Fred Thompson, President?
 

I've seen mention of Fred Thompson on this and other forums, thought I would share.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,257858,00.html

Fred Dalton Thompson!
 

Fred Thompson would be a very, very good choice. He has common sense, experience in the world of politics and presence, IMO. A former Federal Prosecutor and current Chair of the State Department International Security Advisory Board. Allegedly has a clean background and was very committed and active during his time as Senator. Dropped out of politics after the death of his daughter. The only other viable choice I see would be Romney.

Giuliani - Dem in Republican Clothing. Pro gun control. Did a fine job as Mayor and I'd vote for him for Mayor of another large city. (Perhaps he'd like to migrate to N'Orleans or Philli?) Don't want him for President & Commander in Chief.

Gingrich - Dalliances during the Clinton impeachment kept him from leading the Senate to an impeachment majority, which is the only reason we will have to face Hillary in 2008.

McCain - Beginning to flip flop. Weak on the 2nd Amendment and control of illegal immigration. I sense kind of a bizarre personality. Does anyone else?

In my opinion he is the best hope for a "Ronald Reagan"--like Conservative.

He is smart, likable, clean and can communicate / connect with the American people.

If anyone is interested...there is an on-line petition to Draft Fred Thompson...

http://www.petitiononline.com/FDT_08/petition.html

I signed the petition

Concur with your analysis of the field and of Senator Thompson.

I would prefer him over any of the anounced candidates, except possibly Gingrich, who is unelectable. Thompson also appears very statesmanlike and "looks" presidential. Rudy does not.

It would be nice to see him speak out a little to confirm his current positions on taxes, defense, the 2nd Amendment, immigration, role of government, international affairs, domestic policy, etc.

TR

Senator Thompson has been guest-hosting for Paul Harvey recently. "Back issues" can be heard here: <http://www.paulharvey.com/>. Commentary generally at the end of the broadcast.

CL31542

I heard his immigration comments today.

HOLY COW!!

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...NmNDBhNjhlYWU=

"March 20, 2007 12:35 PM

Southern Exposure

By Fred Thompson

We are all very well aware of the fact that we have an illegal-immigration problem in this country. As usual, we avoided the problem for as long as we could and when we couldn’t avoid it any longer we were told that, indeed, somewhere between 12 and 20 million people had somehow come into this country unnoticed.

It’s like we went overnight from “no problem” to a problem so big that it now defies a good solution. It’s become one of those “there are no good choices only less bad choices” that Americans are becoming all too familiar with.

We know that the overwhelming majority of illegals come across the Mexican border. Fortunately, we’ve got someone who is all too willing to tell us what we should do about it — the president of Mexico Philipe Calderon. President Calderon doesn’t think much of our border policies. He criticizes our efforts to secure the border with things such as border fencing. He says that bottle necks at U.S. checkpoints hurt Mexican commerce and force his citizens to migrate illegally in order to make a living (and of course send money back to Mexico). He apparently thinks we should do nothing except make American citizens out of his constituents. Calderon also accused U.S. officials of failing to do enough to stop the flow of drugs in to the United States. Mexican politicians gave President Bush an earful of all of this during his recent trip to Mexico.

I think its time for a little plain talk to the leaders of Mexico. Something like:
hey guys, you’re our friends and neighbors and we love you but it’s time you had a little dose of reality. A sovereign nation loses that status if it cannot secure its own borders and we are going to do whatever is necessary to do so, although our policies won’t be as harsh as yours are along your southern border. And criticizing the U.S. for alternately doing too much and too little to stop your illegal activities is not going to set too well with Americans of good will who are trying to figure a way out of the mess that your and our open borders policy has already created.

My friends, it’s also time for a little introspection. Since we all agree that improving Mexico’s economy will help with the illegal-immigration problem, you might want to consider your own left-of -center policies. For example, nationalized industries are not known for enhancing economic growth. Just a thought. But here’s something even more to the point that you might want to think about: What does it say about the leadership of a country when that country’s economy and politics are dependent upon the exportation of its own citizens?

— Fred Thompson is an actor and former United States senator from Tennessee."

I could help support this man and be motivated by his candidacy.

http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Fred_Thompson.htm

TR

Holy cow is right, I like what I read. Thanks for the article and the link TR.

