Introducing Government Ciggies

By Michelle Malkin  •  June 12, 2009 12:12 PM


Photoshop credit: Darth Dilbert

It’s done. The House just voted to give President Obama unprecedented power to take over the tobacco industry. I’ll get the roll call vote up as soon as it’s ready. Obama can’t wait to get his nicotine-stained hands all over another part of the economy, meddle with the contents and flavor, packaging, etc., etc., etc.

Question: What know-nothing crony will they put in charge this time? Maybe when Brian Deese and Edward Whitacre are done fixing the auto industry they know nothing about, the White House will make them tobacco execs.

Or Tar Czars.

***

Update: House vote was 307-97. Roll call vote here. 90 Repubs and 7 Dems said no.

Previous:

June 11: Senate moves forward with government tobacco takeover

June 2: Dems: Hey, let’s take over tobacco industry! Obama: Great idea!

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Posted in: Health care

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Comments


  1. #1
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:15 pm, sonofdy said:

    Nothing facist about that at all…..

  2. #2
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:17 pm, spaceycakes said:

    I think I might be ill…

  3. #3
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:19 pm, TheOtherSide said:

    Takeover? Increased regulation sure, but takeover? Please.

  4. #4
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:22 pm, bradley said:

    I can see it now: stock in old socks, shredded and dried for “cigarette” filler, soars. I plan to buy that stock TODAY. I’ll be RICH!
    Maybe since they’ll be “sockarettes”, it will be legal to smoke them in bars now. Ahh, yes, the scent of burning sweaty feet fills the air…

  5. #5
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:23 pm, Ragspierre said:

    Takeover? Increased regulation sure, but takeover? Please.

    The power to tax is the power to destroy.

    The power of regulation is the power to distort markets and deprive individuals of freedom.

    You wouldn’t be passive about the least regulation of abortion on demand.

  6. #6
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:25 pm, shinola said:

    TheOtherSide said:
    Takeover? Increased regulation sure, but takeover? Please.

    “The legislation, one of the most dramatic anti-smoking initiatives since the surgeon general’s report, would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the content, marketing and advertising of cigarettes and other tobacco products.”
    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090611/ap_on_go_co/us_fda_tobacco

    The ability to control what you make, how you make it, how you advertise it, and how you market it pretty much equals (if not defines) a de facto takeover.

    If it looks like a duck,
    If it walks like a duck,
    If it quacks like a duck,
    And the government calls it a chicken,

    Shhh….here it comes….

    It’s still a duck…

    shinola

  7. #7
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:26 pm, PBoilermaker said:

    You wouldn’t be passive about the least regulation of abortion on demand.

    Or any other liberal cause.

    Bingo.

  8. #8
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:26 pm, TheOtherSide said:

    You wouldn’t be passive about the least regulation of abortion on demand.

    Nice try at projecting, but I actually would.

  9. #9
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:28 pm, sonofdy said:

    TheOtherSide said:
    Takeover? Increased regulation sure, but takeover? Please.

    It is classic text book facism. For worse than anything you railed against bush about.

  10. #10
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:29 pm, sbw999 said:

    This will all start to be undone once Repubs gain a foothold in the Senate, House, or both in 2010. That WILL happen, as every day brings another socialist act by this Adminstration. The moderates and independents that were duped and voted for this creep as Prez, will show their buyer’s remorse at the polls. I am confident of this.

  11. #11
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:30 pm, ACHefty said:

    Ander Crenshaw, be warned. Your career as a politician is in jeopardy. Stop calling yourself conservative. No one believes it anymore.

  12. #12
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:31 pm, Ragspierre said:

    Nice try at projecting, but I actually would.

    Name a few.

    And how about this…leave people free to purchase what legal things they will?

    Answer that.

  13. #13
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:35 pm, cheapseat said:

    the other side, we regulate people into submission or oblivion. that takeover. when it finally gets around to your industry i’m sure you will remember it’s not a takeover, just a little regulation. being you probably work for the gubmint already, look at what california is facing, because it’s coming your way. obama killed the auto industry goose, no more golden eggs, the tobacco industry goose, the healthcare goose is being chased around the barnyard now, and the housing mortgage banking industry just had it’s head lopped off. who exactly are you planning on paying for the future where all people work for the gubmint. when the soviet union collapsed, the young strong folks went into the elderly apartments, killed them, took over their houses and became proud members of the largest most ruthless gang on the planet. these were and are the producers of russia, the former kgb thugs like putin. school teachers and gubmint workers in california are about to find out what happens when the “RICH” get hammered by the taxman. they leave. washington state is about to lose microsoft employees, which will make a huge dent in their economy. how many acorn workers do you know who have employees?

