Protester removed from Fred Thompson event

CNN Political Ticker ^ | 07/25/07 | Steve Brusk

[Jokelahoma]

HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) – A woman screaming “you’re not a real conservative, sir” was removed by police from a welcoming reception for likely GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson Wednesday morning. A second protester was also taken from the room.

Houston police officers escorted the woman — as well as a man — from the hangar at Hobby Airport, where Thompson was shaking hands with a crowd of supporters. They were not arrested.

The woman questioned Thompson as he talked to reporters. She asked him why he was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and noted that the organization supported the North American Union with Canada and Mexico.

Note this is an excerpt.

[dragnet2]

So the CFR just basically sits around and debates, with nothing ever changing, with no power, or influence to change anything in regards to law, politics, government policies etc?

Pretty much

Is that a yes or no?

Yes, it is a yes or no.

It appears that you are only able to digest very small bites

Responses such as the above do that to me.

So far I have been told the CFR is like the Hardball television show, they do not make policy, nor do they have a position on the issues, they just sit around and debate, like a debate club.

Are you telling me now this same organization might very well have influence over government policy? And if so, does that mean they actually do have positions on the issues?

Are you following me here? Can you tell where this is going next?

[dragnet2]

They occasionally have some influence-- As far as any real, legal, authority in terms of law or any kind of binding actions. Nope.

OK, so this is getting interesting now.

Back in a while. I promise I'll respond back.

Thanks.

[VRWCmember]

Are you telling me now this same organization might very well have influence over government policy? And if so, does that mean they actually do have positions on the issues?

Are you following me here? Can you tell where this is going next?

How many "policy-makers" do we have in this country? 435? 535? 600+? See where this is going next? If you decide that the 435th most influential member of the House of Representatives is a "policy-maker" then anybody that can influence that representative could be argued to have (in your words) "power, or influence to change anything in regards to law, politics, government policies etc". Therefore, if that particular congressman believes every word of the now defunct World News Weekly to be the final authority on a policy issue, then you could argue that a defunct tabloid has power or influence to change law, politics, government policies, etc.

As an organization, the CFR only has the power or influence of publishing ideas. The extent to which those ideas may or may not influence any policy-maker is anybody's guess. The CFR does not have any authority or legislative or policy-making power. I don't know how much more clearly it can be stated.

[VRWCmember]

They occasionally have some influence-- As far as any real, legal, authority in terms of law or any kind of binding actions. Nope.

OK, so this is getting interesting now.

It is interesting to note the portion of the response you chose to omit:

They occasionally have some influence, depending on the quality of the reports they put out, and the willingness of people in positions of real authority to heed what they say. Let’s say they are a provider of advice, you can either take that advice, or not take it, it’s up to you.

As far as any real, legal, authority in terms of law or any kind of binding actions. Nope.

I wonder if I'm the only one who has noticed this pattern. You seem to have a knack for missing or ignoring the most germane portion of the answers to your questions in following up on the discussion.

[Kimberly GG]

“Are you familiar with Fred’s position on “Comprehensive Immigration Reform”? What are the differences and similarities between Fred’s position on CIR and Duncan Hunter’s position?”

Is this a test? LOL Of course I am aware of the similarities and differences on both CIR and border security, I post about them all the time. It’s one of the main reasons I chose Duncan Hunter over Fred Thompson. 2008 is a critical election year, our sovereignty and security are at stake.

Duncan is very specific about how he will secure the borders. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7BqCU6fWs8

Other than declaring that border security should be a priority, Fred Thompson has failed to be specific about HOW he intends to effectively secure the borders.

As far as the illegal aliens who are already here, while both were opposed to the CIR bill....Duncan Hunter has clearly stated that attrition through enforcement is the solution. Not Amnesty.

Thompson says there is no good solution, that he opposes “blanket” amnesty, that we need to determine who is here and that we must give them “aspirations of citizenship”.

And Hunter’s voting record is consistent and better than Thompson’s.

Duncan Hunter ‘08

[VRWCmember]

I should have also pinged you to my reply.

