This is NOT my Candidate!

If you could follow my diary recommendations (there’s a 3.0 plug for you Erick) you would see that I have bumped posts supporting at least four different candidates because I think all of our choices have admirable qualities. I have yet though come out and officially endorsed any of the candidates, but I think now the time is right. Really I guess it was back in December when I made my choice, more specifically during the Iowa debate when Fred Thompson refused to beg the liberal media for a juicy fish.

"Standing up here 10 in a row, you know, like a bunch of seals waiting for somebody to throw you the next fish, is not necessarily the best way to impart your information to the American people. I'm not above acting like a seal every once in a while and waiting for the next fish, I just don't want to do it all the time."~Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson became my candidate of choice when he refused to march to the drum of an antogonistic moderator in a show of hands concerning global warming. He's realistic enough to understand that he needs to kiss the babies and put on a dog and pony show for the press, but he seems to be the only one of the group that had the presence of mind to do what was right. Instead of trying to craft an acceptable response that would not run afoul the liberal agenda, Thompson exerted his leadership and took command of the situation (so much that the other candidates FOLLOWED his lead).

Read more below the fold…

Republican candidates are fed up with debate questions posed by liberals. This became clear on Wednesday when Carolyn Washburn, editor of The Des Moines Register and the debate moderator in Ohio, brought about a revolt at one point when she asked all the candidates to raise their hands if they thought global warming was a serious threat caused by human behavior.

Taking the lead, Fred Thompson said: "I'm not doing hand shows today." The other candidates all fell in line with Fred and refused to do a show of hands.

Washburn then tried to continue with the question: “Well, do you think global warming is a serious threat and caused by human behavior?

Thompson: “Do you want to give me a minute to answer?

Washburn: “No.”

Thompson: “Then I'm not going to answer it.”

The audience erupted in cheers and laughter. Thompson showed clearly that he was not going to be suckered into a game where Democrats make the rules. He also showed himself to be genuine and an independently thinking leader who places more value on being honest than pandering to political correctness and group think.

I too am looking for a President who will lead, one that I can follow. One that will not allow the press and talking heads, regardless if it’s Katie Couric or Sean Hannity, to shape his agenda instead doing what is right for the health and security of our nation. One that is not afraid to speak the uncomfortable truth even if it means facing the animosity of all the wonks in the chocolate factory. I want a President who thinks of America first, my family next, then the world, and lastly himself, not a stooge that is beholding to polls... world opinion be damned.

All our candidates have experience and admirable qualities, but in the race for our nomination I have only seen one act as a leader and that is Fred Thompson.

I refuse to burn my bridges, but I’m for Fred in 08.