Years ago when I was a small town reporter I learned that to get the real interview with country men, you had to walk with them. Fred Thompson seems to be that kind of fellow - he has that southern/western/country cadence. He’s the type that will impart real wisdom while walking down to the barn or leaning over the fence with his neighbor. He is out of his element in the quick paced debate world of the sound byte. He needs to pick up the rythm there. Better yet, he needs to take advantage of his natural cadence -the sincerity and soft humor he has and connect with the average Joe on a real level. That is why people say he reminds them of Ronald Regan. It is that country sort of realism that is very independent and down to earth. It is a sort of calmness and confidence.
Perhaps he could have a few walks down to the corral interviews on a website that would give him a venue that would use his cadence to advantage and where voters could discover his larger views about federalism and other big picture perspectives.
I still think that he has it over all the other front runners on sincerity.
You have hit it exactly on the head. I grew up with these people so I know of what you speak and is what I am trying to convey. I love what Fred has to say, but he is not really well suited to today’s arena. Even RR was a little better in the debate format of today.
I will support Fred if he is the nominee and think he would be a good president, much better than anyone the Dems can put forward. My concern is that he might not get the chance.