A few of my conservative friends (okay, one) are rejoicing at Fred Thompson’s official entry into the presidential campaign. Many conservatives are hoping that he can channel Reagan’s ghost and bring salvation to a foundering political party. I’ll say this right now: if Thompson gets the Republican nomination, I’ll eat my die-cast model of the starship Enterprise. Reagan’s success had as much to do with post-Carter malaise and a swing in the political mood of the country as with the man’s own considerable political skills. Thompson may know how to mimic Reagan’s stage presence and bonhomie, but the illusion is shattered as soon as he opens his mouth. Get this: he claims that Iraqi Sunnis are turning against Al-Qaeda because Al-Qaeda won’t let them smoke. Come again?
Thompson is the candidate for those voters who think that the policies of the last six years have worked out just fine. For Republicans who are leery of the current front-runners and who are searching for someone to lead into the final skirmishes of the culture wars, Thompson is probably their man. Unfortunately for Thompson, those voters are a dwindling minority.
What are you saying, that Thompson isn’t like Reagan because Thompson says stupid stuff? Dude, you don’t remember Ronald Reagan very well, do you?