WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2007
What Does Fred Thompson Stand For?
Republican Would-Be Presidential Candidate Offers Few Specifics So Far
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Photo
Fred Thompson arrives at the Enterprise Jet Center for a rally before making his way to an afternoon fundraiser, July 25, 2007, in Houston. (AP/Houston Chronicle/Beltran)
On most public policy issues, the former Tennessee senator and "Law & Order" actor has offered few, if any, specifics. Even on the dominant issue of the 2008 campaign — the war in Iraq — Thompson has carefully stopped short of wading into what he would do about the conflict should he inherit it, although he has generally backed President Bush.
And while not yet offering a broad foreign policy vision, some of Thompson's statements on the subject border on the impolitic, including comments maligning the Mexican, French and Russian governments.
What few clues there are about the direction a Thompson administration might take come from his growing body of online writings, a smattering of recent speeches and statements, and a somewhat sparse eight-year Senate record.
Thompson, who is expected to enter the presidential race formally in September, but plans to campaign in Iowa on Friday, was not known as a big-ideas guy and was hardly a heavy-hitter when it came to legislation during his Senate career from 1994 to 2002. Still, he was considered a reliably conservative vote on economic, security and social issues alike. He backed Bush's tax cuts, a prohibition on a late-term abortion procedure and voted to give the president the authority to invade Iraq.
More prominently, he established a reputation for working to limit the role of the federal government and protect states rights — an issue that remains very important to him and, perhaps, is an indication of what may lie at the root of his candidacy.
Broadly, he favors a strong federalist approach that emphasizes personal liberties and fiscal conservatism.
"Centralized government is not the solution to all of our problems and, with too much power, such centralization has a way of compounding our problems," Thompson wrote in a recent column on his Web site. "This was among the great insights of 1787," when the Constitution was adopted, "and it is just as vital in 2007."
He adds: "How we draw the line between federal and state roles in this century, and how we stay true to the principles of federalism for the purpose of protecting economic and individual freedom, are questions we must answer."
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How about a "somewhat sparse" TWO YEAR record in the senate for Obsama??? The libs are out of the woodwork now....they don''t even bother to hide their bias! PATHETIC!!!!!
Posted by infidel_us
Amazing how he''s not even on the trail yet and he''s about 2 percentage points below Guiliani. Just the sound of him stirs the people.
"Centralized government is not the solution to all of our problems and, with too much power, such centralization has a way of compounding our problems," Thompson wrote in a recent column on his Web site. "This was among the great insights of 1787," when the Constitution was adopted, "and it is just as vital in 2007."
Like the tone of him already.
We don''t need an idealogue of the left or the right, we need someone looking for practical solutions that work regardless of how they fit into a preconcieved ideology.
scooter libby defense fund flack- what a patsy- nixon spy- you have to worry though when they start wearing cowboy hats- it''s like a gang sign flashing to the bigoted masses...
Trying to become President because the rest of the Republican field is so weak he thinks he has a chance!
Not likely!
Fascism
the Confederacy
Scooter Libby
Corporate America
Ole Fred is quite a guy!
we need someone looking for practical solutions that work regardless of how they fit into a preconcieved ideology.
You just admitted that you''re a Barack Obama supporter. I would have never guessed by your past comments. Obama without doubt is the best candidate for ALL AMERICANS!
The only problem is, no set of policies that is acceptable to the Party of Eternal War (GOP) can ever be acceptable to the people of this country. So, for now, he is very popular precisely because he is not running and he has not clearly stated his policy positions.
As soon as Fred picks a set of policies and announces his candidacy, his popularity will begin to drop.
Right now Obama''s talking about and saying all the things I want to hear. I''m not 100% locked in yet but he''s got me at around 98%.
I''m still trying to keep an open mind and listening to others in both parties and that''s what I think everyone should be doing.
Posted by ConDumism at 03:13 PM : Aug 17, 2007
Like George Hull said, "there''s a sucker born every minute." :)
Posted by MyIDonCBS
And this makes him different from the left, how?
