Posted on 12/21/2007 10:32:56 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson came to Fort Dodge Friday and quickly staked his claim to being the true conservative Republican who can protect American values if he becomes president.
He defended his qualifications for that job by asserting that a resume loaded with administrative experience doesnt always make a good leader.
Administrators are people who leaders hire, he said. There is a difference between administration and leadership.
Speaking in the measured baritone that TV viewers came to expect on Law & Order, the actor-turned-politician recited what he views as the basics of conservative government.
Along the way, he enhanced his homespun Tennessee lawyer image with quips such as calling the signers of the Declaration of Independence the old boys.
Of himself, he said, What you see is what you get. I dance to no mans tune.
He spoke to about 80 people at the Webster County Republican headquarters, 900 Central Ave., winning over Linda Sorenson, of rural Webster County, who had been a Democrat for years.
I was not at all a Fred Thompson supporter until tonight, Sorenson said. Hes very straightforward. He doesnt hold back punches. He says what he thinks.
Sorenson said shell caucus for him because she believes hell bring leadership and truthfulness to the White House.
Others in the crowd, like Howard Ortmeyer, of Fort Dodge, are still making up their minds about the candidates.
I kind of liked him, Ortmeyer said. I do think hes a little conservative for me, but he has good ideas.
He said hes still considering three candidates.
Thompson said hes committed to the sound conservative principles that have unified us for over 200 years.
Topping the list of those principles, he said, is the idea that basic rights come from God, not government.
Smaller government and a federal court system thats limited to case law, not social policy, are also key, he said.
He called for tight-fisted budget policies.
You dont spend money you dont have and you dont borrow money that only your children and grandchildren can pay back, he said.
Thompson said all those ideals are threatened by a liberal, big-government, high-taxes, weak-on-national-defense Democratic Party that is licking its chops to get back in power to lead us down the road to a welfare state.
The candidate said that if hes elected hell simplify the tax system, save Social Security, modernize the military and stop illegal immigration.
The security of the nation would be his No. 1 priority, he said. The United States, he said, is one terrorist plot away from nuclear disaster.
A Thompson administration, he said, would permit an aggressive search for domestic energy sources that would include drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. He said he also supports clean coal, nuclear energy and alternative fuels such as ethanol.
While some of his competitors hit the campaign trail in 2006, Thompson entered the race in late summer 2007. He said presidential campaigns ought to be shorter. Long campaigns, he added, are certainly not adding to the intellectual capital of our nation.
it’s not out...send money. They are doing alot of commercials and such. Alot of info is coming out about Huckabee and Fred’s real conservatism clearly puts him in the race in Iowa too.
Sounds good to me. I hope he’s still around when Wisconsin votes.
agreed.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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FRED PING!!
Don’t count Fred out of winning Iowa one bit. He is bypassing the doodieheads in NY and taking it right to the local press and the people. The Iowa marketplace of ideas is buzzing about Fred in paper, TV, and radio. He jumped up to 16pts (solid 3rd) in the latest SV poll last week. I got a feeling that folks are going to be surprised at just what he is doing.
Go FRed Go!
No polls until Thursday and I am hoping and praying for a Christmas miracle that will save our country.
Long campaigns, he added, are “certainly not adding to the intellectual capital of our nation.”
LOL!! Right on, Fred!
FRED THOMPSON - NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERT (Ill protect the American people and American values, whatever it takes to stop the Islamic-Fascists including water-boarding) - 2ND AMENDMENT ADVOCATE (arming the People to disarm criminals) INCREASE THE MILITARYS STRENGTH AND SIZE (giving those brave men and women a Commander in Chief to be proud of) - SECURE AND SEAL THE BORDERS (dont give sanctuary anywhere to illegals, dont employ illegals, dont rent to illegals, dont extend credit to illegals, dont give illegals rights they dont deserve, report all crimes committed by illegals and deport those illegals who have already committed crimes against America) - LAW AND ORDER (enforcement first and foremost with laws currently on the books) DENY FEDERAL DOLLARS TO SANCTUARY CITIES (enough is enough) CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES FOR SUPREMES (those who will interpret the law, not create rights that do not exist) PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE (nominate superior Constitutional Justices to overturn Roe vs Wade) - SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMER (reform a broken program that cant sustain itself and will bankrupt future generations, with the added benefit of private savings accounts) - DEFEAT ANY DEMOCRAT AND RINO (any fool DemocRATS put up) TAX SIMPLIFICATION (variety of choice for the tax payer) - WONT PUT UP WITH CRAP FROM THE MSM (including stupid questions by moderators and pundits) - WE THE PEOPLE CANDIDATE (We the People asked him to run and he stepped up) - PING!
Huck won’t have sex standing up because it might lead to dancing....or so they say.... ;)
While overall, I'd say that it's fair coverage, this particular phrase struck me as a bit dismissive:
...the actor-turned-politician...
More accurately, he could be described as the lawyer-turned-politician-turned-actor-turned-politician but I guess that would be a little long. :=)
Describes 41, George Herbert Walker Bush. A skilled administrator and team player but a little short on charisma and leadership abilities.
Some how it doesn't seem like his thing.
True. But compared to the usual media pieces on Fred, maybe we should forgive that one. :-)
I agree. While I was encouraged by the overall tone of the article, that one phrase kind of jumped out at me as a bit of a cheap shot.
I saw Fred dance with the bimbo from the Register at the debate -- started right off by stomping on her toe. :)
He’s the only one that has not bought into the CO2 induced global warming scam.
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