Posted on 04/01/2007 9:13:44 PM PDT by SE Mom
In just three weeks, Fred Thompson has transformed the contest for the Republican presidential nomination. It is not merely that he has come from nowhere to double digits in polls. He is the talk of GOP political circles because he is filling the conservative void in the field.
Republican activists have complained for months that none of the Big Three -- Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney-- fits the conservative model of a conservative leader for a conservative party. The party faithful have been waiting for another Ronald Reagan. But in conversations with them the past year, nobody mentioned Thompson as the messiah until he appeared March 11 on "Fox News Sunday."
Thompson was surprised by the reaction to his statement that he was "giving some thought" to running. In the first Gallup Poll that listed Thompson (conducted March 23-25), he scored 12 percent -- amazing for someone out of public life for more than four years who has not campaigned. More important is his backing within the political community. Buyer's remorse is expressed by several House members who endorsed Romney, the former Massachusetts governor.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Darkwolf377 wrote: "--can't beat him intellectually or on the issues, go for his personal life."
On the contrary, Fred beats him like a rented mule on the issues: abortion, illegal immigration guns and gays, just to name a few. Rudy is at odds with traditional Republican Platform planks on these issues, not mention the Constitution and U.S. Immigration law.
I have nothing to say on his personal life. Don't need to. His position on these four key issues will be more than enough to hasten Rudy's downfall with conservatives. He's a great guy, just too liberal to be running for President as a Republican.
That's the bottom line, and it has nothing to do with his personal life. Nor does it have anything to do with Hillary Rotten Clinton, who will play Walter Mondale to Fred's Ronald Reagan in the general.
If you want the details, respond to this reply and I will explain just how it works. I did not even know about this until I ran for a local city coucil seat and had to research what to do with funds left over from my campaign. I have been a tax and accounting nut all my life after working for one of the big 4 accounting firms and attending law school at night and then managing several big law firms for the last 20 yers. I know what I am talking about, and even most lawyers and accountants have no knowledge about this huge loophole for campaign funds. It's very clever.
I don't "hate" Rudy by any means. I think he's a good leader. I applaud him for his leadership during 9/11.
But that doesn't mean I have to support him for president. It's not personal, and I've never said anything to suggest it was.
I don't support Rudy because 1. He's pro-gun control: 2. He's pro-abortion, and (*here's the big one*) 3. He's pro-illegal immigration--which would make him another retread of Bush, sadly.
I think now is the time for a TRUE conservative on the issues, now more than ever, and NOT a centrist or moderate. I'm sorry, that's just it. If Rudy gets the nomination I'll support him (as bad as he is, the opposition beats him by miles).
"... (i.e., promising to nominate a candidate like Roberts, Alito or Scalia)..."
Yes, he does promise that. I have no reason not to believe him.
On the other hand, Thompson was chosen by the president to walk Roberts through the confirmation process...
That's just silly.
I've never described Giuliani as a conservative--he's not. But he's far preferable to the alternative--Hillary. And as much as I'd like to be one of those FReepers who "stand on principle" and allow the democrats to take congress and possibly the White House rather than vote for a "real conservative," I see many on the right, particularly those who see through a screen of religion, taking this party down the toilet just as fast as the RINOs.
I don't believe in purity tests, and neither do most Americans. The time to get a real conservative is in the primaries, but what good is that if he's destined to be slaughtered? Giuliani would be a good leader in the WOT--that's the #1 issue for me, and for everyone who understands the gravity of the Islamofascist threat. I'm sorry, being pro-life hasn't done the movement very much good under Reagan or two Bushes, and one's stand on abortion is meaningless if we're all dead by Muslim nukes.
People LIKE Giuliani better than HRC. My personal choice would be Thomson, but can he beat HRC? I know many here WANT to believe he can, but if he can't, I don't want to hear any bitching from the religious right, who did all they could to stop Rudy so we could get HRC as our president.
Near the resort where my wife adn I invested, there is a law firm called Allen, Allen, Allen, and Allen.
"May I speak to Mr. Allen, please?"
"I'm sorry, he's on vasation."
"Well, then, may I speak to Mr. Allen?"
"He's in court."
"Well, then, may I speak to Mr. Allen?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Allen is out to lunch."
"Then may I speak with Mr. Allne, plese?"
"Speaking."
