A disingenuous MSM means you’re on the right side.

First, I’ll post Fred’s rather long message to Iowa voters; it’s important to hear Fred directly, since the MSM has gotten worried enough to start taking him deliberately out of context and are withholding comments that correct the context (to be discussed further on):

Update: calling them out with a trackback apparently worked to get them to release the comment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VblJq4j0_SE

The CNN political Ticker took Fred out of context in a clearly biased manner and is ‘holding for moderation’ the full context that makes it obvious.

Here is the CNN hit piece:

 http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/29/thompson-not-particularly-interested-in-running-for-president/

And here is the comment being held for moderation:

Here’s the precise quote, fully in context. In context, it makes a LOT more sense:

“Q: (Courtesy ABC News) My only problem with you and why I haven’t thrown all my support behind you is that I don’t know if you have the desire to be President. If I caucus for you next week, are you still going to be there two months from now?

That is a very good question, not because it’s difficult to answer, but I’m gonna answer it in a little different way than what you might expect.

In the first place, I got into the race about the time people normally get into get into it. The fact of the matter is people get into it a lot earlier than they used to. For some of them, they were juniors in high school.

The first place, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. I wouldn’t be doing this. I grew up in very modest circumstances. I left government and I and my family have made sacrifices to be sitting here today. I haven’t had any income for a long time because I figured to be clean, you’ve got to cut everything off. I was doing speaking engagements and I had a contract to do a tv show. I had a contract with abc radio…and so forth. A man would have to be a total fool to do all those things and to be leaving his family which is not a joyful thing if he didn’’t want to do it.

I am not consumed by personal ambition. I will not be devastated if I don’t do it. I want the people to have the best president they can have.

When this talk first originated from people around the country both directly and through polls, liked the idea of me stepping up and of course, you always look better form a distance.

But most of those people are still there. I approached it from the standpoint of a deal. A kind of a marriage. If one side of a marriage really has to be talked into the marriage, it probably ain’t going to be a good deal. But if you mutually decide it’s going to be a good thing. In this case, if you think this is a good thing for the country, then we have an opportunity to do some wonderful things together.

I’m offering myself up. I’m saying that I have the background, the capability and concern to do this and do it for the right reasons. I’m not particularly interested in running for president, but I think I’d make a good president.

Nowadays, the process has become much more important than it used to be.

I don’t know that they ever asked George Washington a question like this. I don’t know that they ever asked Dwight D. Eisenhower a question like this. But nowadays, it’s all about fire in the belly. I’m not sure in the world we live in today it’s a good thing if a president has too much fire in the belly. I approach life differently than a lot of people. People, I guess, wonder how I’ve been as successful as I’ve been in everything that I’ve done. I won two races in TN by 20 point margins in a state that bill Clinton carried twice. I’ve never had an acting lesson. I guess that’s obvious by people who’ve watched me…

When I did it, I did it. Wasn’t just a lark. Anything that’s worth doing is worth doing well. But I’ve always been a little more laid back than most. I’m only consumed by very, very few things. Politics is not one of them. The welfare of our country and our kids and grandkids is one of them.

If people really want in their president super type-a personality, someone who has gotten up every morning and gone to bed every night and been thinking about for years how they win the presidency of the united states, someone who can look you straight in the eye and say they enjoy every minute of campaigning, I ain’t that guy. So I hope I’ve discussed that and didn’t talk you out of anything. I honestly want – I can’t imagine a worse set of circumstances [than] achieving the Presidency of the United States under false pretenses. I go out of my way to be myself. “

Been busy elsewhere; come over and visit

Folks, my posting here (except in support for Fred Thompson for President)  has been pretty light because I accepted an invitation to become a contributor to the Political Inquirer.  It’s a fairly eclectic collection of conservatives and libertarians that actually maintain pretty good manners.  Lots of good pieces over there, some strange ones (a number of Ron Paul supporters hang out there)  but all pretty well thought out without massive amounts of rancor spread about.  Lance and company run a ship tight enough- and with enough elbow room- to be worth being aboard.  Not that I’m gaining any more respect for extreme libertarianism or Ron Paul; actually the reverse.  But I’ve always known there were a few rational people scattered amongst the libertarian wing and I think I’ve found one of their nests.

I posted just now on Immigration (linked to Ron Paul, which should draw some fun), with other postings on the possibility of a brokered GOP convention, justification for the War in Iraq (which might get some feisty responses), and a piece on basic philosophy.  The Paulites don’t have much to say unless I mention their man, though; I end up getting bogged down commenting over there as well.  It will be interesting to watch the evolution over there as Ron Paul gets pounded out of the GOP primary and ends up trying it as an independent.  I’ll certainly have an easier time of it if Fred ends up folding the tent somewhere along the way; I can stomach some of the others (but not all). I figure by the time the Texas primary rolls around, selections will be trimmed down a bunch and I’ll be back over here for most stuff.

