THE SIMPLE GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING FRED THOMPSON
David S. Broder, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author, television talk show pundit, and university professor who writes a twice-weekly political column for the The Washington Post, recently interviewed Fred Thompson. For those interested in the interview, it can be found here. According to Broder:
"When Fred Thompson makes his long-delayed entrance into the Republican presidential race, he will not tiptoe quietly."
"Instead, he will try to shake up the establishment candidates of both parties by depicting a nation in peril from fiscal and security threats—and prescribing tough cures he says others shrink from offering."
Broder goes on to say
"Thompson repeatedly cites two texts as fueling his concern about the country's future. One is "Government at the Brink," a two-volume report he issued as chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee at the start of the Bush administration in 2001 and handed to the new president's budget director as a checklist of urgent management problems in Washington."
"His second sourcebook contains the scary reports from Comptroller General David Walker, the head of the Governmental Accountability Office, on the long-term fiscal crisis spawned by the aging of the American population and the runaway costs of health care. "
While the interview is interesting, I believe a more valuable look at Thompson's views can be found by reviewing the source materials cited. For those willing to take the time to examine the source materials cited by Thompson they can be found here:
Government at the Brink - Volume I: Urgent Federal Government Management Problems Facing the Bush Administration can be found here.
Government at the Brink - Volume II: An Agency by Agency Examination of Federal Government Management Problems Facing the Bush Administration can be found here.
Comptroller General’s solo presentation on his "Fiscal Wake-Up Tour" titled "Saving Our Future Requires Tough Choices Today can be found here. Other materials of interest, including video can be found here.
These are significant publications because of the on-going nature of most of the underlying conditions and the extreme reluctance of both Congress and the Administration to upset the special interests by actually solving many of the problems.
For those who want Fred Thompson to immediately enter the race, have patience. Not only does it take time to build a team, but considering the amount of money that is being spent by the other candidates in bashing their fellow candidates and President Bush, a late enterance is not only smart, it is fiscally prudent. Judging by historical experience, the American public, with the exception of the political wonks, does not exhibit serious interest in politics or political machinations until after labor day. Doubly smart to avoid spending money on a dull, listless and bored audience. The very qualities you want in a serious candidate for high office.
What can YOU do?
As an American citizen, you have the duty to inform yourself about the issues of the day in order to make an "informed" choice at the ballot box. Unfortunately, many citizens rely on the media for a pre-digested summary of the news that "they" find significant or meets the requirements of their oft-hidden agenda or others simply espouse their political party's views and vote for the pre-selected candidates whom the party feels will be beneficial to restoring power and profits to the party members: not necessarily who will be an honest, strong leader of the United States.
If you do nothing else, just scan the documents to get a feel for the depth and breadth of the problems facing America today and tomorrow. Realize that their is an entrenched bureaucracy that will be struggling to save their jobs and/or expand their powers and budget. These people are resistant to change and are likely to subvert any attempt by a weak leader to institute the necessary government reforms needed for progress.
Perhaps, and I am just thinking out loud, we should skip politicians altogether and simply appoint the Comptroller General to serve as the Chief Executive Office of that great enterprise known as AMERICA.
Remember those who attempted to subvert the United States with their SHAMnesty legislation and attempts at creating a North American Union. Vote them out of office.
In any event, be aware, be informed and vote wisely.
-- steve
A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…
The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius
“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words
“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw
“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”
“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius “A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell “Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar “Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS