Fred Thompson stumps in Waverly

The Waverly Times ^ | 12/21/2007 | Janelle Penny

[iowamark]

Fred Thompson and his wife, Jeri, chat with Waverly Fire Chief Dan McKenzie Tuesday afternoon.

[iowamark]

Fred gives an excellent interview here, elucidating conservative principles.

The liberal editor who interviews Fred was as hostile as could be:

She e-mailed me back that Thompson “was so vague that I would be hard-pressed to write a story. Simply put, there is no news peg other than he came to the newsroom with his model wife and a beehive of staffers. When I asked him specifically what he would do as prez for farmers in Bremer County, he resorted to glittering generalities.”

[Darkwolf377]

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.

While I think some farmers and some of every other kind of American ARE looking for handouts, while denouncing handouts to The Other Guy...and while Fred is as all politicians do couching his thoughts in soft rhetoric... I like it when he talks this way.

He's not some religious fanatic or liberal religion-basher, not someone who will say anything for a vote.

These are the quotes that make me hope he picks up steam. Because I don't think any other Republican can win.

[fieldmarshaldj]

You’re our last hope, Fred. The liberal RINO barbarians Rudy McRombee are at the gate ready to kill our party, our Conservative movement, and hand it all to the liberal rodents.

[CitizenUSA]

He talks the talk and walks the walk. Take him or leave him, but the man definitely stands for conservative principles I support.

[CitizenUSA]

“When I asked him specifically what he would do as prez for farmers in Bremer County, he resorted to glittering generalities.””

LOL. That liberal editor was hopelessly clueless. Fred gave a very specific and quite conservative answer to the question. What a shame that some people believe our government is a system of spoils where the president does little more than distribute goodies to his constituencies.

[Free Vulcan]

That article didn’t pass the smell test with me when the guy was btiching that Thompson cancelled his downtown tour to go run to the fire station to meet 15 people waiting there.

Um, we’re those people just hanging out and Thompson dropped in because people just hang at the fire station at all hours, so Fred knew he had a automatic crowd when he walked in? Of course not, it was scheduled, meaning he didn’t do downtown becaues HE RAN OUT OF TIME.

But the jackass reporter made it look like he ‘stiffed the little people’ cause he didn’t walk around town.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

"
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."

This must be in reference to Romney.

[G.Mason]

" ... consistent conservative who tells the truth ..."

That works for me!

[TN4Liberty]

Or Huck. Or Rudy.

[CitizenUSA]

“Or Huck. Or Rudy.”

You beat me to it, but I agree. Fred isn’t perfect. He’s made mistakes like McCain-Feingold, but his current positions match his historical ones far better than the other front runners. He’s also clearly not trying to redefine or repackage himself to win the election. I find that very refreshing.

I’d love to see him pair up with Duncan Hunter as VP. That’s my dream team. Since Hunter isn’t quite ready for prime time, a VP stint would prep him for 8 years as president after Fred.

[agere_contra]

What are you hearing from the people?

FT: “Hey buddy, get that bus out of the road.”

LOL

[Big E]

Yeah, that’s the way I read that too. The not-so-hidden message behind the question is, “what are you going to give us?” And the answer was, “nothing”, which is the correct answer. And this guy didn’t like it. Well, go interview Huckabee or Hillary then, who’ll promise you the moon, and get me to pay for it.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Fred, Jeri, and Congressman King were at an event in Atlantic yesterday. There was a very good crowd and it seemed to generate a lot of enthusiasm. As people were leaving they were carrying signs, bumper stickers, etc.

As an aside, it's strange that I know of far more Fred supporters than for any other candidates. Either Fred is picking off supporters that are not showing up in polls yet, or I just seem to running in circles that are supporting Fred.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Fred, Jeri, and Congressman King were at an event in Atlantic yesterday. There was a very good crowd and it seemed to generate a lot of enthusiasm. As people were leaving they were carrying signs, bumper stickers, etc.

As an aside, it's strange that I know of far more Fred supporters than for any other candidates. Either Fred is picking off supporters that are not showing up in polls yet, or I just seem to running in circles that are supporting Fred.

[mmichaels1970]

When I asked him specifically what he would do as prez for farmers in Bremer County, he resorted to glittering generalities.

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

We sure have come a long way when we get to "what he would do as prez for farmers in Bremer County"

[lesser_satan]

You’re taking for granted that Roger Simon really received that email and isn’t just making things up.

[CitizenUSA]

It’s good to hear from a FReeper on the ground in Iowa. I’m glad Fred is in the trenches so to speak. He really needs to upset conventional wisdom with a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-place showing, and I actually think anything less than 2nd is going to be very problematic.

Some FReepers think the media is intentionally trying to pump up certain candidates in a conspiracy to help Hillary. I don’t believe that. I think the media simply likes to create excitement and focus on change. If Fred wins big in Iowa, his campaign will be revitalized. On the other hand, a weak showing that is consistent with the polls is going to be nearly impossible to overcome.

I really dislike the way our election is so dependent on the vetting that goes on in Iowa and NH, but it’s the system we have. Candidates who ignore those states in hopes of winning elsewhere do so at their own peril. Guiliani comes to mind. How he expects to come back after a couple months of nearly zero press is beyond me.

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

[Politicalmom]

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[ejonesie22]

Actually it is a little of both. There is a lot more support out there for Fred quietly going about their business. Like you, they are out at events and are busy with life. They are not at home when the phone rings from a pollster...