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Fred Thompson really has the only candidacy (for lack of a better word, candidacy will have to do) that can reach out and touch everyone in this divided nation. Or does he?

The truth is, we are so divided (not just between the two major parties, anymore, but divided between every single issue) because there's such a cacaphony of voices, from literally hundreds of thousands of sources, each trying to be louder and more strident than the one next to or across from the other.

The traditional media (Print, Radio, TV) has to compete with the wild and unruly Internet, where anyone can have a say, most strident, some fewer studied, most all of whom begin with a strong core belief about one issue or another and become lightning rods for hundreds of like-minded types. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Fred embraces the Internet. Maybe he can get enough support from all sides to get elected, and try to do his 'bipartisanship' thing.

From PJM:

First Blogger?

PJM Hollywood May 19, 2007 1:45 AM

To PJM and Friends
By Fred Thompson

So, I hear you all have been talking about me.

It seems that I ought to respond, at least briefly, to all those who have expressed confidence in me — both here and in other forums. I do not take that confidence lightly.

The Pajamas Media poll is certainly good news, especially when, for a lot of politicians, encouragement to run from three relatives and an unemployed campaign consultant is considered an unstoppable groundswell. When people are saying nice things about me, I try to remember the proverb that compares flattery to a net at your feet. To be sure, the Pajamas poll results are very flattering, so let me return the favor and throw a net at your feet.

Whether or not the Internet can elect any particular candidate in any particular race, it’s clear that all of you and our many friends across the blogosphere and the Web are part of a true information revolution. That’s why so much of my effort has been focused on talking to Americans through this medium. By empowering individuals and building communities, the Internet provides a way of going around the inside-the-beltway crowd to reach people in numbers unheard of not that long ago.

I don't know if the 'communities' built on the internet are worthy of much respect, yet. In the last election, the Nutroots (sorry, the communities including Kos Kids and Huffpos) did succeed early in the defeat of Senator Lieberman, bringing in oddball Ned Lamont, but that didn't translate to a Conneticut 'Nutroot' Senate Victory in November. 'Nutroots' are right now pulling in every chip to try to force the Senate and House to Stop the War, by denying funding, even if doing so will lead to our leaving a ripe plum for Iran and al-Qaeda's taking. That 'Nutroot community' is harmful to US interests, IMHO. Back to Fred...

I believe this direct communication and discussion is going to have an enormous impact on our political process. Our nation is facing unprecedented threats, and the challenges of globalization. We have a 70-plus trillion dollar entitlement shortfall and a government that is not effective in important ways.

Ahhh, the 'entitlement' word. Good to see that come back into usage. Entitlements translate to laziness on the parts of people who abuse them. Entitlements should include a cutoff time (much like the Welfare plan does) and penalties for non-compliance and non-performance of some basic requirements. And, a ceiling; no entitlement should increase yearly with no end in sight.

Now, Fred's meat and potatoes...

To solve our problems, we have to realize that our country is pretty evenly divided along party lines. With close numbers in the House and the Senate, there will be no real reform without real bipartisanship. Too often, what we are seeing isn’t an effort to find solutions, but rather insults and purely partisan politics. There are many good and responsible people in government who are willing to work together – but the level of bipartisanship needed for real progress can only be achieved when politicians perceive that the American people demand it.

Fred then goes on with examples of early Bipartisanship, all the way back to WWII, and to Roosevelt and Churchill.

That's fine and good, Fred, but WWII certainly didn't have the open comms channels we have today. Can you imagine that War being conducted today, with the 'Loose Lips Sink Ships' campaign of stifiling public talk to prevent German knowledge of our transport ship's departures for Britain loaded with supplies? I can just see a Koser Poseur posting "Leaving Boston Harbor today with more supplies for that warmongering England, because if we don't oppose this unjust war millions of people will die, we'll be in a quagmire 'over there', we don't have a reason to throw our soldiers into harm's way, we realize now that Neville Chamberlain wasn't empowered, he really was right, and that because of Churchill's Lies, People will Die."

Gotta love these internets.

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