When the rigid and humorless moderator began by requesting a show of hands as to who on stage believed that global warming was dangerous and man made, Thompson gruffly jumped in with "I'm not doing any hand shows today." The other candidates immediately backed him up, seemingly eager to be relieved of that silliness.

The moderator tried to get him to give a yes or no answer, but he wasn't playing that game either, asking, "Will you give me a minute to answer?" When told no, he said, "Well, then I'm not going to answer that question."

Bravo. It's about time somebody smacked that nonsense down. Both Republicans and Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for playing along with the simplistic and insipid method of inquiry that has passed for "debate" this season.

Whether he wins or loses, if his refusal prevents such nonsense from happening again, Fred Thompson should be installed in the pantheon of American political heroes.