Kinsley: Let Obama Smoke

The Patriot Room ^ | November 20, 2008 | Bill Dupray

[Bill Dupray]

There is nothing more reviled by the freedom-killing, do-gooder, health police than smokers. They are the modern-day equivalent of lepers: unfit to be around "normal" people and banished to inhospitable locations. The nanny-staters even force business owners to ban smoking, a direct infringement on free markets and freedom, under the guise of protecting employees who have to work there and could not possibly find another job if they don't like the smoke.

The point is that lefties are violently intolerant of smokers.

But, as with all liberalism, the elites can do what they please, because they are more important and better than the little people. In this vein, Michael Kinsley says we should cut Obama a break and let him smoke.

More . . .

[autumnraine]

I don’t think he was “smoking” that cigar.

And I wonder how many public officials gagged after realizing they had accepted a cigar from Clinton and thought “Where the hell had that been!?!?”

[Sicon]

The point is that lefties are violently intolerant of smokers everyone who doesn't think exactly the way they do about everything.

Much better.

[Petronski]

From Michael Kinsley's quote: "Obama’s steely calm is now one of our country’s major assets. If he needs an occasional cigarette to preserve it, let’s hand him an ashtray, offer him a light and look the other way."

Is this the sound of gay soft porn?

[patton]

I have witnessed do-gooders complaining about the cig smoke in a garage full of idling diesel trucks.

It seems they have other issues, not just intolerance of cig smoke.

[RetiredArmy]

I understand your feelings. I am the same way. I do not choose to smoke. I have never had one in my mouth. My father smoked heavily. I used to rant at him about his smoking. After his 2d heart attack, in the hospital, he said “I should have listened to you.” I told him that it was okay, that he had been in here for 18 days now, and had not smoked, that he would be fine when he got out and just did not smoke any more. The doctor told him he could go home in a few days. I was on emergency leave from the Army to be with him at the time. On the doctor's advice that he was recovering, I left and went back to Fort Campbell, KY. A few days later, I get a call at 4:30 a.m. in the morning. My aunt was calling to say my dad had died of a 3d heart attack while he was asleep. He was suppose to go home that morning.

Smoking has taken several of my aunts and uncles. Either heart attacks, lung cancer, throat cancer, esophagus cancer have killed them. They all were heavy smokers. Victims of the 1930s, 1940, 1950s and even 1960s smoking. I well remember in the late 1950s and 1960s the cigarette commercials on TV, magazines, bill boards. I don't like it either.

They have a right to smoke if they desire. However, they do not have the right to force their smoking on me. What I could never understand is why a person, who goes into a restaurant, has to have a cigarette in their mouths and trying to eat at the same time. Take a puff, put food in mouth, drink, take another puff, more food in mouth, puff, drink, puff, eat, puff, it is crazy.

[autumnraine]

This morning, while driving my 7 year old to school, the morning show was talking about ‘even if you didn’t vote for Obama, we all have to support and pray for him blah blah blah” and my daughter pipes up “Oh no I don’t!”.

I have a smart cookie. I explained we still have to hope he does good because what he does effects us, but she’s smart to recognize a bad guy when she sees one. She says he makes her stomach hurt. My 12 year old said the same thing. She said when McCain smiled, she smiled without even realizing it. But when Obama smiled, it made her uncomfortable. My youngest just stated it made her stomach hurt.

Do my kids know something the rest of the world hasn’t figured out? I do find it odd the extreme differences. Either you worship him or fear him. No in between it seems. Just he is the Messiah or Satan.

Perplexing.

[angcat]

Either you worship him or fear him. No in between it seems. Just he is the Messiah or Satan.

Good one!

Satan it is!

[AppyPappy]

I had the image of the kindly grandmother telling the diabetic uncle “Go ahead and have some cake. It’s just one piece”

The guy is killing himself and Kinsley is patting his hand.

[AppyPappy]

We really do need to pray for Obama.

