Reply #9: I think that the exact words were [View All]

[mdmc]

"If I ever meet him face to face, I will rip his fucking lungs out."

In the Doonesbury universe, Zonker was reading Duke's journal to (Uncle Duke's dealer and caretaker) Zeke Brenner, and Uncle Duke writes:(something like)
1:00am - Brenner brought me over some of his new acid to try. Hope its better then the last batch.
2:00am - That little thief ripped me off. Need to take 300 more mics to feel anyfghrl.
3:00am - Wrenn I nfid Zeke, I'm ognna rip ihs fnvcdih lungs out.

zeke brenner chuckles, and says "He almost did, too."

So it was not only a compliment, but it was also a homage to the character that GBT had created. GBT's response (that he takes these threats very seriously) was yet another homage to Thompson.