Posted on 12/21/2007 2:11:24 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
I have made my choice. I will share it in a moment. It was not as simple as analyzing the numbers. There is (or should be) an emotional response to the candidate, at that’s what makes this year’s contest a little different. I will break down my emotional thoughts on all of the remaining candidate, in no particular order.
I think most of us have a strong emotional attachment to Rudy Giuliani. He helped Sheppard New York through 9/11. People remember a steady hand and strong leadership. They remember seeing him at the scene. It helps his supporters ‘forget’ about his support of abortion, and the problems with his family. They forgive his personality defects in order to remember 9/11 Rudy. I cannot do that.
John McCain is a hero. He a strong man who endured more pain and suffering than most of us will ever know. He did so out of love for his country. He did so as a POW in an unpopular war. He is also a strong supporter of the Global War on Terror- and supports the President even though they do not exactly have a close friendship. He has been on the wrong side of some important issues, including immigration. He would also be 72 years old in the first year of his Presidency.
Ron Paul- He is even older than McCain, and would be 73 in the first year of his Presidency. He is so wrong on so many issues, he does not even warrant serious consideration. He is wrong on the war. He is wrong on his fiscal policies. He is wrong for not returning campaign contributions from Neo-Nazi’s. It would be wrong for me to endorse him.
Fred Thompson- I like his tax plan and it is the most likely of the radical reshapes of our nations tax code to pass through Congress. He is pro life and supports our troops. He needs to wake up. He has good ideas, but he must be noticed in order to win. He won over many conservatives when he filled in for Paul Harvey. The public likes the folksy, homespun Fred, but he needs to assert himself more. He needs to show more of the side of himself that would not be baited into a hand count in the debates.
Alan Keyes- He owes each and every Republican in the State of Illinois an apology. His candidacy for U.S. Senate was the lowest point (yet) in the history of the Illinois GOP. I was personally affected by that mess, and will not support him.
Mike Huckabee- The Governor is a good candidate in some ways. He is a good communicator, and trust worthy. He just does not have a clue when it comes to foreign policy. In today’s world that makes him a non- starter. If he is to be considered, he needs to surround himself with good foreign policy people immediately.
Duncan Hunter has been a good public servant, but this is not his year. He will be out after Iowa.
Mitt Romney- He has flipped in the right direction on some issues. His current positions are good conservative positions. His family and personal life is spotless. There would be no surprises in a Romney campaign. He is on the right side of the war, and promises to cut spending. Can people over look their bigotry and vote for Mitt?
So it is time to make my endorsement. For President of the United States, I endorse Sen. Fred Thompson.
There are many reasons why I believe he is our nation’s best choice for President. I mentioned his tax policy. According to the Thompson website “The first part is a two tiered flat tax. Taxpayers can opt-out and stay on their current tax plan if they wish. The simplified tax code would contain two tax rates: 10% for joint filers on income of up to $100,000 ($50,000 for s ingles) and 25% on income above these amounts. The standard deduction would be more than doubled to $25,000 for joint filers and $12,500 for singles. The personal exemption amount would be increased to $3,500. Therefore, a family of 4 would be exempt from income tax on the first $39,000 of income. The simplified tax code would contain no other tax credits or deductions. It would also retain the 15% tax rate on capital gains and dividends. This approach would dramatically simplify taxes for tens of millions of Americans. This proposal would serve as a stepping-stone to fundamental tax reform” Fred advocates a flat tax with future additional reform. That’s not all he has also vowed to extend the Bush tax cuts, Repeal the AMT, and Repeal the death tax. For business, he would permanently extend small business expensing, and lower the corporate tax rate. Thompson has actually laid out a plan, as opposed to presenting bullet points.
I also like Thompson on defense issues. He has vowed to build a larger more capable military. He will continue to develop missile defense, and we rebuild our country’s intelligence community- including the human assets we are so desperately in need of.
On education issues, well it’s like he is a longtime reader of my education pieces. I could have written it myself. He vows to review federal programs for cost-effectiveness, reduce federal mandates, return education money to the states, and empowering parents by promoting voucher programs, charter schools, and other innovations that enhance education excellence through competition and choice. This nation needs education choice. Our future depends on it.
What about families? States rights are prevalent throughout the campaign, and they reign supreme here as well. Thompson vows to return authority to the levels of government closest to families and communities—the states—and then protecting states from further intrusion by the federal government, the judiciary, and other states. He will also “Use the Presidency to encourage policies that promote a culture of life, strengthen the institution of marriage and traditional families, and advance freedom of religion.
All this with a eye toward fiscal responsibility. For these reasons I will vote for Fred Thompson. I urge you to do the same.
The only real man in the race, the rest are wimps in comparison.
“Saddle Up” FRED
Go FRed Go!
WASHINGTON (AP) - In a brief foray into politics, Secretary of State Rice Rejects Huckabee Criticism
Condoleezza Rice on Friday denounced comments by a leading Republican presidential candidate that the Bush administration’s foreign policy is arrogant and unilateral.
“The idea that somehow this is a go-it-alone policy is just simply ludicrous,” she said at a State Department news conference. “One would only have to be not observing the facts, let me say that, to say that this is now a go-it-alone foreign policy.”
Huckabee - Best damn DEMOCRAT in the race.
“Saddle Up” FRED
I’d have to agree, I’m with Fred.
Good review. I don’t agree with everything here but I like Fred. I just wish he would be more Iowa debate, “I’m not doing the hand raise thing”.
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