The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Ghoulish Delight]

It's a law that was signed in June giving the FDA authority to ban "flavored cigarettes" ostensibly because they are attractive to children. It's been in the works in Congress for years. One of the reasons it's taken so long is that Indonesia has cried foul since as written it covered cloves but not American-made mint/menthol cigarettes, so Congress has been trying to figure out if they can pass it without completely pissing Indonesia off. Apparently they decided so.

I have not yet found any source that says exactly when cloves will be off the shelves, if they will. Though I have read that the importer of Djarum, Kretek, has started making a filtered cigar that apparently looks and tastes a whole lot like a clove cigarette to get around it since the bill doesn't cover cigars.

ETA: Apparently Sept 22 is the date source

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Though I have read that the importer of Djarum, Kretek, has started making a filtered cigar that apparently looks and tastes a whole lot like a clove cigarette to get around it since the bill doesn't cover cigars.

No such luck according to the guy at the cig store I was just at, that got nixed. I bought his last carton of specials. At the rate I smoke 'em, combined with the handful of partial packs I have in random places at home, that should last me a while.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

No such luck according to the guy at the cig store I was just at, that got nixed. I bought his last carton of specials. At the rate I smoke 'em, combined with the handful of partial packs I have in random places at home, that should last me a while.

Oh crap. I better go pick up a pack or two.. if I can get lucky enough to find them.

[Alex]

Regardless of whether it will work the, the fence is expected to cost about $400 million per year. While that could certainly go other things it wouldn't buy a whole lot of health care (let alone a "public option" which as is currently being pursued would be self-funded).

[3894]

Originally Posted by Alex

Regardless of whether it will work the, the fence is expected to cost about $400 million per year. While that could certainly go other things it wouldn't buy a whole lot of health care (let alone a "public option" which as is currently being pursued would be self-funded).

And your point is? Okay, you're right about the self-funding.

[innerSpaceman]

Props to Gemini Cricket's boyfriend, er, um, hero.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Dave Matthews

Of course it is! I found there's a fairly blatant racism in America that's already there, and I don't think I noticed it when I lived here as a kid. But when I went back to South Africa, and then it's sort of thrust in your face, and then came back here -- I just see it everywhere. There's a good population of people in this country that are terrified of the president only because he's black, even if they don't say it. And I think a lot of them, behind closed doors, do say it.

What a crock. There are racists, certainly. To claim that opposition to his agenda is largely racially motivated is ignorant.

Even Obama has said he does not believe the opposition is racially motivated. Good for him.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

To claim that opposition to his agenda is largely racially motivated is ignorant.

Correct. It's opposition to him that's racially motivated. These yahoos at the health care townhalls are practically brandishing torches and pitchforks. Who the hell carries a gun strapped to their leg to a townhall meeting? Crazy racists, that's who.

Our first Gay president will get the same treatment, tenfold.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

What a crock. There are racists, certainly. To claim that opposition to his agenda is largely racially motivated is ignorant.

Even Obama has said he does not believe the opposition is racially motivated. Good for him.

As somebody said during the campaign, Obama is forced to be the least aggrieved black man in America. Thus, regardless of what he might think, he can't call a spade-caller a spade-caller.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

As somebody said during the campaign, Obama is forced to be the least aggrieved black man in America. Thus, regardless of what he might think, he can't call a spade-caller a spade-caller.

So it's OK for him to lie about it because of political perception?

I'm not naive and I know that this is what politics is. It just seems as if you are admitting Obama is a liar because he can't tell the truth about it because of political perception.