Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Posted on 12/15/2007 12:35:55 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
As regular VC readers know, I am one of several conspirators who is supporting Fred Thompson's campaign for President. I cannot speak for the others, but my reasons for supporting Thompson include his commitment to federalism, his candor on important issues other candidates would prefer to avoid (e.g. entitlements), and his record on regulatory reform and government oversight over the past thirty years. For National Review's pentultimate issue (the one before they endorsed Mitt Romney), I authored an article making the conservative case for Thompson. For those without subscriptions to the print magazine, here is an excerpt:
Sen. Fred Thompson may be a professional actor, but it’s hard to find a more authentic conservative candidate in this campaign. He has been a consistent champion of fiscal discipline, national security, and government reform, among other issues important to the Right. As National Review recently editorialized, “Thompson has set a standard for specificity, conservatism, and soundness” yet to be matched by any other candidate. More than anyone else, he advocates a conservatism of the head that should appeal to conservative hearts. If the Republican nomination should go to the most principled and consistent conservative in the race, there should be little question that Fred Thompson is the man to nominate.
Some worry Thompson doesn’t want the presidency badly enough. In an era when politicians plan their political moves years, if not decades, in advance, Thompson is almost an accidental candidate: someone willing to run if the people want him on his terms. This may be his greatest liability — but it should also be an asset in wooing conservatives to his cause.
Thompson, after all, is not running a campaign of simple slogans or pandering platitudes. He is willing to take positions that risk offending potential constituencies. Witness his attack on the gluttonous farm bill and opposition to some business-favored federal tort reforms. He may have been unprepared to answer a media question about the “Jena 6,” but he can discuss the crisis in Pakistan, the threat of nuclear proliferation, regulatory bloat, or the future of entitlements with a level of nuance and detail that comes only from genuine intellectual engagement. If Republicans are looking for an “anti-Hillary” — a reluctant candidate with a commitment to limited government who will bring honor and integrity to the White House — it would be hard to do better than Fred.
In addition to supporting Thompson, I share Ilya's aversion to Mike Huckabee, and his brand of know-nothing, big government populism. In my view, there is nothing conservative (and certainly nothing remotely libertarian) about Huckabee's agenda. Hence, I declared myself both "Pro-Fred and Anti-Huck."
There are many things I don't like about Huck, ranging from his economic illiteracy and protectionist impulses to his embrace of creationism and nanny-state mentality. As Kimberly Strassel noted in the WSJ, Huckabee sounds good, but the substance is often lacking — and what substance there is provides little comfort.
Over on NRO's The Corner, I have blogged a bit about Huckabee's call to quarantine AIDS victims in 1992. (See also here and here.) Questioned about this statement in the past week, the Huckabee campaign has dissembled (as I noted here), denying he called for a quarantine and pretending as if this was not an irresponsible policy position in 1992. Huck himself took the same tack when asked about the issue on Fox News Sunday, denying the clear import of his prior statement, and suggesting his position was correct, although he would "say it a little differently today." I'm sorry but that's not good enough. If Huckabee cannot acknowledge that his call to "isolate" those who were HIV-positive in 1992 was grossly irresponsible, it is just one more reason he should not be the next President of the United States.
Me, too.
I’ll half-heartedly vote for Romney if he gets the nomination, but I sure hope Fred can pull off some kind of political miracle, resurrection, something.
Romney gets the nod, I’m sitting this one out. Least Rudy would take stands just to prove that he’s got a couple hanging, and McCain doesn’t have the compromise hammer to be hit with by the liberals. And Huckster is just a Little Rock Mafia version of Romney.
Hell, I’d rather vote for Ron Paul than Huckster or Romney, if Thompson’s out of the campaign by California.
FDT08 BTT!!!
Ping for later read.
I came to this conclusion back in March and have supported a Thompson-Hunter team from that day to this. I might have even been the first on FR to suggest the Thompson-Hunter Ticket. My decision was based upon straightforward research into Fred's and Duncan's documented records.
If anyone can not reach the same conclusions I did, I would wonder how they are seeing facts differently from me.
Now it appears he fabricates his education credentials....no Theology degree but rather one in religion. Oh well a baptist preacher turned politician should be enough of an indicator to scare anyone..to another candidate.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
WARNING: If you wish to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.
Hi Friends, I thought you might be interested in reading this transcript of a conversation between Glen Beck and Mike Huckabee, along with Glen’s comments about their surprise meeting. Quite telling, in my opinion, of someone who is supposed to be “Christian like”.
http://www.glennbeck.com/news/12142007a.shtml
Do I need a secret code to understand Glen Beck??
Glen is hard for me to follow sometimes, and even more so in text form. He readily admits his adult ADD.
I stopped listening to him some time ago. Mania and dwelling on apocalyptic predictions isn’t what I want to hear while I drink my morning coffee. It’s unfortunate, because I used to love his sense of humor and general manner.
Fred has my vote if he’s nominated. He’s been impressive the last few days.
Oh. The whole article was jumbled and I couldn’t follow his narrative. If this is a transcript from his radio show perhaps it would be easier to understand if I heard him speaking.
Dude!
Seriously, dude.....just, dude...
Fred will be on CBS Face The Nation with (Bob Schieffer) on Sunday (tomorrow). GO FRED! :)
Ironic that an actor is the most genuine man on the campaign trail.
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