Fred Thompson gets tough in Iowa

Thompson steps up rhetoric, visibility in Iowa
WBIR-TV | Bill Theobald

OSKALOOSA, Iowa - Fred Thompson has shied from directly criticizing his Republican rivals seeking the presidential nomination. He's also not been part of the daily lineup of television ads jamming Iowa's airwaves.

Both changed Friday.

Thompson called on Mike Huckabee to explain why he wants the United States to apologize for Thursday's killing of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

The former Tennessee senator said he was concerned what people around the world "will think when they see a presidential candidate was apologizing" for the assassination. "That's hard to understand," he said.

Fred Thompson Comments on Benazir Bhutto assassination

Fred Thompson on Benazir Bhutto assassination (Fox Interview)
Fred08 | December 27, 2007

HARRIS FAULKNER : Senator, your reaction, first, to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

FRED THOMPSON : It is a tragedy, of course. It reminds us that things can happen in faraway places of the world that can affect the United States. I think this should be of great concern to us. It is almost a perfect storm in a very bad sense because two forces are operating against each other that are both desirable. One is democracy: they were making progress in that regard in that country. Former prime minister Bhutto was an important part of that process. But the other is stability. Pakistan is a nuclear country, and we cannot afford to let nukes fall into the hands of dangerous Muslim radicals. We are hoping those two things can be balanced out. We can see the continued progress toward a democratic society but also maintain stability in the country, which seems to be very much in doubt right now.

A Holiday Messge from Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson, conservative man of the people

Thompson is running low on options
Politico | Jonathan Martin

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Fred Thompson’s plan is simple: Get on a bus and haul around to some 50 Iowa towns and cities between now and Jan. 3.

It’s the only option he has.

Thompson has little money left in bank and has had to slash his television presence here to a level well below that of Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. His cash crunch is so severe that he’s even had to freeze his direct mail plan.

So now, for the next two weeks before the caucuses, he'll be largely living off the land.

The Impending Thompson Surge

The Impending Thompson Surge
By JB Williams on (Dec 20, 07)

Shake-Up Coming Soon
Seven major pollsters issued new national numbers for mid-December, after the last Republican debate in Iowa, which was hosted by the hostile Des Moines Register which is for the record, endorsing the Hillary Clinton campaign…


read::: Capitol Hill Coffee House blog

North Carolina Pro-Life Organization Endorses Fred Thompson

North Carolina Pro-Life Organization Jumps on Fred Thompson Bandwagon
The Life News | Steven Ertelt

Charlotte, NC (LifeNews.com) -- Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson continues to accumulate the support of pro-life groups as he tries to rebuild his campaign in Iowa and capture the GOP nod for 2008. North Carolina Right to Life is the latest pro-life group to hop aboard the Thompson bandwagon and says the former senator is strongly pro-life.

The organization joins its sister group in South Carolina, site of one of the early presidential battlegrounds, in backing the former actor and attorney.

“By endorsing Fred Thompson for President, North Carolina Right to Life PAC wants all North Carolinians to know Senator Thompson’s long-standing pro-life record," Barbara Holt, the president of the group, told LifeNews.com.

Tom Puzzo: Fred Thompson is the best conservative and best candidate

FRED THOMPSON is the best person to lead this country. He is a true conservative and has been his entire life. All one has to do is check his record to see this.

Throughout my 30-year Air Force career, I served under eight Presidents (as my commanders in chief). Without argument, President Reagan was the best commander-in-chief a military person could ever have served under. Fred Thompson possesses the same qualities and vision as President Reagan in that he is strong on national defense and sees a dire need to secure our borders and control immigration.

read::: Union Leader

'The Clear Conservative Choice: Hands Down!' bus tour with Fred Thompson

The Fred Thompson Surge in Iowa

Yepsen: Don't Rule Out Surges by Edwards, Thompson
ABC News | David Yepsen, Des Moines Register

Edwards and Thompson Showing Real Potential to Come Up Fast in Iowa

There's a lot of buzz about the battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for Democratic caucus votes in Iowa. And there's also a lot of talk about the fight between Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee on the Republican side.

