Thompson, Seeking a Theme, Takes on a Tricky Issue: Entitlements

Thompson, Seeking a Theme, Takes on a Tricky Issue: Entitlements
By SUSAN SAULNY

As Fred D. Thompson moves around the country delivering his folksy stump speech, he routinely makes his way through a laundry list of top concerns: national security, immigration reform, federalism and activist judges, among others.

But he seems most energized when he discusses the ballooning cost of entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, and what he calls a need for more fiscal responsibility and less government in Washington. It is a recurring campaign theme of his.

Mr. Thompson, a former Republican senator from Tennessee, made his greatest plea for the presidency, for instance, at the end of such remarks this week at a stop in Greenville, S.C., saying: “We’re going to be going through the Social Security surplus before long, along with the pork barreling and spending and the regular stuff that’s going on now, we’re seeing a demographic change.”

- rest of story at www.nytimes.com/2007/09/15/us/politics/15thompson.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

I would like to see all of the top tier candidates - Giulani, McCain, Romey, Thompson, Clinton, Obama, Edwards - present detailed plans for saving Social Security and Medicare.

 

It isn't, but the programs aren't going away. Therefore, they need to be reformed to reflect the retirement of the baby boomers.

 

www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2006/tst111306.htm

www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2006/tst100906.htm

www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2004/tst110804.htm

www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2004/tst050304.htm

 

I agree. :thumbs:

 

I have always been for a robust military.

My difference with the Bush administration in this area is over foreign policy, not building up the military. For example, I have always supported the Strategic Defense Initiative(Star Wars) ever since President Reagan announced it. I also support building the F/A-22(www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/f-22-99E02018.jpg) and that we should be building more of them than is planned.

I also think that our military personnel should be paid a lot more than they are and that veterans should be provided with a lot better medical care than they are.

 

Yep. That is correct.