Damn Fred, You Just Got My Vote, Dude!

[loganinkosovo]

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YTQ3OWE3ZTY2N2U4MTFhOTBhYWRiYzhlMmFlMWU1ZmM=

Sticks & Stones

By Fred Thompson

It bothers Americans when we’re told how unpopular we are with the rest of the world. For some of us, at least, it gets our back up — and our natural tendency is to tell the French, for example, that we’d rather not hear from them until the day when they need us to bail them out again.

But we cool off. We’re big boys and girls, after all, and we don’t really bruise that easily. We’re also hopeful that, eventually, our ostrich-headed allies will realize there’s a world war going on out there and they need to pick a side — the choice being between the forces of civilization and the forces of anarchy. Considering the fact that the latter team is growing stronger and bolder daily, while most of our European Union friends continue to dismantle their defenses, that day may not be too long in coming.

In the meantime, let’s be realistic about the world we live in. Mexican leaders apparently have an economic policy based on exporting their own citizens, while complaining about U.S. immigration policies that are far less exclusionary than their own. The French jail perfectly nice people for politically incorrect comments, but scold us for holding terrorists at Guantanamo.

Russia, though, takes the cake. Here is a government apparently run by ex-KGB agents who have no problem blackmailing whole countries by turning the crank on their oil pipelines. They’re not doing anything shady, they say. They can’t help it if their opponents are so notoriously accident-****e. Criticize these guys and you might accidentally drink a cup of tea laced with a few million dollars worth of deadly, and extremely rare, radioactive poison. Oppose the Russian leadership, and you could trip and fall off a tall building or stumble into the path of a bullet.

The hundreds of demonstrators the Kremlin has had beaten and arrested in the last few weeks alone, we are told, were not pro-democracy activists but common criminals — like world chess champion Garry Kasparov. Demonstrating without a permit is a serious crime and, luckily for the Kremlin, it turns out that pro-government youth groups seem always to have permits for rallies at the exact times and places that anti-government protesters gather.

Another group that seems to be having trouble with permits is the media. Newspapers and television stations that aren’t smart enough to know that America is the enemy and that things are great in Russia can’t seem to get their paperwork in order. It’s some sort of IQ test, I guess.

President Vladimir Putin, though, shows no sign that he feels defensive about his remarkable string of luck. He knows who’s really to blame for “meddling” in Russian “internal affairs.” It’s the United States.

He’s lambasting us for yielding too much power. One example of this excessive power is the missile defense radar system we want to install in Poland and the Czech Republic — to give the free world early warning of a missile attack by terrorists or a rogue nation like Iran. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence that the Russians have been supplying Iran with both nuclear and missile technology while using their U.N. veto to block sanctions that would force Tehran to back down. Regardless, we’re clearly at fault, he says, for putting a defense system close to Mother Russia.

So I wouldn’t worry too much about the criticisms we receive. We make mistakes and at times the “carping” may even be on target, but it seems to me that we ought to look at a lot of the complaints as a badge of honor.

[evanfitz]

Great article, I've been awaiting Fred's decision on whether he has plans to run for Presidency.

He's lookin good in my opinion.

[Ordie]

our ostrich-headed allies will realize there’s a world war going on out there and they need to pick a side

Well, here are some "ostriches" at sea Fred.

Operation Enduring Freedom
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Fleet_5_nations.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Fleet_5_nations.jpg)

[loganinkosovo]

Are those french or german ships in support of OIF?

Didn't think so.....

[Macs.]

OIF - OEF. Dedum.

[loganinkosovo]

OIF - OEF. Dedum.

Slight difference.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is one front on the Global War on Terror that the French and Germans won't defend....

So Fred's point is valid.

It's a Global War.

Not a pick and chose because "you got screwed out of over 90 billion dollars worth of Oil for Graft money and are still pissed about it" War

[Roids]

The guy reminds of Reagan, he even is an actor. Just looked at his stance on social issues and he says that it should be a decision by the States, you don't see much of that anymore. I'm pro-gay marriage and pro-abortion, but State legislation is something I can support. Check out his article on recent gun control controversy.

http://abcradio.com/article.asp?id=389928&SPID=15663

April 19, 2007
Signs of Intelligence?

