Because Congressional Republicans aren't recalcitrant enough already, the House Speaker took away smokers' precious havens inside the the U.S. Capitol complex, House side. Truly, all smokers are now instruments of satan, officially.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi didn't quite close the smoking lounges herself, her House Administration Committee did, but Congressional Quarterly says the San Francisco Democrat had it out for smokers (tobacco; weed is fine) for a long time:

Shortly after becoming Speaker in January 2007, Pelosi banned smoking in the ornate Speaker’s Lobby off the House floor. House members must gather outside on a balcony if they want to light up during floor votes.

Now up for closure are smoking rooms adjoining cafeterias in two office buildings, the "last major indoor refuges on the House side of the Capitol complex," writes CQ. (Except, presumably, for members' own offices, which remain exempt from the smoking ban.)

Smoking also just became verboten in DC restaurants and bars. So basically if a Congressional rep wants to have a smoke and maybe a bite or drink without pissing off his office staff, he has to somehow get into Barack Obama's house. Come to think of it, that does highlight a certain genius behind the plan: it makes a White House invitation all the more difficult to turn down.

Rahm Emanuel is no doubt buying Marlboros (R) and American Spirits (D) by the carton. (Republican crossover votes should totally get an extra pack.)