I had the honor of meeting former Senator Fred Thompson in person earlier today. He spoke to the National HQ staff for about 5 minutes, thanking them and telling them that it was a good experience for all involved. He said he might have done better if he'd done it the way the media and others wanted him to, but that it wouldn't have been being true to himself and his beliefs, so he didn't. I tell you what, he would have made a great President- totally unwavering and committed to his convictions. My friend Matt had Sen. Thompson sign his copy of "Government on the Brink" and Fred flipped through it and said "unfortunately it's still very relevant today." I sensed that he was somewhat discouraged that Washington didn't respond to his conservative ideas then, and now the nation rejected them (and him) again. I'm afraid he's very deeply concerned about the future of conservatism. Did you hear that after Fred dropped out, Rush said he may not support the eventual GOP nominee? Fred was drafted into the race because conservatives couldn't support any of the other candidates, but they didn't support him enough to avoid major compromise with a Romney/McCain/Giuliani/Huckabee nominee. I don't really like any of the remaining GOP candidates- each has strengths, but also many weaknesses. I'm backing Romney now, but probably won't give him any money or time. There is so much work to be done if we are to save our nation from total rejection of sound policies. Please join me in praying for the future of our nation.
Showing posts with label Fred Thompson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fred Thompson. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Farewell to Fred Thompson: The Last, Best Hope for America
I had the honor of meeting former Senator Fred Thompson in person earlier today. He spoke to the National HQ staff for about 5 minutes, thanking them and telling them that it was a good experience for all involved. He said he might have done better if he'd done it the way the media and others wanted him to, but that it wouldn't have been being true to himself and his beliefs, so he didn't. I tell you what, he would have made a great President- totally unwavering and committed to his convictions. My friend Matt had Sen. Thompson sign his copy of "Government on the Brink" and Fred flipped through it and said "unfortunately it's still very relevant today." I sensed that he was somewhat discouraged that Washington didn't respond to his conservative ideas then, and now the nation rejected them (and him) again. I'm afraid he's very deeply concerned about the future of conservatism. Did you hear that after Fred dropped out, Rush said he may not support the eventual GOP nominee? Fred was drafted into the race because conservatives couldn't support any of the other candidates, but they didn't support him enough to avoid major compromise with a Romney/McCain/Giuliani/Huckabee nominee. I don't really like any of the remaining GOP candidates- each has strengths, but also many weaknesses. I'm backing Romney now, but probably won't give him any money or time. There is so much work to be done if we are to save our nation from total rejection of sound policies. Please join me in praying for the future of our nation.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Farewell, Fred, and God Bless You For Your Service
Kathryn Jean Lopez has an excellent article about Fred Thompson's principled campaign. Please read it in its entirety, but here are a few excerpts:
"We need to deserve to lead. And this is what this is all about; it’s about deserving to lead.”That was Fred Thompson on Saturday in South Carolina during a sincere, passionate, well-grounded speech that sounded like his farewell to the campaign trail. With his announcement Tuesday afternoon that he has withdrawn his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president, we now know it was. It was a bittersweet moment for any conservative who had been watching his campaign and wished it had been a more effective one earlier in the process. It was also a moment for the ages — one that every civics class in America should reflect upon: Politics is about policy and service to this great nation; that’s what makes the campaign worthwhile. That’s why you put up with the trophy-wife slanders and Chris Matthews’s questions.
Whoever winds up the Republican nominee for president this year, he’d be doing his country a service if he read Fred’s pre-caucus message to Iowa voters that Thompson posted on his website. In it he listed “the fundamental, conservative principles that have unified us for over two
centuries....”
“Doing our part. Stepping up to the plate. Stepping up for service. Stepping up to do the right thing.” That’s how Fred Thompson put it on Saturday night. That’s what he’s done. And no pandering or hand-holding (or -raising!) along the way. There’s no doubt we’ll be seeing him again — he’s too invested in this country he loves for us not to. Thank God for Fred Thompson. May he inspire more to serve. And may he encourage us to rethink our may-the-man-with-the-best-soundbites-win electoral process.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
A Tale of Two Candidates
By Daniel Davies
12/20/2007
The first candidate is a southern governor who is outspoken about his Baptist faith and is highly involved in his church, including serving in places of leadership. He is a faithful family man, married to one woman for over 30 years, and places great emphasis on family values. His time as governor was marked by compassion for racial minorities, the poor, and trying to assist those stuck in the criminal justice system. He is committed to his principles, even when it brings disagreement with members of his own party in the state government.
