Fred!! Is Now Subject to the Usual MSM Careful Semi-Accuracy

The Captain points out that McClatchy (MSM Division III team) is doing the usual work of the MSM.

First, McClatchy's Steve Thomma focused on the brevity that was the soul of Fred's wit:

When Fred Thompson made his debut on the presidential stage here this week, he left some Republicans thinking he needs more work before his nascent campaign matches the media hype it's gotten in advance.

The former Tennessee senator with the baritone drawl showed up Thursday in New Hampshire, the site of the first primary voting, and gave a speech that lasted only nine minutes, skipping over hot-button issues such as Iraq and immigration to invoke platitudes about freedom and strength.

He left more than a few Republicans disappointed

As a contrast, the Captain presents the testimony of the editorial-page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader.

Thompson’s evening speech at the Wayfarer Inn was timed at all of nine minutes. It was enough to give N.H. Republicans a taste and touch on the usual conservative topics: smaller government, lower taxes, federalism and winning the war against terrorists.

But Thompson added his own twist in this state where registered independents outnumber Republicans: “I think we can form a new coalition of Republicans and independents and some Democrats. If we do the right thing, we'll be a magnet for people of all beliefs about all kinds of issues, but [who] basically [hold] their country's issues first and foremost, and that's the thing that we'll have in common.”

This is far more than just another spout of 'platitudes.'

Fred!! is looking at the magic formula which provided RRR with a couple of large vote margins--the "Reagan Democrats" and the now-significant independent crowd.