The Next Reagan

Recently Newt Gingrich spoke out about Barack Obama’s potential as a future president, saying he would make a good leader if “the country wants therapy”. Gingrich thus managed to undermine Obama’s candidacy by communicating the oft-used message of the Republican party in regards to the Democratic party: that Democrats and the people who vote for them are too soft. The Republican party is currently having issues with its front-runner candidates, as this Washington Post article explains. Neither Romney or McCain or Giuliani fits well the party persona, and Gingrich himself is listed as the number one desired alternative to the candidates. The general consensus is that the Republican party needs a candidate who truly reflects the right-of-center stance (Giuliani is not conservative enough) and can take a stand against the Democratic candidates (Romney and McCain are too wishy-washy). According to recent polls the outlook is grim for Republicans in 2008, and this post discusses personal opinions as to why, many of which include issues people have with the Republican candidates themselves.

So who else? Fred Thompson is a former Senator from Tennessee and if you IMDB his name you can see a slew of television and movie appearances he has made. He starred most recently in several episodes of Law and Order (the original, SVU, CI and Trial by Jury incidentally), as well as an episode of Sex and the City entitled “Politically Erect”. The movie database website also lists him as having represented the state of Tennessee from December 2 1994 to January 3 2003. His television and film connections give him a leg up in terms of cash and support, but is he too Hollywood for the presidency? He has not announced candidacy, but hinted he may, and this link talks all about him and his potential as a candidate. Hint: the potential is lacking.