  14. #14
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:36 pm, pueblo1032 said:

    First they came for the GYPSY and I wasn’t a GYPSY etc… It may be SMOKES now, but how about all you FAT FOLKS out there??? You have the CAMEL’S NOSE in NYC… Remember, BLOOMBERG telling restaurants what kind of COOKING OIL they can use??? I’m not a smoker, but I don’t need anyone from the GOVERNMENT helping me with my life, in any form… Next they came for the HOMOSEXUALS!!!

  15. #15
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:38 pm, madmonkphotog said:

    So, how will they fund SCHIP?

    They just bit the hand that feeds it.

  16. #16
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:38 pm, vinny said:

    maybe he obama’s auntie could get a job as the tobacco czar. America is becoming more and more like a banana republic every day. How about appointing his dog as speaker of the house. Michelle, how can you not lose faith in America when this happens every single day. Where the hell is our representation??? We have no voice in this government. We are only a herd, for these leaches to suck the blood out of, and to be strapped to a plough.

  17. #17
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:42 pm, moonsbreath said:

    Even if the Republicans can gain back the House and Senate in 2010, it won’t matter. Once anything is passed, it never gets recalled, except for tax cuts.

  18. #18
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:44 pm, J S Ragman said:

    would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the content, marketing and advertising of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

    So I guess the days of Fred Flintstone promoting Winston cigarettes aren’t coming back.

  19. #19
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:48 pm, Hangfire said:

    Next they’ll tell me that the old ’77 LTD has to go.

  20. #20
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:49 pm, Hangfire said:

    I don’t have a spare tire on the old LTD. I keep a Honda Civic in the trunk.

  21. #21
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:49 pm, MarcoPolo said:

    I want out. This is not the country I was promised. I love and miss freedom.

    So where can we go?

  22. #22
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:51 pm, b-cat said:

    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:42 pm, moonsbreath said:
    Even if the Republicans can gain back the House and Senate in 2010, it won’t matter. Once anything is passed, it never gets recalled, except for tax cuts.

    Very true. Liberalism never get repealed. Only constitutional restrictions on government power gets repealed. The GOP had the House, Senate, and White House. What socialist regulations were undone?

  23. #23
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:52 pm, MarcoPolo said:

    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:44 pm, J S Ragman said:

    So I guess the days of Fred Flintstone promoting Winston cigarettes aren’t coming back.

    No, FedGov has an advertising deal with Disney. No doubt we’ll soon learn that Bambi’s mom died in a fire started by a discarded cigarette.

  24. #24
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:53 pm, jencab said:

    Again, Eric Cantor voted yea? He’s supposed to be the new generation conservative?

  25. #25
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:58 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    Takeover? Increased regulation sure, but takeover? Please.

    Idiot. It’s called foot-in-the-door policy. It’s what socialists are best at. Start small, then take over, bit by bit.

    “It’s just social security. It will be there for the retired people. Do you want to hurt the old people? Who would disagree with that? No, we’re not doing anything else.”

    Yeah. Right.

  26. #26
    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:58 pm, KCK said:

    Fascism. The left accused Bush/GOP of it w/out sense or reason for 8 years.

    Now, we have 1.) Intimidation 2.) threats 3.) State sympathetic media/propaganda 4.) racism 5.) Key industry nationalization 6.) Corporatist economy 7.) Lies/double speak 8.) Subversion of the law 9.) one party rule 10.) Iconic leadership/personality cult.

    OK. Fascists were nationalists and militarists. BHO isn’t doing that. Yet. Stand by on those things.

    He has an uncanny way of saying one thing and doing the exact thing he said he wouldn’t. Rights read to Terrorists; ramped up taxation after saying the opposite; collection efforts ramped up days after saying he’d be lenient on tax payment issues. You can name many instances of this.

    That makes me think whatever he says he won’t do – he will do. What’s next? Guns?

  27. #27
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:00 pm, One_American said:

    Gubmint tobacky.

    Ptew.

    This will be a tar baby that they won’t be able to let go of – and I predict that when the lung cancer lawsuits against the government start rolling in, this will be a shining example of why we need less government, not more.

