Sen. Fred Thompson's Campaign Finance Investigation Riles His Own Party (A blast from the past)

National Review ^ | April 7, 1997 | Rich Lowry

[dirtboy]

Unfortunately, when it comes to backing candidates, all too many Freepers seem to prize a gift for gab much more than they do proven competence.

Hmmm. Let's see what Rudy's competence looks like when it comes to counterterrorism.

He kept the NYC ECC in the World Trade Center despite calls from emergency managers to move it away from a known target.

He failed to replace emergency radios that had problems during the first WTC attack.

And he pushed a corrupt crony for the most important anti-terror job in the country.

Rudy has no competence when it comes to anti-terrorism and preparadness.

[Josh Painter]

Rudy folded when it came time to stand up for the right to keep and bear arms. He folded when it came time to stand up for inncocent unborn children to keep them from being mutilated in their mothers' wombs.

[Politicalmom]

Let's see how many Rudyphiles protest the age of this article...

[stylin19a]

man, are you tough !
Newt folded...McCain folded ...Frist folded...Lott folded... and they were savvy,long time politicians.

Thompson was a babe in the woods at the time.

[AuntB]

Hmmmm.

Norquist hates McCain and the feeling is mutual.

I must say, if Fred wanted to go after Norquist, that's a plus for Fred. Everyone is scratching their collective wooden heads wondering how Norquist has escaped an indictment.

[dirtboy]

Confronting further conservative criticisms, Thompson cheerfully acknowledges that he is "off the [Republican] reservation" on campaign-finance reform.

Rudy also was a strong supporter of CFR.

Fred has since recanted. Has Rudy? >> crickets

[LIConFem]

*< crickets >*

[STARWISE]

YES .. !

Those spending hours, hunting the archives to go back TEN YEARS to dig up unflattering pieces are really becoming comical (and predictable), aren't they? LOL

As if ten years can't be a lifetime in terms of changed outlooks and priorities, with life-altering personal and global events and new insights.

Oh joy .. we'll watch with knowing smiles and let them have their scab picking parties .. it's really funny.

Fred's the only one .. so far .. who's excited my poltical meter; it's going to be fascinating to watch this cycle play out. I'll wager that in 6 months, there's going to be a whole new political landscape in place. God bless Fred and his family as they consider this momentous challenge.

[Calpernia]

Was this Asia Fund Raising Scandal mentioned above KoreaGate?

With David Cheng and Tongsun Park?

[traderrob6]

Related....

http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com/2007/03/clueless-on-right.html

[LIConFem]

"As if ten years can't be a lifetime in terms of changed outlooks and priorities, with life-altering personal and global events and new insights."

I have no problem examining a candidate's record, regardless of how far it goes back. And this is a negative for Thompson, along with his support of McCain-Feingold and probably a few other things. But when I consider his record in its totality, his popularity, personality, gravitas and whatever else we consider when choosing a president, Thompson is still by far (IMO) the best of the bunch. Assuming he's gonna run, that is.

[gridlock]

I am not up on my ancient history, but isn't bad when our side takes bribes, as well?

[Pox]

Despite your attempts at discrediting Mr. Thompson, he is head and above the best candidate for conservatives at this point in time.

Nothing you have posted is worse than RINO Rudy, McVain or the rest of the pack, and his general appeal to moderates and yes, even democrats, seem to me to insure a winner for conservatives in 08.

Given our current crop of candidates, Mr. Thompson is the obvious choice, IMO.

[onyx]

Those spending hours, hunting the archives to go back TEN YEARS to dig up unflattering pieces are really becoming comical (and predictable), aren't they? LOL

Indeed and that applies to all old articles on all the candidates. That stuff is important only to those posting it and their rabid cohorts. Perceived negatives and even factual negatives prior to 9/11 have very little chance of gaining traction with voters.

This handwringing over Fred's "possible" entry, tells me that supporters of others are worried sick and I sure hope he runs.

[quidnunc]

stylin19a wrote: man, are you tough ! Newt folded...McCain folded ...Frist folded...Lott folded... and they were savvy,long time politicians. Thompson was a babe in the woods at the time.

A babe in the woods!?

He was co-chief consel for the Senate Watergate committee.

If he wasn't politically tempered there he wouldn't be hardened anywhere.

The man had a chance to prove himself and he failed.

He is telegenic, articulate, charismatic… and a weak reed.

[Howlin]

Who has the link to the article that refutes this posted article.

Join the Draft Fred Thompson Bandwagon

▲ Click the box to see where he stands on the issues. ▲

If you'd like to be on the Fred Thompson ping list, let jellybean or me know.

[veronica]

All the candidates should be scrutinized. Rudy, Duncan Hunter, Fred Thompson. Fair is fair.

[veronica]

Let the mewling begin. :) Some people here need to take off the rose-colored glasses.

[Labyrinthos]

He contends that "it's just not right to take large sums of money from people who have legislation before you. It's that basic. The idea of mixing policy and money in that way is just so obviously a problem … It's kind of like an elephant in a bathtub: If you don't see it at first glance, chances are you never will."

I wonder how Duke Hunter feels about this.

[Prokopton]

The bottom line is that when the time came for him to show his mettle he folded, proving himself to be deficient in leadership and judgement.

I actually read the whole article. I didn't see anywhere in the article that Thompson "folded". The article shows that it is difficult to uncover the truth when Democrats are doing everything they can to cover-up and disrupt an investigation, this is nothing new and is still going on. Thompson's hearings were much more honest and effective than the pathetic 911 hearings. I saw nothing in the article that shows Thompson lacks leadership or judgment. On the contrary, Thompson showed he had excellent judgment by this quote: "The remarkable thing about Clinton is "his utter lack of shame. He literally — I mean this — has no shame. He's not affected the way normal people are by humiliation. For him, it's all a part of the game. It's a matter of maneuvering to the next point. And it serves him well in the kind of environment we have now." Compare that to the fawning attitude Rudy had, and still has, towards Clinton.

If someone thinks that this article is something that would change voters positive opinion of Thompson, they are off the mark.