The judge also pointed out the size of the labels suggests they are unconstitutional.  The FDA would have required the labels to cover the entire top half of cigarette packs. On front and back. The FDA also wanted the labels to include a number for a stop-smoking hotline. The labels were to constitute 20 percent of cigarette advertising. The obscene labels were also required to be rotated so they would all be seen. Judge Leon said the labels would amount to a "mini-billboard" for the agency's "obvious anti-smoking agenda."

Several months ago we put up a profile on our Hall of Shame-Zealots page featuring Margaret Hamburg, current commissioner of the United States Food & Drug Administration. Hamburg is in full support of tobacco users being marginalized and the obscene images being required to be put on cigarett packs. In Ms. Hamburg's profile on several other internet websites - not ours - she states her father and grandmother taught her to fight oppression. Well, good for them. That's admirable. However, fighting oppression apparently didn't include standing up against political indoctrination or marginalization of people she disagrees with. Take a look if you've the time.

Here's the bottom line: All freedom-loving Americans are happy with the ruling by Judge Robert Leon. It gives us hope that common sense, freedom, and liberty are still alive in the United States. Don't kid yourselves: The no-smoke thugs don't want smoking restricted. They want it outlawed. Period. Akin to the huge billboards displayed in North Korea, and other countries ruled by authoritarian thugs,  with pictures of past and present tyrants displayed on them, the no-smoke thugs don't speak of honesty or a sense of fair play. They never have. Their intent is a not-so-subtle attempt at brainwashing to hammer home authoritarian rule and lies all for the almighty "Cause."
 
Yes, the ruling today is great, great news.  

There were the not-surprising objections by ever-present authoritarian thugs at these types of meetings. Per an article at www.wfpl.org, Swannie Jett of the Bullitt County Health Department said, "they said that the powers that the board of health are given was not in fact for them to be big brothers and to regulate people eating candy, or to regulate people eating fried food." But Jett argued the department is not concerned with people who smoke. “We are looking at regulating a person’s habit that could be considered a public nuisance-affecting another person’s health. So it’s not based on an individual choice, it’s based on that individual choice affecting somebody else’s,’ he said.

In other words, according to Swannie Jett's logic, freedom is a public nuisance. Swannie Jett is an anti-freedom slob, in our opinion.

Judge Burress' ruling comes after several Bullitt County cities filed a lawsuit in opposition to the new regulations, which would have banned smoking in restaurants, bars and certain areas of sporting arenas.

www.BullittCountyChoice.com, a group of Bullitt business owners and residents, urged Fiscal Court and the city councils to take action against the ban. "It's a win for business and a win for choice in Bullitt County," said Harlen Compton, one of the group's founders who owns a commercial security company called Comptom Technology, LLC in Hillview. "We're fighting for the rights of business owners to make the decision of whether smoking occurs on their property."

This is great, great news!  To Judge Burress, and the organizers of www.BullittCountyChoice.com who organized the opposition: Freedom-loving citizens and  those with common sense across the USA are proud of you! And kudo's to Thomas LaPrade who gave us the heads up on this story. See More on our "News-Making Progress" page.  

http://www.wfpl.org/page/3/
http://www.chron.com/news/article/Judge-strikes-down-Bullitt-County-smoking-ban-2173833.php






              Ray LaHood, Secretrary of United States Secretary of Tansportation wants to outlaw water vapor on USA
              airplanes. Because it looks like, oooooooh, horrrrrrors.....smooooooooking.

September 16, 2011: Great News.

Have you any doubt remaining that the no-smoke thugs in the USA are out of control? Or that they want to confiscate more freedom from one group of people and hand it over to those who agree with them? Do you have any remaining doubt that the no-smoke zealots are nothing more than authoritarian slobs addicted to the drama of their almighty Cause? Read on:

Per published reports, U.S. Department of Transportaion Secretary Ray LaHood wants to outlaw water vapor (electronic cigarettes) in airports in the USA and on airplanes coming into and out of the USA. Because water vapor looks like....ooooh, horrrrrors....smo00oooooking.  
 
In other words, he wants anyone punished for even acting like they're smoking cigarettes. In America.

Why in the world would LaHood want to do a stupid thing like that? Because he's an out-of-control zealot. He's anti-freedom. You had to ask? And unfortunately for all us, LaHood is a higher up in the United States federal government.    