  28. #28
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:06 pm, iamsaved said:

    The Supreme Court is strangely silent. Guess they are waiting to cherry pick an issue that someone with standing has brought before the court. An issue that isn’t controversial and they won’t have to think. I thought they were one third of the power in this government. I know they can see the Constitution being trampled on.

    The Liar-In-Chief and his liberal friends knew all along that using tobacco to fund his Obamacare would only be temporary. After taxing them out of existence, he knew he’d be coming back and increasing taxes because the tobacco funding was drying up. See – kill two birds with one stone and “It’s a mess that was left to me by the previous administration” will be his justification.

  29. #29
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:17 pm, NotaSlickFan said:

    Here’s another thing to add to the list, the IRS is proposing a new tax on employee work cell phones. Yup, if your company provides you with a cell phone for work related business then the IRS is going to tax it as a fringe benefit unless you can prove you have your own personal cell phone also. Big Brother the taxman scraping every penny they can from us. Next they’ll tax us per mile we drive to/from work because of, cough! global, gag! climate change/warming/whatever. Here’s the link:

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/12/irs-considers-taxing-personal-use-work-cell-phones-fringe-benefit/

  30. #30
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:18 pm, Stillwaiting said:

    First they take the cocaine out of Coca Cola and soon the nicotine out of cigarettes!!!

    Where do you draw the line with regard to regulating drugs? Should cocaine be legal?

  31. #31
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:21 pm, teachem2 said:

    I feel like I’m watching a bad movie. It’s very surreal and I have to keep reminding myself that this is really happening. As I was growing up, I always thought this stuff went on somewhere else.

    I’m very glad that my husband and I are participating in the 9/12 taxpayer march on Washington. I was uncertain about it before because I’m not the protesting type, but I’m learning! I wouldn’t miss it for the world now!

    http://912dc.org/

  32. #32
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:23 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, how soon before he has to take over the bottled water, marshmallow, rainbow and unicorn industries in an effort to save your health? Its all for the children you know!

  33. #33
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:27 pm, Freddy said:

    This is actually more interesting than many might guess. The tobacco companies sell far more cigarettes OVERSEAS than in the US. While pointing out how the FDA will be ‘monitoring’ drug contents, it is not clear this will make any difference.

    How can the federal govt allow ongoing lawsuits against a government ‘controlled’ product? In fact, the tobacco company lawyers will use the FDA to stop lawsuits. Over time, this will end the trial lawyers share of the revenues.

    Ultimatly, it seems the winners in this will be the tobacco companies and the tobacco farmers.

  34. #34
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pm, lgm said:

    It’s done. The House just voted to give President Obama unprecedented power to take over the tobacco industry.

    This kind of deliberate misrepresentation is the reason another conservative blogger has the “Malkin award” for most over the top illogical conservative posts.

    Obama does not want to own the tobacco industry, he wants to regulate it out of business — which would be a good thing.

  35. #35
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:31 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, somewhere in a burial mound there’s an indian laughing.

  36. #36
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:35 pm, Paul Revere said:

    Seriously, this is gonna hurt the illegals here in NC. They flock here to crop the tobacco. Not that I’m shedding a tear mind ya. Just sayin’!

  37. #37
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:40 pm, One_American said:

    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pm, lgm said:
    “Obama does not want to own the tobacco industry, he wants to regulate it out of business — which would be a good thing.”

    Yeaaaah. Just like he is doing with Wall Street, the banking industry, the auto industry, and soon, health care – regulating them out of business.

    I see your point.

    No wonder your hat has a hole in it.

  38. #38
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:42 pm, teachem2 said:

    lgm said:
    Obama does not want to own the tobacco industry, he wants to regulate it out of business — which would be a good thing.

    It’s all about CONTROL. You don’t have to own something to control it.

    Idiot.

  39. #39
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:45 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pm, lgm said:
    Obama does not want to own the tobacco industry, he wants to regulate it out of business — which would be a good thing.

    So, what other industries that provide good jobs to tens of thousands of working Americans would you like to see regulated out of business, sparky? Do you want to try alcohol next? Regulating the tobacco industry out of business would have unintended consequences like strangling all those nifty government health programs that depend on “sin” taxes. The dependent class wouldn’t like that or you taking their smokes away from them.

    You, sparky, are a moron.

    Hope is not a plan; not all change is good. WE are the civilian national security force! “Aim small; hit small.” The resistance is here; the resistance is now! RESIST!!!!!!!

    ECS

  40. #40
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:46 pm, ACHefty said:

    Simple solution:

    If tobacco is really that bad (save the arguments — I believe it is), shouldn’t Congress simply ban it? No, they would rather tax it. To regulate out of business is to deceive your subjects.

    In my book, it’s called lying.

    Let free people be free. Take your over-burdening regulations to Cuba, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.

  41. #41
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:51 pm, sassy745 said:

    I often wondered how Hitler came to power. I see it now. People just didn’t want to face the truth of what he was really trying to do. We are there. Too many Americans continue to give “0″ the benefit of the doubt. They think he won’t go any further. Surely this can’t happen in America. It is happening. And people still are in denial and hoping they are wrong. What is it going to take to wake people up?

  42. #42
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:51 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, LGM in other words, he doesn’t want to be responsible for anything except he wants to tell folks what to do and how to do it. BTW I presume all these businesses that the administration doesn’t want to own will not be able to donate to the Obama 2010 campaign because that would obviously a major conflict of interest, correct??!!!

  43. #43
    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:59 pm, Just A Grunt said:

    So the DHS targets me because I am a veteran.
    ATF and DOJ want my guns
    EPA wants my pick up truck
    FDA wants my cigarettes
    HHS wants to tax everything else I eat or drink to pay for it’s national health care

    I wonder who knocks down the door first.

  44. #44
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:03 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, SNAFU

  45. #45
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:05 pm, emjem24 said:

    lgm said:
    misrepresentation is the reason another conservative blogger has the “Malkin award” for most over the top illogical conservative posts.

    Yeah, that’s right, it’s all just some big, conservative plot to make Obummer look bad. Grow up, dude. You’re really showing your delusion again.

    Obama does not want to own the tobacco industry, he wants to regulate it out of business — which would be a good thing.

    Sure, he doesn’t. Just like he doesn’t want to own the auto industry. Or the financial industry. It’s not like he’s pandering to the unions, who have a majority stake in Chrysler, or trying to dictate how much pay Wall Street executives should receive. Oh, wait….

    It’s not as if he’s also trying to “regulate” private health care insurance out of business as well. Heaven forbid that humans, the very people that Obummer swears he’s doing this all for, can make their own decisions on things such as their own health care choices or smoking a cigarette.

    The more you try to control human beings the more they’ll push back. But, my mistake, Obummer and benighted liberals like yourself “care” and are destroying this country in the name of the children. My, you’re such a kidder. :-)

  46. #46
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:07 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah at least you won’t need a doc or get cancer or shoot yerself before you buy yer new GM GEO/Corvette so you can drive to Obama rallies while eating a tofu burger. Sounds like “O”topia.

  47. #47
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:08 pm, emjem24 said:

    TheOtherSide said:
    Takeover? Increased regulation sure, but takeover? Please.

    and…

    Nice try at projecting, but I actually would.

    Dumb is sexy, isn’t it?

  48. #48
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:15 pm, John Deaux said:

    On June 12th, 2009 at 12:19 pm, TheOtherSide said:
    Takeover? Increased regulation sure, but takeover? Please.

    Somewhere in pre WWII Italy, some idiot said the same thing when Mussolini demanded the trains run on time.

  49. #49
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:16 pm, emjem24 said:

    MarcoPolo said:
    I want out. This is not the country I was promised. I love and miss freedom.

    So where can we go?

    I hear ya, MP. I hear ya. What’s freakin’ hilarious is that even though Europe has done everything to ban smoking in restaurants, their citizens are still lighting up. Anti-freedom folks are so afraid of human choice that they’d rather just regulate it out of existence and control them like mind-numbed little children (at the least the ones they haven’t already aborted).

    There’s no place to go anymore. A lot of countries are striking similar blows to freedom elsewhere. Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe…. places that espouse “democracy” control their populaces in small and big ways, be it taxes, healthcare, or even where to smoke.

    Conservatives may be taking over most of the EU but it doesn’t mean that socialism and the anti-freedom agenda isn’t alive and well in these countries.

  50. #50
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:21 pm, right_on said:

    The brand name will no longer be “Marlboro.” The new formulized, bitter and unsatisfying government approved smoke shall be re-named….

    POLITBURO

    (new logo by Huff n’ Puff of Chicago, Ill. All rights confiscated, via White House Fatwah)

  51. #51
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:26 pm, sonofdy said:

    Obama does not want to own the tobacco industry, he wants to regulate it out of business — which would be a good thing.

    Tell me again how many jobs this will destroy?

    How many farms that will go under???

    A GOOD thing???

  52. #52
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:27 pm, Ragspierre said:

    Obama does not want to own the tobacco industry, he wants to regulate it out of business — which would be a good thing.

    Another transparent lgm lie. IF that were the purpose, it would be effective to outlaw it outright, or use much more draconian regulation.

    Of course, that is not the object. Money is the object. The exercise of power to limit liberty is the object.

  53. #53
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:27 pm, Misscheryl said:

    This straight from Big Guy’s Telepromter:

    Friday, June 12, 2009
    Up In Smoke

    Big Guy got a tip off yesterday that the Senate was going to pass the bill regulating nicotine and tobacco products. Just as his alter ego, President John F. Kennedy did more than 40 years ago when he bought up all the Cuban cigars in town the night before he ordered the embargo of Cuba, Big Guy sent his aide, Reggie Love, out to a 7-11 to buy up as many cartons of high-nicotine cigarettes for his personal stash in the Oval. And a few pack of menthols, along with some of those clove cigarettes that kind of give you a buzz.

    Now, some people might say that this is hypocritical. Or that Big Guy is using his power and influence to get for himself what he would deny others through legislative fiat. Which is all true.

    But does anyone really want a guy in the Oval Office going through nicotine withdrawl with his finger on the nuclear button?

  54. #54
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:30 pm, Just A Grunt said:

    I always said I would quit smoking when people were no longer shooting at me. Well surprise, surprise the gangbangers in America are more dangerous then North Korean border guards.
    Besides who is going to pay for SCHIP?

    What I really have issue with is how Barry O, with his comrades in congress, are allowing things to be reassigned to please him, whether it is taking the census from Commerce Dept oversight just like it says in that little ‘ol Constitution or seizing one sector of the business community after another.

    We are witnessing the largest redesign of our American society in history.

    Once the hostile takeover of the healthcare industry is complete the government will control your finances, your housing, your transportation, and your health care.

    All without firing a shot.

  55. #55
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:31 pm, right4life said:

    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:07 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:
    Errah at least you won’t need a doc or get cancer or shoot yerself before you buy yer new GM GEO/Corvette so you can drive to Obama rallies while eating a tofu burger. Sounds like “O”topia.

    I would ask you for a *ride* there Uncle Ted, but on second though, I’ll just walk!!

    well maybe as long as we don’t cross any bodies of water….

  56. #56
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:38 pm, shinola said:

    MarcoPolo said:
    I want out. This is not the country I was promised. I love and miss freedom.

    So where can we go?

    A little more than 145 years ago, the following words were spoken on a battlefield rich with the blood of two disparate groups of Americans, both fighting for what they considered to be “right.”

    “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

    Just as one wouldn’t leave a loved one who is suffering from a grave cancer of body, one shouldn’t leave a loved one who is suffering from a grave cancer of government. The change MUST come from within, not without – Lincoln’s words are truer now more than ever… Those that remember a “government of the people, by the people, for the people” have the duty for future generations to ensure that what we value “shall not perish from the earth.”

    Perhaps no one summarized the message more succinctly than this:
    “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
    –Ronald Reagan

    shinola

  57. #57
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:43 pm, right_on said:

    he wants to regulate it out of business —

    Consistently clueless! The tobacco industry pours tens of millions of dollars into the coffers of politicians, including Obama, and body Obama. There is no way he will be allowed to cut off this giant Democrat Party resource.

    This is a blatant business takeover. The income generated by the tobacco industry worldwide is a “cash cow” to these “caring” democrats.

    Regulation, for those of us who actually use our brains to think, means “R-E-V-E-N-U-E” for those in charge of regulating.

    And you probably believe he only smokes three ciggies a day, as reported, huh? That is NOT an addictive amount of nicotine. Just quit, right?

  58. #58
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:49 pm, Flyoverman said:

    The tobacco industry pours tens of millions of dollars into the coffers of politicians, including Obama, and body Obama.

    Agreed. If they were intellectually honest they would promote smoking. It is a great revenue source and if you look at the actuarial data, the average smoker consumes less health care during their life, because they die sooner and more abruptly.

    Good for the revenue stream and great for Medicare/Medicaid.

  59. #59
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:52 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah right4, i’ll give you a snorkle!

  60. #60
    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:54 pm, Ragspierre said:

    I would bet lots of money that the machinery of cigarette making is highly portable in the right circumstances.

