Ryan Grim at Huffington Post reports on the notion going round political circles that California’s Prop 19 (and, to a lesser extent, medical marijuana initiatives in Arizona and South Dakota, and dispensaries for medical marijuana in Oregon) will be for the Democrats what anti-Gay Marriage Equality amendments were for Republicans – the turn-out-the-base social wedge issue that helps their candidates on the ballot.
A survey making the rounds among strategists, which has yet to be made public, indicates that pot could be just the enticement many of these voters need: Surge voters, single women under 40 and Hispanics all told America Votes pollsters that if a legalization measure were on the Colorado ballot, they’d be more likely to come out to vote. Forty-five percent of surge voters and 47 percent of single women said they’d be more interested in voting if the question was on the ballot. Most of these were energetic, with 36 and 30 percent, respectively, saying they’d be “much more interested” in coming out to vote. Roughly half said it would make no difference. For Latinos, 32 percent said they’d be “much more interested” in voting and another 12 percent said they’d be somewhat more attracted to the idea of trudging to the polls.
Surge voters said they would support the measure by a margin of 63-35. Young single women would back it 68-31. Latinos, meanwhile, oppose it 52-46, according to the survey. “Whether it can pass or not is another question, but I think it’s clear that a marijuana legalization measure has the potential to increase turnout among voting groups that are critical to Democratic success in November,” said a Colorado Democratic operative, who, like most strategists employed by campaigns, prefers not to talk about marijuana on the record — highlighting the difficulty Democrats will have threading the political needle.
Turning out an extra few percent can be the difference between winning and losing in swing states, a reality Karl Rove exploited in 2004 by papering the nation with anti-gay marriage initiatives.
I think the Democrats are in for a surprise. See, Karl Rove and the Republicans really believed in the initiatives they were pushing. They had a frame for it – “one man one woman” – that resonated with their voters and the overall worldview espoused by most of their downticket candidates. So when that Religious Right base came out in 2004, energized to vote against dreaded homosexuals and for the continuation of all that was good, true, and Christian in America, they had George W. Bush and a whole slew of Republicans to vote for that echoed that sentiment.
What do Democrats have to offer the cannabis consumer who comes out for a 2010 election? Unlike Rove and the Republicans, the Democrats don’t really believe in these initiatives (publicly). Sen. Boxer, Sen. Feinstein (a former mayor of San Francisco, c’mon now!), and former Gov. / current AG Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown all publicly oppose Prop 19 (really, Jerry? You toked with Linda Ronstadt! Please!) Democrats can’t even go on the record to discuss this strategy. They haven’t yet framed it other than to murmur a bit about tax revenues, which is a lousy frame easily countered with “Well, if taxing crack made the cities money, should we legalize that?” Tax revenues resonate well within Assembly committee hearings, but they make for a ghoulish appeal to the average voter.
There’s also the disappointment factor. A lot of cannabis consumers were very excited about supporting Barack Obama for president. He wrote candidly of his youthful marijuana and cocaine use! No more “I didn’t inhale” bullshit; we even got an “I inhaled, frequently, that was the point.” He ran for Senate saying “The War on Drugs is an utter failure and I think we need to re-think and decriminalize our marijuana laws.”
And, honestly, he’s a black guy from Chicago and a constitutional law professor, so we figured he’s probably got a pretty good read on the realities of marijuana and how devastatingly unjust, ineffective, and harmful its prohibition is. We are the “surge voters” Grim is talking about, those of us “who were driven to the polls in 2008 through a once-in-a-generation mix of shame at the outgoing administration and hope in a new, barrier-breaking candidate.”
