The American Spectator

p> FRED THOMPSON, D.A. br> Sen. Fred Thompson didn’t waste time finding work. You’ll be seeing him a lot on NBC, as the new district attorney on the “Law and Order” shows produced by sometimes conservative-leaning Dick Wolf (he’s been a huge proponent of cleaning up the sex and violence on television). Thompson, who had been mulling several opportunities to become a high powered, rainmaking lawyer in Washington, will play a high powered, politically savvy DA. “He said he wasn’t that happy in Washington, so why would he stay?” asks one of Thompson’s staffers. “He’ll be happier working in New York.” /p>

The “Law and Order” series (there are actually three of them, “L&O,” “L&O: Special Victims Unit”, “L&O Criminal Intent”) is shot in New York. Thompson is expected to appear in character in all three shows. No word on whether he will commute from Washington or his home in Tennessee or move to New York itself. Thompson has thus far cut back his political appearances, and has done little campaigning in Tennessee for his fellow Republicans.

At least that’s what leaders of the Tennessee Republican Party think. “He should have been doing more,” says one staffer from Memphis. “His retirement has really put us in an awkward position, scrambling for a candidate, fundraising. The least he could do is work hard to make sure his seat is held by the party.”

Former Tennessee governor, Lamar Alexander, is the Republican nominee seeking to fill Thompson’s Senate shoes. Rep. Bob Clement is the Democratic nominee. Alexander is being given a slight edge in the race.

p> BROKE ON ALL FRONTS br> A week ago, senior aides to California gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon