There was a time...

The was a time when I respected and promoted Fred Thompson as a Presidential Candidate. In spite of a plan for America that was written years ago ( when he was Chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee  in 2001) and a less than stellar campaigning style, I truly believed that Thompson had what it took to lead the Republican party as a Reagan-style conservative. A man who would surely triumph over Rockefeller-style Republicanism and their spendthrift ways.

Over time I became more and more disenchanted.  Thompson looked tired, listless and refused to engage with his Republican competitors, with the democrats and with the public at large. Many people claimed he was the perfect Southern Gentleman. Compared to Thompson, old man  McCain was a thunderbolt -- willing to mix it up with potential voters, speechify and argue his position while there were still people in the room.

In general, Thompson looked tired -- and quite frankly, sick. As time went on, it became apparent that Thompson's forte was heavily scripted speeches in a controlled environment. Shaking hands with donors for $1200 and taking pictures for $2300. The media portrayed him as a lazy candidate.  And my enthusiasm flagged to the point where I turned to Mitt Romney as a potential standard bearer for the conservative branch of the Republican party. And we all know how that ended.

Fred Thompson surfaces...

From a recent promotional e-mail from Townhall Magazine, it appears that Fred Thompson is now beginning to position himself as kind of an elder statesman ...

"Attorney, actor, presidential candidate, and senator, Fred Thompson is uniquely able to begin a national dialogue on the fundamental principles that define what is conservatism today and he has chosen Townhall Magazine as his place to do it."

"In this must read piece, Senator Thompson breaks down what principles conservatives should look for in judicial nominees, what Democrats are doing to keep strict-constructionist judges from the bench, and the threat of judicial activism. "

It is unknown whether or not Fred Thompson will appear regularly in the magazine and whether or not he is embarking on a public relations campaign which might position him for an appointment in an upcoming Republican administration.  But his timing is interesting.

So who cares?

Unlike the historian Newt Gingrich who is busily defining the New Conservative Republican Agenda and preparing an ideological platform, does anyone really care to hear from Fred Thompson in today's current hyper-partisan environment?

What can YOU do?

Let me know what you think. Is Fred Thompson relevant today? Can he make a difference?

I am interested in the opinions of all of the people who thought that I was either unfair (or worse) when I withdrew my support for Fred Thompson. Specifically I would like to hear from people like winghunter who passionately defended Fred Thompson even though he was dropping out of the sky like a downed bird.

-- steve

Quote of the Day: "Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings." --C. Archie Danielson

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 Links:

IS FRED THOMPSON A VIABLE CANDIDATE?

FRED THOMPSON: CATCHING FIRE OR FLAMING OUT?

THE SIMPLE GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING FRED THOMPSON

Government at the Brink - Volume I:  Urgent Federal Government Management Problems Facing the Bush Administration can be found here. 

Government at the Brink - Volume II: An Agency by Agency Examination of Federal Government Management Problems Facing the Bush Administration can be found here.