The Week

Al Sharpton is refusing to endorse Barack Obama. If the senator gets really lucky, Jesse Jackson will refuse too.

Former senator Fred Thompson’s recent media appearances confirm the judgment of Hollywood casting agents: He looks and sounds presidential. Some of Thompson’s supporters want life to imitate art and are urging him to make a real-life run for the White House. He says he is “leaving the door open.” During his eight years in the Senate, he built a solid conservative voting record, and on a recent Fox News Sunday he confidently handled a pop quiz on the issues with positions that would make him a conservative standard-bearer. Roe v. Wade is “bad law and bad medical science,” he said; he opposes gun control and same-sex marriage, supports the surge of troops in Iraq, and would pardon Scooter Libby without delay. He speaks with an authority and conviction that Hollywood recognized and voters could reward. In addition to president of the United States, the 64year-old’s movie roles have included CIAchief, FBI director, and White House chief of staff. Now regularly appearing as the district attorney on NBC’s Law and Order, Thompson may decide to leave the small screen for the big stage of a presidential run. Republicans could have another successful actor and talented politician to consider.

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Al Sharpton is refusing to endorse Barack Obama. If the senator gets really lucky, Jesse Jackson will refuse too.

Former senator Fred Thompson’s recent media appearances confirm the judgment of Hollywood casting agents: He looks and sounds presidential. Some of Thompson’s supporters want life to imitate art and are urging him to make a real-life run for the White House. He says he is “leaving the door open.” During his eight years in the Senate, he built a solid conservative voting record, and on a recent Fox News Sunday he confidently handled a pop quiz on the issues with positions that would make him a conservative standard-bearer. Roe v. Wade is “bad law and bad medical science,” he said; he opposes gun control and same-sex marriage, supports the surge of troops in Iraq, and would pardon Scooter Libby without delay. He speaks with an authority and conviction that Hollywood recognized and voters could reward. In addition to president of the United States, the 64year-old’s movie roles have included CIAchief, FBI director, and White House chief of staff. Now regularly appearing as the district attorney on NBC’s Law and Order, Thompson may decide to leave the small screen for the big stage of a presidential run. Republicans could have another successful actor and talented politician to consider.