Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

The same Reagan who declared that he would never trade arms for hostages ultimately did so with Iran.  While he fumed about his determination to confront and defeat foreign terrorists he pulled American troops out of Lebanon and tried to make Americans forget what he was doing by invading and overthrowing the government of tiny Grenada.

Just as one California actor succeeded through imagery, gaining the state's governorship, Arnold Schwarzenegger was invested with the image treatment by Republicans en route to gaining office through a recall that evicted Democratic Governor Gray Davis.  

The tough guy image of former bodybuilding champion Schwarzenegger was molded in his "Terminator" movie role as someone who would fix California's 57 variety, often divisive political system by imposing forceful discipline when needed.

In reality Schwarzenegger received an SOS call from Karl Rove by way of Kenneth Lay since Davis and Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante were preparing a taxpayer's suit against Enron for manipulating the state's public utilities.  So Arnold came roaring on the scene on his white horse, feigning independence he never possessed anymore than Reagan.  

Just as Reagan had taken his orders from what was called his "Kitchen Cabinet" of Golden State millionaires while governor, Schwarzenegger marched in tune with his mentor, former California Governor Pete Wilson.  

The same script is being written for Thompson.  In the June 11 USA Today a truck driver from Daytona Beach, Florida was quoted as saying that he found similarities between Thompson and Ronald Reagan.

Thompson, who has announced that he has formed an "exploratory committee" on a possible presidential run, has been pursuing the same tactics that proved successful from acting fraternity brothers Reagan and Schwarzenegger in the past.  Thompson, who will don the mantle of unbought independent, is actually neither, which is what makes him such an ideal candidate for the neocon con machine.

The man who was seen regularly by the nation's television viewers playing District Attorney of New York City on "Law and Order" sent out just the right messages this week, as noted by political journalist Richard L. Fricker at consortiumnews.com.

Thompson scored big with an impressive double play.  The former Tennessee solon warmed the hearts of double standard neocons by saying that if elected president he would pardon Scooter Libby over that unfortunate "misunderstanding" that prompted him to be tried and convicted, then sentenced.  

Doesn't everyone know that we attempt to throw out presidents over dress stains and lying about extra-marital affairs?  Compared to that kind of conduct what harm is an outing and possible death of a CIA operative involved in studying the development of nuclear weapons?

Thompson told Fox News (who else?) that the entire Libby case is a witch-hunt and that Dick Cheney's right hand man had not technically violated the law since Valerie Plame was not a "covert" agent.  This is an erroneous interpretation of law, but one designed to please the right, that cares ultimately about Republican vs. Democrat gamesmanship and not correctly interpreting the law.

Fred Thompson also scored impressively with right wing zealots as it was revealed in the media that none other than Tim Griffin, the disgraced temporary U.S. Attorney for Arkansas now being investigated for "caging" in connection with African American voters, is negotiating for a senior position in Thompson's campaign.  

Talk about Fox News-Limbaugh red meat!  Thompson scored two quick coups and this is just the beginning.  Before long we might well see him donning coonskin cap and claiming to be a modern day version of Tennessee frontiersman Davy Crockett.