You know, I know the word on Thompson’s appearances on the stump is that they’re underwhelming, sleepy, not wowing people, etc. But in this bit, hitting the MoveOn.org ad, hitting the Democrats for not denouncing it, and hitting the New York Times for the reduced rate, he seems pretty fired up. It’s not fancy, and it’s not high-minded policy details, but comments like “It’s more and more apparent to me every day that the average 20 year old who is serving us in Iraq knows more about national security than many of the 20 year veterans in Congress” will probably play very well with Republican audiences, and more than a few independents who are fed up with Congress.