So, why is this good news? Because Americans have begun to see the arrogance and the audacaity of not-elected offficials like Ray LaHood attempting to further enforce tyranny and an authoritarian agenda upon freedom-loving citizens who just want to be left alone.  The intent and tactics of the anti-freedom, no-smoke slobs are in full view now. And citizens - smokers and non smokers alike - are standing up, and they're fighting back. They're mad. They're saying, "You've gone too far. You're out of control. You've lost perspective. You're outlawing common sense and freedom, and we're not going to take it anymore. Go away."   

Article in Los Angeles Times: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/14/business/la-fi-electronic-cigarette-20110915 

Video on Fox News: http://video.foxnews.com/v/1161973792001/does-perception-trump-reality-for-obama-white-house

 Article in National Review Online: http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/277484/war-e-cigarettes-jeff-stier#



                    



                       JUNE 17, 2011: Great news out of Nevada. Freedom is on a roll. Already soft smoking ban further softened:

This is wonderful news. Governor Brian Sandoval (a former prosecutor and judge) signed off on a bill that allows tavern owners in Nevada to serve food if they also allow smoking in their establishements. In Nevada, you can still smoke in most bars and in casinos if the owners choose to allow it. Now, however, and against the protestations of the no-smoke zealots, freedom has prevailed in this instance. It's not a complete repeal of the "clean air act" in Nevada, but it's a great move in the right direction. See our post below dated May 20 & 21, 2011 for more on the bill's movement through the Nevada legislature. Kudo's to the tavern owners in Nevada who lobbied hard for the bill, to Debbie Smith, a Democrat representative in the Nevada House of Representatives out of Sparks (Reno area) who sponsered the bill and shot it through, and to Governor Brian Sandoval and all others in the Nevada legislature who voted for common sense: All fredom-loving Americans are proud of you.

Link to Las Vegas Review Journal article: http://www.lvrj.com/news/bill-to-allow-smoking-in-bars-that-serve-food-signed-124092204.htm

Our original comments on this:
                               
                               May 20 & 21, 2011: Nevada democrat puts forth bill to further soften no-smoke law in Nevada. 

May 20 & 21, 2011: This is great news. Debbie Smith, a Democrat serving in the Nevada House of Representatives has put forth a bill to further soften the anti-freedom, authoritarian "clean air act" in Nevada. Generally, in the United States, it's been been democrats who have supported the no-smoke crap. But we're giving Debbie Smith kudos here. You betcha. She derseves them.

Per an article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, dated May 20, 2011, bar and tavern owners, particularly in Southern Nevada, have complained that the smoking ban has hurt business and cost jobs at a time when the economy is suffering. Seems like common sense to us. In our opinion though, it wouldn't matter if the economy was booming. No-smoking ordianances are anti-freedom. They should all be repealed. 

Links to the 2 articles: 
http://www.lvrj.com/news/debate-over-smoking-restrictions-in-bars-revived-in-new-legislation-122369883.html
http://www.lvrj.com/news/tavern-owners-urge-lawmakers-to-clear-air-on-smoking-ban-122486098.html?submitted=y

There were the usual protestations against freedom from the no-smoke slobs at the American Lung Association. And it's not surprising. In the article, Amy Beaulieu, director of tobacco control policy for the American Lung Association in Nevada, said, "Not only will this expose more people -- employees and patrons -- to more secondhand smoke, it is unbelievable that the Legislature is working to overturn the will of the people."

What's unbelievable is that anyone takes seriously the anti-freedom zealots like Amy Beaulieu. Here's what's going on: Freedom is making a come back, and Amy Beaulieu is mad. If Beaulieu lives to be 100 years old and never goes to an establishment where the owners choose to allow smoking, she still wants them punished. Because she's a zealot, and she's out of control.  

Amy Beaulieu and her pals appear to have a pathological need to see entire populaces submit to tyranny. It seems to give them a high of sorts. Like drug addicts who inject drugs into their veins to feel a false sense of drama and enlightenment - even to their demise and to the demise of those around them (freedom) - Beaulieu and her pals get off on drama and being paid attention to. It doesn't matter that freedom and liberty are casualties of their actions.

Hence, they manifest a disresprect for the rule of law. That's bad for all of us. But they don't care. Nope. Never have, never will.

Once again: Thank you, Debbie Smith. All freedom Americans are proud of you.  

We'll keep you posted on the bill's progress in the Nevada legislature.   








September 9, 2011: Great News out of Ohio. Ohio Department of Health & Ohio State University Associate Professor called out for dishonest research.

Dr. Theodore E. Wymyslo, of the Ohio Department of Health, and his anti-freedom pal, Elizabeth Klein, an associate professor at Ohio State University, have been called out for putting forth fraudulent research. They are state employees, and people in Ohio are calling for an investigation by governor Kasich.

