Charles on Fred

I think this is proof of Conservatives yearning for a Conservative to run for the Republican "Party." Remember, he is an actor and understands image and marketing.

"..Thompson believes border security must be in place before we even consider the status of the 12-20 million illegal immigrants.."

Is this an "out" for when the question of amnesty is asked?

"..'make citizens of his constituents.'"

That is an excellent way to put this amnesty fiasco. Just excellent.

I still would like to hear him publically stand up with politicians. What they say when running is usually completely different from when they are not.

..maybe "make citizens out of his inhabitants" might be better. [?]

And all the more reason why it's time to take the step. The constant coyness is not an appealing quality, and I think has reached the point where it's hurting him.

Brian, I understand your feelings about his being coy and how much you dislike it. Hopefully he will go ahead and enter the race sooner rather than later and put all of this behind him; but the thing we may be missing is that there is still the possibility that he doesn't run at all. I know that it seems a rather slim possibility, but he may not decide to do this...remember he played sort of the same role in 2000 and opted not to get into the race.

Jimmy, "making citizens of his constituents" is the right phrase b/c the Mexican government wants their people here pumping money back into their economy via remittances. And I don't think Fred is trying to set up anyhting to use as a cover when the amnesty card is played; I think he's just saying what we all think to some degree..before we do anyhting else, we need to secure our borders. Deporting all 12 million illegals in this country would do no good at all if we had no mechanism in place to keep them from coming right back across the borders.

"..is the right phrase b/c the Mexican government wants their people here pumping money back into their economy via remittances."

You clarified perfectly. I had the pronoun "his" wrong. So, I had it right the first time.

that's a great point, and all the more reason for him to declare his status one way or another.

I'll tell you, if he doesn't declare this time, after all of this hubub, he can kiss off EVER being Prez.

I like your article, but I am waiting to see where Fred really stands. And, like Brian I'm tiring of the coy act. We've had several debates among the candidates already where he has not been a participant. Somehow I've never really liked it when someone comes so late to my dinner parties.

Brian, you are absolutely right! If he teases us like this once more and doesn't take the plunge, it will be all over for him. But somehow I don't think that would distress him too much; he seems like he could be just as happy as an actor and political commentator.

Pepp, point taken. But i can understand why Fred would avoid the whole debate scene. Why stand up on stage and share time with 7 or 8 others, when you can have the spotlight to yourself? By writing his columns, giving speeches, etc. Fred gets his message out without having to wait for a moderator to ask him anything, or try to be heard over the din of other voices. And why even get into a debate with someone that you know probably isn't going to be around when the real votes for the nomination are cast? This way you avoid getting yourself in a spot where somethng you say in a debate can come back to bite you in the @ss! I don't know Fred's stand on every issue, but his important ideas have been out there in the public eye through his columns and speeches, plus he has a conservative record to stand on from his days in the Senate; nothing that he says in a debate would be very clarifying, simply because it is said in a debate. We all know that a debate is not exactly the right forum to use if you want to get a message out about anything!

It's like the words I put in Fred's mouth in my latest blog entry, it costs less to run when your opponents are trying to sell cancer and you're not. Fred has to step soon or he'll miss his be chance and maybe be out for good.

on the 4th of July. Tres appropos!

Also, Fred doesn't have the negatives the other candidates do.
http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/ebf174d6-ca41-49ac-afdc-e300c47d4ae6

If Reid does somehow manage to push through scamnesty by the 4th, his announced deadline, Thompson will have demonstrated his complete irrelevancy on the big issue of the time.

I have to disagree with your last comment. As a candidate, Fred Thompson has no more power to stop this legislation than Guiliani or Huckabee; they are on the outside of Congress looking in. McCain has some sway, but he is all for the amnesty bill and has been vocal in support of it; Fred has spoken publicly about how bad he thinks this amnesty idea is and puts himself squarely in the corner of the American people on this issue. The issue of relevance is moot, because no matter what he says Congress will do as it pleases. Remember, Fred doesn't have a vote anymore...but McVain does!

in the sense that declared candidates have a certain credibility that comes with having declared. Thompson's still an outsider, and if he doesn't declare until afterward he'll have hurt the perception of his candidacy having relevance.

This issue wasn't even enough to motivate him to make the commitment. That'll be the perception. He's playing games while Rome burns.

Hey, I like the guy! He needs to s__t or get off the pot, though.

I get where you're coming from on this issue and we agree somewhat. I understand that the Hamlet routine is tiresome, but he's an actor by tade...what are ya gonna do?

On an unrelated note...do you know how I can convert a jpg file to a jpeg? I found some pics that I want to use in my next article...which is due up today...and I want to be able to paste them to my post. Also, when you use oics, do you paste them in as word docs? I have found that using word is easier than the default here and was wondering id that's how you imported your pics. I appreciate any help you can give me here!

..for your pics:

http://josue.townhall.com/g/e7ac0989-40e7-4270-8718-4729bd55c342

I disagree with your statement that Thompson has no power over the amnesty bill. If he is serious about being a candidate, he has to step up and be vocal about SOMETHING. Why not the lop-sidedly popular issue of all time? Lead the charge. That's what the conservatives in the House are waiting for and most voters. There are all kinds of "power". The press has no formal "power" either. So far, this election campaign is all posing, preening and posturing on issues. Time to hit the hustings and rally the troups.

Jimmy, thanks for the link and I'll be trying it shortly!

Phil, I still say that he has no effect on where the bill goes or how it turns out. Yes, he could be more vocal on the issue but that will not change how the vote goes. And, as Charkes points out in the article, Thompson has a well defined view of immigration policy...enforce the existing laws, shore up the border, and leave the new laws alone. As for the preenng and posturing, that is not a new thing at all. With the field this crowded, no one wants to say or do anything that can come back to haunt them later...that's the nature of the beast. And as for the press, the power they have is in the minds of the politicians who will do d@mn near anyhtiing to stay out of their doghouse. I think the press is losing the ability to shape public perception, but their "mind control" of politicians is helping them shape policy.

To all who are looking for the new content promised, I apologize. i am having some techinical difficulties getting the site to allow me to post anything at all; I have contacted Josue and hopefully he can get me back in the saddle before too long.

Thanks for your visits and for your continued patience.

EDE, the Flagwaver