Sincerely Fred
By ilja Posted in 2008 — Comments (7) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
The great white hope, their Savior, the next Reagan, the actor, no fire in the belly, the staff turnovers, the uhs, the Guccis, the lobbying, more uhs, the too-late entrance, the ups and downs of his campaign, the constant predictions of this is it, the make it or break it debate, and yet he's still here. He's still at least second in most polls and even first in some. He has always been a top-tier candidate even prior to his official entrance into the race.
But why? Why is Fred still doing so well if he hasn't started a firestorm? He's old. He get's tired. He's lazy. He's no Reagan. So why is he the brunt of so many attacks? Why do they keep writing about him if they all think he doesn't have a chance? Why did the other top-tier candidates pretend he wasn't in the room until Romney threw his obviously pre-written line about "Law and Order" into the debate?
Have you been listening? Have you been paying attention?
Speech after speech, paper after paper, interview after interview, they all include the same common theme but hardly anyone talks about it.
He said it in his speech to the VFW National Convention when talking about our national security.
We must have a frank and continuous conversation about this with the American people because, above all, we must have the support and unity of the American people if we are to succeed.
To reverse this situation we must reassess our national priorities and face the truth about what it will take to defend this country.
While this quote is from his prepared remarks, I noticed a little blurb that re-enforces what I've noticed.
Note: Senator Thompson departs frequently from prepared texts
Did you hear what Fred said at the Americans for Prosperity Summit? While I couldn't find a transcript of his speech, I do have a link to a YouTube video of it and did my best to transcribe some of what he said.
We have to make our case to the American people.
We sensed there was something going on . . . we took our case to them. We talked about first principals. Strong federalism, based on the proposition that not all solutions are found in Washington, DC.
In this second You-tube link Fred talked about speaking what he really believed?
I think the American people are waiting on us. I think they are waiting for us to take that case to them, as to what is responsible, what is the responsible thing to do for our generation?.
I don't think people are as selfish and self-centered as they think they are.
I think if politicians would be willing to take a risk a little bit every once and awhile you'd be amazed at how well that turns out for you even politically
I carried . . . TN twice by 20 points each and I think the thing that was most valuable to me is always I knew I had term limits I had put on myself and I knew I was going back home one of these days soon anyway regardless of how my thoughts were received. Not out of a sense of brashness but a sense of freedom to speak what you believe to be the truth.
Talk about refreshing! No wonder so many are confused by his speeches. People aren't use to a politician giving a speech anymore that is what they really believe. The American people are going to be able to tell the difference. That's the one thing I keep hearing people say about him, that they believe him.
This is what I believe to be the secret to Fred Thompson's success. He is speaking what he really believes and not worrying about how his words are going to be received or misinterpreted.
Start listening to him when he speaks and see if you don't notice it. He nearly always says something about needing to have an honest and open discussion with the American people. He keeps saying what he thinks, what he believes.I noticed in that last video that I posted, he said "I think" in nearly every sentence in the closing portion of his speech.
Fred Thompson may not be your cup of tea and he definitely is not perfect but he does say what he believes and I pray he never stops.
Elusively yours,
ilja
Edited for typos
Thank you for your kind words and that great find. I just pray, pray, pray that Fred keeps this up and doesn't let any "Gotcha" moments scare him into holding back.
He came off very well in the "debate". And his pre-debate comment about responding "to fish thrown by the moderators" is so, so true, especially in any venue that has Chris Matthews. I smile whenever I think of it.
As scottbomb points out, we need to get the noise off the stage in the next debates and give the frontrunners more time to speak and the people more content to evaluate.
The distractions of the minor players are like the customer from hell - you know, the one who consumes your time and energy with incessant demands for attention, and if he eventually buys your product, you sell it at a loss. And more likely he's shopping somewhere else anyway.
for the job. wonderful blog here ilja. I trolled KOS to see what they have on Fred and the front page item attached a video someone put together is nothing but name-calling(the video is all of Fred's pauses linked together).
I think it's quite telling that the best front page blog KOS can come up with (I assume it's their best since it's on the front page, or was) is nothing more substantive than a thread of posts calling the man names.
In my personal opinion I think the Demon-crats are scarred to death of Fred because they don't know how to disarm someone who writes his own speeches and actually says what he believes and not what his finger in the political wind seems to indicate.
S.U.P Fred '08!
I may not agree with what you say but I'll defend your right to say it to the very death.
I am a Brownbacker, as I said on another post I am new.
I like Sam Brownback, I think he's the best man for the job. If Brownback backs out, I'll be supporting Fred because I think out of the top three he is the most conserative, pro-life and focused on the war on terror.
Rudy's a good man too but I think Fred would fair better against Hilliary.
According to Rasmussen Reports, Thompson has dropped from 24% on October 7th to 18% October 12th. I think Thompson is a decent guy but he polled better when he wasn't actually running.
Yeah I saw that Montana6672 and I must admit it has me more than a bit worried. I'm hoping that his performance in future debates that are on subjects that aren't as dry as economics will help him to recover these lost numbers.
Plus I'm not sure how many outside of us political junkies are actually paying attention yet. I guess only time will tell.
What you have described about Fred is noticed by people on all sides of the political spectrum, and not just Fred heads. I saw this post at the Stephen Bainbridge web site about Andrew Sullivan on Fred Thompson
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.