Republicans and marijuana

[BabyHuey]

Why should I bother?
You will simply spout rhetoric and,again,view my
opinion as a personal attack of some kind.
There is no discussing issues with people like you
and I have better thing to do than argue with a rigid
ideologist.

BTW-everything you have posted is simply your perspective
so why don't you climb down off that high horse

I am out of this thread

 

[greenhead]

And Obama is not a centrist, not in the least sense of the word.

Obama is a marxist socialist. That's straight from the mouth of a College Acquaintance of Obama's who actually knew him back in his college days.

http://www.thefoxnation.com/culture/2010/02/17/college-acquaintance-obama-was-pure-marxist-socialist

 

[ColBatGuano]

Obama is a marxist socialist. That's straight from the mouth of a College Acquaintance of Obama's who actually knew him back in his college days.

So where are the rest of his college acquaintances to back-up this one? The opinion of one man should not hold enough weight for any critical thinker to assume it is a guarantee of authenticity. I'm not suggesting it is or isn't, only that I'm not going to subscribe to an inflammatory position based on one man's interpretation. Besides, a person is not a rock. Opinions formed in college don't always survive into later life. In fact, the opinions and positions in mid-life don't always survive into late-life.

 

[greenhead]

So where are the rest of his college acquaintances to back-up this one? The opinion of one man should not hold enough weight for any critical thinker to assume it is a guarantee of authenticity. I'm not suggesting it is or isn't, only that I'm not going to subscribe to an inflammatory position based on one man's interpretation. Besides, a person is not a rock. Opinions formed in college don't always survive into later life. In fact, the opinions and positions in mid-life don't always survive into late-life.

Well, if any of his other acquaintances wish to come forward, then that's fine with me. Nobody is stopping them from doing so, or perhaps Obama is.

I also think that Obama hasn't changed his philosophy much, based on his current actions and words.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

You seem to have a hard time getting off the Bush thing...but might as well face facts. You can only ride that pony for so long. Actually, it is your lame leadership that is riding that pony, you are simply carrying that torch along with them.

Just gave you a little historical perspective. Bush did things some people didn't like. No different than your situation. Sorry you lost, maybe you'll get what you like later but for now you're just misrepresenting the system you were fine with when your guy was in. I didn't even knock the guy, you just cringe when his name comes up. W hasn't been gone long enough to not effect the things we have to do now as a result of spending more than he took in. Your idea that O isn't playing by the rules totally ignores the his predecessor.

Let's talk about now...

I'd prefer to discuss the op.

Obama is so full of it it's not funny. And what you consider the far left, is the loon fringe. And Obama is not a centrist, not in the least sense of the word. You only see him that way because you are so far to the left of the box.

Flip the coin, insert "W" and recognize your projection, lol.

Bill Clinton was the master of sidestepping to the center...and Obama couldn't carry slick willie's cigars.

What he is, is a liar. Not like you claim Bush lied, where he was only putting out the same info that the rest of the world also believed was true, including nearly the majority of the left leadership in America. But I will not continue to hash out those years. You and your ilk produced enough anger and venom to last the nation for many years. Unwarranted, and in many cases manufactured venom.

Yep, you've manufactured yourself an entire pit of vipers.

Well, those folks and the millions of racist folks that voted for him for no more reason than because he has black in his bloodline. And there is NO denying the fact that the last election was slathered in racist shit.

You heard it here folks. 69 million illegitimate, racist votes elected a racist president. Bravo, diddy.

Are you fucking kidding me? His stimulus debacle is nothing but earmark porkbarrel of bullshit leftist spending. Now he wants to add on more debt.

That's why at least 12 Republican representatives and senators took credit for their respective earmarks in their districts. These legislators voted no then took credit at their district ribbon cutting ceremonies. Some of the Republicans requested monies for specific projects, voted no, then received the accolades from their constituents. That's hypocrisy.

What a fucking lying moron. He thinks we are as dumb as his constituency...but I got news for Obama. Hasn't happened yet, and aint gonna happen in this closed door socialist train wreck.

Sure not in the budget. (shrug)

Oh, but it is. Everything is in the budget. Including the earmarks Republicans requested, then voted against, then received thanks from their districts. Republicans even blocked attempts to reign in spending on programs they know we can't sustain. More hypocrisy. Maybe you've forgotten the guy that introduced supplemental spending bills? That's precedent. If you complain about this guy doing it (which he isn't) that's more hypocrisy.

