Clearing The Air

Friday, February 29, 2008

Barack Hussein Obama's plan to leave the United States defenseless against our enemies

Hear in his own words why this candidate, raised by a muslim father and grandfather, is no friend of the United States.

"....I will cut our missile defense system......I will slow our development of future combat systems....I will not develop nuclear weapons.....I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBM's off alert...."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs&tr=y&auid=3427637

One of the most confounding issues to me is the left's insistance that we not develop missile defense.....this is either naive or providing aid and assistance to our enemies. What is it about the word "defense" that is so hard to understand? Missile defense is not a first strike weapon, it is designed to take out the weapons our enemies would use on us. If anything, I would think the pacifist left (Democrats) would want to render all first strike missiles useless. Missile defense does just that...it destroys any attack missiles launched. Arguing and fighting against it is like saying our police force shouldn't have bullet proof vests......what exactly would be the motive? Unless you want the criminal thugs to have a level playing field.

Hussein Obama is a dangerous enemy sympathizer who seeks to ensure that the U.S. will be defenseless in the face of our enemies.

Oh......he'll bring about change alright, if he has his way this presidential candidate will see to it that the United States of America surrenders to any and all terrorist enemies. If the libs in this country thought that George Bush was an unbearable leader......wait til this country, under President Hussein Obama, is handed over to Iran, North Korea, China, Russia, the Taliban or Al Qaeda.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Why is Barack Hussein Obama so upset about this photo of himself dressed in traditional Somali muslim attire?

And will Hail to the Chief be replaced by Allahu akbar?

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Smoking ban activists like to claim that bans and higher cigarette taxes decrease tobacco sales, however the truth is that black markets fill the void

Here is just one story of the small percentage caught:

Police have four garages full of contraband tobacco in Nova Scotia that has been seized over the last two months. The cache of more than 4 million cigarettes is so big, police say they're running out of room to store it.

He admitted the smoke from millions of unused cigarettes might bring a tear to the eye of some nicotine-craving smokers.

"It's the same as when we burn marijuana," he said. "There's a lot of people out there who would like to see us not burn it."

Where is the outrage of protest from the secondhand smoke activitsts.......4 million cigarettes going up in flames at once should produce a considerable amount of secondhand smoke....oh that's right, their only concern is that the reduced tobacco consumption is supplanted by Nicoderm sales. (As Nicoderm maker Johnson & Johnson Co. / ALZA's political arm, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), funded the activists to the tune of $200 + million)

It confounds me that lawmakers have not waken up to this rent seeking scam known as smoking bans.....perhaps they have been complicit all along.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Illinois business owner defies smoking ban and reminds us "...this country was founded on civil disobedience..."

From West Frankfort, IL. Jon Hemminghaus, the owner of the Wounded Rig, installed a sign in front of his boat repair business which reads:

"My Place, My Choice, Smoking Allowed"

"I don't smoke cigarettes," he said. "I used to smoke but I quit five years ago. I don't think it's right they are telling me what I can do in my own place. I bought and paid for that place. If somebody wants to come in and smoke a cigarette they are more than welcome to it."

"This country was founded on civil disobedience," Hemminghaus said. "It has gotten to where, now, people are afraid to get into trouble. It kind of makes me mad that everybody has turned into cowards. I don't smoke but if everyone would stand together on this one..."

Mr. Hemminghaus is correct, I have watched 158+ local bars & restaurants go out of business as they complied with the revenue damaging smoking bans, because they were afraid of getting into trouble and losing their establishment. I have asked more than one bankrupt owner, since the bans are eliminating customers and business to the point of forcing you to close your doors for good anyway, what would be the harm in defying the bans to begin with? If everyone would stand up for freedom in an act of civil disobedience these laws would get repealed in no time.

In the words of Mr. Hemminghaus ...It kind of makes me mad that everybody has turned into cowards. Readers may have noticed that we at Clearing the Air refuse to go silentlty into that dark night of defeat, especially in light air quality test results that prove secondhand smoke IS NOT a workplace health hazard.

