Clearing The Air

Anti free market group ASH outraged over best workplace nomination of tobacco company

2009-11-24T07:30:00.003-06:00

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and Te Reo Marama are calling for the immediate withdrawal of tobacco company, British American Tobacco (BAT) as a finalist for the JRA Best Workplaces Awards....“One out of two BAT customers dies from smoking. Working for them is being a merchant of death, and trying to polish that with awards for being a great workplace is a pathetic attempt to mask this reality from their employees,” said Mr Youdan.

I have a question Mr Youdan, 7 out of 10 establishments forced to conform to behavioral control legislation (smoking bans) your group is paid to lobby; lose significant customers and eventually layoff employees. What happens to the health of those unemployed hospitality workers and our economy?

Smoking is back in NYC clubs

2009-11-19T21:54:00.003-06:00

Mayor Bloomberg's 2003 law was meant to effectively eliminate all smoking inside bars, and for a while it seemed to work...By 2006, indoor smoking seemed to slowly reappear, starting with a handful of tiny little joints popular with A-list crowds and quickly spreading to just about any and every lounge and club with a doorman and a rope. Now, as soon as one person lights up, the rest of the smoking sheep follow along, and before can say Joe Camel, the whole room is filled with sweet Carolina smoke.

More from the article found here.

Smoking bans obviously don't work, there are now more smokers in the U.S. than before the bans. The lasting legacy of smoke free laws by special interests like J & J / RWJF who profited from them, will be that they caused the closure of tens of thousands of hospitality establishments; eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs, with NO benefit of decreasing smoking rates . It's no wonder that more and more establishments are opting to ignore the behavioral control legislation.

Ohio groups finds massive fraud and alleges illegal activity involved in enacting statewide smoking ban

2009-11-14T11:30:00.004-06:00

Opponents of Ohio's indoor-smoking ban said yesterday that they have uncovered evidence of "massive" voter fraud on the part of ban proponents..

The group, Opponents of Ohio Bans, said the petition that placed the smoking ban on the 2006 statewide ballot was tainted by numerous irregularities, such as 47 felons gathering signatures and signature-gatherers in 77 counties wrongly listing the American Cancer Society as their employer....That is not allowed under state law.

The new allegations mirror claims raised during the 2006 campaign. However, opponents of the ban say there's now even stronger evidence of wrongdoing.

"What we found is astonishing," said Pam Parker, co-owner of Parker's Tavern in Grove City and co-chairwoman of Opponents of Ohio Bans. "There are petitions that never should have been validated."

They are also threatening a class action lawsuit for the hundreds of bars they claim went out of business because of the ban.

"We're losing money in our businesses because this never should have gone to a vote and it went to a vote anyway. Winter's coming and we're not going to have the few customers we do have, because they aren't going to go outside and smoke," said Pam Parker from Parker's Tavern in Grove City.....who spoke yesterday at a news conference with Pat Carroll, president of the Buckeye State Liquor Permit Holders Association.

More online here.

Ohio's experience with business closings and job losses due to smoking ban is not unique. Around the globe tens of thousands of establishments have closed due to unnecessary rent seeking, government over-regulation......eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Though governments have banned smoking and increased tobacco taxes the number of smokers has increased

2009-11-12T19:47:00.010-06:00

Even though special interest organizations, like Nicoderm & Nicorette manufacturer Johnson & Johnson Company's Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), have spent hundreds of millions of dollars funding intermediaries like American Lung Association etc. to lobby for smoking bans and increased taxes.....the total number of smokers has actually increased.

The lasting legacy of smoke free laws by special interests like J & J / RWJF who profited from them, will be that they caused the closure of tens of thousands of hospitality establishments; eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs, with NO benefit of decreasing smoking rates.

Update: Greek officials re-evaluate smoking ban amid reports of "significant decrease in business," an association of about 16,000 owners said.

U.S. House Democrats pass govt healthcare takeover. RWJF's role should not be overlooked

2009-11-08T11:48:00.012-06:00

House Democrats passed the most wasteful, disastrous, soon to be greatest contributing downfall to the American dream ever.....Obama-care.