I promise to now return to doing a bit more here, though I have managed to add some goofiness to Buffoonery lately.  This site will keep most of my Fred Thompson updates (though not all) along with personal stuff.

Time to Put up or Shut up

Folks, I’ve been a ‘Reagan Republican’ since 1963 and I will tell you that consistency means principle in the political world.  If you support the Reagan-style political philosophy of limited government and strong national defense, along with practical steps to reduce illegal immigration and enhanced border security, there is a single candidate in the field that can be counted on to act on it as president, not just mouth it as a candidate.  That person is Fred Thompson.

Fred is up against it, to some degree.  He has chosen to campaign unconventionally, not kowtowing to the news media or conventional campaign management.  This has earned the ire of the elitists in the MSM (including even Fox News), as they see Fred a threat to their ‘kingmaker’ role, while political consultants resent that he didn’t line their pockets years before the actual election.  They are freezing out coverage of his campaign, even though he’s running a strong third in Iowa, possibly second in some polls.  This in spite of a deliberately late start, so he could concentrate on getting a clean message out, free of the sniping on trivia the longer running campaigns now have to deal with.

Fred is smart and unconventional, willing to risk success with the notion that the people only need a few weeks to understand where a plain-spoken man stands.  I support him in that refreshing concept.

I know ask you to also support him in this campaign.  Despite my massive self-imposed obligations to my African charity work (it will be about 15% of my take-home this year) and my son’s substantial medical bills (5 digits out of pocket this year), I’m kicking in for Fred for a second time, and will continue to do so.  The next president will be key to the future of this country and we need strength and honesty from the top.

 Please consider these word carefully and, if you are able,

Donate to the Fred Thompson campaign.

Are you a Real Conservative?

Two things that real political conservatives- of all stripes- believe in are personal responsibility and ‘traditional’ values. Note those traditional values are found in all of the great religions and deal with good and evil, as well as sacrifice and charity. In this season, we Christians celebrate the birth of one who later made the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind and, in this season, it is appropriate to consider sacrifice. We must think of those great people in our military, so far from home during these holidays, making such sacrifices for our country and the causes of peace and freedom.  We must especially think of those- American and her allies- who gave the ultimate sacrifice in those causes and the loved ones they left behind.

Even when they don’t come up to the level of those in the military, we must also contemplate our own sacrifices.  If we truly believe in personal responsibility, we cannot leave it to others.  And by sacrifice, I don’t mean merely signing off on a United Way pledge, or writing a check to a charity (although that, too, is needed).  Sacrifice comes as a personal commitment, generally long-term, to serve others that you are not obligated to serve. It means to follow through, make a difference and see it done.  Personally, I feel we are all judged at one point or another- whether in this life or after- and it’s best to have enough ‘good points’ over bad; sacrifice helps tilt those totals.

As I look back on this year and all the people and projects I’ve dealt with (primarily on my trip to Uganda), and consider that I’ve done just fair. ‘Fair’, some would say “You went to Africa for weeks to work personally, spent 12-15% of your income on this work.  Only ‘fair’??”   Yes, considering people like this, my family obligations made it difficult to make that kind of sacrifice.  More importantly, how can it be classified as sacrifice when I get so much out of it?  How much would you pay to be happier with your own life?  To gain an attitude that has led to less complaints and the strength to deal effectively with the adversities of my son’s serious medical issues?  To get the privilege of associating with great people of sweetness, character and strength, both workers and orphans?  However, fair will have to do, since that is all I’m capable of doing and still fulfilling basic family obligations that naturally have priority.

I ask everyone to- in this holiday season- consider the commitments in their life.  If you don’t already, consider making a serious commitment of sacrifice to support your belief in traditional values and personal responsibility.  It doesn’t matter what form it takes (though you are more than happy to support the group I work with, even if it’s a simple contribution.)  As the Nike ad puts so well, ‘Just Do It!’  Prove you’re a Real Conservative.

May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

Hillery imploding, Huck ‘bunkers’ goof, Mitt misremembers, Paulbots found

Hillary blantly plants a question and Sunday School teacher (with a convenient picture),  sets up Obama attack sites easily traced back to her campaign, while Bill aburdly calls her a ‘World-Class genius’.  I would hope a world-class genius would be able not to run a long-prepared, well-funded, well-oiled monster political machine off the cliff before the first votes are cast, like ‘Ms. Inevitable’ has managed to do.  Anybody got a copy of ‘Politics for Dummies’ they could loan them?   

