Thompson and Reagan

The Ashbrook Center ^ | September 2007 | Professor Andrew E. Busch

[BlackElk]

Reagan Democrats (and Thompson Democrats) will vote GOP because of:

1. Guns;

2. Babies;

3. Marriage (one man/one woman)

4. Fighting the courts on street crime and the "rights" of street punks;

5. Social normality vs. social perversion;

6. Opposition to quotas and affirmative action;

7. Nationalism and interventionism.

Among others.

[Reagan Man]

Reagan supported Nixon in 1960, Goldwater in 1964, Ford in 1976 and GHW Bush in 1992.

So whats your point?

[2ndDivisionVet]

I served under President Reagan, and there will never be another like him, just as there will never be another George Washington or Teddy Roosevelt. Having said that, I can see where some people would try and make the comparison; both men had an acting career, are articulate, were divorced once and extol core conservative principles. May we have half the success with a president Thompson as we did with President Reagan, and I think many of us will be happy.

[RockinRight]

I’d bet a large chunk of us who were Freepers in ‘00 voted for McCain over Bush. He really didn’t show how crazy he was until late 2001.

[Tatze]

You heathen!

[2ndDivisionVet]

“Reagan supported Nixon in 1960, Goldwater in 1964, Ford in 1976 and GHW Bush in 1992.

So whats your point?”

Thank you!!

[BlackElk]

Saul Alinsky’s principles are the principles of Mrs. Arkansas Antichrist.

[barb-tex]

Texas has had “November Republicans” for many years. Even today, when I vote in the pubbie primary, I disenfranchise my self in the selection of local officials, as there are no pubbie candidates for these offices.
barbra ann

[rhombus]

And that may happen regardless of who the nominee is... Hillary is no moderate sounding southern Democrat (like Carter or her husband).

[COgamer]

I think these Reagan comparisons really cheapen Thompsons’ candidacy. He’s not Reagan. Does he have any virtues of his own that make him appealing, or are all of Reagan’s going to be ascribed to him instead?

Thompson will likely be our nominee... Let’s please not build him up so high that he has nowhere to go but down. That’s what the media did with “America’s Mayor,” and perhaps BECAUSE of that reputation he’s been an even bigger disappointment than expected.

[hershey]

Fred lacks executive experience. Baloney. Carter micromanaged everything, including the starting times for the White House tennis court. Lest we forget, he ran country into the ground and left us with an Iranian mess that’s going nuclear.

[2ndDivisionVet]

The media wants us to choose Rudy “America’s Mayor” Giuliani, whereas they have nothing but disdain for Senator Fred Thompson. Sorta makes you scratch your head, doesn’t it? In a Rudy vs. Hillary matchup, they can’t lose. Either way, a New York liberal that is a gun-grabbing, gay friendly, pro-abortion, tax & spend control freak will be elected!

[darkangel82]

I wasn’t 18 yet in the 2000 presidential primaries, so I didn’t vote. But I knew McCain wasn’t right back then.

[CommerceComet]

Reagan supported Nixon in 1960, Goldwater in 1964, Ford in 1976 and GHW Bush in 1992.

I'm not sure exactly what your point is either but Reagan's support of Ford in 1976 was not without some ambiguity.

Reagan supported Ford only after vigorously challenging him for the Republican nomination. There were several Ford aids who felt that Ford would not have lost the general election to Carter had Reagan not challenged him in the primaries. As close as the 1976 election was, there might be some merit to their argument.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>I'm not sure exactly what your point is either ...

If you read back through the thread you will find my point.

In a nutshell. Reagan supporting losing efforts with Nixon, Goldwater, Ford and GHWB is no different than Fred supporting the losing efforts of Baker and McCain. Actually there is one difference. Reagan's support came at the final stage. Fred`s support came in the primary stage. In the end stage Fred supported Reagan and GW Bush.

[ejonesie22]

Jefferson was a Liberal? Don’t tell the Ron Paul folks that...

[deport]

Thompson, on the other hand, regularly builds his argument around "first principles" of individual liberty, limited government, and federalism. This sort of discourse is arguably vital to rallying and unifying Republicans, reaching out to conservative independents, establishing distance from the Bush administration, and building an appealing contrast with a Democratic nominee who will undoubtedly focus on a bottomless promise of new and expanded programs.

---

The above is one thing that stood out to me early on regarding Thompson. A true executive leader established major objectives and then assembles the team under him necessary to achieve those objectives. He doesn't flounder around in the details and shouldn't if he's got a trustworthy team.

Some of the so called true conservative candidates or 'Reagan likes' will use phrases like:
I did,
I'm gonna
I authored, etc. etc. etc.

That is a self centered egotistical approach doomed to failure in bringing the masses into your sphere and securing their help.... jmo.

[netmilsmom]

>>Either way, a New York liberal that is a gun-grabbing, gay friendly, pro-abortion, tax & spend control freak will be elected!<<

Ding, ding, ding!
We have a winner.

I’ve said that as well. The only reason why Rudy or McCain are doing well is because the MSM are pumping them up.

[Gelato]

The point is, given the choice, Thompson prefers Howard Bakers and John McCains to better men.

[Gelato]

So? I voted for McCain in 2000 as well.

Live and learn, eh?