Fred Thompson explains First Principles-
Anyone who has heard me speak knows my firm commitment to what I call “First Principles.” These grow out of the documents of our Nation’s founding and the wisdom of the ages. They are core beliefs that guide my approach to the issues that are crucial to our Nation’s future. I believe in–
- Individual Liberty- As Jefferson spelled out in the Declaration of Independence, our basic rights come from God, not from government, and that among these inalienable rights is the right to liberty. We must allow individuals to lead their lives with minimal government interference.
- Personal Responsibility -The corollary to liberty is responsibility. No society can succeed and thrive for any duration unless free people act in a responsible way. All of us must take responsibility for our actions and strive to improve our own lives and to contribute to building a better society.
- Free Markets- Free people are best equipped to order their own affairs, and the common interest benefits from and is improved by the aggregate success of all. We must reform our tax system, encourage investment, support entrepreneurial spirit, open markets abroad to American goods, and minimize burdensome government regulations to continue to expand the economy and bring increased wealth to all Americans give.
- Limited Government – Government must be strong enough to protect us, competent enough to provide basic government services, but limited by the delineated powers in the Constitution.
- Federalism – Our Constitution innovatively guarantees our liberties by spreading power among the three branches of the federal government, and between the federal government and the states. In considering any action by the government, we must always ask two questions: is the government better equipped than the private sector to perform the task and, if so, what level of government (federal or state) ought to do it. Washington is not the seat of all wisdom. (More on Federalism)
- Protecting our Country – The first responsibility of the federal government is to protect the nation and the American people. There is no more important task. We must have a strong and effective military, capable intelligence services, and a vigorous law enforcement and homeland security capacity.
- Traditional American Values – A healthy society is predicated on belief in God; respect for all life; strong families centered on the institution of marriage-the union of a man and a woman; and self-respect and tolerance of others. While we are all free to live our lives in the pursuit of our own happiness, the government has a responsibility to respect the right of parents to raise their children and to promote the values that produce the strongest society.
- The Rule of Law – We protect our liberty, secure our rights, and promote a just and stable society through the rule of law. We owe to ourselves and our fellow citizens our own adherence to the rules, but tough law enforcement and punishment for those who do not. A free and independent judiciary that interprets the law by adhering strictly to legal text and respects its limited role in our system of government is essential to our security and freedom, and we need judges who understand that role if we are to preserve our republic and freedom.
- Conserving Our Nation’s Resources – Each of us is put on Earth for a limited period of time. We must always strive to ensure that the resources we use to lead our lives are here for future generations to enjoy and use as well.
We live in the greatest country on earth. We have been truly blessed. This blessing carries with it an obligation: to keep it that way and to leave this country at least as strong, prosperous, and united as when we entered it.
September 27th, 2007 at 9:33 am
In theory Fred’s conservative principles sound nice. I support Mitt because I would rather have an untiring micro manager who has proven he can surround himself with brilliant people that get things done. Unfortunately, Fred’s congressional record is sparse–no major sponsor of legislation, no front-seat in negotiating or pushing for deals. And I don’t like his slow, lumbering pace. I think we need a president who can juggle 10 balls at once, effectively and efficiently and still have the energy travel all over the country and around the world to meet with people and negotiate deals.
If the race so far is any indication of a likely president, Fred would be highly disappointing. When the the Olympic Games was in trouble, Romney barnstormed corporate offices all around the country and pulled together an impressive number of sponsors for the games in a very short period of time. On the campaign trail, he’s spoken at hundreds of events, often doing six or seven or more in a day and his “retail politics” in some of the early states has paid off. I would love to see a president take that same mentality to the office of president: Use effective managerial skills to run the government while at the same time selling important conservative principles to people all around the country by getting out there constantly and meeting with real Americans in addition to working with allies around the world.
Run Fred, Run–literally–RUN and prove to us you can keep up with the hectic demands of the office.
September 27th, 2007 at 9:57 am
In my very subjective opinion, this campaign is a joke. It’s appeal is to some parallel universe and the substrata of the voting public that live there.
The country faces real issues. The Nation is at war.
The last thing the general public wants to hear is political philosophy.
September 27th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Now if Fred could only stop flip-flopping!
September 27th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Emtee,
Thompson was on the forefront of negitiating and pushing deals. Not on authoring legislation. He was responsible for getting the Homeland Security Bill passed, for one thing. The China Nonpoliferation Act, The Aviation Security Act. He was Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee. It was his job to oversee the passage of these bills.
Opinionated,
And that is why you don’t understand the Thompson effect. A lot of people are looking for a philosophical approach after 16 years without it.
September 27th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Tommy Oliver Says: “A lot of people”
I would argue that there will not be much actual Thompson effect and that those “a lot of people” is a very minuscule amount who have their priorities strangely out of order.
The general public is not looking for philosophy. It is looking for competence in the right direction.
September 27th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Traditional American Values??? Yet he doesn’t support the FMA?
Oh yeah, federalism is more important!!! Why list Traditional American Values if he just going to shrug it off as president. His principle should say, “Traditional American “Local” Values” because it ain’t a Federal issue!
September 27th, 2007 at 11:38 am
This is a great platform to run on, as are Rudy’s 12 Commitments. There are some things I like better about each.
September 27th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Actually, I like Rudy’s better as a platform, and as *commitments*, but I like Fred’s philosophical approach better.
Still favor Rudy because he will get most of his list DONE, while most Presidents accomplish only 3 or 4 major things in office.
September 27th, 2007 at 11:51 am
It is nice to see he stands for this. What’s amazing is that every candidate isn’t expected to have this worldview as a fundamental precondition to popular acceptance.
September 27th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
“We must allow individuals to lead their lives with minimal government interference.”
So, a woman makes an doctor’s appointment. Walks in. Hours later walks out. Is that the Government’s business.
Or, a woman (or man) walks into a hotel, meets a guest, and a hour later leaves with more money in her bag then when she walked it, is it the business of any Governmental entiry but the IRS?
September 27th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Opinionated, not at all!!!
September 27th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
MetroRepublican. It’s why I have gone from thinking that, although he is not my choice, I could be comfortable with Thompson, to being irritated by his campaign.
I find running in this day and age on such “principles”- and nothing else- insulting. They have in practice nothing to do with real life and real issues that are on the Presidents desk. Some are hypocritical and contradictory on their face.
They are manna to the knee jerk base. They are a sure loser in the General.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:00 am
[...] enumerated his First Principles here, in September 27, [...]
September 14th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
[...] All, From the beginning of my Blog, I have been using Fred Thompson as my spokesman. His “First Principles” are some of the strongest proponents for following “The Doctrine of Original Intent” of our [...]