Me too...and so far this clever coyness is not impressing me.
I'd think I'd more readily buy it if Fred were someone with a great resume of actual accomplishments that the base wanted to pull back in (you know, like Michael Corleone). But Fred has not really done a lot. People like him, and he may be the man. But I think he is merely the beneficiary of the perceived flaws of the current top-tier candidates.
I really don't like this seeming feeling that he can walk in for the coronation, even if he has enough delirious fans to make it happen.
If Republicans were happy with Giuliani, McCain, and/or Romney, surely Republican Presidential candidate funding would exceed that of the Dummiecrats right now. My prediction is that will happen when third quarter figures are released, and Fred Thompson's totals are known.