Today I decided to remove Fred Thompson's picture and blog references from my site. No, I did not decide to endorse another candidate or switch-off my conservative principles. Nor did I succumb to the blogosphere's wild promotion of Ron Paul.

Over the past month or so I have been re-examining Fred Thompson's actual performance. I have completely disregarded his poll rankings as I have come to believe that people are voting for the perception of what Thompson stands for versus the reality exposed by his recent performance.

There is no doubt that I am unhappy with the Administration and the leadership of the current Republican Party...

The Administration because they are ignoring the majority of voters on such issues as illegal immigration and healthcare...and are abandoning any conservative principles they may have had in favor of the type of political expediency which resulted in the appointment of Judge Mukasey over Ted Olson. Not that there is anything wrong with the Judge other than he is clearly a Giuliani man and apparently is held in high regard by such democrats as Schumer (D-NY) and Leahy(D-VT). 

And the Republican Party because of leaders like the immigration reform cheerleader Mel Martinez who seems to evoke anything but  conservative values.

It seems that the curmudgeonly and,  I believe,  unelectable Newt Gingrich has it right. To succeed, a candidate must clearly demonstrate strong conservative principles, distance themselves from the current administration, and propose bold new solutions to our nation's complex problems. It is not just a matter of beating a Hillary/Obama ticket, it is about electing a conservative Republican candidate with candor, strength and above all, a sense of duty to the United States rather than to an ailing political party.

Back to Thompson...

What I have observed is not strength, not vigor and certainly not a strong response to the challenges of today.

Simply referring me to an older report as a blueprint of what should be done is not going to satisfy my need for Thompson to discuss the plans publicly -- open to challenge and rebuttal.

His handlers and campaign staff do not seem prepared as their candidate has either demonstrated a lack of general knowledge that should be known by anyone exposed to the news media or cannot discuss issues of local concern to his chosen audience.  Without a decent staff, the man stands alone, unprepared in front of an unknown audience. If he cannot muster an acceptable team, what does that say about any potential political appointments?

I can overlook his lobbying activities some of which are  negative and troublesome from a publicity perspective. I can overlook the money he paid to his family, allegedly from political funds. I can overlook his slow Southern drawl and shuffling "every man" demeanor.

But I can not and will not overlook sloppy staff work and his inability to know, in advance, what is likely to be on the minds of his audience members.

I judge his failures against my broad-based knowledge and cannot possibly see, at the present time, how this man could ask probing questions and quickly develop critical insights in a time of national crisis.

I do not want a "look good -- sound good" empty suit who must rely on TelePromTers and other Hollywood devices to present his case.

I want a knowledgeable candidate who can think on his feet and articulate his position with a clear passion.

Even political pundit Dick Morris has observed:

"He may be the tallest candidate in the race for president, but Fred Thompson is clearly in over his head! In both his fumbling pre-candidacy period and his hesitant, attenuated post-announcement campaign, he's given the clear impression that that he is ill-informed, inarticulate, badly briefed and downright lazy."

But, at least to me, the most telling comparison is watching Mitt Romney, well-groomed, well-prepared, encounter random citizens and audiences and respond in a manner appropriate to a politician.

Therefore, it is with some sadness that I have removed Fred Thompson's blog references from my site -- at least until he appears to be a candidate I can support over RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) like Romney and Giuliani.

I would much rather see Mike Huckabee replace Thompson and then use Thompson as a Vice Presidential candidate. At this point in time, I think Huckabee represents my views more than Thompson. As for Ron Paul -- great ideas, but he remains unelectable much in the same way that Ross Perot inspired loyalty, but could not garner the support of a wider audience.

As one of my readers, bbartlog commented:

"I wonder sometimes whether Thompson's perceived lack of energy is a result of his cancer. Nominally his non-Hodgkin lymphoma is in remission, but chronic fatigue is one of the symptoms of the disease. It's possible that his late entry into the race is an attempt to reduce the physical stress that comes with an extended campaign..."

At this point in time, I just don't know and it is up to Fred to convince us all of his viability as the conservative Republican candidate.

There is time for a turn-around.

What can YOU do?

Appearances can be deceiving, especially with those who are accustomed to using Hollywood stagecraft to create or enhance their persona.

Do not invest your emotional and financial capital in any candidate that does not appear to be able to support a Presidential bid. While President Gerald Ford appeared to be competent, but colorless and lackluster, it helps to remember that he was never elected by the people and did not have to face as formidable an opposition candidate as Hillary Clinton.

Do not vote for any candidate or current politician who is willing to subvert the safety, security and sovereignty of the United States for personal power, prestige or profits.

Continue to watch and research the candidates as the political silly season unfolds. Remember we should be electing a Reagan-like "man of substance" rather than an "iconic image."

-- steve

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

Reference:

Thompson Is Clear Over His Head|Dick Morris