You are correct.
Posted on 03/14/2007 5:56:55 AM PDT by Livin_large
As last weekend approached, more and more people were asking me: Do you think Fred Thompson will run for president?
My answer each time: not a chance.
Then on Sunday, there was Mr. Thompson on Fox saying he's open to the possibility and will consider it.
Whoops.
What happened?
I wasn't making stuff up when I expressed doubt. I spoke with the former senator in New York six months ago as various broadcasters gathered for the fifth anniversary of 9/11.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
I would like to see numerous debates among the Republican candidates, if for no better reason than to get out articulations of what it means to be conservative-- not that all of the GOP candidates are conservative, of course.
Liberals would be in anguish as President Thompson gives regular press conferences from the flight deck with a 'Mission Accomplished' sign as the backdrop.
BUMP
Duncan Hunter is a strong conservative and a good man with about as much chance of winning the general election as me.
That is imprecise. Ron Paul is a very good Libertarian (and a past presidential candidate under that label,) which isn't quite the same thing. He'd be the first to point out the difference. He is true to his claimed beliefs and honestly explains why his votes diverge from conservative dogma, which makes him far superior to RHINOS whose votes diverge at the whim of polls. Although I wish more Republicans would vote like him on many issues there's no way an honest faithful libertarian would be nominated by the current Republican party.
Opposing view: Keep the ban in place
Changing current policy on gays would undermine unit cohesion.
By Rep. Duncan Hunter
Last weekend in Iraq, I watched America's soldiers and Marines undertake a difficult and dangerous mission.
The war in Iraq reflects all the circumstances of dangerous ground combat in the past: soldiers and Marines bonding in close-knit units, living in close quarters and sharing values that inspire them to risk their lives for each other and our nation.
Against the backdrop, liberals in the USA are making another attempt to force open homosexuals into America's military population. In a media question-and-answer session, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated his personal view that homosexuality was immoral.
Gen. Pace's principles reflect the strong aversion of our Marines and soldiers to homosexual conduct. These moral principles also reflect the position of the predominantly conservative families who send their young men and women to serve in the U.S. military.
These facts were also reflected in 1993 in Gen. Colin Powell's statement, "Open homosexuality in a unit setting is incompatible."
Today, in 2007, the facts have not changed.
It is not fair, nor conducive to unit cohesion, for young Americans whose moral principles reject homosexual conduct to force them to live and operate in close quarters with those who exercise such conduct, just to satisfy liberals in the U.S. political system.
Finally, America possesses the best fighting force in the world, and any proposed changes impacting the operability of our military, regardless of their social significance to liberals, must be blocked outright by Congress.
We are currently a nation at war. Our sons and daughters are serving courageously in places like Fallujah, Ramadi, Baghdad, Kabul and Khowst. To thrust this debate onto them as they are fighting and winning the war on terrorism is outrageous.
Present policy barring open homosexual conduct should be maintained.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., is the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. He is seeking the 2008 GOP presidential nomination.
"Did you align yourself with the islamic terrorist back groups like the KLA and support the bombing of Christian Serbs in Kosovo?"
If so you will never get my vote. Period end of story.
Fred Thompson on Abortion
Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
Fred Thompson on Budget & Economy
Voted YES on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts. (Apr 2000)
Voted NO on 1998 GOP budget. (May 1997)
Voted YES on Balanced-budget constitutional amendment. (Mar 1997)
Fred Thompson on Civil Rights
Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Voted NO on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
Voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995)
Fred Thompson on Corporations
Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
Fred Thompson on Crime
Voted NO on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program. (May 1999)
Voted YES on limiting death penalty appeals. (Apr 1996)
Voted YES on limiting product liability punitive damage awards. (Mar 1996)
Voted YES on restricting class-action lawsuits. (Dec 1995)
Voted YES on repealing federal speed limits. (Jun 1995)
Fred Thompson on Drugs
Voted YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses. (Nov 1999)
Voted YES on spending international development funds on drug control. (Jul 1996)
Fred Thompson on Education
Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on Educational Savings Accounts. (Mar 2000)
Voted YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
Voted YES on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
Voted YES on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
Voted YES on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)
Fred Thompson on Energy & Oil
Voted YES on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
Voted YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
Voted YES on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. (Apr 2000)
Voted NO on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards. (Sep 1999)
Voted YES on defunding renewable and solar energy. (Jun 1999)
Voted YES on approving a nuclear waste repository. (Apr 1997)
Fred Thompson on Environment
Voted YES on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
Voted YES on more funding for forest roads and fish habitat. (Sep 1999)
Voted YES on transportation demo projects. (Mar 1998)
Voted YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests. (Sep 1997)
Fred Thompson on Families & Children
Voted YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors. (May 1999)
Fred Thompson on Foreign Policy
Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe. (May 2002)
Voted NO on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons. (Sep 2000)
Voted YES on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions. (Jul 1998)
Voted NO on limiting NATO expansion to only Poland, Hungary & Czech. (Apr 1998)
Voted NO on $17.9 billion to IMF. (Mar 1998)
Voted YES on Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba. (Mar 1996)
Fred Thompson on Free Trade
Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
Voted NO on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001)
Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China. (Sep 2000)
Voted YES on expanding trade to the third world. (May 2000)
Voted YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority. (Nov 1997)
