Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Quick Reference
Posted on 10/18/2007 9:48:26 PM PDT by Josh Painter
No doubt about it - the ladies love Fred - those who know him, that is. He's a charmer in the meet-and-greet moments of the campaign, and his former girlfriends all say only positive things about the former Senator. Even his ex-wife and her family are supporting the Thompson run for the GOP nomination. But most women voters will not have the chance to meet Fred, shake his hand and be swayed by his personal magnetism and gravitas.
And that's a shame, because such an up close and personal experience could make a big difference in how women voters view Fred and the other GOP candidates. An Inside Advantage poll taken in Florida last month showed Thompson and Rudy Giuliani in a dead heat, with Fred being supported by Republican men over Giuliani 31% to 23%, while Republican women favored Rudy over Fred 25% to 16%. Florida is a "must win" state for Team Thompson, and he must cut into Giuliani's lead among women to gain the ultimate advantage over the former New York City Mayor. Memphis, we have a problem.
Ah, but it's not one without a solution. Several pundits and bloggers have suggested that Fred should choose Giuliani as his running mate to gain support among female voters in the general election against a likely Hillary Clinton as his opponent. I see two things wrong with that thinking. First, Fred has to beat Giuliani for the right to run as the Republican nominee in the general. Second, choosing someone as socially liberal as Rudy for a running mate would undermine Thompson's strong support among men, especially conservative men.
Picking Mitt Romeny as a running mate would not be much of a better choice. Stuck at just 8% to 10% in the polls, the Mittster doesn't bring that much to a Thompson campaign, and what he does bring is not all that positive. The remaining GOP candidates have even lower numbers, and most are not doing so well among women voters themselves.
So what's a campaign that promised "bold moves" to do? Why, make a bold move, of course. Fred Thompson should name a woman as his running mate, and he should do so well before the GOP convention takes place in Minnesota at summer's end. But which woman should Fred choose?
Not Elizabeth Dole. One Senator is enough for the ticket, thank you very much. Plus, Ms. Dole is not very conservative, and she has a last name that is associated with "not winning". Not Kay Bailey Hutchison, either - another Senator, and not a solid conservative. Not Gov. Mary Jodi Rell of Conecticut, a liberal. Not Gov. Linda Lingle of Hawaii, who is pro-abortion. How about Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska? Ding-ding-ding-ding, no more calls, folks - we have a winner!
Sarah Louise Heath Palin is not just the youngest governor in Alaskan history, but a conservative one as well. The former beauty queen is very media savvy, with a a bachelor's degree in journalism and experience working in the media. My favorite Sarah Palin asset: she's a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, and no, she didn't join the NRA just prior to running for office.
With over 14 years in the public sector, Ms. Palin served two terms as a Wasilla City Council member and seved two-terms as Wasilla's mayor and manager. She is also a past President of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. Palin also served on Alaska's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, from which she resigned after one term, in protest over what she believed was a lack of ethics of several Alaskan Republican leaders. One of those leaders was state party chairman Randy Ruedrich. The resignation and protest earned Sarah Palin the reputation of being a fearless and strongly principled leader. She is the most popular governor in the United States, with an approval rating rating in the mid-80s, with only 5% disapproval.
Gov. Palin is well-versed on energy and environmental issues. She is fiercely pro-life and opposes same-sex marriage, although she is not hostile to same-sex domestic partnerships. Although Palin signed off on the largest operating budget in Alaska's history, she used the veto to make over $237 million in cuts to the state's soaring construction budget.
Alaska's governor has been widely touted as a possible choice for the number two slot on a Republican presidential ticket, and there's even a website, Draft Sarah Palin for Vice President, devoted to making that possibility become reality. though her resume isn't long, it's heavy on executive experience, and she's a tireless and dynamic campaigner.
What would Gov. Palin bring to a Thompson ticket? Balance. Sarah brings executive experience to balance Fred's legislative experience and state to balance his federal. She brings youth and vitality to balance his maturity and laid-back style. She brings northwest to balance his southeast. But most importantly, she brings female to balance Fred's male.
With Sarah Palin on the ticket, many women voters who wouldn't ordinarily even consider voting for Fred Thompson will be drawn to Fred's candidacy by their interest in Gov. Palin, an intriguing political figure.
And just think of the contrast between Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton! Here's a woman who won public office through her own hard work and merit, without need for a former president husband to pave the way for her. And Gov. Palin doesn't need to explain so many potentially embarassing things as does Sen. Clinton. She has hired no Sandy Bergers, supported no Black Panthers and played no hide and seek with Rose Law Firm documents. Palin doesn't want to take things away from us "for the common good," believes it takes families - not villages - to raise children and instead of treating military aides with contempt is the proud mother of a son serving in the U.S. Army.
At age 43, Palin would be a still relatively young 51 after two Thompson terms, and she would have gained the kind of insider knowledge of the workings of the Senate that a vice president, who is charged with presiding over that body, learns over the years. As a trusted advisor and confidant to the president, she would benefit from Fred's extensive knowledge and experience in matters of foreign policy. Fred Thompson would be the perfect political mentor for this remarkable young woman. Sarah Palin would emerge from two Thompson terms as vice president nearly perfectly positioned for a campaign to become the nation's first female commander in chief. The day of a woman president is coming. It is only fitting that the first female U.S. president should be a conservative Republican!
- Ruger
"The greatest pleasure is to vanquish the RINOS and chase them before you, to rob them of their votes and see the MittWitts bathed in tears, to pwn their internets and clasp to your bosom their shatteres hopes and dreams."
(I can't prove Genghis Khan actually said that, but nobody else can prove he didn't, so I'll go with it)
AMEN!
Wow. Would it really be possible?
What an intriguing idea.
“while Republican women favored Rudy over Fred 25% to 16%.”
Only because they don’t know anything about him. Frankly, I’m starting to think all of the candidates are a bit cowardly for not addressing Giuliani’s history directly. How do they expect to win if they’re not willing to put up a fight? IMPLYING that Giuliani isn’t a conservative isn’t exactly going to knock him out of the running.
Fred will, but not yet. He loves a slow burn, it’s his style, leaves little room to fight back.
Hot.
It would also include others who share his values and can be a stabilizing influence for any decisions he needs to make.
J.C. Watts comes to mind as does George Allen.
I like this idea a lot, not because she’s a woman, but because she’s not Giuliani or Romney. :)
From what I read above she sounded very good....from your post she also looks like a good candidate for VP as well!
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