BTW, it's interesting you demand citation when your rebuttals are personal, emotional and pathetic. It's as if you demand an encyclopedia to cry over.

 

[ColBatGuano]

Well, if any of his other acquaintances wish to come forward, then that's fine with me. Nobody is stopping them from doing so, or perhaps Obama is.

I also think that Obama hasn't changed his philosophy much, based on his current actions and words.

Perhaps if you would provide, in a scholarly, non-inflammatory manner, your proof to this position, you would be able to persuade more people that it is valid, or at least has merit. It isn't that I agree or disagree, it is that I prefer proof over keywords and talking points.

Many more of Obama's college acquaintances have come forward, but in overwhelming support of him. That's the problem with choosing to listen only to the few which support your position. Most will simply dismiss all the others as brainwashed, Marxist, fascist, socialist, or whatever other sort of vicious invective they can muster as filler in their scree.

 

[greenhead]

you would be able to persuade more people that it is valid

I am not here to persuade anybody or to change anybody's position. The damage is already done and Obama is elected. I am here to take great joy in the hardships and suffering that certain people will have to endure because of their foolish choice.

Many more of Obama's college acquaintances have come forward, but in overwhelming support of him. That's the problem with choosing to listen only to the few which support your position.

The evidence and facts is clear for all to see. It is up to each individual person to decipher what is true and what is not true, and who to believe or who not to believe.

My review of the facts which are available tell me that Obama is a shady character, and I don't trust him at all. If you disagree with that, then that is your right.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

I am a bit more concerned about Obama's acquaintances and mentors after college and into his adult political years when he is actually effecting people and their lives. College kids, well..are kids.
Obama is no kid now.

JEREMIAH WRIGHT
Wright was Obama's minister for 20 years. He helped Obama embrace Christianity, performed Obama's marriage and baptized Obama and his two daughters.

Most of America knows Wright only through a few snippets from his sermons and a couple of contentious public appearances. They're familiar with him shouting "God damn America" and accusing the government of creating AIDS.
Obama has done his best to distance himself from his former minister, to the point of resigning from the church that Wright once led. But that's unlikely to stop ads that portray Wright as a bigot and ask why Obama would listen to him for so many years.

ANTOIN REZKO
"Tony" Rezko is a businessman who has helped raise campaign money for Obama and many other Illinois politicians. He was convicted Wednesday on 16 of 24 counts involving mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and aiding and abetting bribery.

The charges have no connection to Obama, but Rezko is tied to the Illinois senator in other ways.

Rezko and his family donated at least $21,457 to Obama and helped raise over $200,000 more, though not for his presidential bid. He also advised Obama on the purchase of a new Chicago home and, in his wife's name, purchased a vacant lot next door to the new Obama home when the seller wanted to dispose of both properties at the same time. Rezko then sold a slice of the property to Obama.

Obama's Rezco deal under scrutiny
Jan. 29: Chicago real estate 'slumlord' Tony Rezko's criminal troubles are now bringing renewed scrutiny to Barack Obama's 2005 real estate deal with him. NBC's Lisa Myers reports.

Nightly News
Obama has donated Rezko's contributions to charity and says it was a mistake to work with Rezko on buying the house.

WILLIAM AYERS
Today, Ayers is a university professor and a member of Chicago's intellectual establishment. Forty years ago he was a member of the Weather Underground, a radical group that claimed responsibility for a series of bombings, including nonfatal explosions at the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol.

Ayers was a fugitive for years with his wife, fellow radical Bernadine Dohrn. But after surrendering in 1980, the charges against Ayers were dropped because of prosecutorial misconduct.

Obama has a very limited relationship with Ayers, who lives in the same neighborhood. They served together on the board of a Chicago charity, and in the mid-1990s when Obama first ran for office, Ayers hosted a meet-the-candidate session for Obama at his home.

EMIL JONES
Jones, the president of the Illinois Senate, amounts to Obama's political godfather and was an important part of Obama's longshot victory for U.S. Senate in 2004. He helped the little-known politician meet the right people, and he picked Obama to handle high-profile legislation during the two years leading up to the election.

But Jones' political style is very different from Obama's.

Jones is known for steering state money to a few favored institutions, including some that employ his relatives. Several of his relatives have gotten state jobs, and his wife's government salary jumped 60 percent after he became Senate president. He has played an important role in blocking ethics legislation in Illinois.

