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Thompson Under Fire: Welcome to the Race
The National Ledger ^ | 6/5/2007

Posted on 06/05/2007 12:03:51 PM PDT by NoobRep

Fred Thompson Under Fire: Welcome to the Race

Jun 5, 2007

If you were thinking that the grassroots campaign to draft a people’s candidate for the ’08 election would result in a people-friendly candidate welcomed by great fanfare equal to that of the last American Idol, think again… Keep in mind that Dick Cheney had spent almost thirty years as the most bi-partisan respected man in Washington DC before becoming Vice President Dick Cheney, the most partisan hated and targeted man in Washington DC, all in a matter of a few politically charged moments.

Fred Thompson Under Fire: Welcome to the Race Fred Thompson Under Fire: Welcome to the Race

The ink wasn’t even dry on Fred Thompson’s exploratory committee filing before shots were fired across his bow from both sides of the political aisle. Fear is a terribly ugly emotion… but ain’t it fun.

Lefties want to quickly define him for voters as either a Bush lackey or the Genghis Kahn of tyrannical conservative values. They don’t care why he loses, so long as he loses. Any losing ID will work. They just need to paint fast before people can judge Thompson for themselves!

Righties are equally quick to cast doubt on his “conservative” credentials, working harder to disqualify Thompson’s clear grassroots advantage than to chronicle Obama’s missing resumé or Hillary’s criminally Marxist resumé.

Ain’t American politics fun! Lefties hate him for being too right and Righties hate him for being, well, too right…as opposed to their recent record of being all wrong.

I’ve pointed out for some time now that no man (or woman) in their right mind would ever seek national public office today. Only self-absorbed career thieves determined to cash-in on the get-rich-quick scheme of modern politics would endure the hate-mongering cesspool of American politics. Anyone not looking to cash-in, can easily live without the stench of modern politics.

I pointed out early on, that the first sign that Fred Thompson might be the right man at the right time was the fact that only Fred Thompson was smart enough not to want the most thankless job in the world, or want to endure the most scum-filled election process in order to win it.

The second sign that he might be the right guy with the right stuff is the undeniable fact that he scares the Lenin right out of modern secular globalists on both sides of today’s political aisle.

Listening to RINOs accuse him of not being “conservative enough” is almost as entertaining as listening to socialists accuse him of being “old fashioned” in his non-progressive love for fundamental American principles and values, like Life, Liberty and Individual Happiness through individual achievement. What a unique concept in a 2007 America.

War critic and committed “hate America first” lefty Naman Crowe writes in the Chattanoogan, Fred Thompson Is Another Bonehead “Anyone that believes that Bush was right to attack Iraq and that it is right to stay there until the mission is completed and the Iraq government has the situation under control, and that it is right to just keep waging war until we've wiped terrorism off the face of the earth and are ruling the world by the force of our military might is a bonehead.”

CNSNews staff writer Fred Lucas gets his 15 minutes of fame by writing, Fred Thompson Faces Critics on the Right, “While many Republican voters view likely presidential candidate Fred Thompson as the great conservative hope of 2008, a review of Thompson's Senate voting record and past comments could change the minds of some conservatives.”

He quotes known leaders of the conservative right in an effort to drive a wedge between Thompson and his early supporters, "He's a nice enough guy, but the idea he is the second coming of Reagan is a bit exaggerated," said David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, who clearly overlooks Reagan’s popularity among many California conservatives, which are by no means, conservative.

"I know Fred Thompson is a man of his word," responds Tennessee State Rep. Jason Mumpower, a member of the national Draft Fred Thompson 2008 Committee. "I know that he said no to this amnesty bill. I know what he did on abortion. I trust him. If America takes a look at him, they'll see the same thing I see."

What has Thompson ever done to make so many so worried? That’s easy to answer… Unlike every other contender, he is being drafted by the people, the same people who have rejected all others.

Rejection hurts, even if you’re a politician. How must it feel to be the nation’s “war hero” Loose Canon McCain or the nation’s Mayor, Rudy “911” Giuliani, both of which have been looked at for years and drawn somewhere between a collective yawn and a “hell NO” from the conservative base of their party, now certain what “compassionate conservative” means.

Some are concerned that members of the Bush team are lining up behind Thompson, forgetting that those folks were also members of the Reagan team. They wonder if Thompson is being baptized into the Bush doctrine on globalization, but forget to ask if Bush team members are just happy to have someone more conservative than a Bush to get behind for a change.

One thing is sure… No matter what happens, a Thompson campaign will be entertaining.

The 6’ 6” southern lawyer and former Tennessee Senator, about the only candidate in the race not dependent upon public office for a decent living, threatens liberals and self-styled conservatives alike. He seems to be shaking up Washington politics, even before getting to Washington.

Aside from the fact that he can complete both sentences and thought’s without training wheels, he might also be the first presidential candidate since Reagan to write his own script.

