Governor Wants to Smoke

Yahoo! News ^ | 2/14/04 | Associated Press

[bluefish]

Governor Wants to Smoke Sat Feb 14, 5:28 PM ET

Associated Press

(AP) -- Anti-tobacco groups are protesting Governor Schwarzenegger's efforts to return the smoke-filled room to California politics.

Schwarzenegger is converting the Capitol's interior courtyard into an all-weather ``smoking plaza'' where he can smoke cigars with lawmakers and other power brokers.

Anti-smoking groups say that sends the wrong signal particularly to young fans of the screen star-turned-politician. They're sending him hundreds of Valentine's Day (news - web sites) cards asking him to stop.

A Schwarzenegger spokeswoman says the governor discourages children from smoking -- but notes Schwarzenegger is over 18.

She says Schwarzenegger merely wants to create an informal meeting and schmoozing area where he and others coincidently can smoke cigars and still comply with California's strict smoking laws.

For more Bay Area news and information, visit kpix.com and www.kcbs.com.

[bluefish]

I like this part of Schwarzengger: "A Schwarzenegger spokeswoman says the governor discourages children from smoking -- but notes Schwarzenegger is over 18." Something about that blunt refusal to cave and willingly give up at least a minimal level of freedom is somewhat encouraging.

[Paleo Conservative]

He'd have less controversy if that room were available for people using medical marijuana.

[KingNo155]

go go Arnold

[bluefish]

Nahh.. just a different group of protesters altogether. There are anti-freedom types on all sides of the politcal prism.

[Ann Archy]

Wow...a man that wants to smoke cigars....end times!! :)

[whereasandsoforth]

It is a known fact that smoking is a potential health risk. It is also known that a ho'bunch of people enjoy it anyway. As long as these enjoyers are adults in charge of their own lives, WHAT THE HELL IS THE PROBLEM????

This country was built on individual's freedom. It was designed to stop "for the good of all", understanding that the freedom of the individual is paramount to the "all".

Nonsense is nonsense, I don't care how you dress it. It is way past time that we individuals reclaim what is rightfully ours.

Tobacco is a small problem when compared to the socialistic desires of the out-of-touch to prohibit a grownup USA citizen from enjoying a perfectly legal product.

I would think it would be much more beneficial to our society as a whole to ban socialism and start jailing it's cheerleaders.

[basil]

I would think it would be much more beneficial to our society as a whole to ban socialism and start jailing it's cheerleaders.

I'd vote for that in a heartbeat!

[hocndoc]

Speaking of smoking, tonight on Saturday Night Live they've had at least 2 lit cigarettes.

I thought smoking was illegal in NYC?

[Schattie]

You'd think the budget problems would concern them... but no, it's the smoking.

[UbonGhostrider]

Better remember to fasten your seat belt though.

[Walkingfeather]

THIS PHRASE"ban socialism and start jailing it's cheerleaders" should be on a billboard.

[Mr.Quest]

Liberals: Tobacco bad.Maurijuana good.

[whereasandsoforth]

"Saturday Night Live" is NBC's way of staying relevent...as sad as that sounds. 2004, 1975??? What's the difference to these network clowns?

I was nineteen years old when this crap came on the air. I just got my AAPR application in the mail this week (ADDRESSED TO THE WRONG SEX AND WRONG NAME--idiots).

This stuff has seen it's day. I'm more hep than Saturday Night Live. I can delight a party by farting "Beautiful Dreamer". So Can Kerry. You hould hear Dean's Janis Joplin imitation!!!

[Gabz]

You go AHHHHHNOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thoughtomator]

I thought smoking was illegal in NYC?

It's legal if you're hanging out with the Mayor.

[gonzo]

"...I just got my AAPR application in the mail this week..."

It's 'AARP', you maroon, and yes, I am a noisey bastard!............FRegards

[SAJ]

I think it'd be absolutely hilarious to watch der Bürgermeister Dildo Bloombugger unleash his Geheime TobakPolizei, otherwise Das Getopo, thugs onto Gov. Schwarzenegger when Ah-nolt makes his occasional trips to NYC to beg investment banks for the support for his ''bond'' (gads, what an abuse of the term), in order to keep Calbania solvent for a few more months.

Financially, the whole deal looks like the second half of an Ayn Rand novel. From the standpoint of liberty, Neujorkstadt and its political masters are looking more and more as if J. W. Booth's comment, slightly modified, would be in order -- Sic semper coproliti.

[metesky]

Cigars are OK for us bigshots, but the first person to light a cigarette is gonna get fined!

[Wayne07]

Arnold may not be the perfect conservative, but stuff like this puts a smile on my face. Keep up the good work!

[SheLion]

MY kind of Leader!!!!