Stealth candidate ramps up game (Fred!)

The Politico ^ | 05/13/07 | Mike Allen

[SE Mom]

... Fred Thompson went before conservative leaders Saturday night to discuss law and order – for the nation, not a TV show.

People from the crowd of more than 400 said the topic played well because it goes to the heart of what unites economic and social conservatives.

...And that acting prowess shone through Saturday; attendees said Thompson rarely looked at his notes and impressed the audience with his ability to make a folksy, conversational speech convincing.

Thompson was the keynote speaker at a dinner organized by the Council for National Policy, a group of many of the nation’s most influential conservative leaders.

Most of them have large followings in the groups they lead, and many have expressed dissatisfaction with the Republican Party’s presidential contenders.

Richard Land introduced Thompson at the event. As president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Land plays a starring role in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.

In an interview with The Hill last month, Land said Thompson “reminds me of a Southern-fried Reagan.”

The event was closed to the press, but some of Thompson’s supporters provided The Politico with excerpts of his speech.

“Some of your friends, knowing that you are thinking about running for president, urge you to give a rousing campaign speech,” the potential candidate said of his preparations for the speech.

But instead, he said, he chose to discuss his “first principles,” focusing on one that he’s associated with through his television appearances: “the rule of law.”

“It is a sad irony that a nation that is so dedicated to the rule of law is doing so much to undermine the respect for it,” Thompson said.

Thompson said his cues in public life come from the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

“

[SE Mom]

Some news from Fred's appearance last night...

[SE Mom]

Fred!

[SE Mom]

~snip~

At President Bush’s request, Thompson served as Senate shepherd for the confirmation of John Roberts to the Supreme Court.

“What a steep price even the best conservative nominee has to pay,” Thompson said Saturday.

”We were reminded how desperate the liberal community is to keep the deck stacked in their favor. And most importantly, we were reminded that the quality of an individual can overcome all obstacles. So he is now Chief Justice John Roberts.”

~snip~

[stm]

Run, Fred, Run. The GOP and you country desperately need you!

[Josh Painter]

Excerpts from Fred's speech:

*

“Some of your friends, knowing that you are thinking about running for president, urge you to give a rousing campaign speech,” the potential candidate said of his preparations for the speech.

But instead, he said, he chose to discuss his “first principles,” focusing on one that he’s associated with through his television appearances: “the rule of law.”

“It is a sad irony that a nation that is so dedicated to the rule of law is doing so much to undermine the respect for it,” Thompson said.

*

Thompson said his cues in public life come from the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence:

“They include a recognition of God and the fact there are certain rights that come from Him and not the government,” he said.

“They are based upon a respect for the wisdom of the ages, and a belief that human beings are prone to err -- that too much power must never rest in too few hands.”

*

On shepherding the confirmation of John Roberts to the Supreme Court through the Senate:

“What a steep price even the best conservative nominee has to pay,” Thompson said Saturday.

”We were reminded how desperate the liberal community is to keep the deck stacked in their favor. And most importantly, we were reminded that the quality of an individual can overcome all obstacles. So he is now Chief Justice John Roberts.”

Thompson said the experience “also brought home again the importance of elections of a president and the Senate.”

*

On Scooter Libby:

“I have called for a pardon for Scooter Libby,” Thompson said in his speech.

“When you rectify an injustice under the law, just as when you reverse an erroneous court decision, you are not disregarding the rule of law, you are enforcing and protecting it.

"All this, of course, reminds us of what Washington has become and why more good people are not coming into public service.

"Add to that the bitter divisiveness on Capitol Hill with regard to all things large and small, and you can almost see Americans throwing up their hands.

"They’ve got to be wondering: 'How are today’s leaders going to lead us with regard to all these difficult issues if they can’t even agree on fundamentals -- things that are supposed to bind us together?”

*



Fredipedia v2.30: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

[stephenjohnbanker]

Info on Steele?

[Politicalmom]

Fredipedia: The definitive Fred Thompson Resource

Please FReepmail jellybean if you want on/off this list. WARNING: This ping list is EXTREMELY active.

[greyfoxx39]

Bump

[Viking2002]

C'mon, Fred - your country needs you. We need you.

[Politicalmom]

Sturm Ruger kindly did a comparison of Steele and Watts for me.

I would be happy with either one, although I want Watts.

OK, you got me curious, LOL! I had to find out for myself.

Here are the Vote/Match responses for both men...