Though the majority of Americans are opposed to government take-over of healthcare, Democrats threw caution to the wind, in what will be for most, their last year in congress.

And to bring the story full circle in regards to CTA, RWJF played a prominent role in "educating" lawmakers about the bogus need for socialized medicine (J & J). Much the same way as RWJF lobbied lawmakers for the false need for smoking bans.....in order to increase alternative nicotine product demand for RWJF's partner J & J Co. drugs (such as Nicoderm)....a practice better known as rent seeking legislation.

Update: Another non-profit, the American Lung Association, which was paid $99 million to sell alternative nicotine drugs (lobby in favor of smoking bans) by J & J Company's partner, RWJF; chimes in to lobby for socialized healthcare.

Unlike smoking bans however, government healthcare takeover provides a very real political benefit to Democrat lawmakers.....after gaining control of 1/6th of the U.S. economy, they will no doubt push for unionization of the entire industry....voila massive new Democrat voter block. And now firmly in control of every American life, cradle to grave, Americans will become dependent upon this new government welfare system......voila massive new Democrat voter block. The very real danger of course becomes an all controlling, one party, government tyranny which may never be over-thrown without violent revolution.

Observation: Democrats are cutting Medicare to pass Obamacare which will insure 10% Americans. Why not insure those 10% uninsured with Medicare and kill government reform which will destroy private healthcare for the other 90% of Americans.

Courtroom showdown at the may not be OK, South Dakota smoking ban saga, corral

2009-11-06T12:30:00.005-06:00

The 2009 SD legislature enacted another* smoking ban, which was challenged by local residents and business owners. Having garnered enough signatures to put the newly proposed law to a November ballot vote....the new law was successfully delayed.

Until Secretary of State Nelson arbitrarily disqualified some of the signatures, making the statewide smoking ban effective immediately.......

But hold on to your bootstraps partner, a court appeal reversed Nelson's ruling until the proposed new law had it's day in court slated for Nov 12, 2009 to get to the bottom of this Nicoderm funded soap opera.

More detail can be found here:

*I stated earlier "another smoking ban", because South Dakota already has a smoking ban in place, information on that can be found here:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2006/07/lawmakers-looking-for-common-sense.html

Meanwhile Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Nicorette beneficiary RWJF is no doubt making a mad dash the the South Dakota border, probably thru one of their intermediaries, with a wheelbarrow full of cash.....er I guess they call them "grants"

Update 11/14/09: Smoking ban opponents victorious in court decision, statewide smoking ban delayed until South Dakota voters decide Nov. 2010.

Smoking ban benefactor J & J suffers revenue losses, plans deep job cuts

2009-11-04T06:51:00.002-06:00

From NYT comes this story:

In what had already been a year of drastic job cuts in the drug industry, the health care giant Johnson & Johnson said Tuesday that it would eliminate 6 to 7 percent of its worldwide work force — about 7,000 to 8,200 jobs — as part of a corporate revamping.

CTA has little sympathy for J & J whose partner Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) funds smoking ban lobbyists to help boost alternative pharmaceutical nicotine products that J & J manufactures.

J & J, thru RWJF, has had an even larger negative effect on jobs around the world by promoting smoking ban legislation on private properties. Legislation which has eliminated hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The lesson here should be: Rent seeking companies reap what the sow.

Former Virginia Gov Tim Kaine chastises Republican candidate Bob McDonnell for not embracing government policy that eliminates jobs

2009-11-02T18:42:00.013-06:00

From AP comes this story:

Gov. Tim Kaine, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, questioned the character of Republican Bob McDonnell, who has a strong lead in the polls. Kaine is barred by Virginia's Constitution from seeking re- election.

He (Kaine) cited McDonnell's opposition to the state's restaurant smoking ban, due to take effect Dec. 1.......as reason not to elect pro-business, pro-jobs candidate Bob McDonnell?

Anti-business lawmaker Tim Kaine, seems to have conveniently ignored the fact that smoking bans all around the globe have eliminated tens of thousands of hospitality establishments and hundreds of thousands of jobs. Then again, complete control over constituents' lives and intrusive over-regulation of business seems to be a hallmark of the Democrat party these days......It appears that citizens of Virginia have had enough of both.

