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spacefreak · 06:45 PM

Looks like Obama's smoking cigarettes again. I wonder how this came about. Was he ripping some cigs with members of his press corps?

Senator Barack Obama told reporters in St. Louis today that he has fallen off the wagon and smoked cigarettes in the last few months.

Political Radar: Obama Admits Smoking Cigarettes in Last Few Months

Also of interest, Obama's lack of disclosure of his medical records.

The release of a scant one-page summary for 21 years of care brought some criticism to the Obama campaign – especially when compared to the thousands of pages of medical records released by McCain.

I wonder what Obama is hiding about his health. A single page of records is quite sketchy.

As for the smoking, I feel that when I see him being covered on TV, he's got those constant "I need a cigarette" thoughts going though his mind. Smokers and ex-smokers know what I mean. The focus on getting a hit creeps in and out of the brain regularly.

I also wonder if - should Obama become President - if the Oval Office will have that constant smoke haze that was so prevalent in teachers' lounges back when I was growing up.

Randman · Jun 11, 2008, 06:49 PM

I've thought about not voting for him just because he is a smoker.

besson3c · Jun 11, 2008, 06:58 PM

In other news: Obama likes pineapple on his pizza.

spacefreak · Jun 11, 2008, 07:02 PM

I don't know that smoking alone is a reason to vote for someone or not. I think the scant release of his medical records is more of a headscratcher.

However, I know that when smokers need their fix, the pangs can occupy much of the mind at any given time. I think I'd almost prefer him smoking regularly and out in the open. At least he'd be constantly feeding his addiction and not jonesing all the time for the next private moment he can get to light up.

Closet smokers have it much worse than confirmed smokers, because there's that whole got-to-get-into-hiding reaction when the withdrawal pangs get intense. Confirmed smokers simpy don't care and light up wherever they want, carrying on with their lives uninterrupted.

Uncle Skeleton · Jun 11, 2008, 07:03 PM

Yeah, call me when he starts smoking crack, like our current president did

Mithras · Jun 11, 2008, 07:09 PM

I suspect that, unlike McCain, he doesn't have 40 years of serious medical issues to release information about. He's a forty-something guy who smokes. So he probably has slightly elevated blood pressure, and not much else interesting.

spacefreak · 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton

Yeah, call me when he starts smoking crack, like our current president did.

I was talking about smoking tobacco. If cigarette-smoking Presidents don't bother you, that's fine. It's the closet-smoker thing that alters my perception of Obama.

If you want some Obama smoking crack information, maybe forward your phone number to Larry Sinclair and ask him. He claims to have seen Obama smoking crack as recent as 1999. He says Obama hooked him up with an 8-ball of blow as well, amongst other things. You can reach him here: Larry Sinclair Obama Drug Scandal

Tony Rezko and Stuart Levine might also have some information on Obama and whether or not he smoked crack. Apparently, their little crew had some good ol' times at the Purple Hotel.

Fast times at Purple Hotel :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Tony Rezko

That's all I can help with you with regarding the crack stuff.

besson3c · Jun 11, 2008, 07:18 PM

You know that Sinclair was offered $100,000 if he could pass a lie detector test and couldn't, right?

Really, all of the issues and debates we have at our fingertips just awaiting our attention, and you want to obsess over tabloid gossip? I pay good money for my internet connection, please stop sucking all over the place spacefreak!

spacefreak · Jun 11, 2008, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Mithras

I suspect that, unlike McCain, he doesn't have 40 years of serious medical issues to release information about. He's a forty-something guy who smokes. So he probably has slightly elevated blood pressure, and not much else interesting.

So we're just supposed to take Obama's word for it while demanding thousands of pages of medical info from McCain?

McCain chose to disclose his skin cancer battles each and every time. He surely could have hid it from the public if he wanted to take the Obama tact.

Chuckit · Jun 11, 2008, 07:30 PM

Wow, you're really scraping the bottom of the barrel here.

Randman · Jun 11, 2008, 07:31 PM

I like pineapple on my pizza, btw.

besson3c · Jun 11, 2008, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by spacefreak

So we're just supposed to take Obama's word for it while demanding thousands of pages of medical info from McCain?

