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.
Newt has been out of the limelight since the mid 90s. He has not been a strong Conservative voice, blowing it with endorsements and his sit down with Pelosi for climate change should be enough to tell you what will happen in DC.
Romney - Why would anyone seriously consider him for the GOP? He would win the Democrat primary before getting the GOP nod. His support of government health care means that he could never go against Obamacare. If you don’t support complete and speedy repeal of Obamacare and the rest of the crap this regime passed, you’ll get zero support from me.
There may be someone else better, but until they emerge, Palin is my nominee.
Please go to hell...
I am in agreement with everything you said.
What disturbs me most is the way the Palin supporters act toward other conservatives. It is disturbing and doesn’t bode well for the next election.
I have watched Palin closely and she is not my choice. I would vote for her over any democrat but don’t think she can win and don’t think she is ready to be president.
That is my opinion and I am sticking to it no matter how many people screeam and call me names.
The republicans, the conservatives are risking RINO’s and conservative dems banding together for a middle road candidate. ANd that will mean more socialism.
For one, you said that I must be a member of Journolist.
Where am I uneducated ?
Where? Southeastern Ohio, if your handle is accurate. If you're asking why I think you're uneducated, well:
Your continued butchery of the English language, and your inability to use anything but broad platitudes (and nothing approaching intelligent analysis)in your "arguments" in support of Sarah Palin. That's for starters.
I expected snarkiness from Rich Galen. Thompson really bothered me.
That is honestly a debate I would LOVE to see!!! As one who once taught history, I know just how horribly weak Obama is on the subject. Actually, he’s weak in several subject areas.
“Plus, she quit her job.”
I think that what she did was avoid an Alinski trap, and free herself to become a serious 2012 candidate for POTUS by writting editorials and books; supporting successful candidates across the nation, and thereby building a national support network; showing the real Sarah, rather than the Romney/McCain/Steve Schmidt/Liberal Media version of her to the general population; and lastly showcasing her plans/committment to rebuilding the Nation after it shakes off the disaster of the Obama years...
The left, in the end, would have been better to leave her alone, in the political wasteland of Alaska, than to persue her relentlessly, to the point that they unleased her to fully become the nightmare they feared.
Quit???? Sarah, like John Paul Jones, has just begun to fight!
The blind are not the only ones that cannot see what is so clearly before their face.
Is there another candidate that is as electric as she is ?
Say whatever you want in theory. But charisma matters. Having the ability to inspire people matters. Obama can campaign, but he can’t inspire confidence with his big government liberalism. We know Palin can lead. thats the difference
Thank you Cajun. I don’t like the disagreement either, but better to get it out now, as long as I see every one of you at the polls in November. We can’t let our disagreements turn to apathy. We saw what that can do. Let’s get it out now, and put the best candidates on the field.
We can even help to educate our FRiend from Ohio.
> “ The media hate her, and she’ll wilt under the pressure.” <
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The facts refute that delusion. She has been victorious in each conforntation with the media since freeing herself from the false confines of the system
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> “ I think Pence is one of the most articulate, intelligent voices of conservatiism today.” <
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Pence is a puppet, and a total cave-in. He has yet to articulate anything but compromise and retreat. The only times he does anything right is when he knows his political survival demands it. IOW, he is opposite of Palin.
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Electric? She does have charisma. Yes. But so does Obama. And that got us the big gov’t liberalism you warn about. Have I made my point?
How do we know Palin can lead? Seems like a huge leap of logic.
Southeastern Ohio is a wonderful place to live.
You are the kind of person I hate the most because you think you are so much smarter than everybody else.
HOn, you are way young with that statement about Palin as LITMUS test.
Good grief, how simple can you be?
This is what bothers me about these discussions. Palin supporters act as if she is a religious figure not a politician.
BTW I think she has a great media career ahead of her and can be a force.
Is it your opinion that Palin is the best possible candidate to be the Republican nominee for president?
“I’d rather Gingrich over Romney.”
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They’d both fatally stab us in the back in their first week in office. Newt has already done it 100 times, and Mitt is waiting his chance.
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So, ‘Please go to hell’ the equivalent of ‘You win’?
Anyone who uses MSM talking points against Palin is not a person that anyone should trust.
and they sure as hell are not a conservative.
...hate the most?
What about the people who want to raise your taxes, limit your freedom, and weaken your country?
We need to be a bit more FRiendly in our discourse.
Palin is NOT Obama. She is a CONSERVATIVE. She wants to CUT spending.
Her favorite President is Ronald Reagan. She is NOT anything like Obama.
“Why are Fred and his wife, along with Bill Kristol and Fred Malik helping Governor Palin, then?”
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I don’t think he is. He couldn’t help himself in 2008, and now this crap is hard to dismiss.
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