Fred Thompson on the Assination of Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (UPDATE)

Here is more on Fred's comments.

(UPDATE)

December 27, 2007

Thompson on Pakistan: 'This is a war we're engaged in'

Posted: 01:57 PM ET

Watch Thompson react to Bhutto's death.

(CNN) – Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson has weighed in on the death of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

“This is a war that we’re engaged in. It’s an international conflict,” said Thompson. “It’s a global conflict. Al Qaeda wants to bring Western civilization to its knees.”

Thompson also told reporters Thursday that he thinks “terrorism has never left the agenda” of the 2008 presidential race. “This is no time for on-the-job training,” added the former Tennessee senator, emphasizing the need for experience – a recurring theme in both the GOP and Democratic primary race. [source]

(UPDATE) From CBS News' John Bentley:

DES MOINES, IOWA -- Fred Thompson talked to CBS News about the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

"I had a chance to visit Pakistan a few years ago and I talked to Musharraf and other leaders there and I followed it closely ever since. It is an important part of the world," Thompson said.

Obviously there is a personal tragedy. There is a a national security interest as far as we are concerned. There is a stability question as far as Pakistan is concerned," he continued.

"It's a very touchy situtaion. I said earlier this morning that it looked to me that without question it was an Al-Qaeda backed operation. I notice in the last little while they have taken credit for it now."

"I think the fact that a secular woman had a chance of ascending to power in Pakistan again as prime minister probably drove the more looney of them to do something like that -- that in of itself. Plus the fact that this reminds us that this is part of a much greater picture - this is a war that we are engaged in and it is an international conflict...Pakistan and other parts of the world are part of this and they are under attack." [source]

Check out the links to the articles and read the comments. Not all of them are for Fred, but there are quite a few for Fred and they say that we need someone with experience and like me, they believe Fred does have that experience. Ya know what, since my first posting on Fred's comment took ya to a link at Fred's site, I will be fair and balanced and give links to other candidates comments about the assassination. You read, you decide.

Mike Huckabee

John McCain

Rudy Giuliani

Mitt Romney

Hillary Clinton

John Edwards

I couldn't find anything from Barack Obama's site. While I would hate to think that the death of a former leader such as Mrs. Bhutto should be the end all be all, it is something you need to think about and that is why I have provided the links to all the candidates comments. Who has the best foreign policy experience and who "stayed at a Holiday Inn Express."

Get the transcript here.

Fred Thompson-Substance

Watch this latest TV ad from Fred Thompson. I think the title of the ad says it all, "Substance."

"Cat"astrophe

I had to take my cat to the vet today, so I need to keep the phone line open today. He is still at the vet's. He will stay there for a while to be looked over. The vet may need to call me, so I can't do much posting. Check out the Fred Thompson website while I am offline and check out some postings by Fred Thompson himself. These are great places to get info about Fred Thompson if you are new to learning about him.

Happy Holidays verses Merry Christmas/My Thoughts

Well, today is Christmas. Throughout the holidays, every year for the past few years I have been hearing about the "Holidays verses Christmas" argument. A part of me can understand this. "Happy Holidays" does sound rather politically correct, in a way. Yet, at the same time I prefer "Happy Holidays" to Christmas, before Christmas and after.
The reason for this is that from Thanksgiving until Elvis' birthday on Janary 8 I spend time listening to Christmas music. I love listening to Christmas records while I sit at the sewing machine making Christmas presents for friends and family. I am poor, so none of these gifts are anything extraordinary. I always try to put as much love in these gifts as I can. I just think about what everyone needs, look around my sewing room to see what I've got and if I need to add more I just buy the missing items. This year I didn't do this. I allowed politics to get in the way. I feel rather guilty about this. I really feel bad that my mom made a beautiful quilt that matches the colors of my living room. All I made for that side of the family is I took my grandpa's old Navy blanket, cut it up and made wool scarves for everyone. Woo-hoo, lots of effort there. Next year I will get back to making better presents.
To me Holidays is that time leading up to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Pesonally, I think saying "Merry Christmas" should be used only on Christmas Eve/Day. Those are the days to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We should all celebrate Jesus 365 days a year. But my point is that the use of Christmas not on Christmas dilutes the "Spirit of Christmas." Holidays is a mix of Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years. It's a long season of giving thanks to God. Plus going to church, hearing the music and message about Jesus' birth and connecting with those in the community during Christmas Eve services.
After a long absence from church I attended Christmas Eve services. I grew up near Flint and attended Christmas Eve services at First Presbyterian Church. Since Flint is a big city many of the churches have different times for Christmas Eve churches. We would always attend the eleven pm services. After services we would drive through the rich neighborhood in Flint, just off of Miller Road, and see the lights. Since I live in a small town now each church only has one service on Christmas Eve. None of these are at eleven or midnight, not even the Catholic Church has Midnight Mass. If the local Catholic Church ever has Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve I will go there on Christmas Eve. There is a certain feeling of being in church during that transition of Christmas Eve to Christmas Day that can not be explained.
Now of course ya have thee day of the Holidays, Christmas! This is Jesus' birthday. When I was a kid it was about what presents I would get. Now that I am older it's so much more than that. It's about spending time with the ones you love and care about, to celebrate Jesus' birthday. Some of us are unable to be with the ones we love, but give them a call and talk to them. I always love to imagine the looks on my families' faces when they get one of their homemade gifts. I listen to my Elvis records and other Christmas music, remembering all the Christmases of past.
The Holidays should not end as soon as the clock strikes midnight on Christmas. There is still a feeling in the air. I keep this feeling until New Years. New Years is a time to reflect on the good and the bad of the previous year and think about how to change the bad and repeat the good. Perhaps I am weird. But I still like to listen to Christmas music, even after Christmas. Some people take down the Christmas decor right after Christmas, others wait until New Years . As an Elvis fan, I do like Elvis did. I wait until his birthday on January 8. I never want this feeling of the Holidays to end.
In conclusion, keep the feelings of the Holidays even after today and wish someone "Merry Christmas" for the remainder of the day. After that wish them "Happy Holidays." On New Years wish them a "Happy New Years."


Merry Christmas Y'all, from Michigan Redneck, from the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!

A Christmas Story

Just checking in to let y'all know the twenty-four hour marathon of my fave Christmas movie is on. TBS is showing "A Christmas Story" from 8pm tonite til 8pm Christmas night.


Merry Christmas and Don't "shoot your out";)!

Merry Christmas!

In case I do not get back to my blog before Christmas, I want to wish y'all a Merry Christmas! Check out the many Christmas videos I have posted since Thanksgiving.

