It's interesting how scared both liberals and certain "conservatives" are of Thompson.
Thompson is far from perfect (which seems to be the standard for people who have already chosen candidates to back, candidates who are equally far from perfect), but he is superior where it matters to the American voter--he doesn't seem to have an ax to grind, he doesn't come off as some fire-breather from the fringes, and he comes across as an honest MAN, not some wuss who secretly loathes women and tries to appease them with silly talk about "emotional" issues.
Thompson comes across as an intelligent man who understands that we can't walk away from Iraq, we can't live in a dreamworld where (considering demographics and the last election) we don't bother trying to appeal beyond our own back yard, and we can't just push gussied-up liberal programs (like Hillarycare, hello, Gov. Romney) and move our party to the left.
It's a hard balancing act for the other candidates, but this is where Thompson has always been. Forget compassionate conservatism, he strikes me as a genuine conservative, and not one of the religious conservatives who don't seem to grasp that there IS a difference.
I also saw Fred’s appeal to what is generally a left-leaning or apathetic/cynical audience: the Jay Leno show folks. It is one barometer of what resonates with a segment of the public — not an exclusive measure.
His responses about Iran and nuclear war and other real issues drew applause, some of it immediate and intense when he finished his responses. This suprised me given what I know about the majority of the audience members. Yes, I know there is an applause button beneath the stage. But I also think the audience perceived that he was a serious man, has considered what we face, and is not a rash or inexperienced hand at dealing with the real issues.
I also notice the “attacks” on him are rather pusilanimous: his wife dresses inappropriately, he looks old, he was a lobbyist, etc.
This post is a good example because on the slightest analysis (actually just reading the first sentence of the linked blog) these attacks wither.
ForEternity, come back with something real that is supported by your source material. Make my reading your posts about Romney worth my time.
I DO NOT WANT TO WASTE MY TIME READING INACCURATELY CHARACTERIZED — EVEN MISSTATED POSTS AND SOURCES.