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Re: Senate approves FDA regulation

letsallthink — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:11:55 -0400

And what about Hagan. Are you a smart blogger or just a repuplican basher?What, Gosh, have you ever voted for except yourself as prom queen?

Re: Senate approves FDA regulation

Gosh — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:29:18 -0400

Wow, only 17 votes for Burr and two were his own and Hagans?

He sucks.

Re: Tobacco farmers head to Washington

debbieh57 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:14:20 -0400

I would say that tobacco is probably about as useful as alcohol, french fries, hamburgers, MP3 players, cake and ice cream, a 12 oz sirloin and the carcinogens generated by the charcoal you cook it with; but the point is, it is the freedom of choice we have as adults to consume these products or not. No one thinks kids should smoke. That is a decision they will make for themselves when they reach adulthood. The fact that it is illegal for minors to drink alcohol, smoke marijuana, use crack or meth, or snort cocaine certainly doesn't stop the children of this nation from using those illegal products. Many of our problems exist because of irresponsible, unattentive, and incapable parents that lack the disciplinary skills to raise children. This sorry bunch had rather see government pass laws to keep their children on the straight and narrow than to raise them themselves...what a cope out!!!!! Oh by the way, there is not one penny of taxpayer money that subsidizes tobacco farming in any way!!!! But on the other hand EVERY acre of tobacco grown generates two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) in cigarette excise taxes which is used by the government to create programs to raise people's children for them!

Re: Tobacco farmers head to Washington

Kingixolib — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:28:27 -0400

Same as drugs......it helps grease the slide into office for many in this country.

Re: Tobacco farmers head to Washington

j1c2kp — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:26:09 -0400

I understand that tobacco put food on the table, kids through college, etc. But what I cannot figure out is why a product that has no purpose except to possibly give people cancer is still subsidized by taxpayers. What other purpose is there to tobacco?

Re: Burr speaks out again on FDA

cdtew — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:16:03 -0400

A) This is a bipartisan effort from both NC senators. Get a grip or get out.

B) Victims is a funny thing to call people who smoke. I don't see many "murder victims" or "rape victims" paying their attackers repeatedly to harm them.

Re: Burr speaks out again on FDA

interested860 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:10:08 -0400

Is tomorrow's tie dark brown like the lungs of his tobacco god's victims?

Re: Burr speaks out again on FDA

interested860 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:08:31 -0400

He works HARD for the tobacco money!

Re: No clear line of attack on Burr

Gosh — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:47:44 -0400

There you go again Gosh.

I know! What is it with me and stating the obvious?

It's almost like I get it.

We shall see if Burr's handlers do.

Re: No clear line of attack on Burr

lpetrou — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:41:48 -0400

There you go again Gosh. Senator Burr has been a good senator. He has paid attention to his constituent service (unless our other Senator who is following in Edward's footsteps by not responding to her constituents). He is home almost every weekend traveling the state meeting people and speaking at events. I also think it is a really long shot and a huge reach to insinuate that Dr. John Dinan is in Burr's pocket and that he defends him all the time.

Re: Burr: Tobacco bill would weaken FDA

Gosh — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:15:40 -0400

I couldn't agree more on mostly all counts.

I'm not generally the "love-it-or-leave-it" type, but if people move to this state, complain about its folks and its culture, but simultaneously benefit from them monetarily and otherwise, then they are no better than common scoundrels, and I will smile the day they pack their cars and go back up I-95 where they belong.

As for your other point, I won't cry buckets if Burr wins. But I will make him as moderate as possible along the way.

Kay is already doing a better job at that in months than Burr did in years under Bush/Rove's thumb. He'll come around, or he'll lose.

Re: No clear line of attack on Burr

cdtew — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:29:59 -0400

I think if Burr keeps clear of any too-personal attacks a-la "there is no god", he's got everything Dole didn't. The public's perception of him is unlike two of our former Senators, Dole and Edwards, he works hard, and cares deeply about the state. He's certainly not weak by any stretch, and although some candidates (Cunningham, for one) could give him a hell of a run, I think Burr ends up back in Washington in 2010.

Re: Burr: Tobacco bill would weaken FDA

cdtew — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:26:21 -0400

I should also state that I believe the criticism of Burr and Hagan comes from people who are undeserving to be citizens of North Carolina. I'm not opposed to people coming here for our jobs, climate or quaint political scandals, but if you move here, you must accept the culture of the place.

Tobacco is not a nameless, faceless conglomerate. Tobacco is 12,000 farmers east of Raleigh; it is many more thousands of blue collar workers in Forsyth County, Guilford County and Cabarrus county; it is everyone who has ever worked for RJR or Lorillard, and holds a pension with them -- in essence, it is a substantial part of the culture.

I'm not generally the "love-it-or-leave-it" type, but if people move to this state, complain about its folks and its culture, but simultaneously benefit from them monetarily and otherwise, then they are no better than common scoundrels, and I will smile the day they pack their cars and go back up I-95 where they belong.

Re: Burr: Tobacco bill would weaken FDA

cdtew — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:20:21 -0400

Gosh,

As a great believer in Senate decorum and the rules associated with junior senators, I appreciate fully Kay Hagan's choice to spend her time speaking about this issue, which, as commentors below indicate, is fully unappreciated. I think it's great to have two senators who can work together, across the aisle on these issues (reminiscent of a Strom Thurmond - Fritz Hollings relationship, to cite an example from the lesser Carolina).

My concern is twofold:

(1) That as the commentors below demonstrate, too many people in this state, whether they be young or newcomers, fail to realize the devastating impact that further weakening the tobacco industry would have on North Carolina, and as a subset:
(a) that this actually AIDS big tobacco, in the form of Philip Morris (of Virginia), who has the funds to get around such restrictions and
(b) simultaneously hurts NC tobacco companies.

There should be some sort of mentality in that, either we should let them (RJR and PM) both be, or we should totally destroy both. This is an example of government picking which companies are allowed to thrive, and which are allowed to languish under regulations.

and (2) This is an example of why NC needs to be a 2-party senate seat state. I'm a republican, but I'm fully willing to admit the need for one Democrat senator. There are too many Democrats in this state to be represented by two republicans, but the democrats need to realize the same thing works in reverse.

I realize no party would ever agree to this arrangement, but it seems that we're a state that needs both a John Edwards and a Jesse Helms. Of course, both sides find something objectionable about each, but you get what I'm saying in terms of archetypes, at least.

This is all just musings, though, and as for point (2), I will continue as a Republican to campaign for Republican candidates, as that dreamy little idea is an impossible fiction.

Re: No clear line of attack on Burr

Gosh — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:39:47 -0400

I hope this 'bullet dodged' meme takes hold in mainstream media, elevating Burr to as "safe" an incumbent as 'political science professors' anointed Dole.

As for the 'likable' differentiation from Dole asserted by Burr's neighbor John Dinan, Monday morning quarterback much?

Dole literally wore a tierra awarded her by the Red Cross as the most adorable mistress a failed Presidential candidate ever had. It's the South and you still can't attack a woman. Dole's staff forgot that when they went after Godless, fibber Kay.

Thus proving it all comes down to staff, not the candidate. Burr's has shown an incredible proclivity to making a bank run on stupidity thus far.

My money's still on the random yellow dog.