People like Fred Thompson. So far as I can tell, that is currently the prime rationale for his candidacy for president of the United States. He doesn’t need to launch a media blitz to achieve this level of public fondness. His avuncular, crumpled tower of a personage is well known from many episodes of Law & Order.
In this year’s race, only one other Republican candidate has even minimal charm ”“ the obscure Mike Hucka-bee of Arkansas, who is obviously (and rather successfully) running for vice-president. Rudy Giuliani is many things, but likable isn’t one of them. Mitt Romney has failed to win over many conservatives despite an impeccable family life and a platform largely dictated by the far-right activist base. The slickness and eagerness to please seem to glide past any political traction. John McCain is too prickly to be cuddled. But good old Fred has the shtick down.
Last Wednesday he lolloped onto The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, skipping the Fox News Republican debate in New Hampshire, and announced for president. It was an unconventional entrance, disdained by even conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh for its celebrity-driven aura. But it worked well enough.
The way Thompson drawls backwards into an answer, the manner in which he almost fails to finish his sentences because of boredom or his easy-going way, the gentle, inclusive humour, the effortless stage presence of an actor/lawyer: all these came across beguilingly. I’ll admit it: I like him. He’s been charming when we’ve met; and once you get over craning your neck upwards to see his lofty face, you find yourself wanting him to do well.
Of course, you’re not too sure what exactly he would do….
Hey, if we’re going for actors, I say we get Kevin Klein and write him a script to do four years of the movie Dave. You know, photo shoots with babies, playing with the dogs on the White House lawn, throwing out the baseball at the season opener, talking to some factory workers. We could write him to play any role, conservative, liberal, bad guy, good guy. Just hand him some 3 x 5 cards and I am sure he could do any one of them just fine. Just let me write the script, please. Hmm. I wonder if he would want to get a divorce and marry Sigourney Weaver?
that fred, he has done great work on LAW & ORDER, as well as shilling for pro-abortion groups & Libya
Well . . . Bob Carlton’s nervous about him too, I see.
Interesting to note . . .
He’s no Reagan, and a Reagan is what the base of the Republican Party desperately wants. Once the base finds that out for certain (during the next few months, I think), then THEY, Sarah, will be the nervous ones.
RE: “Once the base finds that out for certain (during the next few months, I think), then THEY, Sarah, will be the nervous ones.”
I wouldn’t know, since I’m not a Republican. I’ll simply be looking for the most politically conservative, yet electable candidate out there, and voting for him or her. Then the chips will fall where they may.
Fred’s got MY vote!