Huckabee accusses the Bush administration of an ‘arrogant bunker mentality’, then responds to being questioned on it with: “I may not have even written the line that has you so upset.” Condi Rice delivers an appropriate head-slap.

Mitt flubs with “My father and I marched with Martin Luther King Jr. through the streets of Detroit.” Clearly, Mitt himself did not do that, from all known accounts.  However, instead of just ‘fessing up and admitting a goof, Mitt’s crew insists on parsing the heck out of it all.  The issue is minor, but their handling of it has been inept. More significant to me was his claim this last Sunday that he received an NRA endorsement in 2002 that he did not.  Couple that with his ‘lifelong hunter’ fib in the past, and it indicates he has a ‘fabulism issue’.

McCain’s busily racking up endorsements from peple that are NOT friends of the GOP, including Boston papers, etc.  You think he might want to hold off on those until the general?  Not the smart way to get the nomination initially.

Giuliani was pretty much exhonerated from trying to hide the costs of his extramarital affair to the taxpayer; it was out there in the open for most of the time.  Of course, it also reminds us that there were taxpayers costs to this.

Then, on the really loony side, The Paulbot online poll spamming site has been uncovered.  I watched one poll go from 1% for Paul to 28% in moments when they fired up their operation.

Fred’s big goof; an innappropriate ’silly hat’ comment (he would look silly in a fireman’s helmet: ask Dukakis about how big a mistake that can be) well covered on the spot.  The biggest part of this story was how massively misrepresented this was by a hostile press.

OK: given all of this, Fred is looking better and better.

My additions to ‘You might be a Fredhead if you think- ‘

.. that the only video you want to see on terrorists is from the camera of a Predator before they disappear in a flash.

.. that Harry Reid proves that some kids weren’t beat up enough on the schoolyard playground

.. that affairs in the White House should be political in nature, not extramarital

.. that environmentalism should start with reducing government paper wasted on printing non-English documentation.

I can’t help it! I have to post this!

Many thanks to Right Wing News for this one!

The MSM’s greatest Fear is Fred Himself.

Well, Fred is underway.  Steve King, an Iowa congressman with considerable influence in that state, surprised everyone (especially Mitt Romney’s team) by endorsing Fred.  It sounds like the Congressman is going to be actively campaigning with Fred, which will really boost ‘Mr. Hands Down’ in these last critical days.  The fact that this announcement came as the opening event of Fred’s big push there suggests to me that he had it in the bag for awhile; looks like the Romney people got pwned. 

As importantly, it will boost illegal immigration- the 800 pound gorilla the establishment on both sides of the aisle wants to ignore- as an issue in the campaign.  Being Fred’s the only one solidly on the side of 80% of GOP voters, it sure won’t hurt.  Of course, the MSM- terrified of Fred as they clearly are- will do everything in their power to discount this endorsement and to bury all coverage of Fred.  We went through this with Reagan; hopefully, it will work about as well as it did then.

My previous post on what I hoped was Fred’s campaign strategy seems to be bang on.  Go, Fred!

Update:

Michelle Malkin has the entire endorsement from Steve King; it is an excellent read and explanation why Thompson should be nominated, while saying good things about the other candidates

Another reason to support Fred!

Unique political conciseness, a great sense of humor and proper contempt for the silly hoops the MSM try to get candidates to jump through:

What’s your favorite joke?                      Presidential debates.
What’s your favorite keepsake?             Trophy wife.
What’s your favorite nickname?             Mr. President.
What do you like to do on a ‘lazy day’?   Campaigning.

Fred, the anti-pandering candidate.

And What if Obama stops Queen Hillary’s Coronation?

I can’t help but laugh as we watch Hillary’s campaign implode at a Howard Dean-like rate.  At least her blood-curdling screams of insanity have not been made public yet.  However, I can imagine what the back rooms are like now that Ms. Inevitable’s clock seems to be striking midnight and her coach for the coronation is turning into a pumpkin.  She still has time to turn it around and salvage things; as long as she doesn’t slide further, she can still bludgeon the 843 ‘super delegates’ into handing her a solid victory.  But, if she loses badly in the first few primaries, their fear of her will be overcome by her dislike for her and even they will begin to bolt.  It could get very satisfyingly ugly. 

However, the big question then remains: how do the various GOP contenders match up Oprah’s Messiah? (BTW: it looks like audience blowback might get the Queen of Daytime off the campaign trail.)   What kind of shadow campaigns can we expect? 

