My home Internet service has been interrupted – attention, Cable and Internet Service Provider in Northern Virginia Who Shall Remain Nameless For Now, shape up or I start complaining loudly to readers – but I’ve been told that Fred Thompson’s speech tonight is important.

Why?

This Thompson Associate wouldn’t say why.

So I see three options.

1) “Tonight, my friends, I’m going to talk about how we need to renew America’s values…” Boo, hiss, same stuff as always, over-hyped by an overeager associate.

2) “Tonight, my friends, I’m going to share a bit of news for you. I’ve been testing the waters, and they seem pretty warm, and I think I’ll have an answer for you guys real soon. In fact, I’d urge you to mark [insert date here] on your calendars.” Not the announcement, but the announcement of the announcement date.

3) “Tonight, my friends, I’m letting you know that I’ve found the water to be just fine…” Maybe he’ll surprise us all and declare that he’s in. It would seem odd to do it on a late August Saturday night, but Romney unveiled his health care plan ideas on a late August Friday afternoon, and Giuliani is talking up his tax plan on a Saturday afternoon….

UPDATE: Despite some interesting, some said gloomy comments, the correct choice was Door Number One, no real news. I think this suggests that within the Thompson not-quite-campaign, the left hand doesn’t always know what the right hand is doing…