It’s funny you would see it that way.
I see no parallel with Thompson what so ever. The contributions are radically different, the two candidate’s approach is also 180 degrees apart, and Perry is not an ex Senator of 6 years out of office.
There is just no comparison in my view. If anything I would say the due to Cain’s lack of enthusiasm and experience, also his serious lack of funding and ability to manage a campaign, the comparison between Thompson and Cain would be far more accurate.
In 2008, Thompson was said (by his detractors) to lack a "fire in his belly". They said he seemed to be asleep. He never really engaged. His supporters thought that he was sort of biding his time, but he would really explode when the time was right.
The title to this thread is "In fifth debate, Perry Finally shows up"
So, yes, you are right. Perry is not Fred Thompson. Thompson slept through all the debates. Perry only slept through the first four.
FR seems pretty divided on Perry. He’s got many conservative positions, but others think he’s limited in debates and charge that he can be “bought”.
Nobody here likes Romney for obvious reasons.
Many like Cain’s common sense conservative approach, but others argue that introducing a federal sales tax is dangerous.
Paul is good on cutting out entire federal agencies, but his insinuations that we had 9/11 coming to us immediately disqualifies him.
The guy I’m left with, then, is Gingrich. Everyone talks about “baggage”, but with all the other candidates having glaring flaws, I’m not so sure this baggage is such a big deal. Newt has the most command of the issues on the stage at every debate. His 3 marriages aren’t ideal, but he can answer that the same way Bill Clinton did in the ‘92 Dem primary: “They want to make this election about my past; I want to make it about your future.”
It might seem impossible to some that Gingrich could win at this point, but consider this: McCain was in 4th place as late as December 12, 2007 in the RCP average.