Stop the presses!  David French is not running for president, despite all the excitement curiosity generated by Bill Kristol suggesting him as an alternative to Trump; Hillary; and, of course, Gary Johnson.  A brave, devout, intelligent, and highly moral man, French writes in National Review:

Here is a sentence I never thought I’d type: After days of prayer, reflection, and serious study of the possibilities, I am not going to run as an independent candidate for president of the United States.

I gave it serious thought — as a pretty darn obscure lawyer, writer, and veteran — only because we live in historic times. Never before have both parties failed so spectacularly, producing two dishonest, deceitful candidates who should be disqualified from running for town council, much less leader of the free world.

He avers that while he may not be the right person, there may be someone else who could overcome the ballot access issue (Texas access is already closed):

I spent the last several days with some of the best minds in politics. I learned that the ballot-access challenge can be met with modest effort (by an existing network ready to activate), that the polling for a true outsider independent was better than most people know, and that there are many, many Americans — including outstanding political talents — who are willing to quit their jobs — today — to help provide the American people with an alternative.

But given the timing, the best chance for success goes to a person who either is extraordinarily wealthy (or has immediate access to extraordinary wealth) or is a transformational political talent. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve my country, and I thank God for the successes I’ve had as a lawyer and a writer, but it is plain to me that I’m not the right person for this effort.

Hmm…“access to extraordinary wealth” and “transformational political talent” seem to describe Trump, but French rules him out on familiar grounds, and – insult of insults – likens him to Hillary.  But he holds out hope that the choice at hand can be changed:

And the fight is not over. Men such as my friend and colleague, Boston filmmaker and philanthropist John Kingston, stand ready to continue the effort — with substantial resources behind them.

So we will just have to see who, if anyone, steps forward to throw the race to Hillary.  The notion that an upstart could win, especially without Texas, seems an utter fantasy.  And even more fanciful is the idea that the Electoral College would not reach a majority and that the House of Representatives would choose someone more to French’s, Kristol’s, Kingtson’s, and National Review’s liking.

A good man has spared himself and his family, and his nation an ordeal.