Thompson: Focus on basics

• CEDAR RAPIDS, Dec. 20, 2007 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
  Shrugging off a late start, Fred Thompson told about 100 local Republicans who turned out on a foggy Wednesday morning that he's the best conservative choice for their party's nomination.
  "That's what this is all about -- cutting through the fog," Thompson said at the Marriott Cedar Rapids. "All that's left is for the people to cast their ballots." The actor and former U.S. senator from Tennessee touted "basic, sound conservative principles," casting himself for tax cuts and smaller federal government and against illegal immigration and abortion. [more here]

One sentence that struck out in my mind is at the very end. "I announced about the same time people traditionally announce. Everybody else announced earlier." When ya think about it, he is right. I recall when I was a kid and asked my grandpa about why they called in the '84 campaign when it was '83 he told me that in the primaries the candidates start campaigning for their parties before the general election and they would start out in about Fall.

Fred Thompson's Q & A with National Journal Online

I found this transcript from MSNBC. Here is the link to listen to the Q & A. Linda Douglass asks Fred Thompson a few questions. Here are some of the questions and Fred's answers.

Ms. Douglass asks him about Huckabee's poll numbers in Iowa along with Thompson's support from numerous Right to Life Organizations.

• Thompson: ...And you're right, I've gotten the Right to Life endorsement from the national organization and many of the state organizations. I think the latest one was today from the state of Virginia. I think there are a lot of people who respect the governor's background from a personal standpoint. But they are also going to be looking at issues that affect the security of this nation, matters concerning the safety of our people, the fiscal policies, where you stand on taxes, and things of that nature. Is your first solution a government run operation or is it going to be a more market based solution to a problem that comes up? Your thoughts on illegal immigration and what we can do about that, all those things at the end of the day are going to be very important to all voters, regardless of what their personal views are.
• Douglass: Do you think that Huckabee is actually qualified to be president? I ask you that because your campaign said in a press release that you wondered if a Bachelor's degree from Ouachita University made him the most qualified to fight the War on Terror? What about that?
• Thompson: Well, what I said in response to a question the other day was that when I read where he says that he always thought that we should lift the embargo on Cuba until the last few weeks, when he said that we should close Guantanamo and bring those enemy combatants here to this country, when he says kind of that if America would be nicer to our enemies that more people would love us and our European friends would get along with us better. When I see him saying all those things, I wonder if he really appreciates the nature of the world we live in, and I wonder if he understands it. And I stand by that statement.
• Douglass: Do you think he is qualified to be president?
• Thompson: I'm not going to use that word with regard to anybody in this campaign. People are going to have to make that decision for themselves. There is no magical list that you have to check off in order to be president of the United States. It is up to the American people. But I think it's important that you understand the nature of the world we live in, the challenges we face. We're not a nation facing one major enemy anymore, with one major weapon. We're facing a nation that can qualify as a rogue nation that is primary in the Middle East, in Iran. We're facing North Korea which has also developed a nuclear capability. We're of course facing Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations and they come at us from a variety of ways. And they are fueled by radical Islam which wants to take down Western civilization. And we're going to have to do a lot of things better in terms of our military and rebuilding.
  We're going to have to do a lot of things better in terms of our intelligence capabilities, which I think are lacking. We're in a very confusing state there in some respects. And at home we're going to have to understand that 9/11 was not that long ago, and what intelligence we do get indicates that the terrorists are still trying to get their hands on the most dangerous weapons known to man. So, these are serious issues. These are issues that I've spent many years dealing with as a member of the Intelligence Committee, as Republican manager for the Homeland Security Bill, having traveled and met with foreign leaders all over the world, having served out of government as an advisor to Condoleezza Rice on matters of international security, and I feel like I understand the nature of the world we live in, and I think anybody who aspires to be the next president needs to be able to say that.

The full transcript can be found here.

Fred Thompson Doesn't Pander

Found this in Gather.com.

• Fred Thompson Doesn't Pander
• 
  
• by Rob Port December 22, 2007 07:36 PM EST

• You gotta love a guy who will stand in the middle of Iowa farmland and refuse to pander to the subsidy-hungry ag industry:

  AKD: What will you do for the farmers of Bremer County?

  FT: (laughs)

  AKD: You knew this was coming, right?

  FT: I would continue to enjoy the fruits of their labor. I've been looking all over Iowa for a bad steak and I can't find it. Been trying my best. It's not a matter of what I would do for the farmers. Farmers are not looking for a president to hand them something. Farmers want fair treatment and a chance to prosper in a free economy and that's what I would help ensure. There's a lot of programs we've got out there, some of which are good programs, some of which are not. And I think that we need to work our way through that and make sure we're doing what's good for the country, not just the farmers, not just the people of Iowa, not just the people of Tennessee. But good for the country. A sound policy that makes sense. I think there's a lot more that we could do for the working farmer in terms of ecological programs and environmental programs - land conservation, soil conservation - that would be fair and it would be beneficial to the nation and to Iowa and to our country. We're going to have to phase out the corporate welfare system we've got, however. There are extremely rich people living in skyscrapers in Manhattan that are receiving subsidy payments. I think that's wrong. I'd put a stop to that if it was within my power. That still continues in this latest Farm Bill and it's not right. There ought to be a cutoff at some level and it's not right ot have millionaires receiving farm subsidies.

  Quite right.

  I think Thompson’s absolute refusal to pander - whether it be to special interest groups, political “kingmakers” and/or the media - is a big reason why he gets tagged with the “lazy” campaign label. His principles are iron, and he doesn’t bend them so that he can kiss the cheeks of the people who are used to being smooched by politicians.

  This has cost him dearly, politically, but at some point you’d think rank-and-file conservatives would want to stand up for a guy with principles like this rather than just go along with the judgment of the spurned political/media elites. [source]

This was taken from an article found here.

• Fred Thompson stumps in Waverly
  
• by JANELLE PENNY, news1@waverlynewspapers.com
  Thursday, December 20, 2007 11:48 AM CST
• A weekend of hectic, last-minute scheduling finally paid off for Bob Brunkhorst when presidential candidate Fred Thompson and wife, Jeri, made their first visit to Bremer County Tuesday afternoon at his invitation.
  
  Brunkhorst, the county chair for Thompson, asked campaign schedulers about a month ago to bring the former Tennessee senator to the area. The campaign announced Friday that it would swing through Waverly for about half an hour between its Mason City and Waterloo stops. The former state senator immediately began calling friends and potential supporters to ensure a friendly crowd greeted Thompson...
  

• Janelle Penny photo - Fred Thompson and his wife, Jeri, chat with Waverly Fire Chief Dan McKenzie Tuesday afternoon.

• Thompson sat down with Waverly Newspapers Editor Anelia K. Dimitrova at the Waverly Newspapers office for an exclusive 10-minute interview. Two national journalists who had covered the Bill Clinton and Magic Johnson appearance in Waterloo earlier in the afternoon showed up for Thompson’s sit-down session, but were asked by the campaign to wait outside.
• “[The exclusive interview with Waverly Newspapers] was the campaign’s idea,” Brunkhorst said. “The campaign just wants to make sure they give local newspapers an exclusive, because they don’t want a ‘big media’ campaign. They want to make sure they’re focusing on the grassroots.”
• At Waverly Newspapers, Thompson talked about America’s place in the world and explained his reasons for running.

• “We’re at a crossroads right now,” he said. “I think we have got to come to terms with our position in the world, for the 21st century. We know what our role has been since World War II, but it’s a different, more dangerous, more challenging, complex world than we’ve lived in before. We are facing an economic train wreck."
• “We are on a spending path that cannot be sustained in terms of our mandatory spending programs, as well as our discretionary spending comes with no restraint,” Thompson continued. “And we’ll be fine for awhile, but projections will show that we’re on an unsustainable path. Those are the things that are primarily on my mind. The unity of the American people is going to be required in order to deal with those challenges. That has to do with the kind of place our generation leaves to the next.

Click the top link to read the full q& a.

ELVIS CHRISTMAS CONCERT BY PAUL PHOENIX

Normally I wouldn't post an Elvis impersonator here, but this guy is so awesome. Almost had me fooled. I love this song, "If I get home on Christmas Day." Really puts a tear in your eye.

Christmas Holiday Message

Here is a great Christmas message from a candidate that isn't about alleged floating crosses/bookshelfs, universal pre-k wrapped in pretty paper, ribbons and bows, "happy-ass families" with the prissy perfect wife who is unsure if she wants to be Oprah or Gayle and the cute little kids.



Sometimes actions speak louder than words.

Fred Thomson is a Man with a Plan

Thompson Says Campaign Is 'Where It Needs To Be' Before Caucus

Despite sitting a distant third in the latest GOP presidential poll, in Iowa, republican Fred Thompson says his campaign is "where it needs to be" with less than two weeks to the first-in-the-nation caucus. Friday morning, Thompson spoke to about 60 people at the Daily Grind, in downtown Sioux City. It's the 16-th stop on bus tour of more than 50 Iowa cities leading up to the caucus. When picking a president, Thompson says the decision comes down to two things... "the man, and the plan." Thompson claims "clear, conservative" positions on issues like immigration... where he backs the border fence, and penalties for businesses that knowingly hire illegals. But, Thompson says "job one" for the next president won't be about simply securing our borders... rather securing our nation. "We live in more dangerous times than ever before," Thompson said. "We have a more diversified set of enemies than ever before. And, they're trying to get their hands on the most dangerous weapons known to man to use on us." [more here]

Fred Thompson - Tough on Immigration

• Thompson Says Enforce Immigration Law

• By AMY LORENTZEN – 1 day ago
• CARROLL, Iowa (AP) — Republican Fred Thompson said Thursday there should be few if any exceptions when it comes to enforcing U.S. immigration laws, or the flow of illegal immigrants would continue.
• Thompson was responding to a question from a man who told of a friend who is a chicken farmer and has to hire workers from Mexico, hoping they have legal status.
• While the U.S. president represents that chicken farmer, Thompson said, he also represents millions of other people and future generations who want the nation's laws enforced.
• "It is not good, in my opinion, for our country to start becoming dependent on a constant flow of illegal immigrants that are usually less educated and come here only because they'll work cheaper than somebody else will," he said. "And when and if they were to assimilate into American society, we would need another 11 or 12 million (illegal immigrants), and another 11 or 12 million after that."
• Thompson said the legal immigration system in the U.S. has inefficiencies and people get caught up in the bureaucracy. But he said the rule of law must be the top priority.
• "We have to look out No. 1 for what is right, what is the law. If you're coming and saying 'It's against the law, but,' I think you've got to have a very good reason, and I very seldom see a reason that justifies the 'but' if it's against the law."
• Thompson said the U.S. is capable of making changes to immigration laws that allow employers to meet their work force demands.
• "We can address, I think, our needs ... without succumbing to the notion that we have to have a constant flow of illegal immigrants," he said.
• When the same man pressed Thompson further to talk about his plan for illegal immigrants already in the country, the former Tennessee senator said he believes the issue will be resolved through "enforcement by attrition."
• Thompson proposes cutting off incentives to illegal immigrants. That means keeping employers from hiring them in the first place, and sealing the borders to keep illegal immigrants going back and forth between jobs and family. He said it also means shutting down sanctuary cities and keeping illegal immigrants from getting college and other breaks.
• "Over a period of time, I think the situation will reverse itself," he said.

Read more, to see his views on children of illegals and extended families.

Josh Groban - O Holy Night

This is my fave Christmas song by far.

Now This Looks Like President

Ever since the begining of the campaigning I was hearing how so and so "looks presidential." Those talks were about nice, good and polished looks. I disagree with that attitude. If there is such a thing as "looks presidential," it is Fred Thompson. I have gone through much of a personal evolution in what I want to see in the next leader of the free world. I can not pin point what it is about Fred Thompson that "looks presidential." But I can tell ya one thing, in this video from September 5, when Fred Thompson announced his run for Republican nominee, he is straightforward, honest and to the point.



I have come to the Fred Thompson support rather late. I want to say that if you are confused and still haven't found someone to support it is not to late to look to Fred. If you had been supporting someone who originally said the right thing, but the more you looked into them you realized they weren't everything they seemed cracked up to be. Perhaps you have guilt feelings for all that you have done for that candidate and now you feel it is too late. It is not to late, just go forward and don't look back.

The Virginia Society for Human Life Endorses Fred Thompson

Virginia Pro-Life Group Says Republicans Should Back Fred Thompson

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 20, 2007

Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) -- When Republican voters consider the candidates for the GOP presidential primary, the statewide pro-life group in Virginia says they should consider Fred Thompson. The Virginia Society for Human Life told LifeNews.com on Thursday that its political action committee has endorsed the Tennessee senator.

Brenda Fastabend, the president of the group, the oldest statewide pro-life organization in the nation, says "Fred Thompson is a stellar candidate for President of the United States."

"Fred Thompson’s one hundred percent pro-life voting record compiled during his eight years’ service in the U.S. Senate, speaks volumes for his integrity and statesmanship," Fastabend explained.

"In the eyes of Virginians who care about the dignity and sanctity of human life and the most basic freedom upon which our nation was founded -- the right to life -- Fred Thompson is a leader of great promise for the office of president," she told LifeNews.com.

