Replies

Mr. Thompson has also been criticized for failing to back some comprehensive tort-reform bills because of his background as a trial lawyer. Here he insists his stance was based on grounds of federalism. "I'm consistent. I address Federalist Society meetings," he says, noting that more issues should be left to the states.
Mr. Thompson says he can compete with Democrats in talking plainly about the anxiety many Americans have about the economy, despite good macro numbers. "Someone who is 18 today may well have 10 employers in their career," he says. "That's completely different from how their parents lived. I would address that insecurity and help people adapt without shooting ourselves in the foot with protectionism and income redistribution. I had 10 employers before I finished law school."

Yes, but can the social conservatives stand for these viewpoints? I don't think that they'll be able to. Economic ignorance and the proper role of the federal government (read the 9th and 10th articles of the Bill of Rights if you have doubts) is completely lost on far too many that are right-of-center with their politics.

Many FReepers in their heart of hearts know that what I am writing here is true; they may even be the guilty ones I am trying to identify.

LowCountryJoe wrote: "Yes, but can the social conservatives stand for these viewpoints?"

Let's see now... the social conservative part of me has no problem with those viewposts. Stand by one, while I check with the fiscal conservative part of me...

No, it's kewl with that, too.

Run, Fred and J.C., run!

Finally got around to reading this one. What really caught my eye was the part continuing from the first paragraph you posted (emphasis mine)..

"I'm consistent. I address Federalist Society meetings," he says, noting that more issues should be left to the states. For example, he cast the lonely "nay" in 99-1 votes against a national 0.8% blood alcohol level for drivers, a federal law banning guns in schools, and a measure limiting the tort liability of Good Samaritans. "Washington overreaches, and by doing so ends up not doing well the basics people really care about." Think Katrina and Walter Reed.

I'd forgotten about those votes. Part of me always respects the one man who casts the lone vote against an overwhelmingly popular bill, even when that vote is wrong and informed by kooky ideas. In these cases, however, Fred was dead on right. If Fred really runs on his federalist principles and articulates them with conviction, I might just have to change my tagline. No President has even spoken of returning power to the states since Reagan, and even he did little to act on it. If Fred Thompson can do that, he'll have proven to me at least that he's more than just "electable".