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Does Fred Thompson Exhibit Conservative Principles?
The National Ledger ^ | 12/3/07 | Chris Davis

Posted on 12/4/2007, 1:22:37 AM by writer33

In "The Essence of Conservatism," Russell Kirk wrote that "a conservative is not, by definition, a selfish or a stupid person; instead, he is a person who believes there is something in our life worth saving." Conservatism is an investment in freedom, and the person that demonstrates the finest of qualities found in "The Essence of Conservatism" will help mold the future of conservatism and America.

Today, America stands at a veritable crossroads in history. American conservatives must choose a leader that will ensure that freedom, prosperity, and American exceptionalism will endure for years to come.

So, for those patriots—much like the thirty percent found during the American Revolution—a decision from that electorate must be made, remembering that history is replete with examples of conservative leadership. Those examples exist in history from Ronald Reagan to Newt Gingrich to Rush Limbaugh, showing that conservatism will triumph over all.

Conservatism is sustained by a body of ideas, rather than a system like socialism or communism. It contains the finest of American attributes, handed down by the Founding Fathers, unequivocally representing—known or unknown—by the majority of Americans.

Conservatives are no different than any other ideological group. There are diverse groups among conservatives that offer differing opinions on different topics. However, it can be agreed conservatives have commonalities of thought that is expressed in certain bedrock principles.

In today’s conservatism there are principles upon which most conservatives would readily agree. These principles are:

1. National security and winning the war on terror is essential to America’s future.

2. Government spending must be controlled to ensure a prosperous America and avoid a fiscal catastrophe for all its citizens.

3. The power to tax is the power to destroy, and tax reform is needed for every American.

4. Socialized medicine or government run healthcare—will not work in America.

5. America is governed by an enduring moral order, having roots in God—ensuring that fine American traditions remain intact.

6. Border control is vital to America’s security, understanding that illegal immigration must be controlled.

7. Freedom and property are inseparably connected; deriving that economic leveling will destroy America.

8. Judges should interpret the Constitution as intended by the Founding Fathers, meaning activism should remain in the hands of people, not those in black robes.

9. The Second Amendment of the Constitution is part of the U.S. Constitution, concluding that the enforcement of existing gun laws will mean less gun control needed.

10. An educated body of Americans means that conservatism will endure for future generations, understanding that an ignorant electorate is needed for the success of liberalism.

Analyzing these principles means that the conservative electorate should look at the body of conservative candidates that are running today. They should also remember true conservative leaders will never have to decide when they should or should not be a conservative.

Having examined the individual candidates, never forgetting that each candidate must possess a long standing history of conservative tendencies, there remains one that rises above the rest, one candidate that is devoted to those guiding principles that keep America’s security, traditions and prosperity for all Americans and their posterity.

This candidate, Senator Fred Thompson, has exhibited those qualities of conservatism since before his election to the U.S. Senate in 1994. He took those principles in 1994, turning a deficit of twenty points down in the polls to a twenty point margin of victory—an example of what conservatism can do.

A similar case for conservatism can be found in Sacramento in 1984, when a radio host introduced a local audience to conservative values, launching him to national prominence on his way to become THE conservative voice in America today. That man was Rush Limbaugh, brandishing a fiery conservative sword to excise liberalism as if he were a surgeon removing a parasite.

Senator Fred Thompson is no different. He chooses to excise liberalism from within the government by cutting wasteful spending, taxes, defending the country against all enemies foreign or domestic, and securing the borders.

On his website, Senator Thompson states, “the first responsibility of government is to protect the American people, the homeland, and our way of life.” He believes, according to his website, in a larger, more capable, and more modern military that can defeat terrorists, deter adversaries, and defend the U.S. and our interests.

He also knows that with freedom comes responsibility, and that wasteful government spending is irresponsible, and believes that leading and making the hard choices necessary, to include cutting wasteful government spending, to safeguard our security, promote our prosperity, and protect our children and grandchildren from fiscal calamity is vital to America’s economic progress.

He believes that cutting spending and cutting taxes can go hand in hand with each other. “We need lower taxes, and we need to let taxpayers keep more of their hard-earned dollars—they know best where and how to spend them. And we need to make the system simpler and fairer for all,” he comments. For Senator Thompson knows that Americans with more disposable income are happier Americans, increasing demand and driving the economy.

Cutting spending, taxes and defending the nation aren’t all that Senator Thompson stands for. He also understands that America’s borders should be enforced from the invasive flow of illegal immigrants.

Many conservatives believe that to not enforce America’s borders are to ignore an important point of securing our nation, and leave the country open for invasion.

Senator Thompson assures us from his website that “throughout our history, legal immigrants have brought energy, ideas, strength, and diversity to our country, our economy, and our culture. This must continue. But in the post-9/11 world, immigration is more of a national security issue. A government that cannot secure its borders and determine who may enter and who may not, abrogates a fundamental responsibility.”

Conservatism has evolved in the post-9/11 America. For those conservatives on the front line, leadership is needed in Washington, D.C., and America’s conservatives understand that the country thirsts for its return to the foundation set down by our Founding Fathers.

A simpler return to America’s conservative traditions is what is needed for the country to maintain its standing as the sole superpower. Those traditions—knowingly or unknowingly—are essential to all Americans, their security, vitality and prosperity.