Posted by MyIDonCBS at 03:02 PM : Aug 17, 2007
And this is different from democrats how??? "I''m no ways tarrrrred.......I comes too farrrrrrrrr." LOL
I''m with you on this, Thompson is no more playing it close to the vest than most of the democrats whose only strong position is opposition to the war which has 70% public approval. Not exactly profiles in courage material.
Say what you want about Obama but he didn''t check the polls before taking a position on Pakastan.
Thompson is better off taking no side at this point than trying to take both sides like Rudi & Hillary & Mitt. That won''t work after he announces though and people aren''t going to put up with his dancing around the issue forever.
i''m re-registering peace and freedom party.
thompson is a great gun manufacturer. the thompson submachine gun is one of the best
there is. a lotta people like thompson
are appalled at all the ridiculous bizarre
news in this country and others. its like
a is that so? how weird. they''re tired
of the weirdos running things. back to normalcy.
post war is coming, soon, with all its problems.
vets out to kill philanderers who messed with
their women while they were gone. get ready
dudes. my boyfriend is back, there is gonna
be trouble. only thing is, a lotta the women
were 100% untrue. so they went blue. and
the vets don''t dig dying for mr. and miss blue.
so if you get blown into blue, tuff luck.
possible scenario february 2009, contingency
planning being done now. 30 million homeless veterans
march on washington,d.c. demanding 40 million
dollars each to party like a good man should.
and that willie nelson be raised from the
dead, to play on and on and on. if demands
not met, military will blow up the world.
thompson faces the crowd. says no dice.
then world blows up. thompson aw well, these
things happen as things get rather crumbly.
the way the cookie crumbles. these things
have to be planned for. contingency planning.
good luck veterans. we aint'' got the money.
you''ll have to sell pencils by the side of
the road. if you''re lucky.
"there''''s a sucker born every minute."
As a southern male bigot, you wouldn''t vote for a non-white no matter what qualities they have to offer US. The more you blabber, juicer, the dumber you seem to the rest of US!
Posted by donnie900
If he''s packing, that''s all the sense of humor he needs.
And he would work for a Constitutional amendment banning Gay Marriage.
That does it!
Fred''s got my vote!
Now, can he overtake Rudy? That''s the real or should I say reel question.
Give'' em hell Fred!
Thats why I''m gonna take de ************ away from yaz. And give Texas to Mexico.. Finally be ******** rid of yer psychobabble ******** "compassionate conservatism" religious bullshyyts. Piece''a shyyt ******** macho on the end of my ******** nub.
that''s where they find their kind of people.
rednecks, reborns, war, hate, arrogance, christian creeps, republican snakes...
you''ll never find these creepy republicans campaigning in the north.
ha,ha,ha.
nothing good comes out of the south.
in the hopes that these right wing republican christian snakes will see the light.
well, i''m here to tell you that the south has a dark and sordid past.
and any efforts to accomodate these redneck christian creeps will just make the situation worse.
the south never does good for america.
has only brought this country shame, death and destruction.
ha,ha,ha.
that''s the south for you, folks!
no changing it.
Posted by donnie900
I pray to the Second Amendment too. Sometimes I also pray to the First, the Fourth, the Fourteenth. I like my Bill of Rights. Great religion. Don''t you think.
As a career lobbyist Fred Thompson will stand for any corporation or special interest who gives him money.
I hope not. Because then that means that you and yer carpetbagger buddies can lie to people about it to get more votes.
I hope its not a religion. We don''t need that ******* up baggage.
Fred what are you going to be about this....woo hoo, what is your plan how would you get us out of this QUAGMIRE
a new poll by the network finds that a majority doesn''t trust Petraeus to give them an accurate assessment of what''s happening on the ground in Iraq.
When asked if they trust the top U.S. Commander in Iraq to report "what''s really going on," a surprising 53% answer "no." Only 43% say they trust him to tell us the real deal on the war.
Another key result: a huge majority claims that whatever he says about Iraq in September, it won''t change their minds about the war. Only 28% say a positive assessment will make them more likely to support the war, while the number who say it won''t is a staggering seventy two percent.
Mee too.... bad lying peoples
Donnie900''s blessings on anybody who shoots a ******* texan.
NOTHING
They have 9 or ten pitiful candidates so far, and they will just add another one. He has enough baggage in his voting record, his lobby connections, and his own words, to give the Democrats some joyful fodder.