RASHID KHALIDI
Khalidi is a scholar and author on Middle Eastern affairs who has criticized Israeli policies and was part of a Palestinian advisory panel to peace talks in the early 1990s.

He's also a friend of Obama.

They met while both were teaching at the University of Chicago and living in the same neighborhood. Obama and his wife sometimes had dinner with Khalidi and his wife, Mona. The Khalidis hosted a political fundraiser for Obama in 2000, and the Woods Fund charity gave money to the Arab-American Action Network, run by Mona Khalidi, while Obama served on the charity's board.

Khalidi and Obama have both said they hold very different opinions on Israeli issues, but their friendship has been used to raise questions about Obama's support for Israel — and to generate Internet headlines such as "Meet Obama's Terrorist Friend."

MICHAEL PFLEGER
Pfleger, the white leader of a mostly black Catholic parish in Chicago, has been known as a firebrand for years. He protests everything from gun shops to Jerry Springer. Obama has referred to him as a spiritual adviser.

Recently, he visited Obama's church and preached a sermon in which he mocked Hillary Clinton and accused her of expecting to win the presidential nomination because she was white. Pfleger apologized, but Obama condemned the remarks and resigned from the church.

Obama was not nearly as close to Pfleger as he was to Wright, but now he's likely to face questions about his relationship with both men.


The company we keep tells lots.

 

[ColBatGuano]

Wow, six out of how many ever--let's say one-hundred. I had at least that many acquaintances and mentors. I certainly didn't agree with most of them on politics, science, or even musical taste, but that was no reason to turn my back on them. Most of the info on that list states that Obama's positions are very different from the people on the list. Why is it a bad thing to have an acquaintance, or even a friend, now or then, with whom you disagree? Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were fierce political and ideological rivals, but remained very close and dear friends until the day they died (on the same day, I might add.)

For an even more extreme example: France and the United Kingdom HATE each other. They were at war off and on for hundreds of years before they learned to be friendly rivals. They inter-connected their commerce and now depend on one another. They don't always agree, and have very different customs and ideologies, but they need to get along. Their economic futures depend on cooperation--rather than ideological obstruction. Hell, China and the United States don't care for one another--but because we are economically interdependent, we have learned to get along.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Legalizing Marijuana - A New Republican Strategy?

Legalizing Marijuana - A New Republican Strategy?

Up until now, I've only presented positive Republican/mj legalization pasties. Since this has turned into an Obama sling of sorts, I'll post negative relationships. If we can get off the O sling, I'll go back to pro-Republican/mj conversation.

Legalizing Marijuana - A New Republican Strategy?
By Mike Rhodes

The attractive young woman says to me, "would you sign our petition to legalize marijuana?" I don’t have to think twice and say "sure, where do I sign?" That is when it got interesting. She says, "Do you have your ID with you?" "Well, yes I do, but what does that have to do with..." I say as she responds with "oh, we just have to verify your ID." Thinking that this has something to do with making sure they have valid names for a ballot initiative I comply.

As I’m filling out my name and address on the petition I notice that the young lady is filling out a very official looking form. Probably just the ballot initiative form, I think to myself. Then, she says "is it OK if I register you as a Republican?" "What?!?" I say "yes, I do mind! What are you doing?" She says that if I register Republican she will get an extra 10 cents. But, I complain, "I don’t want to re-register." She explains that this is just to update the records for the County Clerks office. I repeat that "I do not want or need to update my records." I am repeatedly told that it is OK and that they just want to update my voter registration records. She also tells me that she is working for the Republican party, being paid hourly, and that the ploy about the "10 cent bonus" was not accurate.

This Republican party employee goes on to tell me that she is there to attract people to the table that is set up in Fresno’s Courthouse Park, and that the legalize marijuana petition is just a prop. She confirmed that there is no ballot initiative to legalize marijuana. She said that the petition will be given to an elected official in Sacramento. I have my doubts about that.

At this point in the conversation, she called over her "boss" who was talking with someone a short distance away. I introduced myself as the editor of the Community Alliance newspaper and said I was interested in writing a story about the petition campaign and their registering people with the Republican party. I guess that wasn’t the right approach to get him to open up to me. The "boss" gave me no information. He even refused to give me a copy of the marijuana legalization petition I had just signed.

Later that day I called Victor Salazar, the Fresno County Clerk. Salazar said that the process sounded deceptive and that I might want to call the Secretary of State fraud investigation unit. I called the number for the fraud investigation unit repeatedly today. Apparently, nobody was in the office today and all I got was an answering machine. I will continue to call.

