02/05/2001: Tobacco interests poised for big gains from Bush

[Bluebear]

With the swearing in Friday of two potential allies in the Bush Cabinet, the once-battered tobacco industry now appears poised to make a comeback in Washington. In a matter of days, the industry gained friends in high places who are positioned to thwart Clinton-administration anti-smoking programs and a huge federal lawsuit.

The appointments of John Ashcroft as attorney general and Tommy Thompson as Health and Human Services' secretary reflect President Bush's disagreement with the Clinton administration's aggressive legal pursuit of Big Tobacco.

The shift comes at a critical juncture, when the new administration must decide whether it will press tough anti-smoking initiatives, or pull the plug. Given tobacco's clout in Congress and the fragility of anti-smoking programs, even a subtle retrenching could reverse hard-won progress.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2001-02-05-nceditf.htm

[Bluebear]

1. .

[jojo54]

2. More corporate dirty monet!!!!

I just have to stop giving it to them!!!

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Thanks for the reminder, Bluebear -- some "culture of life"...

these Bush people endorse!

[JDPriestly]

4. Does anyone know whether Bush smokes?

On the one hand, he exercises a lot, and I don't know how he could keep that up at his age if he smokes. On the other hand, he is frequently short of breath, and his voice sounds kind of gravelly or raspy, like a smoker's voice. I've never seen him smoking on camera though.

I have heard that Laura Bush was quite a smoker. Her voice does not sound like the smoking has damaged it.

[fujiyama]

5. I thought she's still a chain smoker

Don't the daughters smoke?

[JDPriestly]

6. What fools.

At the risk of offending a lot of DUers, smoking is a symptom of a) poor judgment, b) lack of self-control, and (c) (according to tobacco industry research) insecurity. In short, smoking is not a habit of strong people. Sorry, smokers. I love you. But you are all in denial. There are other things that you could do to yourselves that would be bad, like overeating and not exercising, but smoking is way up there, and for some people, the very worst.

I think that Laura Bush doesn't really like herself very much.