Tensions ran high a mere 4-6 months ago with everyone certain that the Electronic Cigarette's days were numbered in the U.S.  Maybe it's time that we all take a step back and "chill" for a bit as it's becoming clear that nothing is going to happen on that front anytime soon.  I, for one, am feeling a bit encouraged as news of big tobacco's defeat's hits the press and the recent plugs that e-cigs have gotten from none other than some pretty high profile politicos.  Read on:

According to a release on the State of California web site just 2 days ago, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declined to sign Senate Bill 400. On September 11, 2009, the California Senate passed Bill 400. The bill was originally written as "The Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program", and then was amended to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors, which was very supportable. Additional wording in the bill would have also banned the sale of electronic cigarettes in the state of California to adults.

In a statement on the California Government web site, Governor Schwarzenegger made it clear that there is a difference between the freedoms of adults and children. In the letter, the governor made the following comments.

"I am returning Senate Bill 400 without my signature. While I support restricting access of electronic cigarettes to children under the age of 18, I cannot sign a measure that also declares them a federally regulated drug when the matter is currently being decided through pending litigation. Items defined as "tobacco products" are legal for anyone over the age of 18. If adults want to purchase and consume these products with an understanding of the associated health risks, they should be able to do so unless and until federal law changes the legal status of these tobacco products.

For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill.

Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger"

You go Arnold!  Terminate that bill!

Points East, It looks as though a handful of Congressmen have taken up smoking electronic cigarettes!

Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) have all been spotted using the device on Capitol Hill.

That's about as close to bipartisanship as Congress can get, so enjoy it while it lasts!  What's more, here's a beaming endorsement of electronic cigarettes by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL):

“These e-cigarettes are smokeless and do not produce carcinogens. The nicotine in e-cigarettes is controlled in a capsule that can help in smoking cessation by allowing the user to reduce gradually the nicotine level, hopefully to zero.”

Stearns has sent electronic cigarettes to House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Preswill-arnold-smoke-a-victory-cigar-with-obamaident Obama to help them quit smoking.  He’s been seen using the device in the Speaker’s Lobby, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) banned smoking two years ago.

That's right folks: President Obama owns an electronic cigarette.  How cool is that?   I wouldn't count these things out just yet.