Now even I am surprised by this diatribe from my favored GOP Presidential candidate...

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.

This is definitely unusual, because while the Alpha Q’s may be extremist in their Islamic views, perhaps the voters don’t fully comprehend the anti-pleasure tactics the terror group may have borrowed from the Taliban, who harbored them in Afghanistan and really are against any earthly pursuit. But fortunately, the rest of the appearance went well...Senator Thompson’s 4-year-old little booger daughter made an appearance...prompting the audience to go ”AWWWWWWWW!”