skippy the bush kangaroo: thank you for not killing sunnis

Sunday, September 09, 2007

thank you for not killing sunnis

fred thompson seems to have lost it even before he got it. in a sequitor so non that he confused his audience, he blamed the al qaeda smoking ban for driving iraqis to support america. nydailynews:

freshly minted gop white house hopeful fred thompson puzzled iowans yesterday by insisting an al qaeda smoking ban was one reason freedom-loving iraqis bolted to the u.s. side.

"they said, 'you gotta quit smoking,'" thompson explained to a questioner asking about progress in iraq during a town hall-style meeting.

thompson said the smoking ban and terror tactics al qaeda used to oppress women and intimidate local leaders pushed tribes in western anbar province to support u.s. troops.

but thompson's tale of a smokers' revolt baffled some in the audience of about 150 who came to decide whether the former tennessee senator is ready for prime time.

"i don't know what that was about," said jim moran, 72, who had driven from nearby mccook lake, s.d.

thompson, who was jack mccoy's boss in the new york da's office, and jack ryan's sparring partner when hunting for red october, had quite an effect on the crowd, if by 'effect,' we mean 'tepid response':

thompson received mixed reviews from several listeners who had reservations about his late entry into the race.

carol perrin, 62, a retired schoolteacher, said, "i was impressed. i don't think he's selling us a bill of goods."

but ralph hecht, 61, a farmer and marine vietnam veteran whose son served two tours in iraq with the army, said thompson's attempts at folksy appeal wouldn't work with him. "for me, it will be the issues stuff," hecht said.

Labels: fred thompson, gop, prez campaign