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."
I wouldn’t be hugely surprised if Zell endorsed Fred. He said earlier on that he was waiting to see his old friend get into the race.
Notice the crowd wasn’t all wild-eyed, frenetic and screaming their heads off, they were “warm and welcoming”. Fred is not going to be on the stump screaming and stomping his feet and waving light sabers. And there’s nothing wrong with having a cool and collected adult at the helm of the country.
I'm sorry...that doesn't make sense to me.
sooner than that if you ask me
If he really needs 100 million in a year this needs to be a typical day not a good day. $300,000 a day with 300 fund raising days a year would leave him $10 million short.
Reagan Democrats aren't Thompson Democrats. Two different mindsets, two different reasons for crossing party lines.
Can't make it any simpler than that.
I didn’t know that. I imagine there might be many dems who are wary of their party’s continuing charge to the far left.
bttt
“YCan’t make it any simpler than that.”
Well, PLEASE make it simpler for li’l ole me.
You might not be able to make it any simpler,
but I beg to differ on “mindsets”.
I can’t imagine a Reagan ‘Rat loving any of the candidates.
In fact, I can see them getting interested in Fred, or another Republican.
Just how old are you?
Old enough to know it's pointless talking to you, since you can't grasp the most basic facts in this discussion. Bye now.
Ducking it, as always.
Reminds me of the time you accused me of “needing to wash my hood”.
Tacky...indeed.
Yep--look through my long history of posts, no debate, no discussion, just ducking it.
Reminds me of the time you accused me of needing to wash my hood. Tacky...indeed.
Good God, get OVER it.
Why would I bother to discuss anything with someone who holds onto grudges on a MESSAGE BOARD for a year when you're clearly too dense to understand something so simple as I've explained TWICE? (How is explaining a simple statement TWICE "ducking" anything?)
I've ducked nothing. You're just as ignorant AS a duck. So waddle off, "Natalie" (cute handle--hate the war much?).
WHY should I get over it?
You insulted the hell outta me.
:"You're just as ignorant AS a duck. So waddle off, "Natalie" (cute handle--hate the war much?)."
My screen name has nothing to do with them.
I am tired of this guy being the way he is.
Judge for your self if he's abusive.
You are an ignorant child.
Your attempt, as before, to bait me into another of your immature, pointless flame wars has failed.
Okie dokie.
You win.
You won’t be able to interject me into any of your conversations anymore.
Uh, when have I ever?
YOU posted to ME, lady.
You are either derranged or--well, I don't care, just go away. The only reason I responded was because of that loony last comment--you post to ME, and *I* am accused of interjecting...
Wow...
Bye, and please never post to me again--you just waste my time.
I don’t claim to understand the substance of your disagreement with Dixiechick -apparently it goes back to another thread. But you’re calling her some pretty nasty names and you are impugning the use of “Dixie” something I inherently don’t like as a Southerner.
I’ve read your recent posts and I understand and don’t blame you for being stressed but you’ve escalated the flaming in another thread that didn’t involve her. Maybe you could redirect a bit. I wouldn’t say anything except you make some really smart posts and have insight. I’d like you to stay around.
You seem like a very nice person, but this other person is nothing but a pain. She's never engaged in any interesting discussion with me, and is working on a grievance from ages ago. She only posts to me to flame.
I'm sorry you are offended as a southerner--my offense was toward the musical group and frankly anyone who can't see that is either looking for an argument or...well, you can figure out the alternatives. If only more FReepers were as sensitive about northerners, who no one seems to mind bashing, as if we're all vile scum, and didn't get so worked up about imagined insults. I loathe the regionalism around here--I'm an American, always have been, no ethnic or regional hyphenate--and wish those who rightly berate hyphenate-Americans would see themselves as something more than "southerners" as a means of distinguishing themselves from northerners, who never describe themselves that way in my experience (we're Americans).
Once again I'm drawn into a pointless OT discussion because of this insulting and not very interesting person. So I'll not post another comment about her, or to anyone attempting to draw me into her silliness.
Have a great weekend.
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