Bear in mind that the "centrist" Dwight Einsenhower was even less of a Republican than McCain, and we ever managed to get a few good judges out of him (John Marshall Harlan II, who would have never been selected by a RAT President)
I have to admit I trust Fred to "vet" judges moreso than Harriet Miers or John Sununu, Fred's longstanding support of "asshat liberals" notwithstanding. :-)
I’ve never viewed Thompson as anything more than a McCain Republican. Hence my lack of excitement.