Thompson's appearance on This Week was
very... Thompson. He swatted at Romney, accusing him of whining and
complaining( and accusing Thompson of bribery) when he didn't get
the Right to Life endorsement after "they've spent all this money
and they can't get everything they want." On Terry Schiavo I
frankly have watched the video and read the transcript and can't
figure out what his position is. Not a good moment: saying his biggest
legislative achievement was the Homeland Security bill, and then
acknowledging when pressed it was Lieberman's bill. He seems
unimpressed with Romney and Rudy's management experience declaring: "What is
managing, you know, where the roads go or managing the crime
situation in a city? I mean, I'm not denigrating the management
deal. What has been managed by any president in the last generation
about our federal government?[Me: Isn't this an argument to get
someone who has management experience??] It's been mismanaged. My
management experience actually has to do with the federal
government. I chaired the governmental affairs committee which has
jurisdiction over the operation of the governmental agencies." On
his nomination strategy: he acknowledges Iowa is a key, then on to
South Carolina and Florida and then on to February 5 when "there
are a lot of southern states that are going to be coming online."
(Is he just a regional candidate after all is said and done?) Those
who like him for his folksy manner will be pleased; those who have
been hoping for a more focused candidate and a sharper delivery
less so.