The press is famous for goading people into the race and then turning on
them once they get in. It's not a conscious strategy; it's just that the press
always has an interest in a new face in the race, especially a colorful one; but once he's in, "fairness" requires the press to be equally savage to him as it is to the other shrunken heroes in the contest.
What idealistic conservative doesn't want Fred Thompson? Many more than the realistic conservatives, I'd guess.
Call me a realistic conservative. A moderate realistic conservative. Mitt Romney is my candidate of choice. He declared his candidacy up-close and early. So did most of the other candidates. Serious candidates, that is.
I'm bored by hearing "Fred will declare later ...." Later? What the heck does that mean? What's he waiting for?
Either he's running or he isn't.
If he isn't, he's baited a few conservatives and collected sufficient speaking fees to promote his movie career. And idealistic conservative don't like being baited. And they have only one movie hero. (Make that two, if you've read Gull's blog.)
Yep, idealistic conservatives (and most all of us) like folks who stand tall and speak plain English while looking your straight in the eye. But don't bait them. Especially don't bait them after they've built up this mythocal image of some Reaganesque figure who's gonna swoop back into the political arena and carry them to victory.
Better let people know what you're gonna do, Fred. Fast. If you wait 'til summer to declare or declare not to declare, tempers will likely flare a bit more in the heat of the season. Campaign season, that is.
And no matter what you decide, mainstream media and every cable news channel will wonder aloud: why did it take him so long? What IS he afraid of? What was he waiting for? And the seeds of doubt will be planted .....
Come on in, Fred. Don't delay the inevitable. That is, if you're actually gonna come on in.
