Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Posted on 01/13/2008 6:04:28 PM PST by MitchellC
It took Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson almost 15 minutes to drop the words "Law and Order" during his talk Saturday at Barbara Jean's Restaurant, drawing a round of applause from the crowd of about 200.
But the Lady's Island gathering saved its loudest ovations for the former actor's conservative messages during a brief Beaufort stop on an overcast afternoon. Coming off a sixth-place finish in New Hampshire's Republican primary, the one-time Tennessee senator found a warm reception in "my neck of the woods."
"You could see in there the level of enthusiasm people have," Thompson said on his bus after the town hall-style meeting.
"We're going to be competitive on the airwaves in terms of radio and television ... and I think we'll do real well here."
Three days ahead of Michigan's Republican primary and needing a strong showing in South Carolina on Saturday, Thompson sought to contrast his principles against those of his rivals, most notably Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who won the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3.
"I noticed that they had a little election in Iowa and they had a little election in New Hampshire, and I'm drawing a line in the sand in South Carolina," said Thompson, fighting a sore throat. "We had a different winner in each one of those places and we're going to have a different winner in this one."
In a campaign season marked by themes of change, Thompson started by citing something that doesn't change -- what he called the United States of America's founding fathers' understanding of "the wisdom of ages" -- that too much governmental power corrupts.
"That's why they established the Constitution the way they did. The notion that a government big enough and powerful enough to give you anything was big enough and powerful enough to take anything away from you," Thompson said.
He argued that the United States has gotten away from principles such as open-market economic competition, limited taxation and controlled spending. At the same time, Thompson said he "doesn't mind talking about the fact that I do not believe we have an arrogant foreign policy."
"I believe we've been thrust into the leadership position for the free world," he said. "We're doing what's necessary in order to preserve the free world because radical Islam has declared war against Western civilization, and we happen to be the No. 1 target."
Thompson highlighted his opposition to closing the prison camp for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and to using taxpayers' money to fund programs for illegal immigrants.
"As a politician, taking money from a hard-working taxpayer who's abiding by the law and giving it to someone who is illegal doesn't make me a better person," he said. "It's not my money to begin with."
A firm believer in states' rights, Thompson expressed surprise that some of his Republican colleagues would support a national ban on smoking in public places.
"Everybody knows the health issues concerned with that, but it's a matter of government," he said. "... If a local community can't decide for itself whether or not it wants a smoking ban, I don't know what they can decide. It boggles my mind."
Thompson also touted his pro-life voting record and his involvement in helping President Bush get U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts through the Senate confirmation process.
Faye Fletcher of Lady's Island, for one, liked what she heard.
"I think he's probably the best of the Republicans," she said. "I know he's not a replica of (Ronald) Reagan, but he's as close as they have running. That's what we need."
Fletcher didn't know who she would vote for before seeing Thompson, but now he has her support. His tough stance on illegal immigration and support for maintaining Guantanamo Bay were key.
"His overall conservatism and telling it like it is, I know there were a couple of questions he answered (that) probably weren't quite what some of the people in there wanted to hear, but I agree with him. I think he should tell it now, and you either like it, or learn to live with it if you vote for him," Fletcher said.
She had been anticipating Thompson's presidential run "for a long time" -- he didn't make his bid official until a Sept. 5 appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" -- and hopes his late entry, by other candidates' standards, won't hurt him. Thompson says "we'll see," but rejects the notion that "you have to run for three years."
"I don't know many people that said, 'You know, I think he'd be a great president but he just didn't get in soon enough, so I can't vote for him.'
‘You know, I think he’d be a great president but he just didn’t get in soon enough, so I can’t vote for him.’
Sorry, but what an idiot.
You need to reread that last sentence, They are saying they DON”T know anyone who would say that.
oops, sorry, replied to wrong thread, but still GO FRED!
Who’s the dumbbell?
Sorry for flaming you but why can’t you vote for him? DO you live in Iowa or NH since voting is finished??
I would re-think you comment about who the idiot is I think most of us know who the idiot is.
I am not flaming you sorry if it came across that way,
I believe that “Names Ash Housewares” misread the last sentence.
Raising my hand. :-)
LOL! I’ve done worse.
“I believe that “Names Ash Housewares” misread the last sentence.”
Yep. I stand corrected.
I thought she said that.
But anyone who does think that is a fool.
Fred can win this thing.
Fred gets it and I am sure he, like many of "us" has had it for a long time now, as we have!
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
WARNING: If you wish to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.
And we wonder why we are screwed....
Ah, looks like it was taken out of cotext.
However, what I said still applies...
Hope there are lots of voters like that lady. Go FRed!
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