The overriding component for the Obama shadow campaign will naturally be race.  ‘How can you vote for another white Republican? Are you a racist?’ “It’s time we show we’re past our discrimination someone of color.”  The intensity of this shadow campaign will vary, dependent on his opponents (Michael Steele or Kay Hutchinson as a VP pick for the GOP nominee would help).  This shadow effort would reach the maximum peak with any combination of Fred and/or Mitt on the ticket;  after all, all white Southerners are racists, don’t you know, and every knows what those Mormons are like. (Amazingly, people who say things like this don’t see an ounce of bigotry in their own statements.)   This could get pretty nasty, but the deadliest of the knife fighters would have left the field; they all work for Hillary and most wouldn’t be caught dead working for Obama.  But expect Jess Jackson and Al Sharpton to try to stir things up.  I really wish Michael Steele would have run this time around, though he’s a bit young yet. 

The current candidates who would stand up best to this shadow campaign would be Rudy and John McCain.  The problem for both would be the official campaign, as they are both liberal enough on domestic issues not to have great enough differentiation.  Both could present themselves as ‘outsiders’ (as incorrect as that is for McCain) and McCain especially could hammer on experience.  The main difference would be on foreign policy and, with the global war on terror doing well and the MSM doing their darndest to keep that fact out of the public consciousness, that will not be enough to win, given the gentler, but adequately effective component likely could defeat either man short of major gaffes or revelations from Obama.  It would be Obama’s to lose, though it’s very possible he could do that with his clouded history and/or political naivety.

I won’t address a Huckabee campaign result, other than to say Custer stood a better chance of winning at Little Big Horn and the results would set new records of one-sidedness.  And I sure and heck ain’t going to be lying in the dust with arrows in my back; I’ll have ridden over the horizon long before.

Mitt and Fred would do better on the differentiation front on both spending and the big winning issue for the GOP; illegal immigration.  Mitt would be dinged on consistency, especially on immigration; but his polish would be hard for Obama to match.  Fred would get dinged on energy (the fun would be for Jeri to address this, assuring everyone Fred has plenty of energy with a wink while holding her two young kids.  That would end that, at least in the official campaign.)  Fred’s consistency and style would make this a winner for him.

So Mitt and Fred do better in the official campaign; Rudy and John would handle the shadow campaigns better.  The one factor they would have in common is that the MSM- having been all geared up for pushing their candidate Hillary into the White House would not be quite as organized to back Obama in all their subtle ways.  But trust me, they will. 

Bluntly, I think the unknowns would be the final key here.  Obama has not gone through all the scrutiny he would as the nominee and everyone knows the Hillary camp has dug deep.  With the mood toward her campaign right now, it would be counter-productive to release what they have found.  However, I would not put it past her to leak it if she loses, so she can have another go in 4 years, rather than 8.  She loses this one, though, she is done forever; he image as a schemer will never go away. 

Is Fred Thompson smarter than Conventional Wisdom?

As a supporter of his, I’m hoping so.  The following is what I believe he is doing, though I have no specific connection with his campaign that I would know this as fact.

He seems to be gambling his entire campaign on a long shot strategy; that electioneering weariness will have set in so badly, and that his GOP rivals will have so called each other’s qualifications and positions into question to a point that he can- in 16 hard days of campaigning- deliver a clear and unfettered message directly to the voters of Iowa.  I believe he is counting on not so much on the votes in the first round of the caucuses, but on the following rounds, accumulating enough of the less than 15% groups (who will be ticked off at other campaigns who have been out there for years)  to make the difference.   

The goal is to get his policy messages out and be the last hand that shakes the voters, while telling them the number of handshakes does not determine the strength of the policy or the match to their beliefs. Other campaigns will have little time to counter what he does, their own plans set.  This then ends up to be a low cost campaign for Thompson.

If he finishes second or a strong third, it’ll pay off and he’ll look like he knew what he was doing.  If he finishes a weak fourth or fifth, his campaign will suffer a serious, probably fatal blow. I would have more faith in this strategy, if Iowa had not moved up their primary to the 3^rd from the 14^th; that would have gotten Christmas out of the mix.  Still, we’ll see how it goes; if it doesn’t work out, it at least one less overly long and expensive campaign we had to listen to.  

Who will I back if it doesn’t work out and Fred has withdrawn the field of battle by the time of our primary?  Probably Romney, though I doubt he’d have any chance in the general.  But if Huckabee (or, by some obscene fluke, Paul) were to come out on top, I’ll be sitting out the General.  I cannot bring myself to support anyone whose understanding of the world political stage hasn’t progressed above the elementary school level.

 

Update: Fred showing leadership in the farce of a debate; note all the others followed his lead.  It looks like Fred! came out on top, although Mitt did well.  Maybe it’s the launch of what I was suggesting above and he has spent most of this week to get ready for it.