So we “surged”, in the real world and especially online, and got Obama elected. We even got him a massive majority in Congress. We were thrilled when he asked us online what items we’d like to see on the new administration’s agenda and multiple times we responded with “legalize marijuana”, topping almost every public survey and dominating with 16 of the top 50 questions in the largest survey. So what did we get in response? Something we in marijuana law reform simply call “The Chuckle”:
Democrats may still benefit from the cannabiphiles flooding the polls if only due to the “who else ya gonna vote for?” strategy championed by folks like Rahm Emanuel. But how long will it take some younger, Tea Party-friendly Republicans to realize they have a potential windfall of new, young, diverse voters if they steal the low-hanging fruit of marijuana legalization for their own?
Republicans already have the frames of “small government”, “personal responsibility”, and “states rights” to work within. If marijuana legalization in California passes by a wide margin and sees support from the women, minorities, and young people the GOP desperately needs to rebuild their party, how long before they begin framing the War on Drugs as the “big government”, “nanny state”, and “federal overreach” that it is? They’ve got revered conservative figures like William Buckley and Milton Friedman they can quote to bolster their position. They can easily point to the Democratic Congresses of the 1980s that created the mandatory minimums and the last three Democratic presidents who supported decriminalization and inhaled or didn’t inhale yet arrests kept increasing (at the greatest rate under Clinton, they’ll note).
The GOP isn’t quite there yet. Marijuana is still associated with hippies, counter-culture, leftism, atheism, communism, heathenism, and a few other isms the Republicans still rail against. When I was arguing for marijuana legalization back in my home state of Idaho, I used to ask the hippie-hating, pickup-driving, hardest-right Republicans I knew why, if they hated marijuana and hippies so much, did they support hippies making a living without ever paying taxes? “Why is it that you have to clock in at 8am every day,” I’d ask, “and 30% of your check is gone before you ever touch it because of taxes, while a hippie gets to sleep til Noon, grow a plant in a closet, never leave the house, and make twice as much as you do, and never pays a cent in taxes? It’s not like you see a bunch of hippies opening up brewpubs.” If the GOP can use their base’s continued engagement in the culture wars of the ’60s and ’70s by framing legalization as the only logical way to control and punish (through “sin” taxes) the users of cannabis, they could radically revitalize their party.
Just in time for 2012 when a vocally pro-marijuana legalization, anti-prohibition former governor of New Mexico named Gary Johnson will be fighting for the Republican nomination.
I think WE THE PEOPLE SHOULD DECIDE…..
I decide….” legalize “
one day we will look back at this point in history and think what the hell. I deserve to have marijuana anytime any day.. People who smoke cigarettes act like they don’t get high, such bull. I’m ready for the true change and the death of the drug war.
Hopefully Republicans will take the initiative to admit that the Controlled Substances Act and the DEA were both responsible for some of the biggest expansion of government on their watch. Sadly, I don’t believe their egos will allow them to admit that they made a mistake, and the Democrats are no less blameless; thank you very much, Joe “Bite-Me” Biden, who actually coined the term “Drug Czar”!
Perhaps if Barack Obama embraced the “Audacity of Leadership” that WE THE PEOPLE actually deserve we could have actually experienced some real “CHANGE” in U.S. Drug Policy and he would have (more than likely) been guaranteed a 2nd term, but the fact of the matter is that he’s just like every other president and politician that has ever set foot in Washington D.C.: the ONLY thing that they care about is re-election. Period. The End.
As far as framing the issue, for all parties, I say take the gross mischaracterization out of the hands of the terrorists and show everyone this is a matter of public safety. First and foremost legalizing marijuana increases public safety.
“‘Public safety first’ mean re-legalizing marijuana!”
I’m a Native Cali in Ar. I’ve been waiting for all of this for 46 yrs. Awesome! I’m thinking about moving back.
I vote for legal marijuana!
Great stuff Russ. I was called by the DNC last week and asked to donate to their party. When I asked where they stand on prop 19 the girl asked for a little time. She put me on hold and when she came back she told me that the DNC does not support prop 19 but that some of the Senators do. Not the ones from California though. So I informed her that I am a member of NORML and that the only way to get money from me was to show some leadership and take a stand against prohibition. I told her that 20 million arrests and 1 trillion spent on a failed policy was not my idea of good government.
