Weekend Roundup

It seems I am not the only one with serious drawbacks about Fred Thompson's qualifications for the job of POTUS. He may be a folksy smooth talker with a voice made for radio but what has he accomplished? Richard Brookhiser posting in the Corner put it best.

Fred Thompson came to the offices of National Review some years when he was still in the Senate. I liked him fine. He has done nothing, anywhere, ever. The Hubble Telescope could not find what he has done, because he has not done it.

It would be unwise to put such a man in the White House at this moment in history.

Plus the folks over at American Spectator's blog are not falling for the gravelly baritone either and are as disappointed as I am in what is coming out now that he is officially shuffling along.
Heck, they're comparing him to Eeyore, the donkey from Winnie the Pooh, and horrors Jimmy Carter. For example does this sound like something Fred is saying?

Our people are losing that faith, not only in government itself but in the ability as citizens to serve as the ultimate rulers and shapers of our democracy. As a people we know our past and we are proud of it. Our progress has been part of the living history of America, even the world. We always believed that we were part of a great movement of humanity itself called democracy, involved in the search for freedom, and that belief has always strengthened us in our purpose. But just as we are losing our confidence in the future, we are also beginning to close the door on our past.

or this

What you see too often in Washington and elsewhere around the country is a system of government that seems incapable of action. You see a Congress twisted and pulled in every direction by hundreds of well financed and powerful special interests. You see every extreme position defended to the last vote, almost to the last breath by one unyielding group or another. You often see a balanced and a fair approach that demands sacrifice, a little sacrifice from everyone, abandoned like an orphan without support and without friends

It does doesn't it but they come from Carter's infamous 'Malaise' speech and contrasted so sharply with Reagan's sunny optimism that we elected Reagan in two landslides. (Hattip:Jennifer Rubin)

By contrast with the other GOP candidates, Mitt Romney in particular has that vivid, animated optimism in the American people and America itself as "that Shining City on the Hill" that Reagan so loved to talk about. John McCain as much as I like to take jabs at him at least is very positive as is Rudy and Mike. Ron Paul just comes off as an angry, old, crank conspiracy nut along with his supporters and all the NAU and truther talk. Fred may be trying to come across as serious but all I get is gloom and doom with little positive alternative to lighten the mood.
I have listened to his rambling almost incoherent speeches, not the oratorical stemwinders one would expect of him where Mitt can really deliver a really powerful stemwinder. Mitt is by far the best speaker of the group, articulate, clear and on message and if you ever hear him get on a roll you can't help but be impressed.
Heck, Fred is having problems even running a campaign since he has never really run anything, no infrastructure, no organization and no policy stances, is that really what we want in a President?
I don't, that is why I am a Mitt Romney supporter, an acomplished leader not a second rate actor.