Hello folks,
Someone from FR sent me...
I'm a Fred Supporter and will remain so even if he doesn't ever run again. He's the "Could have Been Great" President for me right now, since he's dropped out.
I'm sorry, I can NOT support the other bozos running, and good grief, talk about Kooks (Ron Paul) - that's all I have heard about this morning. The place I work (A government agency) has some idiot putting up Ron Paul posters and dropping leaflets into bathroom stalls, and on the sinks, as well as sticking them in obvious places.
While Ron Paul CERTAINLY has a few nice ideas (remove IRS for instance, and get back to the Constitution) he's got wayyyyyyyyy too much baggage to be someone I'd vote for.
I was brought up by a family full of Democrats - 1950s Democrats - and my parents are originally from Kentucky. Dad is 72 in a couple of days, and still is a Democrat. My first vote for President was cast for Jimmy Carter. I went in the service in 1976 and saw with my own eyes the losses of the military because of him, and I personally spent time dealing with the Hostage Crisis.
I flew out of Egypt on 20 January 1981, the same day Reagan was sworn in (and I voted for Ronald Reagan too) -- and because he was elected Iran released the Hostages and shut the hell up for a few years.
In 1982 I went to the White House Communications Agency and worked for Mr. Reagan as a Senior Radio Tech for the Agency. I met him many times and had several long conversations with him, and later with George HW Bush. I have nothing but great respect for both of those men - and consider myself a "Reagan Conservative". I've been registered as a Republican since a year after my first vote, so.. well, a long time now.
I've run for one office myself (local school board), lost but came in 5th out of 15 candidates running for four seats. Not too bad I reckon. Since then, I've given up on the school system, and my kids are all grown now and have their own kids. They can deal with that crap.
I have met Fred Thompson a couple of times, back in the late 80s for some reason. I know I was working for WHCA, but I honestly don't recall WHY I met him or the circumstances (I've met a LOT of famous people over the years because I happened to be in the right place at the right time I guess).
I DO remember that both times I met him, he was polite, intelligent and seemed to me to be a very stand-up person. Honest, and very... I don't know, strong is the word I guess.
When I meet people I usually get a quick idea of what they are like. Usually it's "Wow.. what a loser" or "Hmmm I don't think I should trust what this person says". Call it "Gut Feeling" or "intuition" or whatever you want, but it's that little voice in us that says "Don't DO THAT!" - and it's one thing to which I ALWAYS LISTEN.
So, my impression of Mr. Thompson when I met him years ago was a very positive one. I'll also state for the record I've seen him memorably in ONE move, "Hunt for Red October" - and I'm completely unfamiliar with any of his other roles on TV. I saw him once give the "Answer to the State of the Union" when Clinton was in office and was... for lack of a better word, "Severely Impressed" with him then. He appeared VERY Presidential then.
So... perhaps my support for the man is emotional, or some kind of "Liberal touchy-feely" thing I can't quite put a finger on, but, to me he is the THE MAN at this time and place in History who should be President of the United States. He's the RIGHT ONE, I know it, I knew it LONG before he appeared even to consider it, and I was one of the thousands that wrote a half dozen letters and emails to convince him to run.
Thanks for having me
Rick