Democrats Launch Attack on Fred Thompson

You can smell the fear. It hangs like a cloud over the DNC, and HRC knows better than anyone what a formidable opponent Senator Thompson will be. Expect a lot more of this in the coming months as we "shift into the top slot and drop the hammer" (truckers term for high gear and top speed).

Strap in tight, folks; this is going to be one hell of a ride!!!!

Former Sen. Fred Thompson hasn’t yet announced if he will seek the GOP nomination for president in 2008, but the Democrats have already gone on the attack in anticipation of a Thompson run.

A fundraising e-mail sent out by the Democratic National Committee focuses on the general perception of Thompson as a Washington outsider, calling him the “inside-outsider.”
The e-mail reads in part: “Remember the Republican culture of corruption? The revolving door of Republican politicians moving in and out of top political offices and Washington, D.C., lobbying firms? That’s Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson.

“For years, acting wasn’t the ‘Law & Order’ star’s profession — it was a hobby. In the real world, Thompson has made a fortune in a decades-long career as a Washington lobbyist . . .
“As he runs for president, he’ll try his hardest to hide the truth from the American people. And we need to stop him.”

Seeking to cast Thompson’s Senate career as lackluster, the DNC has also released a “research document” headlined “Major Legislative Accomplishments of Sen. Fred Dalton Thompson (1994-2002).” The page is then blank until the line, “Paid for by the Democratic National Committee,” politico.com reports.

Another DNC paper outlines several approaches to an attack on Thompson, including “defender of George Bush,” “already has a flip-flop problem,” “controversial legal clients may cause problems,” and “lobbying career full of land mines.”

Thompson has not set a date for an announcement of a presidential run, but advisers told politico.com that the need to prepare for the likely attacks will probably push the date back from the first week in July to later in the month.

A recent CNN poll found that Thompson now trails only Rudy Giuliani among candidates for the Republican nomination.

What Every American Needs to Know About Jihad

David Horowitz has put together something you should see.

Nancy Pelosi invests in Iran-linked company

Why am I not surprised?

Fred Says "It Was A Good Day for America"

This has been a good day for America.

For a while, it didn’t look like Washington was going to listen to us regarding real immigration reform. Thankfully, we’ve been spared a serious mistake, but I wonder if things would have turned out the way they did without the work done by the bloggers, talk radio and the American people. Rush, Hannity, Laura Ingraham, RedState, Powerline, Pajamas Media and a lot of others have done a great job. Take that, Fairness Doctrine.

I’m up in New Hampshire today. Met some great people and got to help the state GOP up in the Granite State. I did want to clarify something coming out of my time yesterday in Columbia, South Carolina.

Anybody who knows my track record or has read some of the things I’ve written about the Cuban-American community knows where I stand. While the communist dictatorship has been a tragedy for Cuba, America has been in some ways, at least, the beneficiary.

One of those benefits is the presence of the great Cuban-American artist, Gloria Estefan. She co-wrote a song called “No hay mal que por bien no venga” which I understand translates something like — there’s no bad that doesn’t bring some good. The bad that is Castro’s tyranny has given America one of the greatest communities in the Western Hemisphere.
And no one knows better than that community that the Castro regime remains dedicated to infiltrating American institutions to spread his ideology of tyranny. Castro admitted it himself in an interview with CNN in 1998.

This is why the Cuban government rightfully remains on the State Department’s terrorist list for its continued support of terrorism. It’s also why we must oppose the illegal immigration of Castro’s agents into the United States while welcoming the vast majority who immigrate legally and with legal intentions.

It seems to me that few Americans understand the threat that the illegal entry by Cuban spies represents to our country, though Cuban-Americans have never forgotten or stopped pointing it out. Ambassador Otto Reich, the former Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere has called Castro’s efforts to penetrate U.S. intelligence networks “relentless.”

The best-known incident involving Cuban espionage, which many believe may have provided U.S. secrets to hostile Middle Eastern regimes, is probably that of former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Ana Belen Montes — convicted of espionage in 2002. Now, our intelligence picture has been further complicated by the emergence of oil-funded Hugo Chavez and his anti-American, pro-Castro regime. We know that Cuban intelligence officers, for instance, are in South America — presumably training Venezuelans and others in the intelligence arts.

