Thompson says he's 'champion of ideals'

The Altoona Herald ^ | November 11, 2007 | Mason Kerns

[2ndDivisionVet]

Burlington, Ia. — Republican Fred Thompson told potential supporters on Sunday that he’s running for president as a champion of ideals held by all Americans: a strong national defense, adherence to the rule of law and a market economy.

“And immigration laws that actually work,” Thompson said at the outset. “That’s not just a Republican idea, I don’t think.”

Speaking at Big Muddy’s restaurant in Burlington, the former Tennessee senator said he would be able to secure the votes of independents in a general election.

Thompson criticized what he called Democrats’ insistence on infusing government into everything.

“Would you trust a group that can’t tie its shoelaces and chew gum at the same time?” he said. “This is the outfit many are trying to hand our health care over to.”

The senator noted that he is the only candidate from either party who has announced a plan to deal with a potential Social Security crisis.

His hybrid proposal, released Friday, would allow workers to allot two percent of pre-tax income toward a personal savings account, on a voluntary basis, with the federal government matching those funds.

More controversially, the plan would use inflation, rather than increases in U.S. wages, as the yardstick determining benefit rates for Social Security payers.

Because inflation generally rises slower than wages, future beneficiaries would likely receive less in total benefits .

“With this plan, we’re swapping a promise we know we can’t keep with one we know we will keep,” Thompson said.

Though the folksy southerner drew much applause from the crowd of more than 100, he at times struggled to articulate — he fumbled for multiple seconds before finding the word credibility — and was not entirely in lockstep with the audience.

“Ma’am, you’re probably not going to agree with my opinion on this,” he told a woman who was concerned about globalization. “But overall everybody’s going to get a better education, with better jobs, in the long-run than we would without trade.”

The event coincided with a coming-home party for Army Sgt. Troy Cagle. The 33-year-old, who led a platoon charged with clearing roadside bombs in Iraq, said some of his family members are discouraged by the war and have started looking for a candidate with an exit strategy.

“Because I’ve been over there, I know that can’t happen in the next eight years or so,” said Cagle, who has yet to choose a favorite.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Honesty: How refreshing!

[2ndDivisionVet]

Saving and Protecting Social Security
A Plan to Ensure Retirement Security for All Americans

http://www.fred08.com/virtual/socialsecurity.aspx

[SatinDoll]

“...everybody’s going to get a better education, with better jobs, in the long-run than we would without trade.”

THAT’S his reply to concerns over globalization? Jobs are going overseas and wages are depressed, and all he can say is we’ll have better education!

I love this guy and have been thinking of voting for him, but really, this is weird. My distinct impression is that he doesn’t really know much about what’s happening out in the heartland of this nation.

[Reagan Man]

Go Fred go!

[2ndDivisionVet]

Do you believe in protectionism? That’s what caused the Great Depression, IIRC.

[Rick_Michael]

Everyone seems to want to skim right through the primaries...Fred’s one of the few whom is actually setting a needed agenda for his presidency.

[Rick_Michael]

That wasn’t the primary cause, but it was an element. Trade wars aren’t good...at all. They’re dangerous, if anything.

[Neu Pragmatist]

We have to nominate this man , now more than ever ....

[Rick_Michael]

Other than Duncan’s form on trade policy (ie his style), I generally agree that trade policy needs to be reworked. I don’t think it’s as complicated an issue to deal with, though. It’s more international in concern than just being an issue of China.

[ari-freedom]

“And immigration laws that actually work,” Thompson said at the outset. “That’s not just a Republican idea, I don’t think.”
-

if only all republicans had that idea. let’s first get the republicans on track

[kinoxi]

I hope he’s half as good as his supporters claim he is.

[ari-freedom]

“Ma’am, you’re probably not going to agree with my opinion on this,” he told a woman who was concerned about globalization. “But overall everybody’s going to get a better education, with better jobs, in the long-run than we would without trade.”
-

I'm voting for Hunter but I wish he said the truth on trade like Fred

But none as eloquently as this:

"Our trade policy rests firmly on the foundation of free and open markets. I recognize ... the inescapable conclusion that all of history has taught: The freer the flow of world trade, the stronger the tides of human progress and peace among nations."

"I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and heart to get here."

[RasterMaster]

A real ‘champion of ideals’...if you’re a globalist enemy of the United States:

Lobbied for abortionists

Represented murderous dictator Aristide

Supported RINO incumbent protection bills such as McCain-Finegold

Proposed protections and “normalized trade relations” for Chinese communists (the same folks who attack our aircraft in international waters, poison our children with lead-laden toys, and kill our pets with toxic food, and talk about hoping we “value L.A. more than we do our relationship with Taiwan” - veiled threats against US cities).

Wants to give illegal aliens (otherwise known as FELONS) “aspirations of citizenship” rather than build a fence and enforce the law.

[ansel12]

"I hope he’s half as good as his supporters claim he is."<<>> If he wasn't would pictures like this exist?

[Reagan Man]

Lots of Americans don't like globalization, especially when free trade isn't also a matter of fair trade for US markets. But globalization isn't going away and you can't stop some jobs from being shipped overseas.

More importantly, Fred believes that as long as we adhere to the Constitution, the US economy will continue its steady growth. That includes tax and spending reforms that would stimulate spending, savings and investment in America's future.

Btw, I'd say Fred understands whats going on in the heartland of America better than some northeast liberal who believes the federal government has all the answers.

[upsdriver]

“I hope he’s half as good as his supporters claim he is.”

If he is twice as good as I think he is, he will still be only half as good as a real conservative.

[SHEENA26]

A portrait of an old fart.

[thefactor]

oooh, oooh. lemme guess. Hunter!? No. Romney!?

there's so many to choose from. wait. RON PAUL! That's it, isn't it?

[John Valentine]

Well, your heart’s in the right place at least, but your head.... Well that’s another matter.

[ansel12]

This what what an old Fart looks like before he puts on his blow dry and makeup.