Candy Hearts Hollywood

by digby

Hollywood Fred, that is.

Candy Crowley on CNN characterized dreamy Fred Thompson’s speech to the South Carolina GOP like this:

“Hitting all the right notes, his speech was what he hopes to be — Reaganesque — both optimistic and tough.”

Gosh if only he could be president right now!

Speaking of which, I originally agreed with Atrios’ analysis, but Bonnie Erbe delivers a lethal little pin prick to the Sally Quinn sewing circle’s desperate trial balloon to save the Republican party that I think is probably more on the money:

She … suggests that the affable former Sen. Fred Thompson would make a formidable replacement, while giving Thompson a better shot at the Republican presidential nomination next year.

Down, girl! I beg to differ. First of all, Cheney and this administration are not only toxic, they are downright radioactive. It is almost as if they covet the No. 1 spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the worst administration in American history. Any Republican running for president knows that an affiliation with the Bush administration is the political equivalent of Superman touching green kryptonite. Democrats will be able to posture and do nothing for decades and win elections merely by running against the Bush legacy…What Republican in his right mind would want an affiliation with this crowd?

Good question. But as far as I’m concerned, they are not going to have any choice. Bush and Cheney ARE the Republican party and their stench (and I’m not talking about English Leather) will be on all Republicans for a very long time to come. Every time they try to wash it off, I know I’m going to be standing there with another bucket of fetid Bushisms and sycophantic quotes to throw back on them.

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