One of the things that's got to be going through a lot of peoples' minds now is how one man with two handguns, that he had to reload time and time again, could go from classroom to classroom on the Virginia Tech campus without being stopped. Much of the answer can be found in policies put in place by the university itself.



Virginia, like 39 other states, allows citizens with training and legal permits to carry concealed weapons. That means that Virginians regularly sit in movie theaters and eat in restaurants among armed citizens. They walk, joke and rub shoulders everyday with people who responsibly carry firearms -- and are far safer than they would be in San Francisco, Oakland, Detroit, Chicago, New York City, or Washington, D.C., where such permits are difficult or impossible to obtain.



The statistics are clear. Communities that recognize and grant Second Amendment rights to responsible adults have a significantly lower incidence of violent crime than those that do not. More to the point, incarcerated criminals tell criminologists that they consider local gun laws when they decide what sort of crime they will commit, and where they will do so.



Still, there are a lot of people who are just offended by the notion that people can carry guns around. They view everybody, or at least many of us, as potential murderers prevented only by the lack of a convenient weapon. Virginia Tech administrators overrode Virginia state law and threatened to expel or fire anybody who brings a weapon onto campus.



In recent years, however, armed Americans -- not on-duty police officers -- have successfully prevented a number of attempted mass murders. Evidence from Israel, where many teachers have weapons and have stopped serious terror attacks, has been documented. Supporting, though contrary, evidence from Great Britain, where strict gun controls have led to violent crime rates far higher than ours, is also common knowledge.



So Virginians asked their legislators to change the university's "concealed carry" policy to exempt people 21 years of age or older who have passed background checks and taken training classes. The university, however, lobbied against that bill, and a top administrator subsequently praised the legislature for blocking the measure.



The logic behind this attitude baffles me, but I suspect it has to do with a basic difference in worldviews. Some people think that power should exist only at the top, and everybody else should rely on "the authorities" for protection.



Despite such attitudes, average Americans have always made up the front line against crime. Through programs like Neighborhood Watch and Amber Alert, we are stopping and catching criminals daily. Normal people tackled "shoe bomber" Richard Reid as he was trying to blow up an airliner. It was a truck driver who found the D.C. snipers. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that civilians use firearms to prevent at least a half million crimes annually.



When people capable of performing acts of heroism are discouraged or denied the opportunity, our society is all the poorer. And from the selfless examples of the passengers on Flight 93 on 9/11 to Virginia Tech professor Liviu Librescu, a Holocaust survivor who sacrificed himself to save his students earlier this week, we know what extraordinary acts of heroism ordinary citizens are capable of.



Many other universities have been swayed by an anti-gun, anti-self defense ideology. I respect their right to hold those views, but I challenge their decision to deny Americans the right to protect themselves on their campuses -- and then proudly advertise that fact to any and all.



Whenever I've seen one of those "Gun-free Zone" signs, especially outside of a school filled with our youngest and most vulnerable citizens, I've always wondered exactly who these signs are directed at. Obviously, they don't mean much to the sort of man who murdered 32 people just a few days ago.

I think he has trumped Giuliani for my 08 hopeful.

[Sato]

We’re also hopeful that, eventually, our ostrich-headed allies will realize there’s a world war going on out there and they need to pick a side — the choice being between the forces of civilization and the forces of anarchy. Considering the fact that the latter team is growing stronger and bolder daily
Different nations, different ways of doing things, different history,different interests...

I think someone should tell dear fred to realise that these "ostriches" can make their own decisions and do whatever seems fit to them.

[Rictor]

We’re also hopeful that, eventually, our ostrich-headed allies will realize there’s a world war going on out there and they need to pick a side — the choice being between the forces of civilization and the forces of anarchy. Considering the fact that the latter team is growing stronger and bolder daily, while most of our European Union friends continue to dismantle their defenses, that day may not be too long in coming.

