Will the real George Ervin Perdue from Bonaire, Georgia please stand up . . . . - To veto or not to veto. That is the question, Part II.

A 4-1-05 non-April 1 post entitled "To veto or not to veto. That is the question. - The smoking bill that would ban smoking in most public businesses," reads:

I predict that Gov. Perdue will veto the smoking bill that would ban smoking in most public businesses.The bill passed the Senate 46 to 4, and if the Governor signs the bill into law, Georgia would become the eighth state with such a ban.

Today's AJC Political Insider notes:

"I am very concerned with government being the end-all and be-all nanny for all people," Perdue said. "But I have huge respect for the passion for the health-care argument."

The irony of the situation is palpable. In 2003, this same governor argued for an increase in the tobacco tax because smoking was a vile habit that didn't need to be passed on to our children.

A smoking ban aggravates two fault lines among Republicans. First, between moralists — religious conservatism began as an anti-vice movement — and those of a more libertarian cast. Pollsters also suspect a difference between restaurant-oriented suburbanites and new, rural Republican converts.

In a comment that responded to a comment inquiring if I had some inside knowledge leading me to predict that Perdue would veto the smoking ban, I confirmed it was nothing but speculation, noting:

No inside knowledge. Just a feeling that the Governor may feel that he should not do anything to weaken his shakey base among Georgia farmers.

I am sticking with my prediction.