The right time for Thompson?

Since the Waukesha Freeman hasn't updated the Wigderson column archives yet, let's take a look at this week's column together. Is it the right time for Fred Thompson?

The entry of Thompson, who would immediately stake out a position in the mainstream of conservatives, will probably be the final blow to the McCain campaign. Then the question becomes, can Thompson outmaneuver Romney and become the conservative alternative to the more liberal Guiliani?

It depends on Thompson’s ability to fulfill the great expectation of his candidacy, the belief in Thompson’s ability to be the next “great communicator.” The possibility has excited conservatives and has given Thompson competitive polling numbers even though he has not been in the race. Thompson excited Republicans when he took on left-wing filmmaker and demagogue Michael Moore head on over the Internet. At last, it was thought, one of our politicians who was willing to take the fight to “them.”

The stakes of Thompson’s ability to craft his image then are much higher than that of other candidates. If he should stumble shortly after his announcement and be seen as less polished than Romney, Thompson’s campaign loses much of its raison d’etre. His fall could come more quickly and more spectacularly than McCain’s.

Do Iowa Republicans need Jimmy Carter?

The Des Moines Register is now reporting on the polling machine problems at the Ames IA straw poll as well. Somewhere Fred Thompson, Rudy Guiliani and John McCain are laughing their butts off as Romney will get no boost from winning the straw poll. The turnout (14,000-15,000) was too low and the whole voting machine disaster will make Ames the stuff of conspiracy theorists.

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Finding Rosebud

Of course, you can get the complete update on Anna Nicole Smith from People Magazine. We've learned,

Anna Nicole Smith's 5-month-old daughter Dannielynn Hope is being cared for at the Bahamas home that Smith and companion Howard K. Stern shared together, PEOPLE has learned.

Smith lawyer Ron Rale said Friday that Dannielynn is now in the care of Stern's mother and sister. (Stern is listed on Dannielynn's birth certificate as her father.)

and:

Dannielynn, who was born Sept. 7, was previously being cared for by the mother of Shane Gibson, a high-ranking Bahamian official and close friend of Smith's.

Also in the Bahamas Friday: Anna Nicole's mother, Virgie Arthur, who was spotted at police headquarters in Nassau, TV's Extra reported. (Earlier Friday, Arthur told ABC's Good Morning America that she blamed drugs for her daughter's death.)

Arthur went to the Bahamas to locate Dannielynn because she "feared for her granddaughter's safety," the Nassau Guardian newspaper reported. Arthur went to the Ministry of Social Services, and ultimately ended up at police headquarters and met briefly with Reginald Ferguson, assistant commissioner of the Royal Bahamian Police.

"I don't know what her expectations were, but I had to advise her to seek legal counsel to find out what course of action she can take," Ferguson told the Associated Press.

Why do I get the feeling Dannielynn Smith will grow up like this child?

Well, we've done more research and we've unearthed some more suspects as the possible father of Anna Nicole Smith's child:

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