I think the responses on this website echo the state of the nation: a couple of candidates that are "Republican" and then Fred-a classic Regan Conservative. I did a research project on Senator Thompson two years ago and was quite impressed. The parallels between him and Regan are more than slight:

a) Both are actors that the common middle of the road person will give some trust to simply because of name recognition (sad but true-elections are won and lost on much more than policy)

b)Both are excellent communicators. Both Regan and Thompson succeed in the area of Bush's greatest weakness: they communicate their thoughts on the offensive. They do not respond from a particular statement that may or may not be true but rather lay out their position on an issue and go from there.

c)Both exude strong leadership in the face of a scary enemy (USSR & Islamofacists)

d)(most important) Both are unapologetic conservative Americans. Both clearly believe in America, Americans, and the conservative nature of our democratic republic, and neither gives a damn about what the anti-American side thinks.


I believe that Thompson, like Regan, combines Pro-American spirit and strong leadership that Americans are craving/needing at the current time. Just like in the late 70's, Americans are tired of hearing everyone blame America first, and they are tired of having a president who does not lead (though I may agree with Bush's policies, he simply does not grab the situation by the balls and lead).

Seems my search for a candidate to support is at an end. Thompson in 08!

Fred Thompson
 

I've alway's like Fred Thompson, although he was in Tennessee, he was well like here in Kentucky.

Fred actually dated country music singer Lori Morgan. Cant blame a man there.

I'm excited to actually see a conservative candidate. Here's to Fred Thompson in the primaries!!

Patriot Vol. 07 No. 12 | 23 March 2007

Friday Digest

PATRIOT PERSPECTIVE

Democrats fear Fred Thompson... and should

Beyond the field of announced GOP candidates with questionable conservative pedigrees, there is a potential suitor on the horizon who could close the wide breach between Republicans and conservatives. Fred Thompson, the former Republican Senator from Tennessee, is perhaps America’s brightest and most capable prospect for President in 2008.

Most folks probably recognize him as District Attorney Arthur Branch on NBC’s “Law & Order,” or maybe from one of his big-screen roles like “Clear and Present Danger,” but I have had the privilege of knowing him for 20 years as just Fred. I know well that he is as capable of navigating the clear and present dangers facing our nation and restoring law and order to our constitutional republic as are the characters he plays on screen.

Last week, when Sen. Thompson was queried about a possible presidential bid, he replied, “I’m giving some thought to it,” saying he would make a decision in coming months. “It’s not really a reflection on the current field at all. I’m just going to wait and see what happens.”

Notwithstanding his tip of the hat to the current field of GOP contenders, Thompson made it clear that he would be watching them: “I wanted to see how my colleagues who are on the campaign trail do now—what they say, what they emphasize... and whether or not they can carry the ball next November.”

In other words, like most conservatives, Fred is concerned about the electability of the current field of Republicans—and for that reason, we want him in the lineup.

The GOP frontrunners—Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney—each have their own peculiar weaknesses. Common to them all, however, is their lack of bona fides among conservative voters—the Republican base. Without the conservative vote, it is highly questionable whether any one of the current frontrunners could pull off a convincing primary victory.

Democrats clearly understand their Republican opponents’ limitations, which is why they are confident that one of their far-left-of-center frontrunners, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, will win the presidency in ‘08.

While there are conservative candidates for the GOP nomination, any of whom could deservedly win the Republican primary, none of whom would be likely to carry a majority in the general election. This list includes some true luminaries of the conservative movement: Sen. Sam Brownback, Gov. Jim Gilmore, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Rep. Duncan Hunter, Rep. Ron Paul, Rep. Tom Tancredo, Gov. Tommy Thompson and possibly former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

However, if conservatives and the rest of the Republican electorate want to line up behind the most capable, qualified and electable candidate in the ‘08 presidential race, a man who can carry the Reagan mantle and draw an enormous crossover vote (as President Reagan did in 1980 and 1984 see 1984 election map), then call out Fred Thompson.

After earning his J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1967, Thompson had a private law practice and later served as an assistant U.S. attorney—making his mark weeding out corruption. After his prominent role as Republican counsel during Watergate, it was Thompson’s 1977 investigation that toppled the crooked administration of Tennessee Democrat Gov. Ray Blanton. In 1980, Thompson was tapped to serve as special counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and in 1982, special counsel to the Senate Intelligence Committee.

