Oh that Boehner, what a funny guy (heh heh)

The new Minority Leader, aka the "perpetually tanned" John Boehner of West Chester, donned a tux – and brought his best quips – to last night's Congressional Dinner at Washington's swank Ritz-Carlton. The annual event sponsored by the Washington Press Club Foundation features eclectic members of both of Washington's elite social clubs – The Congress, and the somewhat disheveled reporters (according to Boehner) who chronicle their every move.

(Time magazine's Tim Burger was the first target of Boehner's rant on the somewhat irregular and disorderly wardrobe choices that reporters, even here in Washington, tend to have. The congressman, who has been known to single out reporters for their good – or bad – haircuts, thankfully did not slam any current – or former – members of the Enquirer's Washington Bureau for such unkempt attire. Whew!)

Others in attendance: White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, a Cincinnati native; TV talking heads Chris Matthews and Tucker Carlson; newly anointed Miss America Lauren Nelson; Sam Waterston of "Law & Order," who was supposedly Matthews' date/guest; perennial Democratic presidential candidate and Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich, with his wife in tow; and our very own Rep. Steve Chabot, a Westwood Republican. We also hear that actress Daryl Hannah was there.

But it was Boehner who kept the zings coming when he took the mic, jabbing reporters first, then himself, joking about how no profile has ever been written about him that fails to mention his "perpetual tan" and the "ever-present Barclay cigarette between his fingers." He even commented on Pelosi's new ban on smoking in the Speaker's Lobby, the ornate room behind the House floor:

"We can still smoke out on the balcony. But, Nancy, it was 20 degrees out there. I think I want a seat on your global warming committee," he joked.

Kennedy, who teamed with Boehner on the No Child Left Behind Act and holds a charity dinner with Boehner each year to raise money for an inner-city Washington, D.C., school, threw a few punches of his own. But not enough to keep Boehner from leading the whole room in a round of his now-famous "Boehner Birthday Song" in honor of Kennedy's upcoming 75th birthday.

We kid you not. But it was a lovely evening, really. To see more photos, head over to Politico.com's photo slide show. Or read about the event in today's Washington Post.

UPDATE: Some really great pictures of just about everyone in Washington wearing Miss America's crown from Fishbowl. And more Boehner humor of the night from Politico.com's Shenanigans blog.