Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Cigar-loving Arnie plans a 'smoking plaza' at state capitol
Telegraph ^ | 2/17/2004 | Oliver Poole

Posted on 02/17/2004 7:58:37 AM PST by PeteFromMontana

Cigar-loving Arnie plans a 'smoking plaza' at state capitol By Oliver Poole in Los Angeles (Filed: 17/02/2004)

Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's cigar-smoking governor, is to tear a roof off the state capitol so that smokers can enjoy their vice inside the legislature.

The Austrian-born actor, elected governor last November, is facing protests for deciding to turn a courtyard in the building into a "smoking plaza". It will include a drinking area. Part of the roof will be removed to get round a California law banning smoking in offices, bars and restaurants.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan has angered the anti-smoking lobby

The governor's spokesman, Terri Carbaugh, said he planned to be among those using the area. "It's a more positive environment where they can all be on an equal footing, as opposed to everyone going into the governor's office where he's behind his desk."

Mr Schwarzenegger is rarely seen in public without a cigar and has twice appeared on the cover of Cigar Aficionado magazine.

He insists that the power of a cigar has already paid political dividends. It was reported that the sharing of a couple of the governor's favourite smokes helped to persuade Democratic legislative leaders to put up his $15 billion (£8 billion) bond to bail out the state's budget on the March primary ballot. But his plan has angered the powerful anti-smoking lobby.

Smoking was banned in all restaurants in California in 1995 and the ban was extended to bars three years later. At the end of last year the prohibition was extended to anywhere 20 feet from a public building's entrance.

Dozens of protesters gathered at the state capitol building in Sacramento at the weekend to protest against Mr Schwarzenegger's plaza plans. The event featured a memorial of photographs of prominent dead smokers including actors and politicians.

Other stars have been the targets of anti-smoking campaigners, notably Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, both smokers who regularly light up in films and who were the recipients of a nationwide letter-writing campaign.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: andscorpions; california; cigars; pufflist; schwarzenegger; smoking; tobacco
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last

1 posted on 02/17/2004 7:58:38 AM PST by PeteFromMontana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
Smoke em if ya got em
2 posted on 02/17/2004 8:00:45 AM PST by PeteFromMontana (I did not have relations with that person, I think, absolutely not, I believe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
Dozens of protesters

The most newsworthy part of the article.

30 million in the state, and about 50 people are worked up. F em.

3 posted on 02/17/2004 8:03:26 AM PST by hobbes1 (Hobbes1TheOmniscient® "I know everything so you don't have to" ;)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
Cigars are definitely the lesser vice of cigars and cigarettes. Good cigars smell better than cigarettes and can be enjoyed without inhaling, the practice of choice for many cigar smokers. Unfortunately, the proposed smoking plaza must allow cigarette smokers, whose acrid smoke assails the nose and eyes and clings to clothes and hair.
4 posted on 02/17/2004 8:05:43 AM PST by luvbach1 (In the know on the border)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: luvbach1
Good cigars smell better than cigarettes

EWWW Cigars stink to high heaven. I like the smell of a good pipe.

5 posted on 02/17/2004 8:07:49 AM PST by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: luvbach1
Unfortunately, the proposed smoking plaza must allow cigarette smokers, whose acrid smoke assails the nose and eyes and clings to clothes and hair.

It's not even built yet and you're making these observations? Will you have to hang out there a real lot? Is it mandatory?

6 posted on 02/17/2004 8:08:20 AM PST by Glenn (What were you thinking, Al?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
How much do you want to bet that this gets more protesters than illegally handing out gay marriage licenses.
7 posted on 02/17/2004 8:11:15 AM PST by codercpc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
He insists that the power of a cigar has already paid political dividends.

There is actually something to this that's more than anecdotal. Fellow cigar smokers appreciate and remember someone who gifts them a box of cigars. In addition to that, hand a guy a cigar and you've got about an hour of his time. I don't have to explain what that can mean in the business world.

8 posted on 02/17/2004 8:11:56 AM PST by tdadams
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
Considering the states budget problems I'm glad to see he can find a way to keep his personal vice easy to engage in. I'm against anti smoking measures but this seems like waste of money.
9 posted on 02/17/2004 8:16:31 AM PST by steve50 ("Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under." -H. L. Mencken)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
These anti-smoking Nazi-lovers and their ilk cannot ever just shug one off and say, "hey, we lost this round! You guys enjoy your plaza!". I guess that would be the American Way of dealing with this issue, so we never have to worry about them taking that tone. Nazis.
10 posted on 02/17/2004 8:17:31 AM PST by whereasandsoforth (tagged for migratory purposes only)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
But his plan has angered the powerful anti-smoking lobby.

The fact that it pisses off the smoke nazis is reason enough to support the idea.

11 posted on 02/17/2004 8:21:18 AM PST by tdadams
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: steve50
You're right about it being a waste off money. Money that wouldn't have to be spent if the control-crazed idiots would fight as hard for personal freedoms as they do trying to snuff them out (pun?).
12 posted on 02/17/2004 8:21:20 AM PST by whereasandsoforth (tagged for migratory purposes only)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Gabz; SheLion
Over here! Go Arnie!
13 posted on 02/17/2004 8:22:26 AM PST by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tdadams
To me, it is just satisfying to see at least someone trying the common sense approach to something instead of cramming more rules down out throats.
14 posted on 02/17/2004 8:23:52 AM PST by PeteFromMontana (I did not have relations with that person, I think, absolutely not, I believe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
Cool.
15 posted on 02/17/2004 8:24:02 AM PST by Prodigal Son
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
This being California, could I light up a blunt if I have a headache? ;-)
16 posted on 02/17/2004 8:26:49 AM PST by StriperSniper (Manuel Miranda - Whistleblower)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
Sort of off topic (and might get the thread thrown into "Chat") but did anyone see the South Park episode last week with Rob Reiner's crusade to stamp out smoking? I rarely watch the show and it might have been an old repeat, but what an absolute howl! The Parker Brothers are the Ann Coulters of television.

Yes, I know The Rule


17 posted on 02/17/2004 8:40:11 AM PST by katana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: luvbach1
Get a grip. If people would spend more time enjoying life instead of picking on people, they would make life a lot easier for everyone.
18 posted on 02/17/2004 8:43:20 AM PST by beckysueb (Lady Liberty is in danger! Bush/Cheney 04.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: PeteFromMontana
Let's see... The roof will be removed; it's naturally vented and practically outside; no one is forced to stand in there and inhale smoke.

I'd say the Smoke Nazis can pound salt on this one.
19 posted on 02/17/2004 8:51:34 AM PST by anonymous_user (Politics is show business for ugly people.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Will Governor Arnie's Smoking Plaza be as deadly to employees as Mayor Mike's No Smoking Bars?

http://www.culturewars.org.uk/2003-02/smoke.htm

musician, joe jackson has some interesting info on his website, he debuted his new song on Steve Malzberg's Sunday show a few weeks ago,

http://www.joejackson.com/smokingissue.htm

BTW, I was a 2 1/2 pack a day smoker, just decided I wanted to quit, haven't had a smoke in a year, cold turkey, baby. Still have the last pack, with the last cigarette with the lighter inside. I will be framing it on 03/08/04 one year.
20 posted on 02/17/2004 8:59:09 AM PST by olde north church (there is no tagline on this message)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson