Cigar Database | Regional Listings | Crawls | Special Deals | Health Issues |
Our wives generally consider our columns to be nothing more than a collection of sophomoric drivel - a harmless and unproductive pastime that serves as an alternative to doing something constructive around the house. They are basically correct, of course, but they fail to recognize the subtle socio-political analysis that is sometimes embedded in our work.
Our readers are more perceptive. For examples in our September entry, we predicted that the president would not survive if the cigar he " shared" with Monica was, in fact, Cuban. Afterwards, we received the following E-mail from Richard S. concerning our comments on the Clinton/Lewinski situation:
" You were right on in your analysis of the potential outcome of the current Washington scene. You all ought to become 'talking heads'. After all, your insight is much more probing than any of the regulars on the nightly cable screaming matches."
Richard was very astute. He went on to add the following:
" I am concerned that your prognostication may be correct. I feel that just as those who oppose the Special Counsel law have used this as a basis for its non-renewal, we cigar smokers must stand up and be counted. If, heaven forbid, the president is removed from office for smoking a Cuban cigar, whether or not flavored, (Was that really necessary, Richard?) we may just be in a position to have the embargo removed. In fact, just the possibility that impeachment and trial may occur for smoking a Cuban should be sufficient to launch a campaign for lifting the embargo."
Richard's comments are on target. It is poetic justice that the president is catching flak over a Cuban cigar since it was his administration that ordered a step-up in enforcement at the border.
On our last trip to the Bahamas, a U. S. Customs agent specifically asked us "Are you bringing any Cuban cigars into the Country?" We simply and truthfully replied "no" but if we had followed the president's recent example, we would have replied as follows:
"It depends what you mean by 'are'. In the pluperfect subjunctive sense, and under definition one, we don't think so, but we can't recall for certain. Sometimes you are, but you don't feel that you are. How many cigars are you talking about, anyway?"
We believe that Mr. Clinton is very vulnerable here. His personal life may be his business, but no amount of spin can explain the possession of an illegal Habano. Why should the president be allowed to enjoy a fresh Montecristo and a poorer working man has to smoke one that entered the country in somebody's sweat sock? If the allegations are true, Mr. Clinton must immediately open our borders to Cuban smokes if he is to save his presidency.
Richard S. closed out his E-mail to us with the following suggestion:
"You guys (cigar guys) must have a large and faithful following, and you are probably in the best position to launch the massive grass roots campaign to make Habanos legal. Need I say more?'
Richard is right. Stand up and be counted. We encourage all six or seven of you who comprise our faithful following to participate in the campaign. You can do so by visiting the White House web site at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/principals.html.
The site provides a graphical user interface for sending email to the president. Request that the president lift the cigar embargo. Our letter to the president is printed below but feel free to draft your own request. You will receive an electronic acknowledgement of receipt from the White House.
|
Dear Mr. President: Well! You really stepped in it this time, but we will help you. We are members of an Internet Cigar Group, an association of perhaps 180,000 cigar enthusiasts. We will offer our full support including e-mail to our congressmen, senators and fellow enthusiasts urging a timely, fair and relatively painless settlement of the current controversy. In return, we respectfully request that you take steps to lift the ban on the importation of Cuban cigars. The cold war is over, Castro has hosted the Pope, and Che Guevara is long gone. Cuba is unlikely to threaten its neighbors. Besides, the Cuban cigar factories are running at capacity anyway so we would not be giving a significant boost to the Cuban economy. We recognize and respect the opposing viewpoint held by many Cuban-Americans but it seems incongruous that we can normalize relations with Vietnam and offer most favored nation trading status to China, yet continue to ban some of the world's best tobacco from our shores . You are obviously a man who appreciates a good cigar. I hope you will give serious consideration to our request. Very truly yours,
The Cigar Guys |
Our wives generally consider our columns to be nothing more than a collection of sophomoric drivel - a harmless and unproductive pastime that serves as an alternative to doing something constructive around the house. They are basically correct, of course, but they fail to recognize the subtle socio-political analysis that is sometimes embedded in our work.
It just doesn't get any better.
The Cigar Guys
P. S. Check out ESPN's Football challenge sites at espn.com ,click on fantasy games. Look for the Cigar Guys groups in each contest and see how we are doing against others from around the USA. Notice the Cigar Guys are more than holding their own.
Also e-mail us a copy of your letters to the president and we may print a few in our later entries. Now lets get out there and vote on Nov. 3rd.
You can 
The Cigar Guys at: tbill@enter.net for any comments or questions.
Go to previous journal entry.
Go to next journal entry.
Return to Cigar Journal Index.