Fred Thompson Campaign Apologies

Fred08.com ^

[3niner]

Several presidents have served in the House before assuming the presidency.

But only two have been elected President after having the House as their highest / most recent office.

[M203M4]

You can actually admit to like Ron Paul? Was this a part of a fraternity pledge or something?

Ohhh, often some of his supporters make it difficult, and sometimes Paul himself makes it difficult for me to even speak kindly of him! Sometimes he says things wrt foreign policy which make me cringe. And then there is the hyperbole...but I cannot really blame him for that.

He was very popular around here in the late 90's, and even up until 2002 (yes, even after 9/11...things turned sour between him and much of his following after Iraq). Paul hasn't changed much in the intervening years between 2000 and 2007 - what changed is that a Republican is now in the White House. If Ron Paul manages to stay in office long enough to see a Democrat again holding the presidency, I know for a fact that he and his ideals will see a resurgence among the conservative grassroots, Free Republic included. There is an interesting interplay between partisanship and political ideology.

[BlueNgold]

The analysis of 47% is based on the average individual tax burden. You can spin the numbers anyway you want - it was still a huge tax increase and it still happened under his watch. Equivocating over which statistical analysis you use to get which rate of increase means you are admitting to an ungodly increase in either case.

From the article you reference:
Meanwhile, the average Arkansan’s tax burden grew from $1,969 in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 1997, to $2,902 in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2005, including local taxes.

$2,902 - $1,969 = $933 increase in individual tax burden.
$933/$1,969 = 0.4738 = 47% increase.

Once again - this is from the very same article you link to defend the Governor. The numbers are the same. Deal with it.

[Finny]

I live and work around and in Orange County, and eagerly read Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven Life" when it came out. I liked it very much up until about two thirds of the way through. The early parts of the book spoke to my heart. But I was not moved nor inspired by the latter part of the book. At the time, I was confused and felt lacking in myself, that I must be a disappointment to such a great fellow as Rick Warren, and therefore to God, in that I would think myself a phony if I did what the book recommended.

Later, as I got to know a few respectable community folks of the Rick Warren church and found them prickly, superior-minded, and narrow for all their outward goodwill toward men, I felt better about my secret conviction that the book, while good, was only moderately so. Not excellent, not life-changing, not spiritually renewing, not comforting, not shelter in the storm, as the Bible has been so dependably for me over my life. When in doubt or in sorrow or confusion or even joy, pick up the bible. It is the most valuable book of all time.

I remember reading a FReeper, I think it was, who remarked that her grandmother or some-such person of quiet wisdom declared that certainly, she used "Purpose Driven Life" every day -- as a coaster for her morning cup of coffee! Man, that made me FEEL GOOD!

So these years later, as I read always-fawning newspaper stories about Rick Warren's doings here in Orange County and the growing size and popularity of his powerful church, I find myself thinking ... Warren is the Thulsa Doom of O.C. He doesn't mean to be, he didn't start out to be, but he is worth avoiding.