Posted on 05/16/2008 12:56:44 AM PDT by CreativePerspective
Spending some time on the campaign trail has confirmed a couple of thoughts I've had before I entered the Republican primary race.
First, conservatism is alive and well in America; don't let anyone tell you differently. And by conservatism, I don't mean the warmed-over "raise your hand if you believe ..." kind of conservatism we see blooming every election cycle. No, I'm speaking of the conservatism grounded in principles based upon enduring truths: an understanding of the importance of human nature in the affairs of individuals and nations. Respect for the lessons of history, the importance of faith and tradition. The understanding that while man is prone to err, he is capable of great things when not subjugated by a too-powerful government. These are the principles that inspired our Founding Fathers, and resulted in a Constitution that delineated the powers of the central government, established checks and balances among the branches of government and further diffused governmental power by a system of Federalism.
<--- snip --->
I joined Townhall and am writing exclusive commentaries for Townhall Magazine because I see them elevating the discourse on issues based on these principles -- smaller government, individual liberty, standing for common values that have become all too uncommon, a strong national defense and, most of all, an optimism and belief in America.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
The missed opportunities with Fred and/or Duncan as the Nominee are almost too much to bare...
I’m 100% with you that they would have been the ideal candidate, but I wonder how much they could have done with a Democrat Congress. Also, I read this, and think back to his campaign, and wonder what in the world this guy sees in McCain.
Who was bare? Fred and/or Duncan? Glad I missed it.
The dog barks, but the caravan moves on.
We believe Fred! We believe! Should I start clapping my hands? Will Tinkerbell make it ok?!?
*sigh*
"ALL YOU KNOW HAS COME TO AN END..."
OK, guys. Sorry to be a downer. It's just that I honestly feel like I'm preparing for a 4 year siege (or longer) moreso than the resurgence of the conservative movement. Politically, the RINOs are off the preserve and have found the China shop.
It wasn’t in the big plan for Duncan Hunter or Fred Thompson to be in the race. I wondered why they dropped out prematurely then realized that they didn’t fit the Globalist agenda. End of story.
I weep for my country and the coming extirpation of our rights and Freedoms we enjoyed as American citizens.
Fred may be one of our voices in the dark times to come, to help us keep up morale. Let us hope "Operation Chaos" has the effect of shutting down the open primaries which gave us the likes of Senator Juan.
This was not Fred's time, and I am not sure in the future it will be his, he may be to long in the tooth at that point. But continuing to write on enduring conservative principles only will enhance his resume which he may not need, but may help to leave a legacy of thought for us to ponder.
The question is, do we take these Conservative Ideals and try to remake the RNC or start over with a clean slate. The latter is looking better all the time.
Fred is my vote for VP. Who cares if the ticket would be the oldsters?
McCain needs to come out, guns blaring. He’s pro life. He’s pro military. He is NOT Bush. At least this time we have someone who we know is a RINO BEFORE he takes the Presidency.
Obama is a lightweight, no matter how popular he is. I think he is also on the downlow, and Hillary can’t nail him for it because of Huma. She’d win it if she just came out with the dirt she’s got. Dems would understand her affair, they would not understand Obama’s.
Fred just step up, you are more conservative than Romney. You just didn’t have the right script to read. You’re the man for VP. Will make McCain go down a lot sweeter with conservatives like me.
Does this mean that Senator Thompson is ruling himself out for the Vice Presidency? How would this affect his future campaign possibilities?
I do wish he had stuck it out a while longer. Since he did not - and then he’s virtually disappeared from the scene - I have lost hope for his nomination as VP. I certainly would have loved to have his voice and views as the leader of the Senate.
However, if he would use TownHall as a forum to goad the GOP and McCain into moving to the right, he could be a force for good.
How many of us here have the perception that no one at the top of the Party is listening to us?
Fred, your campaign was not lost because of your stand on the issues. It was lost because voters who only get their news from the mainstream media only caught a glimpse of your candidacy at the South Carolina debates.
Stop being nice. Do not disappear again. Speak Conservative words to and for Conservatives to those not-so-Conservative leaders of the Republican Party.
