Fred Thompson is not Reagan

I do not get this:

Mr Deaver sees the same raw material in Mr Thompson as was perceived in Ronald Reagan, describing him as someone "that could really make a difference". He added: "He is very popular in his party. He could change this whole thing and turn this primary system upside down.

Maybe that's more to do with Republicans dissatisfaction with the current field than with a true sense of Thompson and Reagan.

The key attribute of Ronald Reagan that put him head and shoulders above others was a sense of cheerful optimism about America. I haven't sensed that in Sen. Thompson. Authoritarian yes. Optimistic, no. It may come. But the one who has potential to restore a sense of pride and greatness about America -- the one who could credibly speak of a "shining city on a hill" is a Senator -- not from Tennessee, or New York, but from Illinois.

Reax to Dem Debate

Well, no light shed on the candidate's position on achieving the equality for gays they all profess. I didn't really expect it.

Hillary did better than I expected as she didn't come off like the fake, polished automaton I expected. If she believes we need to do more to combat violence like at Columbine and VA Tech I wish Williams had followed up and asked her why she isn't now during more as Senator to toughen gun laws and why the Clinton Administration -- excuse me, "Bill" -- didn't take the opportunity after Columbine.

Obama kind of stumbled some although he looked poised throughout and is the only candidate I would have wanted to kiss to after the debate. But I don't think he really helped himself in this performance.

The one candidate I thought came out looking good was Bill Richardson. He seemed the most genuine of the lot...he looked at times anxious, at times annoyed. I loved his "that's how I felt" response to the Gonzales question: why was he the last person to call for the AG's ouster? Richardson said he wanted to give a fellow Hispanic the benefit of the doubt until he had a chance to testify. "That's how I felt." Good answer. And when he saw Gonzales' awfully testimony, the benefit of the doubt was gone. Of all the candidates, he's the one I'd want to go sit at a bar and talk politics with while knocking back a few.

I hope they keep that Gravel guy around. He was fun.

Obama's Got a Point

In his statement announcing his forming a presidential exploratory committee, Obama takes on the establishment:

Obama tried to turn his biggest weakness _ his lack of experience in national politics _ into an asset by criticizing the work of those who have been in power.

"The decisions that have been made in Washington these past six years, and the problems that have been ignored, have put our country in a precarious place," he said.

No kidding. If years of experience and seasoned political hands gets us Katrina and Iraq, who needs it?