The “Essence of Conservatism” is what the American conservative electorate should seek. They should seek a man that carries conservative principles—a man like Senator Fred Thompson—that believes in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

To achieve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, he carries his “First Principles.” Those principles are also conservative principles. They are individual liberty, personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, federalism, national defense, traditional American values, rule of law and conserving our nation’s resources.

Conservatism is simply not the concern of those that have wealth and property; rather it is more of a concern of the most humble of Americans, for it is conservatism that will affect humble Americans the most. For Senator Fred Thompson, it all began in the small town of Sheffield, Alabama, on his way to exceptionalism.

The road to America’s future begins on January 3, 2008, with the Iowa caucus. Conservatives in Iowa will gather to discuss principles, and decide whether a moderate or conservative will win Iowa.

With a primary election or caucus coming to your state, what candidate do you find exhibits conservative principles?

You should then question whether Senator Fred Thompson exhibits conservative principles, and if he does, is he the leader America needs the next four years?

The answer is a resounding YES.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chrisdavis; fredthompson
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Fred Thompson Bump!
1 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:22:40 AM by writer33
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To: b4its2late; Babu; backhoe; Bahbah; bannie; BellStar; beyond the sea; Big Horn; BigSkyFreeper; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:23:29 AM by writer33 (The U.S. Constitution defines a conservatie and Rush Limbaugh knows it.)
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To: writer33

BTTT


3 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:24:49 AM by traditional1 (Thompson/Hunter '08)
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To: writer33

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1934085/posts


4 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:27:44 AM by Beagle8U (FreeRepublic -- One stop shopping ....... Its the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
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To: writer33
How much does this article differ from this 81 post thread? Does Fred Thompson Exhibit Conservative Principles?
5 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:28:12 AM by Dog Gone
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To: Beagle8U

Forgot to do the search. Oops! Thanks for the heads up, Beagle.


6 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:30:33 AM by writer33 (The U.S. Constitution defines a conservatie and Rush Limbaugh knows it.)
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To: Dog Gone; Admin Moderator

It doesn’t Dog Gone. I forgot to do the search. We should probably have the mod remove it. Be gentle, mods.

:-)


7 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:32:21 AM by writer33 (The U.S. Constitution defines a conservatie and Rush Limbaugh knows it.)
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To: All
I support Fred Thompson, and feel he is conservative at heart.

My concern would be the influences on him by the US and international elites and interests.

The truth is we the people have to operate the way we did during the ‘amnesty bill’ in large numbers.

You like Fred's ideas on taxes, border security, and terror etc, we have to stay involved with him like never before!

8 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:33:23 AM by msnpatriot
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To: writer33

I’ll forgive you. ;-)


9 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:34:20 AM by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone

FRED THOMPSON - DAMN I LIKE WHAT I SEE IN THIS MAN - PING!


10 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:39:47 AM by Bobbisox (ALL AMERICAN "LAZY " GRANDMA FREEPER. A LOYAL and DEDICATED FredHEAD!)
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To: writer33

Laura Ingraham trashed Huckabee today on her show. Exposed him as a double talking weasel trying to have both sides of the Amnesty issue. She made the point that just because the media is creating a wave, doesn’t mean we have to ride it.

Also, Alan Colmes, Hannity’s liberal counterpart has yet another radio promo in which he basically urges conservatives to vote for Huckabee. When you have Rush and Laura Ingaham opposing you, and most of the liberal media supporting you, the rest of us should be raising the alarm.


11 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:46:23 AM by NavVet (O)
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To: writer33
Fred understands three things: God gave us liberty. The Founding Fathers gave us a nation of Constitutional law. All others pay cash.

Bully!


12 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:48:15 AM by Viking2002 (Waterboarding the Left every chance I get.)
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To: writer33
I am not convinced any one of our candidates is a true conservative. And sadly, I don't think there is enough suffering in this country to elect one.

It took a Jimmy Carter to get Ronald Reagan elected. I pray we don't have to go that far down to start back up again.

13 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:52:25 AM by SouthTexas (Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas.)
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To: SouthTexas

Could be right.


14 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:54:10 AM by writer33 (The U.S. Constitution defines a conservatie and Rush Limbaugh knows it.)
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To: writer33

Hiya Chris! Good concise writing, as always!


15 posted on 12/4/2007, 1:59:25 AM by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: SouthTexas

You are probably right. We cannot continue as we are, with the flood of illegal aliens, with the trade imbalance with Red China, without an internal moral backbone that is the mark of a people worthy of (and participant in) a strong republic. What will it take to wake us from our coma, or is it already too late?


17 posted on 12/4/2007, 2:46:57 AM by Lexinom (Build the fence and call China to account. GoHunter08.com)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

Thanks for reading, stephenjohn. I appreciate it.


18 posted on 12/4/2007, 3:56:43 AM by writer33 (The U.S. Constitution defines a conservatie and Rush Limbaugh knows it.)
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To: TonyRo76

Thanks for reading, TonyRo. I appreciate it.


19 posted on 12/4/2007, 3:58:03 AM by writer33 (The U.S. Constitution defines a conservatie and Rush Limbaugh knows it.)
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To: writer33
The BIG difference between this thread and the other one is that this thread is not unnecessarily excerpted whereas the other one is.

Thanks for posting the entire article.

20 posted on 12/4/2007, 4:07:42 AM by upchuck (Hildabeaste as Prez... unimaginable, devastating misery! She will redefine "How bad can it get?")
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