I love this NYT quote from Wikipedia about him:
"The glowering, hulking Mr. Thompson has played a White House chief of staff, a director of the Central Intelligence Agency, a highly placed F.B.I. agent, a rear admiral, even a senator. When Hollywood directors need someone who can personify governmental power, they often turn to him."
Fred Thompson is a genuine conservative as far as I can see and he also has the Reaganesque ability to "go over the heads" of both the press and his political opponents by going firectly to the people. He believes what I believe and can effectively make the case so that goes far beyond being "electable".