Is he was incompetent as HHS secretary and not much more competent as governor of Wisconsin. He's also known to be a man who can't keep his hands to himself and allegedly had frequently used his position as governer to weasel out of drunk driving arrests.

I say bring him on, the Dems will easily defeat such a creep.

Dear Would-Be Candidate:

We are barely past the mid-term elections; the new Congress has yet to be sworn in and seated. So why, exactly, do you feel the need to make a non-declarative declaration of your possible intentions to maybe convene an exploratory committee to look at the potential liklihood that you may or may not run for President?

Current Office Holders: How are you serving the electorate by running a two-year campaign? As a member of the government, shouldn't you be, you know, governing? Do us a favor. Sit down. Shut up. Do the job you were hired to do.

Non-office Holders: Without knowing what the new Congress will do and how it will govern, what can you possibly be running on at such an early date? Without knowing what will happen in the next two years, what can you possibly propose? What can you tell us? That you believe in America? That you want to make America a better place? That you support the troops? That you want to fight terror? That you believe in freedom? Spare us. Sit down. Shut up. And keep your eyes and ears open for the next 18 months. Then, if you have someting to say, something to contribute, by all means, run for office.

To Perrenial Candidates of All Political/Ideological Persuasions: Why not do some real work on your favored issues and causes, whatever they may be. This may come as a surprise to you, but doing interviews on Democracy Now! or getting your essay published in Reason or making the rounds on the talk show circuit doesn't really accomplish anything. Sit down. Shut up, and do some real work for a change. Feed and clothe the poor! Organize a union! Patrol the border! Join the Army! Help people cheat on their income taxes! Put your ideas into action!

Sincerely,

David J. Magaro

"Thompson said that he expects '08 to revolve around healthcare and energy -- anyone remember Iraq? -- and he said that he's qualified to lead on both"

If the main criteria for election to the Presidency was being qualified for the job then the last 6 years would have been vastly different.

If Thompson runs, he will succeed only in ruining his own reputation and Wisconsin's reputation for clean government. He left Wisconsin with a massive budget deficit when he resigned to become HHS Secretary (sound familiar?), and his handpicked successor was easily defeated by Democrat Jim Doyle. The stories of corruption coming out of Madison when he was governor were legion. If he runs for President, it will all come out. With all the skeletons in his closet, it's incredible that he's even thinking about running.

Maybe Thompson is trolling for investors in his ethanol plant? Or does he have a new book to flog? A potential presidential campaign is a great way to generate interest in someone no one has heard from since 2004!