Obama Taxes His Addiction to Red State Cigarettes

One of the most famous nicotine addicts in the western world is about to pay for his habit. He is volunteering to do it. No big deal to him, as he is also in the top income bracket.

Yes, President Barack Obama is staring right into a cigarette tax.

it will be good. It might force addicts otherwise too weak to quit to find the strength. No one has ever said, "Smoking will improve your life." Obama himself has admitted he wasn't man enough to quit. Whatever great gifts he brings to the White House, his addiction to smokes isn't one of them.

If a few more people quit, we'll see slightly better production at work. Fewer sick days, fewer smoking breaks, and generally better lifestyles. Or, we see the tax income. Also good. Cigarette taxes, like gambling taxes, benefit the Mother State one way or another. Mother is there to help us.

Smokers face a hit as tobacco taxes spikeBy RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press Writer Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON – However they satisfy their nicotine cravings, tobacco users are facing a big hit as the single largest federal tobacco tax increase ever takes effect Wednesday.

Tobacco companies and public health advocates, longtime foes in the nicotine battles, are trying to turn the situation to their advantage. The major cigarette makers raised prices a couple of weeks ago, partly to offset any drop in profits once the per-pack tax climbs from 39 cents to $1.01.

Medical groups see a tax increase right in the middle of a recession as a great incentive to help persuade smokers to quit.

President Obama: Warmonger? (Say it ain't so!)

While no one ever considered President Obama war hungry, he is showing he is less of a pacifist as so many hoped. This is not a man who looked at the secret reports and said, "Yeah, we'll pull out."

Obama to Boost Forces in Afghanistan, Set Benchmarks Bloomberg
By Kim Chipman and Tony Capaccio March 27 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama plans to send 4000 more US troops to Afghanistan to train local forces and set benchmarks for progress in battling militants there and in Pakistan, administration officials ...

Jay Leno Plays the Straight Man, Barack Obama Does Not

In these days of manipulative media, from Rush Limbaugh to Jon Stewart, one thing is sure: If you want to be liked, you need to get on a talk show.

As some scrutiny finally kicks in by more serious media, Barack Obama campaigns on Jay Leno's show. Almost as good as Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, both masters of mugging the camera, we are seeing a new side of Obama: Love me tender.

Viewers might remark how much they love Obama, or are finding their love renewed. Drool? Droll? Either way, funnyman Jay Leno was clearly the straight man here tonight. He bent over backwards to appeal to Obama.

To Obama's credit, he is likable. John McCain lost the election, aside from Republican-hate and/or legitimately different views, because he was not as good looking or charismatic. It was Nixon vs Kennedy all over again. And Obama is smooth on camera. He has that cigarette commercial flair.

When the gloves finally come off, and intelligent deconstructions of what Obama is doing finally are not considered 'hating on my man', it will be interesting. When ObamaLove (t-shirts) moves to maturity, and his unified splendor runs cold (different t-shirt), what will have happened? A better economy? Freedom for Iraqis and the end of a war? Let's hope so.

How long before Obama's millions of lovers chase another man, and President Obama can get down to being president? He's bogged down by all of this, as necessary politically as it is. It could be worse, but John Kerry (who is much less funny) quit early.

Barack Obama Hasn't Said Anything Stupid (Yet)

President Barack Obama is not yet on the Top 10 Unfortunate Political One-Liners list. Democrat Bill Clinton is on it twice, Republican George W Bush is not even on it, and Republican Richard Nixon leads with the worst line.

Hopefully, Obama will remain off the list. He will say stupid things. How he responds is key. He has yet to show the quick humor of Ronald Reagan, and comes across very serious. He'll need to quickly say, "Oops," and move on.

While George W Bush was not a polished speaker like Obama, his challenges were slight - the wrong word, or poor pronunciation. With Clinton and Nixon, it was about lying.