Fred Thompson (aka the man John Tabin at TAS thinks I insist that publication endorse), who has made a point of eschewing the media-whoring in which his GOP competitors have slovenly engaged, did something unusual yesterday: he went on Meet The Press for a sit-down chat with Tim Russert (aka the latest convert, according Hillary, of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy) and according to my bridge to cyberfame (aka Jim Geraghty), did a fine job of discussing the issues of the day thoughtfully and in-depth, and without overtly trying to cram talking points into every other sentence.

Rudyland’s take was about what we’ve come to expect, as though the American people are lusting after yet another policy wonk.  Personally, I thought this observation of J-Ger was the money shot:

His talk on Iran was a perfect example, in that Thompson’s position isn’t terribly different from the rest of the field — he doesn’t want to use force, but he’ll keep that option open — but as he talks at length about the risks and benefits and factors that would go into a military strike, the audience, I think, will feel reassuring that if Thompson needs to face that decision, he will have weighed each option carefully.

That voice is fatherly, reassuring, calm. The contrast to Hillary couldn’t be sharper.

If the case to be made is that of keeping the grown-ups in charge of U.S. foreign policy in a post-9/11, post-Iranian nukes world - to say nothing of having the gravitas to handle tough questions from Tim Russert - the GOP can’t do any better than to nominate Ready Freddie.

UPDATE: RomneyIsNeato.com has its priorities straight, if still not the order of the GOP’s Big Three.