Fred Thompson's Speech

Fred Thompson fired up the convention hall. He gave an energetic and intense speech.

Thompson seems to be at his best when he's talking up other candidates. He's really a great campaigner.

He began his speech by mentioning those affected by Hurricane Gustav. The Republicans are making sure that they don't leave themselves open to charges of indifference to the suffering of fellow Americans.

Before getting into talking about John McCain, he talked about Sarah Palin.

"What a breath of fresh air Gov. Palin is."

"She's from a small town with small town values."

Thompson said that apparently that's not good enough for those criticizing her.

He spoke of Biden as "beltway business as usual."

He said that the selection of Gov. Palin has got "the other side and their friends in the media" in a panic.

She's a reformer, not afraid to take on the establishment.

"She's the only candidate in the history of either party that knows how to field dress a moose, with the possible exception of Teddy Roosevelt."

After talking about Sarah Palin, Thompson moved on to talk about John McCain's life story, his character and courage.

He talked about McCain's beautiful 96-year-old mother, present in the convention hall, and his father, describing them as rebellious.

His message was that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

At the Naval Academy, McCain wasn't just a troublemaker; he was the leader of the troublemakers.

Thompson noted that it was this mixture of rebellion and honor that helped him survive the next chapter in his life.

Thompson talked of McCain's experience in Vietnam, how he stepped up, and put his country first.

He described McCain's terrible injuries and the horrific conditions he had to endure in the Hanoi Hilton.

"We hear a lot about hope these days. John McCain knows about hope. That's all he had."

He refused to abandon his honor and his freedom, in spite of the years of torture.

Thompson said when his captors wanted to know the names of the other pilots in his squadron, he gave them the names of the offensive line of the Green Bay Packers.

Thompson said that being a POW doesn't qualify one to be president, but being a POW reveals character.

I thought this was good:

"Two questions we'll never have to ask ourselves:

"Who is this man, and can we trust this man with the presidency?"

I think that's why many so Americans are comfortable with the thought of John McCain in the White House.

Thompson pointed out that he didn't seek publicity when he'd travel to Iraq to visit the troops. He didn't say that Obama did exactly that, because it wasn't necessary.

Thompson noted that when the war was going badly, McCain stood up, called for more troops, and now we're winning.

He called Ronald Reagan "John McCain's hero," stressing that McCain is a conservative.

McCain has "character you can believe in."

Thompson told of McCain's efforts to work in a bipartisan manner, sometimes with success, sometimes not. But McCain wouldn't give up.

"A man who never quits is never defeated."

Thompson drew a clear distinction between Obama and McCain when he said McCain doesn't deliver a "teleprompter speech designed to appeal to his critics abroad."

He called McCain equipped to deal with terrorists and rogue nations, a belligerent Russia and China.

He said that the Dems were offering a history-making candidate in that he's the most liberal, inexperienced nominee to run for president.

That went over very well with the crowd.

Referring to Biden, he said that he came from a history-making Congress-- the least popular and least accomplished in American history.

Thompson warned that an Obama presidency would mean that the Supreme Court would be lost to liberalism for a generation.

He said that this is not reform and it's not change. "It's basically the same old stuff they've been peddling for years."

I thought Thompson was very entertaining.

Regarding the Dems' plans for tax reform, he said in his folksy style that they're "not going to take any water out of your side of the bucket," just the other side.

When Thompson said that we need a president who doesn't think that speaking about life is above his pay grade, the hall erupted in cheers.

There's no question that this is a pro-life crowd.

Thompson said, "The man who will be that president is John McCain."

"Put country first with John McCain."

"Our country is calling."

Thompson said that John McCain can't raise his arms above his shoulders. He can't salute the flag for which he sacrificed so much.

He said, "We salute him" and his character and his courage.

Thompson was an excellent choice to deliver this speech about McCain's life. He's such a wonderful communicator and storyteller.

I think middle America heard his message loud and clear.