"I like Fred Thompson," said David Rein, the sartorial svengali from whom I've bought all my suits over the last ten years. "But I think he's a little ... worn out."
"Worn out?" I asked. I was a bit distracted looking at myself in the mirror. I'd never seriously considered a double-breasted suit. In fact I looked great. (Pictures later.)
David lowered his voice. Paul Stuart is a dignified established.
"What I mean," David said, "is that I think his wife is very demanding."
Much has been made of Fred Thompson's "trophy wife," the very attractive Jeri Kehn Thompson. The 40 year old blonde - 24 years her husband's junior - is not only a stunner, but whip-smart to boot.
(The "Trophy Wife" as originally defined in a 1989 edition of Fortune, by a woman writer, was not a dingbat. She was young, ambitious, attractive of course, but also accomplished. And her rejuvenating powers are legendary: King David had Bathsheba. Napoleon had Marie Louise of Austria. Trump had Marla Maples.)
But while Jeri, a former RNC spokewoman, might prove invaluable to her husband's political drive, it must be asked: is her own sex drive taking its toll? From the looks of it, the candidate may be suffering from sexual exhaustion.
Thompson's health of course is not perfect. He has suffered from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. But happily it's in remission and reportedly indolent, the lowest of three grades of NHL.
Instead, what we see in the video - the fatigue, the shakiness, the disorientation - are likely the ravages of Jeri's sexual tyranny.
What do you think? Should Jeri step down from her role as bedroom Commander-in-Chief? Should she stop abusing her power? Or is she a patriot, doing the electorate a favor by testing his stamina?
By the way, speaking of men's clothing, Romney's the only one of these guys who knows what he's doing. The rest of them look like crap.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 4)
1. I'd be happy to step in and take over. Just don't tell my wife.
RMWiersema at 10:21AM on Oct 10th 2007
2. One can never have too much sex with one's spouse.
Kent at 10:26AM on Oct 10th 2007
3. Eh, she should sock it to him all she wants. He did marry her, knowing full well her sexual expectations.
Game Theory for Applied Economics Nerd at 10:41AM on Oct 10th 2007
4. Haha, that's weird. Sorry bout that.
Game Theory for Applied Economics Nerd at 10:42AM on Oct 10th 2007
5. Fred is just old. I doubt he can truly keep up with Jeri's youthful sex drive. However, this isn't new. Looking back at history, many presidents have held 'trophy wives' such as Grover Cleveland's wife Frances who was 27 years younger than Grover. And President John Tyler's wife Julia was a whopping 30 years younger! Jeri is no exception to history's 'Theory of Old Dudes Robbing the Cradle.' You can read more about it in my new book, 'How Jesus conquered Rome and other Bedtime Stories.' coming out this holiday season.
And historically, the trophy wife holds great power. Take Nebuchadnezzar II, ruler of Babylon. His wife Amytis of Media was cranky and homesick, so what did Nebuchadnezzar do? He built the hanging gardens for her.
Fred, you best start building an architectural wonder for Jeri, otherwise she might not stick around for the New Hampshire Primary. I mean, just look at this photo of her and Paul Wolfowitz. http://www.democraticunderground.com/blogbox/07/j052_02.jpg Not a good sign for Freddy.
And remember kids, make sure you star in a Law and Order series so you too can marry a 41 year old cheerleader when you’re old and bald.
Your friend, Blayze “Shaggy” O’Brien from the Bee
Blayze at 10:54AM on Oct 10th 2007
6. You people are crazy, what in the world does this couple's sex life have anything to do with his performance at this debate!! I think this was just another ploy to make it about this poor man's wife and not him, when it actually has nothing to do with her or her sex drive! Grow up. She's attractive and he is alot older than her, can we say "jealous?"