Fastabend cited the same pro-life record that has prompted other state pro-life organizations across the nation to throw their support behind Thompson...

With the Virginia group's endorsement, it joins a growing list of statewide pro-life groups backing Thompson, including North Carolina, California, Minnesota, Vermont, South Carolina, Wyoming, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and New York. [more here]

Happy Ramahanukwanzmas!

Some more Christmas humor. It's political correctness run amok at Christmas.



I gotta admit, this is a rather catchy tune.

Trinity of Holidays

Glenn Beck's statement about the Christmas Holiday's from E-mail.

Since Glenn is off celebrating the holidays with his family, we thought it would be a good time share his essay from the December issue of Fusion Magazine on the "Trinity of Holidays" that happens this special time of year. Remember, today is the last day to subscribe to receive the Jan/Feb issue of Fusion. Order Now.

Trinity of Holidays

Let's talk turkey (and eggnog and noisemakers, for that matter). We're in the midst of the holiday season (no, that's not a PC term; I'm talking about Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's) and I have just one question: Do you even remember what it's all about?

I'm guessing you don't, because we've buried the magic of those holidays under so much noise and irrelevance that we really don't enjoy this time of year -- and we certainly don't grow spiritually from the gifts that are right in front of us. Over time, we've mangled these holidays into unrecognizable displays of gluttony and greed.

Take Thanksgiving, for instance. In November 1789, President George Washington made Thanksgiving a national holiday when he declared that the nation needed "a day of public Thanksgiving and prayer." Somehow, this day in late November that was intended to be a timeout to give thanks to Almighty God has turned into a feast of food and football that has nothing to do with prayer (unless you count praying for your football team to cover the spread, which I obviously don't).

Christmas is intended to celebrate the birth of Christ, but political-correctness and consumerism have mangled it so far beyond recognition that I'm actually surprised when I see a reference to baby Jesus anymore.

January 1st offers the promise of a new start and a new calendar year, but it's become an excuse to party and drink so much that you wake up not even knowing what day it is.

It's no wonder that, after the turkey comas and pine cone needles have disappeared, the only thing left over from the holidays is a bigger waistline and more credit card debt.

I want us to take back the real meaning of these holidays. I don't think it's an accident that they are clustered together; I see it as divine design. Every year they offer us a clear series of steps we can take to become better people.

Step One is gratitude. Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to humble ourselves and give thanks for the many blessings we have. Prayers help us find peace and acceptance with who we are.

Step Two is redemption. If you have seen my Christmas show, you know that I believe Christmas is more about the death of the man than the birth of the child. We celebrate the birth of the baby on December 25th, but the reason for His existence was so His death would cleanse our sins. His journey, from manger to cross, gives us a second chance.

Step Three is hope. The New Year gives us a clean slate, made possible because we've already humbled ourselves, given thanks, and found redemption. You can't succeed in your resolutions if you are still damaged from the past or if they are just a list on a piece of paper.

None of these holidays started out as anything extravagant. Thanksgiving was just a proclamation, Christmas began in a stable, and the New Year has always just been a day on the calendar. But their magic is in what they represent and in the opportunities they give us. They are very simple in their rewards: your grandmother's tablecloth; your child discovering the Christmas tree; the promise of a new year.

The true gifts of the season aren't in a lighting display or a gourmet meal; they are in your heart, and gathered around your table. You just have to take the time to look for them.

Traditions and glittery stuff are fine -- but our souls need attention, too. There is such a thing as a second chance and I hope, if you need one, you will find it this season in all the blessings around you.

Happy holidays from the Glenn Beck Program.

I may not agree with everything that Glenn Beck says, but I do have to agree with each and every word he says in this essay. Check out his website here and sign up for E-mail blasts.

Fred Thompson's Interview on CNN

Here are a few snippets from Fred Thompson's interview with Dana Bash from CNN.

• DECORAH, Iowa (CNN) -- Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson is trying to become a GOP contender in record time.
• 
• GOP hopeful Fred Thompson opened up about his campaign with CNN's Dana Bash.
• 
  
• 
• 1 of 2
• 
• 
• "It's a little late in the process for me to be coy. I want you to know that I think I'm that man," he told an audience of more than 100 in Dubuque, Iowa.
• Thompson just started a 15-day bus tour to 50-plus Iowa cities. He'll be in the state nearly every day until the January 3 caucuses.
• To watch his campaign is to witness a candidate trying to shake the rap that he has no fire in his belly.
• His red meat speeches are redder. His arguments for why he should be president are sharper.
• "My friends, I've been there, and I can tell you we are just one successful terrorist plan away from a nuclear attack on this country," Thompson told Iowa voters. "All the experts know that it's the kind of world we live in. It's not the time for on-the-job training."
• Thompson has had some good news in Iowa lately. He was widely praised for a a stellar performance at last week's Des Moines Register debate. He even uses a key moment -- refusing to raise his hand in response to the moderator's question about global warming -- as a prime example of his leadership.
• "I just asked my colleagues on the stage there, in effect, I said, 'Guys, how are you going to stand up to leaders of Iran and North Korea if you can't stand up to an overbearing moderator?' " Thompson tells crowds.
• Thompson also snagged a key endorsement from Iowa Rep. Steve King, an influential Republican and vocal leader against illegal immigration.
  

As much as it pains me to do this, I will post what Fred Thompson had to say about Mike Huckabee's recent "bunker mentality statement.

• "I don't think Gov. Huckabee appreciates the kind of world that we live in," Thompson said. "I think he's under the impression if we're nicer and sweeter to the bad guys that maybe they'll love us. Unfortunately, that's not the case."

Read all here.

North Carolina Right to Life Endorses Fred Thompson

North Carolina Pro-Life Organization Jumps on Fred Thompson Bandwagon

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 19, 2007

Charlotte, NC (LifeNews.com) -- Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson continues to accumulate the support of pro-life groups as he tries to rebuild his campaign in Iowa and capture the GOP nod for 2008. North Carolina Right to Life is the latest pro-life group to hop aboard the Thompson bandwagon and says the former senator is strongly pro-life.

The organization joins its sister group in South Carolina, site of one of the early presidential battlegrounds, in backing the former actor and attorney.

“By endorsing Fred Thompson for President, North Carolina Right to Life PAC wants all North Carolinians to know Senator Thompson’s long-standing pro-life record," Barbara Holt, the president of the group, told LifeNews.com.

Holt cites Thompson's "unwavering commitment to protecting unborn children from abortion, and our belief in his ability to win" as other reasons to back his presidential bid...[more here]

Transcript of Fred Thompson on Hannity and Colmes

Here is some of the transcript of Fred Thompson on Hannity and Colmes, from Tuesday.