Air quality testing by Johns Hopkins University, the American Cancer Society, a Minnesota Environmental Health Department, and various researchers whose testing and report was also peer reviewed and published in the esteemed British Medical Journal......prove that secondhand smoke is 2.6 - 25,000 times SAFER than occupational (OSHA) workplace regulations:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/11/johns-hopkins-air-quality-testing-of.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/04/bmj-published-air-quality-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2004/04/american-cancer-society-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2006/02/air-quality-testing-and-secondhand.html

Inspired by Hemminghaus's words, smoking is now also allowed at Clearing the Air's corporate offices.......smoke 'em if you got 'em.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

U.K. operator to close down 22 pubs due to business decline from smoking ban

Online article is found here:

Chief executive Paul Symonds e-mailed managers at the start of this week to say that the smoking ban.......had affected the business.

“We have some leasehold pubs on the wet-led side that with the smoking ban are not performing well.”

The closure of 22 sites is being referred to internally as a “structured shutdown”.

There is not one instance, where smoking bans have increased the number of hospitality establishments. The facts remain........smoking bans eliminate jobs and businesses wherever they are enacted.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Barack Hussein Osama seems to have the mindless masses in a trance

Listen for yourself:

In the words of his enlightened legions (audio link)

For those unfamiliar with the film "Being There" it's the story of a mindless simpleton, Chauncey Gardner, who speaks in vague gardening references; but is seen by others as being an extremely wise and enlightened soothe-sayer.....even though he really is saying nothing about anything because he really is a mindless simpleton.

It's the same phenomenon that causes an "enlightened" art collector to pay $1 million dollars for a $20 plain white canvas because an artist or art dealer convinced him or her that the work was a "sophisticated" piece that "reflects" the times we are living in......and the need for change.

By the way, I don't doubt that Hussein Obama will change things......just last week he voted against U.S. military intelligence officials having the ability to eavesdrop on foreign terrorists.....the change this former muslim will bring to the White House will be a swift surrender of America to muslim terrorists and a new beginning of sharia law.......get fitted for your burkhas now ladies.....change surely is a comin' if you vote for this treasonous presidential candidate.

Thanks to Rush Limbaugh for the story links

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

British Medical Journal concludes secondhand smoke "health hazard" claims are greatly exaggerated

The BMJ published report can be found here:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7398/1057

And concludes:

The results do not support a causal relation between environmental tobacco smoke and tobacco related mortality, although they do not rule out a small effect. The association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and coronary heart disease and lung cancer may be considerably weaker than generally believed.

What makes this study more significant than any other is that it took place over a 39 year period, and studied the results of non-smokers who lived with smokers..... meaning these non-smokers were exposed to secondhand smoke up to 24 hours per day; 365 days per year for 39 years. And there was still no relation between environmental tobacco smoke and tobacco related mortality.

This report was of course silenced in the media; however in light of the damage to business, jobs, and the economy from smoking bans the BMJ report should be revisited by lawmakers as a reference tool and justification to repeal the now unnecessary and very damaging smoking ban laws.

Also significant is the World Health Organization (WHO) study which concluded "..secondhand smoking doesn't cause cancer..." found online here.

Excerpt:

Passive smoking doesn't cause cancer - official
By Victoria Macdonald, Health Correspondent

The results are consistent with their being no additional risk for a person living or working with a smoker and could be consistent with passive smoke having a protective effect against lung cancer. The summary, seen by The Telegraph, also states: "There was no association between lung cancer risk and ETS exposure during childhood."

And if lawmakers need additional real world data to further highlight the need to eliminate these onerous and arbitrary laws, air quality testing by Johns Hopkins University, the American Cancer Society, a Minnesota Environmental Health Department, and various researchers whose testing and report was also peer reviewed and published in the esteemed British Medical Journal......prove that secondhand smoke is 2.6 - 25,000 times SAFER than occupational (OSHA) workplace regulations:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/11/johns-hopkins-air-quality-testing-of.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/04/bmj-published-air-quality-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2004/04/american-cancer-society-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2006/02/air-quality-testing-and-secondhand.html

Thus further nullifying the argument that secondhnad smoke is a workplace health hazard.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

The Freedom to Act Act...an exemption which allows MN bars and restaurants to legally accomodate smokers and non-smokers

Cambridge, MN attorney Mark W. Benjamin has discovered a loophole in the state smoking ban:

Mark W. Benjamin: Bars could stage a challenge to statewide smoking ban
Let small-town dramas play out with artistic depictions of smoking patrons steeped in realism.
By MARK W. BENJAMIN
Last update: February 8, 2008 - 5:45 PM (article link)

When the smoking ban was debated, some theater-going, latte-drinking, Volvo-driving legislators got their undies all in a bundle that a few performers might not be allowed to smoke cigarettes on stage. Really. They worried that performers might have to suck on straws or pencils or -- you know -- "act" like they were smoking. Heavens! Whatever would become of The Theatre?