I also went back to Courthouse Park today to see the Republican Party project was again in full operation. They seemed to have different approaches to different groups. To white men that looked like they might be attorneys, they asked if they were registered to vote. When Latinos walked by they would throw out the legalize marijuana angle.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/08/03/18294421.php

I not convinced the crowd was being profiled. I would be angry if a petitioner tried to change my voter registration and wouldn't be too happy if I couldn't reach the local or state FIU. Standing in line to cast a valid primary vote, only to be turned away with incorrect/fraudulent registration might be funny to the perps but it's election fraud and is illegal.

 

[ColBatGuano]

I would also like for anyone who thinks Obama is trying to take away their freedoms, to tell everyone exactly what freedoms have been taken away, or what freedoms he is trying to take away. The president doesn't make laws, so I don't see how he can be the sole offender in what is, by design, a complicit structure of government.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Legalizing Marijuana More Popular Than Republicans

by: Chris Bowers

Fri Feb 20, 2009 at 13:34

Two recent polls show that legalizing marijuana, which is not treated as a mainstream position by either the political or media establishment, to be more popular than numerous other positions that are considered mainstream. First, here are the polls:

CBS:

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Jan. 11-15, 2009. N=1,112 adults nationwide
"Do you think that the use of marijuana should be made legal or not?"

Should not 52%, Should 41%, Unsure 7


Rasmussen, February 13-14, 1,000 adults

In a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, Americans are closely divided on the question of whether marijuana should be legalized: 40% say it should be, while 46% disagree. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure which course is better.(...)
Americans under the age of 40 are much more supportive of legalizing the drug than are older Americans.


While legalizing marijuana is not a majority or a plurality position at this time, it is very close to becoming one. Not only do the long-term trendlines show a dramatic shift in favor of legalization, but a majority of the population under the age of 40 is already in favor of legalization. As such, despite no major political leaders advocating on behalf of it, right now it is only a matter of time--perhaps less than a decade--before legalizing marijuana becomes a majority position nationwide.

It should also be noted that, at 40-41% support, legalizing marijuana is more popular than all of the following:

• Opposing stricter gun control laws (40%)
• Congress (26-40%)
• The war in Iraq (39%)
• Decreasing immigration levels (39%)
• Privatizing Social Security (36%)
• Opposing investigating the Bush administration (34%)
• Opposing national, government run health insurance (32%)
• Vetoing stem cell research (31%)
• The Republican Party (31%)
• Dick Cheney (30%)
• George W. Bush (24-34%)
• Decreasing business regulations (28%)
• Rush Limbaugh (28%)
• Mitch McConnell (22%)
• Preventing the openly gay from serving in the military (17%)
• John Boehner (17%)

In short, legalizing marijuana is more popular than the Republican Party, most leading Republicans, and virtually the entire Republican platform.

I'm sure this is just a partial list so, in the comments, feel free to list more "mainstream" opinions that are less popular than legalizing marijuana.​

That was pretty interesting

 

[greenhead]

I certainly didn't agree with most of them on politics, science, or even musical taste, but that was no reason to turn my back on them.

I'm not friends with any ex-terrorists, but Obama apparently has far lower standards than I have.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Republicans Should Embrace Marijuana Law Reform

Fri, 01/30/2009 - 2:52pm | posted by David Carlson

Paul Armentano wrote a great piece over at Alternet.org about the recent transition of power in Washington D.C. and how they have dealt with marijuana law reform. Needless to say, nothing major (or minor, really) has been done in favor of either decriminalization or legalization for either medicinal or recreational use of cannabis.

The general partisan positions concerning marijuana law is: Liberals in favor of decriminalizing/legalizing marijuana, while Conservatives have been against changing the current drug laws and continuing the costly war on drugs. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has recently voiced her support of marijuana law reform, but said that there is work that needs to be done outside of Congress before such action can be taken. Other Democrats have also voiced their support of reform.

Here is my solution to give the Republicans some credibility and show they can reach across the aisle: support marijuana law reform. Why? Well, the war on drugs has been an epic failure. It has cost billions of dollars, imprisoned over 20 million (many of whom are harmless), disproportionally targeted minorities, and has caused many unnecessary deaths. If the Democrats are the ones who eventually rise up and are credited with ending this catastrophe, it would be a huge blow to Conservatives.

