FAST TRACK FOR PHILLY SMOKEOUT – DEMS LASH OUT AT THE DICTATOR FROM CARACAS
Philadelphia joins the modern age next week.
Mayor John Street’s decision to begin enforcement of the city’s new smoking ban in a few days instead of a few months is a wise move. Restaurant and bar owners will not be happy, but sooner is better than later when it comes to eliminating second-hand smoke from our lives.
it is really a pity that the Mayor’s fued with former Councilman Michael Nutter held up this legislation for so long. But the Mayor seems to be making up for lost time.
In an administration that has seemed slow to react to some city crises, it is heartening to the see the Mayor take decisive action.
By the way, under the new law, some taverns will be able to apply for exemptions from the new smoking ban.
All in all, the smoking ban will make this community a lot healthier.
A bright spot in the usual partisan divide in Washington. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi blasted Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez for demeaning the President before the U.N. Pelosi was actually more emotional than the White House in her criticism of the crackpot from Caracas. Pelosi’s defense of the President and his office was a sign of creeping bipartisanship returning to the Capitol.
Chavez has really had a free ride with his nasty rhetoric against our country. He has a lot of oil, a military control of his population, and like the butcher of Havana, Fidel Castro, will not hesitate to kill or stifle his opponents.
A friend of mine has a favorite description of people who fall in love with the politics of characters like Chavez and Castro. He calls them “limousine liberals.” I detest extremes of the right and left in this country. But even more than that I look on in horror as the extreme left apologizes for maniacs like Chavez.
The issue of whether you support the President is a separate matter from the reality that enemies of the nation, troublemakers like Chavez and the President of Iran, must be viewed with unity and determination for the clear and present danger that they represent.
Comments(3)
I for one am happy that the smoking ban was passed. I do not like smoke, I always feel like I’m going to be sick every time I’m near someone smoking a cigarette. Imagine how much worse it is for those who have medical conditions that can be agrivated by cigarette smoke. I think we are doing ourselves a huge favor by passing this smoking ban.
Such initiatives are only as good as the enforcement that comes along with them. As I stated in an earlier post, the voters in the great State of Arizona will be faced with two ballot initiatives regarding smoking. Prop 201 would effectively ban smoking in all public places (with the exception of a few ‘traditional’ places where smoking has ALWAYS been allowed, and is expected). This measure is backed by Smoke Free Arizona, a grassroots organization beholding to no special interest (except for non-smokers, or those fed-up with second hand smoke for whatever reason). Prop 201 has strong enforcement language (again, only as good as the folks who are willing/able to enforce it, but it does have some teeth). Tehre is also Prop 206, which many of us regard as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, because it touts much of the same things as Prop 201, however, there are more exceptions and no established penalties for violations of the provisions held in the proposition. Incredibly enough, this version (Prop 206) has gotten much more airplay and printed press exposure than Prop 201. Here is the answer to the question begging to be asked… It is sponsored and funded by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company!!!! WOW – talk about Special Interest? How ’bout Conflict of Interest? No, I believe that the people in Arizona will see through this facade, and do the right thing – as long as enough people get properly informed and get out the vote.
The business of tobacco company’s sponsoring something like that is a joke.
I’m glad you pointed this out
Larry