Just how desperate ARE the Republicans?

So far for President the Republicans are looking at

• a 71 year-old twice-divorced Senator, now trying hard to run from his previously well-earned reputation as a maverick who disdained the Republican social conservative base,
  
• a three-times divorced ex-mayor of New York City with possible mob-ties and a reputation for choosing crooks to work for him, and
  
• a Republican ex-Governor of Massachussets who is now running against his own Massachusetts constituencies and the person he convinced them he was to get elected as their governor. Oh, and did I mention his religion is Morman, not one of the best subjects to present to the social conservative fundamentalists and evangelists who make up the Republican base that is essential if he were to win the Presidency.
  

Besides their negatives, not one of them has the charisma required to pour piss out of a boot.

To top it off, Bush/Cheney have stuck the Republican Party with their voluntary war in Iraq which may not be over by 2009. Iraq isn't America's war. It's Bush's and the Republican Party's war. Even a sizeable group of the Republicans consider it a disaster that should not have been allowed to happen.

The climate for running as a Republican - well, let's just say it sure could be a lot better. An example of the problems the Republicans face is the statement just presented by Nancy Pelosi with what so far is the best sound-byte of the season: "With his veto threat, the President offers only an open-ended commitment to a war without end". (TPMCafe) This has the real virtue of being true, as well as being a powerful political soundbyte that resonates with the mood of the voters.

So how desperate are the Republicans? Desperate enough to try to get a charismatic Hollywood actor to run for the Presidency? Apparently so.

No, No. They aren't going grave robbing. Reagan is still dead. And Schwartzenegger is still not born a U.S. citizen, so he's out. A late running "American Idol" isn't likely to offer a winner old enough to run for President, and besides, what if he or she weren't Republican? Or straight?

No, what is happening now (See Law.com) is that Howard Baker is trying to convince Senators to look at Fred Thompson, currently playing Howard Branch, District Attorney, on "Law and Order." Rep. Zach Wamp has been approaching his colleagues in the House with the same proposal. Even from Hollywood this seems to be the best the Republicans can muster.

Actually Fred Thompson has a decent resume and would certainly bring more star-power to the Republican ticket than any current option, along with a lot fewer negatives. But if he asked my advice, I'd strongly suggest that he not give up his day job. It has more future.