Former senator, actor, and Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson passed away at his home in Tennessee yesterday.  He was 73. Thompson was a unique politician, easily moving between the hollows and hamlets of Tennessee to Hollywood, where he became known for playing tough but empathetic authority figures.  He was first elected senator in 1994 in a special election to fill Al Gore's seat and then re-elected in 1996.  He declined to run in 2002. He ran for president in 2007 but failed to inspire.  After disappointing finishes in early primaries, he dropped out in late January 2008. The Washington Post has some details of his unusual career: Bouncing from politics to the big screen and back, Fred Thompson played many roles well and those who knew him say the folksy former U.S. senator won’t soon be forgotten for his impact on American life and the arts. He died Sunday at age 73. A Tennessee-trained lawyer,...(Read Full Post)