[Osage Orange]

Gag. "Obama's steely calm"? Did he have to scoot Chris Matthews aside for this little leg hump?

ROFLOL!!!

[wiley]

There is nothing more steely than the calm of GWB. In fact, sometimes he seems too calm. But over the years our enemies have come to respect that he speaks softly, but....

I haven’t liked how he has handled the country’s financial issues, though, where he has been unduly reactive to political expediency. Perhaps he thought he had to do something to make it seem the Republicans cared.

Anyway, overall, with Roberts and Alito, and with Iraq now a settled matter, with OBL pretty much powerless under Bush’s leadership, I think Bush has left a good legacy and did his duty as President.

As for the financial mess, it really is part of the Clinton legacy, but it’ll take years of honest writing in economic journals before that fact becomes apparent to the masses.

All in all, I end up liking Bush and feeling vindicated in voting for him.

Still say ‘Bush for Pres of the New Republic of Texas’. I’m sure most other Texans still love their ‘favorite son’. Don’t know if most Texans would prefer to go the independence route though as I do.

[GOP_Lady]

Hubby and I love going to Vegas, where hubby can actually enjoy a cigar with his adult beverage with other like-minded adults (oh, the horror). These smoke NAZIs have left NOWHERE where adults can be adults. It’s totally ridiculous and as Rush said, it has got to stop.

[brytlea]

Of course, since the govt pays the medical bills of many people, we also pay for their bad habit.

[Bill Dupray]

The point is that lefties are violently intolerant of smokers. I take great offense to that remark, as I have said before I am north of 90% conservative, and I hate some of the bad habits of smokers.

Let me put a finer point on it. They are intolerant of people's freedom to choose to smoke. Banning smoking in restaurants is anti-capitalist. If you don't like smoke, and they allow it at a private business, you have the right to vote with your feet. The libs in L.A. have banned any new fast food joints because it is bad for you. So even if you like the chow, or eat it because it is the cheapest meal you can find, the libs won't allow you the freedom to choose.

That is the kind of intolerance I am talking about.

[GOP_Lady]

Yep, and it has got to stop.

[flowerplough]

Obama’s steely calm is now one of our country’s major assets. If he needs an occasional cigarette to preserve it, let’s hand him an ashtray, offer him a light and look the other way.

And with the Clintoon, it was Time's Nina Burleigh saying, "I would be happy to give him a blowjob just to thank him for keeping abortion legal. I think American women should be lining up with their presidential kneepads on to show their gratitude for keeping the theocracy off our backs."

[Bill Dupray]

Raising ‘em right. Nice job.

[napscoordinator]

I don’t think WE should have to pay for HIS medical expenses if he SMOKES! Nuff Said.

Let’s see. We are going to be paying him for the rest of his life. Smokers tend to live less years...so what you are saying is that you don’t mind giving Barak another 400K a year in retirement with Secret Service and other bennies or possibly pay for six months of hospital bills at the end of his life....which by the way most people have huge hosptial bills the last six months of their lives...your choice...well not really but something to think about.

[wiley]

There is nothing more steely than the calm of GWB. In fact, sometimes he seems too calm. But over the years our enemies have come to respect that he speaks softly, but....

I haven’t liked how he has handled the country’s financial issues, though, where he has been unduly reactive to political expediency. Perhaps he thought he had to do something to make it seem the Republicans cared.

Anyway, overall, with Roberts and Alito, and with Iraq now a settled matter, with OBL pretty much powerless under Bush’s leadership, I think Bush has left a good legacy and did his duty as President.

As for the financial mess, it really is part of the Clinton legacy, but it’ll take years of honest writing in economic journals before that fact becomes apparent to the masses.

All in all, I end up liking Bush and feeling vindicated in voting for him.

Still say ‘Bush for Pres of the New Republic of Texas’. I’m sure most other Texans still love their ‘favorite son’. Don’t know if most Texans would prefer to go the independence route though as I do.