I first heard of Fred Thompson during Watergate investigation - we were required to write reports in high school back in those days. Time passed. I served couple of tours in the service, part in Texas where I met my wife of 27 years, so far. About ten years and two young sons later while residing in Lafayette, Tennessee I heard the name of Fred Thompson again - he was running for the Senate. Even though I soon moved from Tennessee, I was interested in the New Republican's contract with America and especially the senator in the red truck so I watched and waited. Eventually, I moved back to Texas, Fred left political scene, and the contract with America faded.

Now it is 2007 and I start hearing about Fred getting drafted. Not into the military but definitely into the service of his country - as POTUS. I joined up with some folks at DraftFredThompson.com (DFT) forum and learned of a Fred Rally in Cookville. Load up the wagon, Momma, were going to Tennessee.

I meet Jeff, the DFT founder, and a few other DFT folks at the draft Fred rally in Cookville, TN. I had so much fun I decide to get a few DFT folks in Texas together to see about organizing a grassroots movement for Fred. Next thing I know there is a thing called FredHeads USA in over forty states with hundreds then thousands of people talking to family, friends, neighbors and strangers about Fred and somehow I am the head FredHead. FredHeads held meetings, passed out bumper stickers, set up folding table on the side walk and asked people to sign petitions to draft Fred Thompson. Once Fred decided to "test the water" we had people packing airport terminals, lineing highways and attending fundraisers and they all had home made FredHeads for Fred signs. One guy in New Hampshire used a sheet to make a banner. This was honest to goodness grassroots!

The folks over at DFT were staying busy also blogging and commenting and researching and posting it was wild sometimes. They were having way too much fun. Some folks were crazy enough to do both FredHeads and DFT.

Fred was drafted. The more he spoke of conservative, federalist principles the more I knew he needed to be POTUS. After the South Carolina election his mother took ill with pneumonia. If he was going to be in this race he needed to be on the road as Florida and Super Tuesday elections were less then two weeks away. He withdrew and stayed at his mother's side. The Republican Party candidates remaining were liberals, moderates and zany libertarians. The conservatives were no longer represented.

During the almost a year we were drafting or supporting Fred several of us discussed the need to continue the grassroots moment we began. Well, Fred's withdrawal from the presidency made us have to gear up our plans a bit sooner than expected but four days later Jeff and I unveiled the Reagan Coalition to the DFT folks. Afterward, a message went out to all FredHeads explaining the Reagan Coalition and asking that they now join forces with us to return the Republican party to the right. In time, if the Republican Party will not stand on proven conservative principles then possibly it will be time for a new party but I have hopes that once again make the Republican party can be a grand old party of conservatives.