All that tends to overlook two other candidates: Democrat John Edwards and Republican Fred Thompson. They're both showing real potential to come up fast here at the end.

State's National Right to Life Affiliate Supporting Thompson for President

Fred Thompson Receives Endorsement of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life
standardnewswire.com | December 18, 2007

State's National Right to Life Affiliate Supporting Thompson for President

MCLEAN, Virginia, Dec. 18 /Standard Newswire/ -- Today Fred Thompson received the endorsement of the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, the Minnesota affiliate of the National Right to Life Council.

Fred Thompson: I will fight against a "left-wing, big government, high taxing, weak-on-national security Democratic Party"

Thompson: More Surprises in Store
ABCNews | Christine Byun

About three months after his initial campaign kick-off, Republican candidate Fred Thompson returned to Iowa with a re-invigorated pitch in his final appeal to the early voting state.

Thompson -- who will spend 15 days in Iowa leading up to the Jan. 3 caucuses -- warned the country is "one successful terrorist plan away from nuclear attack."

Barely pausing to clear his throat, the former Tennessee Senator boomed, "it's not time for on-the-job training," a familiar jab on this year's campaign trail. Thompson believes he has the leadership skills to lead the country in national security issues.

"When the time comes where our worst enemy in the world is sitting across the table thinking about what he can do to the United States of America ... Who do you want sitting across the table representing us?" Thompson asked, a question which staffers say will be one of the campaign's driving themes during his statewide tour.

The Fred Thompson Iowa Bus Tour

Thompson says he will not "mold...to circumstances"
Radio Iowa | O.Kay Henderson

Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson says he's not content to finish third in Iowa's Caucuses and he's embarking a bus tour of the state that is set to begin tonight in Dubuque.

During an interview with Radio Iowa, Thompson laughed when he was asked whether the bus tour was a "getting to know you" exercise for himself and potential Iowa Caucus-goers. "That doesn't make much of a campaign theme song, I tell you," Thompson said, then laughed.

Iowa GOP Rep. Steve King endorses Fred Thompson

Iowa GOP Rep. Steve King announced his endorsement of Fred
Michelle Malkin

Iowa GOP Rep. Steve King announced his endorsement for president this morning. He’s going with Fred Thompson.


read::: Michelle Malkin

Thompson Rallies Conservative Christians

Thompson Rallies Conservative Christians
ABCNews/PoliticalRadar | Christine Byun

Standing inside the Mississippi State Capitol Rotunda, a cluster of conservative Christian leaders voiced their support for Republican candidate Fred Thompson, praising his “fortitude” of character.

“[Former] Senator Thompson’s pursuit of the presidency is not ego-driven … and [he] does not attempt to re-invent himself or change his language depending on his audience,” Reverend Phillip Knight said, adding, “It appears to me, the only candidate that can act, isn’t.”

Knight and Dr. Benny Tate, founders of the Wesleyan Center for Strategic Studies, promise the endorsements of 100 conservative Methodist pastors in the coming days. They also say they have been calling Iowa-area church leaders, rallying support for the former Tennessee Senator, who has been overshadowed by fellow Southerner-in-the-running, Mike Huckabee.

Fred Thompson's Defining Moment: Des Moines 2007; Nashua 1980

For all of you who were impressed, as I was, with Fred Thompson's handling of the Des Moines Register's debate moderator's almost successful(4 out of 5)effort to convert the entire top tier of GOP presidential candidates into trained seals, this little video compares Fred's smackdown of Carolyn Washburn with Ronald Reagan's woodshedding of the Nashua Telegraph's Jon Breen in 1980. It is a classic and reminds so many of us who have not seen a conservative since the Gipper why we like Fred so much. Reagan credited this colloquy with having propelled him to the White House.


read::: RightWing News blog

Fred Thompson was "hands down" the most impressive candidate in Iowa yesterday

AP Video Highlights are Almost All Fred

Read::: Fred08

Wall Street Journal Likes Fred

WSJ Likes Fred

From the Washington Wire/WSJ:

Fred Thompson provided most of the lighter, and funnier, moments, including his exchange with Mitt Romney over who shoulders the biggest tax burden in the country.

