Althouse: "You're kind of a health nut. How are you going to get the smell of smoke out of the speaker's office?"

November 1, 2015

"You're kind of a health nut. How are you going to get the smell of smoke out of the speaker's office?"

Chuck Todd asked Paul Ryan on "Meet the Press" today. (Boehner was " John Boehner is a well-known chain smoker.")

Ryan said: "That's a really good question. We've been talking about that, they have these ozone machines, apparently, that you can detoxify the environment. But I'm going to have to work on the carpeting in here. You know when you ever go to a hotel room or get a rental car that has been smoked? That's what this smells like."

It's especially a problem for Ryan because he lives in Janesville, Wisconsin, and doesn't keep a separate living space in Washington. He goes home every weekend, but during the week, he's in his office all day and also sleeps there: "I start my day at 6:00 in the morning. I end at about 11:30 at night. It's just become a really efficient way for me to do the people's business by just staying right here."

33 comments:

campy said...: "I start my day at 6:00 in the morning. I end at about 11:30 at night...."

Careful, Paulie. It almost sounds like you're claiming to be a hard worker.; 11/1/15, 3:27 PM
eric said...: That's speaks to a very solid work ethic, which I imagine he demands of those who work for him as well.; 11/1/15, 3:40 PM
MadisonMan said...: Is he cooking food in his office too?; 11/1/15, 3:43 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: Ryan's a good man - not sure if that translates to being an effective Speaker though.; 11/1/15, 3:50 PM
Bob Ellison said...: Boehner smoked in his office? Really?; 11/1/15, 4:04 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Why would this question be asked? How is it newsworthy?

The real answers would be:

"I'm going to hire someone to set the office to my liking. I assume that person will take care of it."

OR

"I'm going to replace the carpet, wash the walls and drapes, and run a HEPA filter. The furniture will be switched out with my furniture, so any smells in the furniture shouldn't be an issue. I believe that will take care of it."

Neither answer is of any interest to the viewer.

Next up, "How do you do your laundry?" and "What are the steps you take to clean your bathroom?"; 11/1/15, 4:15 PM
walter said...: non-smoking rules are for the little people.; 11/1/15, 4:16 PM
Rob said...: Imagine Chuck Todd prefacing a question to Michelle Obama with "You're kind of a health nut." Yeah, I can't imagine it either.; 11/1/15, 4:17 PM
PB said...: Pitch the carpet and wash everything down with Pine-Sol. Problem solved.; 11/1/15, 4:22 PM
Mark said...: MadisonMan, I bet that's what he spends his per-diem on.; 11/1/15, 4:41 PM
Jimmy said...: Who cares? The real question is will he wear the same knee pads Boehner wore?; 11/1/15, 4:42 PM
walter said...: Now, now Jim..gonna make Beohner cry.; 11/1/15, 4:44 PM
Unknown said...: Smoke is not the only smell lingering in that office. I only hope Ryan doesn't replace one stench with another. I expect the worst because I've never been wrong. But I still hope.; 11/1/15, 5:03 PM
rehajm said...: As has been reviewed before, the correct answer to every Chuck Todd question is, "Fuck you, Chuck Todd."; 11/1/15, 5:38 PM
CatherineM said...: Madison Man, have you never heard of food delivery?; 11/1/15, 5:45 PM
Anonymous said...: How can a conservative trust a guy who works in government 17 1/2 hours a day?; 11/1/15, 5:58 PM
holdfast said...: "Now, now Jim..gonna make Beohner cry."

That's too easy. You only get points if you make him STOP crying.; 11/1/15, 6:16 PM
Anonymous said...: How is he allowed to smoke in a federal building....I thought it was against the law???
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/104203#13

Smoking in Federal Buildings
1.What is the policy on smoking in federal buildings?

The President issued an Executive Order 13058, "Protecting Federal Employees and the Public from Exposure to Tobacco Smoke in the Federal Workplace," on August 9, 1997, establishing a smoke-free environment for federal employees and members of the public visiting or using federal facilities. In furtherance of EO13058, GSA issued FMR Amendment 2008-08, which enforces additional restrictions in GSA-controlled buildings.

2.Is smoking banned in all federal space?

The Executive Order bans smoking in all Executive Branch facilities, all interior space owned, rented, or leased space by the Executive Branch of the federal government.

3.Are there any exceptions to this ban?

There are certain excepted spaces, which include:

designated smoking areas. However, effective June 19, 2009, designated smoking areas in GSA-controlled buildings will be eliminated.
residential accommodations in buildings owned, leased, rented by the federal government;
portions of federally-owned buildings leased, rented, or otherwise provided (in their entirety) to non-federal parties; and
places of employment in the private sector or in other non-federal governmental units that serve as the permanent or intermittent duty station of one or more federal employees.

