Smoke on the Water: Der Smokehaus

Sometimes, the left just gets so goofy, they transcend mere stupidity and cross over to being entertainment.

Such is the case here. Pull up a chair and enjoy, y'all.

Now, we might not agree with everything that The Governator is doing in California. That said, he's a damned sight better than that miserable failure, Grey Davis.

While Arnie's latest Executive Edict gives me great reason to smile, the reactions of the hand-wringing nanny-state left has me absolutely chortling in mirthful, sardonic glee.

Damn, I just love it when they don't get their way.

UPDATE: 18 Feb 04 - 07:41, CST

Drudge picked up the topic today with this Washington Times article. The Washington Post article of 14 Feb, which I referenced yesterday is subscriber only, but I did indeed fisk the entire article, so you didn't miss a word if you didn't register.

Notice the different spin from the Washington Times. Much more *gasp!* anti-cigar fervor there. Idiots.

Oh, and it's nice to be a full day ahead of Drudge on something like this. M'heh!

SACRAMENTO - Anti-tobacco groups on Saturday protested Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to return the smoke-filled room to California's political lexicon.

If you can fill an outdoor plaza with smoke, and surround it with walls, and then a ceiling, maybe then the description would be more accurate?

To comply with the state's strict smoking laws, the cigar-loving Schwarzenegger is converting the Capitol's interior courtyard into an all-weather "smoking plaza" where he can entertain lawmakers and other power brokers.

And where any free citizen can sit and share in the bliss of wisps of aromatic cigar smoke. Which, by the way, is far less offensive than the putrid odor of aging, stinky, patchoulli oil soaked hippies.

"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," Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Terri Carbaugh said.

Whether the titty sucking crybabies of the anti-cigar left like it or not, the convivial atmosphere of congenial cigar smokers is a far better setting for working through tough political problems and conflicts. The very relaxation brought about by such a pleasant endeavor can transform a stressful, adversarial standoff to a more cooperative, cordial-yet-still-partisan effort to find common ground and solutions.

But some protesters said Schwarzenegger is undermining California's precedent-setting efforts to cut tobacco use and its staggering health and financial costs.

I love the non-logic of the anti-tobacco left. First, they want to tax the ever lovin' beejus out of any given tobacco product. Of course, only a miniscule percentage of those taxes ever to towards The Chillllldren, or whatever the hell lame-assed excuse they manipulated the public with to pass those taxes.

Then, when entire governmental departments are utterly dependent on tobacco tax revenues, the do-gooders want to flat out outlaw, for all practical purposes, the purchase and use of tobacco in any form.

The Republican governor makes no secret of his appreciation of an expensive stogie. Schwarzenegger, who took office in November, has twice appeared on the cover of Cigar Aficionado magazine.

And if I'm particularly fortunate, I'll get his autograph on a copy of one of those issues.

That sends the wrong signal, particularly to young fans of the screen star-turned-politician, said Laurie Comstock, founder of Tobacco Survivors United.
"It makes it look cool," said Comstock, who helped organize Saturday's rally outside the Capitol.

Hey Comstock, I've got news for you. You're not cool. Neither are your minions. Even if I gave you a Fuente-Fuente Opux X, you'd still be a bedwetting mama's nancy boy. It is a Good Thing that some youngsters out there prefer the image of a stogie-smokin' Governator to a hankie-wringing socialist busybody like you.

About two dozen protesters gathered displaying photographs of prominent dead smokers, including actors and politicians; a headstone labeled "Your Name Here;" and tolling a bell made from an old oxygen tank.

I'd rather see photographs of about two dozen dead protesters, but, I digress.

There is a coming, righteous backlash against those anti-tobacco nazis. And yes, that's exactly what they are. Using the police power of the state to enforce their exclusive worldview on the rest of us.

A mannequin's hand holding a large plastic cigar protruded from a body bag on a hospital gurney.

Pity it wasn't the hand of a real, dead protester.

Protester Jim Walker called Schwarzenegger "a poster boy for cigar smoking."

Well, even a blind squirrel finds a nut now n' then. Idiot. It beats the hell out of Walker's current status: "a poster boy for bedwetting".

"He's a tough guy, but he's always got a cigar in his mouth," said Walker, director of Stop Tobacco Abuse of Minors Pronto.

Hey asshole....it's and...as in; "He's a tough guy, and he's always got a cigar in his mouth. Me, I enjoy a cigar in my mouth almost as much as I'd enjoy my smackin' my fist up against Walker's fat mouth. Forcefully, and repeatedly.

Saturday's rally also echoed complaints from the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and the American Lung Association.

i.e; The Usual Suspects.

"We are deeply disappointed at several recent public depictions of your use and promotion of cigars," the groups wrote in a recent letter, "and urge you to refrain from modeling this dangerous habit."

Gawd, don't ya just wanna puke at that kind of mommyspeak? His mommy probably speaks to him the same way when she threatens to not give him those special hugs unless he cleans his room.

Fucking pansy. But the next paragraph ought to give you great cheer, indeed! It did for me. Just a fair warning though:

Now would be a great time to move all liquids at least three feet away from your 'puter!

But, Josh Grahek stood upwind at a distance, close enough that the smoke from his cigar wafted over the activists. He carried a cardboard sign reading, "You have too much free time."

Heh. HehHehheh....HAH! BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!! Ouch! *gasp*.... *wipes tear*

Seriously now folks. Is anyone with me in wanting to track down one Mr. Josh Granhek? I wanna send that guy a box of cigars out of gratitude for standing up for the rest of us. Gooodgawd, I wish I'd have been there to join him on that one!

I'm gonna steal his march, and put that one to work if I ever get upwind of an anti-smoking rally. A nice, huge Romeo Y Julieta Double Churchill oughta do the trick!

Now, Let the Games Begin!