My primary choice this year, Fred Thompson, writes in a piece at The Politico:

…an issue McCain has asked me to help his campaign with — the federal judiciary — is one that disturbs voters to the point of having enormous electoral possibilities. The federal judiciary is the Democratic Party’s vehicle of choice to enact policies that could never see the light of day if they were required to go through the democratic process. And that party now talks about electing a supermajority in the Congress that, along with the most liberal president in our lifetime, would allow them to change the face of America without enacting one piece of legislation — a change that would take us a generation to rectify, if we ever could.

McCain has chosen to make this issue a priority because he thinks the public worries about a Supreme Court lost to liberalism for our lifetime, and that it cares about the appointment of federal judges who will follow the law and the Constitution and not remake it along the lines of their own policy preferences. (emphasis added)

I’m thrilled that Fred! is aiding the McCain campaign (and McCain administration) with this huge task. The judiciary is one of the highest ranking issues in this election. President Bush has done an excellent job with his Supreme Court nominees, with the exception of the Harriet Myers fiasco. He recovered well, and we got an excellent Justice out of it.

The appointment power of the president cannot be misunderestimated. With a closely divided Court, the next President can make an extremely long-term impact on the nation and the world (not to mention the impact other federal courts nominees will have). Very little from a president’s term lives on as a legacy with as much permanence as his or her Supreme Court picks. The Court is currently composed of some good, mediocre, and awful Justices.The current roster (and who nominated them).

• C. J. John Roberts (G. W. Bush)
• J. John Paul Stevens (Ford)
• J. Antonin Scalia (Reagan)
• J. Anthony Kennedy (Reagan)
• J. David Souter (G. H. W. Bush)
• J. Clarence Thomas (G. H. W. Bush)
• J. Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Clinton)
• J. Stephen Breyer (Clinton)
• J. Samuel Alito (G. W. Bush)

Those appointed by Democrats – Ginsburg and Breyer, both by Clinton – have been disasters. Some appointed by Republican presidents – Stevens, Kennedy, Souter – have been huge disappointments, too. Great justices – Scalia, Thomas, Alito – were all appointed by Republicans. In sum: you’re guaranteed a disaster with Democrat picks or you take a gamble with a Republican pick. The next president will likely get to choose two justices. Stevens is 88. Ginsburg is not well. Those are two of the most liberal justices the Court has ever seen. I cannot hand the choice of their successors to B. Obama. I trust McCain to make better choices, and if Palin succeeds him, we’re really set!

(In closing, I also note that it’s convenient for some of us that our own policy preferences line up with the law and Constitution – see Fred’s last paragraph above.)

Fred has withdrawn from the candidacy for President of the United States. He has not yet endorsed any of his opponents.

I am now a man without a candidate. All I know is that I will NOT support John McCain. Even with the endorsement of Tom “What on Earth Were You Thinking” Coburn.

Now’s the time, folks. When everyone, including Newt Gingrich, is talking about the era of Reagan having ended and it being time to redefine our party, it is time for us true conservatives to make our leaders and candidates redefine themselves if they want our support. We shouldn’t have to change this party for anyone. There is one candidate who is the constant, consistent conservative (hands down!), and that is Fred Thompson. Let’s give him the support he truly deserves.

These people have flipped for Fred, and you can, too!

If you’re an Okie Blogger, you have been asked to participate in a presidential primary straw poll by James Branum. Visit his site, read the rules, then vote for your candidates (it’s a weighted, rank-order poll).

Of course, my preference is that you rock the house for Fred!

Fred! speaks the truth.