After last night's debate, an interesting thread at the National Review blog about Fred Thompson as a Conservative, in Which Sense:
Mark Levin:
As I said, however, taking conservative positions on certain issues, such as law
enforcement, doesn't make you a conservative, in my view. Is Joe Lieberman a
conservative because he's strong on national security? I don't know anyone who
defines conservatism by cherry-picking issues. I understand why some candidates
try it — in fact, to some extent, they're all doing it. But we need not. And my
point, underscored by your concluding paragraph, is that Rudy's supporters
insist that we do so — as they must. And that's okay, but I dissent. Let me put
it this way: what is Rudy's political philosophy? He repeatedly refers to Ronald
Reagan, he has appointed Ted Olson to head his judicial advisory committee, but
apart from trying to glean his political philosophy through association, what is
it?
Back to Fred Thompson. The "senior moment" jibe was the cheap shot, J-Pod. He
stumbled briefly, as other candidates have and do, despite their ages. Indeed,
as the president does - often. As I said, I heard it used against Ronald Reagan.
It's a demeaning put down suggests infirmity that does not reflect the man.
Mark Levin in another post:
This "senior moment" and "Fred Thompson-is-lazy" stuff is really starting to
irk. I remember hearing the same comments about Ronald Reagan in every campaign
in which I participated — 1976 and 1980. And this tactic was especially used
against him in 1984. I have spent some time with Thompson. He is intellectually
curious and sharp. He is engaging and vigorous. Yes, he chooses his words
carefully. He speaks in a southern accent. But the attacks on him appear to have
a Northeastern-liberal-style feel to them, emanating largely from the
New York-Washington, D.C axis. This is a man, after all, who worked sixteen hours
a day in both television and radio.
John Podhoretz started the whole thing:
And if Fred Thompson goes completely blank in the middle of his first answer in
a candidate's debate, it's perfectly justifiable to point out that it made him
look bad and that his primary liability in looking bad as a new candidate is the
impression he gives of lacking the requisite energy for the task ahead. You want
to call using the term "senior moment" a cheap shot, fine. I call it fine
writin'.
All in all, many think that Fred Thompson won a narrow debate victory over Rudy, McCain and Romney.
Fred Thompson takes the right side against the Fairness Doctrine.
vadkins
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