St. Paul Sen. Pappas apologizes for St. Paul council's Thune

Dave Thune is apparently a "p0ster child" for the anti-smoking "bullies" who can "dish it out but not take it." There was a proposal before the MN legislature all the option of having bars close at 4AM during the Republican National Convention. I have no opinion on this and it is not related to the "smoking theater" issue.

Dave Thune represents downtown St. Paul in the St. Paul City Council. Thune is suspected of being the person who personally "rolls up the sidewalks in downtown St. Paul at 7PM every evening. Dave Thune opined on the proposed convention 4AM closing.

“I got 8,000 people who live downtown who don't want a bunch of Republican lobbyists puking on the streets,” Thune who represents downtown and eastern Grand Avenue, said Wednesday Tuesday. The city council voted 4-3 not to back the later bar closing." http://blogs.twincities.com/politics/2008/04/st_paul_sen_pappas_apologizes.html

First off, I certainly believe that convention planners should address democrat Dave Thune's concern by, to as great of an extent as possible, avoid booking events or recommending patronage of hospitality industry businesses in Dave Thune's district to ally Thune's fear of "puking republicans". The Twin Cities is ten times the size of St. Paul so so many other hospitality venues should be available that have not expressed objection to "puking republicans".

Dave Thune hasn't apologised for his remarks but a "proxy" apoligy (with no indication that Dave Thune approved that message) by the "foul mouthed" MN State Senator Sandy Pappas. (who voted for the so-called "Freedom to Breath act".

Dave Thune, a smoker at the time, was the chief proponent of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Hennepin County smoking bans. http://citypages.com/databank/25/1228/article12211.asp
As I recall, Thune was in a band that played at bars and also cited this "workplace" exposure to second hand smoke. Thune is no doubt "protected" from such smoke exposure since the demand for band by bars has decreased dramatically following the bar smoking bans. This has be chronicaled in this blog. http://freedomtoact.blogspot.com/2008/03/letter-to-elected-officials-from.html

Thunes insensitive, hateful and stereotyped comments clearly demonstrate dramatically how many anti-smoking "advocates" feel they have some sort of licence to be thugs, bullies and jerks. I hear this from a lot of people, even those who hope that fewer people smoke in the future. They are very uncomfortable with the increased "thuggery" of the anti-smoking "advocates".

We can envision "bully" Dave Thune hiding behind "mommy Pappas's skirt" when his bullying and thuggery gets Thune into trouble. (hint: a great idea for an editorial type cartoon either for a publication of from a reader who can draw.) Greg Lang