Fred Thompson: Blessed By The Prince of Darkness

When Bob Novak, the Prince of both Darkness and conservative punditry, reviewed Fred Thompson's much-anticipated May 4 speech at the Orange County Lincoln Club, his critique was so negative that you could almost hear the air hissing out of the Thompson 08 campaign balloon.

Novak's occasional apostasy is what makes him a must-read for anyone following GOP politics. But he's no outsider looking in. As his column this morning proves, Novak is as happy and effective playing the role of the gushing tout as he is the scold. Thus, now that it's clear Thompson is getting in the race, and that many GOP establishment types are thrilled that he is, Novak is updating his assessment. As it happens, Novak is able to inform his readers that the actor and former Tennessee Senator turned in an inspiring performance Tuesday night before the Saturday Evening Club, a "dinner with some 20 fellow conservatives, mostly journalists." Not that Novak gives us any details about the ways in which Thompson was so impressive, only that he was:

"Thompson's performance Tuesday night, with his remarks off the record, helped show why many Republican insiders are ready to support him."

Huh? 'Trust me,' Novak is essentially saying, 'Thompson was terrific. The rest is off the record.' This is a rather brazen piece of propaganda, an endorsement the soon-to-be-formed Thompson campaign must surely cherish.