THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume IX, Issue # 59, April 6, 2007
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
WHY FRED THOMPSON'S DAY HAS ARRIVED
By Christopher G. Adamo
AMERICAN POLITICS, CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATISM, & THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2008: FRED THOMPSON,
CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVE & FORMER REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE, APPEARS ON THE NATIONAL
POLITICAL SCENE, UPSETTING THE APPLE CART OF THE GOP "PRAGMATISTS" & PRESENTING AMERICAN VOTERS WITH
THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE 2008 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WILL BE A PRINCIPLED CONSERVATIVE & GENUINE
CONSTITUTIONALIST -- LIFTING THE HOPES OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S GRASSROOTS SUPPORTERS, WHO LONG FOR A
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF REAGANITE CALIBER & PHILOSOPHY
FULL STORY:
It is altogether unfortunate that even now, in early 2007, so much focus and attention is being directed at the 2008
presidential election. America’s policy making apparatus would be better served, were the Democrats, who constitute
the congressional “ruling class,” more concerned with the well-being of the nation, and not so fixated on their noxious
pursuit of political power.
Nevertheless, much of the nation’s direction in coming years will be determined by next year’s elections. But a
convergence of forces from both sides of the political aisle bodes particularly ill for Republican prospects. While
outwardly “bipartisan “ in nature, it is reflective of a pervasive Liberal mindset.
Something needs to decidedly change, or else the currently disastrous political tack of the Democrats may be solidified
as a harbinger of America’s future, for however long the nation can endure under such gross misdirection.
Throughout 2006, Republican compromise with and capitulation to the big-spending, morally bankrupt agenda of the
Democrats left the public largely disillusioned and demoralized. And that public sentiment was clearly reflected in the
upheaval of the midterm elections, which shifted the country decidedly into the dominion of the Democrats.
Yet, the GOP hardly recognized the lesson of last November, and, instead, has all too frequently appeared to concede
to the guiding philosophies of the political Left. While Americans grow increasingly outraged by the Democrats’ “cut
and run” response to an ever encroaching Islamist malignancy, Republican reaction to the elections have, until recently,
been excessively conciliatory and accommodating.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had initially been heralded in glowing terms, by everyone from the most junior House
members to the President. As a result, her audacity and that of her cohorts has mushroomed. She now dares to
collaborate with America’s enemies during an ill-advised Middle East junket.
Meanwhile, discussions of “bipartisanship” and “doing the peoples’ business” within the Congress (which translates
as “spending money”) only serve to bolster the impression that things do go better with Democrats in charge. Moreover,
Republican refusal to pursue the Democrats' rampant scandal and corruption in public office lends credence to the
notion that such malfeasance only occurs among GOP officeholders. Clearly, the message of Conservatism has been
blurred.
Major Republican players such as former House Majority leader Dick Armey have sought to expunge Conservative and
Christian principles from the Republican Party, claiming that such principles are too polarizing. Bob Dole’s “big tent,” a
perversion of Ronald Reagan’s winning concept of bolstering the ranks through inspirational leadership, is once again
being floated as a means of “broadening the base,” by claiming devotion to every disparate interest group.
Oblivious to the fact that a watered-down Republican Party platform, which largely sidesteps true Conservatism, is the
primary reason for the GOP’s poor showing last November, party “moderates” (read: unprincipled Liberals) strain to the
Left. By doing so, however, they will neither garner Democratic support, nor will they re-ignite any enthusiasm among
the Conservatives who abandoned them last year.
The current lineup of Republican “frontrunners,” led presently by former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani, epitomizes this
mindset. But, far from being a winning strategy, it is a recipe for disaster.
In an interview with Barbara Walters just this past week, Guiliani gave an ominous indication of just how his campaign
will eventually implode at the hands of the Democrats and the Liberal media. When asked about his wife’s involvement
in his administration, he stated that, among other things, she would be in attendance at his cabinet meetings.
Once word of this got out, and was portrayed as a possible repeat of Bill and Hillary Clinton's “co-presidency,” Guiliani
backtracked, claiming that, as First Lady, his wife would pursue her own interests, dealing primarily with health and
fitness. Clearly, neither his first assertion nor the subsequent disclaimer represented any heartfelt conviction, but
instead resulted from blundered attempts at posturing and pandering.