"Look out!", said the lion to his pack, "that squirrel over there is going to wage a terrible war on us until we're all dead! Our entire civilization - nay, our very existance, is threatened unless we kill the squirrel before it kills us."

[loganinkosovo]

"Look out!", said the lion to his pack, "that squirrel over there is going to wage a terrible war on us until we're all dead! Our entire civilization - nay, our very existance, is threatened unless we kill the squirrel before it kills us."

If you think the Wahabbi Jihad is a squirrel then you need to read your history.

[Merfeller]

"Look out!", said the lion to his pack, "that squirrel over there is going to wage a terrible war on us until we're all dead! Our entire civilization - nay, our very existance, is threatened unless we kill the squirrel before it kills us."

Are the terrorists as cute as squirrels on your planet? Or are they at least menacing little feckers?

[James]

Different nations, different ways of doing things, different history,different interests...

I think someone should tell dear fred to realise that these "ostriches" can make their own decisions and do whatever seems fit to them.

Why is the US criticized so much for doing exactly that?

[cosimo]

Everyone criticizes US foreign policy and complains about the US acting like "the worlds policeman" Yet when something happens everyone looks to the US for what to do. If the US seems to be doing nothing then everyone starts complaining. I respect the US for making tough decisions, taking action and seeing it through regardless of criticism.



I like the sound of this Fred Thompson though I haven't heard of him before. I agree with his point about firearms. There has been a rise in gun crime in the UK since the ban was imposed. As a nation we are basically defenceless when it comes to protecting ourselves and our homes. I have seen many comments from members from continental europe who seem to be of the opinion that only the police and army should be armed. If thats how they like it then thats ok for them but that kind of complacent impotence scares me. I am of the opinion that if you are against something then you are advocating its opposite. So when someone wants to take your gun from you, what they are also saying is "I want to prevent you from defending yourself."

My girlfriend is in the US at the moment and the people she works with reckon that Hillary and Obama have no chance of being elected, does this Thompson chap have a chance?

[Sato]

Why is the US criticized so much for doing exactly that?

Good point, but there's bias on both sides of the atlantic. And I don't think that state leaders or presedential candidates calling their allies and chief economic partners ostriches or warmongers solves anythingthing. The media can say anything to sell advertisement space IMO.

[Rictor]

Everyone criticizes US foreign policy and complains about the US acting like "the worlds policeman" Yet when something happens everyone looks to the US for what to do. If the US seems to be doing nothing then everyone starts complaining.

The people who do this, while they may be well-intentioned, are stupid. I've never been among those who has criticized the US for doing too little, for the simple fact that it's preferable to them doing too much. It's not a no-win situation: the correct approach is to not play the world's policeman and simply refer anyone who complains about it to the UN charter, the US Constitution, the NATO charter and other relevant documents.

[cosimo]

The people who do this, while they may be well-intentioned, are stupid. I've never been among those who has criticized the US for doing too little, for the simple fact that it's preferable to them doing too much. It's not a no-win situation: the correct approach is to not play the world's policeman and simply refer anyone who complains about it to the UN charter, the US Constitution, the NATO charter and other relevant documents.

Sorry but I don't understand. Could you clarify for me.

[HR24]

Why is the US criticized so much for doing exactly that?

Best point in the entire thread.

Good discussion all around and I am starting to like Fred even more. Sounds like a true conservative to me, but of course, that could always change. One thing that does worry me about him is his past medical history (cancer-same for Giuliani).

[helomech]

If he runs for Presidency,I'm thinking I'd cast my vote his way..elections as of late have been the uneasy choice between the lesser of the two evils',it appears that the Thompson pick would be the smart choice,especially when against the likes of Hildabeast,Edwards,Obama etc...

[nahimov]

Why is the US criticized so much for doing exactly that?

