Posted on 12/31/2007 8:45:41 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
The campaigns are in the final stretch. The Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire Primary are but days away. In just over a month, the presidential nominees for both major parties will be effectively set, and a nine-month contest for the leadership of our nation and the power to choose between starkly different directions for our republic will ensue.
The Democrat nominee will advocate higher taxes and more government involvement in Americans’ everyday lives. The Republican nominee should advocate lower taxes with greater fiscal accountability, limited government intrusion, and tough law enforcement. Any of the Democrat candidates can advocate their party’s agenda; only Fred Thompson is equipped to carry the Republican banner.
Our government has become a money-hungry behemoth, annually devouring a greater share of taxpayers’ incomes through either direct spending or borrowing against future revenues. It is very adept at collecting taxes and almost completely inept at accounting for its use of those dollars.
In 2001, Senator Fred Thompson, then head of the Senate Government Affairs Committee, published Government at the Brink, a report that detailed flagrant examples of fraud, waste, and abuse in governmental agencies. No other GOP candidate has Thompson’s insight into government accountability. If we are to tame the greedy beast we call a government, that insight is an imperative in the White House.
“Limited government” encompasses the essence of traditional conservatism. The drafters of our Constitution were very specific in limiting the power of the federal government. Over two centuries of legislation and litigation, the limitation has been reversed; today, federal policy trumps state and local preferences. Far-reaching changes to our culture stem from judicial rulings, issued by judges who have lifetime tenure and no accountability to American voters. Our only hope to reverse this trend is to elect a committed conservative -- one who will appoint constructionist judges and restrict the regulatory powers of executive branch agencies -- to lead our nation.
A man documents his values through his actions, not his words. If those actions have been consistent, you can predict how he will respond in most any situation. If his words do not match his record of actions, look beyond the words. Of the remaining Republican candidates, only Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter can claim to be conservatives based on their records. Despite his appeal to evangelicals, Governor Huckabee’s performance in office did not establish his conservative credentials. Senator McCain’s record speaks of his willingness to compromise, which is exactly what led us to the place we are now. Governor Romney has yet to demonstrate conservatism, and Mayor Giuliani hasn’t tried. Congressman Paul’s record is conservative, but he is promoting a platform that he lacks the credibility to deliver.
The next eight years could be pivotal for our nation. The US dollar is at historic lows compared to world currencies. We are borrowing record amounts to prop up our economy. Social Security and Medicare costs will soon exceed our ability to meet demand through current payroll taxes. Our trade deficit will continue to grow because of the weak dollar and trade agreements that penalize American products and make it profitable to export jobs.
In November, we will choose between two candidates. We already know what the Democrat’s plan will be: tax more, spend more, and hope for the best. I hope that Republican primary voters will have the foresight to place a candidate atop their ticket with the knowledge of how to fix what’s broken and the commitment to conservative principles to make the fix -- Fred Thompson!
Given a choice to vote for a Liberal in either party, I will vote for neither party. Unless Fred wins, or Hunter pulls a miracle and wins, there is no one else that will motivate me to pull the lever for them. Electing one of the others would be worse than suffering through Hillary.
DOES IOWA?
DOES NEW HAMPSHIRE?
DOES SOUTH CAROLINA?
We read these wonderful articles about FRED and his leadership capabilities. We watch as the true Conservative endorsements being obtained by FRED are being ignored. We see these polls three days prior to Iowa and McCain has overtaken FRED and so has PAUL?
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? Is this entire election being manipulated and molded by the MSM? Polls are no longer snapshots of time, but are news to be spun in whatever way will suit your particular bias?
WAKE UP AMERICA! WE ARE CHOOSING THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! That is a very big deal and those of us with no voice in this primary take it personally when RINOS like Huckabee, Romney, McCain and Giuliani are in the lead. Conservatives are a majority in this Country and this is what we are being told is the best we can offer?
FRED THOMPSON is the only true consistent Conservative in this nomination race. It would be a real shame if you folks in the early primaries chose unwisely and stick the rest of the party with your poor choice. Huckabee is a poor choice, Romney is barely even a Republican, Rudy is a liberal and does not try to hide it, McCain is whatever McCain thinks you want. Don’t support this man simply because you think it’s his turn...this is a very difficult job and I’m sorry, McCain lost our trust a long time ago. Paul is such a job, I can’t even believe he registers at all, much less higher than FRED.
Something is very wrong here ladies and gentlemen. What am I missing? FRED is the perfect Conservative candidate for this party and we cannot simply settle for a RINO.
BTTT
I understand your passion for your candidate and your problems with the other Republicans, but really? Worse than Hillary?
Cool that he’s getting such good press so close to the voting!
Yes. With the other candidates you get the Liberal agenda, either actively or through a wink and a nod, coming from the Republican Party. I cannot see any of them beating the Democrat candidate, but if they do the coalition is gone... we have the Communist and the Socialist parties.
right.....well enjoy sitting at home this election day....
None.
He is the only candidate that makes the old, tired Hillary look young and fresh. There is no Gore/Kerry state he can win, and he is behind in Ohio and Florida.
Nominating him is foolish.
Spreading the Fred message everywhere I can
throughout Minnesota!
If Fred doesn’t win the GOP nomination, I’ll write his name on the general election ballot. He’s the only candidate who represents my views.
Certainly the other candidates are to the left of Hunter and Thompson, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call them liberals. They may fall short on one or two issues, but they’re still conservatives. In my experience, when you demand all or nothing in life, you almost always end up with nothing.
The game is afoot and they are many elements in flux right now, the primaries being but one piece of the puzzle..
No, they aren't.
They are less than 35% of the electorate, and falling.
There is no serious argument that a candidate to the right of Romney, Giuliani, McCain, or, I suppose, Huckabee, can be nominated, much less elected.
Those are facts. If you insist on a nominee who appeals only to the so-called "base", and write off the RINOs, independents, and DINOs ("Reagan" Democrats) defeat is guaranteed.
The most prominent result of the surge in "social conservative" activism is a rush of so-called Reagan Democrats back to their home party. This is most prominent in Ohio and the rest of the Midwest.
Nominate Thompson, and even Indiana is in play.
BTTT!
[But, what are you gonna do when Fred gets fifth or even perchance loses to Giuliani and gets sixth in Iowa in just 72 hours?]
Good point, some of us would need to eat major crow.
On the other hand, I hope you will step up to the plate if it goes the other way.
Who are you supporting for the nomination?
Maybe we will have a brokered convention?
This is the craziest election cycle in my lifetime.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.