    Ireland or Costa Rica would seem a good fit.

    Good-by American business…

  61. #61
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:00 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, this is not about the business or even the policy, its a power grab for control over the dollars that will be contributed to the next election the life blood of the body politic. Watch the money!!!! Most major copmanies donate 50% to the Dems and 50% to the Repubs to cover their bases. If the Dems control their livelihood of a company that they can legislate out of existence and especially ones that they have a controlling interest in; how much money do you think these companies will contribute to Repubs in the upcoming election cycle. Business, schmizness. Its all about the cash and maintaining the power.

  62. #62
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:04 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah Flyoverman, I like the cut of yer gib. Let’s all send a pack of Lucky Strikes (unfiltered) to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

  63. #63
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:04 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, jib not gib

  64. #64
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:06 pm, raybury said:

    Sheesh, what is a “safe” level of nicotine or arsenic that can be “FDA-approved”? Already we’re talking about a massive rebranding effort with terms like “Light” being banned. If you lower the allowed amount, people will just consume more to get their fix, and then may be exposed to much greater amounts of the secondary chemicals that are not (at first) regulated. And those who buy more cigarettes and thus pay more taxes likely skew toward minorities and the poor.

  65. #65
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:06 pm, right4life said:

    On June 12th, 2009 at 2:52 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:
    Errah right4, i’ll give you a snorkle!

    I’d rather have a drink (or two, or three) and a spare bimbo… ;-)

  66. #66
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:18 pm, Doug Powers said:
  67. #67
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:21 pm, Ragspierre said:

    Doug, I liked your idea…!!!

    I’d suggest Hopey Strikes though…

  68. #68
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:23 pm, Ragspierre said:

    How about another brand, menthol Kruels

  69. #69
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:26 pm, Ragspierre said:

    More ad copy…

    Kruels…

    All the costs

    All the risks

    None of the satisfaction

  70. #70
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:33 pm, Doug Powers said:

    Hopey Strikes

    Heh heh!

    One brand we’ll certainly never see in this administration is “Merit”…

  71. #71
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:36 pm, Buy Danish said:

    Since they are depending on cigarrettes to pay for their SCHIP programs (and so on) it may behoove the Tar Czar to make Government Ciggies even more addictive by ramping up the nicotine levels.

  72. #72
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:44 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, Right4 got yer 6 on that!

  73. #73
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:45 pm, right_on said:

    Buy Danish

    They know sales won’t generate enough money for S-Chip. The end result is further taxpayer funding for a program that cannot pay for itself. It’s all about control of America’s wealth, at least that part that isn’t controlled by Democrat Party million/billionaires!

    And, of course, misdirection…trying to look like they’re doing something for “the good” of the American public! It is not. It is self-serving, fascistic, and ultimately, tyrannical.

  74. #74
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:48 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, what about “Afirmative Action” and “”O”cialism” brand cigs?

  75. #75
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:50 pm, lgm said:

    Ragspierre said (#52):

    Obama does not want to own the tobacco industry, he wants to regulate it out of business — which would be a good thing.

    Another transparent lgm lie.

    It may be wrong but it’s not a lie. Please choose your words more carefully.

    right_on said (#57):

    The tobacco industry pours tens of millions of dollars into the coffers of politicians, including Obama, and body Obama.

    The most recent comparison I could find shows them giving to Republicans over Democrats more than 2 to 1. A more thoughtful post might suggest that Democrats are punishing big tobacco, and its geographical region, for supporting Republicans.

    There is no way he will be allowed to cut off this giant Democrat Party resource.

    The latest move is opposed by the tobacco industry. They are not forcing or asking Congress to do it.

  76. #76
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:51 pm, RTater said:

    If that’s the coining of the term “O”cialism…..KUDOS !

  77. #77
    On June 12th, 2009 at 3:52 pm, d1carter said:

    BO is going to get a life time supply…

  78. #78
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:05 pm, ErikTheRed said:

    An interesting take on this can be found at this link (Coyote Blog).

    He makes an excellent point about reducing the amount of nicotine that I’d never considered:

    2. I know zero about smoking and cigarettes. However, it is my understanding that while the nicotine is the addictive part, it is other components of combustion that cause the health risk. If this is the case, then doesn’t regulated reduction in nicotine content of cigarettes actually pose a health risk? Won’t folks suck on more cigarettes with reduced nicotine, trying to get back to their preferred nicotine dose, and thereby consume more rather than less cancer causing substances?

