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The hope comes in the form of the "Freedom to Breathe Act," which Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed on Wednesday.

<------power hungry dictator

First of all...........

All citizens do NOT have any "right" to breathe clean air. If we did, then all planes, automobiles, trucks, factories, and breweries (the source of toxic poisons in the air) would be banned. Only then could everyone "breathe truly clean air".

The Report by the Surgeon General, Richard Carmona, who is a self-described rabid anti-smoker, does not show any "new evidence" as they claim. As the Report itself states, it is merely a compendium of previous reports and biased "studies" written by and/or paid for by the anti-smoker industry. No new studies, no new evidence.

No one has ever died from being around secondhand smoke but this conveniently escapes the anti-smoker zealots. Coronary heart disease is usually genetic in origin, but it's politically correct nowadays to claim that secondhand smoke is the culprit. Never mind that no unbiased, scientific study has ever proven that secondhand smoke has ever caused anyone any harm; the real truth isn't on their agenda.

The anti-smoker campaign has never been about health, it's always been about power and control by The Nannies (along with millions of dollars for the anti-smoker and pharmaceutical industries).

Just like social conservatives have been alienated by Rudy Giuliani’s GOP candidacy for POTUS nomination...

It’s only a two party system in the USA when it should really be a 16 party parliamentary system like Europeans and Israel where you have to choose alliances and garner a governing coalition... OH WAIT THAT’S WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE whether people know it or not... it’s called Frank Meyer’s Fusionism circa 1960. Somebody should tell the Wheeezer to read a history book. None of the 3 segments of the GOP Big Tent can win an election on their own.

The only person who can win on his own is Sen. Jesus Christ (R-Nazareth) The rest of us have to work with each other. That means you too Wheee Wheee on the Sheeple.

You said, in part: All citizens do NOT have any “right” to breathe clean air.
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I agree with you. Of course, there is no “right” to smoke either. Both are subject to restriction by local, state and federal action. I don’t support a whole lot of restrictions on smoking, and NONE on private property, including restaurants and bars. The owners should decide, and no one else, then let the market deal with it.

I don’t care for smoking, but plenty of people do enjoy it, as you do. It IS kind of unique, in that it does directly affect (not saying it cause cancer or anything) those around the smoker. Drinking doesn’t. Eating fatty foods doesn’t. (Stinky perfume/cologne does, as does farting, but they don’t seem to be as big a problem to most.)

We conservatives are not supposed to be big on laws governing personal choices. Smoking bans, although I disagree with most of them aren’t really directed the health of the smoker. If they were, cigarettes would have been outlawed years ago. Government and citizens love the tax money, but many just don’t like the smell/aroma/stench (depending on your view). Others do like it, and when they are in the minority, as smokers are, these bans are hardly to be unexpected.