The Best Prospective President...

And one of the lesser Presidential candidates, has withdrawn.

Fred Dalton Thompson, a man who can be as comfortable without the Presidency as with it, withdrew from the race this morning. He was conservatives' last, best hope and will be sorely missed.

UPDATE: It was distressing when National Review, the magazine of Bill Buckley, chose to endorse Mitt Romney. I didn't and don't agree, creating only the second time I've disagreed with a position that I know Bill supports.

That said, the tribute paid Fred Thompson in Top-Notch Thompson by National Review Online's Kathryn Jean Lopez is the finest I've ever read. I encourage you to enjoy it and commend her for writing it. Well done.

At best, the coming election will be disappointing.

At best.