Posted on 07/25/2007 6:16:10 PM PDT by goldstategop
He hasn't yet entered the Presidential race, and yet Fred Thompson, yesterday, showed us why he's the scariest Republican Presidential candidate. And maybe the scariest of both parties.
Don't believe Thompson's claim that he understands the Islamist jihadist threat to America. His announcement, yesterday, of his choice of Spencer Abraham as campaign manager, told us everything we need to know. Although Abraham, of Lebanese descent, is a Maronite Christian, he is a career water carrier for Islamists of the most extremist stripe and made that the cornerstone of his failed, one-term Senate career and equally lousy tenure as Energy Secretary.
Spencer Abraham: Former Bush Energy Secretary, Current Pan-Islamist & Fred Thompson Campaign Manager
As a conservative--but more important, as an American concerned about the future of this country in the face of a terrorist threat--Thompson's choice of Spencer Abraham was the nail in the coffin for me in opposing Fred Thompson's quest for the White House.
I know Spencer Abraham. He wrote one of my recommendations for law school. And the Spencer Abraham that I and all of America have since experienced is bad news for everyone except CAIR, ADC, MPAC, ISNA, and all Islamists who want to endanger America.
In 2003, I wrote the definitive column on Spencer Abraham a/k/a Spence a/k/a Edward Spencer Abraham (which was quoted in The Washington Post), and I re-publish it below, with several additions I've made, updating it. At the time Spence was still Energy Secretary, but he left to become a lobbyist for Islamist countries.
As a Senator, he took marching orders from James Zogby of the pan-Islamist Arab American Institute, opposing profiling of Arabs, the use of secret evidence against Muslims (at the behest of Muslim groups), attempting to repeal the Clinton counterterrorism package, refusing to fund computer tracking of student and other foreign aliens, giving millions in our tax money right to Hezbollah, and putting CAIR on the map on Capitol Hill (taking the group's officials around to meet other Senators and Members of Congress). He took campaign contributions from the relatives of Hezbollah-backed top Lebanese officials after he got the group millions in our tax money.
Spence was one of only two Senators in the entire U.S. Senate who refused to sign a letter calling on President Clinton to condemn Palestinian terrorism and Yasser Arafat. This was at the height of a series of homicide bombings in 1999 and 2000.
As Energy Secretary, he gave top secret tours of nuclear facilities, as well as detailed information on how we secure them to Muslim nations who are our enemies. And he gave out undue post-9/11 awards to Al-Qaeda money-launderers . . . at the White House. The money launderers were raided by U.S. Customs Service agents.
After he left the Bush cabinet, Spence became a lobbyist for Mid-Eastern Muslim countries that practice the Arab boycott of Israel and don't really like us too much either. He took their money and until the Thompson race, did their bidding.
Do you really support a guy, Fred Thompson, who picked this man to head up his team? Either Thompson is clueless about Abraham, which should immediately disqualify him for the White House and frighten all of us about how he makes decisions. Or he knows about Abraham, and went with him anyway. Just as bad.
If you want to say no to jihad, you WILL say NO to Fred Thompson. He chose, and now we must choose against him:
JIHAD SPENCE: Bush's Dangerous Energy Secretary is Now Fred Thompson's Campaign Manager
By Debbie Schlussel
Since the Blackout of 2003, he's gotten lots of TV face time. But should U.S. energy policy be entrusted to Spencer Abraham?
In 2000, President Bush said his Cabinet would "look like America," nominating Abraham, the defeated Lebanese-American Senator from Michigan, to Energy Secretary--part of the Bush strategy targeting the Arab vote.
But was this political strategy in the best interest of the country? Abraham's record suggests otherwise.
In the two years since 9/11, Abraham did absolutely nothing to improve our precarious electric power situation.
That would be bad enough.
