I hate to (somewhat) defend RumpelFredskin, but the "lack of executive experience" card is the refuge of the conniving pundit. Being a veteran leather-bottom does not bode well in the next job, executive or not. Remember Chainsaw Al? (Sunbeam? He was Rush Limbaugh's idol and one-time houseguest, Fortune and Forbe's capitalist Scrooge epitome of cut-the-fat excellence?) I don't know where he's at now either.
Speaking of Chainsaw Al, Fred IS apparently vulnerable to the hubris of believing one's own press clippings and the over-reaching that often results. That's true.
It's just that citing lack of executive experience as a major negative is a cop out. What are the pundits REALLY trying to say, and could they fill the readers in? Wimpy4Mitt lest the mythical 11th commandment be broken?

BTW, Reagan was a GE shill and narrator for B-series Death Valley Days when he ran for governor. He forthwith hired Hiyakawa in a classic delegation of authority.
His earlier SAG presidency was a figurehead position run by the members' secretary and board.
So Reagan had no executive experience either except on paper. Still a very good president.

Oh, the fussy complaint(!!) of the video reporter that RumpleFredskin walked on his own "applause lines". Teh Gay!

That's what won sympathy points for Fred from me. (This time)

The only thing worse than walking over one's own applause lines?

Pausing for applause like some hair-sprayed dork.

The "news" is blind to such alternatives.

Fred's Orange County speech was a huge disappointment as well.

Time for "taps" on his campaign (before it's even officially underway)? Or should we withhold judgment until he officially launches, then sound the bugle?

Don't ya' just love bD. Bing, bam, boom. Three great points in two posts.

Wasn't it Nahncy with the executive experience?
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Interesting you chose to cite an admitted Mitt Romney hack w/o mentioning it. I'm not saying Dean doesn't have a point, but to exclude where Dean is coming from is a bit disingenuinous

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog

" Monday, August 27, 2007
The Wheels of the Bus Fly Off and Off
Posted by: Dean Barnett at 11:08 AM

"As many of you may have noticed, I've been wary of commenting on the struggling Thompson non-campaign. I figure since I'm a well-known Romney shill, anything I say on the matter will grate on readers who don't support My Man Mitt. "

Well, Barnett does mention it at the beginning of the linked post, but if omitting that knowledge misled anyone, I apologize. I'll update the post to reflect this information.

I'm not sure of the significance, though. I'm not a Romney shill, and I also found Fred's recent public speeches disappointing - as have a number of avowed Fred supporters.

Is there anyone out there who has been impressed by Thompson's speeches before live audiences? I'd love to hear from ya . . .

No Jim, I really haven't been impressed, and I'm a Fred! Head.

In fact, a couple of things have even concerned me. Such as him saying he'll meet the democratics half way on solving problems.

To me, that's delusional. There is rarely a half way point with democratics. If he's meeting democratics half way, then he's only half way solving a problem - if that much.

Does that mean that if the demos solution for a problem is raising taxes (which it almost always is) Fred! will meet them halfway and raise taxes half of what they want?

Look at what they did to GWB in 2005 on Social Security reform. First, demos barely acknowledge that there is a looming crisis. Then they wouldn't even come to the negotiating table if personal savings retirement accounts were one of the solutions considered.

And Fred! thinks he can meet the demos halfway on something significant?

John, he never said what he would meet them with, and that depends upon his political situation. If he wins big, he'll meet them with a sword.
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"Is there anyone out there who has been impressed by Thompson's speeches before live audiences?"

Honestly I wish I could say that I was, but I haven't SEEN any of his live speeches. His coy-ness (if that's a word) is incredibly frustrating. Fred, and any candidate, should march to the beat of his own drum of course, but it seems to me that if you're trying to sell yourself, you should make more of a visible PR effort.

Plus, kudos to John in CA. Any politician who wants to "meet halfway" with a group that has no interest in getting along, to me, is a huge red flag (are you reading this John McCain?). I understand the desire to come across as flexible and interested in teamwork for the good of the nation, but I think playing kum-bay-yah with the Democrats on the important issues is NOT something Republicans are looking for... at least, not something I'm looking for. I don't want Bush to work with the DemCongs. I want Bush to stop them.

I appreciate your candor, Jim, but for the record I wasn't looking for a public acknowledgement, but I thank you for your openmindedness on my issue. To me, my complaint is akin to CNN citing Paul Begala or James Carville as a "political analyst" or CBS labelling George Snuffaluffagous as a "reporter."

I listen to Dean and Hugh rant and rave about how Mitt is the greatest thing since sliced bread on their radio show (which is their right, of course), and it gets tiring, just like Fred's noncommittal stance.

As a loyalist conserv, who is willing to support any, any of our top 4, Fred, Mitt, Rudy, or Mike if they get the nomination, the coyness of Fred gets me. I have no idea whether he can beat Hil, my guess is NO , but we cannot know unless he finally gets in to the fray. I do know that unlike the conservLibertar purists, I will support the GOP nominee because any Dem is worse for the nation on every front. Frankly, I think only Rudy can beat Hil, but I will be the good soldier, if Fred wins and go all out for him. Still, I want to win. Rudy-Fred could be my ticket of choice.