  79. #79
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:07 pm, Ragspierre said:

    lgm said:

    Ragspierre said (#52):

    Obama does not want to own the tobacco industry, he wants to regulate it out of business — which would be a good thing.

    Another transparent lgm lie.

    It may be wrong but it’s not a lie. Please choose your words more carefully.

    Then state an opinion, not a declaration. As stated, you asserted a fact.

    Your factual statement is a demonstrable falsehood…which we in Texas term “a lie”. Man up or git.

  80. #80
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:08 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    If this is a Good Thing.. then why not regulate the alchohol industry out of business? Save Drunk driving victims…. Then Pro Sports? End drugs in pro sports and wife beating by pro athletes. Not to mention shooting of limo drivers.

    Then while you’re at it… kill the airline industry… voila! no more plane crashes.

    But I doubt Obama has any such “virtuous” motive.

    LGM had the clue as to what’s behind this if in fact what he posted was true.

    Tobacco gave 2 to 1 to Repubs. Now they will PAY for that malfeasance!

  81. #81
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:09 pm, right_on said:

    lgm

    Here is thoughtful for you…

    and body Obama

    ..that would include any politician (regardless of affiliation) who supports the Obama Party policies. I suppose it was too conceptual a statement for you to glean it’s full meaning.

    The latest move is opposed by the tobacco industry.

    You have not been paying attention. Government is taking over private businesses, and is creating entities to control even more. The tobacco companies can do NOTHING to stop this takeover…NOTHING!

    It’s too bad you couldn’t give conservative administrations the level of benefit of the doubt you accord your progressive buddies.

  82. #82
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:09 pm, Ragspierre said:

    ErikTheRed said:

    A good reminder of one of the reasons I viscerally distrust Hucksteraby.

  83. #83
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:12 pm, Ragspierre said:

    The tobacco companies can do NOTHING to stop this takeover…NOTHING!

    Right_on, respectfully, there are things they can do, and the prime one is to leave the US, which I believe they will do.

    There will be an exodus of American enterprise in the near future.

  84. #84
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:13 pm, right_on said:

    Tobacco gave 2 to 1 to Repubs. Now they will PAY for that malfeasance!

    The liberals have a history of getting even, so, there is probably more truth to this statement than many could conceive.

  85. #85
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:21 pm, right_on said:

    Rags,

    Yeah, I thought of that, too, but they can’t take the land with them. The government will still have the means for production, both in growing, labor, distribution, marketing, etc. Leaving the country will do nothing for the original producers.

  86. #86
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:24 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    So in two years time cigarettes will cost more, be in short supply, and require a subsidy from the government while becoming twice as deadly. This insanity brought to you by “Hope&Change Inc.”

    You gotta love the government…

  87. #87
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:27 pm, Ragspierre said:

    Leaving the country will do nothing for the original producers.

    Oh, granted. The growers will be all that is left of the industry itself. Marketing will go, too, to a large extent.

    The only real part left will be UPS and the growers. Hellofadeal.

  88. #88
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:32 pm, Tazed and Confused said:

    Meet the new “Marlboro Man”… BHO in ten-gallon hat and spurs…

    yep, Obie loves the fags…

  89. #89
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:40 pm, Savage24 said:

    The idiots are killing the goose that lays the golden egg. The idiots keep taxing them and if they don’t get enough they sue them. Who are they going to rob when the goose is dead? Taxpayers!Your government at work!!

  90. #90
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:45 pm, ScottyDog said:

    And people thought that the one World Government people were conspiracy theorists.
    I can not count the times that I was told I was a conspiracy theorist for saying on this website and over at HotAir the the Government was going to take over the Economy and destroy the middle class after all David Rockefeller has admitted that is exactly what he and his CFR buddies were up to:

    David Rockefeller, gazillionaire head of the Council on Foreign Relations, has said in his autobiography ‘Memoirs’, “Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as ‘internationalists’ and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global, political and economic structure–one world, if you will. If that’s the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it.”

    Mr. Rockefeller was speaking to the Bilderbergers back in 19991 when he said this, “We are grateful to the Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years.”

    “It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries.”

    Based on these words, it is easy to see that not only does the CFR have plans for a One World Government headed by an ‘intellectual elite’, our own news media has kept it hidden from us for the last half-century.

    We are watching Rockefeller’s plan come to fruition before our very eyes and the man at the head of this cabal is Barry Soetoro aka Barack Obama implementing his plan at a frightening pace.