In 1985, the Blanton scandal was the subject of the film “Marie,” in which Thompson played himself—because the director could not find an actor who could capture Thompson’s power and determination. His success in that film led to his roles in more than 20 other big-screen hits including “No Way Out,” “The Hunt for Red October,” “Class Action,” “Cape Fear” and “In the Line of Fire.”

In 1993, Tennessee’s Republican leadership convinced Thompson to return to public service in a campaign bid to fill the unexpired Senate term of then Vice President Albert Gore. Fred then demonstrated his formidable skills on the campaign trail. Despite all the support Bill Clinton and Al Gore could muster for popular six-term Democrat Rep. Jim Cooper, Thompson won a landslide victory in 1994, garnering 61 percent of the vote to Cooper’s 39 percent—the largest victory margin in any statewide political contest in Tennessee history.

Thompson’s success in his first campaign for national office did not pass without substantial note from the Democrat National Committee. He won by an even wider margin in his 1996 re-election bid. Rest assured, the DNC fears a Thompson draft for the presidency.

Thompson’s record as a U.S. Senator from 1994 to 2003 shows that he was on the right side of every critical issue. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs from 1997 to 2001, he voted for national-debt reduction, the all-important balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution, a presidential line-item veto to eliminate congressional pork and efforts to privatize elements of Social Security. He supported legislation in the interest of free enterprise and opposed many regulatory and tax measures. He opposed growth in social-welfare programs, including expansions in Medicare and welfare for immigrants. He supported efforts to decentralize or disenfranchise unconstitutional government programs.

Fred voted for limits on death penalty appeals, product-liability punitive-damage awards and class-action lawsuits. He opposed decreasing restrictions on wiretaps. He supported increased oil exploration, including ANWR drilling permits, and is an advocate of free trade, understanding well the underlying national security implications. He supported an amendment to prohibit flag burning and voted for numerous measures in support of Second Amendment rights. (Charlton Heston campaigned for him in ‘94.)

On family and social issues, he opposed “marriage” between homosexuals, partial-birth abortion, cloning, the addition of “sexual orientation” to hate-crimes legislation and legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. He voted for many education-reform measures, including the provision of school vouchers.

Most important, Thompson’s support for Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom was, and remains, steadfast. Thompson has the authoritative grasp of national-security issues necessary for a commander in chief, particularly with respect to the long-term jihadi threat.

Lamar Alexander filled Thompson’s seat in 2003 when Fred withdrew his re-election bid following the tragic death of his daughter. Today, Fred is married to Jeri Kehn, and they have a daughter. He also has two grown children from a previous marriage and five grandchildren.

Currently a visiting fellow with the American Enterprise Institute, Fred’s conservative credentials are unassailable.

Former Senate Majority Leader and Reagan Chief of Staff Howard Baker, who appointed Thompson as Republican counsel to the Watergate Committee 35 years ago, is unabashed in his support for Thompson in ‘08: “I keep sending up trial balloons telling people they should get him to run. So far no one is shooting them down—including Fred.”

My friend Zach Wamp, a conservative member of Tennessee’s congressional delegation, spoke with Fred last week and has reached a similar conclusion about his candidacy: “There is a real, real strong possibility that he will run.” Zach and more than 40 other members of Congress have scheduled a meeting with Thompson on 18 April, and they will encourage him to run.

Observing the current political climate, Fred notes, “I think people are somewhat disillusioned. I think a lot of people are cynical out there. I think they’re looking for something different...”

“Something different”? How about a plain-speaking and plain-dealing American—a charismatic leader right out of the Reagan mold, whose character, integrity and experience are head and shoulders above the rest of the field?

Fred Thompson is the right man at the right time.

The more I read about Mr. Thompson, the more I like.

Same here but if he doesn't run it won't matter how much we like him. I hope he does run, but every day he sits and waits he falls further and further behind in the money race and as we all know money is very important to winning an election.

True, rubberneck. Let's hope he gets off the pot sooner than later. Think I'll sign the petition GreenSalsa posted above...can't hurt.