Posted on 09/07/2007 11:23:06 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Des Moines, Iowa - Fred Thompson hit the campaign trail Thursday, telling supporters he's the Republican running for president who can best sell a traditional-values, limited-government and strong-defense message to mainstream America.
A few hundred supporters gathered at the Polk County Convention complex. With the exception of a few shout-outs and applause, their reaction wasn't as overwhelming as it was warm and approving.
In his speech - the first since announcing he'd seek the GOP nomination for president - Thomp son said that "the American people have opened up a door of opportunity" for him, and he promised to campaign on "the same common-sense, conservative beliefs" he held when he served in the Senate.
"I am not here today because I had a lifelong ambition to hold the office of the presidency, nor do I think that I have all the answers for the problems that face this country," Thompson said. "I am a man who loves his country, who is concerned about her future and knows that in the next year it's going to require strong leadership."
In the few hours since his announcement, Thompson has found support for his candidacy.
Since its official launch Wednesday night, Thompson's campaign has raised more than $300,000 in Internet contributions as 110,000 people watched a video of his announcement.
Many in the audience Thursday said they had committed to Thompson before hearing him speak. And while some insisted that it was his record as a senator that sold them, others said they were wooed by his persona as a television actor or by what they saw as his similarities to President Reagan, who also had been an actor.
"I kind of fell in love with Mr. Thompson on the TV screen," said Caleb Christine, 26, a factory worker and Army reservist who served in Iraq. "I'm a definite 'Law & Order' fan."
Christine said he first became curious about Thomp son as a political figure when Thompson helped John Roberts, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, win Senate confirmation.
"So all of my knowledge is pretty recent about him. But once I started reading more about him and studying more about him, I really just fell in love with the politics he's got, how confident he is and how straightforward he is with the public," he said.
Thompson indicated his support for continuing the war, saying, "If we show weakness and division, we will pay a heavy price for it in the future."
He spoke of how imperative it was to secure the nation's borders against illegal immigrants. He promised to nominate only the sort of federal judges who would strictly interpret the Constitution. He declared, "We still get our basic rights from God and not government."
Go Fred Go!
Go Fred Go!
Go Fred Go!
Go Fred Go!
Go Fred go!
I hate to break the “Go Fred go!” chain, but what’s his website?
I know it's heresy to say this here, for some, but there ARE people who don't agree with us on everything who still do love this country. They can be reasoned with and they want a candidate who makes them feel GOOD about putting him in the White House.
Can anyone honestly say that the dems or someone like Ron Paul make one feel GOOD? Other than the bitterly self-deluded, I mean.
Are we seeing the beginning of Thompson Democrats...?
Reagan dems...
Frederalists... I like it.
It’s good to see you.
You’ve been very good. ;o)
any predictions?
when does Fred take the lead in polls?
I say, one month from now
Well, no, Thompson Dems. Reagan Dems WOULD be the ones voting for Thompson except we're in the post-9/11 world, and they'd be crossing party lines for completely different reasons.
;^) Good to see you too.
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