FYI ping:)
“That’s not in the cards,” Thompson said. “That’s not what I want. Well…and I don’t think that call [from McCain] would ever happen. I think John needs somebody else. I would advise him if he asked me that he needs someone else, of a different profile. The presidency is the only job in town that’s worth going through what you got to go through to get it, including the vice presidency….”
They’re hinting on Fox that Fred’s going to be interviewed this morning.
Then let the Senator be the voice for the rest of us.
FDT on Fox, re the Bush/Knesset flap: “Does the shoe fit?” Fred says the Dems are saying, we haven’t advocated negotiating with terrorists, only negotiating with sponsors of terrorists (such as Iran).
Fred says the leader of the free world can’t be a babe in the woods.
More coming up after commercials.
I swear I’ve heard more from Fred since he dropped out than I did when he was running.
Fred just mentioned now on FOX that he’s writing a book:) “....anything to avoid real work...” LOL:)
Thanks for mentioning that. I tuned back in just in time!
I say George Soros manipulated the Republican primaries...
Someone needs to start rumors. The truth, that Republicans chose McCain, is in need of an excuse.
Brian asked Fred about the global warming issue and McCain..Fred said he doesn’t agree with McCain on everything- remember- I ran against him- said there was only one perfect candidate and he’s not running anymore ;)
What a contrast he is- to McCain and Obama. Sane, level-headed, solid.
On Fox and Friends, Fred is plugging townhall; mentions talking to publishers “anything to avoid real work as long as possible.”
Asked “Is McCain conservative enough?” Fred’s mantra is “solid.” McCain’s very solid on national security, solid on appointment of federal judges, the “second most important thing a president will do.” Not just SCOTUS but other levels as well.
Finally, they force it out of him, Fred uses the words “rock solid and conservative” about McCain.
*sigh*
Guys..a lot of folks seem to think what’s happening to the GOP is suicide....I contend its homicide.
In my mind, I keep coming back to what happened to Tom Delay.....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1802383/posts
Washington is so jammed with parasites looking for a teat...that ANY organized opposition-IOW any Conservatives-will be run out of town . Period. This, folks, is a far BIGGER problem than just one with the Republican leadership.
Pay attention the the Farm Bill that just passed. Its not the average American Joe that is demanding handouts that’s driving the bus here.
It”s any large organization that has the cash to buy a few K St. lobbyists to twist congress’ arm. The boys on Capitol Hill that are unresponsive to said arm twisting...well these organizations can afford to make sure they’re replaced in the next election cycle-and in fact, with what the new boys will send them legislatively will far more than make up for the cost of replacing a recalcitrant congresscritter. We American’s have a far bigger problem on our hands here than any of us could possibly imagine in our worst nightmare.
Thanks for posting this ray of sunshine.
[Let us hope “Operation Chaos” has the effect of shutting down the open primaries which gave us the likes of Senator Juan.]
That’s the real genius of Rush, it may force the closing of crossover primaries.
Oh, now THAT would be interesting!! The Dems might even go along with it, because of Fred's age. Heh. The man could do a LOT of good, and who knows, he could outlive all of the folks who are there now!
Video of Fred on Fox and Friends this morning.
See tagline.
If Fred is for all of this; why the devil is he backing John McCain?
A couple of reason:
Aw, thanks for the ping, jellybean.
I remember the comments of one Thompson staffer when Fred left the race: if he can’t be Reagan, be Goldwater. I’m glad he’s sticking around to try to remind folks of what the Republican party is supposed to stand for.
It is sad that so few Americans even know about or understand the great lengths our first President, George Washington, went to educate the electorate on the pitfalls of engaging in "party" politics.
Now, over 200 years later, it is neigh impossible to put that Genie back into the bottle.
In fact, not considering all of the lesser parties, the "two" party system is failing us and will not, in my most humble and long life experiencing opinion, be changed from within.
Our founding fathers, recognized that there could come a time for us to change our form of governance. Unfortunately, even though we have the mechanisms to do just that, the Republicans and Democrats have such a "death" grip on our political process, that I see no practical way to affect a change.
