Well, actually he was a gifted prosecutor who rose to fame and the Governor’s Office by attacking corruption in Illinois. Unfortunately, 14 years in the Mansion and 14 more as a rainmaker appear to have deadened his skills at cross-examination. His cross examination of Clarke was a disaster.
You can try and call it just a questioning, but that was just embarrassing either way.
When Thompson was first appointed to the Commission I wasn’t paying much attention, but it was clear that he was the Hastert appointment. Now we know that as the Hastert appointment, his job was to take on the unsavory business of defending the administration to the best of his ability. I’m sure the Democrats have a similar, but opposite member, but the other day clarifies what Thompson is doing there.
Update: Austin Mayor points out the Kass’ take on Jim Thompson’s bit about not understanding the whole bit because he is from the Midwest
Thompson’s quote was:
“Pleading ignorance to the ways of political insiders, Thompson said, “I’m from the Midwest, so I guess I’ll just leave it at that.” ”
Which is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read. Thompson is Mr. Insider.
John Kass on Thompson v. Clarke:
“Former Illinois Gov. ‘Big’ Jim Thompson, a member of the 9/11 Commission. Big Jim undercut Bush intelligence critic Richard Clarke’s credibility by questioning Clarke’s ‘candor and morality.’ Pleading ignorance to the ways of political insiders, Thompson said, ‘I’m from the Midwest, so I guess I’ll just leave it at that.’ Thompson’s cronies cashed in for millions on Illinois casino gambling. And as the chairman of the audit committee of Hollinger International, which owns the Sun-Times, Thompson ignored the Hollinger shenanigans now at the center of a Justice Department probe. And he’s no insider, right? He’s Honest Abe.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0403260236mar26,1,7142202.column