THOMPSON BUMMER

Say goodnight, Fred.  Last night, Saturday (5/12), in a huge ballroom at a hotel in Washington I can't name at a meeting of a group I can't mention, Fred Thompson was the dinner speaker to 500 of conservatism's crème de la crème.

The energy in the room was crackling.  Here's the guy, everyone was either thinking or hoping – the big man who could fill Reagan's shoes, a true conservative who could electrify Republicans and sweep them to victory in 2008.

There were cheers and yells when he was introduced, as everyone stood in sustained applause, then sat down in quiet excited anticipation.

I'm not at liberty to reveal what he said, as this was a closed meeting, a private off the record address.  But I can tell you my reaction and that of the several dozen folks I talked to afterwards.

What a bummer.

It was a dry, lofty, legalistic pontification more appropriate for the Federalist Society.  No, correct that – more appropriate for a group of Federalist Society interns.  If you wanted to put the interns to sleep.

The speech was bereft of where he wanted to take America, of what vision he had for our country and how that vision could be achieved.  Moreover, it was ponderous, heavy, and plodding.  After it was over, the air was out of the balloon.  No one was revved.  The audience was anti-revved.  Phooey.

He ain't it, folks.  Let me assure you from personal experience, he's no Ronald Reagan.  I saw Reagan speak many times, and the "Reagan Magic" of energy, optimism, and electrifying charisma Fred Thompson does not have.

That's publicly.  Personally, it's the same.  Thompson is a very nice and gracious gentleman – but when you talk to him in person, again you realize, to compare him to Reagan is ridiculous.

What upset me most about his speech, however, is that it was insulting to the audience.  Fred Thompson is not a stupid man.  He is a very bright guy and he knew exactly what this audience wanted, an audience composed of almost every leader in the entire conservative movement – and he on purpose did not give it to them. 

It was almost childish.  "I know what you want but you can't have it, hahaha" seemed to be the message.  Maybe not.  Maybe not because Thompson can't give conservatives what they want, he hasn't got enough energy to do so.

Whatever his reasons and capabilities, I was seriously turned off and so was just about everyone else.  Out of the hundreds of people there, not one went away saying, "Wow, wasn't that great?  He's my man!"  Instead, they shook their heads in puzzlement and dismay.

The Fred Thompson candidacy may have died last night, died before it ever began.  Maybe he can resurrect himself, maybe it isn't over.  But hopes have been dashed, and my bet is that they'll stay that way.  I'm bummed.