Is he “the man”? We’ll soon find out. But his opponents sure seem to think he is…

As the old political adage goes, “It doesn’t matter what you say about me, so long as you say it often and spell my name correctly”… Nobody is getting more free press than Fred Thompson and that alone makes the natives restless…


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: election; elections; fred; fredthompson; johnmccain; mittromney; president; rudygiuliani; rudymcromney; thompson
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To: TAdams8591

Does Milt really govern Pro Bono with no Salary?
baebea ann


121 posted on 06/05/2007 6:45:55 PM PDT by barb-tex (Why replace the IRS with anything?)
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To: NoobRep
Dems better be scared.

Why? Is Fred going to attack them on the Youtube?

Dems have more reason to be scared you than they do of Fred.

He really doesn't want the job. His heart isn't in it. And the Democrats sense his weakness.

He better find some reserves of desire and fire somewhere.

122 posted on 06/05/2007 6:51:26 PM PDT by JCEccles (“Politics ain’t beanbag” Finley Peter Dunne)
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To: All
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
123 posted on 06/05/2007 7:41:16 PM PDT by Politicalmom (No self-respecting world domination group would invite Angelina Jolie to be a member.)
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To: HerrBlucher

Cincinatus.


124 posted on 06/05/2007 8:20:40 PM PDT by mikeus_maximus (Why are we importing Mexican socialists?)
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To: barb-tex

He did not take a salary as Governor of Mass. He has promised to do the same as president! : )


125 posted on 06/05/2007 9:48:28 PM PDT by TAdams8591 (Guiliani is a Democrat in Republican drag! Mitt Romney for President '08)
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To: VRWCmember
Oh really?

Here is Fred Thompson's VOTING record on ILLEGAL, let me repeat that -- ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION:

Senator Fred Thompson's Immigration Report Card

Overall Grade:

Reduce Enticement for ILLEGAL Immigration AMNESTIES. Grade:

SOURCE: http://grades.betterimmigration.com/testgrades.php3?District=TN&VIPID=743&retired=1

- Voted to grant amnesty to close to one million ILLEGAL aliens from Nicaragua and Cuba in 1997
Sen. Fred Thompson voted to grant legal status to Nicaraguans and Cubans who had lived in the United States ILLEGALLY since 1995, along with their spouses and minor unmarried children. The overall ten year impact of this legislation will be the addition of some 967,000 people to U.S. population. The only opportunity Senators had to vote in favor of or against the amnesty was the Mack Amendment to S.1156. Fred Thompson voted AYE on the amendment.

- Voted to remove higher fines for businesses which hire ILLEGAL aliens
Sen. Fred Thompson, in committee consideration of S.1664 protected businesses from having to pay higher fines when they are caught hiring ILLEGAL aliens. Under the idea that current fines were not enough of a deterrent against businesses cutting their labor costs by hiring ILLEGAL aliens, the Senate immigration subcommittee approved higher fines. Various study commissions have found that the willingness of U.S. businesses to hire ILLEGAL aliens is the No. 1 incentive for foreign workers to become ILLEGAL aliens here. But Sen. Thompson voted with a 10-8 majority in the Judiciary Committee to remove the higher fines from the 1996 legislation against ILLEGAL immigration.

- Tried to kill voluntary pilot programs for workplace verification in 1996
Sen. Thompson voted IN FAVOR of the Abraham Amendment to S.1664. He was part of a coalition of pro-business conservatives and liberal civil libertarians who tried to use the amendment to kill the establishment of voluntary pilot programs in high-immigration states. The programs were intended to assist employers in verifying whether people they had just hired had the legal right to work in this country. Such verification is considered by many experts to be an essential tool for withdrawing the job magnet from ILLEGAL aliens. The verification system established by S.1664 did NOT involve an national ID card. Rather it provided that when new workers wrote down their Social Security number on an application, employers could phone into a national verification system to help assure that the number was a real number and belonged to the person giving it. In earlier smaller pilot programs, businesses had hailed the verification system for making it easier for them to avoid hiring ILLEGAL aliens. Sen. Thompson was unsuccessful in stopping the voluntary verification system. The Senate tabled the by a 54-46 vote.

It's easy to say you're "against amnesty" when you're not in the Senate and don't have lobbyists and other Senators pushing you to vote that way. Mel Martinez must have sworn 50 times when he was not in the Senate that he "opposed amnesty at this time" because it "rewards lawlessness". How nice of Fred to now be “against” amnesty even though he supported it while in the Senate.

The truth is that post 1986, NO Senator will ever admit to supporting amnesty, even though, as Michelle Malkin pointed out, there have been There have been seven illegal alien amnesties passed into law since 1986, including the 1997 “Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act” for nearly one million illegal aliens from Central America, which Fred happily supported “at the time”.

Spin it all you want, Fred Thompson is no different than President Bush, John McCain, or Lindsey Graham on this issue. All of them go on TV and loudly proclaim they're "against" amnesty" and want illegal aliens to "go to the back of the line" and are working on "reforms" to "secure the borders first", then they vote for amnesty and claim it’s not really “Amnesty".

