In his run for the US Senate, Fred Thompson, the actor and million dollar earning lobbyist, rented a red pickup truck to stump Tennessee. He used a good 'ol boy persona to project his fake disgust towards "Washington Insiders", despite being a liscensed member of the Washington establishment elite. The trick with he pick 'em up truck and flannel shirts worked, and the K-street phony went on to be regarded as one of the laziest Senators in Washington history.
Now he's about to run again, this time for President. In the post-Abramoff era, when America distrusts pay for access shills like Thompson, he's standing up for the wholesome goodness of selling government to the highest bidder, while still claiming to declaim the terrors of gridlocked Washington.
The AP image caption say it all:
Actor and former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., speaks at a fundraiser in Richmond, Va., in this June 2, 2007, file photo. Thompson, who likes to cast himself in the role of Washington outsider, has a long history as a political insider who earned more than $1 million lobbying the federal government. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Hey, it's all legal...
Fred Thompson, a likely Republican presidential candidate, on Tuesday defended his work as a Washington lobbyist, telling The Associated Press that lobbying is an important part of life because "government's got their hands in everything."The actor and former U.S. senator from Tennessee added, "Nobody yet has pointed out any of my clients that didn't deserve representation."
That just screams "outsider". [Below the fold: human atrocities, barnstormin', and high livin'!]
A bit more:
He lobbied for a savings-and-loan deregulation bill that helped hasten the industry's collapse and a failed nuclear energy project that cost taxpayers more than a billion dollars.He also was a lobbyist for deposed Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was widely criticized for endorsing "necklacing," the gruesome practice of execution where gasoline-soaked tires are thrown over a person's neck and set ablaze.
Nothing would do more to reclaim America's good standing in the world than filling the White House with a guy who took a bunch of money representing Aristide. Woooeee! Nothing says America like wrapping a guy's head in gas filled flaming tires. George Washington would be so proud.
It's crony/phonies like Fred Thompson who are making a four letter word of "conservatism". Will America ever trust these Abramoff Republicans again?
Clearly a principled conservative like Fred Thompson will be able to convince America that he's the right guy to salvage this nation's credibility. Will the lazy, insider, phony, rent a really beat up old pickup truck this time? If elected will he pick a rusty old piper cub as his Air Force One? Will he put on a really good act and convince America that he's neither lazy, nor available for the highest bidder? Only time will tell.
File this one in the "Conservatives can't do anything without irony" file, and keep it handy for the "Fred Thompson: Barnstormin' America" tour, coming soon to a hedge fund picnic near you.
Some Republicans have questioned whether he has the "fire in the belly" to seriously run for President. That's why laziness WILL have something to do woth it. Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney and the like are machines when it comes to campaigning.
It's not "likability", it's trust.
Having said that, beyond the packaging there is a paper trail and a record of service for all of these candidates. Beyond shear laziness I would worry about Thompson based solely on the groups that he's supported in the recent past. Given his championing of Libby, and work on behalf of the large corporate lobbies as well as his outreach efforts with NeoConservatives it's hard in my mind to see where a Cheney vice presidency would end and a Thompson presidency would begin.
If people like what Cheney/Bush have achieved, here's a guy who's likely to continue their approach towards government. If people don't want a continuation of that approach there are better options--on both sides of the aisle.
I do think work ethic matters, but I would place a higher premium on intelligence and experience--especially in an executive capacity. The reality of the U.S.'s global reach also requires someone with an understanding of the world beyond the U.S. borders. And by "understanding" I mean "first hand" experience with the world outside the U.S.'s borders. The global political environment is a lot more challenging than it was in 2000, and it will require superior leadership to what we've had in recent years.
Of course we should.
The courts didn't appoint this phony to represent Mr. Burning Tire Torture, Thompson chose to rep for him because of the money.
Principles vs. dollars.
The judgement of the President determines the direction of the nation. Thanks to the Cheny Presidency our freedom is under assault and our future prosperity is in jeopardy. Only the backwash last one quarter of the people want to continue in the deranged direction we've been going. What direction will a phony sellout like Fred Tompson take us?
Judgement matters and elections have consequences. You don't have to look too far beyond Iraq, Guantanimo, the Roberts "activist judge" Court, or indeed K-Street to see where this schill would take us.
More of the same is the toilet drain.