Smoke Break in the Rose Garden

President Obama paused, snubbed out the cherry into the bottom a White House glass ashtray, and then signed a new anti-smoking bill while still standing outside in the Rose Garden.

The new law, an anti-smoking bill that will give the Food and Drug Administration unprecedented authority to regulate tobacco, allows the FDA to reduce nicotine in tobacco products, ban candy flavorings and block labels such "low tar" and "light." Tobacco companies also will be required to cover their cartons with large graphic warnings.

Obama has spoken publicly of his own struggles to quit cigarettes.

Although, this writer wonders, how will the FDA - an agency that has been as effective as the Detroit Lion's offense - possibly be up to the challenge of regulating Big Tobacco? My guess is that Big Tobacco has already thought that one out and it is why they've allowed these new regulations.