4.What about outside areas, such as around doorways and air intake ducts?

The Executive Order does not apply to outdoor areas under Executive Branch control, except in front of air intake ducts. In the case of locations such as doorways and in courtyards, agency heads shall evaluate the need to restrict smoking in order to protect workers and visitors from environmental tobacco smoke, and may restrict smoking in these areas. In furtherance of EO13058, effective 6/19/09, smoking is banned in courtyards and within 25 feet of doorways on GSA-controlled properties.; 11/1/15, 6:50 PM
MadisonMan said...: Madison Man, have you never heard of food delivery?

Well, sure. And if I were wealthy, I'd take advantage of it.

Ryan doesn't seem like someone who'd throw money away on food delivery, that's all. (to me). And that's a good character trait.; 11/1/15, 7:23 PM
Unknown said...: ----Is he cooking food in his office too?

You’re just as shallow as an CNBC moderator!!!!; 11/1/15, 7:31 PM
MadisonMan said...: The Executive Order bans smoking in all Executive Branch facilities, all interior space owned, rented, or leased space by the Executive Branch of the federal government.

Which does not include the Legislative Branch.

I'm sure if Congress banned anything, anywhere, they'd exempt Congress from following that particular law, as per usual.; 11/1/15, 7:32 PM
Michael K said...: "Why would this question be asked? How is it newsworthy? "

Are you a cartoon candidate ?

Right in that mainstream; 11/1/15, 7:46 PM
ken in tx said...: This issue will be taken care of by the Office of the Architect of the Capitol. I know people from that office. Among other things, that's what they do. It's a major project for them when new people are elected to any office. If need be they will strip the place down to the bare surface.; 11/1/15, 8:44 PM
mccullough said...: Sounds like a waste of taxpayer money to do this. If Boehner smoked in the office, make him pay to have it restored.; 11/1/15, 9:14 PM
Jimmy said...: Lets be clear- Ryan or any other of the 'elite' don't spend a dime of their own money, and the rules never apply to them.
they spend our money, period. Oh, and don't question it, thats not allowed now.
They are in this for their own good, not the country. It is a very exclusive club, and most seem to leave with lots of money and job offers.
Don't bother writing them either, unless your return address is Shell Oil, Wall Street, or one of the large companies. They really don't give a damn about you , except every two year or 4 or 6 years, when they really really really care.; 11/1/15, 10:05 PM
David said...: If you were moving into a new house, you would replace the carpet and the upholstery, wash the walls, ceilings and other hard surfaces, repaint where necessary, and clean the ducts and vents. While I dislike having government cash spent for the constant redecoration of public offices, it seems to me it is warranted here. Whether he has the guts to do so may foreshadow how strong a Speaker he will be.; 11/2/15, 12:07 AM
David said...: "The Executive Order bans smoking in all Executive Branch facilities, all interior space owned, rented, or leased space by the Executive Branch of the federal government."

That's why Obama quit smoking, right? Because he would never violate such an order.; 11/2/15, 12:08 AM
David said...: "----Is he cooking food in his office too?"

I don't think the Speaker has to cook.; 11/2/15, 12:09 AM
Bob Ellison said...: Can we please stop with the hours-worked-per-day stuff? Getting up at six and going to bed at ten doesn't mean you worked 16 hours.; 11/2/15, 5:23 AM
damikesc said...: I'm sure if Congress banned anything, anywhere, they'd exempt Congress from following that particular law, as per usual.

I remember how awesome I thought it was when one of the planks of the much-maligned Contract With America was that Congresspeople would have to live under the same laws they pass for others.

Yeah, that is pure fascism there.; 11/2/15, 9:08 AM
mikee said...: One of my rental properties had a small fire in a bedroom, and the ozone misting machine removed the stink of burned mattress in three days of operation.

Ryan knows what he is talking about. Which at least speaks well for his practical understanding of the real world, or for his staff keeping him informed on a detailed basis.

Our last Speaker likely wondered why his office stank, every time he lit up another cigarette.; 11/2/15, 10:21 AM
walter said...: Imagine how much more constituent oriented governance would be if we pulled back from the DC office model and leveraged modern tech like Skype etc...allowing constituents to access that stream or even be in the room for votes. Many complain about folks becoming out of touch in DC. Keep them home.; 11/2/15, 11:06 AM
Sigivald said...: I'm not sure I trust someone who only sleeps 6 and a half hours a night and "works" the rest.

Either he's lying to me, or he's pathologically overworking.

(Even if he is taking a nice long lunch and dinner and relaxing some after...

"I work super hard all the time" is not actually a great endorsement.); 11/2/15, 4:48 PM