McCain chose to disclose his skin cancer battles each and every time. He surely could have hid it from the public if he wanted to take the Obama tact.

What would possibly require thousands of pages of documentation with a clean bill of health anyway?

Seriously, leaving the stupid partisan football aside (which this obviously is), what could have possibly required thousands of pages of documentation in McCain's records anyway?

spacefreak · 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

You know that Sinclair was offered $100,000 if he could pass a lie detector test and couldn't, right?

I know that was the premise. I also know that the "Doctor" doing the analysis by Whitehouse.com isn't really a doctor. And I know that Sinclair's results yielded a "No Deception indicated" when fed through a PolyScore, with a probability of deception being less than 1%. Too bad the digital data was immediately pulled from Whitehouse.com's site. It would be interesting if others had access to the raw data and not just the fake doctor's human analysis. Though to be fair, the fake doctor has done a bunch of polygraph work, but misrepresentation of one's credentials never goes over well.

Also of interest is why Whitehouse.com all of a sudden ditched their famous and prosperous porn business to instead display a run-of-the-mill blog site that simply publishes some RSS feeds. Surely they aren't making the money they were with porn. It's like Penthouse Magazine switching over to a single-page, photocopied church bulletin as their product. It doesn't make sense. Makes one wonder how the operator is paying their bills these days. There's not even any Adsense ads or similar on the site.

Semi-related are the 3 gay Trinity Church members who were each shot execution style in the back of the head over the past 6 months. One of them supposedly had numerous conversations with Larry Sinclair regarding Obama, as per filed affidavits with the Chicago PD. At the very least, some of this stuff makes for good fodder.

Originally Posted by besson3c

Really, all of the issues and debates we have at our fingertips just awaiting our attention, and you want to obsess over tabloid gossip?

Uncle Skeleton wanted someone to contact him about Obama smoking crack. Rumor or not, I figured I'd at least point him to some places where information may exist. If he didn't make the request, I wouldn't have responded.

People have the ability to multitask, or at least many of us do. And I'm not an elected official, so any time I spend entertaining myself is on my dollar, and at my discretion. It's not like the candidates or parties are frequently visiting a sub-forum of a sub-forum of this Apple-centric message board, looking for guidance on policy.

spacefreak · Jun 11, 2008, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Seriously, leaving the stupid partisan football aside (which this obviously is), what could have possibly required thousands of pages of documentation in McCain's records anyway?

I think that McCain figured he has nothing to hide, and if people were going to ask, he may as well just toss the whole thing their way and move on with his life.

On a different note, I also recently used "football" in a non-sports context. I was talking with a friend and telling them that 'football" was what they called the suitcase containing the nuclear weapon launch codes that travels with the President.

besson3c · Jun 11, 2008, 08:22 PM

But what I'm asking is how the "whole thing" could possibly be thousands of pages? John Stewart said it best: is each page written with 64 point fonts?

Consider my question applicable to any medical records at any time, any context...

Randman · Jun 11, 2008, 08:29 PM

McCain has numerous injuries from his PoW days. Add to that his cancer and his age and he's likely to have a large medical file. Especially being able to get care from the best private or military doctors. Not surprisingly at all. All in all, he seems pretty active and fit for his age.

spacefreak · Jun 11, 2008, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

But what I'm asking is how the "whole thing" could possibly be thousands of pages? John Stewart said it best: is each page written with 64 point fonts?

Consider my question applicable to any medical records at any time, any context...

I wish I could answer, but I don't even know how many pages the totality of my medical records consist of. I figure every doctor's visit yields a few pages. Testing at different facilities likely yields a bunch more.

McCain suffered major injuries as a POW, and had to get a bunch of surgeries when he returned. 1973... not so many computers in those days. And for every handwritten page of doctor's notes, there are probably typed versions as well.

Maybe we can find a cancer survivor and see how many pages they estimate their medical dossier to be.

BRussell · Jun 11, 2008, 09:14 PM

If anything makes me confident that Obama will win, it's threads like this.

- - e r i k - - · Jun 11, 2008, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Wow, you're really scraping the bottom of the barrel here.

My thoughts exactly. I mean, seriously... WTF?

Mithras · Jun 11, 2008, 10:16 PM

How do you square "closet smoker" with "Obama told reporters today..."?

spacefreak · 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by BRussell

If anything makes me confident that Obama will win, it's threads like this.

I almost posted in an older Obama smoking thread that I started way back when, but I thought I saw that besson3c dislikes when people do that. So I figured I'd honor his wishes.

You remember that thread, BRussell... I know you were optimistic back in February of 2007.

Originally Posted by BRussell

Latest news on cigarette-gate: Obama has quit smoking (or is trying to).

If so many weren't so rabidly anti-smoking, I wouldn't bother posting these Obama smoking updates. I just like to see certain anti-smoking folks (who rabidly rail against smokers) dismiss it as no big deal when their favorite presidential candidate is sneaking off and ripping butts.

spacefreak · Jun 11, 2008, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by Mithras

How do you square "closet smoker" with "Obama told reporters today..."?

"Closet" was likely not the best term, but I couldn't think of a better one. He hides his smoking. He fights his cravings and refrains when in front of cameras or reporters (that we know of). He downplays his addiction and usage. That's what I meant by "closet".

Dakar the Fourth · Jun 11, 2008, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by spacefreak

"Closet" was likely not the best term, but I couldn't think of a better one. He hides his smoking. He fights his cravings and refrains when in front of cameras or reporters (that we know of). He downplays his addiction and usage. That's what I meant by "closet".

I'm sure if he were open about people would whine and complain that he was setting a bad example for America's youth.

Get real.

tie · Jun 11, 2008, 10:49 PM

I'm going to vote for McCain unless Obama releases at least as many pages of medical information as McCain did. If Obama claims to represent "change," then he should be held to a higher standard of disclosure.

Chuckit · Jun 11, 2008, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by tie

I'm going to vote for McCain unless Obama releases at least as many pages of medical information as McCain did. If Obama claims to represent "change," then he should be held to a higher standard of disclosure.

You want Obama to fabricate thousands of pages of medical info?

ironknee · Jun 11, 2008, 11:04 PM

i wonder how much he pays for aa pack...here in NYC it's $9/pack

anyone know of a good online place?

Luca Rescigno · Jun 11, 2008, 11:10 PM

I might point out that Ulysses S. Grant had a campaign song called "A-Smokin' His Cigar."

art_director · Jun 11, 2008, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by spacefreak

So we're just supposed to take Obama's word for it while demanding thousands of pages of medical info from McCain?

I'm not in favor of combing through the medical records of anyone for any reason. Is John McCain old? Yes, so what? Does Barrack Obama smoke -- whether in hiding or in the open? Appears to be true. So what?

I echo the earlier reasonable question about why anyone is bothering with this tabloid news when far more pressing issues face the nation and our future leadership.

Finally, allow me to remind that we've had presidents die in office. We all know the VP steps in. Remember that when you vote for candidate X in November.

Randman · Jun 11, 2008, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by art_director

Finally, allow me to remind that we've had presidents die in office. We all know the VP steps in. Remember that when you vote for candidate X in November.

By assassination as well, as Hillary so nicely put it. In fact, death by unnatural causes is more common to sitting presidents this century and the last.

art_director · Jun 11, 2008, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

By assassination as well, as Hillary so nicely put it. In fact, death by unnatural causes is more common to sitting presidents this century and the last.

You just made me spit beer all over my monitor. Too damn funny.

spacefreak · 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by art_director

I echo the earlier reasonable question about why anyone is bothering with this tabloid news when far more pressing issues face the nation and our future leadership.

Didn't we have pressing issues when folks on the left branded GWB as a cokehead, a pot smoker, and a "heavy" alcoholic?

OldManMac · Jun 11, 2008, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by spacefreak

Didn't we have pressing issues when folks on the left branded GWB as a cokehead, a pot smoker, and a "heavy" alcoholic?

There's a huge difference between being an alcoholic, a cokehead, or a pot smoker, and a cigarette smoker, and you know that (or you should, and if you don't then there's a much bigger problem). It's quite obvious you're trolling here; grow up and give it a rest.

Shaddim · Jun 12, 2008, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by BRussell

If anything makes me confident that Obama will win, it's threads like this.

Actually, I was thinking, "wow, Obama must be in trouble if his toadies are reacting like this to his nicotine addiction".

art_director · Jun 12, 2008, 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by spacefreak

Didn't we have pressing issues when folks on the left branded GWB as a cokehead, a pot smoker, and a "heavy" alcoholic?

Let's just say, for sake of discussion, George W. Bush was caught on tape saying I wouldn’t answer the marijuana questions ... Because I don’t want some little kid doing what I tried. Would that be GWB branding himself as a pot smoker or would that be folks on the left doing the dirty work?

Similarly, would my comments, which you cite, be my convicting or invading the privacy of a person who, on tape, said ... alcohol began to compete with my energies ... I'd lose focus ... ???

Now, since your reading comprehension is, well, lacking, allow me to restate what I posted earlier:

I'm not in favor of combing through the medical records of anyone for any reason.

Let's stay on topic, K ?

CRASH HARDDRIVE · Jun 12, 2008, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by spacefreak

If so many weren't so rabidly anti-smoking, I wouldn't bother posting these Obama smoking updates. I just like to see certain anti-smoking folks (who rabidly rail against smokers) dismiss it as no big deal when their favorite presidential candidate is sneaking off and ripping butts.

Every smoker is "trying to quit" and yet sneaks off and smokes even though they consciously know they shouldn't.

It's not a big deal. Just typical smoker behavior. It might be a big deal of Obama himself were some huge anti-smoking proponent, but I haven't seen that he is.

besson3c · Jun 12, 2008, 12:22 AM

John McCain has his own brand of fruit punch!

Atomic Rooster · Jun 12, 2008, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

In other news: Obama likes pineapple on his pizza.

Yeah but does he inhale...ahhh, I mean chew them?

Whoever started putting pineapple on pizza should be made to smoke cigarettes one after the other till they spew black-green slime from their lungs.

That's what I think.

spacefreak · Jun 12, 2008, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by OldManMac

There's a huge difference between being an alcoholic, a cokehead, or a pot smoker, and a cigarette smoker, and you know that (or you should, and if you don't then there's a much bigger problem).

Oh, I wasn't necessarily only referring to cigarettes with regards to Obama. We all know about his admitted usage of illegal substances. My reply was to the "Don't say anything negative about Obama, because we have more important issues facing our nation" crowd who just got back from writing asinine things about GWB.

Originally Posted by OldManMac

It's quite obvious you're trolling here; grow up and give it a rest.

Did I touch a nerve? Has your little Mac message board experience been so hurt by this thread? If so, I suggest using the "ignore" feature on me. That's probably best, for I am not going to refrain from posting here, and I don't want any more of my posts to inadvertently anger you.

spacefreak · Jun 12, 2008, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by art_director

Let's just say, for sake of discussion, George W. Bush was caught on tape saying... marijuana ... alcohol... in the past ...

We have so many more important issues facing us, right? That's the company line on any examination of Obama. You said it yourself.

Why do you and others constantly respond to any examination of Obama with the reply that there "so many other important issues facing our nation", yet when GWB is on topic, these issues of such importance fail to garner attention or even a mention as you and/or others lay into the President?

besson3c · Jun 12, 2008, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by spacefreak

Oh, I wasn't necessarily only referring to cigarettes with regards to Obama. We all know about his admitted usage of illegal substances. My reply was to the "Don't say anything negative about Obama, because we have more important issues facing our nation" crowd who just got back from writing asinine things about GWB.

Did I touch a nerve? Has your little Mac message board experience been so hurt by this thread? If so, I suggest using the "ignore" feature on me. That's probably best, for I am not going to refrain from posting here, and I don't want any more of my posts to inadvertently anger you.

