Fred Thompson stumps in Waverly

A weekend of hectic, last-minute scheduling finally paid off for Bob Brunkhorst when presidential candidate Fred Thompson and wife, Jeri, made their first visit to Bremer County Tuesday afternoon at his invitation.

Brunkhorst, the county chair for Thompson, asked campaign schedulers about a month ago to bring the former Tennessee senator to the area. The campaign announced Friday that it would swing through Waverly for about half an hour between its Mason City and Waterloo stops. The former state senator immediately began calling friends and potential supporters to ensure a friendly crowd greeted Thompson.

“[Candidates] all want to come, it’s just finding time in their busy schedules,” Brunkhorst said. “They’re not only campaigning in Iowa, they’re campaigning in New Hampshire and other states too, so there’s a ton of requests out there. We’re fortunate to have him or any other candidate come to Waverly.”

Thompson sat down with Waverly Newspapers Editor Anelia K. Dimitrova at the Waverly Newspapers office for an exclusive 10-minute interview. Two national journalists who had covered the Bill Clinton and Magic Johnson appearance in Waterloo earlier in the afternoon showed up for Thompson’s sit-down session, but were asked by the campaign to wait outside.

“[The exclusive interview with Waverly Newspapers] was the campaign’s idea,” Brunkhorst said. “The campaign just wants to make sure they give local newspapers an exclusive, because they don’t want a ‘big media’ campaign. They want to make sure they’re focusing on the grassroots.”

At Waverly Newspapers, Thompson talked about America’s place in the world and explained his reasons for running.

“We’re at a crossroads right now,” he said. “I think we have got to come to terms with our position in the world, for the 21st century. We know what our role has been since World War II, but it’s a different, more dangerous, more challenging, complex world than we’ve lived in before. We are facing an economic train wreck."

“We are on a spending path that cannot be sustained in terms of our mandatory spending programs, as well as our discretionary spending comes with no restraint,” Thompson continued. “And we’ll be fine for awhile, but projections will show that we’re on an unsustainable path. Those are the things that are primarily on my mind. The unity of the American people is going to be required in order to deal with those challenges. That has to do with the kind of place our generation leaves to the next.

Thompson’s handlers had also planned a walk down Bremer Avenue so the candidate could meet area residents, but time constraints led them to scrap the opportunity in favor of a quick meet and greet at the Waverly Fire Department. Thompson took a tour of the newly-built station with Fire Chief Dan McKenzie and chatted with supporters for about 10 minutes.

“He’s got a 4-year-old nephew he wants to bring by for a ride [in a fire truck],” laughed McKenzie, who found out at about 3 p.m. that Thompson would visit the station. “He seems very personable. I think the message he’s trying to get out is consistent with some of my views.”

Brunkhorst, who will participate in Waverly Newspapers’ Caucusing and Our Community discussion at the Civic Center tomorrow, says he also plans to open a hotline about two weeks before the Jan. 3 caucus. Operators will answer questions and direct Bremer County residents to their caucus sites.

A full transcript of Thompson's exclusive interview with Waverly Newspapers follows:

FRED THOMPSON: I think we’re in good shape. We’re starting up a very special time. It’s what I did in the final days of my Tennessee campaign when I was in the Senate. We got on the bus and went out to talk to real people. At our first radio town hall a while back, a few hours ago, that kind of set the template for something I want to try out in the next couple weeks. It feels good.

FT: “Hey buddy, get that bus out of the road.” No, just kidding. (laughs) The same things we’ve been hearing for the entire duration of this race. People are concerned about how the war is going to turn out. People are concerned about the economy. We hear about the housing bubble, wondering what’s going to come of that. And people are concerned about local issues like - you name it. I mean, you’ve been writing about it every day, so there have been very few surprises in terms of that. People want security. People want a prosperous economy. And people want social justice, and they want judges who won’t try to make policy for things that the legislative bodies ought to be doing. It’s pretty basic.

AKD: Is this your first trip to the Bremer County area or have you been here before?

FT: Yeah, I’ve been to Iowa several times but I haven’t been through here before. But by the time this is over with, we will have been just about everywhere at least once. I’ve been to Iowa several times over the years trying to help Republican candidates get elected to whatever they were running for. This is a new adventure to say the least, but this is the part of it that’s the best for our kind of campaign.

AKD: Tell me, why do you want to be president of the most beautiful, most powerful, most unique country in the world?

FT: To keep it that way. That’s every generation’s obligation, to keep it that way. And I think we’re at a crossroads right now. I think we have got to come to terms with our position in the world, for the 21st century. We know what our role has been since World War II, but it’s a different, more dangerous, more challenging, complex war than we’ve lived in before. We are facing an economic train wreck. We are on a spending path that cannot be sustained in terms of our mandatory spending programs, as well as our discretionary spending comes with no restraint. And we’ll be fine for a while, but projections will show that we’re on an unsustainable path. Those are the things that are primarily on my mind. The unity of the American people is going to be required in order to deal with those challenges. That has to do with the kind of place our generation leaves to the next.

AKD: Tell me beyond rhetoric, just like you would tell your wife and your child, or someone very close to you, what makes you unique?

AKD: But really, he’ll be in a different capacity were he to be the president, right?

FT: I’m not sure whether I’m unique with change. You’re the same human being you’ve always been when you’re president. Presidents are human beings. I think that my record both in politics and out of politics speaks for itself. I’ve been a strong, consistent conservative who tells the truth and given the guidance to see the truth. I think that our country needs stronger leadership, and I think that I can provide it. I’m not going to compare myself, I’m not going to talk about how unique I am. I’m going to talk about who I am and what I’ve done and let the people decide how unique I am. I’m not sure any of us as individuals are all that unique. We have a lot more in common than we have to separate us out. Just because you’re running for president doesn’t mean you’re in some special, lofty category regardless of how many millions of dollars you put on television saying that. So I’m not sure but I’ve always suspected the politician is his own worst witness. It’s expected, but the record speaks louder than any words. A lot of the other guys have taken different positions at different times in their careers on different issues depending on what office they’re running for.

