So I get back from Japan this morning, only to find the Fred08 site having finally posted something after a couple-three days of inactivity:

Fred D. Thompson has withdrawn his candidacy for the GOP nomination.

So away go the Fred widgets, as I mull over how exactly lukewarm my “support” will be for Mitt (my “number two” guy).

And folks, it gets even more ugly after the jump…

Not that I really didn’t see it coming - between the crushing loss in SC (let’s face it, fellow FredHeads, that’s exactly what it was: he needed to place first in SC order to sweep the South) and the ailing health of a member of Fred’s immediate family, it was the writing on the wall that couldn’t be missed.

Now as to the man Fred Thompson, I have no ill will; after all, a man’s most important treasure is his family, and I pray for God’s will to be done in Fred’s life, and for the relief of the suffering shared by his family. Perhaps if God wills, Fred may yet have another opportunity to serve. Personally, with his keen acumen and legal background, as well as his conservative principles, he might make a fine SCOTUS justice, or perhaps a cabinet/executive branch position as Attorney General or Secretary of State.

But for the presidential campaigner Fred Thompson, I must say that I am somewhat saddened both by your withdrawal (though I concede that apart from your family considerations, it was both warranted and pragmatic, that the remaining primary voters have time to focus on a more viable candidate) and the poor conduct of your campaign.

Poor conduct, I say in that while you tried earnestly to stand against the tide of the opinion of MSM and professional punditry for your late entry (NBC contracts notwithstanding) early campaign staff employment (stepping on the toes/firing the guy who had very close ties to the powers that be in FOX News Corp.) and lastly, not playing the political game of “slap and tickle” with the MSM, even at a reasonably scaled down level from the other plastic faces out there which could have had widely, vastly different results for your campaign by now.

No, I’m not saying that Fred should have plaid by Mitt or McCain’s (may God help us if that snake gets nominated) rules, or anyone else… but giving due to the folks that buy electrons by the gigawatt, ink by the barrel, and paper by the 50-ton ream: yes, Fred, even you must do that bare minimum of singing and dancing for the much-too-much overpowered MSM which has the power to mold public opinion far more readily than do nice words and stable platitudes delivered by oaken baritone voices.

It is a sad testimony to the raw power the MSM has over the political process (especially the POTUS race) has, and has me in no small amount of concern for exactly how much of a grip the suits at MSNBC, CNN, Time-Warner, and even FOX News have in indirectly selecting the rulers of this nation.