Except for the lack of money and the mutiny and lethargy, Fred Thompson's campaign is going well...

[Lobster Martini]

Except that he’s missed his own fundraising goal by about 40%, his mutinous staff would rather walk a plank than deal with his wife and even Republicans aren’t sure whether he really wants to be the captain of its pirate ship, Fred Thompson’s Presidential campaign is going beautifully…

The pirate's bounty, or lack thereof:

The committee that former Senator Fred D. Thompson set up to test the waters for a likely presidential campaign raised a little more than $3 million in June, its first month, people involved in the effort said yesterday.

The amount, to be reported as required to the Internal Revenue Service today, was less than the $5 million that Mr. Thompson’s supporters had hoped for and has met with some disappointment inside his camp, which has also been buffeted in recent days by staff defections and high-level disagreements.

<snip>

“It sounds like they didn’t meet their expectations,” David All, a Republican media strategist, said of the June fund-raising total. “Putting that figure out — $5 million — and not meeting it was probably not a smart move from a messaging standpoint.”

Jack M. Burkman, a Republican strategist and lobbyist, said that for the kind of “hit and miss” early campaigning that Mr. Thompson had done, his fund-raising numbers looked good.

“I think that’s very good for the nature of the quote-unquote campaign he’s running,” Mr. Burkman said. “My concern about him is whether he really wants to do the work.” (LM: Hmmm…wonder if that concern might be why donors won’t pony up more cash…)

(Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/31/us/politics/31fred.html?_r=1&oref=slogin)

The pirate lassie:

His wife, Jeri Kehn Thompson, 40, worked as a political media consultant at a lobbying firm, Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, and McPherson and Hand. (LM: a McPherson and Hand is worth two of Bush. Sorry, couldn't resist.) Before that she worked for the Senate Republican Conference and the RNC…(snip)…Republicans familiar with the Thompson circle said she is an influential figure and that her role has been a cause of concern for some operatives signing on to the fledgling exploratory campaign.

(Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070725/ap_on_el_pr/fred_thompson_campaign)

The still water:

Even some of his most ardent supporters are expressing some impatience, urging Mr. Thompson to engage fully in the race.

“What’s the holdup?” Keith Harper, the founder of one of the most popular Web sites for Thompson supporters, www.fredheads.com, wrote this month on his news page. “It seems an opportunity is being squandered.”

(Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/28/us/politics/28thompson.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fT%2fThompson%2c%20Fred)

If you’re Fred Thompson and “Fredheads” turn on you, your voyage is in serious trouble. Considering that Fred is Rudy’s only real competition (Romney?...please...Hail Mittainia?...no chance...), it is beginning to look like Democrats could nominate the Incredible Mister Limpet and still win.

[gratuitous]

1. All part of a dazzling strategy, no doubt

Why, the groundswell of support for Fred is just breathtaking! Our crack journalists have scoured the country, searching high and low and found Fredheads everywhere! They can't figure out why having an Attorney General lie to a Senate committee is any big deal, but they're on the story of Fred the Great like Inspector Clouseau on the trail of the Pink Panther.

You'll be laughing out the other side of your mouths, you libruls, when Fred, Jeri and the Thompson Twins (Law and Order) sweep to victory next November!

[Supersedeas]

2. pipedreams of a Hollywood Con....ssssservative

[DeepModem Mom]

3. K&R