Here's our photo taken in the kitchen with Fred and Steve King I was referring to. I'm just to the right of Thompson in back with the glasses. I think Celeste is in pure heaven from the look on her face.
Posted on 12/31/2007 1:44:00 PM PST by Free Vulcan
Former Senator Fred Thompson's (R-Tennessee) backdrop for his Fort Madison visit on Friday states that he is the true conservative in the race for the GOP nomination. He tried to convey that message to a crowded Alpha's Annex by relaying his plans should he become the next president.
Thompson brought along one of the most conservative representatives in Iowa. Rep. Steve King from Iowa's fifth district introduced Thompson. He said he backs the senator because he wants someone who will leave the world a better place. He said the next president will pick two Supreme Court justices and he would like to see conservative judges put on the court.
King said he's spent a lot of time with Thompson and has not seen any flaws come through.
Thompson then entered and said he was glad he'd hidden his flaws from King, to the laughter of the crowd. The former senator has had a reputation of being laid-back and he showed that on Friday, but still put across his message.
He said he wasn't worried about the polls that show him behind.
“The experts got it wrong in ‘80, ‘88 and we all remember President Howard Dean in 2004,” he said.
But why should Republicans support Thompson and why should he be elected president? He said it goes back to basics. “The Declaration of Independence said our rights are from God, not government. The Constitution clearly lays out the rights of our government.
“I believe the dollar a person earns belongs in that person's pocket unless the government can come up with a pretty good argument why it needs some of it,” Thompson said.
He said the government shouldn't spend more than it brings in and shouldn't have to borrow from other nations.
As far as war goes, he said the country shouldn't go looking for a fight, but should be prepared to defend itself. The country should be proud it has shed more blood for the freedoms of others outside its borders than any other nation in history.
Thompson said these ideas are under assault. He said the Democrats are “salivating” waiting to get control of the White House so they can lead the nation to a welfare state.
“That's what Jan. 3 is about,” he said. “It's to decide who represents us and our values.”
Some of Thompson's goals include a flatter tax system, saving Social Security, rebuilding the military to face 21st century challenges and stopping illegal immigration.
For Social Security, he said individual retirement accounts are a good idea. It should save trillions over time for the system, he said. Thompson noted that by 2017, under the current system, Social Security will be paying out more than it takes in. By 2040 under the current system the entire federal budget would be spent on Social Security.
Militarily he said groups like Al-Qaeda are willing to continue to fight for a long period of time. He said the current situation in Pakistan will need some attention because it is the only Muslim nation with nuclear weapons.
“We have to exercise wisdom,” he said. “I've been concerned with that part of the world for a long, long time.”
He said the best thing to do is continue working with Pervez Musharaff to try to keep stability in the country.
A big concern for Thompson is homeland security. He said 9/11 was a low-tech operation and he's worried what a high-tech operation could do. Building up intelligence and the military - things he says were cut drastically after The Cold War - will help us prepare.
“We could be under attack by a biological weapon for days before we even realize it,” Thompson said.
Thompson said he believes America's best days lie ahead. He also thinks he is the best person to begin the first day of the rest of the country's history because of his consistent record of being a social and fiscal conservative.
“I don't have to have a very good memory,” he said. “What I believed then is what I believe now.
Here's our photo taken in the kitchen with Fred and Steve King I was referring to. I'm just to the right of Thompson in back with the glasses. I think Celeste is in pure heaven from the look on her face.
Oh, goodness — I think I would have exactly that look on my face. You look like you’re staying cool and collected. :) It’s times like these that I envy my extended family in Iowa (both my grandparents and their siblings were born and raised there).
Thank you for pinging me to the photo! I can’t wait to hear how the caucus goes — thanks so much for doing us all proud. Good luck tomorrow, and go Fred!
That’s my spaced out look. I had been up since 4:30, worked 10 hours, and had 4 hours of sleep. I was smoked, and pretty much babbling like an idiot when I was even coherent enough to say anything at all.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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In a small and intimate forum like this, the fact that he’s resting an elbow on the podium with his ankles crossed, and leaning INTO the audience to demonstrate a more personal connection with them, works. They’re not the WH press corps, they’re potential supporters, so a more casual posture conveying an interest in informal back-and-forth conversation is acceptable.
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