Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Posted on 06/28/2007 10:20:50 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Jeff Miller is a friend of Fred.
Florida’s First District congressman couldn’t wait for former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson to officially enter the presidential race to declare his allegiance.
Thompson has formed a committee to explore his options and is expected to state his intention to seek the presidency sometime in July.
Miller, R-Chumuckla, sent a letter to supporters June 20 backing the Republican from Tennessee.
“Now that he has established his exploratory committee and a decision to run appears imminent, I want to make my endorsement of Senator Thompson for President official,” Miller said.
In the letter, Miller calls Thompson “a consistent conservative who can unite our nation and help lead us in fixing our problems.”
Miller compares Thompson favorably to Ronald Reagan. He cites the former senator’s strong stance against illegal immigration and his support for securing the nation’s borders as a primary reason for choosing Thompson.
The reaction of local Republicans to Miller’s endorsement was mixed. Some, like Bob and Redith Fischer, both active in the Okaloosa County’s Republican Party, were glad to see it.
“I’m all for it, I really am,” said Redith Fischer. “I think he’s a real fine gentleman. I’d like to see him and Mitt Romney together.
The Fischers said Thompson, unlike the rest of the field, enters the presidential race free of personal or political baggage.
“With him, we have someone with a good family background that promotes honesty and decency,” Redith Fischer said.
Republican state committeeman Steve Czonstka of Okaloosa County wasn’t as willing as the Fischers to climb aboard the Thompson bandwagon.
“Right now I’m waiting to see. I still think Fred Thompson has to prove his credentials,” said Czonstka. “I think a lot of people are disappointed right now with the current roll of candidates, and Thompson has become the be-all to the dissatisfied.”
Another Republican, Santa Rosa County resident Bob Goldberg, said he’d happily support Thompson over Hillary Clinton, but added that he’s not convinced Thompson is the right GOP choice.
“I think on the one hand he’s a wonderful speaker, and on the other hand I thought he was lazy in Congress,” Goldberg said.
One thing Goldberg thought Thompson might have going for him was his ability to communicate. Thompson, like Reagan, has worked as an actor.
“I think our problem has been an inability to explain things in terms the public can believe. That’s where this administration has failed miserably,” Goldberg said.
Miller’s endorsement comes 16 months before the November 2008 election, and left some party members wondering about his motives.
“I think with the election so far away, it’s premature to be endorsing anyone right now,” Czonstka said. “But everybody’s got their own reasons. I don’t know his, so I can’t criticize.”
The congressman said he has no political motive for the endorsement but added, “it’s always good to be on the winning team early.”
Bob Fischer, who has been critical of what he sees as the GOP’s failure to step forward and encourage strong candidates to run — “we waited for someone to say ‘I’ll run’ and we got Katherine Harris” — said he was surprised to see Miller’s endorsement.
“We have a congressman stepping out and saying what he believes and I think it’s great,” Fischer said. “Now the smart thing that we as a party need to do is swing hard behind him and push, push, push.”
Miller said he didn’t see any political risk involved in his endorsement.
“I feel like Sen. Thompson is the best candidate for our times,” he said. “We have to focus on the Republican primary, and it’s been clear for some time many people have been searching for a candidate.
“I truly believe the search is over for a lot of people because Sen. Thompson fills the bill of what people in Northwest Florida want in a candidate,” Miller said.
Miller is not the only well-known Republican to declare their allegiance early.
Former state Sen. Charlie Clary of Destin is working for former New York Gov. Rudy Giuliani and former state House Speaker Allan Bense of Panama City recently held a fund-raiser for Romney.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Ping!!
Fred’s going to be awfully tough to beat in the South. If things continue the way they are in South Carolina and Florida, Fred’s going to have a big lead in delegates going into Giga Tuesday.
See my tagline...
I don't believe that will ever be the case as Fred has already expressed his disinterest in being a Veep.
Reverse of candidates, OTOH, could be a distinct possibility.
And if “I’m just not interested in the position” was the answer, would that satisfy you?
Sure. Just ask them the question.
Lots of good information on Fred Thompson at this web site:http://www.nationalmorality.com/
But, but, but...............he’s an eviiiiiiiiil lobbyist........
It’s already been asked and he said quite clearly that he is not interested in a VP position.
Maybe we should insist that anyone who wants our vote should agree they’d serve as VP as well.
BWAHAHAHAHH!!
It’s a good link, but:
” It is imperative that she(Hillary) and her elk be stopped..”
It’s a new entry for the FR lexicon!!
I doubt it would matter, in modern primary history (post JFK's run), only twice has a nominee picked a primary opponent for the VP slot.
Reagan picked Bush sr in 1980, and Kerry picked Edwards in 2004.
Both regretted it.
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