FRED THOMPSON HAS MADE HIS DECISION

Still officially unannounced Presidential candidate Fred Thompson stated yesterday on the Sean Hannity Radio Show that he had made his decision about a Presidential run.

Hannity pressed Thompson for an answer and though he did not confirm or deny that he is running, he stated that , " the law allows you to test the waters and by the reaction I'm getting the water is very warm."

Thompson continued to sound very much like a candidate though again he refused to make any official announcement on Hannity's show or at the Freedom Concert at the Qwinnett Center in Atlanta before a crowd of 12, 000 people who gave Thompson a standing ovation before and after his eight minute speech which started the program.

Thompson stated in response to the crowd, "If you keep that up, I'm going to make a speech. Don't make me do it." Once again leaving it very obvious that he is planning on making it official soon. Earlier when Hannity asked him what he was waiting for Thompson cited personal obligations that he has now completed and obligations of some of his key staffers who he needed for the campaign that must be completed before he could make it official.

In the latest Rasmussen poll Thompson is still showing strong. In a one on one match with the presumed Democrat nominee, Hillary Clinton, Thompson is tied at 45 % while holding a three point lead over Rudy Giuliani for the Republican nomination.

Thompson also stated during his interview with Hannity that he is already hearing from voters that they are growing tired of the campaign especially in Iowa and New Hampshire which begin the primary run. This to is one reason that he insinuated was holding him back from announcing to keep from becoming old news.

When pressed for his views on several issues Thompson stressed that he understood the necessity to stand firm against terrorism and the need also to continue the fight for the protection of the nation. Thompson also stated that he believed that the border absolutely needed to be secured and the flow of illegals stopped.

On taxes Thompson said that he was seriously looking at the Fair Tax as part of his platform but he defiantly believed that major reform is necessary to change the tax code which is so large that it, " fits into the back of a pickup truck, " and nobody reads it or understands it. Also reform will prevent tax cuts from being reversed as is the case with the Bush tax cuts and the move by Congressional Democrats to reverse them and raise taxes.

During a speaking engagement with the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Thompson stressed the need for limited government and a change in the politics as usual in Washington. " I think folks are for a limited Government, limited by the delineated powers of the Constitution, " Thompson said, " I think they are also looking for a competent Government..... they're also looking for a government strong enough to protect us."

On the politics, or "shenanigans, " as Thompson called them in Washington he stated, "and I say do the opposite of what's going on up there." According to Thompson it is time for Washington to clean up its act and get back in touch with the American people. Very refreshing from a Presidential candidate.

Most expect that Thompson will finally make it official sometime within the next month. Hannity did mention the announcement that Thompson would announce around the 4th of July and Thompson mentioned that getting his organization together along with the ending of personal commitments took longer than he had expected.

While still not official definitely running and making his strong presence felt in the 2008 Presidential field.

Ken Taylor