Fred Thompson’s closing argument to the people of Iowa.
National Review Online
By Peter Robinson
Whereas Romney is saturating the airwaves with attack ads, Thompson pays the voters the courtesy of speaking calmly, and in detail—the video runs to just over 15 minutes. Why should the good Republicans of Iowa support Thompson? Because, the candidate argues, he can win.
” I believe I am the only candidate in this race who can bring our party to victory in the fall. First, because of the firmness of my principles and the trust that that engenders. Secondly, because of the detailed program I’ve put before the people. Third, because I’ve been tried and tested — and I’m a known quantity in public life.
But, most of all, I think I know how to talk to the American people about the opposition and the danger their victory would pose to the principles we hold dear.”
In the passage I found the most striking, Thompson does something no other Republican contender has attempted: appeal to Democrats.
” You know, when I’m asked which of the current group of Democratic candidates I prefer to run against, I always say it really doesn’t matter…These days all those candidates, all the Democratic leaders, are one and the same. They’re all NEA-MoveOn.org-ACLU-Michael Moore Democrats. They’ve allowed these radicals to take control of their party and dictate their course.
So this election is important not just to enact our conservative principles. This election is important to salvage a once-great political party from the grip of extremism and shake it back to its senses. It’s time to give not just Republicans but independents, and, yes, good Democrats a chance to call a halt to the leftward lurch of the once-proud party of working people.
So in seeking the nomination of my own party, I want to say something a little unusual. I am asking my fellow Republicans to vote for me not only for what I have to say to them, but for what I have to say to the members of the other party—the millions of Democrats who haven’t left the Democratic party so much as their party’s national leadership has left them.”
This is reminiscent of Reagan’s talk to the people of North Carolina in 1976. Simple, straightforward, modest production values—just the candidate in front of an American flag and an Iowa flag—but (to use the word again) compelling. Reagan’s 1976 talk enabled him to recover after a string of primary defeats, winning in North Carolina, then going on to come within a handful of delegates of wresting the nomination from Ford. Will Thompson’s talk move voters in Iowa? Does his campaign have the money to get it on the air? Throughout the state? Or even in a few of the most important markets? Beats me. But we have here a serious man, making a serious case—and doing so in the context of a campaign that has otherwise descended into mere caterwauling.
Even at this late hour, I wouldn’t count Fred out.
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Wild Thing’s comment……..
Maybe the tortoise is going to beat the hares. Slow and steady just might win the race.
Fred would be a good president!
C’mon Fred its crunch time … Get Animated.
Go Fred go.
Fred Thompson is the only chance Conservatives have to represent Reagan type values. But Damn Fred, Come on! Get the campaign out of Parking gear and put it in Overdrive. I fear he has waited too long and moved too slow and has not raised the funds necessary to really get noticed. The MSM will continue to ignore him unless he makes a surprise showing early on, so he is going to have to generate his own publicity.
Darth, yes I think he would be. My heart will always be for Hunter first, but I am having a heck of a time even finding anything on him to post. I think Hunter has a really bad PR team or whatever it is called.
Mark, “crunch time ” is a perfect way to put it. I am half holding my breath on this wanting it to happen, while I watch the news.
Tom I think so too. I wish he had started earlier.
We are not the only ones who think that Fred is the only conservative with a chance to win, I’d love to see a Thompson-Hunter, Hunter-Thompson team in the Whitehouse, either order, even if I have to write it in on the ballot. National sovereignty and security first.
http://www.betterimmigration.com/candidates/2006/prez2008.html
I agree with Peter Robinson, “I wouldn’t count Fred out.”
Jack thank you for the link. I would LOVE Hunter but it just isn’t happening. And I can’t stand anyone else except Fred Thompson if it isn’t Hunter.
He reminds me of a big ole bull slow and steady and not a flip flopper.
Les, me too.