Christy at 11:16AM on Oct 10th 2007
7. Blayze - That made me laugh.
Loring at 11:32AM on Oct 10th 2007
8. I am tired of sissy-looking media jerks having nothing more to comment on than Fred's sex life. Why in the hell don't you go out and get a real job, then people would not look at you like the jerky looking idiot you are who thinks anyone gives a crap about his ideas.
Stan at 11:48AM on Oct 10th 2007
9. To paraphrase Kent, One can never have too much sex with other men's wives...or husbands...depending upon one's sexual orientation.
Ask Bill Clinton...or Hillary, for that matter.
Milos W. B. Dobroslavic at 12:12PM on Oct 10th 2007
10. Mo! Way Out of Line! Absolutely no class at all.
I'ld love to see a time in history when a 40 year old woman is referred to as "young" by anyone else that isn't forcing their own political agenda down someone elses throat.
Say the same thing about my wife and see how flat your nose can become...say it about the First Lady and I'll do it anyway...ya' got it!?!?
Winghunter at 12:28PM on Oct 10th 2007
11. Hmmm...
Maybe we should give old Fred a break. Doesn't his celebrity status put him into another bracket as far as trophy wives go?
Besides, he also has two very young children. Could it be that his 1 year old son is keeping him up at night, and not his milf-a-licious wife for some midnight hanky-panky??
P.S. - Mo is not a sissy-looking media jerk. Ok, maybe he is a little sissy-looking and he is associated with the media. But he's no jerk, Stanley!! You are just a jealous Mo-Fo. And by the way, I never liked the way you treated Jack Tripper when you were the landlord on Three's Company. Shame on you, Stanley!
Finn at 12:46PM on Oct 10th 2007
12.
Perhaps Fred should go vegan. Elizabeth Kucinich is even younger than Jeri Kehn Thompson, and Dennis (who turned 61 the other day) doesn't seem to have any problem keeping up.
I think I just grossed myself out.
slackferno at 12:47PM on Oct 10th 2007
13. ANY ONE RUNNING A CAMPAIGN "AND" TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND A FAMILY LIFE (THEY ARE ALL TRAVELING TOGETHER) WOULD BE JUST A LITTLE BIT TIRED...STOP BEING SO JUDGEMENTAL MO. MAYBE YOU NEED TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF AND GET SOME.... LOVIN' FOR YOUSELF! IT MIGHT HELP SMOOTH OUT YOUR ROUGH EDGES...
SUE at 1:01PM on Oct 10th 2007
14. JACKIE WAS 15 YEARS YOUNGER THAN JFK AND THEY HAD 2 YOUNG CHILDREN... BUT HE STILL HAD THE ENERGY, SUPPLIED BY DOC "FEEL GOOD"... TO LOOK RESTED AND RUN AFTER OTHER WOMEN AND DISRESPECT HIS MARRIAGE, COME ON FRED GET WITH THE PROGRAM!! WE KNOW THE MEDIA TODAY WILL COVER FOR YOU TOO... A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE...YOURE TRAVELING WITH YOUR YOUNG WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FOUR, JUST TO KEEP THE FAMILY TOGETHER? THATS SO CORNY... AND ITS MAKING YOU LOOK OLD AND TIRED BESIDES...
CARLA at 1:13PM on Oct 10th 2007
15. Aw Mo,
Tailors should stick to suits, like cat hair.
Even if they are from a "dignified established."
The problem with Fred was not that he was tuckered out (Tucker?), but rather, another campaign staff screw-up. The second stringers were supposed to screen Fred with the last Republican debate film. Instead, he ended up watching Britney's VMA performance.
But, I've said it before, I'll say it again: There will be no sex in the White House. Us taxpayers are paying for that mattress and those sheets. And we've all seen the price of those these days!
Right on with Romney. I think he's channeling a bit of the Derwood Stevens, the second one of course. If he chooses a cotton-top like McCain as his running mate, America returns to McMahon & Tate!
Hank Kimball was wondering if McCauley Culkin would constitute a "trophy wife?"
Kimball '08
John Giza at 1:20PM on Oct 10th 2007