In yet another test of the viability of a late-start campaign for the GOP presidential nomination, Fred Thompson went before conservative leaders Saturday night to discuss law and order – for the nation, not a TV show.

People from the crowd of more than 400 said the topic played well because it goes to the heart of what unites economic and social conservatives. ~Politico

Apparently what unites economic and social conservatives is boilerplate rhetoric.  Thompson turned back to “first principles,” beginning with the rule of law.  That’s right, the rule of law.  Fred Thompson, lead cheerleading defender of Scooter Libby, wants to talk to you about the rule of law.  Of the Libby case, Thompson once famously said:

This is a trial that never would have been brought in any other part of the world [bold mine-DL]. This is a miscarriage of justice.

Fred seems to have an unusually high opinion of the justice systems of all other countries.  In his view, there is apparently not one dictatorship or corrupt regime in the entire world that would have prosecuted someone in Libby’s position.  By implication, he apparently thinks that the justice system of every country on earth is more just than our own is, at least when it comes to Scooter Libby.  But fortunately he can talk with credibility about the rule of law, because he’s not just a lawyer, but he also played one on TV.

From his re-pre-launch speech, there was also this:

“It is a sad irony that a nation that is so dedicated to the rule of law is doing so much to undermine the respect for it,” Thompson said.

Do you suppose that Thompson has ever focused on the deeds of the administration when it comes to the undermining of the rule of law?  Of course he hasn’t.  Likewise, it doesn’t matter to him that Libby got up on the stand and gave demonstrably false testimony under oath.  Even though no one made Libby say the things that he did, it is an “injustice” to hold him accountable when he breaks the law.  That’s what the “law and order” candidate believes.