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Fred Thompson's Gamble
WashingtonPost.com ^
| 8-16-17
| David S. Broder
Posted on 08/15/2007 9:11:32 PM PDT by Politicalmom
When Fred Thompson makes his long-delayed entrance into the Republican presidential race, he will not tiptoe quietly. Instead, he will try to shake up the establishment candidates of both parties by depicting a nation in peril from fiscal and security threats -- and prescribing tough cures that he says others shrink from offering.
In a two-hour conversation over coffee at a restaurant near his Virginia headquarters, the former senator from Tennessee said that when he joins the battle next month, he "will take some risks that others are not willing to take, in terms of forcing a dialogue on our entitlement situation, our military situation and what it's going to cost" to ensure the nation's future.
After spending most of the past few years on TV's "Law and Order," and starting a new family, with two children under 4, the 65-year-old lawyer says he finds himself motivated for the first time to seek the White House.
"There's no reason for me to run just to be president," he said. "I don't desire the emoluments of the office. I don't want to live a lie and clever my way to the nomination or election. But if you can put your ideas out there -- different, more far-reaching ideas -- that is worth doing."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: conservatism; electionpresident; elections; entitlements; fredthompson; gop; republicans; welfare
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To: Andy Koz
Finally, I just dont take him seriously becasue every time I see hiim on the Senate floor, I have to remind myself whether I am watching the senate or Law and Order...then I remember that I never watch Law and Order.Uh, FDT went on L & O after he left the Senate. He's no longer a sitting Senator. Just when did you see him on the Senate floor recently?
61
posted on
08/16/2007 4:22:48 AM PDT
by
bcsco
("The American Indians found out what happens when you don't control immigration.")
To: Ingtar
Tony Snow would make a great VP pick, if not for his battle with Cancer.
Could you see any of the Democrats debating either Thompson or Snow?
62
posted on
08/16/2007 4:24:30 AM PDT
by
Renfield
(How come there aren't any football teams with pink uniforms?)
To: Politicalmom
Instead of talking about what he is going to do, he should just do it.
No judgment or support until the man finally enters the ring.
To: Politicalmom
“When he says he would have opposed adding the prescription drug benefit to Medicare, “a $17 trillion add-on to a program that’s going bankrupt,” he is fighting the bipartisan judgment of the last Congress.”
Somebody has to, other than Paul and Tancredo.
64
posted on
08/16/2007 4:27:26 AM PDT
by
rob777
(Personal Responsibility is the Price of Freedom)
To: cherry
I thought the same thing. I hope Fred is as good as he is advertised but he is included in all the polls with declared candidates. He takes 15% to 22% from the declared candidates making them seem weaker than maybe they are.
I rarely if ever see Al Gore or Nader included in the Dem polls, nope just Hillary scooping up all those who don't like Silky or Hussein. I wonder what candidates would improve or separate themselves if Fred wasn't automatically included in Republican polls. It would be interesting to see who became a contender or who distanced themselves.
65
posted on
08/16/2007 4:37:11 AM PDT
by
normy
(Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.)
To: prairiebreeze
66
posted on
08/16/2007 4:41:00 AM PDT
by
ejonesie22
(Vote for the man who will keep those Barbary Pirates at bay, RON PAUL 1816!)
To: Theresawithanh
Thank you mommy dearest...
67
posted on
08/16/2007 4:43:10 AM PDT
by
ejonesie22
(Vote for the man who will keep those Barbary Pirates at bay, RON PAUL 1816!)
To: Politicalmom
Fred sees it, and he GETS IT:
~snip~
The approach Thompson says he’s contemplating is one that will step on many sensitive political toes. When he says “we’re getting a free ride” fighting a necessary war in Iraq with an undersized military establishment, “wearing out our people and equipment,” it sounds like a criticism of the president and the Pentagon.
