Posted on 06/23/2007 7:19:15 AM PDT by etradervic
After John East, a stalwart conservative from North Carolina, entered the U.S. Senate in 1981, wags began referring to Jesse Helms as "the liberal senator from the Tar Heel state." We are reminded of this tale as Republican activists rush to encourage, if not yet fully embrace, the presidential candidacy of Fred Thompson, the former senator from Tennessee. The Republican base is evidently unimpressed or uninspired (or both) by the conservative credentials of the top three Republicans (John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani) seeking the 2008 presidential nomination. Mr. Thompson's most-oft-cited conservative credential is his 86.1 percent lifetime (1995-2002) Senate vote rating compiled by the American Conservative Union (ACU), the organization that many rightly consider a leading arbiter of conservatism. In the same relative sense that Mr. Helms could be considered North Carolina's "liberal senator," Mr. Thompson's ACU rating would qualify him to be "the liberal senator from Tennessee" during his eight-year stint. Bill Frist, who defeated Democratic incumbent Jim Sasser, was elected to the Senate from Tennessee the same year (1994) as Mr. Thompson, who won the seat vacated in 1993 by then-Vice President Gore. During the eight years they represented Tennessee together, Mr. Frist compiled an ACU rating of 89.3 percent, making Mr. Thompson "the liberal senator from the Volunteer state."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
On the 31st anniversary of the Gun Owner's Action League, Governor Romney declared May 7, 2005 as "The Right to Bear Arms Day" in Massachusetts to honor "the right of decent, law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms in defense of their families, persons, and property and for all lawful purposes, including the common defense."
The firearms reform bill signed by Governor Romney in 2004 had the endorsement of the NRA, Gun Owners' Action League, law enforcement and Massachusetts gun owners. The bill added several measures these groups favored, including a lengthening of the terms of firearm identification cards and licenses to carry.
Mitt stood his ground the best he could with a 85% liberal legislature.
donna wrote: “I will NEVER vote for Fred Thompson.”
Lucky for you there are enough of us who WILL vote for Fred so you won’t have to live in Hillary’s socialist workers’ paradise...
Duncan isn’t perfect, but I’d like him as Prez. The only problem is, he can’t seem to get any traction.
What I am hoping is that once people start voting we will see him shine. I guess I can hope can’t I? lol.
Saundra Duffy wrote: “flip-flop alert”
Uh, escuse me, bu a Romney supporter saying “flip-flop alert” is like a Hillary supporter attacking Edwards with a tax increase alert.
Romney is the biggest flip-flopper since John Kerry. He’s been on both sides of so many issues that many of us just don’t believe ANYTHING he says anymore.
Only reason a REAL conservative cannot get traction is if the RINOs have taken over the GOP.
If Fred Thompson’s principled position in voting against tort reform is that he believes individual states should generate their own tort reforms, he’s either in bed with the trial lawyers or incompetent.
Lawyers have gone jurisdiction shopping for decade upon decade. “You can’t sue them in 49 states? Why, there’s always South Carolina!”
Tort reform absolutely has to occur on a national level for it to be effective. Individual states can make regulations tougher than federal restrictions, but until we have control at the federal level, we’re going to continue to see these ridiculous lawsuits.
Thompson has made several boneheaded stands/votes based on federalism. His Pro-Choice stance in 1994 was based on federalism/libertarianism.
What’s not to like about Thompson? I don’t think he’s invested the energy in this campaign that anyone looking to become the Ruler of the0 Free World should. I think he’s very vulnerable to comparisons with George Bush. I think he’s haggard and thus vulnerable to a younger, more vital DNC group of candidates. I’ve also been very unimpressed with him in several interviews. I’m not particularly impressed with his business credentials, either.
That said, I like Thompson’s folksy mannerisms, his frank way of dealing with adversity, his generally conservative record, and his promises to cut spending. He does manage to garner up a great deal of support and inspire the base (or at least some of it). I like the guy. I just don’t like him as chief executive.
