Nick Gillespie’s excellent new video for Reason.tv examines how in the course of a decade smoking bans went from Californian absurdity to national trend:
In related news, Michael Kinsley raises the question of whether Barack Obama has truly quit smoking or not, rightfully concluding (after a bit too much fawning) that’s it’s the president’s business if he hasn’t. But I have to wonder: When Obama feels like lighting up, does he have to step outside? The White House is a public building, after all. It would be fitting to see the most powerful man in the country reduced to huddling beside a doorway like the rest of us common folk, forced out of comfortable surroundings by meddling bureaucrats.
That’s what Martin Sheen’s character does in the West Wing. When told he’s setting a bad example, he says something like “To whom? Russian spy satelites?”
Comment by Ben — November 20, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought of Jed Bartlet when I thought of the President smoking.
Comment by Mike — November 20, 2008 @ 2:06 pm