Let’s see a show of hands. If you remember who is proposing to eliminate fountain drinks larger than 16 ounces in his city, raise your hand. All right! You’re right: Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City.

This week’s lib-quote comes straight from Hizzoner:

“Let me be completely ‘frank.’ This is one of my favorite traditions. I ‘relish’ it so much.”

The Mayor’s pun-filled speech is finding plenty of ridicule because it is... well, filled with puns.

But there is also the obvious hypocrisy issue. The Mayor has declared war on unhealthy diets: sodium, trans-fats, and, if he has his way, soft drinks.

So how is it that he trots out there to tout a hot dog binge-eating contest?

I’m a great fan of Nathan’s hot dogs… and hot dogs in general. I am never going to stuff down 68 or 45 dogs in one sitting, but I’ll eat my share at cookouts and ball parks and wherever else I find ‘em. I’m a fan of corn dogs, too.

I’m not trying to use government force to shut down certain foods and drinks. Mayor Bloomberg is. So what prompts him to actively support the consumption of hot dogs? Even a Nathan’s sports 180 calories, 17.0 grams of fat, 1.0 grams of carbohydrates and 7.0 grams of protein and that's without the bun! Imagine the dietary content of the “gray water” dogs served on street corners throughout his fair city!

Americans who should know better keep electing people to rule instead of govern. We just celebrated another Fourth of July, yet there are those among us who celebrate the increasing encroachment on simple day-to-day liberties, like choosing on our own what to eat.

Sure, a lot of foods are not the best for us, but what is much worse for us are governments that decide which businesses should fail. This does not bode well.

To protest, I would chow down on a hot dog, ‘cept I just finished a grilled burger and have no interest in stuffing myself now. However, a homemade chocolate brownie with a scoop of ice cream will hit the spot later.

And remember, the TEA pot is simmerin’.