Take 5 minutes to read it. It's great. That said, it's frightening at the same time: Government employees, in America, are lieing in the face of honesty and logic to see their anti-freedom, authoritarian demands be enforced upon Americans.   

Our kudos to "anono" for forwarding this article to us and for the heads up. Thanks.

COLUMBUS, OH
For the past two weeks, news organizations covered story after story regarding a press release issued by the Ohio Department of Health and an eight page Executive Summary titled "Analysis of the Impact of Ohio's Smoke-Free Workplace Act".  In both the press release and Executive Summary, ODH referred to a study on heart attacks prior to and since the smoking ban, sales tax revenue and opinions of over 2,000 Ohio adults surveyed in 2009.
   
What the Ohio Department of Health does not state is there are two reports; a 39 page report also titled "Analysis of the Impact of Ohio's Smoke-Free Workplace Act#" with much more detail than the released Executive Summary.  The Executive Summary intentionally omitted information.
   
The complete report included a figure 5 which charted how 5,000 Ohio adults responded in 2009 to the question "Do you visit bars more often, less often or about the same since passage of the Smoke-Free Law?"  We feel this table was intentionally omitted from the Executive Summary and the results skewed by Dr. Wymyslo, Director of the Ohio Department of Health..  The respondents were asked if they were current smokers or non-smokers.  What Figure 5 shows is that only .7% of non-smokers go to bars more often.  Less than 1%.  It shows 39.5% of the non-smokers go to bars less often since the ban, while 59.8% go out about the same.  Dr. Wymyslo states in the press release that "approximately three out of four surveyed respondents stated they visit restaurants and bars with about the same frequency".   

Dr. Wymyslo, however, lumps the statistics for bars and restaurants together to make his claim.  Only 3 out of 4 smokers frequent bars the same while 2 out of 5 non-smokers go to bars less often.  Consider approximately 80% of the adult population, potential customers of bars, consists of non-smokers. Thirty-nine and a half percent go to bars less.  This data supports the claims bar owners have been making since day one.  Many lost smoking customers, never saw the influx of new non-smoking customers as promised,
while 39.8% of the non smokers who do frequent bars go less often.   

The data ODH used is two years old.  A similar survey conducted by the University of Cincinnati in May, 2010#, shows only 47% of Ohio adults support a smoking ban in bars.  This information, although more current, was not included in either report by ODH.
   
In reviewing the sales tax report submitted by Elizabeth Klein, Assistant Professor, Health Behavior and Health Promotion and Nancy Hood, OSU College of Public Health who manages community-based smoking cessation research projects in the Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, one can't help but notice possible publication bias.   According to methods outlined in the report not provided to the media or legislature, Klein/Hood state small businesses who owe less than $1,200 in state sales tax liability in a six month period and fewer than five reporting entities for a given county and month, were excluded from her study.   

Even though we're not experts in Economics, which is also not the major area of studies for either Klein nor Hood, we can't help but point out that these are most likely the very businesses most hurt by the ban.  No factor was built in sales tax statistics to account for the hundreds of bars and private clubs who always have and continue to permit smoking.  Klein's study does not take into account the increase in the price of goods; costs that get passed on to customers thus driving increased sales tax figures.  The cost of liquor continues to increase and since 2005, there have been three price increases on beer.  In 2005, a keg of beer cost $63 from the distributor which is now $89, a 41% increase in cost. 

Sales tax increased because costs passed on to consumers increased.   If ODH paid OSU to conduct this study, they should have commissioned Fisher College of Business to conduct the study.  The study then would have had the appearance of unbiased researchers.
   
The claim that heart attacks have declined 26% since the smoking ban was reviewed and commented on by Dr. Michael Siegel,  Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, in his September 6, 2011 blog#.  He has 25 years of experience in the field of tobacco control.  Dr. Siegel states:  "the rate of decline in heart attack discharges in Ohio was greater prior to the smoking ban than it was in the first three years after the smoking ban.   

This clearly does not support the conclusion that the smoking ban resulted in a large and immediate decline in heart attack discharges."  Siegel's conclusion?  "this report has manipulated the analysis in order to try to show an effect that is simply not present in the data. This doesn't do anti-smoking advocates any favors."  He goes on to say in part "By distorting the science in order to try to show such effects, anti-smoking advocates are actually weakening, not strengthening the argument for workplace smoking bans.."
   