But, since 9/11, Abraham continued a controversial UN-sponsored program allowing foreign visitors from countries on the State Department terrorist list to tour U.S. nuclear reactors. A course sponsored by the UN International Atomic Energy Agency, taught by U.S. nuclear weapons lab security personnel, gives tours of Nuclear Regulatory Commission facilities and teaches participants from 57 countries--including Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia--security techniques employed at American nuclear sites. "They were teaching them to black out systems, which they could use against us at labs," an official told a popular newssite.
The Clinton Administration taught the course to foreign representatives, too. But that was pre-9/11. In the post-9/11 era, Abraham irresponsibly continued it, despite protests.
Then there's Jamal Barzinji. Abraham enlisted him to find parties who helped and reached out to Muslims after 9/11, with Abraham hosting an awards ceremony for them. Problem is, Barzinji is an officer and/or director in SAFA Trust, Mar-Jac Poultry, and International Institute for Islamic Thought, all raided by Customs in March 2002 for laundering over $1.7 billion to Al-Quaida and Islamic Jihad (through indicted University of South Florida professor and alleged Islamic Jihad frontman Sami Al-Arian).
More troubling is Abraham's Senate record, ignored by his former Senate colleagues in an easy confirmation hearing.
Should a Senator who deliberately endangered national security for Arab/Muslim votes and campaign money be entrusted to oversee U.S. energy policy and access?
Abraham's frightening national security record included:
Liberal immigration policy, including lax foreign visitor tracking, at the behest of Arab/Muslim groups; Tried to End Profiling, Secret Evidence Use Against Terrorists
Abraham was Senate Immigration Subcommittee Chairman through the end of 2000. Abraham routinely caved to the demands of Arab/Muslim leaders, such as the Arab American Institute's James Zogby, on national security matters, especially immigration.
"Ever since (I first met) him, Abraham has been coming to us and giving advice, support and the benefits of his leadership," Zogby told The Detroit News.
And taking Zogby's advice, too.
Abraham actively worked to delay computer systems to track foreign visitors, which Arab/Muslim groups, including Zogby's, strongly opposed. 1996 immigration law required computerized entry and exit tracking of all temporary visas, but was gutted by Abraham and other legislators. They refused to allocate money for the program and delayed its full implementation until 2005. In 2000, Abraham, as Chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee, delayed implementation of other requirements of the 1996 immigration measure, including university-assisted enforcement student visa laws and collection of fees from foreign students to pay for computer tracking.
These programs might have prevented the Sept. 11 attacks. But Abraham desperately craved the Arab/Muslim vote in Michigan.
Abraham also sponsored and pushed for the repeal of the use of secret evidence against terrorists, a vital portion of the Clinton counterterrorism package. He also sought to outlaw profiling of Arabs and Muslims by federal law enforcement.
Foreign aid funding for Hezbollah, rewarded by pseudo-foreign campaign contributions
In July 2000, Abraham sought over $268 million in tax-funded USAID grants for Hezbollah terrorist-controlled Southern Lebanon, at Arab American Institute's Zogby's request. Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah, has targeted and murdered many Americans. Millions in similar USAID grants (which have scant strings and accountability attached) to Afghanistan were misspent on Taliban terrorist activities. Abraham enlisted Michigan Republican Congressman Joe Knollenberg, on the House International Relations Committee, to push the questionable aid package in the House. They ended up obtaining $86 million, which went straight to Hezbollah and which was never tracked thereafter. They knew this, and that's why they and Zogby sought the money for their Hezbollah friends.
Abraham and Knollenberg were repaid for their efforts, receiving thousands in campaign contributions from Nijad Fares, the Houston-based greencard-holding son of Syrian-backed Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Issam Fares.
Soft on terrorism
Abraham was one of only two U.S. Senators who refused to sign an October 2000 letter to President Clinton condemning terrorist acts by Yasser Arafat and the P.L.O.