Not to worry. Our legislators quietly slipped in an exception for "theatrical productions" so that actors and actresses could puff away onstage and the delicate flower of artistic expression could more fully flourish in the North Star State.

But in their haste they forgot to define where "theatrical productions" could be performed. And they forgot the words of the Bard, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." If we have Shakespeare in the park, can't we have Shakespeare in the bar?

Clearing the Air emailed Mr. Benjamin to point out that there is another smoking ban exemption that could also be used to defeat the statewide ban which has closed 157+ bars and restaurants and eliminated 5,000 - 7,500 jobs mainly in the Twin Cities metro area:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/03/if-minnesota-state-lawmakers-do-pass.html

Additionally air quality testing which proves there is no workplace air quality hazard may pre-empt or nullify all local and state bans, since a federal regulatory agency, OSHA, already has established permissible exposure limits:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/04/new-way-to-reverse-smoking-bans-in-your.html

Benjamin goes on to state in the Star Tribune Op-Ed:

So if you're a bar owner and don a beret, declare your bar a stage, hand out scripts and direct your patrons -- ahem -- performers to fire up some heaters, then you've got a bona fide "theatrical production" going on. The acting might not be so good, but the smoking will be sheer bliss -- and legal to boot.

Bravo Mr. Benjamin......well played.

According to this KSTP news video Mark W. Benjamin says if any patron...ahem....performer is cited as violating the statewide smoking ban......he will defend them "....for free..."

An attorney willing to do what's right for free.....that's a rare performance in itself.

Virginia state lawmakers won't be bullied into Nicoderm funded smoking ban law

(Virginia) House Extinguishes Smoking Ban Bill
Posted 2008-02-09
Leaders Waiting To Kill Senate Bills

Clearing the Air once again provided Virginia lawmakers with facts contrary to the Nicoderm funded lobbyists exaggerated data, it is very satisfying to see that some lawmakers are willing to see the truth.

A) Smoking bans destroy businesses, jobs, and local economies at an alarming rate:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/01/100-bars-and-restaurants-put-out-of.html

http://www.smokersclub.com/banloss3.htm

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2008/01/economist-at-federal-reserve-declares.html

B) Air quality testing proves that secondhand smoke IS NOT a workplace health hazard.

Johns Hopkins, the American Cancer Society, a Minnesota Environmental Health Department, and various researchers whose testing and report was peer reviewed and published in the esteemed British Medical Journal......prove that secondhand smoke is 2.6 - 25,000 times SAFER than occupational (OSHA) workplace regulations:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/11/johns-hopkins-air-quality-testing-of.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/04/bmj-published-air-quality-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2004/04/american-cancer-society-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2006/02/air-quality-testing-and-secondhand.html

If we get the truth onto the desks of lawmakers, the more likely they are to see through the Nicoderm funded marketing scam. It's just a bloody crime that tens of thousands are losing livelihoods and jobs before lawmakers wake up to this rent-seeking shell game.

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Mpls Star Tribune attempts to force Wisconsin legislature to enact smoking ban law

The arrogance of the Minneapolis Star Tribune knows no bounds.....forcing their editorial pro-smoking ban agenda on the State of Wisconsin......priceless.

However the liberal MN paper of record left out the fact that bans here in the Twin Cities and outstate area have closed down 155+ bars and restaurants and counting.

Meanwhile the Wisconsin Badger Herald reponds with an editorial piece of its own:

http://badgerherald.com/oped/2008/02/07/ban_supporters_smoke.php

Clearing the Air would like to provide the Badger Herald and free market Wisconsin lawmakers with some very concrete evidence to reject the Star Tribune's effort to implement Wisconsin laws by proxy:

The Mineapolis Star Tribune failed to mention that MN smoking bans have closed down 155+ bars and restaurants......and eliminated 5,000 - 7,000 jobs.

