To be honest, I've never been thrilled about Fred Thompson, and that's largely because of a difference in how I and some others evaluate candidates. Thompson is clearly a charming fellow, and someone who has that magical quality of being a consistent conservative.

I'm not putting Thompson in this class, but lots of idiots have been consistent conservatives--I'm just not all that impressed by people who've always held the same views, in fact, it scares me. If you have the same views over 10, 20 or 30 years, you aren't sufficiently reflective or your life's experience has been too narrow.

My objection, if you can call it that, is that Thompson doesn't have the experience or the demonstrated skills for dealing with what is going to be an incredibly complex world in the next four to eight years. Ideally, we should vote for a president because of who they are and what they can do. Thompson has one, but not the other.

Nevertheless, Thompson did impress me today with the contents of an off-the-cuff address that was manipulated to make Thompson look bad at CNN (the article has been taken down...no, its up again).

Thompson should thank them though, because the controversy led me to read his comments in full, and frankly, I was impressed.

I approach life differently than a lot of people. People, I guess, are wondering how I've been as successful as I've been in everything I've done. I've won two races in Tennessee by twenty points in a state Bill Clinton carried twice. I had never run for office before. I've never had an acting lesson, and I guess that's obvious. (laughter). When I did it, I did it. It wasn't just a lark. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. I've always been a little more laid back than most. I like to say I'm only consumed by very few things, and politics is not one of them. The welfare of my country, and my kids and grandkids, growing up, is one of them. (applause)

If what people really want in their president is a super type A personality, someone who has gotten up every morning and gone to bed every night and been thinking about, for years how they can be president of the United States... someone who can look you straight in the eye and say they've enjoyed every minute of campaigning... (laughter) I ain't that guy. (more laughter) [To questioner] So I hope I've discussed that, or I haven't talked you out of anything. I honestly want... I can't imagine a worse set of circumstances than achieving the presidency under a false pretenses, especially if you feel the way I do. I've gone out of my way to be myself, because I don't want anybody to think they're getting something they're not getting. I'm not consumed by this process, I'm not consumed with the notion of being president. I'm simply saying I'm willing to do what's necessary to achieve it if I'm in sync with the people. And if the people want me, or somebody like me, I will do what I've always done with everything else in my life. I will take it on and do a good job. You'll have the disadvantage of having someone who probably can't jump up and click their heels three times, but will tell you the truth. And you'll know where the president stands at all times."

This is man who understands the political process and himself and that's a rare quality. I'd be happy to call this man friend, and I can finally see why some consider him "their guy".