The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Freddie and the Dreamers

7.20.07 @ 12:01AM

FRED RECKONING
Re: James G. Poulos's The Clock Strikes Fred:

I agree that the time for Fred Thompson to declare or step aside has passed, but for different reasons. Rather than look at the issue in the context of what is good for Fred Thompson, he should look at it in the context of what is good for his party, and his country.

Leaders do not sit in the wings waiting to see how things are going to break. They get out in front and lead. It requires them to assume great risks for the sake of those that follow. If Fred Thompson believes he is the best person to serve us as our candidate and our president, then it is his duty to step forward, right now. If he is ultimately the Republican candidate, I will lend him my vigorous support; but so far he is not scoring any points with this member of the Republican base.

Part of his failure to get in the ring may be due to his background as a legislator and an actor. Legislators do not actually do things. Rather, they make laws that require other people to do things. Actors pretend to be other people that are doing. I take his word as a gentleman that he truly believes that he has what it takes to lead us, but he must follow that word by showing us what he can do, not just say.

In contrast, both Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani have spent their lives taking on and accomplishing huge, complex, difficult, and important missions; today they are out there working very hard for the sake of our country. Anyone that takes the time to look at the brilliant achievements of Mitt Romney has to be astonished. Rudy Giuliani's great achievements are widely known. Unfortunately, both these candidates are raising far less money than their Democrat counterparts. One reason for that is, without knowing who is in or out of the race, people are reluctant to make commitments.

Fred Thompson would serve us well if he would lead, follow, or get out of the way.
-- Tom Dykers
Goochland, Virginia

James G. Poulos writes as if he is an attorney and doctoral candidate in Government. Fred Thompson is not running for President of the Washington Beltway, where Mr. Poulos's arguments would make sense. Out here in the real world, the President is not such a pariah as he describes nor is anyone that interested in who is running for President in the middle of summer. The fish are biting, the grass needs cutting and the Tigers are in a pennant race. Old Fred seems to know the game pretty well. He'll get in to the race in plenty of time.
-- Pat Bruen

It seems to me, and probably to most conservatives as well, when Mr. Thompson finally does declare, he will immediately face a fork in the road. Mr Poulos does an admirable job describing and condensing the two main choices along that road: either to stick with pure ideology or to further conservative principles (not the same as Republican principles, as we witnessed the disintegration of such in Nov 06).

However, I must depart from the separation analysis of the good author. It is not the separation from President Bush that the good former Senator must consider. It is separation from the Republican status quo which must be executed, of which Presidential separation is only a subset.

This is the moment to re-establish that wonderful 1994 era of true conservative thought. Fred must convince the life-long victims of liberal rhetoric of, and become the leading figure for, low taxes, individual freedom, limited Government, and self reliance, and then carry that WFB, Jr.-inspired mantra all the way to Nov 08. It can be done, why? Because more than just conservatives are yearning for it. Don't believe what the MSM tells you; you only need to believe what you see. Do you see it yet? I do, and hopefully, so does Fred.
-- Owen H. Carneal, Jr.
Yorktown, Virginia

Disclaimer; I am a committed supporter of the campaign of Fred Thompson for President. It is my supreme hope to see him inaugurated and assume command in the Oval Office on Jan. 20, 2009.

I believe that Fred has pursued a brilliant strategy to this point. Anyone paying attention knows that there were some real life contractual obligations that precluded Fred from announcing anything until recently. That said, I truly believe that we are at the point of seriously diminishing returns, and may, in fact, be about to tip over into negative consequences, if the same strategy is continued. There is an old, but wise, expression that someone needs to do a bodily function or get off the pot -- to clean up the expression a bit. In my humble opinion, it is that time for Fred.

It is time for Fred to announce, one way or the other. Get in or get out. Without Fred the Republican field is an utter catastrophe, in my view. Nevertheless, it is obvious that Fred is no longer avoiding any of the slings and arrows from the other GOP candidates or from the donkey party candidates either.

C'mon, Fred, do it, announce that you are running. I double dog dare you.
-- Ken Shreve
New Hampshire

ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR
Re: Katharine Boswell's Antioch Agonistes:

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Taxes, Education, Harry Reid, Mainstream Media, Sports, Islam, Abortion, Global Warming, Law, Supreme Court, Military, Iraq, Iran, NATO, Communism, Immigration, Energy, Oil, Unions