Connecticut Local Politics

Jodi Rell

“We have thirteen days to get it done. Thirteen days to get the budget done … property tax relief … health care … thirteen days to hold the Democrats feet to the fire.”

“I need your support.”

On Thompson: “Our speaker never lost his sense of Law and Order.” Yeesh.

Fred Thompson

“Okay, let’s get the announcement out of the way. Law and Order will return for an 18th season.”

Thompson is connecting with the crowd, they seem to like him. He’s very engaging. He tells a lot of anecdotes, he’s folksy.

“This doesn’t seem like a minority party, I’ll tell you that.”

Thompson mentioned Simmons–big applause for him.

“I learned a lot from him,” Thompson said, referring to Simmons.

“I always knew Chris Shays was doing what he believed was right for his country.”

On Joe Lieberman: “Democrat, Republican or independent, that’s a man.” Thompson says he was “proud” to have contributed to Lieberman’s re-election.

“After eight years in Washington, I longed for the reality and sincerity of Hollywood.”

He is an excellent speaker. I can see why they compare him to Reagan. He really isn’t saying much of substance, but he makes it sound great, and people are paying attention.

He spoke about challenges that face the USA, like globalization, China and Russia, entitlement programs, etc.

Disconnect between DC and the people of the USA: biggest problem. That got applause.

“I think the American people are looking for somewhere to go. And we’ve got to give them somewhere to go.”

Democrats have “clearly decided to do not what is best for the country, but what is best for the Democratic Party.”

CGG is remaining very calm.

On Iraq: “That is the front now… but this is a part of a biggest picture. We are beset by Islamic fundamentalists.”

“We know they [terrorists] can reach us.”

“Our choice is not whether or not we’re going to fight. Our choice is where we will fight.”

“The only debate on the Democratic side of the aisle is the date of our surrender.”

“Al Qaeda has a 100 year plan–we have a plan for the next election.”

“If we do the right thing, politics will take care of itself.”

Again, people love this. He’s folksy, engaging, but also serious.

Taxes are “Not about providing revenue for the government, but about the redistribution of income.”

Alas, we can’t get anything in the way of good pictures from back here. Why have two big screens if they aren’t going to show anything but a banner?

Thompson’s message is essentially that taxes are too high, government is too big, and unions are too strong. Also, Democrats are weak, corrupt and dangerous.

Interestingly, he’s losing some of the attention of the crowd as he’s nearing the end of the speech.

He’s also advocating for change in the Republican Party, to return to party roots, to basic principles. He is invoking 1980 and 1994.

“There’s a rumbling out in the country, my friends. I think they’re calling to us. … I think Americans are waiting for us.”

It’s a big picture sort of speech.

He’s stressing common heritage, principles that made this country great.

He got a standing ovation and some loud cheers from the audience.