I’ve been hoping to see this argument surface in this debate. Nothing demonstrates the danger of excessive government power like the war on drugs.
It’s a natural fit for the current political climate and the rise of tea party sentiment. Most republicans I know are anti-legalization, until legalization is argued from an anti-big government perspective. For most, this perspective has literally never been honestly considered.
With a little nudging, perhaps this might become a tea party issue. That would set up a nightmare scenario of losing the election, plus the next generation of voters.
bring that issue to new york . it will be legal tomorrow. i will be there in a second
(Correction/clarification of above post)
The last paragraph should read:
With a little nudging, perhaps this might become a tea party issue. That would set up a nightmare scenario for the democrats of losing the election, plus the next generation of voters.
This country is in a very delicate state. Lets hope we don’t vote in a horde of republicrats because they will legalize cannabis, and in turn they ruin the country.
We need a healthy country, and healthy cannabis laws (in other words, no cannabis laws)
We support the person who agrees to stop putting our kids and adults in jail over Marijuana.
I am a Democrat,I am for smaller government,I was there in the’60s,the ’70s,and I am still there.I am antiprohibition,and I say “LEGALIZE”!
the president should show the courage of his convictions
Legalization is definatly my answer.
i mean, come on! ok, it has some side effects, but people still like using it, which doesn’t give anybody the right to lock’em in?!
besides, it’s a PLANT! <:)
if you, NORML Fight hard enough, it's easy to legalize here in norway 🙂 I Speak for my People, with the word: Legalize.
Prop 19 is being closely watched by an entire world of cannabis aficionados and disturbed (relieved?) governments.
If California can pull it off, prohibitionism itself will collapse as if its critical supporting column were primed and detonated.
It is within the power of Californians to put a stop this bloody repression of our rights in this, our democratic republic, and to send a message to the international community that the people lead, and that the judicial industrial complex does not.
Californians have the opportunity to become the world leader on marijuana legalization and regulation. Their vote this November will decide the fate of millions. For a voter to miss this historic election would be like missing Woodstock, or the fall of the Berlin Wall, only because they’re too lazy to caste a simple, single vote.
This is an opportunity to crush the bastards. To finally stick it to the Man. Being a part of the historic popular campaign and vote that eliminates the ridiculous legal stigma and persecution associated with marijuana will be something every California cannabis user can brag about forever.
In fact, if you’re not already a California native, move to California so you can qualify for the Prop 19 vote in November.
Sumptuary law is illegal/unjust since it rejects subjective truth,which is the essence of “king of your castle” democracy.
Roy, what convictions? He was never arrested for his youthful “indiscretions”.
I wish that instead of “The Chuckle” about legalization people would acturally discuss the facts instead of laughing like ignorant trolls in their suits that cost more than I probly make in 2-4 weeks…
Thought this was america, when Obama says ” I don’t know what that says about the voters”, I mean come on! You ask for opinions from America, the country you are running for precedency and you think that if we want “change” if it isnt what you would think is right or socially acceptable you can shrug it off and make it sound like the majority of our nation is erroneous..
No-“Thanks for clearing that up”
– Average American
in this day and age we should all be able to vote over the internet as that would increase the turnout in voters.
well, what about the millions of existing pot smokers? I dare say that even the most casual smokers will endorse Prop 19 en masse, many of which aren’t “likely voters”.
Statistical data in this topic is extremely limited due to the way that this data is obtained.
As far as Obama, who cares. Prop 19 will pass. Period.
RON PAUL for PRESIDENT
Judge Andrew Napolitano for VICE PRESIDENT
Look them up and get behind them.
I voted for Obama for two reasons. 1.I had no idea who Ralph Nader was at the time. 2.The thought of another republican president scared the shit out of me. But after that very first internet town hall, when Obama just completely ignored what the masses clearly where saying i knew right then that the Dem’s are no different then the Repub’s. They both sold out to the all mighty dollar and don’t give a shit what you or i think or say anymore. If you want real change, we need to get people like us Running for public office on a 3rd party ticket that is actually worth something. Not just a bunch of racist acting like patriots.
