Don't blame James Thompson. He's from the Midwest.

[BurtWorm]

(Aside: Did anyone else notice that weird trick Thompson's mouth did at the end of every question--that drooping into a sourpuss?)


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/administration/whbriefing/

"THOMPSON: But you will admit that what you said in August of 2002 is inconsistent with what you say in your book?

"CLARKE: No, I don't think it's inconsistent at all. I think, as I said in your last round of questioning, Governor, that it's really a matter here of emphasis and tone. I mean, what you're suggesting, perhaps, is that as special assistant to the president of the United States when asked to give a press backgrounder I should spend my time in that press backgrounder criticizing him. I think that's somewhat of an unrealistic thing to expect.

"THOMPSON: Well, what it suggests to me is that there is one standard of candor and morality for White House special assistants and another standard of candor and morality for the rest of America.

"CLARKE: I don't get that. . . . I don't think it's a question of morality at all. I think it's a question of politics.

"THOMPSON: Well, I. . . . "

(And here Thompson has to pause to wait for the victims of the relatives in the gallery to stop applauding.)

"THOMPSON: I'm not a Washington insider. I've never been a special assistant in the White House. I'm from the Midwest. So I think I'll leave it there."

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Big Jim Thompson.

:puke:

[cmayer]

2. After that exchange, he left the room...

according to another transcript that I read.

[FullCountNotRecount]

3. Same as Diane Keaton's line from Woody Allen's "Manhattan"

When Diane Keaton says, "Don't blame me, I'm from Philadelphia" and Woody says something like "What is that supposed to mean?"