12-27-07 (Help FDT Run this Ad "Substance")
(h/t Rick Moran and RWNH)

Two Hundred and Thirty One years ago yesterday, a barefoot, ill-clad army of 2,000 men crossed the ice choked Delaware River to surprise the Hessians at Trenton, giving George Washington his most important victory in the cause of American independence.

The story of how that victory came about is instructive to the cause of Fred Thompson%u2019s campaign for the presidency and the reason for this blogburst today. Not because Fred resembles George Washington in any way or that a Thompson presidency would be as significant an event in history as the American revolution. But because when the chips were down and the cause all but lost, a very small group of Americans helped make the difference between victory and defeat.

Consider if you will the circumstances. Washington had been pushed out of New York by the British in a series of battles during the summer and fall where the Continentals had suffered one humiliating defeat after another. The Americans were levered out of New Jersey and forced to cross the Delaware to the Pennsylvania side of the river. There they waited grimly for the British to attempt a crossing and finish them off.

Patriots in New York and New Jersey began to lose heart, giving their oaths of allegiance to the King so they could trade and buy food for their families. The Congress fled Philadelphia for Baltimore which made Washington not only head of the military but titular head of the government as well. There was no food, no clothing, little in the way of arms and powder, no money, and no credit.

And to make matters worse, Washington%u2019s army was set to disband after the first of the year. A last minute appeal to patriotism by Washington (as pitiful a missive ever written by the Great Man) salvaged the situation with a little more than half the army agreeing to re-up.

In short, things couldn%u2019t get any worse for the patriot cause. Both friend and foe believed that American independence was a lost cause. But then two events were to occur that changed the fortunes of the war and turned the tide inevitably toward success.

The first fortunate happenstance occurred on December 23, 1776 when the first of Tom Paine%u2019s %u201CCrisis%u201D essays hit the streets of America. %u201CThese are the times that try men%u2019s souls%u2026%u201D had an electric effect on the citizens and the army. The second event was Washington%u2019s audacious attack on Trenton, as unlikely and impossible a victory as has ever been recorded.

Washington devised a complex plan involving three separate columns crossing the river at three points and converging on Trenton by dawn on Christmas day. One of the columns failed to cross but the other two made it safely through the ice floes and stinging sleet and arrived on the New Jersey side of the Delaware %u2013 late but intact. It was madness crossing the river in the middle of an ice storm. But Washington had the perfect bunch to attempt the impossible; the seafaring men of the 14th Continental Regiment.

Better known to us as %u201CThe Marblehead Regiment,%u201D these were the hard cases of the American army %u2013 a group of swaggering, swearing, spitting fishermen and common seamen led by a remarkable Brigadier by the name of John Glover. Under the guns of the British on Long Island, they ferried 10,000 men and horses across the East River in one night and part of a morning (aided by a heavy fog that obscured the retreat from prying British eyes). This movement forever earned them the gratitude of Washington who liked the spirit and pluck of the sailors as well as their fighting abilities; they held off the British singlehandedly at Pelham, New York in October once again aiding the escape of the bulk of the army.

But that Christmas night in 1776, they truly earned their spurs as they tirelessly rowed time and again across the river and back again, making their way through the ice choked waters in the worst conditions imaginable. Rain mixed with sleet and ice later turning to snow, the waves on the Delaware crashing over the bow covering the rowers with a sheet of clinging ice, the gunwales sometimes perilously close to tipping into the water and capsizing the boats %u2013 a certain death in a matter of minutes given the temperature of the water.

The fate of American independence rested with those 400 hardy souls who manned the oars that blustery night. And herein lies the reason for my little historical digression and an illustration of why, if you support Fred Thompson for President, this is the time to get the hell off the sidelines and start rowing the damn boat.

To be brutally frank in appraising the situation realistically, Fred Thompson%u2019s chances of winning the nomination are not good. I will not attempt to snow you, gentle readers, with the idea that the Thompson campaign is anything but a hope and a prayer at this point. But where there is a will to fight, so there is a will to win. It doesn%u2019t matter how many pundits, pollsters, and assorted %u201Cexperts%u201D have written off Fred Thompson. What matters is that there is still a chance, still life in the campaign, and still a belief that the race can be won. Your support is absolutely crucial to propel the campaign forward, to build on the momentum generated by Thompson%u2019s bus tour through Iowa by giving as much as you possibly can.

The campaign has set a goal of raising $248,000 by sundown on Friday so that they can run a new ad in Iowa. This ad could make the difference and allow Thompson to make a surprise showing in the Iowa Caucuses a week from tomorrow. Exceeding expectations is the game now and this media buy could very well put Fred in a very strong position coming out of Iowa.

So climb aboard and grab an oar. Join the Marbleheaders for Fred and contribute as much as you possibly can to make this Blogburst a big success. Go directly to the contributions page here.

In the latest Georgia Republican Primary Poll conducted by
Strategic Vision (R) from September 7-9, 2007, Fred Thompson should his common serve conservative credentials are just too much for the current GOP field. Fred Thompson increased his lead from 5% to 15% in the latest Strategic Vision (R) Poll. Here are the results:

Fred Thompson 32%
Rudy Giuliani 17%
John McCain 8%
Mike Huckabee 6%
Mitt Romney 6%

Click picture above or here to see Fred Thompson's visit to Columbia, SC on Monday

Click picture above or here to view Fred Thompson's Latest Video

Click Picture Above to Check Out a New Vlog (just uploaded on 9-8-07) from Fred Thompson's Bus Tour through Iowa. Check out the Bus, very cool!

Click above to see cool video.

