Fifteen minutes of two of my favorite conservatives

Fred Thompson and Peter Robinson, talking at the Hoover Institute:

Fred seems relaxed and well-informed. He read Barry Goldwater's Conscience of a Conservative in college and got fired up. That's a good answer. He's kind of punting on Iraq, but I can't really blame him for saying he'll wait to hear from General Petraeus. That's kind of what all the candidates are doing. But he understands the resolve issue--and how it affects other issues like China in the future. (Listen at about six minutes in.)

Quoting Calvin Coolidge was a savvy move as well. I expect we'll hear a lot of comparisions between them; Coolidge was regarded as lazy. So, for that matter, was Reagan. But a policy of studied inaction is a fine conservative attribute. If I want a government that's there with a bandaid everytime I skin my knee, I'll vote for a liberal.

Peter R. liked him:

In this, my first encounter with Thompson, I was hugely impressed—hugely. He proved relaxed, likeable, determined, warm, funny, and—a trait not always seen in candidates for high office—humble. (He reached into his briefcase, pulled out a three-ring binder, and then spent the entire session taking notes as assiduously as a college student.)

Last thought: Fred Thompson isn't really Arthur Branch. A lot of people are expecting the pure hard-charging Rack 'em, Pack 'em, Stack 'em screen persona from Fred, and they're slightly disappointed. But this guy seems a lot more down to earth, thoughtful, and humble than the characters he plays. Oh, he can still turn it on when he takes Michael Moore to the woodshed, but apparently--he's an actor. Who knew?