Thompson's timing

The first half of Star Parker's "Rope-a-dope" has an interesting discussion of the timing of Fred Thompson's (official) apparently-impending appearance in the Presidential race.

It's said that in life, timing is everything. And it could be that former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson's entry into the 2008 presidential race, expected in early September, will prove to be timed perfectly.

This could be Thompson's "rope-a-dope." Recall this maneuver of Muhammad Ali's in his famous "rumble in the jungle" in Zaire with then heavyweight champion George Foreman. Ali leaned back on the ropes in the early rounds, his forearms up covering his face, and let Foreman pound himself to exhaustion. Ali then stepped up, fresh and strong, and knocked Foreman out...

When Thompson announces next month and formally enters the race, his timing alone might be appreciated by a public wondering why they have been forced to start listening to candidates more than a year and half before they'll go to the polls to vote...

Thompson, a seasoned actor, may really know how to respond on cue. With Act One, Scene One played out, he may enter the stage in Scene Two and wake up the audience.

She then quotes David Broder who believes Thompson will be a "bold" candidate-- speaking out on crucial but politically-dangerous issues like Social Security and Medicare. We'll see about that, but it'd be nice to see that!