People are so distracted over partisan (Republican vs. Democrat) bickering that they spend so much time in a non-constructive sort of ranting. Wake up! You’re not changing anyone’s mind or political party by shouting at each other; you can do it till you’re blue in the face or in the grave. Left vs. Right doesn’t matter much these days when both parties are susceptible to strong money interests and influences from lobbyists, that’s just how it is.
The privatized prisons that have been built need to be filled to generate more profit. Even the military is becoming privatized, for profit to contractors like Blackwater who are enriching themselves (the CEO’s are anyway).
This is America. We are supposed to be the good guys, setting the example and being a beneficent neighbor and beacon of liberty for the rest of the world to emulate.
* George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers GREW HEMP; Washington and Jefferson Diaries. Jefferson smuggled hemp seeds from China to France then to America.
* The first Bibles, maps, charts, Betsy Ross’s flag, the first drafts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were made from hemp; U.S. Government Archives.
Like the separation of powers of the three branches of government, and the separation of church and state, there needs to be a separation of CORPORATION and STATE so that private interests (the few) do not control public policy for matters that directly concern all the people (the many). I believe THE GREATER GOOD is one of the highest principles of this nation, of the American people, and Cannabis prohibition, and the scheduling of Cannabis is deliberately unreasonable, is meant to stifle real reasearch and fill the prisons and so-called treatment centers.
” It has been a long and difficult sell, but I think it is now generally believed (except by the United States government) that herbal marijuana as a medicine is here to stay.” Dr. Lester Grinspoon
http://www.rxmarijuana.com/note_caution.htm
I think they really missed it! You can add NC to the list; this weekend in Fayettville, NC the Dem’s backed MMJ and reintroduced bill 1380. It’s always going to be politics as usual but so what ever side will listen to the people they will get elected. I for one will only vote for those in favor of Legalization. You cannot conpair Weed to crack; What an Idiot!!!
citing source(*):
http://www.illuminati-news.com/marijuana-conspiracy.htm
I really don’t give a hoot about either Democrat or Republican parties since they both are at faults for starting the prohibition in the first place. What’s really more important here is that on Nov. election in the states of California and Washington the PEOPLE will have a choice to vote for legalization of Cannabis and Hemp. We really don’t have a party that speak LOUD and strongly for Cannabis and Hemp. That’s why I’m looking for any individual who’s for legalization (Democrat or Republican). My only advice for the states of California and Washington is get those PEOPLE out to vote. If we can change history by having a huge turn out and get Obama elected, you can change history as well.
I hope that prop 19 passes, part of the reason for me moving from NC to CA is prop 19. I hope this happens, but I’d like to caution those who vote for a tea bagger or libertarian simply for to get cannabis re-legalized. Neither the tea party or the libertarians have any semblance of social policy and their ‘govt. out of business’ platform will only be more of a sellout to corporate America than is perpetrated by the rethuglican party now.
This is why the Republicans are able to so effectively control the country despite representing perhaps a quarter of the population: they find wedge issues and relentlessly use them as wedges. The Democrats can’t get anything done despite representing perhaps a third of the country because they take wedge issues and kowtow to the Republican line.
America needs cannabis/hemp in all its dimensions now. FREE THE WEED
If both Democrats and Republicans are opposed to large national deficits, why do we have them? If you keep on doing what you’ve been doing, you’re going to keep on getting what you’ve been getting. Hint: vote Libertarian. Since all else has failed, I suggest we try the government we have, but largely ignore–God’s will for people to live in freedom with liberty as acknowledged and cited in the Constitution of the United States. By the way, cannabis (a.k.a. Marijuana) is not a drug. It is a plant. And it can not be legalized. It can only be re-legalized. In a free country there would be no victimless/consentual crimes. If someone doesn’t think prostitution is appropriate behavior, they shouldn’t be a prostitute. In fact, they probably shouldn’t even solicit the services of a prostitute. The solution to this and virtually all of our other needlessly self-inflected “problems” is a very simple one. Absent harm to another, degradation of like freedoms and liberties of a fellow citizen, people should MIND THIR OWN BUSINESS! American patriots know exactly what is going on. Sheeple (sheep/people), numbed by their prolonged servitude and brainwashed into their at least marginally willing slavery, don’t even have a clue. The re-legalization of cannabis has almost nothing to do with a common weed, and almost everything to do with freedom and liberty.
