Is Fred Reagan Or Jimmy Carter?

Fred Thompson's red pick up truck needs a tune up, or he's going to be left behind in a New York / Massachusetts minute.

I was going to hold off on making this post until I saw this via Instapundit:

A BAD DAY FOR FRED THOMPSON?

Building expectations by waiting to announce and his immediate fund raising demands make every day an important day for Thompson coming out of the chute. One would think waiting would have provided plenty of time to prepare.

Between the last minute shuffling of key campaign staff, an adequate but no five star performance on Leno, a partially terse exchange with Laura Ingraham, the missteps are adding up. But I think the issue may be larger than that.

I faulted him for a crack on Leno, in part because it sounded something of a negative tone. Listening to him with Ingraham via link above, I found myself thinking more about Jimmy Carter telling America what's wrong, as opposed to Reagan who dwelt on how to make things right.

And now this.

I just attended Fred Thompson's first campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa. The quick take: This is a whimper of a start.

Given some of the campaign dynamics mentioned above, Fred's in trouble. And given the staff changes, it's unclear who's around to help. If this continues, Fred's already looking at a make or break performance in his first debate in Baltimore on September 27. And there won't be a script, or a director and he'll be up against an experienced cast.

Comments

[mensablonde]

It appears Fred! may have been over-hyped.

[Sakaki]

Either that, or Dan Riehl is a supporter of some other presidential candidate and wanting to become a kingmaker, like that asshole Hugh Hewitt.

Fred! is the only choice, and Laura Ingraham is kind of a yeast infection.

[Fred Beloit]

"Either that, or Dan Riehl is a supporter of some other presidential candidate and wanting to become a kingmaker, like that asshole Hugh Hewitt."

Fred! is the only choice, and Laura Ingraham is kind of a yeast infection."

Why such misogyny, and from a true conservative. Are you sock-puppeting again, Mr. christamfordmum?

[bob]

For a few laughs go back and look at Riehl's earlier comments on Thompsons, such as this one that Instapundit linked:
http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2007/08/why-are-they-so.html