The Smallest Minority

I am writing his name in for President, come November, in my very best block letter printing. I want to leave no hole open for interpretation, and no doubt about my choice.

"Nowadays, it's all about fire in the belly," he said, with a touch of sarcasm. "I'm not sure in the world we live in today it's a terribly good thing that a president has too much fire in his belly."

Being President of the United States definitely requires a "fire in the belly", specifically, the drive and determination to see things through. A good president first must know the difference between right and wrong, then he must have the fire in the belly to do the right thing, especially when it is unpopular and/or fought vehemently by his political opponents. It's pretty clear that Fred Thompson really didn't have those kind of stones, otherwise he would not have left conservatives in the lurch like he did.

I would prefer a president who doesn't necessarily want to be president, but he sure as heck needs to know what is right and be willing to fight to his last breath to do the right thing. In other words, he needs to have a "fire in the belly" for his principles, not for his personal gain or respect.

We need a guy who says, "I don't care if they hate me. This is the right thing to do, and I'm doing it, come hell or high water." (Of course, he also has to actually be right about his position.)

Kevin,

Thank you so much for reminding my of why I am depressed..

Fred as a write-in on Tuesday is my plan, unless he redirects his supporters to Romney before (in which case I will hold my nose).

If McCain is the nominee, I will write-in Fred in the Fall. If Romney I will probably hold my nose and pull the lever for him.

What disgusts me is that there are so many people who do not realize that they are trying to muscle in to the government feeding trough. The story about David Crockett getting in trouble with one of his constituents for charity with federal (the people's) money, keeps coming to mind. Apply with gusto to all federal spending and poof! spending will drop like a stone.

Fred clearly got that.

Again, thank you so much for deepening my depression. B-)

Is it just me, or do you guys think that the american presidential campaign is a massive marketing operation?

Fred Thompson did not buy into it, and it's probably not a surprise that he didn't achieve much.

The other candiates are playing the game by the rules - good for them, but good for the country as a whole?

A good president first must know the difference between right and wrong, then he must have the fire in the belly to do the right thing, especially when it is unpopular and/or fought vehemently by his political opponents.

Well, that explains why we haven't had a good president in a long, long while...

Rob: Just wanted to spread the cheer around some.

Fabio: You're exactly right. It's a big sales-pitch. "Elect me and I'll get you this." Henry Louis Mencken described it accurately in the mid 1930s: he government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office. Their principal device to that end is to search out groups who pant and pine for something they can't get and to promise to give it to them. Nine times out of ten that promise is worth nothing. The tenth time is made good by looting A to satisfy B. In other words, government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods.

Or, more briefly, this cartoon.

"Is it just me, or do you guys think that the american presidential campaign is a massive marketing operation?"

Yup, that's what it is. What gave you the first clue? Was it the fact that the the campaign never ends?

Being President of the United States is both the biggest ego trip and the biggest power trip the world has to offer. Slick Willie Clinton was in it for the ego trip and Hillary Clingon is in it for the power trip.

I recall the press conference that Ole' Willie gave on Inauguration Day in 2001. He smiled that goofy grin he's famous for and graveled out to the crowd, "You gave me the ride of my life!" It was all about him, not the job he was hired to do.

I have had a recurring dream (literally, including last night) in which the Republican convention opens up due to a split between Romney and McCain such that neither gets a majority, after which they rally and draft Fred. If I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna do it my way.

Love your Dream, DJ,

Unfortunately I fear all we will get is 4 years (hopefully not more ) of a nightmare.

I have problems with McCain but really big ones with Romney, based on his governor resume. That said there is no way i H_LL that I will vote for Hidebeast

I'm still betting the D's split in their convention and draft Gore. :)

It's worse than that. The path to the Republican nomination is in the hands of the Democrats in the mass media...

You Might be interested in a British perspective of Ronald Regan here :-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=511828&in_page_id=1770

It actually crystallized a lot of the ideas and memories I had of him. You have just got to love a President who would rather watch "The Sound of Music" than read through a economic summit briefing.

And for all you fans of Hillary Clinton .. there's this :-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/columnists/columnists.html?in_article_id=511859&in_page_id=1772&in_author_id=382