Fred Thompson Fires Up GOP Base

Delivering the most rousing and moving speech of his political career, former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson, R-TN, hit a grand slam this evening at the Republican National Convention.

The speech, the gist of which was a personal testimony to the character and honor of John McCain, was the perfect example of why many of us supported Thompson for President early in the campaign.

This was classic Thompson. Logically and deliberatively, Thompson made the case for a McCain presidency with the step-by-step precision of a well-seasoned lawyer but with a passion that one only finds among those who sincerely believe in the message they are presenting.

Thompson vividly painted the scenario of McCain's capture and torture by Vietnamese Communists in such a manner that the entire arena fell silent. He spoke of McCain's refusal to give up information, only to be tortured all the more as a result.

Make no mistake, however. Thompson delivered plenty of barbs aimed at the Democrats who have chosen, in Thompson's words, 'the most inexperienced Presidential candidate in the history of the United States.'

He further stated that apparently the Dems think Obama is an excellent choice to serve side-by side with a Democratic-controlled Congress, which is 'the most unpopular Congress in history.'

The crowd loved it.

Thompson also took dead-aim at critics of Sarah Palin, denouncing the media's smear campaign against her, and lambasting the liberal Democrats' practice of late of going after her children, plastering their personal problems all over the news.

Yet not a single major news media outlet has investigated Barack Obama's direct connection to terrorist Bill Ayers.

The Thompson speech was precisely what the conservative faithful have been looking for. And I have a hunch that this is a fitting precursor and foreshadowing of what is to come tomorrow night from Sarah Palin herself.