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.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

I don't smoke. How is this question offensive to you?

[At _War_With_Liberals]

I don't smoke. How is this question offensive to you?

[wardaddy]

Nazi!

[Gringo1]

The problem is pushy non-smokers or ex-smokers. I had to inform my sister-in-law that she was no longer welcome in my home because she pisses and moans about my wife and I smoking in OUR OWN HOME.I guess we should change our own way of life in our own house because of her dumb butt......yeah, right. Rather than just not going to places that allow smoking, the anti-smoking crowd would rather make smokers and business owners miserable....it seems to give them some sort of perverse pleasure. Putting all the bars and restaraunts out of business is a by-product of that thinking. We are more than willing to take our money to smoker-friendly establishments rather than put up with pushy non-smokers, it is unfortunate that we cannot be shown the same regard,as they would just rather there be no smoking anywhere.

[Trust but Verify]

Some kind of conservative you are. There are a lot of products, practices, etc that cause 'all kinds of unhealthy problems.' Do you propose government but its nose in and ban them as well? Eventually they will ban something that YOU enjoy.

[Gringo1]

Ahhhhhh....get the government involved...always the wrong solution for the right problem.

[Bob]

I'm not foistering my opinion on anyone--the government has a right to enforce a healthy environment for all of us.

Governments don't have rights; they have powers. People have rights.

[DefCon]

"-the government has a right to enforce a healthy environment for all of us.-"
- - -
I hate to be the one to have to tell you this...
but "governments" DO NOT have "rights".

[Kiss Me Hardy]

I've been in a bar twice since the NYC ban was introduced. Once for a beer, went outside for a cig and said to myself, "This is BS" and kept walking.

The second time was to meet some frieds, who were outside having a gasper when I arrived. So we just went straight to the restaurant.

My neighborhood bar now shuts at 1 am. It used to be hopping (and slopping) until 4 a.m.

God but I miss Rudy. Term limits -- stupid as smoking bans.

[per loin]

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

Yes, certainly. It has come to the attention of the local dietary control board, that you failed to submit your required Request for Diet Approval From #24138A. Your Authorization to Buy Food has therefore been suspended. Any attempts by yourself to obtain food without first submitting the required form and having the suspension suspended is a gross misdemeanor punishable by six months in a Federal Dietary Control Re-Education Camp.

[rwfok]

[gdani]

“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

Ironic that Rudy should comment.

Hey Rudy -- Some people in NYC also like to dance at clubs but couldn't when you were mayor because you revived the cabaret license law.

[Eastbound]

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

I suppose you are assuming that the second-hand smoke study submitted by the nico-nazis is in fact legitimate? A study that the supreme court said was phoney three or four years ago, but nonetheless a study which has served, and continues to serve as the basis for smoking bans all over the nation. You support that?

[Alberta's Child]

Read a pack of cigarettes--the gov. has pointed out many years ago that smoking causes all kinds of unhealthy problems.

Good point. Then let the government ban cigarettes completely.

Oh, wait a minute . . . That can't happen -- the government gets more money from cigarette sales than cigarette manufacturers do.

[metesky]

No foistering around here, bub!

English as a second language?

[GOPologist]

I support ANY government that has the power to enforce a healthy environment for all of us.

[Sally'sConcerns]

You'd rather the government take care of you by enforcing laws for a supposed healthy environment instead of you using your checkbook?

[qam1]

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-- about the gov. has pointed out many years ago that smoking causes all kinds of unhealthy problems.

[gdani]

I support ANY government that has the power to enforce a healthy environment for all of us.

Remember that statement next time you are:

* Eating a double cheeseburger
* Sitting on the couch watching TV or on the computer
* Drinking a soda or a beer
* All of the above

[bfree]

I support ANY government that has the power to enforce a healthy environment for all of us.

Well, I don't support any type of "mother" state. The government has messed up enough, look at are fine public education system. You seem to fit into the nice socialist state mode of being. I'm sure you probably believe in Hillary's plan of "It takes a village". Of course, I'm sure you are aware that the great second hand smoke study has been shown to be wrong, but then again, you probably wouldn't care. You need huge government to take care of you.