To issue partial reports, with missing critical data and apparently incorrect and/or biased studies, to almost every newspaper and news station in Ohio is highly unethical, if not fraudulent.  Oral arguments before the Ohio Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the smoking ban are being heard next month.  It is obvious the Ohio Department of Health is attempting to try the Supreme Court case in the media.  BLPHA contends ODH withheld proof positive that many of their members are losing money, their businesses, the ability to feed their families and pay their bills.

Parkers says, "This is a state agency behind this.  BLPHA wants Governor Kasich to investigate and hold all parties involved responsible.  We also want corrected studies with all the information, including that which was intentionally withheld, to be given to the media to publish corrections with copies sent to Ohio's lawmakers.   It's about time someone starts telling the truth." 






                                   June 9, 2011. Yes! Louisianans Vote For Freedom, Independence, and Common Sense.
                                                                                                Smoking Still OK In Bars & Casinos.

Freedom-loving Louisianans have put down, once again, the no-smoke zealots who have an apparent pathological need to see entire citizenries submit to authoritarian rule and drama. Per published articles the Lousiana Legislature, by a vote of 71-29, has voted to still allow smoking in bars and casinos. We find it astounding that such a vote should even have to occur. But that's where we are today. In America.

As stated on our main page, there is a very unsettling aside to this story. An anti-freedom zealot by the name of Lauren Finnegan put up an editorial shown on Yahoo news (link shown below).  She tries to explain why - in her mind - a bit more of common sense, freedom, honest science, and logic should be outlawed in Louisiana. Here's what we find so very disturbing: The editorial states at the bottom that she is a military wife. In other words, if her husband is still on active duty then his butt is on the line 24/7 in defense of our freedoms. And his wife wants more of our freedoms outlawed. 

We're going to bore you in this paragraph with a little of what she said in the editorial. You've heard it all before, the lies and dishonesty, but we've got to put it up. Finnegan is shown as saying, "Louisiana has missed another golden opportunity to protect its residents by defeating a bill in the state senate that would have banned smoking in bars and casinos across the state. Many non-smokers say having to be exposed to the secondhand smoke of other people around them is just not fair. Especially the workers who make their livings in the bars and the casinos don't want to have to risk their lives just to support themselves and their families. Anyone who is exposed to secondhand smoke is 25 percent to 30 percent more likely to get heart disease, and 20 percent to 30 percent will develop lung cancer. The statistics are especially disturbing for Louisianans who are trying to live a healthy lifestyle but can't because of the unhealthy decisions of other residents."

Get all that? She has the mantra down, doesn't she?

What Lauren Finnegan doesn't say, of course, is that her assertions are 1) Lies, 2) Can not ever be proven with honest science, and 3) No one ever forced anyone to work in a bar, restaurant, or any business where people were smoking. But she doesn't care. Nope. 
 
As with all the anti-freedom slobs, the new nazi's, here in America, none of that seems to matter with Finnegan. Like a drug addict who injects drugs into her veins to feel a false sense of drama and enlightenment, Finnegan appears to get off on a false high of sorts via injecting drama into her life and demanding entire populaces submit to tyranny. Like the nazi's in 1930's and 1940's Germany who sought fascist domination and submission, she has found others like herself who have lost perspective and are devoid of any sense of individual rights and personal ownership. In essence, she's found a way for people to pay attention to her. And if freedom and liberty should be casualties of her thinking? She doesn't care. She appears to get a high from it all. And if you should dare stand up for freedom and liberty? Individuals like Lauren Finnegan want you fined, or put out of business, or even eventually jailed. For smoking. In America.

The woman - a military wife - doesn't seem to be able to grasp the audacity of her thinking. We don't know if we find her revolting or if we should feel sad for her. But the zealots like Laura Finnegan don't stop, and we'll not stop calling them out until it's no longer needed.  

Here's the bottom line: Freedom is on a roll in Louisiana. Individuals in the Louisiana Legislature refused to back down. To those in the Louisiana Legislature who stood up and voted for common sense, honesty, freedom, and liberty: All freedom-loving Americans are proud of you. Kudos to each of you. Keep up the good work.

Links:  
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110602/us_ac/8575173_louisiana_smoking_ban_slips_through_states_fingers_1
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9NJR4500.htm



                              
                             



                                        ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTES TO REPEAL SMOKING BANS IN CASINOS.

APRIL, 2011: It wasn't a vote for a complete repeal, but it's a few steps further towards freedom than Illinois had last month. The Illinois House of Representatives recently voted 62-52 to repeal smoking bans in the state's casinos. This is great news. Dan Burke, a Democrat, sponsored the bill which now moves to the Illinois Senate. Burke said the smoking ban in Illinois has cost the state over 800 million dollars in lost casino tax revenue. OK, he didn't say the smoking ban is anti-freedom and against all the America stands for, but he's moving in the right direction, and we're giving him kudos for that. You betcha.

