Posted on 08/06/2007 6:24:55 PM PDT by gobucks
(snip) Much has been made about whether or not Fred Thompson is the second coming of Ronald Reagan, and while it's clear that he's not, it's also becoming fairly clear that the oddly constructed coalition that Reagan built combining fiscal conservatives, defense hawks, libertarians, Evangelicals and working-class conservative Democrats is about to fall apart unless Thompson can reinvent it.
(snip)
Among those issues, of course, abortion is the major litmus test that Thompson will need to pass to win their support. And fortunately for the candidate, his lobbying on behalf of Planned Parenthood took place 17 years before his presidential run, not unlike Reagan, who 13 years before his own run had signed a therapeautic abortion law as governor of California.
In Reagan's case, evangelical voters accepted his explanation that he had been tricked by liberal legislators who had promised him that the law would allow for abortions only for serious medical conditions, when it in fact opened the way for a "health" exception that was subsequently interpreted broadly in its application.
Similarly, future Thompson voters are likely to accept a mea culpa from the candidate if it's straightforward and doesn't fudge. These are, after all, evangelical Christians for a reason, one of the central tenets of the faith being forgiveness for an act that is repented of and is in the past, preferably the distant past.
With his Evangelical base solidified, Thompson will then be able to secure his more natural constituencies — gun owners, "lunch pail" Democrats, country music fans, star-struck Law & Order viewers, and even elements of the entertainment industry who are unlikely to see him the same way they see other conservative candidates because of his star power.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
That is a completely ignorant statement.
Fred spent his entire time in the Senate trying to cut taxes, waste, and regulation, trying to increase the efficiency of the government, and trying to bring the government back to the principles of Federalism.
Amen!
Gee. I guess they all should have started ten years ago. Oh woe is me! I don’t have a grassroots organization in Iowa!
I submit that there is no need to get into the race two years before the election to win or do well in the Iowa caucus. Iowa, like New Hampshire, where I live, is small. The residents aren’t paying any attention yet. Some time around October we will begin to check out the race. Other than a few Romney ads last Spring, the political season has not started.
I also submit that this election is a bit different. Iowa and New Hampshire have become much less important because of the front loading of other states. The whole thing will be done in two weeks. Florida and South Carolina will tell the story.
Iowa and New Hampshire have little importance. Heck, NH voted for Queeg in 2000. Remember Eugene McCarthy? Gary Hart? Paul Tsongas? Ed Muskie? Henry Cabot Lodge? Harold Stassen? Well, OK, McCarthy didn’t beat LBJ but it was close.
If a candidate announces by the end of October, he or she will be right on schedule. Besides, Fred is getting more press by holding out. He’s already in first or second place and he hasn’t had to listen to that nut, Ron Paul.
Oh geez, I’m so sick of this “Fred is Reagan” stuff. Just because he’s an actor gone into politics does not make him the next Ronald Reagan. Unless he can get elected and end the coming Cold War, he’s not like Reagan at all.
Dude, nobody said Fred was OK, other than the liberal media who is trying to redefine our candidates for us.
What does that say about Thompson having a fire in his gut which is what we need not just for a candiate but for a President, like Reagan, if he's being pushed into this?
It's the MSM for the most part who are comparing Thompson to Reagan and you can bet your bottom dollar that it's to tear him down at a later point in time.
And there’s where I disagree with you. Go look at the policy pages of the candidates you’ve named. Romney and Duncan Hunter have spelled out more policy than I’ve seen out of any of the other candidates combined.
Fred Thompson has given a series of soundbytes that really say nothing. Those are the fruits of his campaign to this point.
What a bunch of bovine excrement. I expect Fred will give a stirring nomination speech that will rank among the best in political history, and the base will be in a frenzy. Whoever the Dim nominee is, they're going to lose.
My prediction is that Fred will win between 40-45 states.
Fox News is in Giuliani’s pocket — I’m not taking much of what they say about the primaries seriously. All of these allusions to Reagan are transparent attempts to make Thompson look bad in comparison. Thompson is his own man, and is an excellent fit for our times.
Both of these candidates declared way too early, spent too much money or raised too little, and are still stuck in the polls.
Fred Thompson has given a series of soundbytes that really say nothing. Those are the fruits of his campaign to this point.
So those essays Fred has written on federalism and limited government means nothing to you? Fred has outlined a clear, coherent vision on what America needs to do in the near future. I'm sorry he's not micro-managing and analyzing every little detail like the other guys are.
McCainiac will still be running when Fred’s grandson is POTUS, and still be gettin’ that single vote every election.
John Kerry didn't enter the race until September and it didn't stop him from being the Demoncrats nominee if I recall correctly.
Excellent observation, SonnyBubba, and very well said.
Nor did Reagan ever do anything about the 1983 bombing that killed 241 American servicemen in Beirut. His great failing.
Boy I have a great idea!!!!!....I think the “2012” campaign should start about now!!!!!!!!........
Forget the contractual reasons and the fact that we are way early anyways...
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