Posted on 04/10/2007 1:10:22 PM PDT by perfect_rovian_storm
The Brody File is in constant research mode. For all you Fred Thompson fans out there, grab a seat. Pause your TIVO episodes of Law and Order. Put on hold those portraits you've ordered of Fred Thompson and Ronald Reagan side by side in your living room. I've discovered that when socially liberal bad boy Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee was running for re-election in 2006, Fred Thompson campaigned for him and came to his defense. Here's the money quote:
"There are a lot of reasons I support Linc. We agree on most issues, disagree on some. Obviously, keeping control of the Senate is very important. I don't like the sound of 'Chairman Kennedy.' "
He agrees with Chafee on most issues? The last time I checked Chafee was pretty much off the reservation on most Republican talking points: immigration, taxes, Iraq war, traditional marriage, abortion. Shall I go on? I mean I get it. Thompson believes keeping Republicans in control of the Senate is the key. You know, it's all about the party. There's something to be said for that but I keep getting back to that line, "agree on most issues". That may be hard to stomach for Thompson fans who believe he's the true conservative choice if he runs. Here's a link to how Chafee has voted on the "issues."
Below you can read the article from The Providence Journal back in April of 2006. Comments?
"He may be known better for his performance as deep-voiced district attorney Arthur Branch on NBC's legal drama Law & Order, but Fred Thompson was in Rhode Island last night in his role as a former U.S. senator from Tennessee and Republican stalwart to campaign and raise money for Sen. Lincoln Chafee's reelection. Thompson's message was aimed at Republicans and unaffiliated voters thinking of supporting Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey, Chafee's primary challenger. Even those who disagree with Chafee should support him to ensure that the GOP Senate does not revert to the Democrats, Thompson said. "I think purging is the last thing we ought to have on our minds these days," Thompson said. "I think nationwide we are evenly divided as a people on a number of issues; we're evenly divided in the Senate and in the House. We, as Republicans, need to stick together." "There are a lot of reasons I support Linc. We agree on most issues, disagree on some. Obviously, keeping control of the Senate is very important. I don't like the sound of 'Chairman Kennedy.' Thompson was obviously referring to Massachusetts Democrat Edward M. Kennedy, who has sufficient seniority to become chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which considers judicial nominations, if Democrats win control of the Senate in the November general election. "In the kind of times we live in, we need people of integrity who do what they think is right," Thompson said. "I served with Linc's father [the late Sen. John Chafee], who, as far as I was concerned, was the most respected man in the Senate, and Linc is in the same tradition."
Oh wow, Rudy was against Tax Cuts as well...BIG no no.
PING!
When the base has people to cheer for, rather than just hold their noses and vote, they talk a lot and convince the moderates to vote Republican. That’s what was missing in 06.
The conventional wisdom says to move the party left because the ‘independents’ are trending that way. This is flawed thinking. The independents sway with the wind. The wind was blowing left, because the right had nothing positive to say about what it was supporting.
Give the base someone they can be passionate about supporting and they will do the legwork to convince the independents. Give them someone that doesn’t seem any different from a ‘moderate dem’ and you’re asking for a lot of trouble.
China I think.
Fred Thompson/Duncan Hunter in ‘08 works for me if this is the final Presidential ticket for the GOP!
y que? so what!
People are already trying to find anything and everything that can qualify as negative dirt on Fred Thompson, and he isn’t even an official candidate for President yet.
“Chafee easily would’ve traded his party label for a committee chairmanship from the ‘Rats.”
The fact is he had NOT done so in the past.
So speculating about what people “would’ve” done is a pure guess.
I hope the purists enjoy all the committee hearings, about the now-minority Republicans and their President.
Levin? Come on now. Sure, he did, and that was one of the few areas I disagreed on. What about Savage? He was (and is) a disaster!
That and Hawaii. It’s such a vast waste of political power. The right would have continuely control over the senate if those two place weren’t states....and they truely shouldn’t be awarded that much.
A Republican who reaches out to the conservatives will win the support of voters for whom the Democrats cannot compete. A Republican who reaches to the left may temporarily win the favor of some moderates, but the Democrats are likely to win a lot of them back.
He had only been in the Senate since 1999, and there was only one opportunity he had to do it, and Judas Jeffords beat him to the punch. Had he been reelected in November, I will bet the farm he would've switched.
"So speculating about what people “would’ve” done is a pure guess."
Yes, so true. Kinda like having the nerve to assume a Muslim is prone to violence.
"I hope the purists enjoy all the committee hearings, about the now-minority Republicans and their President."
Yeah, speculating that a man whose voting record was virtually IDENTICAL to Hillary Clinton's (only a couple points away from being in the single digits (ACU rating)), one whom publicly declared he did NOT vote for the President, that routinely failed to put the kibosh on switch rumors, was going to firmly remain loyal to the party and keep McConnell as Majority Leader. I've never been represented by Democrats as leftist as Chafee. His would've been the most effortless switch as Ralph Hall's was to the GOP. C'mon, fella, I don't believe you're that naive to think someone who disagreed with his party 90% of the time was going to stay put. He was never with us even when he was with us.
See post #92.
IMO, George supporting a liberal just buttresses the argument. Being supported by George has nothing to do with your implied point that liberals can be supported by conservatives. George is a "Compassionate Conservative", not a conservative.
The point of the article is correct, even if I like Fred.
Oh, well, nobody’s perfect, and with Rhode Island being like it is politically, it’s not like the Republicans had any good options.
Interesting that Don Carcieri survived the rodent tidal wave.
I was saying that no matter which way the Senate race went, we would’ve lost. The only way we wouldn’t have is if Talent, Burns, Santorum or Allen had retained their seat.
I think this guy Brody is not convinced that Fred is conservative enough. I have no idea who they prefer but I think they tend to lean toward Duncan Hunter.
Even my senator was not opposed to Chafee. The RSCC was pouring money into his primary campaign. He was the republican incumbent.
I opposed him in the primary. I supported his opponent, and refused to send money to the RSCC because of their support.
But I didn’t fault any other republican for supporting the incumbent. Of course, I didn’t fault Santorum for his support of Specter either, like some people did. This will be a problem for some people.
Anybody know if Duncan Hunter, Sam Brownback, or any other candidate made any statements one way or another about Chafee during the primary?
I’m guessing Rudy supported him, Rudy supported everybody.
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