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/01/100-bars-and-restaurants-put-out-of.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2008/01/economist-at-federal-reserve-declares.html

Meanwhile air quality testing proves that secondhand smoke is NOT a workplace hazard.....actually up to 25,000 times SAFER than OSHA regulations:

Johns Hopkins, the American Cancer Society, a Minnesota Environmental Health Department, and various researchers whose testing and report was peer reviewed and published in the esteemed British Medical Journal......prove that secondhand smoke is 2.6 - 25,000 times SAFER than occupational (OSHA) workplace regulations:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/11/johns-hopkins-air-quality-testing-of.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/04/bmj-published-air-quality-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2004/04/american-cancer-society-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2006/02/air-quality-testing-and-secondhand.html

Thank you Badger Herald for your support of truth and free market ideals, don't let the Minneapolis Star Tribune destroy Wisconsin's economy like they have here in Minnesota.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

New study logically proves non-smoker's and those who live longer are actually a greater cost burden to society and our healthcare system

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22995659/

Excerpts:

LONDON - Preventing obesity and smoking can save lives, but it doesn’t save money, researchers reported Monday.

It costs more to care for healthy people who live years longer, according to a Dutch study that counters the common perception...

“It was a small surprise,” said Pieter van Baal, an economist at the Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, who led the study. “But it also makes sense. If you live longer, then you cost the health system more.”

This is really just common sense if you think about it, but for years Nicoderm-funded smoking ban activists have fooled lawmakers into believing that smokers cost society more than they pay in tobacco taxes......clearly a false statement.

Lies, exaggerations, and false statements are the only arguments that smoking ban proponents have. Like the statement that secondhand smoke is a workplace health hazard even though Johns Hopkins, the American Cancer Society, a Minnesota Environmental Health Department, and various researchers whose testing and report was peer reviewed and published in the esteemed British Medical Journal......prove that secondhand smoke is 2.6 - 25,000 times SAFER than occupational (OSHA) workplace regulations:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/11/johns-hopkins-air-quality-testing-of.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/04/bmj-published-air-quality-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2004/04/american-cancer-society-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2006/02/air-quality-testing-and-secondhand.html

Additionally, there is a more urgent reason to repeal such anti-business legislation; here in the Twin Cities, smoking bans have closed down 155+ bars and restaurants eliminating thousands of jobs. As a frame of reference, in 2004 the last year without a ban, only 14 closed:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/01/100-bars-and-restaurants-put-out-of.html

Around the country smoking bans have eliminated 1,000+ establishments:

http://www.smokersclub.com/banloss3.htm

Can anyone doubt that smoking bans are fueled by inaccurate and exaggerated data, and more importantly have contributed to the economic downturn we now experience.

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2008/01/economist-at-federal-reserve-declares.html

Update: 6/14/2012 CBO Report "Reducing Smoking Would Raise Medicare, Social Security Spending"

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Another state smoking ban destroys busineses and jobs

From the Denver Post comes another story of lives disrupted and destroyed by nosy. nanny legislation:

VonFeldt is among a group of bar owners, The Coalition for Equal Rights, who filed a lawsuit in hopes of overturning the act.

The coalition says bar owners have lost more than $30 million in business statewide because of the act and that 70 bars have gone under.

"This has been in the family for over 40 years," VonFeldt said. "But now I'm losing money hand over fist."

VonFeldt said the bar was a moneymaker until the state's Clean Indoor Air Act went into effect July 1, 2006.

In the first six months after the act, business at Billy's plummeted 41 percent, VonFeldt said, and it hasn't recovered.

Even though VonFeldt is getting out of the business, he'll hold out hope that the appeal reverses the ban.

"I'm not going to stop fighting," VonFeldt said. "I don't believe the government should be able to pass laws that put people out of business. I really want the public to know the damage that has been done."

