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| Fred Thompson: Reading Harry Reid |
| 2007-06-19 |
| Not much I can add to this. Read It. Well, you've heard by now that Senate leader Harry Reid insulted one of this country's brightest military minds, Marine Corps General Peter Pace -- calling him "incompetent." Let me take a few moments to put this in context. First, Harry Reid voted for the war, like a majority of our legislators. America decided as a nation to free Iraq and the region from Saddam Hussein's tyranny. I have friends, both Democrat and Republican, who questioned the decision at the time, but the Republic made a commitment based on constitutional and democratic procedures. So they are now a hundred percent committed to moving forward in a way thatÂ’s best for our country. None of them, by the way, believe surrendering to the forces of terror in Iraq is what's best for our country. Harry Reid, though, has taken a different route. He made his statement about General Pace on a conference call with fringe elements of the blogosphere who think we're the bad guys. This is a place where even those who think the 9/11 attacks were an inside job find a home. And why shouldn't they think that? Reid has led the attack on the administration, with Nancy Pelosi, charging it lied and tricked America into supporting the war. Ignoring multiple hearings and investigations into pre-war intelligence findings that have debunked this paranoid myth, they accuse an entire administration of conspiracy to trick us into a war. I suppose that's easier for some than admitting that they've flip flopped -- but the fact that Reid says this sinister Republican plot is going to help him elect more Democrats ought to be raising a few flags. Saying General Pace is incompetent doesn't even rank near the top of his bizarre statements. How could anyone possibly believe, as Reid charges, that our commanding general in Iraq, David Petraeus, is out of touch with what's going on. Surely someone in Reid's position would know that Petraeus is briefed daily on all aspects of Iraq -- from civil to military. Surely he has to know that Petraeus is a true warrior scholar who literally wrote the Army's book on counterinsurgency warfare. But Reid's comments are not meant for logical analysis. He proclaimed the war lost some time ago, and the surge as a failure even before the additional troops were on the ground. The problem is that every one of Reid's comments I've noted here has also been reported gleefully by Al Jazeera and other anti-American media. Whether he means to or not, heÂ’s encouraging our enemies to believe that they are winning the critical war of will. Sounds like Fred has been reading the 'burg all along. We going to declare the the Rantburg Candidate for President someday? |
| Posted by:OldSpook |
| #15 wxjames, he backed McCain Feingold because of this: "There are problems with people giving politicians large sums of money and then asking them to pass legislation," Mr. Thompson says. Conceding that McCain-Feingold hasn't worked as intended, and is being riddled with new loopholes, he throws his hands open in exasperation. "I'm not prepared to go there yet, but I wonder if we shouldn't just take off the limits and have full disclosure with harsh penalties for not reporting everything on the Internet immediately." HANNITY: You were one of 11 Republicans who supported McCain-Feingold. A lot of conservatives are angry at that. Do you still support it? Was it the right decision, in retrospect? THOMPSON: Part of it was, and part of it wasn't. The part that I came to town to change was the increasing amounts of money being given to politicians. The Clintons showed us how to use soft money in ways that people up until recently thought was against the law. And more and more large donations flowed into the parties and to the candidates. He now says it didn't work out as planned and we should scrap it, let anybody donate anything to anyone, as long as it is reported and available immediately on the internet. Also - he was quoted if you did that as a businessman, gave someone money then went to them for business on a contract or a bid, you'd be thrown in jail. So yeah, he voted for it, but for all the right reasons - and apparently he has the good sense to learn from his errors. Unlike Bush. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2007-06-19 23:01 |
| #14 So far Thompson's the man--and he's not even running yet! |
| Posted by: Mac 2007-06-19 19:08 |
| #13 I saw an interview he gave recently in that he expresses regret in voting for it. He said it had turned into one of the worst mistakes in finance reform in a long time. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-06-19 17:34 |
| #12 The McCain/Feingold bill on campagain spending vote is the least of my worries when it comes to his decision making abilities. I don't hear anyone saying it like Fred Thompson and I think he has a better grasp on the dangers and illogical memes that everyone's ignoring. He's the type of guy I really believe would support the troops and make America stronger. As for Bush, he's a lousy speaker and manager of public opinion. |
| Posted by: Criling Fillmore7165 2007-06-19 16:56 |
| #11 Will one of you Thompson fans explain why he voted for the McCain/Feingold bill ? Maybe Fred is just a populist who says what you want to hear. He reminds me of Bush who is now America's number one turncoat. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2007-06-19 16:14 |
| #10 Try my blog for info on fred Coloradoansforthompson.blogspot.com Also look at fredthompsonfaq.com Use the Fredipedia link and read thhe FAQs There is plenty on immigration - border and enforcemnt first, government - smaller and federaism, judges - constitutional federalism, 2nd amendment means what it says and is idividual right, mexico - needs to clean up and not export their problems to us, war on terror - win it, war in iraq - we made mistakes let's fix them and win it. He also outlined the looming threat China imposes that everyone else ignores, etc. Ask me and I probably have a thompson quote that covers it. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2007-06-19 14:27 |
| #9 I'll settle for a hanging then. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-06-19 14:12 |
| #8 Sorry Vader, firing squad is only available via military sentencing. We could always have him in inhale next to a perspiring Michael Moore. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2007-06-19 13:47 |
| #7 Looks to me like he'd be another "Great Communicator" As Ronald Regan was often called. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-06-19 13:13 |
| #6 Thompson is definitely getting my attention. |
| Posted by: Xenophon 2007-06-19 10:29 |
| #5 Excalibur has it about right. Specific policies are important up to a point. BUT, it's character and principles that count most. Specific policies are subject to the art of the possible in politics. You won't get exactly what you want. What counts is that the President is pushing in the right direction. Additionally, and most important, is that character and principle is what informs the response to those unforseen situations that didn't come up during the election. Think about 9/11, what were the things that counted most? Character and principle. That's why even Demonrats in the early days were quietly saying that they were glad Bush beat AlGore. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2007-06-19 10:01 |
| #4 Reid is guilty of sedition and treason, since his comments are aimed at hurting the US during a time of war and aids and helps the enemy. He should be charged, tried and shot. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-06-19 09:52 |
| #3 As a foreign Rantburgian I am 100% with Thompson for whatever that is worth. Yes, the policy specifics are not there (yet) but I believe it is far more important that the next President - whoever that turns out to be - understands the problem. Fred Thompson is the only (potential) candidate who qualifies on that score; even Guiliani sounds wet to me at times. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-06-19 09:08 |
| #2 I love his commentary but that is the easy part. What's his plan on immigration, Social Security, foreign policy, and domestic issues? I like his comments but I need something behind those words. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2007-06-19 07:41 |
| #1 We going to declare the the Rantburg Candidate for President someday? Count me in! |
| Posted by: Pat Paulsen 2007-06-19 07:12 |