I've been paying close attention and so far Romney hasn't impressed me with his conservatism. He remains a moderate centrist. While I thought he won the first two debates, this isn't about who the best debater is. Romney still hasn't expressed an agenda that conservatives are comfortable with or offered up any signature issues that can drive his campaign.
Having said all that, I won't rule out voting for him should he be the GOP nominee. So far, only Ron Paul and Rooty Toot will NOT get my vote.
The three top GOP candidates are far from representing what Ronald Reagan stood for. So this remains a weak field of candidates. Should Fred Thompson get in the race, I will employ the same standards for his candidacy that I do for all the rest. At this stage, FredT appears to offer a viable alternative and may have what the GOP needs to win when it comes to policies, politics and personality.
So that means you'd vote for McCain if he were the nominee?
Sorry, FRiend, I couldn't resist making you hork up a hairball...
That is also a false statement. You are losing credibility fast. His one alleged flip flop was on abortion. And, that was just a flip not a flip flop, or to those of us who welcome people to our side -— a conversion. I welcome people evolving to the right side of life.
All kidding aside, I agree that Romney, although not a good choice, still could be someone I could vote for if I dig out my clothespin I used on my nose when I pulled the lever for Dole in 1996 (I still got the divots in my schnoz from that one...)
Raster, how’s Duncan Hunter’s fundrasing effort going?
Excellent point, and always the problem when you try to boil an issue down to a single number.
bttt
Too much a McCain man for me. I'd rather fight for Hunter in that case.
But, as I've said before, if he is the nominee, he's got my support. Even McCain-lite is better than Hillary-regular.
Don’t work for the campaign, but there was a fundraiser today....bet he’ll fare well. He’s also campaigning today at a golfing fundraiser for his son who’s stationed in Afghanistan and cannot campaign for himself. I have complete confidence in both Duncan’s.
I like a candidate who doesn't get money from BIG HOLLYWOOD types. I've contributed to Hunter's campaign already this month and will do so again before the 30th, so you'd better open your wallet if you expect to compete.
Just NO liberals.... NO Rooty Toot!!!
Tell me, for example, on tort reform why it is appropriate to have a federally mandated medical malpractice cap that is the same for Mississippi and New York, in spite of the different costs of living. Is this something the federal government should be sticking its nose into?
When you talk about tort reform, you must be talking about products liability. Or are you saying there should be comprehensive federal workers compensation regulation. The devil is in the details. I am in favor of tort reform, but I do not believe in giving anyone, including businesses and corporations, a blank check that is issued from Washington. This is dangerous and it is the easy way for business to solve issues, but it fails to address the particular needs of local jurisdictions. Aside from the military, the federal government has demonstrated no such competence. BTW, can you point me to something in the Constitution’s grant of enumerated powers to the federal government that gives it the right to invade what has been a state province for 200 years.
The fact is that most tort reform, like most good legislation, is best accomplished not by Washington but at the state level, through selection of good state judges and legislation passed by the state legislatures.
As far as George Bush is concerned, there is no comparison between him and Thompson. Thompson is a federalist , and I do not believe that Bush ever even pretended to be one. His expansion of the federal government, No Child Left Behind, Prescription drug benefits, excessive federal spending, no vetoes (other than stem cell research) in over 6 years sets him far apart form Thompson.
I am just going to disagree with you on the “haggard” look. That is your opinion not shared by many. And who is this group of “more vital” DNC candidates. Mondale was less haggard and more vital than Reagan, and he lost 49 states. So was Carter, and he lost 44 states.
I think that his interviews have ranged from above average to outstanding. And I have no idea what you mean about his businsess credentials.
redgirlinabluestate wrote: “That is also a false statement. You are losing credibility fast. His one alleged flip flop was on abortion. And, that was just a flip not a flip flop, or to those of us who welcome people to our side - a conversion. I welcome people evolving to the right side of life.”
