Thompson 2008 Update - "doing it for the right reasons"

I wrote this just yesterday:

Along with the complaints about his Senate record are some concerns that Senator Thompson has been lazy in running his campaign. This too does not wash with me. We have been dealing with an early election campaign for months now and when one of the candidates refuses to play the same game (due to laziness or not) it is seen as a flaw. That is total BS and leave no alternative for candidates other than to play follow the leader. - FFI

Now take what I wrote with CNN's Saturday's story on Presidential Candidate Thompson:

Thompson took heat for not jumping into the White House race until September — significantly later than every other candidate — and has since been criticized for his lax campaign style and often-times light schedule.

The former actor has criticized his rivals for launching their presidential bids months ahead of his, and continually touts the fact he hasn't harbored presidential ambitions his whole career. - CNN

So there you go.

Now there is an additional comment in here that makes Thompson even more of a candidate of choice, the fact that he has not had a life-long ambition for the job:

"I am not consumed by personal ambition," Thompson also said Saturday. "I'm offering myself up."

"I'm only consumed by a few things and politics is not one of them." - CNN

This is a good thing because those who have had a life-long ambition for the White House also have a lifetime's worth of IOUs they have doled out to everyone who has helped them climb the political ladder in pursuit of their all-important-lifelong-goal of getting into the White House. Our Mr. Thompson has not suffered from a life-long dream of getting into the White House and as a result has not been burdened with political connections that will effect good decision making by a Chief Executive. You see, that is what happens in politics; Good choices are not picked, because some of the people who are responsible for getting you where you are, don't want you to make those choices. That can be see everywhere in our Government and most clearly in the thousands of earmarks Congress just showered on behalf of their 'friends'.

All the more reason to pick a candidate who says something like this:

“I’m not particularly interested in running for president," the former senator said at a campaign event in Burlington when challenged by a voter over his desire to be commander-in-chief.

“But I think I’d make a good president," Thompson continued. "I have the background, capability, and concern to do this and I’m doing it for the right reasons." - CNN

Now he could have stretched the truth, or outright lied when answering the question, but he gave a truthful answer. He didn't deflect it, or ignore it, or tried to spin it without giving an answer. another nice thing about Thompson is that if you asked him this question again, I bet he would give the same answer.

Now others will take the quote and use it out of context. At least the press has not been to competent lately too do much damage with it.

Thompson 2008 - FFI 28 Dec 2007

---- ----