Posted on 01/01/2008 12:50:53 PM PST by Perdogg
We hear every four years that "this election is a critical election". However, this year it is really critical. Compared with the democratic field, the republican field has produced by far the most qualified individuals to be President.
America this year can chose between two distinct paths; American Federalism or European Socialism. The only viable candidate in this election that has promised to continued this Reaganesque tradition is Sen. Fred D. Thompson.
Sen Thompson may not have the executive experience as a Gov Romney, Gov Huckabee, or Mayor Guiliani, but Sen. Thompson understands the true nature of the American political system. He also understands that more government is not the solution and that any one who holds the office of the Presidency of the United States must do so with full conviction and confidence as a conservative.
Being a conservative does not mean adopting conservative religious views, or talking like a conservative, and practicing liberal politics, but instead understanding the limits that are placed on the federal government by respecting those individuals rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution and using those rightful powers of the federal government and the Presidency to run the Executive branch, and by appointing judges to the federal bench that would be truthful to the constitution.
Sen. Thompson realizes the dangers of the Islamic threat from abroad and the need to secure our borders from illegal immigration and is not afraid to face it head on.
He understands the free market, and is not afraid to preach the values of hard work and honest investment. Although we are all sinners, Sen. Thompson has the moral credentials to serve as Commander-in-chief of our Armed Forces.
The Choice could not be clearer; A man who understands clarity of the constitution and a man who is willing to do what is needed to protect this country in the face of Islamic extremist.
For President Sen. Fred D. Thompson.
Rachel,
I don’t know everything. This primary process is the first time I have paid attention and thanks to FR, I am looking at it through a microscope.
It is fair to say, I am looking for someone to “save” or at least preserve “the Republic”.
Toward that end, I looked at the voting, policy and work history together with current position statements and arrived at Thompson. Those are the most important things to me. He has done very well in debates, scoring notable positives with the audiences. He’s a steady individual and quite likable.
Slick retail campaigns are quite effective at wooing voters on personality I’m learning, allowing candidates to avoid indepth analysis that gets to how they will govern / can they be trusted. It appears to me that Iowa is focusing on the retail aspect and missing the important details. I could be wrong, but having looked at the details I see a disconnect.
Iowans take great pride in this process and their involvement in it. I’m impressed. The reality is, with *all* information on candidates available in seconds, is this retail process adequated? does it distract from getting a true understanding of how they would govern? My opinion today is yes.
Now to your question..
Assuming for a second, Fred falls flat in Iowa. What will I do?
Accept the result. Walk away with a much better understanding of primary campaigns. Pray for my Country. Focus on my family. Continue to support Fred Thompson.
Iowa hasn’t always picked the top guy, and this is true. But also NEVER has the guy who wasn’t at least 3rd the winner.
Fred at 4th, 5th or 6th.... is DEAD.
That is a well said reply. Thanks.
And I do appreciate your perspective. I have been following the races since I was a small child, and what the retail Iowa and New Hampsire factor does is force the candidates to be real. We do not have the slick, the Media, or the distance factor.
We have looked at the real Fred. I saw him, though he was wisked away, at the state fair. He looked sickly. Old. Tired.
This isn’t CBS telling me he is old and tired... this is my own eyes and the eyes of others.
You add to this the media repeating it and others ask us... is it true? Did you see him? And we answer and it has legs.
Here on FR... I hold the view that 90% of his supporters have not even been within 20 feet of him on the trail... and that if they HAD... he would be doing as well here as he is where we have seen him in person.
I would have liked to have been able to talk to him. I have for Bush, Dole, Gramm, Romney, Paul, Hunter, Brownback, Huckabee (4 times actually), Tancredo, McCain (both times).
Not Fred... he’s not been here and when he was... it wasn’t good for him.
I dunno what else to say...
I know and believe that most all his supporters are doing so because they wanted to see in him what they say they see in him.... I’ve just not seen it... and neither have 90% of Iowans.
Yes, that IS turning out to be the case.
