We need a conservative who has a chance to win to run. Of all the candidates I like Duncan Hunter the best, but he’s not going to get the nomination and we all know that. I like Tom Tancredo, and he has even less chance than Hunter has of getting the nomination. There are some things I like about Giuliani, but his position on gun control is more than troublesome; that, coupled with his position on abortion is a likely deal-breaker for many voters. Romney? He doesn’t know who he is, so neither do we; and we can’t have that in a viable candidate. McCain? He’s finished. I won’t comment on the rest of the field because neither of them has a chance to get out of the low single-digits. That leaves Thompson. I like him, but I, too, think he may have waited too long, and teased too many people with his flirtation with running.
Thompson has gone from the Exploratory Committee to announcing (presumably next week) in three Summer months. I would wager that no other candidate has made that transition in less time.
The difference is that everybody else got buffaloed into starting their campaigns about nine months too early. McCain, Romney and Giuliani have been spending money for nothing as they try to woo voters who are just not paying attention. There is plenty of time between now and the first primaries (which are now in late October, I think...). Starting earlier than Labor Day is just a waste of time and money.
The ridiculously early primary season is a tactic by Hillary!, because she has all the money in the World and opinions about her are pretty much set in stone. By going in early, and getting the rest of the field to commit early, she is giving the voters plenty of time to get as tired of the rest of the field as they are of her. It is a good strategy, and every Democrat and Republican, except for Thompson, is playing along.
If you want a Republican Nominee who can be stampeded by Hillary! into doing something stupid, you have a lot of choices. If you want a Republican Nominee who take an intelligent course and not be pressured by group-think, your only choice is Fred Thompson.
Or perhaps Newt Gingrich, if he hops into the race. But given the choice between Newt and Fred, I'm with Fred.