Thoughts on the Thompson non-candidacy
It seems clear by now that the line Democratic pundits are going to take with Fred Thompson is that he had an undistinguished Senate career and nothing else to offer but his talent as an actor. I have to chuckle. After all, how distinguished a Senate career has Barack Obama had? And Fred Thompson made a far more important contribution to the Senate than Hillary Clinton has decades before he was ever elected to that body, when he was Republican counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee, and his own questioning first uncovered the existence of a recording system in the Oval Office!
Last week, Thompson fell flat in a California speech that was supposed to set the tone for his campaign. Bob Novak was particulary disappointed. Seems he was too conversational, rambling and folksy. Not enough fire there. Not enough ideology. Not enough partisanship. Not enough Reagan. Thompson, it is said, needs to tighten up his rhetoric, and heat it up, too.
No worries. No worries at all. I still long for the day when we see FDT debating Clinton or Obama or the Guy with the Fancy Hair. There will be plenty of fire- and not much left of his opponent.
When will he announce? Originally, word was that it would be this month, on the Jay Leno show. Now it is said that complications with his NBC contract will delay the announcement til June or July. Frankly, that's the one thing I'm worried about. FDT is already starting late as far as hiring staff and raising money are concerned; the longer he waits, he bigger the problem will be.
He's notorious for being deliberate; for setting his own pace, and ambling along at the speed that suits him. Here's hoping that he doesn't amble his way into a hole he can't crawl out of.
Last week, Thompson fell flat in a California speech that was supposed to set the tone for his campaign. Bob Novak was particulary disappointed. Seems he was too conversational, rambling and folksy. Not enough fire there. Not enough ideology. Not enough partisanship. Not enough Reagan. Thompson, it is said, needs to tighten up his rhetoric, and heat it up, too.
No worries. No worries at all. I still long for the day when we see FDT debating Clinton or Obama or the Guy with the Fancy Hair. There will be plenty of fire- and not much left of his opponent.
When will he announce? Originally, word was that it would be this month, on the Jay Leno show. Now it is said that complications with his NBC contract will delay the announcement til June or July. Frankly, that's the one thing I'm worried about. FDT is already starting late as far as hiring staff and raising money are concerned; the longer he waits, he bigger the problem will be.
He's notorious for being deliberate; for setting his own pace, and ambling along at the speed that suits him. Here's hoping that he doesn't amble his way into a hole he can't crawl out of.
Comments