No Newt Now

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Fred Thompson elects not to stand behind his words

It appears that Fred Thompson is just another politician who talks a good show but is not willing to follow through on his rhetoric. He had indicated he did not want to participate in the GOP debates because he preferred an old-fashioned Lincoln-Douglas format. However, when offered the opportunity to participate in such a manner in a debate to be broadcast on CNN Thompson now indicates that he will only do so if he wins the primary election and moves on to the general election.

David Brody has covered this:

The Brody File has been told by Fred Thompson's campaign that he will NOT debate Mike Huckabee one on one. Huckabee had issued the debate challenge last week. Here's what Thompson's Communication Director Todd Harris just told me:

“We have the greatest respect for Gov. Huckabee and respect his desire to elevate the discourse in this campaign. But there are nine people running for the GOP nomination and an arbitrary pairing of just two of them does a disservice to the voters. We will push hard for Lincoln-Douglas style debates once we get into the General Election, when there are only two candidates running.”

I don't think anyone is naive enough to believe that it "does a disservice to the voters."

Thompson has finally declared his candidacy and is now running... running scared that is.

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The Snoopy Candidate

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Governor Huckabee's Letter to Fred

Below is the text of the actual letter that Mike Huckabee sent to Fred Thompson. You can go the official Huckabee website to co-sign the letter.

September 7, 2007

The Honorable Fred Thompson
1130 Eighth Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203

Dear Senator Thompson,

Welcome to the 2008 Presidential race. I look forward to seeing you on the trail in the upcoming days, weeks, and months ahead.

I share your view of the debates and agree that Newt's "Nine Nineties in Nine" concept is a far better way to make sure America's next President has the character and capacity to lead our nation forward, and that's why I have already signed that pledge. I agree that what is needed is a real discussion by the candidates about their vision for the future of our country.

The debates so far have not offered an in-depth discussion on critical issues such as health care, education, energy independence, in addition to terrorism and national security.

I am aware of your comments on Fox News that you would like to participate in a series of Lincoln Douglas-styled debates. I would like to officially accept your offer and look forward to working with your staff to schedule this. I would suggest we start this series in New Hampshire.

At the end of these debates, the American people will know each candidate far greater and would be able to choose which candidate possesses the depth of knowledge on the issues and has the character and capacity to lead or great nation. More importantly, the American people would be able to rely on a true conversation on the issues, instead of just 30-second ads and soundbites to decide which candidate has the right vision for America's future.

Senator, let's lead by example and get the ball rolling. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this idea and debating you in front of the American people.

Sincerely,

Mike Huckabee
Former Governor of Arkansas (1996-2007)

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Was it just more political rhetoric from Fred Thompson?

From an USA Today article by Mark Memmott and Jill Lawrence:

After officially getting into the race Wednesday night, Thompson said during several different interviews that he doesn't think much of the multi-candidate debates that Huckabee and his now-rivals for the GOP nomination have been having -- and that he thinks it would be better to have smaller groups, or even one-on-one debates.

Well, Huckabee said late Friday, let's do it:

"I am aware of your comments on Fox News that you would like to participate in a series of Lincoln Douglas-styled debates. I would like to officially accept your offer," Huckabee said in a letter he sent to Thompson.

According to a statement from the former Arkansas governor's campaign, "Huckabee said an in-depth format on topics such as health care, education, energy independence, terrorism and national security would benefit the American public. 'At the end of these debates, the American people will know each candidate far greater and would able to choose which candidate possesses the depth of knowledge on the issues and has the character and capacity to lead or great nation. More importantly, the American people would be able to rely on a true conversation on the issues, instead of just 30-second ads and soundbites to decide which candidate has the right vision for America’s future,' wrote Huckabee."

The campaign says Huckabee also said to Thompson, "senator, let's lead by example and get the ball rolling."

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Top Tier?

"Mike Huckabee, and for this I ♥ Huckabee, shot back that history will judge whether we were right to go in, but for now, "we're there." He echoed Colin Powell: We broke it, now we own it. "Congressman, we are one nation. We can't be divided. . . . If we make a mistake, we make it as a single country, the United States of America, not the divided states of America." David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network says he doesn't know why Mr. Huckabee isn't in the top tier. I wonder too. Maybe he is and we don't know it." Peggy Noonan in Off to the Races

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The White House is ...

... the crown jewel of the federal prison system.
~ William Jefferson Clinton

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