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Thompson Run Could Change GOP Calculus
Race 4 2008 ^ | March 16, 2007 | DaveG

Posted on 03/16/2007 5:27:16 AM PDT by Josh Painter

If there was a candidate in the race who matched Ronald Reagan on the issues, it was George Allen, with his belief in economic freedom, his foreign policy hawkishness, and a social conservatism tempered by the Gipper’s leave-me-alone libertarian streak that many Republicans have seemingly abandoned.

2008 didn’t turn out to be Allen’s year, but the same perfect storm that could have made Allen formidable may just hit the race for the GOP nod with a vengeance if former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson decides to throw his hat in the presidential ring. Like Allen, Thompson brings to the table the position papers that would make Reagan crack a smile. But Thompson also exudes a Cheney-style gravitas that is complimented by a charm and warmth that the vice president has always lacked. As such, a Thompson run could prove very dangerous to the other candidates in the field and could shake up the entire topography of the race on the GOP side.

The boys over at RedState have posted a video of an interview with Sen. Thompson in which the former senator fleshes out some of his positions on the issues. Thompson’s articulation of a conservatism that we haven’t seen since the ‘94 revolution is refreshing after so many years of watching the GOP establishment pervert and contort conservatism into some sort of hybrid between ’60s Rockefeller Republicanism and the big government conservatism of continental European Christian Democrats. Thompson is pro-life and pro-traditional marriage, but he responds to questions on these issues in a pithy and straightforward manner, demonstrating that he has no plans to wear these positions on his sleeve in order to squeeze a few more votes out of southern Ohio...

(Excerpt) Read more at race42008.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; election; fredthompson; republican; thompson
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DaveG is Race 4 2008’s Contributing Editor. He is a former congressional staffer who currently resides inside the beltway and works in the legal and policy fields. Dave’s roots are in the upper midwest, a region whose politics he knows well and which he believes is vital to the sustainability of any long-term Republican majority. In addition to his work on this blog, Dave maintains a personal political blog, Political Prognostications.
1 posted on 03/16/2007 5:27:19 AM PDT by Josh Painter
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To: Sturm Ruger

President Thompson........has a nice ring to it............


2 posted on 03/16/2007 5:30:34 AM PDT by Red Badger (Britney Spears shaved her head............Well, that's one way of getting rid of headlice.........)
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To: Sturm Ruger

Allen was my senator, so I hate to say this. But while Allen was more conservative than Fred Thompson, Fred has a lot more of what appears to be an "aura of leadership" than Allen ever projected.

I was hopeful that we would re-elect Allen as a senator, a job for which is was quite competent, but that he would not get traction for President.


3 posted on 03/16/2007 5:31:31 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Sturm Ruger

Thompson/Allen '08 doesn't sound too bad.....


4 posted on 03/16/2007 5:32:47 AM PDT by Vaquero ("An armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: Sturm Ruger

He would get my vote! I hope he runs....


5 posted on 03/16/2007 5:33:41 AM PDT by Fawn (http://www.hartzvictims.org/)
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To: Sturm Ruger

My bad....make that....Thompson/Hunter '08


6 posted on 03/16/2007 5:33:46 AM PDT by Vaquero ("An armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: CharlesWayneCT

Allen is the Senator of someone from CT? Regardless, can you identify the issues on which Allen is more conservative than Thompson, except for CFR?


7 posted on 03/16/2007 5:34:09 AM PDT by LtdGovt ("Where government moves in, community retreats and civil society disintegrates" -Janice Rogers Brown)
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To: Sturm Ruger

The GOP leadership will undermine Thompson, if his campaign gains any traction, as they did to Phil Gramm in 1996, when he appeared to be the frontrunner.


8 posted on 03/16/2007 5:34:20 AM PDT by Daveinyork
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To: jellybean

ping


9 posted on 03/16/2007 5:34:30 AM PDT by KoRn (FRED THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT!)
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To: Sturm Ruger

Draft Fred Bump


10 posted on 03/16/2007 5:35:48 AM PDT by Tribune7 (A bleeding heart does nothing but ruin the carpet)
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To: LtdGovt

Not from CT, although the inference is understandable. CT was a tag to track my name based on a column I write -- although I did live in Stamford for a few years as a child.


11 posted on 03/16/2007 5:35:54 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Vaquero

That makes more sense.


12 posted on 03/16/2007 5:36:01 AM PDT by mainepatsfan
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To: Red Badger

Yes it does! :)


13 posted on 03/16/2007 5:36:46 AM PDT by Dawgreg (Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.)
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To: Sturm Ruger

From the article:

" Thompson is pro-life and pro-traditional marriage, but he responds to questions on these issues in a pithy and straightforward manner, demonstrating that he has no plans to wear these positions on his sleeve in order to squeeze a few more votes out of southern Ohio..."


14 posted on 03/16/2007 5:36:54 AM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: LtdGovt

Allen was a strong supporter of Tort reform which Thompson was iffy about.

Allen was supposedly more pro-life than Thompson, although a few statements he made last year brought that into question.

You know, I'm sure there are others, but I haven't thought much about Allen the last few months and frankly, Allen did such a poor job of touting his record in his campaign, I seem to have forgotten it.

Also, Allen was a Governor for 4 years, a qualification Thompson lacks. Allen actually turned down Federal money for education because he refused to give the feds control over curriculum.


15 posted on 03/16/2007 5:39:29 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Antoninus

See how more conservatives push the debate towards the right. Freddy Thompson in the race, Duncan Hunter, Ron Paul, Mr Newt, Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, all push the Rudy McRomney candidates to the right just to stay competitive. This IS good!!


16 posted on 03/16/2007 5:41:07 AM PDT by Ouderkirk (Don't you think it's interesting how death and destruction seems to happen wherever Muslims gather.)
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To: CharlesWayneCT

Okay. So, why do you think that Senator Allen was more conservative than Thompson? No offense, but in my view, Allen was a dumb as a brick, though I was sad to see him defeated. I hear he ended parole in your state. That's good.


17 posted on 03/16/2007 5:41:48 AM PDT by LtdGovt ("Where government moves in, community retreats and civil society disintegrates" -Janice Rogers Brown)
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To: Daveinyork

Why would they?


18 posted on 03/16/2007 5:42:42 AM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: Vaquero

Now you're talking

Thompson-Hunter

F.Thompson- T.Thompson

Thompson-Gingrich

Thompson-Tancredo

Thompson-Paul


Are all sounding pretty good to me


19 posted on 03/16/2007 5:43:04 AM PDT by Ouderkirk (Don't you think it's interesting how death and destruction seems to happen wherever Muslims gather.)
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To: Sturm Ruger
I must withhold my commitment until he formally produces his positions on all the issues.

He is the best candidate based on his history.

My big concern is his buddy McCain....

20 posted on 03/16/2007 5:43:04 AM PDT by cbkaty (I may not always post...but I am always here......)
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