Thompson/Romney 08? A good case for that ticket now!

A very intriguing case for a Thompson/Romney ticket - not next year, but NOW! A very very good read.

On radio and TV, Senator Thompson has presence developed over a lifetime in front of critical audiences as a lawyer, politician and actor. He projects centered self-confidence. His skills as a communicator will win him a substantial following, perhaps substantial enough to take the Republican Party by storm.

Fred Thompson's principal political liability is that he has never run anything. This is hardly disqualifying for a president, but it may be disabling for a presidential candidate getting off to a late start.

If one has to choose between a skilled administrator and a skilled communicator in a presidential primary, take the communicator every time. The presidency is essentially about the vision thing - both having it and selling it. A president with vision can hire all the administrative talent he needs. No president without it has ever been able to manage his way to a successful presidency. Just dust off your ouija board and ask the ghost of Herbert Hoover the way Hillary consults Eleanor Roosevelt.

[The Rest of the Story]

There is every reason to believe that Fred Thompson has the skills to be an excellent president, but does he have the skills to put together an effective campaign in less than half the time all his competitors have devoted to the same task? Color me skeptical.

The office of Vice President has steadily increased in importance and it seems odd to treat it as such an afterthought. Why go through the entire nominating process and then pull a running mate out of a hat at the convention? Why not form a team of running mates early in the process so two politicians can pool their resources the better to rally their party?

You (Romney) are in a unique position to do this. Get Fred on the horn and offer an alliance. Offer to run for Vice President as his running mate. A Thompson-Romney team would probably sweep all the competition for the Republican nomination aside.

Senator Thompson, who is sixty-four years old, might very well have no interest in serving more than one term as President, which would make this arrangement particularly advantageous for you. Even if he served two terms you would get your shot in 2016 when you will still be younger than John McCain is today. In the mean time you'll be gainfully employed and both the Republican Party and the nation will have a chance to grow comfortable with you.

You can offer Thompson campaign funds, an established national organization, and an able partner with executive experience and no trace of a southern accent. He can offer you a golden opportunity to convince Republicans that the Mitt Romney they meet on the campaign trail this year is the real Romney. He can help you make the difficult transition from Massachusetts politics to the national stage. With respect Governor, it isn't clear that you can make the transition any other way.


Comments are open! Be sure to click though and read the entire article - there is a lot more information and good argument there.

Courtesy of J. Peter Mulhern of American Thinker