Good point, but here is the difference. While EU is trying hard NOT to interfere with other nations, US is busy invading countries. It is hard to criticize someone who is not acting and very easy to criticize the one who does a lot. US did a little too much, hence the problems.

[seraosha]

Good point, but here is the difference. While EU is trying hard NOT to interfere with other nations, US is busy invading countries. It is hard to criticize someone who is not acting and very easy to criticize the one who does a lot. US did a little too much, hence the problems.

Thus, being labeled as an "ostrich" should come as no surprise when the behavior fits the bill.

[nahimov]

Thus, being labeled as an "ostrich" should come as no surprise when the behavior fits the bill.

Not necessarily. If by "ostrich" Fred meant attack on Iraq I think it is obvious at this point the "ostrich" was right on the money, Iraq had no WMDs and was not harboring terrorists so no action was necessary.

[seraosha]

Not necessarily. If by "ostrich" Fred meant attack on Iraq I think it is obvious at this point the "ostrich" was right on the money, Iraq had no WMDs and was not harboring terrorists so no action was necessary.

"Beat a dead ostrich" just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Welcome back from 2003.

"Spoiling Attack"
Catch up here (http://braden.weblogger.com/).

[nahimov]

"Beat a dead ostrich" just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Welcome back from 2003.

"Spoiling Attack"
Catch up here (http://braden.weblogger.com/).

I know, just wondering why Fred is beating an old ostrich.....

[flyingv]

Some fun facts about Fred courtesy of IMAO.com:

* Fred Thompson never has to stop at a traffic light because of a Homeland Security directive requiring all lights to turn green whenever he approaches.
* Fred Thompson eats shotgun shells for breakfast and craps 44 magnum bullets in the afternoon.
* Rosie O'Donnell insulted Fred Thompson so he morphed her into a reasonable, intelligent human being. After that she joined the Republican Party, took Simon Cowell for a lover and replaced Michelle Malkin as a contributor on Bill O'Reilly show.
* Does a bear @#$% in the woods? Only with signed notarized permission in triplicate from Fred Thompson.
* When Fred Thompson empties his pistol at the firing range, it reloads itself out of respect.
* When Fred Thompson gave blood in Alaska, it fulfilled the Red Cross's entire quota for 6 months.
* Fred Thompson is part man, part machine. Underneath, he has a hyper-alloy combat chassis - micro processor-controlled, fully armored. Very tough.
* Fred Thompson uses a .357 Magnum as a remote control.
* Fred Thompson's carbon footprint is the size of the Yukon.
* Fred Thompson once opened a stuck jar of pickles by winking at it.
* Nuclear reactor coolant fills Fred Thompson's hot tub.
* There are only 2 things in life that are certain - Death and Fred Thompson.
* Fred Thompson flosses his teeth with a straight razor.
* Fred Thompson eats lightning and craps thunder.
* Fred Thompson uses a machine gun as a back scratcher.
* If you play Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" backwards, you will hear Fred Thompson loading his shotgun.
* Waldo is hiding because of Fred Thompson.
* The Ultimate Fighting Championship is based on Fred Thompson's playground history.
* Fred Thompson reheats leftovers by staring at them.
* Fred Thompson uses high octane gasoline as mouthwash.
* Fred Thompson can see the American flag on the moon.
* Fred Thompson can throw a 95-mph fastball ……. with his foot.
* Fred Thompson uses the St. Louis Arch as a hand exerciser.
* Fred Thompson's steely glare will soften steel.
* Fred Thompson's gravely voice will often start brush fires.
* Fred Thompson runs a 4 minute mile in 42 seconds.
* Any stop signal that turns red when Fred Thompson approaches is immediately sent to the factory for reprogramming.
* When Fred Thompson goes fishing, fish swim to the dock and volunteer to fill his limit.
* Tides flow in and tides flow out unless Fred Thompson wants to take his kids to the beach.
* Harry Reid insulted Fred Thompson and was instantly transformed into a one dimensional cartoon cutout
poster.
* A Homeland Security directive requires all Airlines to keep a First class seat available to every city in the United States just in case Fred Thompson wants to go there.
* Abraham Lincoln once said, "You can fool some of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can never fool Fred Thompson."

[lider_r]

Is the world going to subjected to another American president who berates other countrys and alienates its allies when they fail to be the US's obedient lap dog when it comes time to demolish the next middle east country?


I hope not.

[seraosha]

Are our "allies" goind to stand there with their thumbs in their asses after the next attack on american soil? We'll see.

The enemy is smart, motivated, and all they have to do is succeed once vs unknown number that have been stopped.

[flyingv]

Is the world going to subjected to another American president who berates other countrys and alienates its allies when they fail to be the US's obedient lap dog when it comes time to demolish the next middle east country?


I hope not.

I think you fail to realize that radical Islam is a world problem, not just an American one. Our "allies" (minus the UK, Poland, etc...) in Europe will be the first ones to come crying when they get hit. This issue is something to be taken seriously by the civilized world and if we have to go it alone sometimes, then so be it. To paraphrase Margaret Thatcher: Consensus is due to lack of strong leadership.

[JKD]

Are our "allies" goind to stand there with their thumbs in their asses after the next attack on american soil? We'll see.
I don't see why. They didn't do that the last time we were attacked.

They did however wisely opt out of our little misadventure in invading a country which had nothing to do with that attack.

When did the GOP, the party of personal responsiblity, become such a bunch of whiners? It's aaaall everybody else's fault. It's the French, the "mainstream media", the democrats, the "libs", etc. ....anybody else but them.

I had generally liked Thompson before I read this. I don't really care for anyone else on the Republican side of the race other than Ron Paul(who probably doesn't stand a chance). Looks like I'll still be voting for Bill Richardson if he makes it through the primaries(which he probably won't) .

[Ordie]

I'm voting for Richardson. He' the most qualified for the job.

[lider_r]

Margaret Thatcher: Consensus is due to lack of strong leadership.

we all know what a success story she was for the UK

thank f*ck ralph mag didnt exist in that period of time. We might have been left with some even worse memories of old iron knickers.

[MichaelF]

we all know what a success story she was for the UK

Yes. A skyrocketing GDP and a rebounding currency are not signs of successful governance at all...

[JKD]

I'm voting for Richardson. He' the most qualified for the job.
Yeah, no doubt about that.

But then again I have a hard time imagining the American people voting someone into office based on them being *gasp* qualified for the job. Seems to be all about name recognition and/or ideology these days.

I hope he makes it though.

[Merfeller]

I'm voting for Richardson. He' the most qualified for the job.

He's got no chance of being nominated, unfortunately. You won't get the chance. :-(

[Ordie]

He's got no chance of being nominated, unfortunately. You won't get the chance. :-(

I'll still vote for him in the primaries.

Good chance in becomming Secretary of State or VP.

[lider_r]

Yes. A skyrocketing GDP and a rebounding currency are not signs of successful governance at all...

you left out the dismantling of the welfare state, the widening of the gap between rich and poor, the royal dump she took on the working class, destruction of the trade unions, housing market crash, poll tax riots, helped the rich get richer, befriended Mr Pinochet, high inflation rates, high interest rates, high unemployment......

Her legacy of social destruction is still being felt today which is probably why the UK has been listed by the UN as the worst developed place to bring up a child.


it was fun watching her fade into obscurity once she had her arse booted out of number 10

[cosimo]

you left out the dismantling of the welfare state, the widening of the gap between rich and poor, the royal dump she took on the working class, destruction of the trade unions, housing market crash, poll tax riots, helped the rich get richer, befriended Mr Pinochet, high inflation rates, high interest rates, high unemployment......

Her legacy of social destruction is still being felt today which is probably why the UK has been listed by the UN as the worst developed place to bring up a child.


it was fun watching her fade into obscurity once she had her arse booted out of number 10

High inflation, high interest, housing market crash and high unemployment were all part of a larger worldwide problem, Thatcher cannot be held responsible for that. The trade unions were their own worst enemy, they succesfully dismantled themselves. As regards dumping on the working class, thats what happens at the bottom of the food chain, its just life. The idea is that you strive to better yourself, this was a popular part of Thatchers leadership, people tried to make something of themselves. Many people did just that.

