Why To Vote For Fred

Iowa Republican Tom Chelf says all that, and a bag 'o chips:

I continued to look at all the candidates, but I kept coming back to Senator Thompson. I wanted the chance to hear him talk again and Saturday was my chance. My friend from D.C. was visiting town so we went together to hear Senator Thompson. The room and crowd were smaller this time.  The only seats left were next to a woman I know through my work with the Boy Scouts. We waited for Senator Thompson to arrive. Representative King of Iowa introduced him. He walked into the room and sat down at the table with one of our local radio personalities. Again his answers were refreshing. Instead of sound bite after sound bite, he gave long thought out answers. He was advocating the ideas I wanted to hear. Then the question and answer session arrived. I wanted to know does this man want to be my President?  I got the last question in.

The answer was exactly what I hope it would. It was a great answer. At points during the answer I was ashamed I had asked the question. I knew the answer.  Do I really want to support a candidate who lives to be President?  Is that type of candidate really interested in serving the nation or serving his own self-interest? Senator Thompson positioned himself as willing to serve, not for an enlarged ego, but out of a deep desire to serve his nation. He has desire to make our nation better for his children and grandchildren. Far from a slick Branson like presentation, he presented himself as a dedicated patriot willing to serve if we, the American people, were willing to have him do so. He refuses to be a President under false pretenses. He is not leading us into a shotgun relationship. He understands that under the founder’s concept of the social contract, both parties must be fully aware of the terms of the contract when entering into the agreement. If the American people do not want him to be President, he is not going to trick us into agreeing to him. As I said, the answer was refreshing. It was a great answer.

I went and saw Governor Romney that night. Do not misunderstand me; if Governor Romney is the Republican nominee for President, I will support him. His presentation was an event. His hair and teeth were perfect. He smiled.  He pressed the flesh. His wife glowed as she stood next to him. Make no mistake; Governor Romney wants to be President of the United States. Maybe that is why I do not trust him. In the end, Senator Thompson was right, the next President should be someone who wants to serve the nation, not someone who wants to be President. Far from the press coverage that stated Senator Thompson does not have the desire to be President, his desire is to serve the American people. He believes the best way to do that is to be President. If he is not elected President, he will not be disappointed. He will find some other way to serve the American people, just like he has throughout his career. After listening to Senator Thompson and thinking about what he said, I can only conclude he is the best candidate for the job.

People say they're tired of professional politicians who'll "do anything to win" in Al Gore's 2000 phrasing, who say one thing for their votes and do something else once they're in office.  Republicans say they want another Ronald Reagan.  Fred Thompson is the answer to both those supplications, as well as being the most electable Pachyderm to boot.  Literally the best of all possible worlds.

But as any Republican knows, in our party the best candidate for the job only randomly wins our nomination.  Look up the long and legendary history of the Dole-Kemp Administration if you're having any doubts.  You'll find it right alongside the accounts of the exploits of President Giuliani, President Romney, President McCain, and President HuckaPlucka in Wikipedia's "American politics - parallel universes" section a little under a year from now.

Or until President Rodham invades and conquers those quantum realities as well, whichever comes first.

Why else did she lobby the Klingons....?