Abraham led the nearly successful June 2001 attempt to reverse the use of classified evidence against terrorists, sponsoring the legislation at the behest of Islamist groups, including the American Muslim Association (AMA) and the American Muslim Political Coordination Council (AMPCC), both headed by Agha Saeed.
In July 1999, Abraham wrote to Saeed, AMA, and AMPCC asking their support: "Your efforts are truly needed in the political arena. . . . You can truly make a difference in the political and policy arenas, and I remain committed to helping you achieve that goal."
But Saeed openly praised Palestinian terrorism as "armed resistance" and appeared at lectures and events sponsored by Hamas front groups, including one panel, in which he was joined by the indicted Al-Arian, entitled: "Zionism: A Racist and Colonialist Ideology." AMA-sponsored events featured these exhortations: "The trees and the stones will say, oh Muslim, there is a Jew hiding behind me. Come and kill him!" "Victory comes from Allah and Hezbollah is our model." "Hear that, Bill Clinton? We are all supporters of Hamas."
Given Spencer Abraham's record of kowtowing to Arab, Muslim, and foreign interests on virtually every national security issue, his hegemony at Energy is disturbing. He should control no form of power--political or electric.
If you’re going to enter a conversation I’m having with someone else, especially concerning a different point...don’t do it. My points are entirely meant for that person, and not yourself...not to be twisted into presumption of anything.
I was disputing whether or not a person is or isn’t a conservative. You’re asking an entirely different question.
She supplies very little detail of her assertions, and she has about as much context as Dan Rathers on Bush. Anyone with a ‘surface detail’ will absorb the Dan Rather mentality of ‘ohh, the worst is true’, rather than waiting in regards to the chose and trying to resolve what really is happening.
Perhaps even resolving it like we did with Bush’s justice pick...? Oh no, is that possible!? Some would rather scream ‘impeach’,...but not me.
Those asserting must prove their assertions are right. It’s not the other way around. I don’t have to prove a negative, just like no one had to prove Dan Rather’s was a moron. As I wrote in a former message, I think people will write to him, and question his pick...and he may very well change it.
I’m just not quick to the gun, and I lack prudence in destroying a man over his potential infallibility or because I lack his reasoning.
Remember how quick liberals are to judge Bush when ‘he’s done wrong with Plame’ or when ‘he’s part of the unlawful firing of justices’....this is not worthy of conservatives. We owe more to ourselves than be rabid wolves aiming to destroy whatever is not wholly amicable.
Please read article “Thompson Answers CFR Question”.
Click on the link and read the last paragraph on the link. This may interest you.
Sorry that article reads “Thompson Address CFR Question”.
Sorry for the error.
https://www.imwithfred.com/contact.aspx
I emailed him to register my concerns. I think it’s best to address this without any mass hysteria; and I hope that anyone here gives that sort of feedback, so he may see the concern.
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2003/08/by_debbie_schlu.html
I don’t want to be quick to judge, but you have several conservatives, including myself...asking why you have Spencer Abraham as your new campaign manager (link above addresses some concerns).
FR discussing this topic:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1871657/posts
Perhaps many of our concerns are overrated, but I do hope that you take our opinions into full account. You’re are an excellent candiate, and you are a big reason why I’ll be registering for my primary in California.
I just hope for the sake of your reputation that you review our concerns as reasonably as possible. A good man like yourself deserves not be looked down upon for bad decesions or perhaps misperceptions.
Thanks for your time,
Rick
not very astute of Fred in my book
Spencer....Matalin...I’m not impressed
very emotive feminized or meterosexual logic
it is perfectly reasonable to hate Islam...it wishes to conquer us
it was OK to hate Hitler and Tojo too
geez dear.
Good snag....how are you with Thompson at this point?
Yeah..right. I guess you know her mind and we don’t.
Good grief, how silly! I'd prefer someone with some lines in his face over some pretty boy or a socialist harridan! As far as his 'womanizing' is concerned, to what are you referring? Do you mean his dating when he was in the Senate? The man was single at the time, so he had every right to date anyone he chose. Quite different from x42 who 'dated' even though he WAS married!