Clearly Fred Thompson already voted for give amnesty to illegal aliens BEFORE the "border was secure". So we should believe what he says or how he voted? If he’s “changed his mind” since that time, why doesn’t he say so and admit “I was wrong”? If he “against” amnesty until the borders are secure, why not take a pledge that if he ever holds office again, he will oppose ANY amnesty measure while immigration is out of control? Right now he’s saying we have to “deal” with the 12 million already here and deporting them is “not possible”. Hmmm.

126 posted on 06/05/2007 10:05:59 PM PDT by BillyBoy (FACT: Governors WIN. Senators DON'T. Support the RIGHT Thompson in '08: www.tommy2008.com.)
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To: Canticle_of_Deborah

It looked good to me...

Proved he was the smartest man in the race!


127 posted on 06/06/2007 6:20:13 AM PDT by PlainOleAmerican
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To: Canticle_of_Deborah

Yet he’s had more press coverage than all other candidates combined... FREE

The dummy...LOL


128 posted on 06/06/2007 6:23:51 AM PDT by PlainOleAmerican
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To: Canticle_of_Deborah

Stay the course, wait to hear from the horses mouth... I love the passion behind the Draft Fred movement and I like him so far too.

But, it’s your vote, you should hear from the candidate, no matter who thinks that’s unreasonable. I disagree that he has been hiding or running from anything. He wasn’t planning on running until the people persistantly asked him to. He’s not late to the race, the others were early.

But wait to judge him on his own merits, not just the excitment of others. Maybe you’ll see what the tohers are so excited about...


129 posted on 06/06/2007 6:33:27 AM PDT by PlainOleAmerican
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To: Ultra Sonic 007

Clinton was the best actor ever to hold the White House!


130 posted on 06/06/2007 6:35:59 AM PDT by PlainOleAmerican
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To: kvasir
even superman couldn’t do all of these - if he can do 2/3rds, i’m in.

Me too. I can't find anything wrong with him yet. I will be watching for any "political opportunism". It is my number one loathing of politicians. I don't want calculated verbage followed by polling for approval. I want a real person.

131 posted on 06/06/2007 6:36:09 AM PDT by Tenacious 1 (No to nitwit jesters with a predisposition of self importance and unqualified political opinions!)
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To: VRWCmember

You should connect them, because they are all connected, common membership and principles, even common founders.

I’m not sure it matters still, because anyone of power will either be a member or close to members.

I’m amazed that it surprises some that BIG wealth works together with concern for what happens in the world. They call it a conspiracy, but it’s just good business.

There’s no doubt that they exist. The question is, what is their plan and why?


132 posted on 06/06/2007 6:48:12 AM PDT by PlainOleAmerican
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To: TAdams8591

If Romney were as smart and conservative as you say, he should have run Teddy out of office before seeking the White House...


133 posted on 06/06/2007 6:51:33 AM PDT by PlainOleAmerican
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To: TAdams8591

And this proves something special?

In either case, the salary is nothing to his personal wealth. It is also nothing in terms of savings to the state or the nation. Therefore, it’s a big nothing that sounds good to people without a calculator, and nothing more.

If anything, one could conclude he is not paid by the people, therefore, does not work for the people. Or, he’s such a rich snob that our mini-salary means nothing to him...

Watch what you promote!


134 posted on 06/06/2007 6:59:40 AM PDT by PlainOleAmerican
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To: jellybean

ping for FredExpress please. Thank you!


135 posted on 06/06/2007 7:03:01 AM PDT by TNdandelion
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To: PlainOleAmerican

136 posted on 06/06/2007 7:09:29 AM PDT by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: Canticle_of_Deborah
Will you call me unpleasant if I say that your criticism about Mr. Thompson's avoidance of the debates is irrational? Just because everyone else has jumped the gun (and are already wearing thin their appeal) doesn't mean Thompson is late or avoiding debate.

What do you call being late for too early? Right on time!

Did that hurt your feelers?

137 posted on 06/06/2007 7:13:29 AM PDT by TNdandelion
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To: TNdandelion; Politicalmom
ping for FredExpress please. Thank you!

Your seat on the FRedExpress has been reserved. :)

138 posted on 06/06/2007 8:03:44 AM PDT by jellybean (FRED THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT! Proud to be an Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: rfp1234
Playing a general in Hunt for Red October

He played an Admiral in that movie. He was a General in Fat Man And Little Boy.

139 posted on 06/06/2007 8:13:25 AM PDT by kevkrom ("Government is too important to leave up to the government" - Fred Dalton Thompson)
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To: SuziQ

Yes. Agreed. Perhaps we’ll be invited to stay on with the next administration and continue to be of unofficial assistance ;-)


140 posted on 06/06/2007 11:03:34 AM PDT by NordP (The greatest gift God can give us is LIFE. The greatest gift man can give to another is FREEDOM.)
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