Looks like efforts to ban public smoking in Washington state have stalled, at least temporarily. Similar statewide bans are under consideration in Maryland, Rhode Island and Georgia.

Meanwhile, in D.C., the fascists nannies have decided to circumvent the D.C. City Council and go right to the voters, apparently feeling they have a better chance of squelching personal freedom through direct democracy than through legislation considered by elected representatives.

And they're probably right.

Last time they tried the City Council, Councilwoman Carol Schwartz bravely stared the proposed ban down, defending the property rights of D.C. business owners in the face of dubious junk science and public health claims. D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams also promised a veto.

But I wonder if that opposition will fold if 70% of D.C. residents give the ban the go-ahead, as polls seem to indicate.