Posted on 07/26/2007 1:03:09 PM PDT by RobFromGa
In the past few months, I've traveled the country talking and listening to folks. I've been discussing where I see America going, about what we need to do to keep our nation secure, what we must do to keep this remarkable economy growing, and the challenges we must address together for the next generation of Americans.
I believe the United States is at a crossroads, and what I'm hearing on the road is that a lot of people agree with me. They're ready to move forward together to meet our challenges here at home and abroad. They aren't buying into the defeatist talk about our security, our economy, and our future.
During this "testing the waters" effort we've undertaken, I've been saying the political waters feel pretty warm. It's allowed us to start laying the foundation of a good team across the country and to keep up this national conversation we've been having. Now we're going to take that conversation to a different level.
On Tuesday, August 7th, we're inaugurating a new weekly "I'm With Fred" email, complete with news, updates, and photos from the road. We're also working on the ImWithFred website 2.0, in order to keep in touch on a daily basis and to give you more opportunities to join us at events, help us organize, and spread the word about our efforts.
I'm excited about what I'm seeing out on the road. I appreciate everything you're doing for our effort.
Sincerely,
Fred Thompson
Thats right, he is Lebanese and Christian, but for some that is not enough. Sad state if you ask me.
Anything that would show he can actually discuss the details of the principles conservatives hold dear.
So far 30-60 second sound bites eem to be his specialty.
“I am a conservative. Or at least I played one on TV.”
Reagan he ain’t (at least not yet). Regain spent years pushing the conservative agenda during his speaking tour on behalf of GE.
I would like to see him say something SOLID.
“but for some that is not enough. Sad state if you ask me.”
A combination of Paulaholics and unrealistic Duncophites.
Finally, some reason on this thread!
Investigate everything..
Good point.
I appreciate that!
:-)
I really like Hunter too. I was one of his original supporters here, and I still think he has the best Conservative credentials of all the candidates.
That being said, I don't think he has a snowball's chance in hell of winning this time around. I want to see him in a high position in the next Republican Administration so that he can get the name recognition he deserves, then I want to see him run and win in future Presidential elections.
Hunter is the future hope for Conservatives (and Republicans, if they stick around), but just not quite yet, IMHO.
I have read what you posted, but I would still like to see some attribution to original sources, not just mentions in opinion pieces that cannot be verified.
Yes sir...
Assigning superlatives based on general, scripted statements and scrying tea leave indicators from a mediocre backbench Senate term is not what I would term "rational".
Rational is: What has the candidate said are his intended policies? Will those policies advance those things I want advanced? Does the candidate have the leadership, executive, and organizational skills to implement those policies? Who is advising him on them? What is his history in advancing them?
Unless and until FT starts outlining his policy agenda, there is no rationality involved in supporting his non-candidacy water-testing. Only emotionalism and blind hope in a White Horse Hero. Right now, his campaign strategy is very little campaign and whole lots of strategy. Anyone who commits to a candidate before knowing exactly what that candidate is going to commit to (or refuse to commit to, which is every bit as telling) is, let's be kind, imprudent.
San Francisco Chronicle,
Tuesday, July 8, 1997
Louis Freedberg, Chronicle
It is rare that a conservative Republican is hailed as ``a guardian of the melting pot.” At a banquet this spring, the fiercely pro-immigrant National Council of La Raza lavished that accolade, and more, on Senator Spencer Abraham, a first-term senator from Michigan who has emerged as an unlikely champion of legal immigration. In accepting the award, Abraham, 45, talked emotionally about how one of his grandfathers worked in the coal mines of Pennsylvania after arriving from Lebanon, and how the other opened a mom-and-pop store in Detroit. ``I believe immigration is good for this country, and will keep fighting to keep the doors open,’’ Abraham told the cheering crowd as he held aloft an etched-glass trophy.
The award was noteworthy for more than just the fact that it went to someone with Abraham’s conservative credentials. As the new chairman of the immigration subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he is one of the most powerful lawmakers on the immigration issue. In a radical departure from his predecessor on the committee, he is on a mission to change the image of the Republican Party as a party hostile to immigrants.
It’s not his religion that has people worried, but the fact that he’s been a water carrier for the Islamics in the past.
I don’t get all this whining and moaning! Spencer Abraham isn’t Secretary of State. He’s simply running this part of Fred’s campaign. He’s someone with connections and Fred needs as many of those as he can get before he gets ready to announce.
I'm pulling for both of them and wouldn't think to insult anyone for backing certain candidates at this point.I agree with you 1000% and I didn't mean to criticize Duncan Hunter or his supporters, both of which I have huge respect for.
The people I was criticizing are the ones who claimed to be former-pro-Fred-now-anti-Fred. I don't believe them (that they were ever pro-Fred to begin with), I suspect them of being Paulites, and I wish they'd just come clean instead of performing a charade.
I am in favor of legal immigration too.
I looked at your link, and the La Raza award isn’t even mentioned in her post.
When Fred finally announces I will reevaluate my support of him based on test #2, his policy platform. Until that happens, I happily support him based on test #1.
Your first test is not enough to earn my support. It is merely enough to not eliminate him from consideration outright. It's easy to talk a good game and project an image, especially for a professional lawyer, politician, and actor. It's what they do for a living. Arnie Schwarzenegger talked a good conservative game, too, and had tons of adoring fanboyz and girlz here on FR and talk radio.
I’m checking LexisNexis for confirmation of this award. No “melting pot” name, but he DID receive an award of some sort.
xxxx
Copyright 1997 Times Publishing Company
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
March 2, 1997, Sunday, 0 South Pinellas Edition
SECTION: NATIONAL; WASHINGTON JOURNAL; Pg. 4A
LENGTH: 618 words
BYLINE: KATHERINE GAZELLA
BODY:
FLORIDA FUND-RAISER: In the midst of the fund-raising ado involving President Clinton, Sen. Bob Graham and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will hold a $ 5,000-a-couple fund-raiser in Florida this month.
The main attraction? A speech by President Clinton.
“Recent events have heightened the attention in such events,” said Paul Johnson, executive director of the committee.
To say the least.
However, how will it look for the president to genuflect at the big-money altar while the White House is embroiled in fund-raising controversies?
“There’s an election scheduled for 1998,” Johnson said. “Life and politics go on. You have to raise money - it’s part of the democratic process. Small d.”
The dinner and reception, to be held March 13 at the Turnberry Isle Resort in Aventura, is expected to raise several hundred thousand dollars, he said. Of that, $ 4,000 from each couple will go directly into Graham’s campaign fund and $ 1,000 will go to the committee’s coffers.
Past contributors to Graham, the committee and other Democrats have been invited to shell out big bucks to attend the event. Other prominent Washingtonians involved are the three Democratic senators hosting the reception: Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Robert Torricelli of New Jersey and Bob Kerrey of Nebraska.
The president will attend several fund-raisers throughout his second term to bulk up the bank accounts of various lawmakers and congressional campaign committees, Johnson said.
CLINICAL TRIALS: Under a new proposal, Medicare would pick up part of the tab for elderly cancer patients who participate in experimental treatments.
Sen. Connie Mack, R-Fla., has proposed a bill that would allow Medicare beneficiaries to take part in clinical trials - paid for with outside funding - and would require Medicare to pay for any associated costs.
Mack, a skin cancer survivor, said the measure would allow Medicare recipients to benefit from innovative surgeries and drugs without any added costs to the Medicare program.
In fact, he said, this might save Medicare money because the bulk of the patients’ health care costs would be picked up by the trials’ sponsors.
“Researchers have told us that one of their biggest roadblocks . . . is that Medicare doesn’t cover these clinical trials,” he said. “This legislation will ensure that every senior citizen can have access to the latest technology available.”
Medicare’s policy about clinical trials is unclear. As a result, patients may not be covered for the cost of services normally paid for by Medicare if they enroll in clinical trials.
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., supports the bill, as do many prominent cancer groups, including the National Breast Cancer Coalition and the Leukemia Society of America.
GRAHAM HONORED: A national Hispanic group is honoring Graham for his “courageous” work on immigration and welfare reform.
At a Washington ceremony Wednesday, the National Council of La Raza - the largest national constituency-based Hispanic group - will give its annual congressional awards to Graham and Sen. Spencer Abraham, R-Mich.
The Florida Democrat has been “one of the few members of Congress to recognize early on the devastating effects of welfare reform legislation on legal immigrants,” said Raul Yzaguirre, the organization’s president.
Graham was one of only three senators to oppose the welfare bill last year, arguing that it would strip a variety of federal benefits away from immigrants who have entered the country legally.
- Compiled by Times staff writer Katherine Gazella.
LOAD-DATE: March 4, 1997
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