Our national security is too important an issue to let folks twist words around for a one-day headline. Cuban-Americans are among the staunchest opponents of illegal immigration, and especially so when it’s sponsored by the Castro regime. We know we have a porous southern border in which they can currently slip through easily. Our enemies know it too.

All of us should be rightfully concerned about Castro and his ideological pal Chavez sending agents and provocateurs into the United States through Mexico. I’m sure that Cuban-Americans share this concern as well.

We’ve seen today what the voice of the people can do in Washington. Let’s hope similar voices can do the same thing for Cuba.

Fred Thompson at his Best

H/T to redstate, haystack and tennyson

Right now we live in times of great challenges. There are key issues that will forever shape the face of the world we live in and the nation that our children and grandchildren grow up in.

(1) The Threat to Western Civilization Posed by Radical Islam

We have to recognize the degree and severity of the threat posed by Radical Islam. They have already killed thousands of us and, if allowed to, would kill millions. They see this as a many centuries struggle. We must be resolved to fight this war as long as it takes so that they do not achieve their hopes and dreams. They are willing to sacrifice millions of people to see the end of Western Civilization and we must understand this. We must be unrelenting in our advance and be fully committed to winning this long war.

The consequences of failure are an end to life as we know it today.

/snip

I truly believe that we are at a crossroads as a country on these issues and others. But, we are not without a guide in this journey. We have something we can look to.

(4) The Wisdom of the Founders

We should turn our thoughts and attention back to out two founding documents - the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. In the Declaration we find our common values - a nation under God where our rights our given to us by our Creator.
It is not in the powers of men or government to take them away. Governments and men are to uphold and defend these rights - that is why they are instituted. We are to be a free people - holding properties, participating in free commerce, respecting the liberties of others, and fostering a culture of Life.
It is in our founding.
We are not just given principles by our founders, but a form that tries to ensure that those principles will be made manifest and maintained for generations to come. That is where we must look to the Constitution as a system designed to ensure and guard those liberties for a long, long time.
With its clear sets of checks and balances, separation of powers, and delineation of power and responsibility of Federal and State governments, it gives us a rich and true guideline for guarding and nurturing the rights of a free people into a prosperous state.

(5) Eternal Truths and a New American Political Coalition

Many things are changing in this world, but we must also remember that there is much about man and human nature that does not change. Our founders understood this and we must understand it again. We must rise to this time and these challenges. With a common commitment, we can build a new coalition of Republicans, some Democrats, and many Independents to our common American creed.

That is what I think is possible. Challenges that are great but that can be overcome together by an attention to the wisdom of those that came before us. We have faced it before in wars, depressions, and many other times. We can and must face up to this again. We are the hope of the Western World. It is our calling and duty to respond.
Thank you all.
I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and will do my utmost to fulfill the mission ahead of us.

Final Days of Rolling Victory Fast

Tonight at 0000 hours, I begin my last 24 hour fast for my good friends at TankerBrothers.
I spent the early evening with some very fine people for the first time.
We had great discussion of current events and we seem to agree on most everything.
I had a BLT and two Coronas.
I'm going to make coffee now.

This one is for RCT-6
THEY WANT MAIL!!!
TELL THEM YOU SUPPORT THEM!!!

and a good friend who allowed me the honor of witnessing his promotion and get his rocker at Cherry Point.
He just arrived in the sandbox.
First tour.
Our prayers are with you.

NEW PRO-VICTORY IN IRAQ GROUP TO RALLY AT FORT MONMOUTH

There is nothing that can prepare you for this experience. The sight of 1500 to 3000 veterans, proudly displaying their history with every patch, every ribbon, every medal, on their leather vests.

Bikers
Veterans

Imposing, menacing, serious, dedicated to one message:

"NOT AGAIN,
NOT THIS TIME,
NOT THIS WAR,
NOT ON MY WATCH"

This one is important. This one we have to win.