Wow--well put. I agree. He is who I would point to if any foreigner asked me to indicate a politician I believe has the nation's best interests in mind, and is an example of the best America can be.
On a different subject...I wonder when we will hear about his own personal tragesy with his daughter? The MSM LOVE the Edwards tragedies--maybe they're going to smear Thompson soon so he doesn't muscle in on Tragedy TV time.
Giuliani is a scandal just waiting to happen. The first intern flashes her thong and it's Impeachment City.
He makes terrible decisions based on impulse. How can his personal life have no bearing on how he would lead the country?
WOW.....That is neat!
I wonder how many folks around here remember that.
U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson says he seldom hears about abortion in campaign travels throughout Tennessee and hopes the issue is downplayed at the Republican National Convention. The Tennessee Republican, a pro-choice defender in a party with an anti-abortion tilt, is preparing for next week's convention in San Diego. He said the party must avoid distracting issues and focus on electing Bob Dole as president. "We need to concentrate on what brings us together and not what divides us," Thompson said in an interview with The Tennessean published Tuesday. Thompson said he opposes making early-term abortions a crime, as some Republicans would like to do with a constitutional amendment. "But I don't think you should bolt on one issue. I'm still not convinced platforms are a good idea. We know what we believe in and I don't think we need to write it all down in a document," Thompson said. (AP, 8/6/96)
dangus wrote: "I want to know that any latest positions which seem he has remained a conservative at heart (i.e., promising to nominate a candidate like Roberts, Alito or Scalia) are because he has decided that being a conservative is the way to rule as President, not just the way to get the Republican nomination."
the problem is, Rudy want s conservatives to take him at his word on appointing originalist judges. His record is one of appointing mostly liberals to the bench. According to the LA Times, hardly a conservative newspaper, some of the appointment Rudy made to the bench are real eye-openers:
"But there is no question that Giuliani's appointment record has already drawn concern from some conservatives.
One judge approved by Giuliani, Rosalyn Richter, had been executive director of a gay rights organization, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, before being named to the bench. After her initial appointment by former Mayor David N. Dinkins, Richter changed the questions asked of potential jurors to be more welcoming to gay and lesbian couples. She was later reappointed by Giuliani.
Another judge, appointed by Giuliani to the criminal bench in 1996, Dora Irizarry, has called herself pro-choice and was later elevated to the federal bench with strong support from Democratic Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.
A family court judge reappointed by Giuliani, Sheldon Rand, was excoriated on the conservative-leaning New York Post editorial page last week for ruling that city funds be used to pay for a sex-change operation for an indigent New York resident."
And a fourth judge, Paula J. Hepner, appointed initially by Dinkins in 1995, issued a ruling that allowed a lesbian to adopt her partner's child. Four years later, Giuliani reappointed Hepner to New York's family court bench. Hepner was subsequently married to another woman in a ceremony in Canada.
Tommy Thompson let the media know he was interested in running well before Fred did. He has been stumping in Iowa for that purpose. Tommy's name has shown up in a number of polls but with very little support.
Because our new Fred D. Thompson for President.com is only a few days old, we haven't yet covered all of his personal life. We are aware that he lost his daughter to bad circumstances and we will cover that in detail the same as we want to more fully understand his divorce. We don't want to make any mistakes in reporting the truth on either of these sensitive subjects, so please be patient. There will be no lies, half-truths or unconfirmed rumors about Fred D. Thompson on the Fred D. Thompson for President.com website.
Rudy will win both the nomination and the presidency. Have no fear.
People on FR are fickle, immature, and politically bipolar. Which is one reason this place has become an almost intolerable place to hang out in.
I know- you're right about the mudslinging from the Hillary camp.
Although- when Bob Beckel said Thompson is the Dems worst night mare- I think part of the reason is..there's nothing awful- no dreadful skeletons waiting in the shadows.
I'm not worried about your coverage, I'm just worried about the MSM getting in and defining him before he even jumps in the race--that's the danger in his decision to wait.
Luis Gonzalez wrote: "AP, 8/6/96"
Curiously, when you do a google search on that text you quoted, it shows up at several websites - including the so-called "EvangelicalsForMitt.com" - but it doesn't show up with any link to the Associated Press. And we all should know by now how Evangelicals for Mitt has a little false witness problem...
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.