FT: I would continue to enjoy the fruits of their labor. I’ve been looking all over Iowa for a bad steak and I can’t find it. Been trying my best. It’s not a matter of what I would do for the farmers. Farmers are not looking for a president to hand them something. Farmers want fair treatment and a chance to prosper in a free economy and that’s what I would help ensure. There’s a lot of programs we’ve got out there, some of which are good programs, some of which are not. And I think that we need to work our way through that and make sure we’re doing what’s good for the country, not just the farmers, not just the people of Iowa, not just the people of Tennessee. But good for the country. A sound policy that makes sense. I think there’s a lot more that we could do for the working farmer in terms of ecological programs and environmental programs - land conservation, soil conservation - that would be fair and it would be beneficial to the nation and to Iowa and to our country. We’re going to have to phase out the corporate welfare system we’ve got, however. There are extremely rich people living in skyscrapers in Manhattan that are receiving subsidy payments. I think that’s wrong. I’d put a stop to that if it was within my power. That still continues in this latest Farm Bill and it’s not right. There ought to be a cutoff at some level and it’s not right ot have millionaires receiving farm subsidies.

FT: That’s very impolite. Are you questioning my credibility on something - I’m pulling your leg. I wouldn’t know if it was a breakdance or another kind of dance if I saw it. I don’t even know what it is. But somebody told me that would be a good answer. I didn’t mean to be flippant with you, young lady, but something you don’t know at this stage of the game is probably going to remain something you don’t know.

AKD: Have you heard a question that has surprised you throughout your campaign? Something you really wish - or perhaps a question you wish the media would ask you, but they just are not asking you that question. There is one question that is inside of you and you really want to talk about it.

FT: I wouldn’t put it quite like that but I’ll tell you what comes to mind if you won’t require me to answer it because it would probably take five minutes and I’m getting all kinds of signals here. America’s role in the 21st century. Where are we going? What are our goals? What role do we play in relationship to our friends and our foes? How do we see that going? What are the things we’re going to have to do diplomatically, militarily, domestically in order to secure our country now and to preserve us for the future. The trouble with things like that, it’s certainly not the big questions. There’s hardly a forum, they’re not television questions at all. And they’re almost not media questions unless you’re writing a magazine article, I suppose. And it’s probably the most fundamental issue we have to deal with. And it’s not just the question, I think the process should involve an opportunity for all the candidates, anybody who aspires to be president, get them together, preferably together sitting around a small table and have everybody expound on that. Have them discuss that. Have them probe each other as to the depth of their understanding and knowledge of the kind of world we live in. it hasn’t happened. It won’t happen. That’s the nature of campaigning for the highest office in the nation. I’m not sure what the solution is, but it’s a lacking in our system that could stand a lot of improvement. Thank you very much.

“BTW, what’s your opinion of Congressman King? Is he as popular in Iowa as the press reports?”

Yes, Steve King is a great conservative. The libs actually hate him more than they do Bush, if that gives you any indication. But among conservative Republicans, he is THE MAN!

It looks like the press might be overlooking a story in the developing. I just returned from lunch with some friends. Either all the friends have already commited to Fred or are thinking about it. Bill Salier's endorsement will help.

I can name you a whole list of Republicans supporting Fred but I can only name a few (collectively) who are supporting other candidates. I might get fooled but then, it may be others who will be fooled.

Congressman King is incredible. The libs hate him, the conservtives love him. But whatever Steve King says will be the truth. Maybe you've been fortunate enough to catch him on CSPAN with his 1 hour special orders. If not, watch for him. You will be impressed.

Thanks for the info. Please don’t let us Fred supporters down in Iowa. We’re counting on you to give us Oklahomans a chance to vote for Fred on 5 Feb 08!

As I have been saying for about a week now, I believe there is a silent majority ( there still is a 60 % that are undecided ) and with all of those endorsements, there has got to be a large base for Fred that has not shown up in these skewed polls.
I believe they are holding their bets until the race is on , or holding their cards to their chest.
Think about it ? all those organization endorsing Fred, there has got to be plenty of people that go along with those organizations.
The surge for Huck, Rudy, Romney is just that, Main Stream Media Hype... those are the candidates that the MSM is pushing on us.
Responsible conservatives vote conservative.
Friends don't let friends or family vote Liberal.

The ONLY clear conservative choice is : Fred Thompson.
I hope for a Thompson/Hunter ticket, and if Hunter does not get the VP spot, he will make a great Sec of defense.

So you are on the ground there in Iowa ?
I know this has been asked before, but ? what is your feel of things there in Iowa for Fred ?
I know you can only be in one place at a time, but, what are the talks shows saying ? political groups there ? ( thank you for your insight of your lunch with your friends ) or the feeling state wide ?
I sure hope if Fred wins big that this will help in onto NH and SC.
You and your friends there can give Fred the greatest gift he can have there now, the word of mouth and support in a critical state.
I guess I can liken you as Paul Revere in our struggle towards Independence.
I appeal to you now, call your friends up today and have another lunch and stradtegery and plan how you and your friends can help Fred there.
Do you have a phone back there were you can call people and ask to support Fred in Iowa ?
The MSM is against Fred, and we are the Grass Roots that Fred is depending on.
I know Fred has along shot, be, he can still win this thing.
I look at this as our survival for our country.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.