When he says he would have opposed adding the prescription drug benefit to Medicare, “a $17 trillion add-on to a program that’s going bankrupt,” he is fighting the bipartisan judgment of the last Congress.
When he says the FBI is perhaps incapable of morphing itself into the smart domestic security agency the country needs, he is attacking another sacred cow.
~snip~
68
posted on
08/16/2007 4:45:14 AM PDT
by
SE Mom
(Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet -Fred'08)
To: cherry
If Fred does not run and does not run with passion I will know my answer.....another Perot stategic move to get the right crooked politician in place....
I believe you must be using cheap tin foil. Some rays are leaking through.
To: AndyTheBear
Good catch, I was quoting some Fred detractors, I wondered if anyone would notice...
So as you can see...
70
posted on
08/16/2007 4:48:08 AM PDT
by
ejonesie22
(Vote for the man who will keep those Barbary Pirates at bay, RON PAUL 1816!)
To: GOP_Raider
Given the SEC’s performance the past couple of years, that may take a little longer than planned...
71
posted on
08/16/2007 4:48:50 AM PDT
by
ejonesie22
(Vote for the man who will keep those Barbary Pirates at bay, RON PAUL 1816!)
To: cherry
....in the meantime, Rudy, our best chance, is getting very little support or attention...Our best chance? Give me a break.
Yep, totallly compromising and abandoning our traditional conservatives values and principles for a LIBERAL like Rudy is our 'best chance'. /s
72
posted on
08/16/2007 4:55:58 AM PDT
by
stockstrader
(We need a conservative candidate who will UNITE the Party, not a liberal one to DIVIDE it!)
To: Politicalmom
If Fred runs on any of the following political slogans, he has my vote:
“Hi, I’m from the government and I’m not here to help you.”
“You know how to spend your money better than the stupid morons in government.”
“Eat dirt, rats!”
To: Ingtar
To: cherry
in the meantime, Rudy, our best chance, is getting very little support or attention...*************
Our best chance of what?
75
posted on
08/16/2007 6:33:46 AM PDT
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: NY.SS-Bar9
76
posted on
08/16/2007 6:36:37 AM PDT
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: Politicalmom
OK, THAT was a powerful story. It spoke volumes, and it portrays a man of future greatness, a man I would go to the wall for.
The underlying message of unity is very powerful, for me, the direct hit at taxes, social security, the state of our Military, and our Intelligence agencies, gave me goose bumps, and the very idea that a President would actually go before the people and make his case, I'm sorry, but it does speak to the greatness and legacy of RR.
Finally, his statement of "national security and the fiscal crisis of an aging society with runaway heath-care costs -- are worth a portion of a man's life", tells of the magnitude and seriousness of his commitment to our Country.
As much as I admire and support Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo, I have to say-with an open and honest heart, that FRed is, hands down, the best, the only, choice for our Country in these times.
Rudy "wants" to be POTUS so badly, he can taste it. Mitt "needs" to be POTUS to be better and more accomplished than his Dad, FRed is asking for the privilege of serving us, and offering the remainder of his life for the honor.
America. Together. Again
Fred Thompson for President '08
77
posted on
08/16/2007 6:51:08 AM PDT
by
papasmurf
(<<<<< Click there to see my dogs! Oh, and I have FRed one liners, too.)
To: Nervous Tick
Relax. It’s a GNAT free zone, not a TICK free zone.
78
posted on
08/16/2007 7:27:38 AM PDT
by
lesser_satan
(Fred Thompson '08)
To: cherry
Rudy is liberal......if we want that we can vote dem.
79
posted on
08/16/2007 7:32:50 AM PDT
by
tioga
(Instead of "finding" yourself -- CREATE yourself!)
To: ejonesie22
LULZ & ROFLMAO!!! You’ve outdone yourself this time. One of the top ten posts of all time.
80
posted on
08/16/2007 7:33:50 AM PDT
by
lesser_satan
(Fred Thompson '08)
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