When: 12 noon, Saturday, June 30, 2007
Where: Main gate to Fort Monmouth
Main St. at Tilton Avenue, Eatontown, NJ

Hackensack, New Jersey - This Saturday, June 30, 2007, at 12 noon, members of the New Jersey and North Carolina chapters of the new pro-victory in Iraq national organization, Gathering of Eagles, will join the Coastal New Jersey chapter of the Protest Warriors at Fort Monmouth to rally in support of our military and victory in the war on terror.

Gathering of Eagles was founded earlier this year by Vietnam veterans who do not want this generation of America’s servicemen and women to be betrayed on the battlefield by their country as they were when they served in Vietnam.

Gathering of Eagles has held numerous rallies across the country in recent months to counter so-called antiwar protests including those held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and the graduation ceremonies at the Coast Guard Academy and West Point.

The NJ Coastal Warriors is a local chapter of the national organization Protest Warriors, and is headed by Karl Singer, a resident of Bayville, NJ. Singer formed the chapter four years ago in response to weekly Saturday gatherings of so-called anti-war protesters at Fort Monmouth’s main gate. Singer and his group have maintained their weekly counter-protest and plan to continue to do so until “the day the protesters no longer show up”.

The North Carolina Gathering of Eagles contingent is being lead by Lawrence B. Hoffa, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC (Ret.) Hoffa has served as National GoE Executive Officer and National Director of Eagle Affairs/Recruiting, and is presently an “Eagle foot soldier”. The North Carolina Eagles will be arriving in Fort Monmouth on June 30, after having spent Friday evening in Washington, D.C. attending the weekly FreeRepublic.com pro-troops rally at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

For additional information, contact:

Karl Singer
Coastal NJ Protest Warrior Chapter Leader

Senator Thompson on the Fairness Doctrine

Posted by Fred Dalton Thompson on 5/17/2007 5:12:34 PM:

I had planned on talking a bit today about Venezuela. The president there doesn't like the way his media is covering him, so he's doing away with the free press. He's established rules on what he thinks is fair, and he’s denying licenses to television and radio stations that don't play by government rules.

I can't criticize him now, though. After all, how would it seem for me to complain about another country, when our own congressional leadership is trying to put the same sort of rules in place here? To do so, they're pulling the Fairness Doctrine out of the dustbin of history.

The Fairness Doctrine is an artifact from the days when there were only a handful of television channels and radio stations on our dials. Then, there might have been something to the fear that somebody might get control of all the media outlets in an area -- so equal time rules were put in place.

As television and radio stations increased, it became clear that the rule was a bust. Instead of protecting free speech, it imposed costs on broadcasters that killed political discussion entirely. Why run the risk of dealing with anything controversial and having the regulators and the lawyers come down on you? Instead of talking about issues, news directors used stopwatches to measure candidates' airtime.

Finally, in 1987, the Federal Communications Commission ended the antiquated policy. Today, with more cable and local access channels than anybody can keep track of -- the equal time rule makes even less sense. Throw in the Internet, and it's absurd.

The real issue here is not what you "can" see or hear -- which is what the Fairness Doctrine was about originally. It's what you're "choosing" to see or hear.

Insiders say it was the collapse of the radio show "Air America" that led to this attempt to retool the Fairness Doctrine as a form of de facto censorship. I guess the idea is that, if you can't compete in the world of ideas, you pass a law that forces radio stations to air your views. In effect, it would force a lot of radio stations to drop some talk show hosts -- because they would lose money providing equal airtime to people who can’t attract a market or advertisers.

The funny thing is that the success of the current crop of radio talk show hosts is due, in part, to a lot of people’s perception that broadcast television doesn’t give the views of their audience a fair shake. Maybe I shouldn't admit it, since I dabble in radio myself, but this media used to be viewed as a kind of broadcast ghetto. The bi-coastal elite had such a grip on the major newspapers and television networks; they pretty much ignored the hinterlands. It was media flyover country.

Now congressional leaders say they want to “level the playing field” there too – meaning they want to diminish the importance of conservative talk radio. In other words, they don’t trust the results of freedom and the marketplace. Why am I not surprised?

