Fredheads Long For A True Conservative

March 30, 2007

 

I can't remember a time when the pickings in the Republican primary were so slim. John McCain, who certainly has the resume to be president, appears to have gone off the deep end. Except for his steadfast support of getting the job done in Iraq, McCain has proven himself to be a RINO, a Republican In Name Only. His lack of support for the Bush tax cuts was troubling but his support of amnesty for illegal aliens is downright frightening.

Rudy Giuliani has never really been a Republican by conservative standards. Another RINO, Giuliani is quite liberal on social issues and his checkered personal life leaves him wholly unqualified to be trusted with the reins of power.

Mitt Romney, for the world, looks like a presidential candidate straight out of Central Casting. Despite his good looks and social credentials, Romney doesn't excite too many on the right nor will he excite many more should he get the nomination.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is toying with the idea of jumping in. He has the conservative record in the House but also brings an incredible amount of personal baggage a la Giuliani.

The second-tier candidates like Tom Tancredo and Duncan Hunter seem to have the conservative cause at heart but lack the personality to draw the bulk of the other conservatives into their camp, let alone capture the imagination of the entire country. My personal observation is their campaign infrastructure is ill-equipped to propel either of them into the top tier.

Where does that leave conservatives like me? It leaves us longing for Fred Thompson. Fred has the whole package. He's a commanding presence both on and off television. He brings to the table senatorial experience with a respectable conservative record. He also has something the others simply do not have. He has the ability to inspire. Not just conservatives within the Republican Party but an entire nation. He's, dare I say, Reaganesque. He's a southern-fried version of the Great Communicator. His plain-spoken style cuts through the fog of mind-numbing rhetoric that's emitted from the mouths of so many others who seem to want the job too much. The fact that Fred has pondered the run for the White House instead of knocking over everyone else trying to get to the cameras is refreshing and inspiring.

As you'll recall, this is much how George W. Bush rose to power, although I must add his presidency has been somewhat of a disappointment. He sat back as governor of Texas while the speculation swirled around him, entering the race at just the right time. Fred is doing the same thing. Some say it may be too late to capitalize on the coveted mother's milk of politics – money. I say they're wrong. This drought of good candidates has created a political desert of thirsty voters and Fred's entry into the race would be like a long overdue shower of rain.

Political pundits point to past elections and entry points of candidates that came too late. This election is different. The lackluster field is coupled with the urgency that there's so much at stake. Another President Clinton or a President Obama would mean a rubber stamp of the insanity being cooked up by the liberal leadership in Congress. A tidal wave of massive taxing and spending is being held at bay only by a weakened president who holds his feeble finger in the dike. Fred Thompson has the power and ability to abate the waters and sweep into power like-minded conservatives to bolster the dam.

For the future of this country, we need Fred Thompson.