Fred Thompson: Al Qaeda smoking ban pushed Iraqis to U.S.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa - 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.
My first reaction when I read this story was that there was NO WAY someone as ostensibly intelligent and articulate as Fred Thompson could POSSIBLY have said something so mind-bendingly stupid as this. Guess what, kids? Not only did Thompson say it, he apparently was dead serious when he did so.
I never though I’d see the day when ANYONE could make Our Glorious and Benevolent Leader © seem like a Ph.D. candidate by comparison…but there you have it. Then again, when your entire campaign seems to be based on appealing to the fear and ignorance of the AARP demographic…well, this is about what you can expect, eh?
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Thompson has decided to position and sell himself as the living reincarnation of Ronald Reagan, right down to the silly, simplistic pronouncements designed to appeal to those who prefer reaction to sober reflection. For those who feel that America has been on a downhill slide ever since the Gipper rode off into the sunset, Fred Thompson wants to be your man. Thompson will work hard to appeal to the same fears and strike the same emotional chords that Reagan did so successfully. Of course, there’s still no word on whether or not Thompson will be assuming the same intellectually sloppy and overly simplistic affect that was part and parcel of Reagan’s charm, but it’s still early. Thompson, to his credit, is a MUCH better actor than Reagan ever was, plus he can make the argument that he has more Presidential experience than any other 2008 Presidential candidate. At least he’s PLAYED a President, no?
If Thompson starts talking about a “shining city on a hill”, I think I’ll puke….