“I don’t stay awake at night worrying about the taxes that rich people are paying, to tell you the truth,” the multimillionaire Romney said. Thompson responded that his goal “is to get into Mitt Romney’s situation, where I don’t have to worry about taxes anymore.” Romney shot back that he wouldn’t mind being in Thompson’s shoes either. “You’re getting to be a pretty good actor actually,” Thompson joked. “Takes one to know one,” Romney said.

Dad29 blog

Fred Thompson Speaks at Miami Church

On Sunday, Fred received a warm welcome in front of the Iglesia El Rey Jesus congregation. He talked about the importance of faith, our shared common values, and the story of Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

Thompson & Iowa

Thompson campaigns in QCA (Quad Cities Area)
WQAD-TV | Pam Cunningham

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- With 27 days left until the caucuses, presidential candidates are hitting the campaign trail in Iowa and promise to be here from now through the holidays.

This afternoon Republican Fred Thompson was at Thunderbay Grill in Davenport reaching out to conservative voters and dismissing the importance of polls that show him trailing behind both Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee.


related-

Thompson Flier in Iowa Attacks Huckabee

Fred Thompson Receives Endorsement of Judge Paul Pressler

Fred Thompson Receives Endorsement of Judge Paul Pressler
Standard Newswire

Today former Texas Court of Appeals Judge Paul Pressler endorsed Fred Thompson for President.

"Fred Thompson has the experience, convictions and dedication to make him a great candidate and a great President," said Judge Pressler. "He knows Washington but is not part of the Washington system. Fred is the consistent conservative in the presidential race and is the most electable."

Fred Thompson says - Tapping arctic refuge oil will help reduce gas prices

Thompson: Tapping arctic refuge oil will help reduce gas prices

AP | Meg Kinnard

Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson said Wednesday that tapping oil reserves in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would help lower gas prices.

"We've got this silly battle going on about ANWR," said Thompson, who voted in favor of drilling the refuge as a former Tennessee senator.

"We've got the reserves up there that can be tapped," he told a crowd of about 50 people packed into a small cafe in this early voting state. "They're not going to solve our problem, but it's one step we can take."

(CNN) Thompson: 'I'm OK with the Lord, and the Lord is OK with me'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson Monday said he didn't need to apologize for his faith, despite concerns from Christian conservatives that he does not express his religious beliefs enough on the campaign trail.

"As far as faith is concerned, I have not made any secret as to where I am. I am a Christian," Thompson said, noting that, while he does not attend church while at home in McLean, Virginia, he does attend church with his mother when he visits in Tennessee. "I have no apologies to make about my religion or my relationship to Jesus Christ or God."


Read::: CNN story

New U.S. Citizens Register as Republicans

Republicans winning new citizens for 2008 vote
The London Telegraph | Toby Harnden

Minutes after taking the Pledge of Allegiance, new American citizens are urged to register as voters by Democratic activists who see them as natural party supporters who could hold the key to the 2008 election.

But with increasing illegal immigration threatening the economy and security of the United States, many legal immigrants anxious to uphold the laws of their adopted country are moving towards the more hard-line immigration stance of Republicans.

National Council for the Social Studies: Thompson, Clinton Win First Presidential 'Primary'

Clinton, Thompson Win First Presidential 'Primary'
PR Newswire

U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee are the top choices for the 2008 Democratic and Republican nominations for President of the United States, according to the nation's first Presidential "Primary" of voters at the National Council for the Social Studies annual conference in San Diego.

Sponsored by Pearson, more than 700 of the nation's social studies teachers flexed their voting muscles and put the principles they teach about every day into action by casting their votes.

Senator Clinton won her party's nod with 41.9% of the vote. Senator Thompson was the Republicans' top choice with 23.2% of the vote.

Fred Thompson: The Only True Conservative

CA: Thompson touts bedrock conservatism in Southland visit
LA Times | Phil Willon

Campaigning as the only true conservative running for president, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson came to one of the most Republican towns in Republican-dominated Orange County on Saturday to deliver crowd-pleasing talk of slashing taxes and securing U.S. borders.

read>>> LA Times

Fred Thompson visits Southern California

Flopping Aces provides us with a great report: A Visit From Fred Thompson.