I think it has more to do with anticipation and unreasonable expectations.
Elements in the press have been hounding Fred with cries of laziness and poor preparation, and the public appears to be buying it. He has a history of hard work and accomplishments that should put the laziness criticisms to bed, but the press looks for things they can spin and portray everything he says and does with the worst possible interpretation.
The more I see from Thompson, the more I like him. However, there are few things the establishment fears more than a small government conservative, and Thompson is the closest to that I think we've seen in a long time.
One problem he's going to have a hard time overcoming, is that the religious right is morally conservative, but not very politically conservative. They want the government to enforce morality. They believe in intrusive government.
When Thompson talks about state's rights and returning control over a lot of issues to the states, they see that as a step in the wrong direction. So we really shouldn't be that surprised to see leaders from the religious right endorsing big government candidates.
That makes it difficult for a candidate that wants to return power to the states and constrain the government to win the Republican nomination.
I'm afraid that those of us that believe in small government and state's rights really are not a majority even in the Republican Party.
I think that's right. Thompson raised expectations way too high by waiting so long and presenting himself as this conservative messiah who would save the party.
People bought into it at first, sending his poll numbers into the stratosphere when he first announced. Then they found he was not a god, but a mere man with flaws like all the other candidates, sending his poll numbers down in the disappointment.
We'll see whether he picks up again. I doubt it. I think he's peaked and I think he'll drop out by late January. But then again my record at predicting what Thompson does hasn't been very good. :(