THEY SAID IT...Fred Thompson Dominates the GOP Debate
From the FredFile
(www.fred08.com)


"Let's start with the winners: Thompson came out a winner within the first five minutes thanks to the moderator's opening question about the candidate-to-be's decision to go on Jay Leno instead of showing up for this debate. The fact that every candidate (including Giuliani, Romney, Huckabee and even McCain) took potshots (a few of which were even a bit cheap) reinforced the idea that the entire Republican field views Thompson as a major candidate, a major threat and one of the frontrunners." (Chuck Todd, "Debate Analysis on NBC," 9/5/07)

"Thompson thus managed to upstage the eight men on the debate stage, even though they have been campaigning for months in pursuit of their party's presidential nomination." (Libby Quaid, AP, 9/5/07)

LA Times Headline: "Candidate who is not there upstages GOP debate," (Michael Finnegan and Mark Barabak, "Candidate who is not there upstages GOP debate," 9/6/07)

Washington Times Headline: "Thompson hovers over debate." (Stephan Dinan, "Thompson Hovers Over Debate," Washington Times, 9/6/07)

"... [I]t was the new competition from Thompson, who declared his candidacy Wednesday evening on the Jay Leno program 'The Tonight Show,' that dominated the opening of the 90-minute face-off, televised nationally on the Fox News Channel." (Steven Thomma, "Thompson Declaration Upstages GOP Debate," San Jose Mercury News, 9/06/07)

Click Above to Watch Announcement and Georgia FredHeads, check out FDT's official site at www.fred08.com

The Importance of Border Security
Posted on August 16th, 2007
By Fred in Commentaries, Immigration

You can%u2019t have national security without border security. It%u2019s 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%u2019s 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%u2014a 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%u2019s presence on our border with Mexico has been a success.

Sanctuary Cities
Posted on August 13th, 2007
By Fred in Immigration, Commentaries

If you listen to folks who oppose immigration and border enforcement, you get the feeling they think we put locks on our doors to keep everybody out. The truth is we have locks so we can choose who comes in.

An example of what happens when we don%u2019t make the choice took place August 4th when three Newark, New Jersey, college students with great promise were executed, gangland style. The killers%u2019 ringleader was apparently an illegal alien indicted twice in 2007 for felonies, including the rape of a kindergarten-aged girl.

Why would such a person be set free instead of being handed over to authorities for deportation? The answer is that Newark is a %u201Csanctuary city%u201D which bans cooperation between local officials and federal immigration officials. More than 60 sanctuary zones, including 30 of America%u2019s largest cities, provide a national networked haven for foreign and organized criminals who recruit and operate outside those areas as well. These sanctuaries include Cambridge, Massachusetts; Los Angeles, California; Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Austin and Houston, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and New York City.

The consequences of %u201Csanctuary cities%u201D may be most obvious in the city that became the first in 1979 %u2014 Los Angeles. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, a confidential California Department of Justice study from the mid-1990%u2019s showed then that at least 60 percent of the members of L.A.%u2019s most violent gangs, with membership in the tens of thousands, were illegal aliens. Of all outstanding murder warrants in Los Angeles, 95 percent are for illegal aliens. Frustrated police say they are powerless to pick up even well-known, previously deported felons.

Georgia is Fred Thompson Country
The American Research Group recently conducted a poll of 600 Georgia Republicans and Independents from August 2 --August 6. You will note Newt Gingrich is included in this Georgia Poll. Assuming the former Speaker does not run, the logical resting place for those votes will be with the only other true Conservative - Fred Dalton Thompson.

The overall GA Poll results show:
Fred Thompson 27%
Rudy Giuliani 20%
Mittens Romney 14%
Newt Gingrich 13%
John McCain 7%

When we look deeper into this ARG Poll, we see that of those likely Republican primary voters who are Republicans (85% of the poll), the results show:
Fred Thompson 26%
Rudy Giuliani 21%
Mittens Romney 15%
Newt Gingrich 13%
John McCain 6%

Now this is what is exciting as a Southern Fried FredHead, when we look at those likely Republican primary voters who are Independents (15% of the Poll), the results show:
Fred Thompson 35%
John McCain 15%
Newt Gingrich 14%
Rudy Giuliani 14%
Mittens Romney 9%

In addition to this new video providing Fred Thompson's take on Federalism, check out imwithfred.com Version 2.0. FDT's website launched on August 6! This new and improved site is very cool and a must for all Georgia FredHeads...

The TenneSpeak Blog is reporting that as of August 6th, Fred Thompson now has 26 Congressional Supporters for a Potential Campaign for President. According to the post, here are a couple of FDT's Georgia Congressional Supporters. They are tremendous Representatives for the State of Georgia!

Lynn A. Westmoreland (R-GA's 3rd District) Congressman Westmoreland's District stretches from Douglasville and Carrollton south to Columbus, then east to Henry County.

Nathan Deal (R-GA's 9th District) Congressman Deal's District runs across the state from Rockdale and Hall County in the south and east, up to North Carolina and Tennessee and back down to Alabama on the west.

2007-07-21

WASHINGTON (AP) - Newt Gingrich, one of the most powerful politicians of the mid-1990s as the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, says a White House bid by fellow Southerner Fred Thompson would make him less likely to join the race.

Here is Mary Matalin on Meet the Press explaining Fred's secret weapon:

Tim Russert : "Mary Matalin, has Fred Thompson waited too long?"

Mary Matalin : "No, he's not waited too long, and this organization is just building around him. Last night at that event, just in passing, a young person came up to him and said, well, 'We have captains in every county in the state for you. We have volunteers all over the state.' Everywhere we go there are 'FredHeads.'"

Well, there you have it--straight from Mary Matalin herself!

Please forward to your friends who haven't quite decided what to think of these fired-up "FredHeads."

Let the fence-sitters know: when it comes to this race, FredHeads is where the action is.

In that same segment, there's a segment of Fred explaining that he's exactly where he wants to be.

Video clip here.