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Friday, Jun 1, 2007 7:31 PM UTC

Thompson gets one step closer

The former Tennessee senator and "Law & Order" star files the papers to form a presidential exploratory committee.

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Topics: 2008 Elections, War Room, Law and Order,

You know how “Law & Order” gets, well, a little formulaic after a while? They get their suspect, there’s a plot twist, there’s a new suspect, everyone fights, the trial comes to some sort of conclusion, everyone sort of makes up?

Well, presidential politics is a little like that too sometimes. That’s probably fitting, since former “Law & Order” star Fred Thompson has just filed the papers to establish a committee to help him decide whether to get in the race for the 2008 Republican nomination.

Thompson, who is also a former senator from Tennessee, has been following the standard presidential run formula over the past few months: First, make it clear that you’re all but in, then pretend to play coy for a bit, all the while making it ever more clear that you’re in, then form an “exploratory committee,” which allows you to consider a run for president without making a formal declaration or having to file financial paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.

Anonymous “officials close to Thompson” tell the Associated Press Thompson could make his run officially official as early as July; NBC’s “First Read” notes that he has been booked on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” a potential if probably unlikely forum for an announcement, on June 12.

Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon. More Alex Koppelman.

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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