• This is a rush transcript from "Hannity & Colmes," December 18, 2007. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

  SEAN HANNITY, "HANNITY & COLMES" CO-HOST: We're only 16 days away from the Iowa caucuses, and the race remains too close to call for both parties. Joining us tonight from the campaign trail — he joins us in Waterloo, Iowa — is presidential candidate Fred Thompson.

  Senator, I've got to go back to the last debate, because I haven't had a chance to show this. This to me is your finest moment. Let's roll the tape.

• FRED THOMPSON, GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not doing hand shows today.

  UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No hand shows. And so, does that mean — is that yes or no for you? Do you believe that global climate change is a serious threat and caused by human activity?

  THOMPSON: Do you want to give me a minute to answer it?

  UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I don't.

  THOMPSON: Well, then I'm not going to answer it.

  (END VIDEO CLIP)

  HANNITY: Senator, I love it. Tell us what was happening there.

I too love it. It shows true grit and leadership.

• THOMPSON: You know, 30 seconds is entirely too long or a minute is out of the question, you know, to answer an important question. So now they want a series of hand shows, and there ought to be a few things that's beneath the dignity of even presidential candidates, and I drew the line. It's that simple.

Ya know what? That handraising business and this answer combined with other answers Fred Thompson has given about why he didn't want to play the game has gotten me thinking. Fred's a thinking man. In a mocking of Martha Stewart "And that's a good thing." this country needs someone who can stop and think and give a detailed explanation.

Aln Colmes asked him about his thoughts on the NIE report that now says Iran isn't planning on making nuclear weapons.

• THOMPSON: Well, that's one of the questions we don't know, the last one that you just asked. There's no question in my mind that the world is warming. There's no question that humans are making some contribution to that. But there's a lot of answers that we don't have yet, Alan, that we need to get. We need to know whether or not this is a part of a phase or whether or not it's permanent, as best we can tell.

  We've had cooling periods in our country — or in our world before. We don't know the extent to which this is man made. We don't know the effects of it. The estimates of the results of all of this are all over the map. And I object to those people who say the books are closed, no more questions can be asked, we've got to now adopt the solutions that we're putting forth. We're not there yet.

  COLMES: You answered the question in less than a minute, so it could have happened a few days ago. Let me move on to some other things here, because when the Iran NIE report came out, you said they're undoubtedly intent upon nuclear weapons. You said, I don't care what the latest NIE says, that's foolishness, you said, that represents our inability to get a handle on it, more than anything else.

  If you're president, are you not going to care what 16 different intelligence agencies say on any particular issue?

  THOMPSON: I'm going to concentrate on improving our intelligence capabilities. As you probably know, I served on the Intelligence Committee. I have met with foreign leaders. And I've met with CIA officers in far away places dealing with questions such as this. We have a real problem with our intelligence community. It's created confusion and inconsistency. We now have a report dealing with one of the most important issues facing our country that's totally inconsistent with one that came out just two years ago.

  The Israelis don't believe it. The British don't believe it. They have pretty good intelligence agencies. And we're concentrating on the wrong thing in this report. Whether or not Iran today has a weaponization program is not the important point. The important point is they continue to enrich uranium. That's the most difficult part of the process. Once they have enriched uranium, and it's enriched sufficiently, the weaponization will take a short period of time, and I don't trust the Iranians to make the right decision in the future.

  COLMES: The reports show though that they're not nearly as far along as some people thought, and the rhetoric coming out of the administration, which was very close to war mongering, from my point of view, seemed to be discounted by what this report actually said.

  THOMPSON: Well, you're not paying close enough attention to what I just said, Alan. To start with, we don't know how far along they are. None of our estimates have ever been precise. None of them have ever pretended to be precise. But the point is that everybody agrees they continue to enrich uranium. And in the future, with a turn of a screw, they could turn it into a weapons program. And it depends on their intent in the future.

  That means that we need to continue the policies that we have, of being tough on them and making sure our allies join us in the appropriate kinds of sanctions.

• COLMES: You're running on small government. One of your other big issues, protection of the border from illegals and illegal immigration. Do you believe that if you become president — you're following another Republican administration — have they done the right thing about the border? And have they really been proponents of small government, given their policies and the increasing deficit and debt?

  Will you follow their lead on those issues?

  THOMPSON: No, no. We've not done enough in terms of border security. I respectfully disagreed with the president's bill when he put it forth. Call it what you want to; it was putting some illegal folks here ahead of the line, in front of some people who had played by the rules and waited a long time to become good American citizens. So I didn't support that. And on the big government side, the president hasn't done enough to veto these spending bills and these pork barrel projects that we've seen.

  He's done better than the Democrats would have him do. But he hasn't done enough. I think he's done much, much better recently, but we're facing a tsunami of spending that's going to burden our children and grandchildren for generations to come, unless we turn our spending habits around, unless we make some basic reforms, including in our entitlement program.

Read more here.

GI Blues

On this day in 1957 Elvis was inducted into the U.S. Army.
Check out the info on wikipedia.

Elvis Graphics provided by MySpaceAnimations.com

Christmas Laughs with Weird Al Yankovic

With the Presidential politics interupting Christmas , I figured we all need a good laugh.

Weird Al Yankovic -The Night Santa Went Crazy

I think Santa was watching too much politics?

Weird Al Yankovic - Christmas At Ground Zero

Ya have to "Duck and Tuck" to watch this, as you bob your head to the catchy music. Also watch for the cameo appearance with Ronald Reagan.

Why yes, I am white and nerdy, thanks for asking.

A Few Changes

Attention: This announcement will be staying at the top of the page for a few days. Please look below for new posts, updated daily.