Update: Republican Bob McDonnell wins as Governor of Virginia, and Republican Chris Christie won as Governor of New Jersey.

It appears as though Americans have finally understood what Obama and liberals meant by hope and change, and clearly have decided massive government tax and spend, government over-regulation, and government takeover of private free market system is not the change we need.

Covert smoking ban promoter RWJF president, Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, is on list of visitors to Obama White House

2009-10-31T11:53:00.008-05:00

The White House on Friday released a small list of visitors to the White House since President Barack Obama took office in January, including lobbyists, business executives, activists and celebrities.

Only about 110 names —and 481 visits —out of the hundreds of thousands who have visited the Obama White House were made public.

Advocates and nonprofit leaders include National Organization for Women President Kim Gandy, and Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which is interested in health policy......

The irony of course is, or should be, that RWJF policies (funding smoking ban efforts) have eliminated hundreds of thousands of jobs.....something the White House claims they are trying to reverse. Now with J & J pharmaceutical and medical device maker's partner RWJF pushing government healthcare reform, job losses in the health insurance and private healthcare industry should also be anticipated.

Checking the White House visitor list you'll see that RWJF President Risa Lavizzo-Mourey has presented her special interest agenda to the White House 7 times thus far.

Brain tumor victim to smoking ban lobbyist: "Can you hear me now?"

2009-10-25T12:13:00.007-05:00

New research indicates there is a link between brain tumors and cell phone use.

CTA and others who followed the smoking ban debate long ago discovered this interesting epidemiological stat:

The relative risk ratios for cell phones, computers, hair dryers, and electric blankets are all between 3.0 and 4.0. So why be concerned about a relative risk of 1.3 to your health from secondhand smoke?

Both the World Health Organization and the American Cancer Society have clearly stated that relative risk ratios below 2.0 are too low to be relied upon. And a report by the independent health consulting firm Littlewood and Fennell characterized risk ratios (RR) less than 2.0 as “dancing on the tiny pinhead of statistical insignificance."

Hmm... one can only conclude that smoking bans, financed by some very powerful special interest groups, wouldn't even be considered if it weren't for the money. And in hindsight, we know smoking bans eliminate businesses, jobs, and destroy our economy at a global record pace.

Now it seems that since the "secondhand smoke kills" issue has been milked for all it's rent seeking, pharmaceutical nicotine profit worth, it's time to move on to health issues which may actually have merit.

If only RWJF had an ownership stake in hands-free cell phone devices instead of just Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Nicorette, etc., lawmakers might have been alerted to behavioral control legislation of cell phones much sooner. Not that we at CTA would agree with it.

Look for the study above to be used as justification for cell phone bans everywhere. With too many lawmakers and too much government, writing laws these days is less about necessity and more about corporate lobbyists and rent seeking, self-serving legislation. Democracy, hope & change in action.....ain't it grand.

Liberals and "pacifists" (Code Pink) in U.S. have some pretty cozy connections with terrorists and influence over B. Hussein Obama

2009-10-24T11:21:00.004-05:00

This article may explain Hussein Obama's apparent about-face when it comes to waging a successful war in Afghanistan.

Excerpt:

Jodie Evans (Code Pink co-founder) told the Chronicle she delivered a petition to Obama last night from Afghan ...urging him to not send more troops to Afghanistan

Jodie Evans and Code Pink were in Kabul a few weeks ago where they met with government ministers, warlords, tribal chieftains......

Code Pink has gotten flak for a reported change of heart on the war, which Jodie Evans vehemently denies.

What is undeniable is Jodie Evans’ support for terrorists–and her support for President Obama.

CTA has understood for years that many instances of internal dissent of U.S. military action is in fact covert funding of U.S. organizations by our enemies...staining these pacifist groups (Code Pink) etc. with the blood of our men and women in the military, and putting us all in jeopardy of future terrorist attacks.
In a word...............treason.

Obama's presidency is spiraling downward from an apparent paranoia reminiscent of Jesse Ventura's reign as governor of Minnesota

2009-10-23T07:24:00.007-05:00

Great article summarizing the failures of a narcissistic, partisan administration.