How do you tell if a politician is lying? some would say when their lips are moving, I am inclined to believe it is when they skip around on their position and try to tailor it to the crowd they want to please.
Every American voter better remember, that no matter what politicians say to us to get elected, they may not mean it. And the only ones who really can influence and have voices later are heads of corporations, lobbyists, billionaires, and higher ups in political organizations. If that ain''t you--then stop being so gullible and believing everything your guy tells you. You have something they want: like mainly that high six figure salary and the chance to use the oval office as a stepping stone to more wealth. Beyond that, most of us do NOT matter. Learn and retain this.
scooter libby defense fund flack- what a patsy- nixon spy- you have to worry though when they start wearing cowboy hats- it''''s like a gang sign flashing to the bigoted masses...
Posted by jsilver2th at 02:43 PM : Aug 17, 2007
Excellent comment.
Like the tone of him already. Posted by mudrose at 02:08 PM : Aug 17, 2007
Stirring the people would indeed be a significant feat if "the people" comprised more than 29% of all voters. But where is the relevance? Even if 100% of Republicans backed a guy, there is no chance they can win unless others besides Republicans support him. This may be an eyeopener--but right now, being called a Republican is similar to being called stinky.
No one wants to be called that, and no one wants to get too close and no one wants to keep such a stench around. In short, unless the war front changes drastically and more and more dirt stops being uncovered about the Republican congress and their god (Bush), the Republicans can kiss the next election year cycle goodbye. There are not enough Republicans to define or make an election and face it--most states are either having paper trails or totally scrapping the dieboldt and other voting machines so that cheating option is out too.
Posted by mudrose at 03:28 PM : Aug 17, 2007
so true--they all suck a big weenie. cowards all, and for the most part, we do not know what any of them truly stand for--because what they really stand for is just lining THEIR pockets, plotting THEIR next career moves, securing THEIR pensions, lining up THEIR NEXT contacts and hoping most of us are stupid enough or suckers enough to hire them.
The Presidency and Congress are just long job interviews and most of the candidates are lousy picks. But there is something distasteful about hiring an actor to play President, it just means when he lies, he knows how to look like he means what he says.
Posted by fredgrad2000 at 04:24 PM : Aug 17, 2007
Excellent post
I am an independent who believes in pro choice, the death penalty, civil unions for *** with rights but not marriage per se, I want a fiscally responsible government that puts Americans first.
I am against: outsourcing, insourcing, amnesty of any sort for illegals, most subsidy programs, social or otherwise but first and foremost--I am adamantly against this war. I have been from the beginning. I want the rule and respect of law to prevail. That includes international treaties we draft and sign as well as our Constitution and our laws. I don''t want the laws finessed or revamped to justify the infractions of certain groups for the day.
There are many things I dislike about the Democratic Party, but I believe the GOP has turned fascist and anti-American with the President ignoring subpoenas, laws and *********** on the Constitution. I believe the Iraq war is illegal and immoral. I have a choice, hold my nose and vote for a Democrat knowing I will probably also get illegal immigrants as a present, or vote for a Republican who more than likely will continue to destroy this country fiscally as well as destroying our integrity. I see scant choice on the Republican side--Ron Paul? He is not likely to get the nomination. From those who could--I loathe them all. And I know a lot of Independents who feel a lot like I do.
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by toldyouso21
August 18, 2007 11:13 PM PDT
- new poll by the network finds that a majority doesn''''t trust Petraeus to give them an accurate assessment of what''''s happening on the ground in Iraq. Posted by pepperp1 at 06:30 PM : Aug 17, 2007
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Reply to this comment
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See all 49 CommentsWe are asking a man to give an assessment on his own ideas and performance. In short we want him to say whether he has succeeded or failed at his assignment, AND we expect him to either support his boss or contradict him for all the country to see. Now....if it was any of our jobs and we were told to evaluate our work and our boss--how many would say their work was a failure and their boss a liar? Common sense says Patreaus will do all he can to spin as much as he can in the way Gonzales and Bush want him too--his career does not begin and end with Iraq--but if he wants it to continue in any viable way at all, he has to continue to lick out some serious Oval office booty.