Warming Up Possible MSM Slam Angles on Fred Thompson

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In answer to Mark Finkelstein's question here on Newsbusters, "How Will MSM Take on Thompson?", we may be seeing some possible angles of attack warming up. I won't claim to know the definitive answer, but Mark's question got me to taking an occasional look to see how the MSM is approaching Senator Fred Thompson and I think that we might be seeing a few trial balloons on that subject.

Balloon #1 - Thompson is a traitor

As I chronicled in my last Newsbusters piece about New York Times TV writer, Alessandra Stanley, who poked at the good Senator over his leaving the TV show upon which he played a part, one line of attack says that Fred Thompson is not to be trusted because he is letting down the producers of the TV show. Since the show is in ratings trouble, his leaving looks like some sort of traitorous move as far as Stanley is concerned... not that anyone ELSE sees it, of course.

Balloon #2 - Thompson is a Bad Friend

This one is another stab at Thompson's supposed disloyalty. The UK's Timesonline is centering their attack on the fact that Thompson was once a very vocal supporter of John McCain's bid for the Oval Office, yet now he is "stabbing him in the back" by turning around and running for that same office himself.

As far as I am concerned, anything that dims McCain's chances is good for the country.

Balloon #3 - Thompson is Lazy

With this one, I think we have the winner as I have seen this line thrown off a few times, though this is the first time I've seen a full story on the charge. Newsweek has come out full bore on Thompson's supposed "laziness".

Does Fred Thompson have what it takes to be president? The former senator turned "Law & Order" actor, who launched an exploratory committee last week, has been dogged by rumors that he doesn't have the work ethic for a long campaign. "The book on him is he's lazy," David Keene, president of the American Conservative Union, said last week.

This goes back to the "fire in his belly" business that came up a month or so ago where some detractors were saying he didn't have the drive for the campaign. The Newsweek article does give voice to Fred's supporters, at least.

"Anyone who says he's not a hard campaigner doesn't know what they are talking about," Tennessee GOP chair Bob Davis...

Still, here are the three attacks I am seeing so far, with the last one being the most prevalent.

So, I don't know if this is an answer or not, but it is a heads up on what to look for in the future.