Michael Steele on the issues: http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Michael_Steele.htm

J.C. Watts on the issues:
http://www.ontheissues.org/House/J_C__Watts.htm

topic 1: “Abortion is a woman’s right”
Steele: Strongly Opposes
Watts: Strongly Opposes

topic 2: “Require companies to hire more women/minorities”
Steele: Strongly Favors
Watts: Favors

Topic 3: “Sexual orientation protected by civil rights laws”
Steele: Strongly Opposes
Watts: Opposes

topic 4: topic 4: “Teach family values in public schools”
Steele: No opinion
Watts: Strongly Favors

topic 5: “More federal funding for health coverage”
Steele: Opposes
Watts: Opposes

topic 6: “Privatize Social Security”
Steele: Strongly Favors
Watts: Favors

topic 7: “Parents choose schools via vouchers”
Steele: Favors
Watts: Strongly Favors

topic 8: “Death Penalty”
Steele: Opposes (He’s a Catholic)
Watts: Strongly Favors

topic 9: topic 9: “Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws”
Steele: Strongly Favors
Watts: Strongly Favors

topic 10: “Absolute right to gun ownership”
Steele: Strongly Favors
Watts: Strongly Favors

topic 11: “Decrease overall taxation of the wealthy”
Steele: Strongly Favors
Watts: Strongly Favors

topic 12: “Illegal immigrants earn citizenship”
Steele: Strongly Opposes
Watts: Opposes

topic 13: “Support & expand free trade”
Steele: Strongly Favors
Watts: Strongly Favors

topic 14: “The Patriot Act harms civil liberties”
Steele: Opposes
Watts: Neutral (no votes on which to base response)

topic 15: “More spending on armed forces”
Steele: Strongly Favors
Watts: Favors

topic 16: “Stricter limits on political campaign funds”
Steele: Opposes
Watts: Neutral (one vote for, one against)

topic 17: “Replace US troops with UN in Iraq”
Steele: Strongly Opposes
Watts: Favors

topic 18: “Replace coal & oil with alternatives”
Steele: Favors
Watts: Strongly Opposes

topic 19: topic 19: “Drug use is immoral/enforce laws”
Steele: Strongly Favors
Watts: Strongly Favors

topic 20: “Allow churches to provide welfare services”
Steele: Strongly Favors
Watts: Strongly Favors

summary/chart:*
“Michael Steele is a Moderate Conservative.”
“J.C. Watts is a Populist-Leaning Conservative.”

*You have to take the libertarian site’s conclusiona with a grain of salt.

IMO, the two are very close, and Michael Steele is more conservative than I previously thought. Either should be conservative enough (but not too scary) for the majority of voters.

61 posted on 04/15/2007 3:19:33 PM EDT by Sturm Ruger

[stephenjohnbanker]

Neither one of them scare me on the core issues. I am familiar with Watts, but not Steele. Thanks for the info!

[SE Mom]

Steele is my kind of guy! Thanks for posting their records!

[pangaea6]

Could it be something other than “acting prowess” that had Fred not referring to notes often, something like, maybe, conviction of principles??? When you know what you believe one hardly needs notes. Even the delivery can be strong if one has confidence in themselves and what they believe. This is of course something liberals don’t understand. They always have to act to convince others they aren’t who they really are.

[Lexinom]

Watts by a hair although either would be good.

I would wonder, though, if topic 13 is a blind, mindless, and indisciminate free trade, or intelligent free and fair trade with free nations and equal tariffs and restrictions on both sides.

[papasmurf]

I've been boning up on both Steele and Watts lately, and had planned to pen something similar. (thank you, Sturm, you saved me)

What I took away from my recent learnings was that Watts is more of a "people" person than is Steele, yet Steele seems more diplomatic and traditional than Watts.

Each has some baggage to tote, though, none of it too serious for me to disqualify them, not by a long shot.

I feel JC's life story would make a great book, he's a true inspiration and an example of overcoming tall odds.

Maybe I'm pre-disposed to JC, but I certainly do feel he would make a better Veep now, and a great POTUS in 8 years. More importantly, JC is able to better relate to the average "Joe" and could be a catalyst for many black Americans to realize, and stand up for, their conservative values.

I came to view Steele as an awesome choice for UN Ambassador. I think he'd tear some foreign, anti-American a** at One United Nations Plaza!

:O)

P America. Together. Again Fred Thompson for President '08

[RatsDawg]

I think Watts has an advantage with Fred though, Watts was one of the first people to publicly come out in support for Fred Thompson.

[prairiebreeze]

Great article, bump!

[papasmurf]

I think so, too. As well, what JC can bring to the table compliments FRed's attributes. I'm not sure the same is true for Steele.

:O)

P America. Together. Again Fred Thompson for President '08

[ellery]

Music to my ears:

“It is a sad irony that a nation that is so dedicated to the rule of law is doing so much to undermine the respect for it,” Thompson said.

Thompson said his cues in public life come from the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

[RockinRight]

Steele seems to have a more palatable personal life. There have been stories about Watts being something of a Rudyesque cheater on his wife. Not sure how true it is.