    I am beginning to think that what Thomas Jefferson said back when this country was founded is gong to be the only way to correct what is happening;“Thomas Jefferson told us, having a revolution every now and then is a good thing, and the people — we the people — are going to have to fight back hard if we’re not going to lose our country”

    It will be interesting to see just how much the American people are going to stand for before they do something about it.

  91. #91
    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:50 pm, Flyoverman said:

    On June 12th, 2009 at 4:24 pm, WarEagle82 said:

    So in two years time cigarettes will cost more, be in short supply, and require a subsidy from the government while becoming twice as deadly. This insanity brought to you by “Hope&Change Inc.”

    By 2012 we will see the cigarette cartels in Mexico fighting it out for the U.S. market. :)

    Keep regulating, keep taxing and the U.S. government will end up creating the largest underground economy in the world based on barter, hand shakes, and cash.

  92. #92
    On June 12th, 2009 at 5:01 pm, Misscheryl said:

    my head hurts

  93. #93
    On June 12th, 2009 at 5:09 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

    Errah, Savage 24 make an excellent point. Whose gonna pay for SChip after cigs are gone??!! Oh that’s right that’s why we need abortions on demand to offset dwindling cig profits. As libs say, “Its for the the children”.

  94. #94
    On June 12th, 2009 at 5:47 pm, Snowfire said:

    Here’s an alternative scenario:

    Obie takes over all the tobacco companies. In a few weeks or months, he announces that his “superior” scientists have created a safe cigarette that will not cause any diseases and encourages everyone to smoke. Think about it… talk about it. What do you guys think he could accomplish if this played out?

  95. #95
    On June 12th, 2009 at 5:49 pm, spaceycakes said:

    The growers will be all that is left of the industry itself. Marketing will go, too, to a large extent.

    Rags; Zimbabwe had wonderful tobacco farms–thriving, good quality product.

    Then Mugabe got rid of the growers themselves.

    The entire country is a haunt of jackals–but they’ve probably poached all the jackals & eaten them too.

  96. #96
    On June 12th, 2009 at 5:49 pm, right4life said:

    By 2012 we will see the cigarette cartels in Mexico fighting it out for the U.S. market.

    Keep regulating, keep taxing and the U.S. government will end up creating the largest underground economy in the world based on barter, hand shakes, and cash.

    very true, but the next step is to get rid of cash…dirty money….it’ll all be on cards…so they can keep track of our purchases…

    its for YOUR OWN GOOD!!!

    the guvmint CARES more than you do…

  97. #97
    On June 12th, 2009 at 5:55 pm, right4life said:

    On June 12th, 2009 at 5:49 pm, spaceycakes said:

    Rags; Zimbabwe had wonderful tobacco farms–thriving, good quality product.

    its very sad…never again in this life will I get to walk under the jacarandas in bloom….

  98. #98
    On June 12th, 2009 at 6:11 pm, ScottyDog said:

    You know people forget that the USA economy was founded on Tobacco and until recently is was the number one crop of our Country.

    The founders grew tobacco and first exported it back to the UK and then Europe. It fast became the number one crop and remained so until the tobacco Nazi’s started their anti-tobacco campaign.

    Even non smokers should realize what a big part tobacco still plays in our economy as well as being the number one tax source in most of the states. This action may result in the loss of millions of jobs just like SCHIP resulted in over 10,000 people losing their jobs in retail tobacco and Internet tobacco retailers having to shut their doors.

    Like I said in my previous post, Barry and his minions are out to destroy our economy for their new vision of a New World Order. Visit the Council on Foreign Relations website and read his speech that he gave before the CFR.It is flat ot disgusting IMHO

  99. #99
    On June 12th, 2009 at 6:15 pm, Ragspierre said:

    The entire country is a haunt of jackals–but they’ve probably poached all the jackals & eaten them too.

    A terrible object lesson of applied economics. This is what you get when you have a “leader” with no respect for property rights or contract, and a constituency lusting for stuff they have not earned. South Africa is not far behind, and Venezuela will slouch along behind. Each of those places should be thriving, prosperous lands that are home to happy people.

  100. #100
    On June 12th, 2009 at 6:45 pm, Jet Jaguar said:

    On June 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pm, lgm said:

    Obama does not want to own the tobacco industry, he wants to regulate it out of business — which would be a good thing.

    “We’re not interferin’. We’re just takin’ over!” Capt. Kirk, “A Piece of the Action”

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