The second candidate claims to be a Christian, but admits to not regularly attending church at times. He has been divorced, with children from both his past and current wife. He has a successful career as an actor on both big and small screens. While he has spent time as a political office-holder, over the last several years he has done short radio commentaries on current events which were syndicated nationally. This candidate was motivated to get into Republican politics by the conservative policies advocated by Barry Goldwater in the 1960s.
Who are these two candidates? You may have guessed that the above descriptions describe current 2008 Presidential nominees Mike Huckabee (#1) and Fred Thompson (#2).
You may not have realized that the same descriptions apply to the general election candidates in 1980, Jimmy Carter (#1) and Ronald Reagan (#2).
What can we learn from this comparison? Do Christian principles and beliefs necessarily make a good President? Many Christians, with the best intentions, are flocking to support the Mike Huckabee campaign. Conservative leaders, including Rush Limbaugh, Phyllis Schlafly, Ann Coulter, Grover Norquist, and GOP leaders in his home state of Arkansas have pointed out that Huckabee’s liberal policies as governor greatly damaged the conservative cause in Arkansas. Huckabee currently advocates a mixture of some conservative policies and some liberal ones. But should his current conservative positions on immigration and spending, for example, cause us to ignore his previous actions as governor? As former Sen. Zell Miller declared in his 2004 RNC “spitballs” speech, “Twenty years of votes can tell you much more about a man than twenty weeks of campaign rhetoric.” Mike Huckabee would be unable to keep the GOP’s coalition of religious, family-values, fiscal, and foreign affairs/national defense conservatives together. He has demonstrated an ignorance of foreign affairs that indicates that his foreign policy could resemble the disasters of 1976-1980 under Jimmy Carter. Fred Thompson has years of experience in foreign affairs, including chairing an advisory committee for Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice.
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Christians must realize that a candidate’s ability to lead the nation and the free world does not come from how openly he advocates his religious beliefs. The only 2008 candidate with a consistent conservative record on all issues is Fred Thompson, the new Ronald Reagan for the challenges of the 21st century.
http://www.fred08.com/
12/20/2007
The first candidate is a southern governor who is outspoken about his Baptist faith and is highly involved in his church, including serving in places of leadership. He is a faithful family man, married to one woman for over 30 years, and places great emphasis on family values. His time as governor was marked by compassion for racial minorities, the poor, and trying to assist those stuck in the criminal justice system. He is committed to his principles, even when it brings disagreement with members of his own party in the state government.
The second candidate claims to be a Christian, but admits to not regularly attending church at times. He has been divorced, with children from both his past and current wife. He has a successful career as an actor on both big and small screens. While he has spent time as a political office-holder, over the last several years he has done short radio commentaries on current events which were syndicated nationally. This candidate was motivated to get into Republican politics by the conservative policies advocated by Barry Goldwater in the 1960s.
Who are these two candidates? You may have guessed that the above descriptions describe current 2008 Presidential nominees Mike Huckabee (#1) and Fred Thompson (#2).
You may not have realized that the same descriptions apply to the general election candidates in 1980, Jimmy Carter (#1) and Ronald Reagan (#2).
What can we learn from this comparison? Do Christian principles and beliefs necessarily make a good President? Many Christians, with the best intentions, are flocking to support the Mike Huckabee campaign. Conservative leaders, including Rush Limbaugh, Phyllis Schlafly, Ann Coulter, Grover Norquist, and GOP leaders in his home state of Arkansas have pointed out that Huckabee’s liberal policies as governor greatly damaged the conservative cause in Arkansas. Huckabee currently advocates a mixture of some conservative policies and some liberal ones. But should his current conservative positions on immigration and spending, for example, cause us to ignore his previous actions as governor? As former Sen. Zell Miller declared in his 2004 RNC “spitballs” speech, “Twenty years of votes can tell you much more about a man than twenty weeks of campaign rhetoric.” Mike Huckabee would be unable to keep the GOP’s coalition of religious, family-values, fiscal, and foreign affairs/national defense conservatives together. He has demonstrated an ignorance of foreign affairs that indicates that his foreign policy could resemble the disasters of 1976-1980 under Jimmy Carter. Fred Thompson has years of experience in foreign affairs, including chairing an advisory committee for Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice.
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Christians must realize that a candidate’s ability to lead the nation and the free world does not come from how openly he advocates his religious beliefs. The only 2008 candidate with a consistent conservative record on all issues is Fred Thompson, the new Ronald Reagan for the challenges of the 21st century.
http://www.fred08.com/
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