Yeah, I too have trouble seeing how Tommy Thompson recovers. It’s not that I think his comments towards Jews had even an ounce of malice to them — I don’t. But the Republicans aren’t going to unite behind a long-shot candidate who’s already proven himself politically undisciplined. And Thompson’s excuse — fatigue and a cold had worn him out, and so he slipped — is all the more damning. The guy announced mere weeks ago. If the rigors of the campaign are already overwhelming his judgment, it’s hard to imagine him a safe bet over the dozens of months to come. All this, of course, is depressing for us liberals, as I was hoping Tommy Thompson’s involvement would confuse enough Fred Thompson voters to render Fred harmless.

Ezra Klein is a former Prospect writer and current editor-in-chief at Vox. His work has appeared in the LA Times, The Guardian, The Washington Monthly, The New Republic, Slate, and The Columbia Journalism Review. He’s been a commentator on MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and more.