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Mona Charen hits all the usual reasons in her column today. The social squishiness of Rudy, the general distaste for McCain among conservatives, and the Tsongas-voting tendencies of Romney. So. What about that
likable fellow from Tennessee? Thompson is not "just an actor" (though
they said that about Reagan, and he turned out OK). He began his
professional life as an assistant U.S. attorney, worked as Sen. Howard
Baker's campaign manager and did a stint as co-chief counsel to the
Senate Watergate Committee. It was he who asked the innocuous-sounding
but momentous question of Alexander Butterfield: "Were you aware of the
existence of any listening devices in the Oval Office of the
president?"
After leaving Washington, he continued to practice law and
slipped into acting as easily as a wagon rolls downhill. They were
making a film about his legal exploits and couldn't find anyone who
could do Fred Thompson as well as he did himself. His voting record is solidly conservative. He is articulate,
self-made (his father was a car salesman), highly intelligent, and
exudes calm authority. His star power offers him an opening with
independent voters that other candidates can only dream of, while his
solid conservative credentials will excite the Republican base.
But there are better reasons to support Fred! (as Allah has dubbed him, if I'm not mistaken). Namely, the best campaign poster, evuh. You gotta click through for that because I didn't want to steal it and the traffic. Trust me. It's worth it. And, while we're Fred!-fixing, how 'bout the man from Tennessee on Iraq and attorneys. And, defending Gore! Gasp!
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