Fred Thompson In The News

Here’s a terrific column that appears in today’s Washington Post. It’s written by the dean of the national political media, David Broder. Click here to read the full text of this article. David sat down with Fred the other day and his piece is running in The Seattle Times, The St. Paul Pioneer Press, The Sacramento Bee and a number of other local papers. 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. In a two-hour conversation over coffee at a restaurant near his Virginia headquarters, the former senator from Tennessee said that when he joins the battle next month, he “will take some risks that others are not going to take, in terms of forcing a dialogue on our entitlement situation, our military situation and what it’s going to cost” to ensure the nation’s future. --From David Broder’s column, August 16, 2007 Check for it in your local paper—and let your editors and reporters know how you feel about a possible Fred Thompson presidential run! Tomorrow, Iowa State Fair goers will get a chance to see and hear Fred Thompson. He’ll be in Des Moines to meet with some state Republican officials, talk to some opinion leaders, and to enjoy the State Fair. Next week, Fred’s on the road again—to Kansas City, Missouri, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention. Bill Lacy Quotes of Note “Young conservatives in Michigan realize that Fred Thompson offers us the most electable conservative, and he’s the candidate many of us will support." Jeff Wiggins, Co-Chair of the Michigan College Republicans in CR Nation, August 15, 2007 Fred on the Issues You can’t have national security without border security. It’s not only necessary for any meaningful immigration reform; border security plays a key role in both the interdiction of illegal drugs and in defending America against terrorist threats. Weak borders allow terrorists and smugglers, as well as millions of illegal aliens, easy entrance to the United States. Unfortunately, it’s not at all clear our government is committed to its first responsibility: the protection of our borders. In June 2006 the federal government began Operation Jump Start, deploying 6,000 National Guard troops to assist the Border Patrol in securing our border with Mexico. Now, the number of National Guard troops helping as part of Operation Jump Start is being cut in half and by September 1st only 3,000 troops will still be in place. Since Operation Jump Start began, fewer illegal immigrants are crossing our southern border. Marijuana, cocaine, and heroin seizures have increased—a reminder that better border security is an essential part of drug interdiction. Tightening control of our southern border may also be a factor in the lack of additional terrorist attacks in the United States since September 11, 2001. Clearly the National Guard’s presence on our border with Mexico has been a success. While the drawdown of the National Guard troops participating in Operation Jump Start was scheduled since the beginning of the operation, the troops were supposed to be replaced by 6,000 new U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. These replacements, called for by President Bush, would increase the total number of agents from 12,000 to 18,000. However, recruitment has been slow and continuing with the planned withdrawal of the National Guard is significantly reducing manpower on the border. We’ve found a successful strategy for increasing border security. We need to advance it, not retreat from it. The President got the message and last week announced a new set of initiatives to combat illegal immigration. Having failed for years to solve our illegal immigration problem and protect our borders, however, Congress and the President need to keep the National Guard in place until we meet the goal of 18,000 border agents. To read more commentaries from Fred, click here. The Importance of Border Security David Broder impressed with Fred Real Earmark Reform Needed Sanctuary Cities Fred Thompson takes a break from politics for family Tennessean, August 16, 2007 David S. Broder: Shaking up the Presidential race Sacramento Bee, August 16, 2007 GOP hits 2008 candidates on illegal aliens Washington Times , August 16, 2007 Michigan voters favor Gore, Thompson Detroit News , August 15, 2007

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