Rudy sez Bloomy blew it on city's total smoking ban

AP via NYDailyNews.com ^ | 09/17/2003

[GeneD]

DUBLIN, Ireland — Ireland should not follow New York’s lead and ban smoking in all workplaces, Rudy Giuliani said Wednesday.

The former New York mayor said the recent decision of his successor, Michael Bloomberg, to prohibit smoking in restaurants and bars wasn’t fair to smokers.

Smoking was banned in most indoor workplaces in New York, including large restaurants, in 1995, when Guiliani was still in power. The new ban extending the rules to smaller restaurants and bars took effect in March.

Ireland has pledged to follow suit in January — a divisive move in a country where pubs remain the hub of communities, and 30 percent of people smoke.

Giuliani, who is in Ireland to address business leaders, told state broadcaster RTE it made more sense to restrict smoking to certain areas, as was the case in smaller restaurants and bars in New York before the new ban.

“Some people want to make the choice of being able to have a cigar or a pipe or a cigarette after dinner, and they should be provided with an opportunity to do that,” he said.

Giuliani added that New York’s ban meant more sidewalks outside food and drinking establishments were congested with smokers. “There’s no action without an equal and opposite reaction,” he said.

Guiliani has been known to smoke a cigar now and then but does not have a reputation as a regular smoker.

[dfwgator]

Heck, even dogs smoke in Ireland, how do they ever expect the people there to put up with such a ban?

[demsux]

I'm a smoker and I could care less. I just don't patronize non-smoking establishments.

[demsux]

But, don't get me wrong, I think the bans are unconstitutional in that they deprive a property/business owner of certain rights which have a direct impact on the value of their property/business.

[Nitro]

Aha, but is every bar in Missouri a non-smoking bar?

[GOPologist]

Bars and restaurants will attract many non-smokers who left in the past because of their opposition to smokers. I read a report from NYC which showed an increase in businesses.

I'm sure that there are more non-smokers than smokers. I'm for the ban whether I smoke or not.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"Smoking was banned in most indoor workplaces in New York, including large restaurants, in 1995..."

The ultimate goal of the smoking Nazis was a ban. Once the govt wanted to 'limit' smoking for the common good, I knew the next step would be a ban.

[Timesink]

I read a report from NYC which showed an increase in businesses.

Link, please.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"I'm for the ban whether I smoke or not."


Do you smoke?

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"I'm for the ban whether I smoke or not."


Do you smoke?

[GOPologist]

Please read #6. Thank you.

[Trust but Verify]

I'm for the ban whether I smoke or not.

Why? Do you think your desires trump those of others? Do you think government should dictate to private business owners what type of atmosphere they MUST have in their bars/restaurants? Sheesh.

And I'm NOT a smoker. Have never smoked a day in my life. If I don't like the atmosphere somewhere, I don't go there. I deeply resent government and other busybodies like you who foist their desires on everyone else.

[Nitro]

I'm for the ban whether I smoke or not.

Yeah, I'll bet hanging in the bars is alot more fun now that the anal-retentives have taken over.

Besides, without smoking we can all be healthy enough to really enjoy our liver disease!!

[annyokie]

Yes, Bloomberg did blow it. Smokers will not stick around for after dinner drinks and desserts at restuarants that don't allow smoking.

As if the restuarant smoking ban wasn't bad enough, now you have to stand on the sidewalk and have the servers toss out your drink when they think you have left the premises.

[GOPologist]

Oops--#9.

[GOPologist]

I'm not foistering my opinion on anyone--the government has a right to enforce a healthy environment for all of us. Read a pack of cigarettes--the gov. has pointed out many years ago that smoking causes all kinds of unhealthy problems.

[GOPologist]

It's immaterial whether I smoke or not.

[Gringo1]

Nor do I.

[Liberal Classic]

...the government has a right to enforce a healthy environment for all of us.

From the day on which an accommodation takes place between England and America, on any other terms than as independent States, I shall date the ruin of this country. A politic minister will study to lull us into security, by granting us the full extent of our petitions. The warm sunshine of influence would melt down the virtue, which the violence of the storm rendered more firm and unyielding. In a state of tranquillity, wealth, and luxury, our descendants would forget the arts of war and the noble activity and zeal which made their ancestors invincible. Every art of corruption would be employed to loosen the bond of union which renders our resistance formidable. When the spirit of liberty which now animates our hearts and gives success to our arms is extinct, our numbers will accelerate our ruin and render us easier victims to tyranny. Ye abandoned minions of an infatuated ministry, if peradventure any should yet remain among us, remember that a Warren and Montgomery are numbered among the dead. Contemplate the mangled bodies of your countrymen, and then say, What should be the reward of such sacrifices? Bid us and our posterity bow the knee, supplicate the friendship, and plough, and sow, and reap, to glut the avarice of the men who have let loose on us the dogs of war to riot in our blood and hunt us from the face of the earth? If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, - go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"It's immaterial whether I smoke or not."

It was a simple question. Thanks for the disingenuous answer.

I always vote Repub. Whether I am a Democrat or Repub is immaterial