Free Republic

<p>"...It was an odd time for a dispassionate look at federalist theory. Fifteen people had been killed in one of the worst school shootings in US history. Even the National Rifle Association had scaled back its annual meeting.</p> <p>But in many ways, it was signature Thompson: a defiant faith in his own judgment, an indifference to political fallout, and a near zealotry about the limits of government. A few days after his hearing, he not only opposed a juvenile-justice overhaul backed by his own party but was one of just three senators to vote against funds for a set of antiviolence programs.</p>

This is the third in a series of posts in which I show that the most common arguments made against Fred Thompson's candidacy, mostly by supporters of his GOP opponents, are baseless and without merit. - RugerThe straw man argument that Fred Thompson was "lazy" as a U.S. Senator seems to have orginated with the drive-by media and the pundits. Democrat operatives and followers of Thompson's GOP opponents have seized upon this meme, and they keep spouting it in spite of good evidence to the contrary. Let's begin in Fred's hometown, when he was in his teenaged years. Lawrenceburg resident...

"Like yesterday, Thompson devoted a large portion of his opening speech to national security, but today he also talked of new support coming from the Iraqis, who he says have had a taste of Al Qaeda and are now siding with American forces. Speaking to reporters, Thompson attacked his Democratic counterparts for not seeing any positive change. "There are some folks on the Democratic side who have become so vested politically on the feelings of the left wing of their party that no good news is going to be good enough for them, and they'll constantly concentrate on the negativity....

Even while former senator and Law & Order actor Fred Thompson hasn't officially started his bid for the White House, his online presence would make you think that there isn't even a question. Thompson's website ( http://www.imwithfred.com ) is multifaceted, enabling users, for example, to find their local media to contact newspapers and talk radio to show support. Thompson launched a YouTube channel on May 15 featuring not clips from his popular TV show but videos of speeches and one from an appearance with Tim Russert on Meet the Press. His social networking presence is also growing, with more and...

As if he hasn't teased voters enough about his likely presidential bid, TV's Fred Thompson is now blogging for support and hinting that his backers will soon hear more about his plans. He went up on the Pajamas Media site this week to thank supporters for giving him six victories in the PJM Presidential Straw Polls. "So," he blogged, "I hear you all have been talking about me." Referring to the poll, the former Tennessee senator said, "The Pajamas Media poll is certainly good news, especially when, for a lot of politicians, encouragement to run from three relatives and an...

Two shadows loomed over last night's Republican debate in South Carolina — the missing ex-Sen. Fred Thompson and former Speaker Newt Gingrich. Both Thompson and Gingrich are reviewing their astrological charts to determine if the time is right for their presidential candidacies. These rites of introspection make it much harder for the conservative wing of the Republican Party to settle on a candidate. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's pro-choice position and his backing for gun control and gay civil unions disqualify him from support by much of the Christian right. Sen. John McCain, good on social issues by righty lights, has...