In the first nine months in office President Obama and/or members of his administration have accused doctors of performing unnecessary medical procedures for profit; demonized bond holders as "speculators;" produced a report suggesting military veterans are prone to becoming right wing extremists; attacked insurance companies and threatened them with legislative retribution; ridiculed talk show hosts and political commentators by name from the White House podium; dismissed and demeaned protesters and town hall attendees as either unauthentic or fringe characters; maligned a white police officer for arresting a black man without knowing the facts of the case; launched an orchestrated campaign to marginalize the country's biggest pro-business group; and publicly declared war on a news organization.

Clearly, Obama's presidency is on track to become one of the most petty, yet colossal failures in American history. Jimmy Carter must be pleased.

Government healthcare.....No

2009-10-22T07:41:00.002-05:00

The colossal waste of time discussing this power grab boondoggle needs to end.

A government option is not competition. Government is a monopoly which pays $4000 for a Medicare wheelchair that costs $1000. True competition would be states removing regulatory barriers so that all 1,000+ insurance companies can compete for business in all states.....bringing the costs to consumers down.

85 - 90% of Americans are insured privately. SCHIP programs can easily be adapted to insure the remaining small minority.

Our good friends at RWJF have been pushing government healthcare reform for years......their financial interests in Johnson & Johnson (see pg 8) pharmaceutical and medical devices company has no doubt tainted that agenda.

U.K.'s Gordon Brown demands we enact global warming legislation now...before people realize there is no global warming

2009-10-19T15:00:00.004-05:00

50 days to save the world from global warming and break the "impasse".

What a putz....hey Gordo have you stepped outside your ivory tower lately....most locations on earth set record cold temperatures this year.

Pssst Gordo, don't tell anyone; but it's the sun which is responsible for global warming.

Here's an inconvenient question for ~~carbon credit sales charlatans~~ global warming activists: CO2 level is same day & night, right? Why is our temperature cooler at night after sun goes down, warmer during day? Because global warming is caused by the sun.....not CO2.

Did you know that 500 million years ago the CO2 levels were 20 times higher in concentration than they are now....if my math is correct I don't believe the industrial revolution had yet begun.

Without carbon dioxide there is no production of oxygen (something humans require). Doesn't anybody remember biology class 101? Plants, trees etc absorb CO2 and convert it to O2 (oxygen) and sugars.

More here:
http://co2deficiency.blogspot.com/

http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/photosynthesis/photosynthesis.html

Smoking ban lifted in Croatia

2009-10-11T12:14:00.002-05:00

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091009/utravel/eu_croatia_smoking_ban

Fri Oct 9, 11:30 AM
By The Associated Press

ZAGREB, Croatia - Nicotine lovers in Croatia are celebrating. The country has lifted a smoking ban on bars and cafes.....Smoking places will, however, have to install extensive ventilation systems. The owners are given six months to adapt.

Clearing the Air was witness to Environmental Health Department air quality testing which proved filtration systems rendered environmental tobacco smoke safer than occupational air quality standards require.
More info here:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2005/12/ventilation-not-legislation.html

Minneapolis Mayor Rybak and city council members play liberal politics as usual

2009-10-07T06:49:00.008-05:00

Uber leftists Rybak and Mpls city council members enacted an ordinance which closed nearly one third of the total hospitality establishments in the city, eliminating a significant tax base. Now with a large budget deficit looming, Rybak et al have decided the solution is to cut firefighter jobs...it's a typical ploy used by liberals to increase taxes.

Nevermind the fact that they've approved wasteful spending like 10 drinking fountains at a price tag of $50,000 each, $2 million to renovate the Shubert Theater, $5.32 million for "green roofs" on the Target Center......it's those unnecessary departments like firefighting the city will cut.....unless you the citizens agree to tax hikes. It's an extortion scam that would make Gotti proud.

Meanwhile the lasting legacy of the current liberal, effete, nanny-state Rybak administration is that they enacted a special-interest, flawed law (smoking ban); which significantly decreased the number of businesses (tax base) and jobs......And rather than admit fault they're going to the well once again.