Why do you feel the overwhelming need to defend Bush (or any politician in general) anyway? If you did feel that somebody's chiding of Bush was wrong, how does your posts here make the action right? Isn't targeted retaliation one of the accepted definitions of trolling? Why do you feel the need to retaliate anyway? Who here thinks that Obama can do no wrong?

BadKosh · Jun 12, 2008, 01:01 PM

Yes, despite KNOWING cigarettes are BAD FOR YOU, 0bama is doing it. Self destructive behavior. Nice. Addictive personality. Easy to compromise.

paul w · Jun 12, 2008, 01:05 PM

^Agreed, this is why I can't wait until the day we start electing robot presidents.

MacosNerd · Jun 12, 2008, 01:09 PM

Its a semi-free nation and he's free to smoke if wishes. Hillary was banging down drinks, nobody was commenting on her destructive behavior AFAIK.

Who cares, if the man wants to smoke, fine. He's an adult and he's fully aware of the risks.

tie · Jun 12, 2008, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by spacefreak

Why do you and others constantly respond to any examination of Obama with the reply that there "so many other important issues facing our nation", yet when GWB is on topic, these issues of such importance fail to garner attention or even a mention as you and/or others lay into the President?

Almost every post in this forum "laying into" GWB talks about Iraq/Katrina/the economy/everything else GWB has touched that he has ruined. It is you who refuses to talk about any of these real-world issues and instead starts ridiculous threads on smoking.

besson3c · Jun 12, 2008, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by BadKosh

Yes, despite KNOWING cigarettes are BAD FOR YOU, 0bama is doing it. Self destructive behavior. Nice. Addictive personality. Easy to compromise.

The leaps you are taking here are absolutely staggering. One addiction and he has an addictive personality (assuming you are speaking to this in a clinical sense)? Easy to compromise? How the hell did you reach that conclusion, or was this simply a tangential emotional response of yours?

besson3c · Jun 12, 2008, 01:58 PM

I want to know what you Republicans in here really thought of the whole "terrorist fist bump" story when you heard it? Part of me *really* wants to believe that even most of you thought that was a pretty ridiculous story, but perhaps I'm being overly naive...

chris v · Jun 12, 2008, 02:03 PM

Let's see... on the one hand, we've got endless war, fear, fear, and more fear, unfettered corporatism and lobbyists running the White House, a profound misunderstanding of the Middle-East, an acknowledged weakness of understanding "the economy," endless stupid gaffes, misstatements, and bewilderment...

and on he other hand, we've got...

Cigarettes.

Strong work, there, opposition party.

Think I'll go smoke one now, in his honor.

@pplejaxkz · Jun 12, 2008, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by BadKosh

Yes, despite KNOWING cigarettes are BAD FOR YOU, 0bama is doing it. Self destructive behavior. Nice. Addictive personality. Easy to compromise.

These thought make me a little uneasy when I think of him being my president. I think I would still vote for him though.

spacefreak · Jun 12, 2008, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Why do you feel the overwhelming need to defend Bush (or any politician in general) anyway? If you did feel that somebody's chiding of Bush was wrong, how does your posts here make the action right? Isn't targeted retaliation one of the accepted definitions of trolling? Why do you feel the need to retaliate anyway? Who here thinks that Obama can do no wrong?

I clearly explained my issue with people who rip GWB for things like past alcohol and/or drug abuse, or speaking gaffes, or alleged lying, then when the focus is similarly on Obama, they'll respond with stuff like "There are far far far more important things for us to be talking about as a nation than this crap."

chris v · Jun 12, 2008, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

I want to know what you Republicans in here really thought of the whole "terrorist fist bump" story when you heard it? Part of me *really* wants to believe that even most of you thought that was a pretty ridiculous story, but perhaps I'm being overly naive...

I think her show got cancelled right after that. Even Fox stood up and took notice of that utter idiocy. I hope we don't see anyone here lending credence to that. My former boss, (left the company a few months ago) a white, male, staunch republican, a really nice guy, was prone to giving fist bumps as a sort of "way to go!" when things were going good. That was one of the most desperately-bereft-of-class-and-substance attempts I have ever seen to tie the word "terrorist" to a politician. There shouldn't be anything but shame coming from any side on that bit of stupidity.