That's what the people across in the Middle East are doing. We don't do that in this country and I really don't think it's going to have a role to play in the final analysis” (“LKL,” CNN, 6/5).

THE VERDICT IS IN

And Scooter Libby's verdict got some talk:

Washington Post’s Leonnig: “What I found striking was that Scooter Libby never said, ‘I'm sorry’ or ‘I did something wrong’ or ‘I made a mistake and I'll never do it again.’ Most defendants say that, and he did not” (“NewsHour,” PBS, 6/5).

Joe Wilson, asked if he and his wife are satisfied with the sentence: "First of all, it's important to remember this was a crime against the country. So are Americans satisfied? From my perspective, somebody who's watched it perhaps more closely than others, I believe justice was served. I have nothing but admiration for Special Counsel Fitzgerald and for Judge Walton, who I think handled this masterfully. I believe that it demonstrated and reaffirmed that this remains a nation of laws, not a nation of men. I'm sorry for Mr. Libby's family and for his friends and for the nation for the pain that he's inflicted upon them. But, again, I think justice was served" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 6/5). [EMILY GOODIN and KATHERINE LEHR]