Voted YES on imposing trade sanctions on Japan for closed market. (May 1995)
Fred Thompson on Government Reform
Voted YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
Voted YES on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002)
Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on funding for National Endowment for the Arts. (Aug 1999)
Voted YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on Approving the presidential line-item veto. (Mar 1996)
Voted NO on banning more types of Congressional gifts. (Jul 1995)
Fred Thompson on Gun Control
Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
Voted NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999)
Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. (Jul 1998)
Fred Thompson on Health Care
Voted NO on allowing reimportation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)
Voted NO on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
Voted YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
Voted NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999)
Voted NO on increasing tobacco restrictions. (Jun 1998)
Voted YES on Medicare means-testing. (Jun 1997)
Voted NO on medical savings acounts. (Apr 1996)
Fred Thompson on Homeland Security
Voted NO on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on allowing another round of military base closures. (May 1999)
Voted YES on cutting nuclear weapons below START levels. (May 1999)
Voted YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP. (Mar 1999)
Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%. (Feb 1999)
Voted NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training. (Jun 1998)
Voted YES on favoring 36 vetoed military projects. (Oct 1997)
Voted NO on banning chemical weapons. (Apr 1997)
Voted YES on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty. (Jun 1996)
Voted YES on 1996 Defense Appropriations. (Sep 1995)
Fred Thompson on Immigration
Voted YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work. (Jul 1998)
Voted YES on visas for skilled workers. (May 1998)
Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants. (Jun 1997)
Fred Thompson on Jobs
Voted YES on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001)
Voted YES on killing an increase in the minimum wage. (Nov 1999)
Voted YES on allowing workers to choose between overtime & comp-time. (May 1997)
Voted YES on replacing farm price supports. (Feb 1996)
Fred Thompson on Principles & Values
Religious affiliation: Protestant. (Nov 2000)
Fred Thompson on Social Security
Voted YES on Social Security Lockbox & limiting national debt. (Apr 1999)
Voted YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees. (May 1998)
Voted YES on allowing personal retirement accounts. (Apr 1998)
Voted YES on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes. (May 1996)
Fred Thompson on Tax Reform
Voted NO on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001)
Voted NO on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
Voted YES on eliminating the 'marriage penalty'. (Jul 2000)
Voted YES on across-the-board spending cut. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes. (Apr 1998)
Fred Thompson on Technology
Voted YES on Internet sales tax moratorium. (Oct 1998)
Voted YES on telecomm deregulation. (Feb 1996)
Fred Thompson on War & Peace
Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
Voted YES on allowing all necessary force in Kosovo. (May 1999)
Voted NO on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo. (Mar 1999)
Voted YES on ending the Bosnian arms embargo. (Jul 1995)
Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001)
Move the US Embassy to Jerusalem. (Nov 1995)
Fred Thompson on Welfare & Poverty
Voted YES on welfare block grants. (Aug 1996)
Voted NO on eliminating block grants for food stamps. (Jul 1996)
Voted YES on allowing state welfare waivers. (Jul 1996)
Voted YES on welfare overhaul. (Sep 1995)
If he's against Thompson, then that is a feather in Fred's cap.
Another poster mentioned a Thompson/Steele ticket. That ticket would absolutely send the country club/Chamber of Commerce/Big Business into a tizzy.
Of course, I'm all for that.
W needs to know the difference between a time for "consensus" (there is a time for that)...
AND-- especially "consensus" with the Dims (there is even a time for that --- rare-but-happens)....
But..there is mostly time to LEAD --BASED on those same principles LL mentions...
AND to stand up for those principles and convictions without any "aw-shucks" shuffle-foot apologies to the detractors in DC and elsewhere....
(IOW -Don't bring a watergun to a firefight)
Especially the ROP enemies of our way of life...
AND our southern neighbors who remain content to invade our borders
All that said... I think cousin Fred might be less disposed to play political kissy-face when firm leadership is needed from the CIC...
Thanks for the feedback -- mine was likely not as clear as I intended...
(I wrote that BEFORE the caffeine hit the bloodstream!)
BTW -- great screen name, mikeus...
Good day to all...
It's a strategy to win the nomination without having to spend $200 million dollars. I don't know what the burn rate is for the current field, but it's far from zero. I think it makes sense. The contenders are mostly not all that popular anyway, lead dogs usually get shot, and the important time is going to be the fall.
Good post. It is still WAY early in the primary campaign. If I'm not mistaken, we actually have about 11 months before the first primary ballots are cast. To put that in perspective, I have time to get a vasectomy reversal and have another child before we start voting on who our next nominee will be. So far, none of the "front-runners" does much to get me excited. Thompson is an intriguing candidate that I could definitely get excited about.
"IMHO, Mark Davis is a total piece of work. At least 9 or 10 years ago, I quit listening to him. "
If you look up "condescending" in the dictionary there will probably be a picture of Mark Davis.
Fred Thompson brings a lot of positives to the table particularly in the Republican primaries. He could be a satisfactory candidate for all wings of the party (which neither Rudy nor the firebrand conservatives can be). I see a lot of support coalescing around Thompson from all parts of the party.
In the general election, I don't think Thompson would be as strong a candidate as Rudy. I see a Thompson-Hillary (or Obama) election as a 2004 repeat with 3-4 swing states deciding the election with Thompson squeaking by like Dubya did. I just don't think that Thompson will have the same degree of appeal to the independents that Rudy does.
I just don't think that Thompson will have the same degree of appeal to the independents that Rudy does.I recall the same thing being said about Ronald Reagan, vis a vis Bush the Elder in 1980.
-Eric
You are correct.
Or take the oath of office on it's deck. And then stand back and watch the libs go insane. hee hee hee
I actually like the fact that he is publicizing his mistake.
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