It could help Democrats. I think that it is mostly a non partisan issue. I think what will happen is all the young people ages 18 and over will carry prop 19 over 50 percent. There are more people in the closet that haven’t said a word or come out of the closet.
I think now is the time to educate more cons about the dream turning into a reality! I say Legalize
IntObs.
So are you implying that he didn’t know that what he was doing was against the law? The young and stupid defense? Or that he was unable to judge wisely and objectively? He admitted to it, self incriminated, so you could say that it’s a self-appointed conviction. Oh dang, I forgot no concrete evidence to substantiate. He could have been testing the waters. It’s not like he swore under oath in a court room. He did when he took office though. Not that swearing on the bible keeps liars from taking the stand or office. Those pesky atheists.
Sure neoliberals pretend to be more marijuana friendly than the neocons, but you can not hold them to their words, ie Obama and my governor John Lynch (NH). Just as the wars have not stopped, actually have been increasing under Obama. Voting for incumbents and mainstream Dems and Repubs alike is the wort possible thing you can do.
cheech and chong need to help us get out the vote.
anybody talking to them?
As much as i like the summer months i cant wait till November for Cali’s big vote GO CALI an vote yes.An now i hear of a Just Say Now Campaign idk anyone else hear of it?It sounds to me like their keeping it quite.
[Paul Armentano responds: The ‘Just Say Now’ campaign was just launched by Firedog Lake. You can learn more information about it here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/03/just-say-now-left-right-c_n_669043.html. The FDL is actively backing Prop. 19.]
THE world will not end if cannabis is leagal.
The Dims have nothing but contempt for individual freedom and the idea of limited government. You can’t trust them to let people keep the freedoms they have now, let alone give them one that’s already been taken away. They’re trying to ban salt for God’s sake.
I don’t like the Repubs either, but they’re starting to shape up and certainly outshine the alternative. It’s a real shame legalization didn’t make the ballot intiiatve in WA. Guess I’ll be smoking indoors for now regardless of who governs me.
@Tod #2 People who think cig smokers don’t get try need to know that when a cig smoker quits for a time, and then foolishly starts again does indeed get “high”. They will say that they just get dizzy, but in reality they are in denial. I know, because I used to be a nicotine junkie, and when I would fall off the wagon I would get noticably “high” for the first few cigs I smoked. I wish all politicians would make thier feelings regarding cannabis legalization known. I know that in Nov. I will cast my vote for those in favor of it.
In the states where it is legal, veterans who are medical marijuana patients will be allowed to use thier medicine without being cut off by VA medical.
Only the Libertarians can be trusted on this issue — vote libertarian.
Republicant’s and Dems can’t do ANYTHING right — I wouldn’t expect them to start now.
Thanks, Paul.
we the people in order to form a perfect union should perform a sit in at the nation’s capitol in order to legalize marijuana
i am a disabled tax paying registered voter american who should have the right to have medical marijuana i live in NY and am upset that we can not grow a plant with so many good uses. who does it hurt to help yourself??
Do we really want the marijuana issue to boost the dems chances? They’ve butchered the constitution enough with Obamacare, seriously, are you all OK with being “fined” on your taxes because you choose to not have healthcare. Essentially forcing you into buying a good or service even though you dont want to. If the Fed Gov’t succeeds in this lawsuit they will be able to do anything including forcing you to buy an XBOX 360, or computer or forcing you to go to college and make you pay for it, ect. ect. Be afraid, be very afraid.
the only way marijuana is going to get legalized is if we get out and vote the people in favor of legalizing and voting the others out. legalize it.
