Posted on 07/24/2010 3:47:23 PM PDT by Brices Crossroads
Below is a transcript of a portion of Fred Thompson's interview with Rich Galen on his radio show July 23, 2010 in which Thompson and Galen discuss the relative merits of Gingrich and Palin, as well as the likelihood that either or both will enter the GOP.
Galen is a former press Secretary to Gingrich, and he gives the back of his hand to Sarah Palin in the interview, calling her "a really interesting personalit[y]...but not necessarily ... qualified to be the nominee or be president." Incredibly, and to his discredit, Thompson laughingly agrees:
"THOMPSON: Uh huh...
GALEN: And uh, I don’t think Sarah Palin’s ever going to be the nominee. I don’t think she believes that she can be the nominee and I’m not sure she wants to get into that. I mean, I think she’s, uh...you know...she’s doing what she does and she’s doing what she does better than anybody we’ve seen in a long time.
THOMPSON: You know she may be in the first stages of Newtism, and that is, uh, being...being a real player and going around the country making lots of money. (Laughs)
GALEN: Yeah, and ...
THOMPSON: That’s what Newt’s done for a long time and maybe he’s ready...maybe he’s ready for the next stage and maybe, uh, you’re right. Maybe Sarah’s idea is that she’ll do this for a while and then her second stage will come along a little later."
As someone who supported Fred Thompson in 2007-8 both on this forum and financially, I am bitterly disappointed that, at a minimum, he did not correct Galen's outrageous statement that she is unqualified to be either the nominee or the President. I know Rush Limbaugh or Mark Levin would have defended her because I have heard them both do it. In fact, Galen would never even have made such an outrageous statement in front of them because he would know it would draw a harsh refudiation from either El Rushbo or the Great One. (In fact, I heard Levin take Ann Coulter to task one time because she trashed Thompson).
Instead, he says "uh huh" and proceeds to amplify Galen's canard by citing the lamestream media/GOP Establishment wishful thinking-spin that she is too happy making money to run. Galen is a RINO "gun for hire" and former employee of Gingrich. He is not admirable, but he is doing what he is paid for. Fred Thompson has no such excuse. Shame on him.
The transcript of the entire segment on Newt and Palin is below:
"THOMPSON: Rich Galen, the founder of Mullings.com, the wit and wisdom of Rich Galen uh, if you want to check that out. Rich, you’ve been around here a long time, uh, you worked for Newt Gingrich, you worked for Dan Quayle and, uh, GOPAC and uh...
GALEN: And Fred Thompson..
THOMPSON: Yeah, I thank you much for that. We had a lot of fun on the campaign trail. They’re coming out of the woodwork now. Do you think Newt might be serious this time...?
GALEN: Yeah I do...
THOMPSON: You know Newt pretty well and Newt, this time of the year every four years you know, uh, says, “Well, I’m thinking about it, I’m thinking about it” and then he doesn’t. What do you think?
GALEN: Yeah, I think that, uh, that this time, unless there is some..something pops up between now and next February that says “don’t do it”, he’s...I think he’s disposed to do it. So I think he’s gonna be a candidate.
THOMPSON: Is that right? How do you think he figures...is it as clear as, you know, it seems to be, and that is that Obama is very unpopular and, uh, he can’t come back like Reagan did, uh, in his second two years and be re-elected?
GALEN: And Clinton did...
THOMPSON: And Clinton did...
GALEN: Yeah, you can’t..I don’t think you can project that far out. I think what Newt is...and I’m putting words in his mouth; I haven’t discussed this with him...I have discussed the first part with him, but not this part.
THOMPSON: Uh huh...
GALEN: The, uh, I think what Newt is looking at is A) the Republican competition, first of all. I mean, it doesn’t matter whether the incumbent can be defeated. If you’re not the nominee then it doesn’t make any difference. Um, and uh, I think he looks across the landscape, uh and he sees some really interesting personalities.
THOMPSON: (Loudly laughs) You’ve been in town too long Rich, you’re becoming too diplomatic. (Loudly laughs again)
GALEN: But not necessarily people who are qualified to be the nominee or be president.
THOMPSON: Uh huh...
GALEN: And uh, I don’t think Sarah Palin’s ever going to be the nominee. I don’t think she believes that she can be the nominee and I’m not sure she wants to get into that. I mean, I think she’s, uh...you know...she’s doing what she does and she’s doing what she does better than anybody we’ve seen in a long time.
THOMPSON: You know she may be in the first stages of Newtism, and that is, uh, being...being a real player and going around the country making lots of money. (Laughs)
GALEN: Yeah, and ...
THOMPSON: That’s what Newt’s done for a long time and maybe he’s ready...maybe he’s ready for the next stage and maybe, uh, you’re right. Maybe Sarah’s idea is that she’ll do this for a while and then her second stage will come along a little later.
GALEN: There’s no, uh, I mean there’s no advantage for somebody like Sarah Palin to absolutely do, uh, you know, do a, uh, what’s the statement that we always talk about?
THOMPSON: Sherman-like...
GALEN: A Sherman statement, you know, if nominated I will not run. If elected, I will not serve. I mean, it doesn’t do any good to take herself out of the running. It makes good sense for her to be among the mentioned and, uh, you know why get in the way of that? Next Spring, sometime, she’ll decide what she wants to do and everybody will react to it then. But uh,...