[mnehring]

Read it already, along with None Dare Call It Conspiracy and dozens of others.. I used to be a Bircher but then I started looking deeper into these claims and found them BS.. these stories have been going on for centuries, the only thing that changes are the players.. Robertson's book is better written than most but it has some of the same problems.. they take opinion papers and try to bridge the gap that is is proof of a conspiracy.. he also only looks at papers that fit his final assumption, and ignores papers on the opposite view..

BTW, Debunking Conspiracy Theories and MLMs are to things I enjoy greatly.. I guess this should be a disclaimer..

I have a book recommendation you need..
Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco..

[Jokelahoma]

You're gathering the pattern, really. From what I've seen as an outside observer, it seems your debate partner here is attempting to lead you to the answer they want you to give, to try to set up an "a-ha" or "gotcha". You're giving factual answers, which obviously doesn't play from the same playbook, and that requires the debate to go on longer and longer.

It's not an uncommon tactic, unfortunately. Some are just better at it than others. Congratulations to you for smelling out the trap before it was even laid.

[ejonesie22]

SSSSH, quite man and don’t use my screen name. They are after me. I was followed by a helicopter on the highway today. Radio said it was for a traffic report, but I know better. If you take the second, fourth and last letters from traffic and arrange them just right, you know what you get. That’s right...

CFR.

I’m doomed! Save yourselves!

[mnehring]

Time to bring back the WAYR tag..
This is just someone who has an agenda and will keep repeating the same thing over and over until they get the answer they want or can twist to prove whatever point.. If someone doesn’t give them the answer they want, they act like they were ignored.

[VRWCmember]

On the subject of CIR, Fred and Duncan are equally vocal and specific in their opposition to the bill that was recently blocked (I wouldn’t classify it as defeated since the senate version would have passed had it been allowed a vote on the floor and who knows what would have come out of the conference committee).

Fred has rightly stated that the issue of how to deal with the illegals already here is a difficult question with no easy or good solution. He has also stated a position similar to Hunter’s “attrition through enforcement” as part of the solution. If the immigration issue is your number one most critical issue and Duncan Hunter is the candidate who is closest to perfection on that issue, then I believe it would be fairly safe to say that Thompson is probably the next closest after Hunter on that issue among any of the declared or undeclared GOP candidates. It may be that Fred’s position and/or statements on the issue are two “nuanced” for some, but I personally think that reflects a recognition that any solution will have to take a multi-faceted approach in order to have success. I don’t think there is an “all-or-nothing” solution that can be brokered.

[Bigh4u2]

Yep.

Ole’ Ben Franklin had it right...

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Benjamin Franklin”

[AmericanInTokyo]

He's been hiring high-level campaign officials recently that somewhat disturb me--considering their backgrounds and proclivities. We just might be getting warmed over George W. Bush II--but perhaps it is too early to discern.

I hope I am wrong.

We need a CLEAN break from the present G.O.P. elite on these policy issues--particularly on illegal immigration.

Can anyone else out there give some insight?

[mnehring]

It is way worse.. something isn't right with this one.. I responded to him earlier and his reply was to quote part of my post and try to twist the words.. the problem is, the part he quoted was his own question that I had quoted before adding my response..(post 161)

As Hank Hill would say.. Boy ain't right.

[mnehring]

I should have pinged you on #234.. you’ll get a kick out of it..

[Politicalmom]

Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

WARNING: If you wish to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.

[mnehring]

We need a CLEAN break from the present G.O.P. elite on these policy issues-

You have a very good point, but the problem is that eliminates pretty much anyone in DC with the experience of running and/or working for a campaign..

[1035rep]

This is good news, Thompson has the liberals all shook up.

[AmericanInTokyo]

That might in fact be necessary. Coming from the statehouses, or somebody who is a complete outsider, may be what we need at this point in our history.

[mnehring]

Even then, they need people with the experience to work on a national campaign.. you could take Joe Smith from backwoods Arkansas and put him on a ticket, but who is going he going to hire to work the media, legal issues, finances, etc.. Even those who claim to be outsiders like Paul, are really firmly entrenched in the DC game..