Dem opp research in full swing v. non-candidate

The L.A.Times ("Thompson star dims on abortion issue") is getting up to speed on its opposition research, especially in light of the fact that Fred Thompson is technically still only considering a run for president. Either they're doing some extraordinary digging, or they're lapdogging the abortion-is-AOK lobby. Witnesses and corroborating witnesses et al are being sourced for the story that Fred Thompson lobbied on behalf of the chipper-sounding "National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Assn."

But I like this choice paragraph from the article: "In 1991, according to several people then affiliated with the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Assn., [Thompson] accepted an assignment from the association to lobby the White House to withdraw or relax a 'gag rule' that barred abortion counseling at clinics that received federal money."I like the convoluted way they describe the legislation; I guess it was a little difficult to craft a sentence that used the term "gag rule."

Of course, this news (even with the denials) will serve to unsettle Conservatives, but many are opting for ultra-pragmatism going into '08 . . . emphasis on "ultra" and "going into" . . . there's plenty of time between now and the primaries. Even John Kerry had to mortgage his wife's house to stay afloat after losing in Iowa. But too many Republicans are obsessing on guessing what voters think (or will think) come some future date against an unknown candidate that they're choosing the the "lesser of" before a choice is necessary. Come on folks.