Verbosities

If you don't think the Democrats are afraid of a Fred Thompson candidacy, you're fooling yourself. As The Politico points out, even before Thompson becomes an official candidate, the DNC has released its first attack memo:

"Remember the Republican culture of corruption?" the letter asks. "The revolving door of Republican politicians moving in and out of top political offices and Washington, D.C., lobbying firms? That's Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson. For years, acting wasn't the 'Law & Order' star's profession -- it was a hobby. In the real world, Thompson has made a fortune in a decades-long career as a Washington lobbyist. And just this month, as part of his role as the ultimate Washington insider, Thompson offered to host yet another fundraising event for Scooter Libby's legal defense fund.

I read that and thought I was feeling deja vu. You see, about an hour ago, I was reading a story on the AP wire about Fred Thompson and it sounds like the "journalist" used the DNC memo as Cliffs Notes. Associated Press writer Travis Loller writes:

Republican Fred Thompson, who likes to cast himself in the role of Washington outsider, has a long history as a political insider who earned more than $1 million lobbying the federal government... Thompson also helped run the Scooter Libby Legal Defense Fund Trust, an organization that set out to raise more than $5 million to help finance the legal defense of Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff..."

The Politico goes on to report:

Another DNC research report sketches likely lines of attack on Thompson: "reliable supporter, defender of President Bush," "staunch supporter of Scooter Libby," "key role in Bush Supreme Court nominations," "already has a flip-flop problem," "ill-equipped for the campaign," "a thin Senate record, questions of 'work ethic', " "controversial legal clients may cause problems," "lobbying careers full of land mines."

Hmmm... let's check the AP story and see what we find...

"Since leaving the Senate Thompson has continued to have close contact with powerful Republicans, including members of the Bush administration."

"Thompson also helped run the Scooter Libby Legal Defense Fund Trust."

"That includes acting as the president's point man in guiding Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts through the Senate confirmation process in 2005."

"Thompson lobbied for a savings-and-loan deregulation bill that helped hasten the industry's collapse and a failed nuclear energy project that cost taxpayers more than a billion dollars."

Ties to Bush? Check.
Scooter Libby? Check.
SupCo nominees? Check.
Lobbying land mines? Check.

I guess 4 out of 8 aren't bad.

Finally, this AP writer gives no illusion of impartiality with such gems as:

"This is no political outsider," said Craig Holman, a lobbyist for government ethics and campaign finance reform with Public Citizen. "He clearly gained a network of contacts in Congress though Howard Baker that he cashed in on and would represent anyone who would pay him."

I kept searching the article for something pretending to be the other side, but only found this, "The spokesman said Thompson was unavailable to comment for this article." Well, I'm sure you tried really hard.