Many Freepers, and other Republicans, so desparately want to 'create' some rock-ribbed conservative Reagan resurrection that they are (were) willing to fantasize about Fred, I'm afraid.
And I truly respect and support Fred in all he's done in politics and his carreer.
But it is blatantly obvious he hasn't the stomach or the stamina for brutal national Presidential politics.
Methinks his recent bout with (??) that medical ailment has left him drained and unmotivated.
Possibly a VP slot, but even that is stretching it as it will take all the energy and fire the Republicans have to fend off the upcoming onslaught by the mainstream lib-Dem supporting media leftist cabal in '08.
Even John McCain is too old, I feel.
So is Ron Paul, not that I can even stomach his politics in the first place.
Huckabee would (understandably) open the GOP to charges that we are forcing a theocracy down the throats of America, and would be an absolute disaster.
So it comes down to Romney, Rudy, or Duncan... and I would be perfectly content with a Romney/Hunter ticket.
I understand Huckabee.
Many many NEW Christians are involved now.. like 1988. Only they don’t KNOW how bad Huck is on Fiscal issues.... 4, 8 or 12 years from now... those who STAY active in the party... they WILL know and will be with us then.
They are wrong now... but for all the right reasons and I welcome them!
LE thanks for the ping. I enjoy your intelligent and feisty posts on this and countless other threads. Frankly, I get quite a kick out of them! : )
What will YOU do when Mitt comes in 2nd in Iowa AND New Hampshire ???
So right. So true. I'm proud to support Fred Thompson and have no doubt that I picked the right man.
IF that were to happen, and I stress the IF, then we will all hold our noses and vote for whichever Republican gets the nomination. Though I seriously dislike most of them, ANY of them are better than the Democrat.
BUT, I seriously doubt any of the other candidates, of those likely to win, can beat the Dem in the primary. If we don’t put a man in the race with minimum skeletons in the closet and a solid conservative background, we are crazy.
To that end, GO FRED!
Well boo hoo hoo. I don’t care what you think of what we think. Just so you KNOW, we have a right to our opinion as YOU have a right to yours. I have seen nothing printed that YOUR opinion is above ours in the book of opinions, so I will stick with mine thank you very much and good bye.
Since your chrystal ball is so good, what stocks should I be buying?? Fact is, you have no idea and neither do I, so go spread your negativism where its appreciated.
Pray for W and Our Troops
That’s an interesting observation. You may be right. I’d just prefer they learn NOW rather than later how bad he is...before I end up losing a lot of hard-earned money that could end up helping support my wife and I, and our future children. Huckabee seems to be some sort of Christian Humanist and wants to extend that role to government. Not something I support.
This is exactly the kind of things that both Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter truly should of been saying right from the very beginnings of their Presidential campaigns: “The long-term future of the entire U.S. as a country is at stake! If you really want socialism and a “third world mess” on every issue, then vote for Democrats and “RINO” Republicans at every level now and for always! If you really want capitalism and “true commonsense” on every issue, then vote for “Conservative” Republicans at every level now and for always!”
The Statesman in this race is Fred. He is a man among boys.
Go FRed Go!
If that happens, Rachel, and I’m not saying it couldn’t... we would look at the margin by which he came in second. Coming in second is not going to stop any candidate’s campaign at this point.
The Huckabee “surge” is already in decline. I predict he fizzles rather soon.
Your posts are informative and your analysis of FR is spot on, but it is difficult to tell who your candidate is. However, it does look like Huckabee is your man, in spite of his support for amnesty. Or, maybe you are a Giuliani supporter.
Thank you! I am very flattered!!
<24 hours to go, and the democratic process finally begins!!
Woo Hoo!!
Your Feisty but FRiendly FReeper,
Me
If they support Ron Paul or even RINO Rudy, I don't hold them in much higher esteem than any of the dummies.
Me either...
And I sure don’t wanna see him as the “Conservative” VP for Rudy !!
YUCK !!
They all got more issues than the New York Times !!
Sad to say...
I voted for Tancredo in the Straw Poll.... if that say anything about where I may be leaning presently...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.