Since the end of Ronald Reagan's second term, the GOP and "Reagan Democrats" have been asking: where is the next Reagan?
George H.W. Bush had the chance to continue the Gipper's policies, yet yielded to Democrats and raised taxes, a move that condemned him to the dustbin of single-term chief executives. His son was believed to be the next to rekindle the fires of Reaganism and has proven to be unconservative in many policies including the prescription drug plan and various other proposals.
Now we have a man who is considering a run for the Oval Office who embodies many of the same ideals as Reagan: Fred Thompson.
Thompson has several things going for him that would propel him to the top of not only the GOP candidates, but all candidates. He has instant visual and voice recognition from his myriad acting roles. He is a man who exudes optimism and conveys the feeling of national pride, exactly like Reagan. He communicates his ideas in a forthright manner, yet is unyielding in doing what he thinks is best for the country.
If Thompson enters the campaign, he'll supplant Giuliani and McCain as the front runner. While Giuliani may have the ability to reach across party lines, he also carries baggage that could harm him with staunch paleo-Conservatives. McCain has been on every side of every issue to the point that no one knows exactly where he stands. His downfall in 2000 was exactly what will be his downfall in 2008.
Should Thompson opt to run -- and all signs seem to be pointing in that direction -- he will be the most formidable foe the Democrats have seen. I relish the thought of a debate between Thompson and Hillary or Obama. He'll have them talking in circles within minutes. He remains the best candidate the GOP can put forward and every other campaign fears the thought of him entering the race.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Amen, Scott. If anyone doesn't think this phenomenon is for real, I suggest they spend a little time reading at http://www.draftfredthompson.com.
Pastor Dan at 3:32PM on Mar 25th 2007
2. The GOP will need a formidable candidate to convince the voters to put in another Republican after 8 years of Bush/Cheney. Maybe Thompson is the one. Honesty will be an issue.
Steve Bonomo at 5:26PM on Mar 25th 2007
3. You must be High...
After this circus, Fred Thompson...gimme a break, try Chuck Hagel, Swami....
Manfred at 11:25PM on Mar 25th 2007
4. America does not need another warmed over Ronny Rayguns...nor do we need the DA from Law and Order.
All of you guys should be drafting Chuck Hagel..
Can't the Country find a real candidate for once??
Manfred at 11:35PM on Mar 25th 2007
5. Reagan was fumbling, disinterested, old man with some Irish Charm... The man was no hero, nor did his policies help anymore than the top 1%....and the multinational bankers...
we are a permanent debtor nation, thanks to Ronny...Another Reagan? Oh Shit!!!
Manfred at 12:36AM on Mar 26th 2007
6. Fred Thompson stirs something in me I do not understand?
He is a Tenesseean, and a Hollywooder? and a leader of Prime Time network ratings...Gee wizzz
a "B" actor who has worked with raygun technology...Perfect!!!
I think Nancy Reagan should have her astrologer check the planet's position during Halloween 2008!!!!
Zach Wamp at 1:33AM on Mar 26th 2007
7. Oh PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE, WHERE CAN I SEND A DONATION TO FRED THOMPSON'S CAMPAIGN?????
HERE'S A MAN WHO HAS A SPLENDID RECORD OF KEEPING HIS WORD AND HAS INTEGRITY AND HONESTY TO THE BONE!
Windcrest19425 at 9:38AM on Mar 26th 2007
8. That dude is 64?? He looks 94...
He may shoot quail straiter than Cheney after a few belts of bourbon, otherwise, he's just another crusty GOP Dinosaur with no chance in Hades..
Why note run Bob Dole, again?? What a joke!!
Zach Wamp (R) at 3:05PM on Mar 26th 2007
9. You can get cheap Fred Thompson t-shirts at
http://www.thevacpro.com/fred_thompson/
they're only 9 bux free shipping.
Greg West at 3:24PM on Mar 27th 2007
10. Fred Thompson will be the next President!Nobody stands even a little chance to carry the south except Fred.History will prove me right on this one.None of the liberal republicans like Mccain or ole Rudy will forsure.Hillary or Obama certainly cant either.In short Fred Thompson is electable and the rest are not!!!! K.Setser
kenneth c setser at 4:28PM on Mar 28th 2007
11. I believe Fred Thompson is the only logical person to be our next President.
Kathy Hackler at 6:35PM on Mar 28th 2007
12. One of the comment was that Pres. Reagan "only helped 1 % ...."Again the selfish liberal thinking!What Roosveld sold to the communist russian dictater of easter and central Europe finally Reagan freed! Of course YOU would not care!!!
Maria at 12:42AM on Mar 29th 2007
13. Maria,
If you really think Reagan freed eastern Europe, you are as uninformed as Scott. The Cold war was won over 45 years of sacrifice by the entirety of NATO...Korea, Viet Nam, Detente, and Kissenger and Nixon did far more than Reagan ever could..
It was only a matter of timing, Pope John Paul II and the polish solidarity movement were more responsible than Reagan for this outcome...
Clearly, without Gorbechov's courage to bring reforms the summits would have been fruitless, and the decades of decay within the system, brought down the USSR...Not Bonzo..
Don't give him any more credit than he was Pres.
when Gorby was in... It took until the end of Clintons first term to even begin to undue all the damage Reagan and his boys caused to this country...
Now, no one cares about the federal deficit or how unbalanced the tax system has become under Bush... Reganonmics is poison.
Manfred at 3:27AM on Mar 29th 2007
14. Further,
Don't blame FDR for russian superiority behind the
Iron curtain.. They beat Hitler 85 % to our 15 %
FDR was a great leader and visionary...he saved the country.
Do not use Reagan and FDR in the same sentence.. this is blasphemy...
Apples and Oranges, Maam...
Manfred at 3:39AM on Mar 29th 2007