More "Thompson for President" News

Brian Doherty | April 2, 2007

What was I saying just the other day about "an endless campaign where 'every few days' is going to bring us any number of go-nowhere flashes in the pan" in the context of the Fred Thompson leap for GOP presidential glory? Anyway, now it is former Wisconsin gov and first-term Bush HHS secretary Tommy Thompson's turn. (Note to Tommy: April 1 not the best day to announce second-tier presidential ambitions. And if I'm the April Fool here, apologies in advance to our readers.)

My favorite of his announced positions? An Iraqi government decision on whether or not U.S. troops should stay in Iraq. No, I don't think other countries should in general get to decide on where our military stays or goes--but it shows some daring within the current Bush-dominated Republican context to suggest that the desires of the Iraqi people (if we can assume their elected government reflects them, which is probably a bit of a stretch) should be at least a necessary if not sufficient condition for our continued presence there to make any sense.

OK, I'm grasping at straws here. Disturbing announcement: He'd can Gonzalez, but seems to think his real sin was not being loyal enough to King President. Read the full AP account of the other Thompson's announcement for more.

Comments

|4.2.07 @ 11:01AM|#

I'll vote for Fred Thompson if he changes his name to Froederick "Danegeld" Thömpson.

Brian, any predictions about tonight? I think the Gators will win handily, assuming that they don't self destruct for some reason. Might as well enjoy it now, since we'll be losing most of the starters, win or lose. I don't think Donovan will leave, though.

|4.2.07 @ 11:02AM|#

No, I don't think other countries should in general get to decide on where our military stays or goes

Me neither, which is why I think the whole Mother-may-I routine with the UN before the Iraq invasion was not only pointless, but actually harmful in the long run.

|4.2.07 @ 11:05AM|#

Is there a serious case being made anywhere that we're in Iraq contrary to the wishes of the Iraqi government?

Hoping|4.2.07 @ 11:19AM|#

I wonder if Thompson's going to make an issue out of his integral role in securing school choice?

|4.2.07 @ 11:22AM|#

"'No, I don't think other countries should in general get to decide on where our military stays or goes'

Me neither, which is why I think the whole Mother-may-I routine with the UN before the Iraq invasion was not only pointless, but actually harmful in the long run."

When your goal is to achieve a political outcome, not merely a military one, it is wise to have a political strategy as welll.

|4.2.07 @ 11:23AM|#

"Is there a serious case being made anywhere that we're in Iraq contrary to the wishes of the Iraqi government?"

No, just the Iraqi public.

The people whose security, power, and wealth depend on our presence support our presence, obviously.

|4.2.07 @ 11:58AM|#

Who really cares what the Iraqi people want?

|4.2.07 @ 11:59AM|#

True enough joe.

Of course, when one is trying to achieve cultural and political transformation, it is also best not to impose artificial deadlines.

|4.2.07 @ 12:04PM|#

Pro Lib,

I was out in your neck of the woods (So. Tampa IIRC) on Sat. watching the Gators game at Hooters on Gandy.

I am a 'Canes fan, so, still bitter about our disappointing football season and the Gator championship, I am rooting against the Gators every time :)

|4.2.07 @ 12:10PM|#

JimmyDaGeek,

Multiple national championships are a powerful recruiting inducement. As Miami should know from its quickly fading past :)

I hope that we disappoint you and the state of Ohio yet again!

I'm a Tampa Norte person myself, incidentally.

|4.2.07 @ 12:12PM|#

Fred D Thompson is a very interesting candidate, he is a serious conservative, and by far the one least hypocritical. I follow with great interest his potential bid for the top seat.

|4.2.07 @ 12:21PM|#

Pro Libertate | April 2, 2007, 12:10pm | #
JimmyDaGeek,


...I'm a Tampa Norte person myself, incidentally.

In that case, then, I was in your neck o' the woods on Friday - at SideSplitters in Carrollwood.

As for the multiple championships / fading glory thing...Talk to me when the Gators reach the 'Canes number of football trophies (read: Never).

|4.2.07 @ 12:24PM|#

"Of course, when one is trying to achieve cultural and political transformation, it is also best not to impose artificial deadlines."

True enough, RC. If you find anyone who is both "trying to achieve cultural and political transformation" and who supports artificial deadlines, let us know. From where I'm sitting, there seem to be mutually exclusive groups behind each of those stances.

|4.2.07 @ 12:48PM|#

JimmyDaGeek,

Funny--UCLA was saying the same thing about basketball the second time that we beat them :)

Bitter rivalries aside, what do you think of the Miami move to the ACC? Has it hurt the team? Interesting that USF is now in the Big East--I need a road map to keep up with all of this.

|4.2.07 @ 1:09PM|#

I wouldn't say that the move to the ACC hurt them, but it is definitely a more competitive conference than the Big East was. Obviously, it's a cyclical thing. They won their last championship in 2001, at which point they lost many of their starters. They had plenty of time to rebuild, which they did a good job of, but I think that all of the pressure that the media was placing on Coker really distracted the team. Randy Shannon stands to acquire a pretty decent team this year, hopefully he'll be able to do what Coker did when he replaced Butch Davis.

|4.2.07 @ 1:26PM|#

From where I'm sitting, there seem to be mutually exclusive groups behind each of those stances.

True dat.

|4.2.07 @ 2:20PM|#

JimmyDaGeek,

What's interesting to me about state of Florida football is that it looks like FSU is about to fall off the map if something doesn't change up there ASAP. Wouldn't break my heart, of course, though my real dislikes are reserved for one or more SEC teams. Like Georgia--phooey.

|4.2.07 @ 5:41PM|#

Is there a serious case being made anywhere that we're in Iraq contrary to the wishes of the Iraqi government?

Didn't the Iraqi PM suggest to Bush that we withdraw by June 30 of this year?

|4.2.07 @ 9:26PM|#

I see where the Worst! Congressman! Ever! has entered the presidential fray (the one whose name rhymes with Speedo, which conjures up an image I'll be weeks getting over)...

|4.3.07 @ 8:54AM|#

I love the smell of burnt Buckeyes in the morning. It smells like. . .victory.

CW Goad|4.5.07 @ 10:28PM|#

www.grassrootsvoter.com

Fred Thompson has a natural grassroots force run by everyday people and uncomparable to any other political machine. Should he decide to go for it, he CAN win the presidency.

Find out why we believe this and why we, and so many other everyday American citizens have already committed to work tirelessly for Fred. Join more than 6,900 of us in the most important grassroots campaign ever!

www.grassrootsvoter.com