There were the usual anti-freedom protestations by the anti-freedom slobs. Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-Maywood) who sponsored the original no-smoke, authoritarian smoking ban in Illinois said softening the ban in Illinois was "a slippery slope." Per published reports, she said,  "Why are their (casino workers) lives any less important than people who work anywhere else? I didn’t hear any debate about what kind of increased costs in terms of hospitals and health care costs as a result of going back to what we did before."

Maybe because 1) No one requires anyone to work at a casino, and 2) Maybe because there won't be any increased costs, and 3) No one ever asked Karen Yarbrough for her help? Maybe, do ya think? But zealots like Karen Yarbrough just can't seem to grab hold of that concept. The anti-freedom slobs from the American Lung Association also had their representative in Kathy Drea present, angrily denouncing the vote. But that's no surprise.

WAY TO GO ILLINOIS! FREEDOM-LOVING AMERICANS ARE PROUD OF THE 62 WHO VOTED FOR FREEDOM & REPEALING SMOKING BANS IN ILLINOIS CASINOS. We'll keep you posted on the bill's progress.






                                                        SMOKING BAN REPEALED IN CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY! 

February 16, 2011: Campbell County Fiscal Court voted 3-1 to snuff out the proposed countywide smoking ban that would have prohibited smoking inside bars, restaurants and other businesses that welcome the public. It was scheduled to go into effect in April, 2011. In an article published online 2/16/2011 at www.nky.cincinnati.com, Tim Nolan of Grants Lick, KY, a speaker at the fiscal court meeting and dressed in a lab coat to mock doctors who spoke in favor of the ban, is quoted as saying, "Campbell County is the true springboard of liberty for the rest of the state. I’ve taken the pulse of liberty … it is very, very strong in Campbell County.”

The usual assemblage of anti-freedom slobs were also at the meeting promoting authoritarian rule and submission to tyranny. One, Jennifer Mason, expressed disgust at the mockery of doctors, noting, “they save our lives.” She also said, "At least 88 people … could die, or will die, in 2011,” Lies. She extrapolated that number from another study. She asked commissioners: “How does that make you feel?"

How do they feel about what, Jennifer? Not believing lies? Along with other blah, blah, blahs, she also noted television cameras were present: “We’re Campbell County, but this is going to be viewed all over the Tristate.” Wrong again, Jennifer. this news is being viewed all over the world.

There are still other people who said they not will give up in promoting submission to tyranny in Kentucky. One being (google) Jenny Beene-Skuban, an anti-freedom slob who is quoted on www.kypost.com, as saying, "We're trying extremely hard to convince the commissioners to leave the ban in place." She is currently volunteering on behalf of Smoke-Free Northern Kentucky. Imagine that. She said, "The purpose of the ban is to protect our own citizens who live and work in Campbell County. They don't have a choice." Wrong Fraulein nazi-breath. They have a choice not to go where smoking is allowed. Honesty or truth don't matter to un-American zealots like Jenny Beene-Skuban though.
 
OUR KUDOS to commissioners Ken Rechtin, Brian Painter, and Pete Garrett who voted to repeal the ban. Way to go Campbell County, Kentucky! You've proved freedom and common sense are still alive in America. Freedom loving Americans everywhere are proud of you.   
                                  



                                                         YES! THEY'RE SMOKING AGAIN IN GALVESTON, TEXAS

September 23, 2010: The anti-freedom slobs have been dealt a deafening blow in Galveston, Texas. You can smoke once again in bars in Galveston, Texas. Per an article in the Galveston Daily News on September 24, 2010, the no-smoke thugs were stood up to and freedom won out by a 4-3 vote.  

Galveston's anti-freedom mayor, Joe Jaworski - in a pathetic attempt to mandate freedom continue to be outlawed - wanted to set back the motion to legalize freedom in Galveston. He said the issue was wider than tavern owners. He said it had to do with "a broader world." Right...right, right. That's anti-freedom zealot code-speak for, "We're smarter than you, you just don't realize it. Therefore you will obey us!" Another zealot on the council, Elizabeth Beeton, said,  “So basically, you’re going to allow smoking. We’re back to the 1970s.”

Yep. Like in 1976 when Americans celebrated 200 years of the greatest experiment ever partaken of in the history of mankind.

Our kudos to councilman Rusty Legg. He said he dislikes smoking, but could not condone hamstringing private business.

The bottom line is this: Americans have stood up to anti-freedom slobs,  and common sense has come to prevail.