Some of the regular readers may have noticed a few changes here at Michigan Redneck. In March I started blogging about Mike Huckabee, through my genealogical website Kallis Ancestry. That website no longer exists. Depending on whatever happens after Michigan's January 15 Primary, I may start the website back up. In order to get more traffic from people who were interested in Mike Huckabee I started this blog, in May.
I have been doing some soul searching. At current, I can not support any one particular presidential candidate. I am going a little unorthodox and veering from the "traditional." While most political blogs, be it Republican or Democrat, either blog about just one specific candidate or are completely neutral and blog about all of them in their own party or each and every one from both major parties I am going to blog about the ones that I do like.
As you can see at the side, I have buttons to click on for Mike Huckabee, Fred Thompson and John McCain. These will be rotated every other day. There are things that I like and things I dislike about each one. But in all I wouldn't mind seeing either one of them be our next POTUS. With these three candidates I will only blog about the positives and/or neutrals. Although everyone else is fair game.
Since I am still unsure as to who to specifically support, I feel it only fair to give my readers a chance to check out the field. Granted, I am not including all the candidates here. One, I support the Republicans. Two, I do not support all of them. If you want to check out any of the ones I that are not mentioned on this blog, it is a free country, all you have to do is go on any search engine. I prefer Yahoo Search or Google. Again, free country, you can choose whichever search engine you prefer.
The only bad thing about my being unsure is that one thing I love about campaigns is that I love the volunteer grassroots aspect. Due to the current aspect of this blog not supporting one particular candidate, I feel it unfair to do any volunteering for any one candidate. Thus, I must stay out of the volunteer system, for now. Sure, I could volunteer for all three, but what purpose would that serve? Plus, I have a life, not much of one, but still I have a life. Many of my longtime readers will recall that I am not a fan of hawking for contributing to the campaigns. While I understand that the campaigns need money to keep the campaigns going, my thought is that you can visit the websites and decide to contribute through there, without my help. Plus right now it would be a conflict of interest. I am signed up to receive email alerts through all three of the campaigns. If I get an email alert that I feel is worthy to post here, that is more than just to hawk for money and it does have links to contribute I will provide those, in full entirety.
Some of you may be wondering why I am posting about the changes. Well, originally I was going to leave "as-is" and just keeping posting the way I feel. The reason for this babbling post? I was checking my stats. Since posting about Fred Thompson and John McCain, some of you have clicked on the tags regarding these two gentleman and coming to some past posts in which I may not have said flattering things about either one. I have decided to keep these posts standing. I do not want anyone to think I am playing games. I am just trying to be honest, something that is sorely missing from politics. I wrote those posts on how I felt at the time, like it or not they are staying. Not only that, but I did send an email out to the Huckabee campaign letting them know that if they want to take me off the blogroll, for obvious reasons, they can do that. I left it up to them. They kept me on the blogroll and I am still getting traffic from the site. I want Huckabee supporters to know what is going on when they see that I have posts for Thompson and McCain. For it is only fair. I just want everyone out there to make informed decisions on everything they read. The future of our country is too important to just be narrow minded and not look at all sides.
I have learned more in the past few more months through blogging than I have learned in the past fifteen or so years. I have learned quite a few lessons from friends, online and those I know in person. I have said it here before and I will say it again, I was a Romney supporter through encouragement from a friend I know in person before becoming a Huckabee supporter. Early on this same friend said that Mike Huckabee would never make it. I did get a bit upset with him and acted immature towards him once or twice. I have learned to respect his choice. Who knows what may or may not happen? Perhaps Romney will make it. Perhaps Huckabee may make it. Perhaps neither will. Only time will tell. Another real life friend has told me to blog what is in my heart, regarding this change. And that is exactly what I am doing. Some online friends have supported me in different ways throughout the ups and downs within my blogging process. Some have been supportive some have not, through this current change. I have learned that friends are not the people who have the same exact ideas as you or I, or even support the same candidate, but those that are willing to listen and offer advice. To all of you who have been so supportive "I luv y'all." Not like in a huggy kissy way, but I am sure you know what I mean. I hope to one day be able to repay that kindness. I welcome any comments, negative or positive, regarding this new change. All I ask is that you keep it relevant to the subject at hand. Any negative comments should be why you do not like what I am doing, not just attacks. Attacks will not be posted, relevant criticism will be posted. I would prefer at possible that you leave a name, even if it is not your real name, ex: "Reader2008" or whatever you wish. When you are "anonymous" I don't know you from Adam or any other "anonymous. Thank you for your time.

God Bless From the Upper Peninsula in Michigan!
PS For the Michigan readers out there, I will be posting more Michigan stories, political or not. Mostly Republican politics.

Kallis/Selinger Family

I was just checking my stats and someone came to my blog through searching "Czech family singing 'Eva Marie'". This same reader came to my blog through searching Kallis/Selinger family. Normally I wouldn't post details about stats, but I want them to come back to this blog so that we can exchange info. This just seems like too much of a coincidence, that someone would choose to check for Czech music, plus know about a Kallis/Selinger marriage.
I will give a little bit info about my Kallis/Selinger connection. I am the great granddaughter of Dorothy Elizabeth (Nelson) Reimel Behnke. She was the daughter of Henry Nielsen/Nelson and Elizabeth (Kallis), wife and widow of William Reimel and wife and widow of Edwin Behnke. She was born in 1900, died 1995. She had one sister, Emma, and four brothers. Two of them were named Carl and Charlie. I can't remember the other names. They grew up in Wilmington, Illinois. Their mother, Elizabeth, passed away in 1909. After that the family moved to Michigan.
Elizabeth (Kallis) Nelson was born in 1864 to Frank Kallis and Elizabeth Selinger, in Diamond, Illinois. Frank and Elizabeth had a total of 12 children. One, Marie, died at sea when she was a new born. Frank (1826-1880) and Elizabeth (1835-1919) came to the US, from Nosalov, Bohemia, after 1850. Besides the younger Elizabeth, the only children to have current desendents would be Frank Jr who was married to Minnie Seymour and had one son, Frank. Mary (Kallis) Powell had four or five children. I have been in contact with one descendent of Mary.
I really hope you come back to this blog. If you have more info about Kallis/ Selinger family or would like more info, please leave a comment. If you do not want your comment published say "DO NOT PUBLISH" at the top of your comment. Give me your email in the comment or you can email me at gypzychik@yahoo.com.
Don't worry about the stats. The only thing I can read is that you are from Manchester, England and how you came to my blog.

In Memory of Dan Fogelberg

Dan Fogelberg passed away yesterday at the age of 56. So I thought I would repost this video of Another Auld Lange Syne.

Romney Fact Check on Preserving the Sanctity of Life

From FredThomspson.com

Romney Fact Check on Preserving the Sanctity of Life

Romney's Claim : "...every piece of legislation which came to my desk in the coming years as a Governor, I came down on the side of preserving the sanctity of life."

- Mitt Romney, Meet the Press 12/16/07

Fact Check

· Romney's health care legislation provides taxpayer-funded abortions for a co-pay of just $50.

o Romney vetoed EIGHT provisions in his health care bill that he deemed objectionable, but he did not veto Planned Parenthoods' guaranteed position on the Advisory Board or ensure that abortions were covered only in medically necessary situations (as required by MA court ruling). All abortions are covered in the Commonwealth Care program with no medically necessary limitation.

· Romney included in his health care legislation a guarantee that Planned Parenthood would have a representative on his MassHealth Payment Policy Advisory Board. No such provision was included for a pro-life representative .

· Romney forced private Catholic hospitals to provide the morning-after-pill, a position applauded by Democrats and pro-abortions groups .