In like manner, the lone effort by which he has attempted to woo Conservatives amounts to a promise to appoint
“originalist” judges to the U.S. Supreme Court. Yet he previously lauded ultra-Liberal Clinton appointee Ruth Ginsburg in
glowing terms. One need only consider this in light of his current incongruous behavior and its potentially dire
ramifications, to understand why Rudy’s assurances on the judicial issue hold no weight with the Conservative base.
Nevertheless, the “moderates” press forward, believing that a Guiliani victory would garner the power they desire, while
ultimately neutralizing the annoying influence of the “religious Right.” By the time that the consummate pragmatists who
concocted this ill-begotten strategy realize that it cannot succeed, Hillary may well be holding up her right hand and
swearing to protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States, so help her whoever.
Enter the former Republican Senator from Tennessee. By the mere suggestion that he might consider running for
President, Fred Thompson has completely upset the GOP pragmatists’ apple cart. Without even campaigning, he is
presently polling far beyond Conservative pretender Mitt Romney. And he is coming on strong against John McCain and
Rudy Guiliani. In an effort to stave off Thompson’s momentum, Guiliani has been compelled to start running ads on
Conservative talk-radio programs.
Yet, Thompson holds several advantages over any of his early-bird competitors. With the exception of his previous
support for campaign finance “reform,” he has staunchly upheld the Conservative/pro-Constitution philosophy. Thus,
he is not burdened by any pile of Liberal baggage from which he must extricate himself. He need not attempt to downplay
or recast his past, but, instead, he can extol it as proof of his long-standing Conservatism.
Although he has not yet formally announced, all signs point in that direction. Columnist Robert Novak, in an April 3, 2007,
article, assures us that Thompson does indeed intend to run.
So, with mainstream America expectantly awaiting the entrance of a true Reaganite candidate into the presently wanting
field of Republican presidential hopefuls, Thompson’s best bet is to simply be himself, and make no apologies for standing
as firmly as he has. In fact, he should accept every attack on his Conservative beliefs as an opportunity to reassert his
devotion to them.
By so doing, he could take the White House with an enthusiastic mandate from the grassroots. Furthermore, once in office
he would be in an ideal position to re-establish the boundaries of Conservatism and Liberalism with sufficient clarity to
drive the Left into full retreat.
Hope has arrived in the 2008 race for the White House.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
American Politics & Political Competition:
Elections, PACs, & Political Parties
American Government & the U.S. Presidency:
Presidential Politics & National Leadership
The American Political System:
Politics & Government in the U.S.A.
The American Political & Cultural Left:
Liberals, Statists, Socialists, & Other Leftists
Liberalism Versus Conservatism in American Politics
-------------------------
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY & POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES:
COMPETING SYSTEMS OF POLITICAL THOUGHT
Conservatism
Traditional Conservatism: Questions & Answers
Conservatism: Attitudes, Types, & Present Status
Constitutional Conservatism: American & British
Liberalism
Classical Liberalism: Intellectual Foundations
Classical Liberalism: Conservative Liberalism
Manchester Liberalism & Social Darwinism
Modern Social "Liberalism": Statist "Liberalism"
Radical & Totalitarian Ideologies
Radicalism, Utopianism, & Totalitarianism
Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer who lives in southeastern Wyoming and works in the field of industrial instrumentation.
He is actively involved in Wyoming's political process, serving as a delegate to successive Wyoming State Republican Conventions
and as a member of the Wyoming State Republican Central Committee. He has assisted Republican candidates for local and state
legislatures and for the United States Congress. His articles, which appear regularly in The Progressive Conservative, U.S.A.,
and on a number of other websites, reflect a major concern with the damage being done to Conservatism and Conservative causes by
the Liberal Leftist faction in the Republican Party as well as by the much larger and more powerful Liberal Leftist faction in the
Democratic Party. During the early and middle 1990s, Adamo was Editor of the Wyoming Christian Coalition's official news organ,
The Wyoming Christian.
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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Conservative Government Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity