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Former Sen. Fred Thompson, (R-Tenn.), on efforts to cut government spending and the impact of Wisconsin’s recall election.
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Starting with former Republican senator Fred Thompson from Tennessee earlier I spoke with the former presidential candidate asking him for his take on a revolt.
I think what you're seeing is the answer to a question that a lot of politicians have been.
Worried about for a long time and that is what happens when we tell the people the truth about why are governments going bankrupt.
And we've seen that the people can respond in a responsible way and that a politician can survive and then some.
But -- in the people who truth.
-- Governor Walker his margin unbelievable but you look at San Diego you look at San Jose de.
Now those initiatives to reduce benefits to public workers passed by 66%.
70% respectively.
This is just an unbelievable.
Turn back for people that -- and public employees -- get everything they ask for.
Well people you -- back a few years ago or more than a few years ago Franklin Roosevelt John Kennedy and others -- -- talked about.
The the problems with.
Public sectors.
Unions and and how they should not be been treated -- -- there's there's other unions because of their nature.
Then people are now discovering what.
Going against cited viruses has brought us.
Hello his relationship between these public sector union bosses and the politicians.
Were supposed to be negotiating.
Really are scratching each other's back you know the politicians.
Deliver the goodies in terms of retirement benefits and other things that taxpayers in the future we'll have to -- And the politicians.
Deliver.
And that and the -- deliver the votes in the money for the politicians so.
People now are beginning to understand.
What that is brought on the on the municipal level.
And also on the state level in as a good harbinger I think for the national debate that we're beginning to -- now about what we do.
To save.
Our own -- -- all the -- all the programs.
Well I was just gonna ask about this it seems to mean -- that you can have hope.
That we can control -- spending wouldn't cut back on the spending we can make -- something that we can actually.
Pay for these entitlement programs whether you're talking about Social Security Medicare Medicaid over time.
You know there is hope that we can solve this problem when you see that kind action that voters took last night.
Yeah and we're we're gonna have to to do that.
You know the Wall Street Journal today was talking about a recent.
CBO report Congressional Budget Office report that points that our debt by the end of this year public -- is going to be.
About 70% of our economy certainly percent of our GDP.
The end of this decade is going to be between -- -- -- a 100% of our entire.
Economy which all economists agree is the absolute danger zone for a country.
To be here.
So people -- looking at that people are now understanding that it's it's it's it's scaring them as frightening them.
You saw the reaction in the 2000 Tim elections Oakland.
You've seen and in the public opinion polls you you're now seeing it than the state and and local elections that the power of the people -- the informed people -- is becoming more powerful.
Then the entrenched interest both in and out of government -- the big career politicians and the end of well.
You're used to hearing politicians think that there the leaders they're the ones in front of it in front of the parade but not this time my friend it is the voters who are saying enough is enough.
What does this translate into come November.
Well I I don't know I think obviously it bodes well for Republicans I think the Democrats themselves now have put -- Wisconsin in the the tossup states category.
Republicans shouldn't be too complacent local elections often involve things that.
Candidate and I think.
The public sector unions they're made made very angry even other non public sector union members and they just turned off an awful lot of people so.
You have all that to to have to factor into the equation but obviously it bodes well.
For anybody you'll stand up until the truth do what -- it.
And so we can't continue down this unsustainable -- -- any longer we've got to do some responsible things.
In order to save our country and make sure that we don't turn and do what we're seeing in Europe today.
Well it did to pick up on that.
I don't think this is necessarily a left right Republican democratic -- This is a vote for fiscal sanity this transcends.
Political labels and might view would you agree.
Yeah but I absolutely it is paper talk about the of the of the desire for bipartisanship.
This is the kind of bipartisanship that our country.
Is is as needed.
For some time now.
Well in the past just been too easy to be bipartisan about something that we'll spend other people's money.
People can agree on that politicians are able to agree on that when it comes to fiscal restraint.
Vinegar and that's that's what it all breaks down and we can't get anything done the people are saying that's no good -- any longer we've got to do something about.
-- the future of our country and due to make sure that.
That we don't turn into something that we have never known in this country before were being taken there.
To these unprecedented places by this administration on their -- policies.
Well you know the president says he's not he's not a big spender but I have to tell you.
I look at these vote results and you can say that it's bipartisan he did also say it's a pox on both of your -- is because.
These voters are saying.
All of you people are spending way too much money we've got a dial it back.
Senator Fred Thompson thanks for coming on tonight always a pleasure always very glad you're hurting here then he realized come back as soon -- you can't.
And tell your beautiful wife -- accent hello Arab salute the third you very much.