Romney's health care legislation provides taxpayer-funded abortions for a co-pay of just $50. Romney vetoed EIGHT provisions in his health care bill that he deemed objectionable, including the expansion of dental benefits to Medicaid recipients. He did not veto Planned Parenthoods' guaranteed position on the Advisory Board or ensure that abortions were covered only in medically necessary situations (as required by MA court ruling). All abortions are covered in the Commonwealth Care program with no medically necessary limitation. Under the program, abortions are available for a copay of $50. (Menu of Health Care Services: http://www.mass. gov/Qhic/docs/cc_benefits1220_pt234.pdf; "Romney's Health Care Vetoes," Associated Press, 4/12/06)

Romney included in his health care legislation a guarantee that Planned Parenthood would have a representative on his MassHealth Payment Policy Advisory Board. No such provision was included for a pro-life representative . "You cannot be personally opposed to abortion and then contribute money to an organization whose purpose is to provide abortions," said Jerry Zandstra. "Given the Romney family's support of Planned Parenthood, it now makes sense why he mandated that a member of the RomneyCare Policy board be appointed by the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts." (RepealRomneyCare.com, "Pro-Life Leaders Denounce Romney's Planned Parenthood Connections," Press Release, 5/10/07)

Romney forced private Catholic hospitals to provide the morning-after-pill, a position applauded by Democrats and pro-abortions groups . "Governor Mitt Romney reversed course on the state's new emergency contraception law yesterday, saying that all hospitals in the state will be obligated to provide the morning-after pill to rape victims. The decision overturns a ruling made public this week by the state Department of Public Health that privately run hospitals could opt out of the requirement if they objected on moral or religious grounds. Romney had initially supported that interpretation, but he said yesterday that he had changed direction after his legal counsel, Mark D. Nielsen, concluded Wednesday that the new law supersedes a preexisting statute that says private hospitals cannot be forced to provide abortions or contraception. 'And on that basis, I have instructed the Department of Public Health to follow the conclusion of my own legal counsel and to adopt that sounder view,' Romney said..." (Scott Helman, "Romney Says No Hospitals Are Exempt From Pill Law," Boston Globe, 12/9/05)

· Catholic leaders urged hospitals to reject Romney's mandate or risk "compromising their religious integrity and Catholic identity." "C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, a conservative Catholic organization, said Catholic hospitals should refuse to abide by the law. 'T he appropriate response for Catholic hospitals is noncompliance. Otherwise, they would be compromising their religious integrity and Catholic identity,' he said." (Steve LeBlanc, "Confusion Over New Emergency Contraception Law Deepens," Associated Press, 12/9/05) [source]

Just FYI

Mike Huckabee will appear on Larry King Live Monday Night at 9pm EST. Larry King can be seen on CNN.

Fred Thompson News

Thompson looks for campaign money at Sevierville breakfast

By: DEREK HODGES Staff writer December 15, 2007

Staff Writer
SEVIERVILLE - Fresh from the last debate before the Iowa caucuses, presidential candidate and former Tenn. Sen. Fred Thompson was in Sevier County Thursday morning on a fundraising swing.
Thompson supporters gathered at Five Oaks Convention Center for a $1,000-a-plate breakfast that featured the Republican contender as keynote speaker.
B.C. "Scooter" Clippard, chief fundraiser for Thompson's campaign, said Sevier County was chosen for the home-state tour - which included stops in Cleveland, Nashville and Memphis - because of the large number of high-dollar donors locally.
Contacted after the event, both McCord and Ogle said they were "very impressed" with Thompson.
"I thought he did a great job of reaffirming why I and so many others support him," McCord said. "It's nice to support a Tennessean, but it's really nice to support a Tennessean like Fred Thompson. He brings a common sense balance to complex issues."
Ogle agreed the crowd, already in Thompson's camp, left even more convinced they've picked the right man for the 2008 race.
"He did an outstanding job today," Ogle said. "He prompted the crowd to think about the worst foreign leader or the worst disaster they can think of, then think of who they want sitting on the other side of the table dealing with that issue. Thompson is one of the best public servants we've ever had in Tennessee."
While those with the cash to get in enjoyed an intimate time with one of the men who would be president, the event was closed to the media and was largely unpublicized. Even Wednesday afternoon, members of Thompson's headquarters staff in Nashville had trouble tracking down information on where the event would be held.
"You could really see the fire in his belly today," Ogle said. "I've never seen so much energy in a room from a candidate. He really looks presidential. He's made of presidential timber." [more here]

Thompson accepts evangelical endorsement

By Leah Rupp • leah.rupp@clarionledger.com • December 15, 2007

Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson's second stop in Jackson in less than a month may have been more about highlighting his evangelical endorsements than pushing his words, some say.

"The most important work is going on in the families of this country," Thompson, 65, said Friday at the state Capitol flanked by several ministers. "The next most important... is going on in the private efforts and institutions that private people... and religious people have formed to do good work."

On Friday, several religious leaders - including the Rev. Phillip Knight, president of the Florence-based Congregational Methodist Church - said they would back the U.S. senator from Tennessee for the GOP nomination.

"Sen. Fred Thompson has remained consistently conservative regarding our values," said Knight, adding that in the next couple of weeks, more than 100 conservative ministers would endorse the GOP candidate. "In the areas of defense, fiscal policy and moral truth, Fred Thompson has never ventured down the road toward liberalism." [more here]

McCain and Huckabee on Push Polling

In a recent AP article John McCain commented on recent push polling done by supporters, not the Huckabee campaign, in New Hampshire.

• McCain Calls for a Stop to Push Polling

• By JIM DAVENPORT – 12 hours ago
• NEWBERRY, S.C. (AP) — White House hopeful John McCain on Saturday called on Republican rival Mike Huckabee to end push polling in New Hampshire tied to his presidential campaign's supporters, but Huckabee denied any involvement.

• If an ally of his was doing that, "I would ask him to stop it immediately and take those things down. And I hope that Mike Huckabee will do the same," McCain said by phone as he traveled between campaign stops in South Carolina.

Mike Huckabee has already done that. More on that later.

• At an event in Littleton, N.H., Huckabee said he had great respect for McCain and found such criticisms despicable. "I would never be party to any kind of attack upon him," he said.

I truly believe Mike Huckabee to be honest in that. If you recall, both gentlemen did speak jointly at a Townhall meeting hosted by AARP back a while ago. It was supposed to be a debate, but all the other Republican candidates declined to show. Both men showed respect for each other at this event.

A McCain supporter talks about a call from so called "Huckabee supporters" were like.