It's a cyclical Democrat recipe.......enact burdensome, business eliminating, over-regulation, in this case a smoking ban; and counteract the disastrous results with tax increases........So, how's that change working for ya?

Guns allowed in Arizona bars......Smoking next? Not likely, allowing smoking is too dangerous for Nicoderm peddlers

2009-09-30T06:45:00.004-05:00

Anti-gun activists will of course whine about the danger of law abiding gun carry permit holders and alcohol, but as the story explains:

Those carrying the weapons aren't allowed to drink alcohol.

To some folks the irony is rich....guns yes, cigarettes no?

Fact of the matter is states that allow Right to Carry have much lower incidents of violent crime primarily because criminals fear armed victims.

Another fact is that secondhand smoke is not a deadly hazard. Peer reviewed and published air quality test results prove shs is 2.6 - 25,000 times safer than OSHA occupational indoor air quality standards.

An additional fact is that smoking ban activists are funded by Nicoderm and other alternative nicotine product manufacturers, so their motive is very dubious to say the least.

Final fact is that smoking ban promoters and lawmakers who vote(d) in favor of implementing smoking bans ARE responsible for massive job losses and business closings prior to 2008 which then led to the global economic meltdown.

Smoking allowed on planes again

2009-09-22T22:17:00.003-05:00

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,26109639-5014090,00.html

PASSENGERS flying with Irish budget carrier Ryanair and banned from smoking while on board can get their nicotine fix by inhaling "smokeless" cigarettes, the airline has announced.

The pharmaceutical nicotine activists which funded smoking bans are sure to get their undies in a bunch over this high flying idea.

West Virginia county declines to enact smoking ban

2009-09-21T20:19:00.003-05:00

http://your4state.com/content/fulltext/?cid=80632

The county board of health unanimously opposed the Clean Indoor Air Act Monday afternoon.....One member pointed out that the bars and clubs only allow adults 21 and over.....The board also felt that the issue was a matter of freedom of choice, and if people don’t like to be around smokers than they should stay away......Another major concern was the economic timing. They felt there could be unseen effects, and it could bring a big hit to businesses in the county.

There could be unseen effects?
http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2009/03/worldwide-economic-meltdown-and.html

The audacity of it all........doesn't West Virginia know there's no place for logic and common sense in government any longer?

Russell Crowe physically challenges reporter who besmirched him for smoking

2009-09-17T07:35:00.003-05:00

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article

The Oscar-winning star was annoyed by an article mocking him for smoking and eating a fatty meal during a recent bike ride, so the notoriously prickly actor set out to prove he is still in gladiatorial shape.

Video of the race shows the writer struggling to keep up while Crowe zooms along unfazed. At one point, she falls off her bike.

Instead of gloating, she revealed, the actor was "gracious, concerned - the perfect gentleman

Nicely done.....mate.

CTA has never claimed smoking is healthy, however, we vehemently dispute the lies and exaggerations that secondhand smoke is a deadly hazard; as promoted by special interests who profit from alternative nicotine products (Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Nicorette) like RWJF / J & J.

Air quality test results by Johns Hopkins University, the American Cancer Society, a Minnesota Environmental Health Department, and various researchers whose testing and report was peer reviewed and published in the esteemed British Medical Journal......which proves that secondhand smoke is 2.6 - 25,000 times SAFER than occupational (OSHA) workplace regulations:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/11/johns-hopkins-air-quality-testing-of.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/04/bmj-published-air-quality-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2004/04/american-cancer-society-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2006/02/air-quality-testing-and-secondhand.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2008/03/british-medical-journal-who-conclude.html

All nullify the argument that secondhand smoke is a workplace "health hazard".

Millions of Americans protest government largess and liberal nanny-state control

2009-09-13T10:53:00.001-05:00

East Europeans understand smoking bans destroy economy......vote to repeal ban in cafes

2009-09-10T21:00:00.002-05:00

Thu Sep 10, 1:21 pm ET (story link)

ZAGREB (Reuters) – The Croatian government moved on Thursday to loosen a controversial public smoking ban enforced only four months ago, after cafe owners complained it was crippling business.

