Fredipedia v2.24: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
Posted on 04/23/2007 4:40:49 PM PDT by SE Mom
My friend, Ramesh Ponnuru, over at National Review and I had a little disagreement over the issue of Federalism (you can read the original article here). It might seem a little like "Inside Baseball" but, actually, it deals with something that is of importance to everyone who is concerned about the expanding power of government. Our government, under our Constitution, was established upon the principles of Federalism -- that the federal government would have limited enumerated powers and the rest would be left to the states. It not only prevented tyranny, it just made good sense. States become laboratories for democracy and experiment with different kinds of laws. One state might try one welfare reform approach, for example. Another state might try another approach. One would work and the other would not. The federal welfare reform law resulted from just this process.
Federalism also allows for the diversity that exists among the country's people. Citizens of our various states have different views as to how traditional state responsibilities should be handled. This way, states compete with each other to attract people and businesses -- and that is a good thing.
Everyone in Washington embraces Federalism until it comes to someone's pet project designed to appeal to the voters. Then, oftentimes, even the most ardent Federalist throws in with the "Washington solution" crowd. I fought this for eight years in the Senate. I remember one vote (I believe it was 99 to one) when mine was the only vote cast for Federalism. The bill would have created a federal good Samaritan law.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcradio.com ...
Everyone in Washington embraces Federalism until it comes to someone's pet project designed to appeal to the voters. Then, oftentimes, even the most ardent Federalist throws in with the "Washington solution" crowd.
~snip ~
Can’t
Stop
SMILING:)
ping!
In theory, federalism and the idea of states being laboratories could work out.
In practice, political activists can work to defeat the concept. For example, in 1973, some states had liberalized their abortion laws to some degree, while many states maintained stricter laws. We might have been how changes in the laws worked, and then adopted federal guidelines based on experience. Instead, activists created the court cases known as Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton to impose abortion on demand nationwide. They not only defeated the concept of federalism but also imposed the most radical solution possible to the abortion issue.
Whether or not he runs for president, I can honestly say that I’m starting to have great admiration for Fred Thompson. His articles are great.
Aren’t they? Truly, every time I read something he writes I just can’t stop smiling...
He resonates because he’s genuine.
BUMP
Get it right. It’s FRederalism, not Federalism.
;-)
:)
This is one of the reasons I just think the world of this guy. Every piece he writes is a civics lesson. At a time when the country is in turmoil and the left and right are deeply divided, speaking to each other only in soundbites, here comes Fred, giving us lessons in what being American means.
He might not be a clone of Reagan, but I’ll tell you something - he makes us feel GOOD about America, just like Ronnie did.
Notice how he writes so that a person of average intelligence and political awareness can appreciate it, yet doesn’t talk down to the reader in any way?
If he can talk like this, we’ve got a winner!
I’m going to get flamed here, but he may end up being better, or at least seen as the Man Who Saved The Republic From Itself.
I think he’s going to surprise a great many people:)
There is something about Fred Thompson that to me inspires confidence. It could well be nothing more than having enjoyed him in his various roles, or it could be that he does so well in those rolls because that’s really him.
Whatever it is I’m willing to go with my gut and give him a chance.
I think at this point I would liken Fred Thompson to an NFL number one draft pick. For as much as can predicted from what’s known he should do very well in the game. But his experience to the point of being drafted is unlike that he will get in the big league. Some do well, others are never heard from again. The scouting reports on him certainly make him my number one draft choice!
Sounds good unless he plans to apply this logic to the abortion debate and leave it up to the states. That would be like leaving slavery up to the states.
So far, I’m feeling more Peyton Manning than Tim Couch here.
If the other candidates were smart, they’d get behind Fred to angle for a juicy cabinet or VP slot.
I wouldn’t be terribly pleased by it, but I’ll bet that’s where Romney ends up.
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