Folks are really excited about Fred Thompson shuffling into the presidential race, and I can’t blame them - he’s a breath of fresh air in a stale room. Cruising through the conservative blogs offers an insight into what Republicans are hungry for - and beyond issues of trust and ideology - it’s mostly about change. This party has had enough of the Bushes, from the one term Bush 41 and all of his lackeys - right through to the son - who ’s first act was to rehire all those lackeys still living. Looking at the two administrations is like playing that matching card game with your three year old. I was going to start a new blog to register my frustration at seeing the same old faces, but MoveOn.org was already taken!

But Fred’s gotten in late and, to his own way of seeing things, is picking through the leftovers to build a campaign brain trust. Just when you thought you’d had enough of the Bushes and their wholesale dismantling of the Republican Party, here comes George P. Bush emailing everyone to donate to Fred’s campaign! Thanks George - but isn’t there anyone in this country not named Bush that could have done the same thing? Can you imagine the reaction of campaign contributors getting solicitations from a Bush right now - after the immigration brouhaha? You might as well send an illegal immigrant to knock on every door!

The involvement of a Bush family member highlights a stream of former Bush-Cheney aides and supporters who are signing on with Thompson, in some cases quietly.

The article from Politico offers a few names that have quietly joined the team. Mary Matalin; unpaid advisor, Lawrence B. Lindsey; Bush 43 economic advisor, Thomas J. Collamore; a former aide to the vice president H.W. Bush, Michael Turk, who helped Bush 43 in his reelection campaign and Tim Griffin, who was involved in the scandal over those fired federal prosecutors. There are certainly more who we won’t hear about until Fred’s got his hand on the bible on a cold January day.

I’m not the only Republican who goes Turret whenever I hear the name “Bush.” There is no coincidence that these two presidents effected an end to conservative movements in their time. They have done more to undermine our philosophy than any rapacious Democrat ever could have hoped to. I understand there are some good people who have worked for these ingrates, but I’m not in a forgiving mood right now. We gave them our hopes and our support, they gave us Bill Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.

As time passes I may become more forgiving, but if Fred is going to impress me, he’ll have to outrun the Bushies first.

Evrviglnt

Hat Tip: The Politico