Just say, “No”
TWO YEARS LATER
As our President arrived in Hawaii for another vacation I was reminded of this blog post I did when he was here two years ago. The last I read was that he is STILL sneaking a puff here and there. I am okay with the President taking a vacation now and then, most have, and the last one far more than this one. I’m also glad that he chooses to come to Hawaii as the press helps, but I am still waiting for that total declaration of tobacco abstinence. Once he does that, he can get on the bandwagon and encourage America’s youth to follow the leader. Leaders must be very careful about the images they portray, as they will be followed by many; right or wrong. Here’s what I said two years ago: Oh, and don’t miss the comments at the end; and add your own if you want.
Say It Isn’t So
When I read that President Elect Barack Obama declared that you won’t catch him lighting up a cigarette in the smoke-free White House, I was hoping that he would go on to say that you wouldn’t catch him smoking a cigarette anywhere. But NO; the word is that he still occasionally smokes a cigarette. During the campaign he said, “I figure, seeing as I’m running for president, I need to cut myself a little slack.” Well, now you are the President and you need to think about being the right role model younger people need to see.
Mo Betta Image
We would all be better off if Obama were to maintain a healthy image and set healthy standards for Americans to follow. A while back, when the campaign began I read that he was going to quit smoking because “his wife wants him to.” While it’s good to know that she is that smart, that isn’t a good enough reason to quit.
Times Have Changed
A number of years ago the country as whole wasn’t very smart about the effects of tocacco. I remember my father lying in a hospital bed dying of lung cancer and smoking cigaretts provided by the hospital. Such a thing would be thought of as absurd today.
Manly Image?
When John Kennedy lit up a cigar he was seen as a “man’s man.” Today doing so would be seen as foolish. I doubt if he would be a smoker today.
Big Thinker?
And a pipe smoker today, unlike in Gerald Ford’s day, would more likely be thought of as a stinker than a thinker.
“Hey Dude, whazzup?”
And what was this guy smoking anyway?
2010 NOTE: I was advised via a comment that this is a great photo shop job, and I can see that now, but it’s just too funny to delete.
December 8th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Its amazing what you can do with Photoshop! Just saying NO is easier to type than do! I stopped many years ago, so I am part of the great good and reformed, but I remember how much I enjoyed my ciggie, after lunch especially. NO-ONE could get me to smoke again, I would sell my teddy bear first! And as for smoking in the shop while browsing? Grrrr.
Cheers
Lestie
Johannesburg
December 8th, 2008 at 10:50 am
President Woodrow Wilson had a Ram named Old Ike that died of a nicotine addiction from eating cigarette butts. A good reminder of why Obama really needs to quit smoking.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Ron, maybe it would be powerful for you to remind people that you used to smoke. In Success Made Easy, you wrote, “It’s easy. Just stop putting those things in your mouth and lighting them” (or something like that). EASY for YOU to say! People say that it can be harder than quitting crack. Not that that is a justification.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Good Idea Pam;
Yep, I sure did, and it sure is. I used to tell people, “It’s easy to quit, I have done it hundreds of times.”
I should add that this was over 30 years ago and I must say that I don’t miss it one bit. I was in the jacuzzi last night and some guy came out on the pool deck smoking. I had to cover my mouth with a towel and head for the locker room. If they only knew how bad it smells.
December 10th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Cigarettes are a manipulated nicotine delivery system designed to addict smokers starting at their very first drag because, nicotine trips the pleasure center in the brain. Every inhalation destroys cells in the heart while coating the villi in the lungs, robbing the blood of needed oxygen. Obama should picture that, and an oxygen mask strapped to his face later in life. I don’t want a President addicted to anything but some exercise and hard work.
December 10th, 2008 at 8:04 am
I heard someone say on the radio… anyone under 40 years old that smokes is an idiot!
Due to the facts about what smoking does to you is over whelming… unlike 50 years ago when we were told that smoking is good for you.
How old is Obama??? HMMM… idiot!
December 10th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I’d like to think that guy over there on Maui is smart enough to know that doing something stupid does not make one an idiot.
Smart people do stupid things all of the time. Who hasn’t done one of these?
Smoke Cigarettes?
Smoke Pot?
Snort Cocaine?
Drink Alcohol?
Drive Intoxicated?
Drive Too Fast?
Eat Meat?
Overeat Anything?
Participate in Infidelity?
Lie to a Boss;or Anyone?
Was Reagan an idiot for supporting tobacco? No; just stupid.
Was McCain an idiot for selecting Palin? No; just stupid.
Is Jeff an idiot for calling Obama an idiot? Well… I guess just stupid, but I did have to think about that one.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:38 am
“Mama always said… stupid is, what stupid does.” -Forrest Gump
December 13th, 2008 at 7:34 am
I guess it comes down to understanding the difference between “stupid” and “idiot”. Not realizing there is a difference is stupid but it does not make one an idiot.
December 25th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Tips on Stopping Smoking…
Good points but I feel there will be a few dissenters….
December 12th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Hey guys, perusing this, I totally wanted a cigarette so bad.
December 26th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I quit a number of years ago. Thinking about quitting was torture, actually quitting was easy. First you get through an hour, then a day, before you know it, it’s a week. Then the months and years fly by. It’s been 6 six years and my only regret is I waited so long!
Nicotine patches and gum….bad! Cold turkey…good!
And you’re right…smokers stink