Reagan was more than just an actor. He was the successful, two term governor of the largest state. He went from acting to politics, not the other way around, and he spent years writing and speaking about national and international issues that deeply concerned him. He tried twice to be president because he had a message and he was determined to communicate it and to turn around the failures of Jimmy Carter and other Democrats. He didn’t have to be prodded, cajoled, and begged to run for president. And he was a hell of a better speaker than Thompson is. Thompson’s speech to the VFW was boring, meandering, poorly delivered, and without passion or conviction. Obama, who followed him, got more applause because he spoke like he actually believed what he was saying and was determined to get his points across. Not so with Thompson. His “campaign,” if it ever comes about, will be short-lived.