Neither is Jimmy Carter. (gotcha there huh?)
Why? Folks like many on this thread would likely only try to do anything to bring THAT person down, too. AT this point, I don't think even Jesus could pass their purity test, after all, didn't He say He came to save EVERYONE?
I disagree with you. No Conservative would ever support Rudy.
“I don’t trust the author. She makes stuff up and then refuses to correct herself.”
Debbie is usually right about most of what she says, and she backs it up with facts and statistics. I would trust what she says far more than what Spencer Abraham says, as I’ve tracked him myself over the years, and he is exactly what Debbie is saying about him. You can put the blinders on if you want, in order to maintain your Fredhead status, but facts are facts, dispute what Debbie has said point by point please. You won’t get far, I can assure you.
I was sceptical of Fred Thompson from the beginning, as no one knows where he really stands on policies. He’s folksy, a big guy, charming, an actor and polished, a lawyer (which in my book is not a good background for political office; that’s what Clinton was) and therefore can easily sway the politically naive. I do know Fred is cut too much in the Bush vein, and has been picking up Bush backers to his campaign. I know he has globalist propensities, is a free trader who favors trade agreements that aren’t necessarily in our country’s best interests, doesn’t have much of a track record in Congress, other than lawyer related stuff, has had positions similar to Bush on illegal immigration and guest worker programs (although he has verbally been trying to appear like he is against this of late, however I don’t trust him).
Beware, fellow Freepers. Too many jumped on the Bush bandwagon and look what it got us. Go slow, let Fred get into the ring and compete in the world of ideas (if he ever gets to the point of finally announcing his candidacy), and then make your choices. Plus, frankly, it gauls me that he takes a pass while all the other Pub candidates are in the thick of it, debating, doing all the legwork required of their campaigns, mixing with the people, and Fred just sits on the sidelines letting them all take the punches while he hovers in the background. Then he swoops in, expecting to shove all those who have been working hard on campaigning aside. Just doesn’t set well with me.
Now, maybe Fred will prove to me other than what’s been nagging my brainwaves about him of late. But that remains to be seen, and proven. Get in the fray, Fred. The time has come to let us know what you really think. Choosing Spencer Abraham is a pretty big mistake to make right off the bat, especially in choosing him as your campaign manager, a highly visible position on the campaign trail. And, if you win, do you end up giving him a cabinet post as a reward? I don’t know. I’m not happy with Fred as savior here. I’ve got a gut instinct (as I did with Bush Jr.) that all is not what it appears to be.
Run, FRed, Run!!
“Calm down, folks! Debbie S. isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.”
She’s got you beat if you can’t read what she says, research it and come up with opposition to the truth of what she says. Please refute what she has stated in her article above about Spencer Abraham, point by point. You’ll lose.
“I’m not playing the race card. Ms. Schlussel is a whackjob.” (comment made by Freeper JRochelle)
“Debbie S. isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.” (comment made by you)
You both sound just like Dems when they can’t refute the facts of the matter. They then resort to personal attacks based on no evidence. Please list proof of what Debbie Schlussel has said that makes her into a “whackjob”, JRochelle. And you, Theresawithanh, what has she said or done that makes her “not the sharpest knife in the drawer”? How do you know the status of her intelligence? It appears in her article above, that she has thoroughly researched her subject matter and has stated her case in minute detail. I think the two of you are just throwing out slurs against Ms. Schlussel because you can’t come up with better arguments. Time to take the high ground here rather than dally in Dem tactics of personal attack.
The average conservative blogger who has had any dealings with her will label her a whackjob.
Follow the link.
Actually, I had trouble reading through the comments on your link as just about every other poster on the link was swearing like a blue streak. Great site where every other word is a vulgar one. Makes Debbie look like a saint in comparison to those attacking her.
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