Posted on 03/10/2007 1:47:33 PM PST by Josh Painter
Democratic strategist Bob Beckel admitted, in an interview on Fox News, that Fred Thompson for president would be their worst nightmare. Sounds good to me!
(Excerpt) Read more at reclinercommentaries.com ...
eleni121 wrote: "...I wish I knew more about him..."
A review of Fred Dalton Thompson's voting record shows that he consistently voted for gun owners (the NRA called him a "staunch supporter of the Second Amendment"), against abortion, for business, against higher taxes, for a balanced budget, for a strong defense, for ANWR drilling, for capping foreign aid, for free trade, for private property rights, for personal retirement accounts, for the Iraq War Resolution and for welfare reform.
Among his interest group ratings, FDT earned a perfect zero from National Abortion Reproductive Rights Action, a perfect 100% from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, only 11% from the ACLU, 85% from the American Conservative Union, 86% from the Center for Security Policy, a perfect zero from the American Federation of Teachers, 6% from the National Education Association, 90% from the League of Private Property Voters, 97% from the National Tax Limitation committee, 88% from the National Taxpayers Union and a perfect zero from the liberal ADA. In a 1995 analysis, Project Vote Smart listed Thompson as having supported Contract With America items 100% of the time.
According to Lawrenceburg Online, among FDT's Senate accomplishments were his election as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs in 1997, making him among the most junior senators in history to serve as Chairman of a major Senate Committee. He served as Chairman until June of 2001.
The Governmental Affairs Committee is charged with overseeing the management of the federal government. During his Chairmanship, Sen. Thompson's committee actively pursued an agenda aimed at producing a smaller, more efficient, and more accountable government. Of his efforts, the Kingsport Times-News wrote, "Sen. Thompson is to be applauded for keeping a watchful eye over Washington fiscal matters. There should be more like him."
Sen. Thompson held hearings on topics such as improving the federal regulatory process; reforming the IRS; exploring ways to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse; and a number of national security issues, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missile technologies. Thompson also investigated and successfully enacted solutions to information management problems such as computer security.
Thompson was also a member of the powerful Senate Committee on Finance, which has jurisdiction over taxes, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare reform, and international trade. From this position, he focused on reducing taxes, reforming the tax code to make it simpler and fairer, and restoring the Social Security and Medicare programs to long-term solvency.
While a strong supporter of free trade, Sen. Thompson advocated a balanced approach to trade and national security. He pushed for an export control policy that protects our country's national security without unnecessarily burdening American industry with bureaucratic red tape. He also proposed legislation to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by China and other countries and to strengthen the United States' response to such activities.
A third committee FDT served on was the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the National Security Working Group, which observes and monitors executive branch negotiations with foreign governments.
Even the liberal Washington Monthly, in a 1999 hit piece on Thompson, had to begrudgingly admit that as a Senator, Thompson worked hard to keep his campaign promises. But you'll see many libs posing here as conservatives to slam Fred Thompson. You'll also see Rudy, McCain and Mitt backers dissing FDT because he poses a major threat to them, too, if he gets in the race.
Thompson biggest negatives with conservatives are his stances on immigration (he wasn't a hawk on it) and McCain Feingold (he supported it). But those votes were a full decade ago, and we should at least give FDT a chance to tell us where he stands on those two issues today. If Mitt can have a change of heart and mind on gays, guns and abortion, FDT should at least be allowed to admit that both he and Ronald Reagan were wrong on immigration, and the reforms he hoped McCain-Feingold would produce didn't turn out to be "reforms" at all. Fred is a stand-up guy, and he will answer questions on those two issues honestly and in a straitforward manner.
Fred Thompson is media-savvy, has a commanding presence, enjoys superb name recognition (thanks to his Law & Order and movie roles, as well as pinch-hitting for Paul Harvey on radio) and left the Senate with a solid conservative voting record. He's much like Ronald Reagan in possessing those qualities. Also like Reagan, Thompson is that rare sort of conservative who doesn't scare away moderates and independents. And again like Reagan, he may be the only potential candidate who can unite the factions of the Republican Party right now. Oh, and lest we forget, Ronald Reagan was an actor, too.
Second only to David Palmer, Fred Thompson LOOKS presidential. :)
I agree with you. Thompson seems to be the person that is stepping out. Are there any unpleasant surprises with him?I am looking for a leader.
One I can talk about with pride to my parents and kids?
In the article it says Baker is the one who is doing it not Thompson. Baker is the one who wants Thompson to run and started this whole thing. If Thompson runs he will get sued by NBC who have already stated they will do that. But Thompson is an attorney and he might know some loopholes about that sort of thing. His best buddy is McCain who he might not want to hurt by running. And he did promise his wife when his daughter died that he would never return to politics. But like I said all that could have changed right now.
He was in the Senate 9 years.
He served out Gore's term and then was elected.
\
And he will squish Rudy like a bug!
disinformation is at work yet again
Are his raw FBI files part of the 900 that Hillary's minions grabbed? They had Newt's.
"Rudy, McCain and Mitt backers dissing FDT because he poses a major threat to them, too, if he gets in the race."
No one can squish Rudy like a Bug? He'll give Rudy a run for his money but squishing? I doubt it. He'll endorse McCain when this is all said and done. I think McCain knows it.
Was Fred Thompson ever identified as one of those members of Congress whose FBI folder fell into the hands of the Hillary and Bill Clinton?
Semper Fi
If the ticket was Thompson/Huckabee, I think it would be a winner.
If he is good friends with Senator McCain, I doubt he will run against him. However, looking at his record I think he is what the party needs to win. He is conservative moderate - which is what tends to win things.
He is socially conservative enough to please the religious right, but not so strongly as to offend others. He is just about the right favor on economic issues to hit the middle also. He really would be a formidable candidate. Plus, is just plain looks and sounds presidential. Face recognition alone will get him many votes.
I suspect that you may be correct.
WORSE. There's a photo out there of Fred during Watergate...wearing a plaid polyester suit.
He might change his mind after Rudy gets through thumping McCain in a few states as he is poised to do.
Otherwise his loyalty to McCain will get a nominal liberal as the Republican nominee.
Is anyone else not getting their "ping" messages today?
BTTT
"If their best shot is HRC, the GOP will have to foul up big time in 08 not to hold the WH"
Well if recent experience is an indicator, Republicns have been fouling up big time---for six years.
--nothing good on immigration.
--spending like madmen.
--pork and scandals.
--lost majority in both houses of congress.
--tarnished the value of "Republican" brand.
WORSE. There's a photo out there of Fred during Watergate...wearing a plaid polyester suit.
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