“More and more I wish that I had the opportunity to do the things that only a president can do.”

So began Fred Thompson during an interview with Sean Hannity on H&C tonight.

I have to hand it to him — rather than stand on a stage with the other Ten Little Indians Who Would Be President, Thompson stepped out onto the set of possibly the highest rated conservative talk show on TV to be interviewed by one of the top three most popular conservative talk show hosts.

Brilliant.

I’ve got the vid clip for you to watch, but first some remarks that favorably impressed me:

On Iraq:

“I also listen to the parents of young people who are over there… and re-upped more than once… They’re full of optimism… hope. They think they’re doing something positive for their country and… the people of Iraq. And as long as they have hope and optimism, I have hope and optimism.”

Would he pre-empt Iran from acquiring nuclear capability:

“Yes… Yes.”

On Democrats:

“It baffles me that we’re facing the bankruptcy of the nation and a global threat that we’re not fully prepared to deal with and they’re talking about some of the things they’re talking about with the cliches that they’ve been using now for fifteen years.”

What he’d do during his first 100 days in office:

“I’d go to the American people first of all and explain to them the significance of this global war on terror and what we need to do… We need to come together the way our country’s done time and time again over the last 200 years and exercise a little common sense and get back to the basics that are in the Constitution.”

Here now, my fellow Americans, in his own words — the man who says he never desired the office of President of the United States.

Fred Thompson on Hannity & Colmes

*****

Also posted at The Radio Patriot

The group at Heading Right did another bang up job of liveblogging the debate. (Or was it a press conference?) You can also listen to a round table wrap up at Debate Central. Captain Ed moderated a discussion between Frank P of Political Vindication, Mac of Macsmind, and myself.

My question for all of you, who will be the first of these ten to drop out of the race. Comment on this post, or here. I have a poll with this question at bRight&Early. Look in the right sidebar.

Why pander to people who don’t stand for anything?  That’s not party building, it’s party dilution.  Govern conservatively, campaign conservatively, and the political winds will change back, and bring the bandwagon-jumpers with them.

Follow the Governator’s example?  He ceased being a Republican in any practical sense a year and a half ago.  No wonder Wolfy admires him so much.

Now Huckabee’s standing up to talk, too.

Rudy: “Nominate me”.  Cute, but I don’t think so.  Pity he couldn’t chose Ah-nuld as his running mate.

McCain’s heroes qualify him to lead?  Uh, whatever, Senator.  Does that mean he’d create an ambassador to the hereafter?  Those would be some interesting comfirmation hearings.

“Radical Islam, an evil that is within our shores.”

Oh, by the way, I’m not building any fences to keep them out.

Stick a fork in him, he’s done.

Try having an actual debate. Not a press conference.

McCain has given up, even if he doesn’t realize it.

Well at least he said it clearly. See ya.

Perhaps that’s why Giuliani and Romney stood up to give there answers, Jenn.

Uh, well being an actual American helps. HOO RAH….I hate pressing one for English.

Nobody’s taken the Bush-bashing bait yet.

The three exceptions:

Tancredo - Bush is a RINO.

Paul - Oh, hell, you know what he’s gonna say.

Huckabee - Bush is a poor communicator.

And they’re all small fry.  Coincidence?  I think not.

Wife was a green card holder, I served with green card holders.

Fail to see the equation to illegal aliens unless McCain is saying the Military has some.

Is it just me or do they have them sitting to take away any position of power they had? I mean it’s a very vulnerable position.

Man was he the only one so far to say something positive about Bush?

The government would grind to a halt in the first half hour.

“Bi-lingual countries don’t work?” What?

Again, like the Rove comment, where is the proof?

Not helping himself, throwing out unsubstantiated comments like that.