Why Fred Thompson’s Day Has Arrived

<> by Christopher Adamo

It is altogether unfortunate that even now, in early 2007, so much focus and attention is being directed at the 2008 presidential election. America’s policy making apparatus would be better served, were the Democrats who constitute the Congressional “ruling class” more concerned with the well-being of the nation, and not so fixated on their noxious pursuit of political power.

Nevertheless, much of the nation’s direction in coming years will be determined by next year’s elections. But a convergence of forces from both sides of the political aisle bodes particularly ill for Republican prospects. While outwardly “bipartisan “ in nature, it is reflective of a pervasive liberal mindset.

Something needs to decidedly change, or else the currently disastrous political tack of the Democrats may be solidified as a harbinger of America’s future, for however long the nation can endure under such gross misdirection.

Throughout 2006, Republican compromise and capitulation to the big-spending, morally bankrupt agenda of the Democrats left the public largely disillusioned and demoralized. And that public sentiment was clearly reflected in the upheaval of the midterm elections, which shifted the country decidedly into the dominion of the Democrats.

Yet the GOP hardly recognized the lesson of last November, and instead has all too frequently appeared to concede to the guiding philosophies of the political left. While Americans grow increasingly outraged by the Democrats’ “cut and run” response to an ever encroaching Islamist malignancy, Republican reaction to the elections have, until recently, been excessively conciliatory and accommodating.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had initially been heralded in glowing terms, by everyone from the most junior House members to the President. As a result, her audacity and that of her cohorts has mushroomed. She now dares to collaborate with America’s enemies during an ill-advised Middle East junket.

Meanwhile, discussions of “bipartisanship” and “doing the peoples’ business” within the Congress (which translates as “spending money”) only serve to bolster the impression that things do go better with Democrats in charge. Moreover, Republican refusal to pursue rampant Democrat scandal and corruption lends credence to the notion that such malfeasance only occurs within the GOP. Clearly, the message of conservatism has been blurred.

Major Republican players such as former House Majority leader Dick Armey have sought to expunge conservative and Christian principle from the party, claiming that it is too polarizing. Bob Dole’s “big tent,” a perversion of Ronald Reagan’s winning concept of bolstering the ranks through inspirational leadership, is once again being floated as a means of “broadening the base,” by claiming devotion to every disparate interest group.

Oblivious to the fact that a watered-down party platform, which largely sidesteps true conservatism, is the primary reason for the GOP's poor showing last November, party “moderates” (read: unprincipled liberals) strain to the left. Though by doing so they will neither garner Democrat support, nor will they re-ignite any enthusiasm among the conservatives who abandoned them last year.

The current lineup of Republican “frontrunners,” led presently by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, epitomizes this mindset. But far from being a winning strategy, it is a recipe for disaster.

In an interview with Barbara Walters just this past week, Giuliani gave an ominous indication of just how his campaign will eventually implode at the hands of the Democrats and the liberal media. When asked about his wife’s involvement in his administration, he stated that, among other things, she would be in attendance at his cabinet meetings.

Once word of this got out, and was portrayed as a possible repeat of Bill and Hillary’s “co-presidency,” Giuliani backtracked, claiming that, as First Lady, his wife would pursue her own interests, dealing primarily with health and fitness. Clearly, neither his first assertion nor the subsequent disclaimer represented any heartfelt conviction, but instead resulted from blundered attempts at posturing and pandering.

In like manner, the lone effort by which he has attempted to woo conservatives amounts to a promise to appoint “originalist” judges to the Supreme Court. Yet he previously lauded ultra-liberal Clinton appointee Ruth Ginsburg in glowing terms. One need only consider this in light of his current incongruous behavior and its potentially dire ramifications, to understand why Rudy’s assurances on the judicial issue hold no weight with the conservative base.

Nevertheless, the “moderates” press forward, believing that a Giuliani victory would garner the power they desire, while ultimately neutralizing the annoying influence of the “religious right.” By the time that the consummate pragmatists who concocted this ill-begotten strategy realize that it cannot succeed, Hillary may well be holding up her right hand and swearing to protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States, so help her whoever.

Enter the former Republican Senator from Tennessee. By the mere suggestion that he might consider running for President, Fred Thompson has completely upset the GOP pragmatists’ apple cart. Without even campaigning, he is presently polling far beyond conservative pretender Mitt Romney. And he is coming on strong against McCain and Giuliani. In an effort to stave off Thompson’s momentum, Giuliani has been compelled to start running ads on conservative talk-radio programs.

Yet Thompson holds several advantages over any of his early-bird competitors. *With the exception of his previous support for campaign finance “reform,” he has staunchly upheld the conservative/pro-constitution philosophy. Thus, he is not burdened by any pile of liberal baggage from which he must extricate himself. He need not attempt to downplay or recast his past, but instead he can extol it as proof of his long-standing conservatism.

*On issues, he addresses head-on the major complaints conservatives have about his record. He was largely stymied in his 1997 investigation of both Clinton-Gore and GOP campaign fund-raising abuses: Key witnesses declined to testify or fled the country, though evidence eventually surfaced of a Chinese plan to influence U.S. politics. He won’t argue with those who say he showed “naiveté” about how he would be stonewalled in his investigation. He says he’s wiser now.

Many on the right remain angry he supported the campaign finance law sponsored by his friend John McCain. “There are problems with people giving politicians large sums of money and then asking them to pass legislation,” Mr. Thompson says. Still, he notes he proposed the amendment to raise the $1,000 per person “hard money” federal contribution limit.

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.”

WSJ.Opinion Journal

Although he has not yet formally announced, all signs point in that direction. Columnist Robert Novak, in an April 3, 2007 article, assures us that Thompson does indeed intend to run.

So, with mainstream America expectantly awaiting the entrance of a true Reaganite candidate into the presently wanting field of Republican presidential hopefuls, Thompson’s best bet is to simply be himself, and make no apologies for standing as firmly as he has. In fact, he should accept every attack on his conservative beliefs as an opportunity to reassert his devotion to them.

By so doing, he could take the White House with an enthusiastic mandate from the grassroots. Furthermore, once in office he would be in an ideal position to re-establish the boundaries of conservatism and liberalism with sufficient clarity to drive the left into full retreat.

Hope has arrived in the 2008 race for the White House.

Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer and staff writer for the New Media Alliance. He lives in southeastern Wyoming. He has been active in local and state politics for many years. His contact information and archives can be found at www.chrisadamo.com