So what's next, or rather, who is next, to fall victim to the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" if it's allowed to make a comeback? Will bloggers be targeted if they don't post, or allow others to post, views which are 180 degrees opposed to what they normally post?
How about milbloggers? Will they be forced to allow anti-military views, like the ones espoused by code pink or will they just shut-down?
My guess? They'll tell whomever says that to go have winged intercourse with a round mobile pastry.

Can a devout Muslim be a "good" American

I received this from a friend this morning, and thought I'd pass it along. Keep this in mind, the moonbat liberals scream and rant about "seperation of church and state". Anytime a Boy Scout troop uses a public building, anytime a Veteran's organization erects a cross to remember the fallen in a Military Cemetary, anytime a judge has the Ten Commandments posted in his courtroom, the moonbats rant and rave about theocracy and forcing religion down our throats. Yet, they condone Islam, the very essence of which is forced belief through intimidation and call us bigots and racists if we point out the obvious discrepencies.

Have you ever thought -- Is Muslim-American really an oxymoron?
Can a devout Muslim be an American patriot and a loyal citizen?
I forwarded that question to a friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years. The following is his forwarded reply:
"Theologically, no. Because his allegiance is to Allah, the moon god of Arabia.

Religiously, no. Because no other religion is accepted by his Allah except Islam (Quran, 2:256)

Scripturally, no Because his allegiance is to the five pillars of Islam and the Quran (Koran).

Geographically, no. Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day.

Socially, no. Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews.

Politically, no. Because he must submit to the mullah (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America, the great Satan.

Domestically, no. Because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34).

Intellectually, no. Because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.

Philosophically, no. Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam cannot co- exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.

Spiritually, no. Because when we declare "one nation under God," the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in the Quran's 99 excellent names."

Therefore after much study and deliberation.... perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. They obviously cannot be both "good" Muslims and good Americans. Call it what you wish.....it's still the truth.
The more who understand this, the better it will be; for the religious war is
bigger and more complex than most Americans currently know or
understand

Tax Cuts for Kids

The link above takes you to the Townhall Column written by Senator Thompsom. I've put the entire column on this site, but the link includes the comments section. Comments posted by people who I assume are ordinary citizens, just like me.
Some of these comments are interesting in the fact that the people posting them seem to have some twisted view of Senator Thompson's credentials, his morals and his history.

One of the reasons I keep ringing the bell about the Bush tax cuts is that they’ve been so good for our country in so many ways. Letting them expire would amount to a tax hike of historic proportions -- a tax hike that would take a higher share of our total economy than any year but one since the end of World War II.

Prosperity is a wonderful thing in many ways. When societies have strong economies, people voluntarily take care of all kinds of problems, and the quality of life improves for everybody. This may be particularly true for children. Look around the world and you see healthy, growing economies have cleaner environments and better educational systems. The wealthier a society is, the better its children are in terms of nutrition, health care and even crime.

The Wall Street Journal recently ran a story about an article in the Journal of Social Issues. It documents the drop in the rates of crime against children from the early 1990s. Let me give you just a few examples.

Since 1993, according to Justice Department statistics, the juvenile homicide rate was cut in half. For kids between the ages of 14 and 17, the reduction was even greater. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System shows child abuse declined by 43 percent and childhood sexual abuse by almost half. Sexual assaults against adolescents dropped by more than two thirds and aggravated assaults by almost 75 percent.

This is dramatically good news, especially for children and their parents. And the reasons behind these improvements in the lives of American children are linked to economic growth. With increased revenues on a state and local level, more police were hired. Financially healthy families took their children to doctors more often, who were more likely to prescribe medications and other treatments. The study even pointed out that increased financial health reduces family tensions and produces happier children -- less prone to problem behaviors.

The irony is that we got these improvements in our children’s lives from a strong economy driven by tax cuts. Now we're being told that tax cuts have to end, so that the government can tax us and spend the money on programs to accomplish what Americans already did for themselves. And they did it far better than any bureaucracy ever could.