THOMPSON: Uh huh...
GALEN: Yeah, I think the threshold question is I think Newt is serious about it.
You better hope she’s ready for primetime.
Because she’s running and she’ll win.
Let me guess: You've never been to college. You have absolutely no ability to engage in what's called "critical thinking." Look it up, if you can find a dictionary. And it's "think negativeLY," not "negative." Adverbs. Try them.
Those who don’t like her in MOST cases (not saying you are)are morally bankrupt freaks who watch the MSM.
Jeezum, you're stupid. (1) Never said I didn't like her. I said I didn't think she's the best we can do. (2) No, you speculated that I was a member of Journolist. You're a vapid dope.
Its not about being fancy and using fancy words. It is about being RIGHT and STRONG in a time of peril for this country.
As William F Buckley once said “I would government by the first 200 names in the Boston phone book than the alumni at Harvard”
I don’t care what she knows as long as she knows how to lead through this mess. and she is RIGHT on economics and energy policies.
I don’t think negatively of HER. I don’t think positively of her as president...does that mean I am a morally bankrupt freak?
How can you be so harsh? I would argue that someone who thinks so narrowly shouldn’t be trusted with something as sharp as litmus paper.
I have attended college. I didn’t like it.
I am self educated
Wrong.
Newt is for a temporary work visa for illegals, which is a form of amnesty. Sarah seems to be suggesting the same thing.
No one said fancy words are the requirement. First, I’d settle for her using her own words. I saw someone on this thread used “hopey changey” in their signature! That is from Mark Steyn (at least I think so), and for Sarah to co-opt that as her signature phrase is one example of how dependent on others she is to make the case.
I have not heard anything remotely insightful, much less erudite, about economics OR energy policy coming from her.
Have you? If so, please cite.
I am harsh because of the way she was treated by the press and is not defended nearly enough by her fellow Republicans.
any conservative that buys the MSM talking point that Palin is not smart enough to be president gets my rage and my wrath.
Liberals are supposed to be sheep. We are not.
Two things are readily apparent. You need to educate yourself A LOT more; and with the education you've given yourself, you're a great candidate to teach in the public school system.
She has given many speeches on energy issues, esp oil. And she is conservative on economics. Low taxes, less spending.
She is not hands on. Reagan was not hands up.
But he who governs least, governs best.
you must prefer “Progressive Republicans”
I don’t. I realize that 85% of the battle is just getting America to believe in itself again.
What did I say that was not true ?
Where am I uneducated ?
Great post go Sarah 2012!!
These posts portraying Alaska a a huge state are disingenuous. Yes, it is large in area, but it’s entire population is dwarfed by any major metro area in the country. The oil money is also largely overblown. The truth is that despite Alaska’s oil reserves, the entire state budget doesn’t even begin to approach California’s expenditures on it’s community college system alone. As far as governance, Alaska is bush league, and she didn’t even complete a single term at that level. Hawking state vehicles on Ebay is cute, but not ready for prime time.
Palin quit. YOu can say she didn’t till you are blue in the face but she did.
I see why she did and don’t blame her, but she quit.
Don’t forget that AK is about 70% owned/controlled by the Feds thus out of the state gov’t domain..... Only NV has more Fed controlled acreage.
> “Very sad to realize and have it ringing in your ears that to take over the Republican Party will require running over people that you thought would be on your side.” <
.
Yes, and Rush has been alluding to this for two weeks. He seems depressed to have to recognize what the Party has become.
> “I know Fred Thompson’s heart is in the right place...” <
.
I don’t know how you can know that. I think he is one of the power elite that Rush has been denouncing, and is just doing what he is told to damage the candidate that knows how to undo the evil that has been done by the last four presidents.
They are not going to give up; we will have to beat them with 200 million sharp cuts.
.
It shows.
I am self educated
Enlist the aid of a better instructor before it's too late.
She moved onto a something bigger and better.
There is no shame in that.
I’ll take your rage and wrath and raise you some critical thinking.
You’ll learn (perhaps later in life) that just because someone is a Republican doesn’t mean they should be immune from criticism, especially internally to this kind of forum. I live in Arizona - McCain is from here. He is Republican but often associated with liberal programs and thinking. Therefore he is called a RINO, and is a frequent target on this forum.
I want Sarah to speak out, stir up the base, heck, I’ll even hope she motivates you to get out there and vote for candidates that will cut taxes and embrace conservative policies. None of that means she is the most qualified person to be president.
Do you see the difference?
I spent years in the military, college, and have founded two businesses. I took orders to learn how to give them. That makes me have some leadership credentials, and accolades I receive as a leader I can attribute to the years I spent learning how to lead. Do you see how my past experiences are relevant to my own career progression?
I want to see that in presidential candidates for the most prestigious job in the world. When I look at Sarah’s CV/resume, I don’t see that same level of progression. Sorry to say the mayor of Wasilla gig doesn’t come across as especially challenging or preparatory to run the free world. A brief stint as governor, harsh treatment from the media, or making speeches around the US don’t necessarily impress me either. I think compared to Obama’s resume, she has more potential, but that’s because his resume is ridiculously underqualified. I have higher hopes for the future. Is that wrong?
Just the way I evaluate the facts as I see them.
Well said Jeff. Heavy flak = over target.
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