December 30, 2007

I WANT FRED

My husband told me this morning about the speech Fred Thompson gave on why he wants to be president. I am trying really hard not to get too emotionally invested in this man, because I'm not sure the rest of the country wants the same type of president that I do. And if I want it too badly, I will be too disappointed if it doesn't work out. But I want a president who says things like this:

I approached it from the standpoint of a deal. A kind of a marriage. If one side of a marriage really has to be talked into the marriage, it probably ainÂ’t going to be a good deal. But if you mutually decide itÂ’s going to be a good thing. In this case, if you think this is a good thing for the country, then we have an opportunity to do some wonderful things together.

IÂ’m offering myself up. IÂ’m saying that I have the background, the capability and concern to do this and do it for the right reasons. IÂ’m not particularly interested in running for president, but I think IÂ’d make a good president.

Nowadays, the process has become much more important than it used to be.

I donÂ’t know that they ever asked George Washington a question like this. I donÂ’t know that they ever asked Dwight D. Eisenhower a question like this. But nowadays, itÂ’s all about fire in the belly. IÂ’m not sure in the world we live in today itÂ’s a good thing if a president has too much fire in the belly.

I mean, I just want to quote the whole danged thing, it's that good. He goes on later to say:

If what people really want in their president is a super type A personality, someone who has gotten up every morning and gone to bed every night and been thinking about, for years how they can be president of the United StatesÂ… someone who can look you straight in the eye and say theyÂ’ve enjoyed every minute of campaigningÂ… (laughter) I ainÂ’t that guy. (more laughter) [To questioner] So I hope IÂ’ve discussed that, or I havenÂ’t talked you out of anything. I honestly wantÂ… I canÂ’t imagine a worse set of circumstances than achieving the presidency under a false pretenses, especially if you feel the way I do. IÂ’ve gone out of my way to be myself, because I donÂ’t want anybody to think theyÂ’re getting something theyÂ’re not getting. IÂ’m not consumed by this process, IÂ’m not consumed with the notion of being president. IÂ’m simply saying IÂ’m willing to do whatÂ’s necessary to achieve it if IÂ’m in sync with the people. And if the people want me, or somebody like me, I will do what IÂ’ve always done with everything else in my life. I will take it on and do a good job. YouÂ’ll have the disadvantage of having someone who probably canÂ’t jump up and click their heels three times, but will tell you the truth. And youÂ’ll know where the president stands at all times.

(Hat tip to my husband and Instapundit.)

Posted by: Sarah at 10:09 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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December 14, 2007

MY DRUTHERS

I will support the Republican nominee for president. I could be fully satisfied with any of the men in the field right now, and I would embrace any one of them as my president. But it's time to say who I'd prefer to see in office, and it's time to get out the checkbook.

I'm with Fred.

And I'm with Fred because of things like this:

But in the last month or so Thompson has acted like a man who has been liberated from something. And that is what voters saw on stage Wednesday: a presidential candidate who has declared himself fully free of the stupid stuff one has to do to become president of the United States.

If youÂ’re going to ask Fred Thompson to participate in a grade-school show of hands, or demand that he sign a pledge, or insist that he speak emotionally and at length about how much his religious faith means to him, well, you can just forget it. HeÂ’s not gonna do it.

And that's why we love him.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:45 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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HMMM

I am always fascinated when I come across something that a vaunted past president did, something that would never be considered heroic or courageous if the current president did it.

Right before the move to Dorchester Heights during the Revolutionary War, George Washington issued the following order to his continental army (as quoted in David McCullough's 1776):

But it may not be amiss for the troops to know that if any man in action shall presume to skulk, hide himself, or retreat from the enemy, without the orders of his commanding officer, he will be instantly shot down, as an example of cowardice. [emphasis in original]

Just imagine, if you will, our current George putting forth such an order...

Posted by: Sarah at 03:28 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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