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Sorry, but you’re wrong, and you’re the one losing cred:
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“Was talking to a top conservative strategist about Romney last night. He thinks the gay and abortion flip-flops are uncomfortable for him, but certainly survivable...”
- Rich Lowery, The Corner on National Review, 12/14/06
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTA1NmM0YjlhMjkwOGY3M2RkNjA1MGYxM2I0MGI3MzI=
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“It used to be that it was expected that Republicans would become more conservative when they ran for the nomination, and conservatives would welcome it. But Romney has changed on so much so recently, in the age of YouTube and especially against the back-drop of the recent assault on Kerry’s flip-flops, that he’s getting hammered.”
- Rich Lowery, The Corner on National Review, 02/20/07
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ODE2NjNmODZiMzQwOTVhODJlNzY0NzlhNmNhOTlmNWI=
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“Mitt Romney opened his mouth and inserted his foot again. However, it turns out that he was replacing Hillary Clintons words with his foot, so it may well be a trade up.”
“You see, back in 1998 he said that Hillary Clinton was ‘very much right’ that ‘it takes a village:’
‘Hillary Clinton is very much right, it does take a village, and we are a village and we need to work together in a non-skeptical, no-finger-pointing way ’
Now, you see, ‘it takes a family’. Just in case you missed that, he was talking about Rick Santorum.
Perhaps one should say that Romneys flip-flops take a village. There are so many of them ”
- Soren Dayton, eyeon08.com, 04/17/07
http://www.eyeon08.com/2007/04/17/romneys-flip-flops-take-a-village/
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“Political pundits are having a field day with Mitt Romney. Hypocrisy has become the only unforgivable sin in American politics and Romney is up for a lead role in ‘Prime Suspect.’ Guns, abortion, stem cell research, fidelity to Reagan, tax pledges-all Romney positions reversed, modified, ‘evolved’ or faked, depending on your view. Was he truthful then or now? Was his change of heart genuine or not? The underlying message is that Romney is a hypocrite, faking his views to burnish his conservative credentials. I think these pundits have it wrong.”
“To be a hypocrite implies one has fixed views but is feigning different ones for personal gain. In other words, one has beliefs but they are up for sale, trade-in or abandonment for new ones. Romney is off the hook here since it is increasingly clear that he has no beliefs whatsoever.”
- Jennifer Rubin, Pajamas Media, 03/01/07
http://pajamasmedia.com/2007/03/the_man_who_would_be_mitt_find.php
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“I find it hard to even consider Romney because I think that, while all politicians opportunistically shift positions to some extent, Romney has made flip-flopping an art form, and has done so on issues of conscience such as abortion and guns. Regardless of a candidate’s positions, his experience or other qualities, shouldn’t we have some minimal requirements for sincerity and standing on principle? What would it say about our nation, our people, and what would we tell our children if we elect a man who abandons his convictions (or has none) and tells people whatever they want to hear just to get their votes? Personally, I can’t vote for a guy for president if I have to check my watch to know what his convictions are (and it’s beyond a lack of consistency; it’s calculated, insincere, opportunistic inconsistency on matters of conscience)...”
- BrooksRob, RedState.com, 05/03/07
http://www.redstate.com/blogs/brooksrob/2007/may/03/romney_just_too_phoney
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“Top 10 RINOs (Republicans in Name Only)
Ranked by the editors of Human Events...
8. Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.)
Has said, ‘I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country.’ Supports civil unions and stringent gun laws. After visiting Houston, he criticized the citys aesthetics, saying, ‘This is what happens when you dont have zoning.’”
- The Editors, Himan Events, 12/27/2005
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=11129
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Need to see more?
You didn’t answer the question. Fact is, Hunter is down near the bottom of the pack in fundraising, jst like he ius in polling. He just hasn’t gained any traction at all.
Fred has taken in more from small donors on the internet than Hunter has taken in for his entire campaign. I’ve already donated twice to Fred and will continue to do so twice a month.
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