• McCain supporter Bernie Campbell said he got a call from a Virginia number Friday night and was asked about his positions on gay marriage and abortion through an automated voice response system.
• When he said he supported McCain, "they continued to ask me a number of questions regarding negative aspects of my candidate and asked if they changed my opinion," Campbell said. "Things like, 'You know, Senator McCain's campaign finance reform limits the ability of right to life groups to get their message out. Does that change your opinion about Senator McCain?"
• Campbell said he was also asked whether he knew McCain didn't support a federal amendment to the Constitution banning same-sex marriages.
• At the end, Campbell said the message said it was paid for by "Common Sense something."

Read the rest here.

I have posted Mike Huckabee's response to the recent push polling.

• December 15, 2007 - 05:26 PM

• Stop The Push Polling

• by Team Huckabee

• News Release: Huckabee Campaign Denounces Push Polling -- Again
• Berlin , New Hampshire -- Republican Presidential Candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee today strongly denounced push polling activities in Iowa, New Hampshire, and any state in the country.
  
  "As I've said before, our campaign has nothing to do with push polling and I wish they would stop. We don't want this kind of campaigning because it violates the spirit of our campaign. I want to become President because I am the best candidate, not because I disabled the other candidates,"said Huckabee.
  
  National Campaign Manager Chip Saltsman agreed: "Anyone who has the slightest understanding of the race ahead and the mindset of voters would know this sort of activity is extremely counterproductive. It takes the campaign off message at a time when Governor Huckabee is resonating with voters as never before. It loses votes rather than gains them. It's an underhanded way of doing business that is not welcomed by the campaign and it flies in the face of what Governor Huckabee stands for: integrity and clean politics. On behalf of Governor Huckabee and his campaign, I ask once again that these calls be stopped immediately." [source]
  

What is Kathy's response? I have to say that I think this whole thing is really stupid. Currently I do not believe Mike Huckabee has any involvement whatsoever. Let's say that these people are really Huckabee supporters. They are doing a serious disservice to Mike Huckabee, the Republican candidates, the election process and democracy all together. If they really "Like Mike" this is the last thing they should be doing. Perhaps one does not need to strap a fake bomb on their chest and storm into a campaign office to be another Leland Eisenberg. If they are not Huckabee supporters they are not doing their candidate any good, once the truth is out.

New Hampshire's Union Leader Endorses John McCain

Here are some of the reasons the publication endorses John McCain.

• Next year America will elect a war President who will have to be ready to take command of the United States armed forces and make life-or-death decisions starting on day one. With the war in Iraq having improved dramatically in the past six months, Americans seem to have forgotten this fundamentally important consideration.
• Our next President should not be someone who needs on the job training when it comes to making military decisions. It should instead be someone intimate with military affairs who has a history of making sound decisions on matters of war and diplomacy. The only one who fits that description on either side of the aisle is Sen. John McCain.
• Sen. McCain is much more than just a war hero who chose to endure years of abuse at the hands of a sadistic enemy rather than abandon his comrades. In his political career he has demonstrated real wisdom on foreign policy, and never more impressively than after Sept. 11, 2001.
• Of all the candidates for President, it was John McCain and only John McCain who not only opposed Donald Rumsfeld's Iraq strategy from the start but offered a viable alternative for winning that ill-fated war. When the Democrats cried "Retreat!" and other Republicans shouted "Stay the course!" McCain listened to the commanders on the ground.

• McCain is by far the most informed candidate on military and foreign affairs. In our interviews with nearly all of the presidential candidates, only McCain offered a comprehensive and detailed strategic vision for maintaining America's position as the world's lone superpower.

• There is no greater issue in this election than keeping America safe from its enemies.

Read the full article here.

Versatile Huckabee

Here is an article about Mike Huckabee campaigning in New Hampshire. The article is about even though Mike Huckabee is a Christian conservative, he is also showing his more versatile side. Some highlights;

• Republican Mike Huckabee seeks to broaden his appeal

• GOP leader in Iowa is trying to win over N.H. and nation

By Jill Zuckman |Tribune national correspondent
9:28 AM CST, December 15, 2007
• BOSCAWEN, N.H. - In Iowa, where he's leading the Republican field, Mike Huckabee bills himself as a "Christian leader." But here in New England, where voters are more taciturn about their religious beliefs, Huckabee is a "committed conservative," according to his television ads.

• He's also trying to expand his campaign, which is suddenly under pressure from all the attention, to a more national operation. Friday, Huckabee announced that veteran Republican strategist Ed Rollins would take over as national chairman of his campaign in an attempt to do just that.

• "Live free or die -- I get the picture here," Huckabee on Friday told employees on the plant floor at Elektrisola, a manufacturer of magnetic wire, echoing the New Hampshire motto.
• To those workers he sounded a populist appeal -- decrying jobs sent overseas, lambasting the federal tax system that eats up their paychecks, and underscoring his roots coming from a family of modest means. "It's not OK if you guys are invisible to the people who get elected to office," Huckabee said.

• Huckabee said he's not trying to obscure his faith or his social conservatism as he campaigns in a state where Republicans tend to be fiscally conservative and socially liberal.
• "I've never downplayed or up-played it. More people have asked me questions about it than perhaps any other person running," he said at a news conference packed with a newly attentive media contingent. "What I'm playing up is the fact that I've got more executive experience actually running a government as a governor. That's what's important. People shouldn't vote for me or against me because of my faith."

Read the full article here.

Nat King Cole-The Christmas Song/Frank Sinatra-Merry Christmas

Woo-hoo! I finally found a vintage classic Christmas song with the actual artist singing on camera. Since I missed posting Christmas a video last night, here are two. I was watching this one of Nat King Cole singing "The Christmas Song" and realized that his mannerisms in the video reminded me of Frank Sinatra. Thus I am posting Frankie singing "Merry Christmas." Am I crazy or do you see the similarities? They seem to have the same charisma.

I just love those old vintage big lights. I am so glad they still make them.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I missed my dad's birthday yesterday...oops. Now is as good as any time to say

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday!

Myspace Happy Birthday Glitters

He was born waaaay back on December 14, 1951 in Arkansas.

Mike Huckabee in the News

Huckabee: Another Overachiever From Hope

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Huckabee's first day as Arkansas governor is remembered most for the Four Hour Crisis.[more here]

Comeback Kid: Huckabee Surges To Lead
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has vaulted from near the bottom to the head of the GOP pack in the latest poll for CNN. [more here]

Rollins: Huckabee Can Fill Reagan's Shoes

From Mike Huckabee's new national chairman

"Governor Huckabee has probably inspired me as much as Ronald Reagan did," Rollins said after being introduced by Huckabee at a press conference here. "I've looked a long time to find a candidate like that...A lot of people walk around talking about the Reagan days and the next Reagan. I was with the old Reagan and I can promise you that this man comes as close as anyone to filling those shoes." [more here]