Bright Red Fred

I'm already on record predicting that Fred Thompson will be the GOP nominee. He's a strong candidate for the same reason he's the most watchable actor on Law & Order: As flat as his performance might be, he's Brando compared to the one-note thespians around him. In a race against two men who will never be accepted by the Republican base and one who would be rejected as a poseur if it weren't for the competition, any candidate with conservative credentials, widespread name recognition, and no criminal record should be able to sweep the field. On top of that, Thompson's charisma has been honed for the intimacy of the small screen, an enormous advantage not just in a campaign but in the presidency itself.

I have no axe to grind here. I disagree strongly with Thompson on many important issues, most notably the war, and the only warm feelings I have for him come when I watch Law & Order, a show so thick with center-left platitudes that his center-right platitudes feel like a breath of fresh air. I don't want the man to win the nomination. I just think he will.

The question the Democrats should be asking is: Who do we have who can match Fred Thompson's advantages? Who has both a solid liberal record and a name already beloved by the public? Who has a reassuring presence that transports nervous citizens to the comforts of childhood? Who looks good on TV?

Hang on…I can't believe no one has suggested this yet…