Is it just me, or is every criticism of Fred Thompson's un-campaign now being  rebuffed as a "fear" tactic?  

Fear of Fred I ...II ... III .... Fear of Fred: Return to Earth ...

And when the Roman numerals become unintelligible to the average voter (which is what this is all about, after all), maybe ole Fred can package his un-campaign as "The Fred Follies" or maybe the "Fred and Jeri Show" ....

But I digress.

I can't think of a candidate who has literally no successful or even notable legislative or executive experience ever being elected to anything -- unless we count that wrestler-guy who became governor of MN ....  I suspect that if anyone could make a legitimate claim to being a "fear factor" in real life (sorry, Ahhhnold), Jesse Ventura would be the unanimous winner!

OOps.  I digressed again.

This "fear factor" knee jerk is wearing a bit thin.  Face it, folks.  No one fears Fred Thompson.  No one.  If the concept of fear is to be used as his mantra -- maybe ole Fred should consider one of these references:

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Fear is not the natural state of civilized people.
Nothing in life is to be feared.

And my personal favorite: 

Fear gives a small thing a big shadow.

On that note -- let me say this about the Fear of Fred retort being used by several of my respected online associates with whom I share many causes and perspectives:

No matter how FredHeads want to portray those who don't fear Fred -- aligning support for Fred Thompson with support for key conservative issues is a divisive tactic.   

Prime example:  Ron Paul supporters want to draw a correlation between his candidacy (deliver us, please) and opposition to the North American Union concept.  The reality that the NAU concept is a product of the Council on Foreign Relations (of which Fred Thompson is a member) does NOT make everyone who asks questions about that powerful policy-making body a "Truther" (such as the young woman who asked ole Fred a legitimate question about his stand on the SuperHighway, the Texas Corridor or the SPP -- before she interjected an aside about the fall of Tower 7. Duh.).   

Ole Fred will have to answer those legitimate questions sooner or later.  You don't have to be a "Truther" to suspect that there is more than a passing correlation between the current immigration reform bill and the SSP accords. 

Identifying with core conservative principles has nothing to do with my personal assessment that a once-quasi-effective senator from the great state of Tennessee may be toying (conservatives) with a run for the Presidency.  The guy has the demeanor of someone who is unhealthy and demonstrably inept when asked specific questions.  Politically, he has offered nothing to demonstrate that his campaign (assuming it will materialize) would be based on much beyond bumbling generic sound-bytes, evasive retorts and a pleasant voice.   His staff is leaving disgruntled; his new campaign manager is of questionable background, his grassroots "campaign" has generated approximately $3 million -- far short of expectations, and rumors of his wife's control of his non-candidacy abound.  Shades of Shrillary?  Please -- no!

Meanwhile, watch the video below.  Fred needs to brush up on his candid interview techniques.  Hear his nervous laughter?  He "uses" the woman's inexperience in fielding questions to re-direct the focus of his answer -- which he never gave, by the way -- by feigning ignorance about the SuperHighway.  It appears obvious that her question caught Fred off-guard.  Her follow-up statement/question was her down-fall , IMO -- which made her, not Fred, the focus.  Too bad. 

Bring it on, Fred.  Not all questions will be asked by "Truthers" and will strive to draw the literal truth of who and what you represent.  You'll soon learn that the media and serious contenders wear Nike.  You know, the No Fear gear.