This leaves, each of us who are concerned in that old position of being between a "rock and a hard place". Just what can we do as citizens of the republic, especially those of us who love our founding principles and find our constant flight from those principles abhorrent?
I can only speak for myself. From way out here in the Bleacher Seats, I see little I can do, other than living by those stated "conservative and traditional" principles that motivated our founding fathers. And I have decided that I will no longer "play the game" the Democrats and Republicans have stacked the rules in.
I am finished voting "against" or for the "lesser of two evils". My vote is mine to cast as I see fit.
Many here on this forum decry those of us who have reached the point that we are not going to cast that type of vote any longer. Heck, for most of my life, I championed the argument myself. No longer! It has been the problem not the solution and the elected officials have all too well learned that regardless of their actions after election day they can always "lie" to us in the next election cycle and ruthlessly count on "us" to be there for them, election after election, after election.
By the looks of things they keep winning with that philosophy.
I simply am not going to "play that game any longer"!
Change within our system is meant to be slow and while I might not be around to see the end result, I am no longer supporting the Republicans or Democrats, with a blind faith. To be sure, some may get my vote from time to time, but the days of blindly following, campaigning for, and especially giving money to any "political party" are gone for this citizen.
I suspect I am not alone in having come to my decision.
In case you are counting heads, there for sure two of us!
Works for me!
Because McCain's the REPUBLICAN nominee, and no matter how imperfect he is, he's far and away better than either Obama or Her Heinous. I don't agree with those who say it's perfectly fine to let the country go to hell in a handbasket to 'teach folks a lesson' about not voting conservative in the primaries.
When Ross Perot ruined GHWB's chances for a second term, folks thought they'd be ok allowing X42 to become President. The Cold War was over, and there weren't any real threats to us. That's all changed, and we can't afford to have a feckless President who isn't willing to stand against the Islamic tide and protect this nation.
I don’t recall advocating the country going to hell in a handbasket. McCanin is the nominee only in name. He was not selected by the people and you should be concerned about that rather than voting blindly for him. Although I am not really sure what he is; I do believe he is not a conservative.
We really can’t afford to have any of these pre-selected candidates in office. As long as people continue to vote whichever way the wind blows; we will get this and much worse.
I will enjoy reading Fred’s articles immensely. And we can all wonder at what might have, no SHOULD HAVE been.
Justices Thomas and Ginsburg are friends and what exactly is a Republican now?
Time for a Conservative Party so we can all maintain our sanity.
Exactly
Thanks for the ping!!
Oh, how I miss Fred....
Actually he WAS selected by a plurality of voters in the Republican primaries. Unfortunately, for us, there were several conservative candidates this time around, and our votes were split among them, leaving McCain with the largest number of votes and delegates. We, who didn't vote for him in the primaries, may not like it, but that's what happens in primaries; always has, always will.
McCain has some ideas which most would consider conservative, but he's ticked off a lot of conservatives with his ideas about illegal immigrants and campaign funding. But he wouldn't be able to do anything about illegal immigration as President, without the approval of Congress, just as he wasn't able to get campaign finance reform done without the votes of his fellow members of Congress.
Overall, he is much more conservative than either Obama or Her Heinous, so, even though I didn't support him in the primary, I have no qualms about voting for him in the General Election, because I do NOT want a Democrat sitting in the White House with Islamic terrorists looking for every opportunity to kill as many Americans as they can. I'm going into this with my eyes wide open; nothing blind about it.
Sorry, I believe you are voting for who they tell you to vote for.
I KNOW for a fact, after the Ross Perot debacles in 1992 and 1996, that getting one's knickers in a twist and voting against the Republican out of spite or anger, or whatever EMOTION happens to govern at the time, doesn't make for a healthy political situation, if it means that an appeasing, pro-abortion Democrat is allowed, by default or purpose, to win the White House.
What made America a great country was not falling in line with the pseudo bs being presented. Our country became great because of men and women who stepped out of that line and took a chance on independence; not worshiping at the altar of the least resistance.
And as long we allow chaos and running around in circles in our party; nothing will get done; which is pretty much what our enemies want.
Thanks for the ping. I’m glad to see Fred is back in the debate. He was great on that interview.
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