[P-Marlowe]

Personally, I'm getting bored with Fred, simply because he's not running.

Personally I'm getting bored because this whole campaign thing starts earlier and earlier every election. In the old days, the campaign started around February of the election year, with the primaries coming in June and the final push coming in September through November. They are now starting these silly campaigns almost two years before the general election. That is insane.

Thompson is smart to start late. The other candidates are slowly committing suicide by their gaffs and their miscalculations. By the time Thompson starts his election engine, the other candidates will be out of gas.

[Mariebl]

I agree that the election cycle started far too early, this time. I hope that something can reverse the trend--maybe it's partly caused by the unusual 'open election'. (No President or Vice-President running.)

But as I see it, as long as Fred Thompson is getting the media attention as a possible candidate, people are going to get tired of him, just as they get tired of the others. And as I said, if he is avoiding the risks of gaffes and miscalculations, that very fact will make me think less of his courage and intelligence. What would you think of one of the declared candidates who didn't participate in the debate, for fear of making a gaffe? What do we think of the Democrats who refuse to participate in a Fox-sponsored debate, for fear that someone might ask them a tough question?

All this said, I'm with the others who are chanting "Thompson/Hunter". Right now, it sounds like our best bet.