John Boehner's Ring of Fire
Forget health care, cap and trade, or taxes. This is the contrast that delights me the most in the transition from the Pelosi speakership to the Boehner era:
The Ohio Republican was spotted puffing on a cigarette in the Capitol on Thursday afternoon, smoke billowing around his head, as he presided over a GOP steering committee meeting in the Capitol Visitor Center.
That would be a violation of a House rule that prohibits smoking in public rooms in the building.
I ask you, is there a single act more defiant of political correctness in the modern era than
lighting up indoors? Also, is anyone else picturing Nancy Pelosi lingering in the hallway affecting an exagerrated cough?
I suppose equity demands that I give Barack Obama some props for noncomformity too, but Bob Gibbs swears the President hasn't lit up in nine months. What's more, there's obviously some guilt when he does (no one who pays rapt attention to arugula prices at Whole Foods goes to flavor country without shame). That's why I'll take Boehner, who has both the voice and the attitude of J.K. Simmons' character in "Thank You for Smoking."
Of course, this could just be the ramblings of a bitter Californian. It's hard to keep perspective in a state where O.J. Simpson could have been convicted if only they had found a pack of Marlboros on him.
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May '10
Re: John Boehner's Ring of Fire
Who doesn't want to be Bill McNeal?
Seriously, I find it insulting that the President who ran roughshod over the American people with a tyrannical healthcare bill they didn't want has given up smoking to set a good example for us.
Jul '10
Re: John Boehner's Ring of Fire
That is awesome. Smoke up Johnny.
Sure Mr. President, I've got one. No, we won't tell her.
Now, about those tax rates...
Sep '10
Re: John Boehner's Ring of Fire
Did you say Thank You For Smoking?
May '10
Re: John Boehner's Ring of Fire
It's one of Obama's few charming features. Heck, he couldn't even make getting a dog charming, and how hard is that to screw up? And since we're stuck with him for two more years, I strongly support him having something to calm his nerves. Especially after this past week. Yeesh, man, you're making us nervous out here.
The smoking thing is like a lot of PC. Nobody's actually offended by it, except those who are afraid some hypothetical people might be offended by it. Merry Christmas, and have some smokes, Mr President.
Edited on Dec 10, 2010 at 5:40pmNov '10
Re: John Boehner's Ring of Fire
Smoking? Really? It's the only thing about California regs that I actually appreciate.
;-)
Oct '10
Re: John Boehner's Ring of Fire
him and obama should have a smoking summit together at the white house balcony.
Jul '10
Re: John Boehner's Ring of Fire
About freakin' time! How the heck are we supposed to run a government without smoke-filled rooms? I think this is an excellent portent for things to come :--)
Re: John Boehner's Ring of Fire
As a tangent from this conversation, I wonder if smoking regulations are at least occasionally a case of officious government being engendered by a breakdown in civil society. I loathe government meddling in my tobacco habit, but I also hate when my fellow smokers don't show the common courtesy to try to find a relatively isolated place to light up or to avoid smoking around children.
In most cases, I suspect the lion's share of the motivation comes from the statist impulse to hector society towards virtue. But not every smoker is a considerate smoker, either. Count me as a perpetual vote for a society with more manners and fewer regulations.
Aug '10
Re: John Boehner's Ring of Fire
Troy Senik: As a tangent from this conversation, I wonder if smoking regulations are at least occasionally a case of officious government being engendered by a breakdown in civil society. I loathe government meddling in my tobacco habit, but I also hate when my fellow smokers don't show the common courtesy to try to find a relatively isolated place to light up or to avoid smoking around children.
In most cases, I suspect the lion's share of the motivation comes from the statist impulse to hector society towards virtue. But not every smoker is a considerate smoker, either. Count me as a perpetual vote for a society with more manners and fewer regulations.
As an asthmatic who could go into an attack from just a whiff of tobacco smoke, I... feel the same way you do. A militantly anti-smoking stance, particularly from those who have less reason than I do to avoid smoke, just annoys me.
I prefer that both sides show each other courtesy.
Also, I don't see why all restaurants in a city must be non-smoking. Why can't restaurants decide for themselves whether to allow smoking or not?
May '10
Re: John Boehner's Ring of Fire
My favorite story about smoking in bars was from a (thankfully former) FB puppet pal. She said that, in a smoking bar, she had "asked very nicely" for some guys to quit smoking. And was aghast that they refused to do so.
She seemed oblivious to the simple fact that you can't "ask very nicely" for a total stranger to desist in an activity that is not only allowed but encouraged by the very atmosphere. She wanted to make that bar in her own image, and was quite put out when they wouldn't comply. And thus was quite pleased to invoke the Majesty of the State some years later. It was the first time in her adult life she was proud to be a patron of that bar.
Those who would coerce others by law to have bars they like are little better than Julian Assange and the spiral lightbulb guys. I'm starting a purge of the party.
May '10
Re: John Boehner's Ring of Fire
It's certainly true that many of the problems our government steps in to "fix" only exist because of cultural corruption. Limited government is only possible with a responsible culture. But the social stigma against smoking indoors was very late coming in America. I'm sure advocacy groups could have helped apart from law.
In any case, it's been years since I've known someone who smoked in their own home.
I love this scene from the movie Big Trouble: "It's not about rules. It's about manners."