Dumb AND Lazy as Hell

The news this week in the presidential scrum has focused a lot of attention on two sputtering campaigns. Actually only one is even a campaign, and that one is so D.O.A. it’s not even worth discussing. (McCain, if you couldn’t tell.)

The other is Fred Thompson, the “candidate” who’s not really one because that would mean he’d have to, you know, do some work. But he’s got the same problems as McCain: his staff is bleeding employees, and his fundraising thus far has been seriously lagging. And they’re both related.

The man is simply lazy. There’s no better way to put it. He’s been too lazy to handle his own campaign staff and then let his wife take care of it. That didn’t work out well. He’s too lazy to do any significant fundraising, hoping that that mystical “netroots” would come through for him and fling donations his way. Needless to say they haven’t.

It’s surprising to me so few have put this together. This whole “Fred is lazy” story first started popping up in earnest this cycle back in early June, with several major news organization picking up on it. Strangely it seems to be forgotten, as his money problems are now blamed on a bad environment for Republicans or the fact that he has yet to “officially” announce. Please. It’s an old saw in campaigns that if the candidate is not raising money, it’s because he or she is not trying, they’re not out busting their asses making calls, schmoozing with the big wallets, shaking hands and kissing babies. He’s known far and wide for his dislike of campaigning (good trait for a politician) and for his time in the Senate, a lot of which was spent not in the Senate but out trolling for… well, fill in the blank.

The bizarre sheen that was cast over him as the Republicans’ Reaganesque savior, illogical now as it ever was, seems to finally be fading. I’m sure with the proper backing he would have a shot at the nomination, but for some reason he really seems to think that doing nothing will get him the nod.

When I first heard about him getting in the race, I figured he could be the one to take down the Democratic nominee. That’s not looking particularly likely anymore. So we’re stuck running against a Mormon, a double divorcée, and Mr. Straight Talk himself who may be one resignation and one bad quarter away from throwing in the towel. Oh, and three of the four have established pro-abortion credentials. Can’t wait for November.

Explore posts in the same categories: 2008 Elections, Fred Thompson, Politics