Von Feldt's words are the very same reason that Clearing the Air continues to report the truth about the losses caused by smoking bans.......mainstream media outlets such as the Star Tribune or the Pioneer Press aren't about to tell the public the truth so we will. (both Twin Cities papers editorialized in favor of smoking bans, so hiding the truth about business and job losses fits that agenda)

The reasonable manner to deal with secondhand smoke......if lawmakers were concerned about the health and welfare of people and jobs is to allow OSHA air quality regulations to decide what is a hazard and what is not. That's how every other workplace issue is handled:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/03/secondhand-smoke-should-be-regulated-by.html

The alternative....smoking bans.... are far, far too costly to our citizens and our economy.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Take heed of the next incursion by liberal lawmakers to further implement a dictatorship if we fail to remain vigilant

Regular Clearing the Air reader Archie reminds us that there are other issues to remain steadfast about in order to maintain a free nation.

http://www.youtube.com/v/TkS2BRoCd2I&rel=1

(the lesson learned on this video is very relevant to the smoking ban debate. As one former UK gun owner stated "...we let it happen to ourselves through apathy and a lack of orchestrated action to fight the government intrusion...." paraphrased)

Americans will never let gun control go this far I hope. Our forefathers guaranteed our Right to Bear Arms in the Constitution as a means to remind government leaders that they serve the will of the people and not the other way around.

“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

Wisconsin lawmaker rightly calls "warnings about the dangers of secondhand smoke “hogwash”

Clearing the Air's letter of support to Senator Breske follows:

Senator Breske,

I read about your comments in the Senate regarding the proposed smoking ban:

A former bar owner and ex-president of the Tavern League of Wisconsin, Breske called warnings about the dangers of secondhand smoke "hogwash."

Breske said he started working in a bar when he was a child, and the air in that bar was "blue" from the smoke. "I'm still alive," Breske said. "I'm 69."

To help prove your point you may be interested in air quality testing of secondhand smoke conducted by such names as Johns Hopkins, American Cancer Society, a Minnesota environmental health department, and various researchers whose testing and report was peer reviewed and published in the esteemed British Medical Journal......of course all these groups originally conducted these tests to prove how "hazardous" secondhand smoke is in the workplace.....however, in fact the air quality testing proves that secondhand smoke is 2.6 - 25,000 times SAFER than occupational (OSHA) workplace regulations:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/11/johns-hopkins-air-quality-testing-of.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/04/bmj-published-air-quality-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2004/04/american-cancer-society-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2006/02/air-quality-testing-and-secondhand.html

Additionally, there is a more urgent reason to oppose such anti-business legislation, here in the Twin Cities, smoking bans have closed down 155+ bars and restaurants eliminating thousands of jobs. As a frame of reference, in 2004 the last year without a ban, only 14 closed:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/01/100-bars-and-restaurants-put-out-of.html

Around the country smoking bans have eliminated 1,000+ establishments

http://www.smokersclub.com/banloss3.htm

Can anyone doubt that smoking bans are fueled by inaccurate and exaggerated data, and more importantly have contributed to the economic downturn we now experience.

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2008/01/economist-at-federal-reserve-declares.html

If it saves just one state from making a political blunder......it's worth it.

Saturday, February 02, 2008

South Dakota state lawmakers once again stand up to defeat the Nicoderm funded smoking ban rent seeking activists

Anti-tobacco bill goes up in smoke
Jan 17, 2008 11:29 AM CST

A bill to let South Dakota cities and counties adopt their own smoking and tobacco regulations has died in the House State Affairs Committee on a 9-4 vote.

Clearing the Air chronicled South Dakota's stand for freedom here, excerpt below:

"...A couple years ago the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Nicoderm) funded American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and the rest of the Nicoderm marketing department attempted to get local South Dakota cities and counties to pass smoking bans. So the legislature of South Dakota stepped up and said to the pharmaceutical company pawns, "Ok, so you want a statewide smoking ban, we'll give you a smoking ban.......First off, no local government may enact a law which supersedes our statewide smoking ban; second, smoking is banned in all public and quasi public places, with the following exemption........ those establishments with a liquor license are exempt....."

South Dakota may indeed be the last bastion of hope in an ever increasing socialist nanny-state nation. And is perhaps the last remaining state steadfast in its stance for freedom, limited government and common sense.

I personally one day fully intend to move to a large acreage plot of land in South Dakota, far from the light rail loving, Birkenstock (light in the loafer) wearing, white wine and Brie swilling liberal lawmakers and over-taxation that is Minnesota.

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