I agree for the most part. But, as hard as it is to believe (don't even try to understand), a sizable group of people in this country can't distinguish between a fantasy character an actor plays on the screen and the real life person.
Actors who have made careers playing heavies have many times been very disliked by some movie goers that believe they are really nasty people.
Some actors now get treated as if they are bright, articulate people simply because they follow a script that portrays a character that is so. When in reality, these same actors can barely wipe their own rear ends without a personal coach providing step by step instructions. Charlie Sheen comes to mind. I wonder if he can function without a personal attendant. Talk about dumb.
And Thompson does not have a career of playing a bad guy. He was in 3 episodes of Wiseguy. I'd take 100-something episodes of Arthur Branch on L/O any day of the week.
The only thing I won't like about a Thompson candidacy is that it would probably take those off the air.