Republicans should be jumping all over this issue. Arguments for keeping marijuana illegal are weak to say the least, and there is no denying the fact that government would necessarily shrink if marijuana was legalized. Billions of taxpayer dollars would be saved (imagine how much it has cost us to not only fight the drug war, but to incarcerate over 20 million). If Conservatives are for less government intervention and individual responsibility, would it not make sense to be the loudest proponents of marijuana legalization?

http://www.unitedliberty.org/articles/republicans-should-embrace-marijuana-law-reform



BTW, unitedliberty is a conservative website.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Sarah Palin smoked marijuana — and inhaled

August 29th, 2008, 4:10 pm · 33 Comments · posted by by Alan Bock, Register editorial writer


Everybody’s tracking things down. The estimable Marijuana Policy Project has tracked down the fact that Sarah Palin has publicly acknowledged that she smoked marijuana and inhaled – but she says she didn’t like it. Of course possession and use was legal in Alaska for some time, though it was still against federal law. Now she says she’s not for legalization. “Wrong message to kids,” the lamest possible reason.
MPP makes the obvious point:
“Governor Palin is one of many millions of Americans who have used marijuana and gone on to live productive, wildly successful lives,” said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. “That she used marijuana is no big deal, but what is a big deal is that she thinks that the 100 million Americans who have used marijuana, including herself, belong in jail. That wouldn’t be good for her kids.”
http://orangepunch.freedomblogging.com/2008/08/29/sarah-palin-smoked-marijuana-and-inhaled/

I don't agree with Kampia's conclusion but I already have a governor who say's she'll veto any mj reform in my state. If Palin runs for prez, gets elected and continues to reject reform, I'd have the same thing at the federal level. VETO.

 

[greenhead]

http://orangepunch.freedomblogging.com/2008/08/29/sarah-palin-smoked-marijuana-and-inhaled/3683/I don't agree with Kampia's conclusion but I already have a governor who say's she'll veto any mj reform in my state. If Palin runs for prez, gets elected and continues to reject reform, I'd have the same thing at the federal level. VETO.

You're right that quite a few Republican politicians are against MJ, and that is a braindead position to hold.

I don't see the Democrats as being any better. What has Obama done exactly, besides mock weed users? I don't see him as any friend of marijuana growers or smokers.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

I would also like for anyone who thinks Obama is trying to take away their freedoms, to tell everyone exactly what freedoms have been taken away, or what freedoms he is trying to take away. The president doesn't make laws, so I don't see how he can be the sole offender in what is, by design, a complicit structure of government.

Yesterday, the Tea Party Patriots leader seemed to say that it's about unconstitutional federal power during and after the civil war. I've got to admit, Lincoln did exercise powers the Constitution doesn't provide. That was an extraordinary time and I'd be interested to see hoosierdaddy's take since he justifies the Patriot Act.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

You're right that quite a few Republican politicians are against MJ, and that is a braindead position to hold.

I don't see the Democrats as being any better. What has Obama done exactly, besides mock weed users? I don't see him as any friend of marijuana growers or smokers.

I agree to a point. It's a third rail for national politicians atm. I thought the Pelosi comment that more needs to be done before it can be debated nationally is a baby step in the right direction, at least from a personal perspective of the current speaker of the US House of Representatives.

IMO, Obama would be crazy to take on this issue from the executive level because it's just another divisive issue currently. This is just opinion but I don't think we'll see Obama get in the way or threaten to veto potential legislation. He already called the feds off states unless growers are breaking state laws. That's another step, although it's bigger than baby.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Eat me, Disco.

 

[ColBatGuano]

I'm not friends with any ex-terrorists, but Obama apparently has far lower standards than I have.

"Obama has a very limited relationship with Ayers, who lives in the same neighborhood. They served together on the board of a Chicago charity, and in the mid-1990s when Obama first ran for office, Ayers hosted a meet-the-candidate session for Obama at his home."

In other words: Big friggin' deal! Ayers is hardly a terrorist anymore, and I have seen no evidence that he is a "friend" of Obama. An acquaintance and a friend are two very different things. I would imagine Obama does know the man more than we do. Like I said, the beliefs and ideologies of youth don't necessarily transition to later life. Part of the point of life is to learn from your mistakes, and to try and make amends. George Bush's entire mid-life has been based upon this idea. Besides, it's not like Obama is appointing Ayers to be the Director of Homeland Security. It's not like he invites him over for tea and some good old-fashioned 60's radical bombings.