Other than face recognition, a half-way decent speaking voice (& delivery), and posturing as a serious Republican, Thompson doesn't have a prayer outside of the primaries.

Could you imagine what Hillary Clinton could do to this guy in a relatively lively debate? He's a washed up politician-turned actor-dipping into the well one more time. He's like John Edwards without the more-focused commitment to politics.

But the real lowdown is that what Fred Thompson "stands for" is only moderately different from what GWBush "stands for" and because of this, no amount of Law & Order re-runs will be able to erase this.

He can't change his platform, seeing as it's about the only thing that gives him a chance at the nomination, but it's also a very fine line. Earlier & in another thread, I wrote that John Edwards won't become President because he's not an engaging candidate and, to a certain extent, because he made his name as a lawyer.

Fred Thompson won't become President because he's a lack-luster Republican (at present -- maybe not when he and Bob Dole were busy screwing up the "Contract with America"), and Republicans are going to be quite a bit more scrutinizing this time around. When Fred says "Smaller government, more security" or tries to participate in the Stem Cell debate, he better bring his absolute best.

Does he have it?

No.

Thanks for playing Fred. Maybe get on the horn and keep Sam from getting your L&O gig, as Wikipedia infers will happen should you actually, well, win.