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Any time a candidate with acting experience and conservative credentials maneuvers to run for president you can bet the conservative base begins to tingle with excitement. Such is the case with former "Law and Order" star Fred Thompson, who formed a presidential exploratory committee yesterday sending the right-wing abuzz.

Things have been looking pretty bleak for the GOP since the 06 elections. None of the front-running presidential candidates have been able to generate much excitement among the conservative base, due to the sin of not being conservative enough. Rudy Giuliani is taking heat from his own former open-minded constituents, much less a baying right wing element of the party. Mitt Romney's religion is an obvious stumbling block for many conservatives.And John McCain is just too damn old.

Enter stage left: Fred Thompson who will no doubt bring his thespian gravitas to bear while vying for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination. Thompson often garners rhetoric like "presidential" or "strong" and why not? The liberal New York Times once summed up Thompson's characters in this wise:

"The glowering, hulking Mr. Thompson has played a White House chief of staff, a director of the Central Intelligence Agency, a highly placed F.B.I. agent, a rear admiral, even a senator. When Hollywood directors need someone who can personify governmental power, they often turn to him."

Oh my gosh, can you say Reaganesque?

The Republican's love the idea of someone acting his way through office. Except this seems to work best with former actors. The current president was last seen way off script and totally over budget. Fred Thompson on the other hand brings a certain professionalism and experience to the task. He's even played two former presidents (Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew Jackson) while looking almost like Gerald Ford. Hello? The man is pretty much overqualified for the role of real-life president of the United States.

And you know who left the door open for Thompson's vie for power? Yes, Al Gore. Thompson won the 1994 election to take Al Gore's unexpired Senate term. He served in the Senate until 2002. Does it get any more delicious than that? The man who could cripple the Democratic Party could have gotten his start by replacing the man who once crippled the Democratic Party. That's like something out of a movie!

The GOP faithful are watching Thompson closely as he prepares to strap on a set and star in a role that will shock you. You've seen him put criminals behind bars. You've seen him star along side Alec Baldwin.Are you ready for his greatest performance yet? Fred Thompson *is* Presidential! Coming soon to a ballot near you.

Learn more about this author, Fred Krone.
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