I won’t go as far as Nathan in actually asking people to vote for Fred Thompson in Iowa, but I will say that I hope they vote for him. While I have a few areas of substantial disagreement with him, I tend to agree with him on Social Security, national security, taxes, budget reform, and the second amendment. To be honest, I like the campaign he’s running.

I know I probably won’t get a lot of agreement on that, but let me say it again: I like the campaign that Fred Thompson is running.

I like that he has put out policy ideas with substance. I like that he wants to address those things that I believe pose the most hazard to America’s future. I like that his campaign isn’t the highest profile. He isn’t as lazy as he has been described, although I can’t help but acknowledge the fact that he hasn’t done as many stops as other campaigns. The good part is that he is one of the least pandering of the bunch. He seems to be running on a platform that involves positions and ideas instead of promises and ass kissing.

Thompson isn’t the only one running what I would consider to be an honest campaign. Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich never waver on their beliefs, either. The difference being, of course, that I don’t agree with Kucinich on anything and disagree with Paul on some of the bits that are most important to me.

That isn’t to say that the others are all liars or worthless; gaining the presidency is an intricate dance where the candidate needs to find as many partners as possible. Who can blame these folks for being a little bit promiscuous? Thompson just doesn’t seem as willing to change positions as some of the others. I understand the necessity of the extended campaign, but I would like to think that the person who wins will actually settle in and do the job instead of constantly politicking to win the next election. Which brings us to the second section of this post.

How Joe Biden Got Something Right.

I don’t often agree with Joe “The Fifth Nag of the Apocalypse” Biden, but he recently said two things that made a lot of sense:

“...I won’t be president,” Biden declared as his speech came to a close.

Which I admit to taking out of context, but I submit offers us a remarkably clear vision of the future. Joe Biden won’t be our nation’s next president. The Democrats have fairly well solidified behind Clinton, Obama, and Edwards with the latter running a distant third. No one is showing any strong love for Biden (except, of course, for Biden himself). The Republican field isn’t even close to settled.

The next thing that Biden said, about Barack Obama, is more meaningful to this conversation.

“I’m the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. He’s a member. He’s only been there...this is halfway through his first term and he’s been running most of the time.”

Biden is completely right. Obama hasn’t even finished out his first term and, in fact, has been inching toward a presidential the entire way through. What is his resume? What are his legislative accomplishments or his record of leadership? When has he shown the capacity for coalition and consensus building that will be so important to the next president? But the man sure can campaign well. He’s maintained a professional organization, he has a certain charisma (although I don’t personally find him likable, it would be naive to say that I’m the rule rather than the exception), and he has smartly defined himself as the more electable option to the Hillary run.

Obama seems to be a political construct built of polling and a cynical maneuvering in hopes of predicting where the polls will trend in much the same way as Hillary (who learned the value of the middle of the road from her husband’s two terms in office). I would say much the same about Romney and Giuliani and can’t help but note that these are the top names on both sides of the ballot. What does that say about our political processes?

To be clear, I don’t think any of these people are bad people--there are even a few that I would vote for under the right circumstances. I’m enjoying this election cycle--with its dumbed down debates, sound bites, and watery candidates--even less than the last. Where are the leaders to inspire us? Not with the passionate (and sometimes unthinking) anger that Ron Paul brings or the floaty wishful thinking of Dennis Kucinich, but someone to inspire us with hope and ideas.

Bringing it all back home.

Which is why I like the Thompson campaign. He’s said what he believes, he’s offered up his ideas, and he has offered himself up for the position. This is a surprisingly unpolished campaign from a Hollywood type, but it is refreshingly clear and honest. He’s an experienced politician but not so entrenched in the system that he feels like just another DC elitist. He recognizes the need for change, but offers solutions without the manic undercurrent of Ron Paul’s harangues. It doesn’t hurt that he hasn’t once mentioned the Trilateral Commission.

Everyone who reads this site regularly is a smart, thoughtful person. I know that because I know most of you on a personal level. Politically, you the run all across the spectrum--and, for some of you, I’ve taken shots at your candidate. You’ll all vote for the person that you believe will represent you and your interests the best--or because you want to protest against current Republican philosophy. You all have your reasons.

As I said a few days ago: an endorsement from me is probably useless. How many votes will my opinion sway? Probably not many. It would feel a little wrong to let this moment pass, though, without explaining why Fred Thompson is the only candidate who has earned my money and my vote to this point.

More about Fred on the Corner.