Posted on 12/21/2007 10:32:56 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson came to Fort Dodge Friday and quickly staked his claim to being the true conservative Republican who can protect American values if he becomes president.
He defended his qualifications for that job by asserting that a resume loaded with administrative experience doesn’t always make a good leader.
‘‘Administrators are people who leaders hire,’’ he said. ‘‘There is a difference between administration and leadership.’’
Speaking in the measured baritone that TV viewers came to expect on ‘‘Law & Order,’’ the actor-turned-politician recited what he views as the basics of conservative government.
Along the way, he enhanced his homespun Tennessee lawyer image with quips such as calling the signers of the Declaration of Independence ‘‘the old boys.’’
Of himself, he said, ‘‘What you see is what you get. I dance to no man’s tune.’’
He spoke to about 80 people at the Webster County Republican headquarters, 900 Central Ave., winning over Linda Sorenson, of rural Webster County, who had been a Democrat for years.
‘‘I was not at all a Fred Thompson supporter until tonight,’’ Sorenson said. ‘‘He’s very straightforward. He doesn’t hold back punches. He says what he thinks.’’
Sorenson said she’ll caucus for him because she believes he’ll bring leadership and truthfulness to the White House.
Others in the crowd, like Howard Ortmeyer, of Fort Dodge, are still making up their minds about the candidates.
‘‘I kind of liked him,’’ Ortmeyer said. ‘‘I do think he’s a little conservative for me, but he has good ideas.’’
He said he’s still considering three candidates.
Thompson said he’s committed to the ‘‘sound conservative principles that have unified us for over 200 years.’’
Topping the list of those principles, he said, is the idea that basic rights come from God, not government.
Smaller government and a federal court system that’s limited to case law, not social policy, are also key, he said.
He called for tight-fisted budget policies.
‘‘You don’t spend money you don’t have and you don’t borrow money that only your children and grandchildren can pay back,’’ he said.
Thompson said all those ideals are threatened by a ‘‘liberal, big-government, high-taxes, weak-on-national-defense Democratic Party that is licking its chops to get back in power to lead us down the road to a welfare state.’’
The candidate said that if he’s elected he’ll simplify the tax system, save Social Security, modernize the military and stop illegal immigration.
The security of the nation would be his No. 1 priority, he said. The United States, he said, is ‘‘one terrorist plot away from nuclear disaster.’’
A Thompson administration, he said, would permit an aggressive search for domestic energy sources that would include drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. He said he also supports ‘‘clean coal,’’ nuclear energy and alternative fuels such as ethanol.
While some of his competitors hit the campaign trail in 2006, Thompson entered the race in late summer 2007. He said presidential campaigns ought to be shorter. Long campaigns, he added, are ‘‘certainly not adding to the intellectual capital of our nation.’’
Nice fair coverage for Fred.
The Iowa local press.... Doing the job the MSM won’t do.
Good read....
FRED!
Administrators get work done. Effective leaders ARE Administrators.
“Effective leaders ARE Administrators.”
Or at least they are charismatic public faces who know how to hire competent administrators and listen to them sometimes.
Thanks, 2DV....for the report. :D
I’m starting to like him more and Huck less lately.
how are Fred’s kids doing?
Their mom is taking good care of them, as I hear it. Fred and Jeri will spend Christmas with the kids in Virginia, then back on the campaign trail the next day.
Thanks for reading it.
Fred’s the man, he really is the only one who doesn’t have to make up some story before he says what he believes in. Boy I hope he can pull it off.
I support Senator Thompson.
Finally starting to see some good coverage of Fred... I think winning Iowa is out, but a strong 3rd place finish would be huge.
Damn! I thought Fort Dodge was in Kansas.
It wouldn't be possible to judge from the media coverage. They're too busy trying to fabricate the Iowa caucus from offices in New York or some such planet.
Right said, Fred!
I've seen reports that over half of the Iowa voters who are interested in the primary are undecided about who they'd support. I'd say that makes the race still pretty wide open.
administrators get people to get done what leaders see needs to be done.
“Finally starting to see some good coverage of Fred... I think winning Iowa is out, but a strong 3rd place finish would be huge.”
It’s the season for miracles. Think big. Pray for 1st place!
I thought Huckabee was the one that won’t dance.
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