Ironically, former free market nations like the U.S. recognize the financial damage due to various smoking bans, but are clueless in the midst of dictatorial, marxist, socialist regimes to reverse behavioral control policies that destroy our economy.

Apparently former communist nations like Croatia (once part of Yugoslavia) recognize and fight against tyranny more effectively than complacent (previously free) westerners.

You might be a redneck ("right wing domestic terrorist") if:

2009-09-03T07:34:00.009-05:00

You oppose Obama’s plan for government healthcare
(the link above exposes an Obama website which called anyone who opposes Obamacare a "right-wing domestic terrorist")

You think the President broadcasting partisan political speech into schools is indoctrination

You oppose government largess and grotesque, excessive government spending

You don’t walk locked step with Dear Komrade Leader Barack Hussein Obama

Reminder: It was smoking ban promoter and Johnson & Johnson Company partner Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) which helped fund government healthcare lobbying efforts.

Obama admin selling snake oil to pass nationalized healthcare law

2009-08-31T07:00:00.002-05:00

Is a page from the playbook of Nicoderm manufacturer Johnson & Johnson Company's partner Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) who argued that secondhand smoke is the deadliest health hazard ever encountered.....in order to pass laws that would allow government to mandate behavior in "public" places.

Obama's sales pitch has failed to find favor with the majority of Americans (49% opposed, 43% favor Obamacare). Even so, most Democrat politicians suggest that they'll vote in favor of Obamacare regardless of the majority opinion of their constituents.

This article warns voters not to be fooled by Obama's claim of "....removing the public option...." whether they call it co-op or reform, the fact that government is involved makes it a government healthcare program.

That Obama's center piece agenda, "healthcare reform", closely resembles the smoking ban tactics which have devastated the hospitality industry eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs is not a coincidence. RWJF and Obama's candidacy share a long common thread with a pro-Democrat lobbying agency GMMB.

Now is not the time for Americans to shrink from this fight. The majority must prevail in opposing government healthcare "reform".....even if it's merely a promise of repealing this failed legislation after Americans put limited government lawmakers back into office during the next election.

Americans allowed RWJF to decimate hospitality businesses and jobs by not standing up to oppose earlier government control.....but the price is too prohibitive to sit idly by on this latest issue of government healthcare control.

Update: From The Hill comes the following article, and promise regarding Obamacare:

"If they somehow manage to get the votes and get enough Democrats to walk the plank and commit suicide, in the next Congress, I'll be chairman Joe Barton of the Energy and Commerce committee, and we'll repeal it," Barton said.

Obama admin uncovers the most heinous CIA interrogation tactic under Bush/Cheney watch.......SECONDHAND SMOKE used against islamic terrorist murderer

2009-08-26T16:28:00.006-05:00

http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/article/53088

Excerpt:

Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri, according to the 9-11 commission report, was the mastermind of the Oct. 12, 2000, attack on the U.S.S. Cole that killed 17 U.S. sailors.

Nashiri was also the target of an "unauthorized" CIA interrogation technique (that had not been legally vetted by the Justice Department) that is described in a May 7, 2004, CIA inspector general's report that was partially declassified by the Obama administration this week.

CIA officers blew smoke in Nashiri's face, according to the report, and they used cigars.

The IG's office described this smoke-blowing as one of several "unauthorized or undocumented techniques" it discovered had been used in isolated incidents by CIA employees interrogating high-level al-Qaida terrorists.

"An Agency (redacted phrase) interrogator admitted that, in December 2002, he and another (redacted phrase) smoked cigars and blew cigar smoke in al-Nashiri's face during the interrogation," said the IG report.

Secondhand smoke purposely blown into the face of an islamic terrorist murderer? Please dear God say it ain't so, how could U.S military intelligence be so cruel!

It's no wonder the Obama White House has directed Eric Holder to open an investigation. CTA has even heard rumor that some of these terrorist detainees were denied whipped cream for their mocha lattes......oh, the inhumanity of it all.

We can only hope that Daniel Pearl and Nick Berg were not subjected to anything as inhumane as the aforementioned "torture" Democrats now decry.