Underestimating Southern Demeanor (Fred Dalton Thompson)

Wake Up America ^ | Sunday, August 26, 2007

[Prokopton]

Perhaps recognizing that all his rhetoric was depressing a crowd that(sic) given him a loud and extended welcome

I sure hope he recognized it! Americans don't want a leader who tells us about how bad our problems are, we already know that. Americans want a leader who optimistically tells us how he will lead us to victory and success.

I support Fred and hope I never hear another speech like that from him.

[browardchad]

There are three major challenges, Thompson said, and none are being given appropriate attention or sufficient commitment. National security ("our country's in danger; it's going to be that way for a long time to come"), the economy ("we are doing steady damage to our economy, that if we don't do things better it's going to result in economic disaster for future generations") and the polarization, cynicism and incompetence gripping the capital ("in order to have leadership you got to have somebody who's going to follow; our people follow, but they don't have any confidence in what's being said or who's saying it").

Illegal immigation isn't a problem? Or is that supposed to be implied somewhere in national security, the economy and political polarization?

When some Republican candidate decides to go full out in telling it like it is -- without generalized platitudes that could mean anything and nothing -- wake me up.

[Clara Lou]

Did you listen to the speech? He mentioned both the borders and terrorism—early in his speech.

[Paperdoll]

>Americans want a leader who optiisticaly tells us how he will lead us to victory and success.<

You are so right. That is why when people listen to Duncan Hunter they hear his solid, well thought out answers to our problems. They hear a vigorous man determined to turn the ship of state out of the fast sea lane to disaster on so many fronts. And they are turning to Duncan Hunter in droves.

Most of the Republican candidates are taking pages out of Duncan Hunter’s book. And Fred will be no exception.

[Clara Lou]

Ah, yes—Hunter and his non-existent campaign: You can’t see it, you can’t hear it. It’s just alive enough for the pittance of donations to dribble into his PAC.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

And they are turning to Duncan Hunter in droves

Where are they turning to Duncan Hunter in droves? Maybe in your bizzaro world fantasy land that you live in where Hunter has a snowball's chance in hell of even making it to New Hampshire. Here in the real world, droves of people aren't doing anything at all regarding Duncan Hunter. They're quite happily ignoring him.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Maybe you and I saw different speeches?

[deport]

And they are turning to Duncan Hunter in droves.

---

GRAPEVINE -- The good news for U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter is that he should get plenty of exposure during the Texas Republican Straw Poll during the Labor Day weekend.

The bad news is that on Wednesday afternoon, only one newspaper reporter and one TV news crew showed up for his news conference at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.

But the California Republican was all smiles. He was courteous when members of Gaylord security staff showed up and mentioned that they had learned about Hunter's news conference on the Internet. Politely but firmly, they told him that they expected to be notified of future events.

Now they didn't allude to the crowd but did mention a few of the staff/help... So I can't conclude that he had a drove there or no one showed up but a couple from the media.

[Clara Lou]

And they are turning to Duncan Hunter in droves
Absurd. Completely absurd--and the data available [polls and donations] prove that your comment is absurd.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

I’m not even quite sure who Duncan Hooter is.

[deport]

Absurd. Completely absurd—and the data available [polls and donations] prove that your comment is absurd.

---

Over all I don’t think people are turning to Hunter but I’d not be surprised one bit if he did well in the Straw Poll next weekend in Fort Worth.

[Josh Painter]

Prokopton wrote: "Americans don't want a leader who tells us about how bad our problems are, we already know that. Americans want a leader who optimistically tells us how he will lead us to victory and success.

I support Fred and hope I never hear another speech like that from him."

Most Americans realize that in order to solve a problem, we must first be aware of it. Then we must understand it. And finally, we must take the steps needed to solve it.

As Captain Ed has pointed out, "Since Thompson has not yet declared his candidacy, he cannot represent himself as the solution to these problems, nor can he give a detailed list of actions he would take, once elected. To do so would put him in danger of running afoul of the FEC, which already has received a complaint about the nature of Fred's exploratory campaign. Technically, this has to be a listening tour until he changes his status, which is expected to happen shortly after Labor Day."

Once Fred is officially in the campaign, expect specific solutions to the problems which confront our nation, and yes, an optimistic rallying cry from him to join together and get the job done.

As Fred reminded the Repulican convention in 1996:

"For eight historic years, President Reagan's contagious optimism and unsinkable hope reawakened our nation's pride and reminded us that America's birthright is to live free and to dream big.

But he taught us not to dwell on the past. He taught to look to the future. And you know what he'd tell us if he were here now?

He'd tell us to lift up our eyes and look over the horizon, not just to what we can do, but to what we can become — an America where government is small and our families are strong; where we are free to save and invest what we earn from honest labor. An America where a head with an idea and a heart with a dream can achieve anything because nothing is beyond our reach."

[Clara Lou]

if he did well in the Straw Poll
Define "well."

[deport]

Define “well.”

---

Don’t have a specific number to place on ‘well’ but much better than he did in Iowa.... I’m only saying it wouldn’t totally surprise me based upon the voting procedures set forth for the poll.

Maybe top four or even top three. It really depends upon the make up of those delegates that attend. I have no idea who is movtivate and who isn’t to attend this event. But apparently it hasn’t been received with the enthusiasm as the promoters had hoped for.

[Prokopton]

As Fred reminded the Repulican convention in 1996: "For eight historic years, President Reagan's contagious optimism and unsinkable hope reawakened our nation's pride and reminded us that America's birthright is to live free and to dream big. But he taught us not to dwell on the past. He taught to look to the future. And you know what he'd tell us if he were here now? He'd tell us to lift up our eyes and look over the horizon, not just to what we can do, but to what we can become — an America where government is small and our families are strong; where we are free to save and invest what we earn from honest labor. An America where a head with an idea and a heart with a dream can achieve anything because nothing is beyond our reach."

I don't believe in all this comparisons of Fred to Reagan, each is/was their own man. I do, however, think it would be a good exercise for Fred to watch a recording of his latest speech with Reagan's words in mind. He might see that he needs to change his rhetorical direction a little.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Author James Webb uses this thesis in his book Born Fighting to suggest that the character traits of the Scots-Irish, loyalty to kin, mistrust of governmental authority, and military readiness, "helped shape the American identity," and indeed, these features commonly seen in the South have long been woven into fabric of American society and policy.

[eyedigress]

but he had a firm grasp on the mindset of BEING from the south

As long as he does'nt utter the words "I Don't Feel No-Ways Tired" he should be fine.

[HockeyPop]

“I sure hope he recognized it! Americans don’t want a leader who tells us about how bad our problems are, we already know that. Americans want a leader who optimistically tells us how he will lead us to victory and success.”

Patriotic Americans want brutal honest truth.

[SE Mom]

I disagree strenuously. PART of our problem is that we DON’T now how serious our problems are. What we hear is a great deal of rhetoric and 20 point plans (to quote Fred) to fix this or that issue. We haven’t LEADERS. We have politicians.

Fred is going to educate us (that’s my opinion) on our real problems. He WILL offer solutions and remedies for them- but first he has to get our attention.

Optimism is our strength and we CAN overcome our problems- but I see us sleeping in entrenched right v left hatred, utter lack of trust in our government individually and collectively.

Fred is not going to sugarcoat. America simply MUST wake up to itself before ANYONE can lead us forward to our future greatness.

I was moved and inspired by the speech- because someone told me the truth. The facts are where we must begin.

I may not want to hear more speeches like last night- but I think I need to- think we ALL need to. We have to snap out of it.