If you live in the UK you really have to agree with the findings of that UN report. There is a rotten underclass in our society and its a product of the welfare state and our present government, not Thatcher.

[lider_r]

As regards dumping on the working class, thats what happens at the bottom of the food chain, its just life. The idea is that you strive to better yourself, this was a popular part of Thatchers leadership, people tried to make something of themselves. Many people did just that.

I see what your saying, but don't you think that looking at people as either at the top or bottom of the food chain is a problem in itself? I mean, its not like its anybodys fault they are born into poor familes and subjected to violent, alcoholic parents yet that can have a huge impact over a child's life as opposed to somebody who is born into the aristocracy of british life, gets access to all the flash schools etc



If you live in the UK you really have to agree with the findings of that UN report. There is a rotten underclass in our society and its a product of the welfare state and our present government, not Thatcher.

But if those people had support services at a community level then it would help get that underclass lifted up. Picking on the poor people, neglecting them and forcing them to live off next to nothing without providing any incentives certainly won't encourage people to want to better themselves as was shown throughout the thatcher years. The poor just got poorer and more resentful. Poverty can't be tackled by continued deprivation and humiliation, it just breeds a culture of the haves and have-nots.

[Atlantic Friend]

Well, I like the guy's stance. Whether he should be the next candidate or not is something for Americans to decide, but this piece was enjoyable.

As for this :


It bothers Americans when we’re told how unpopular we are with the rest of the world. For some of us, at least, it gets our back up — and our natural tendency is to tell the French, for example, that we’d rather not hear from them until the day when they need us to bail them out again.

it sounds a bit 2003, but well, that is probably what a part of the US electorate wants to hear, whether it's about France or Mexico or basically any other country. It's part of being a more assertive nation - and frankly, who wants his nation to be less assertive and more sumissive ?

The "ostrich" analogy seems to belong to the same assertive rhetoric - although some might tell Fred it is a tad impudent to compare Allied nations to ostriches, when their troops are deployed alongside US troops in another battlefield, following a heinous attack on US territory.

But maybe it is time for an American Firster kind of administration after all, rejecting alliances as things of the past, and preferring ad hoc coalitions adapted to defending US interests immediately at hand.

[cosimo]

Lider, I fall into the first category you mention above, I certainly consider myself to be working class. There is a natural hierachy in human life just as there is in the natural world. Its just a fact of life. I don't think people should be scornful or conceited of people at the lower end of the scale. I'm certainly not and I consider it offensive. However, I think its wrong to waste time and money trying to help everyone, particularly when many people don't want help, just money for booze, drugs and sky+. Just being from a bad background does not doom you to a life of poverty. I think if someone is going to make something of themselves, they will do that whether there is lavish support from government or not.

[Hollis]

Well, I like the guy's stance. Whether he should be the next candidate or not is something for Americans to decide, but this piece was enjoyable.




He is looking really good, I guess we will know more as the primaries heat up.

[loganinkosovo]

Punk A$$ed B!tch Michael Moore wants a debate with Fred

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash6.htm


Here's Fred's answer

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=611

Yep, Fred has "President" written all over him!

Fred Thompson 2008!!!!!

[Royal]

Are those french or german ships in support of OIF?

Didn't think so.....


No the Charles de Gaulle was cruising with the Sixth Fleet during the recent standoff with Iran because there wasn't enough room for it in the South Pacific :roll:

[SeanAshi]

“Paradise Island”
The myth of Cuban health care.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OWNhNzA2YmY3NTNjZjZhNjE1NmZjMDFkOTdjN2Q4ZmE=

[Lokos]

Oh no! The Russian bogeyman! KGB government! Locking up rioters! Protesting US powerplays the world over! Zey must be destroyed.

Lokos