When did “Yes we Can” become “I thought we Could” ?
I’m a Democrat, because I agree with them on other issues. But I admit that many of them are behind the wave on marijuana. Too many politicos still have a 1990s “I did not inhale” mindset. If they receive the word from the grassroots that Prohibition must end, then the party will change its tune.
Who is “them” though? Do all Democrats toe the party line?
For example, because the religious right made same-sex marriage an issue, they became immorally involved in the issue and made it a political issue.
If it’s a Democratic thing to do to vote for same-sex marriage, that detracts from fact that same-sex marriage is a moral issue.
People do not choose who they’re attracted to. Whether homosexual or heterosexual, man or woman, people who are not asexual do not choose. Attraction is not a choice.
Saying that it is a choice, is inaccurate and it leads to blaming. It’s not a choice.
Therefore to say that homosexuality is “wrong” is nothing more than a statement of mere disapproval because it’s not a choice. It is saying, “boo! bad!” because Attraction isn’t a choice.
Further, discrimination against them in this way is immoral. And we saw the reverberations of that with the recent court ruling in California.
Go California!
I believe the push to make marijuana a medicine is the wrong way to go.. we don’t need another prescription drug we want pot to be legalized so we can enjoy it like others enjoy having a drink. The voting public needs to be reminded that 3 of the most dangerous products ever known to mankind ( Alcohol,Cigarettes and Guns ) can be legally bought in 99% of all towns and cities in America, hell in some stores like Walmart you can buy all 3 of them and get a “thank You Come Again” from the clerk and between those 3 products they kill over 800,000 Americans every years and injure un told amounts while they are no reports of deaths from highing high on pot. They only problem with marijuana is that it is controlled and regulated my street gangs and drug cartels instead of by states or the federal government. Marijuana should be taxed and regulated like alcohol or cigarettes 21 to buy it and use it… no smoking pot and driving (same law as drinking) no getting high in public etc. and it should be taxed the same too a per pack tax of X amnount like cigarettes or a per once amount like alcohol.. Some people are saying tax it $50 per once but I think that is a stupid offer because people will just go buy weed from the cartels again and not pay that extra $50.
You have to take the criminals completely out of the picture
In response to Mike Stroup. While the libertarian party is all for legalizing cannabis, they have no social policy agenda and their little to no government platform when it comes to regulating BIG business – such as multi-national corporations, banks, energy and the health insurance conglomerates – should give anyone pause to think.
i am a proud Republican now that being said i am all for legal cannabis I’m all for taxing it I’m all for freedom to smoke it eat it what ever make hats outta it i live in so cal and let me tell ya i signed to get this on in nov i begged my wife to sign and to my surprise she did as did her big time right winger dad I’m still not for gay marriage or killing unborn baby’s but if gays want a state marriage and not a holy bible marriage that should be up to the people of that state to vote on not 1 judge and i hope that if cannabis wins and is legalized that 1 judge wont pop up and defies the will of the people on that matter also so GET OUT AND VOTE PEOPLE OF CALAFORNA,Republicans VOTE YES ON PROP 19 VOTE FOR FREEDOM and for a new way to make MONEY
I’m glad you got the two videos together because it explains his nervousness over the marijuana issue, and the more I see it the more I’ve wondered about his truthfulness.
The first video he started out strong and then he fizzled out; diminishing his final sentence. That brought out a lot of questions on my mind as if he wanted to get away from that subject.
The second video is when he tried to get control of his nervousness by acting like a jerk and make it all sounded like a joke. He truly doesn’t what to get involved and talk about it. It is the most very important social issue that effects all of the United States citizens, and he doesn’t want to explain why he thinks it is not important anymore? Why?
NORML needs to stop acting like they exist to make Democrats seem like good politicians. NORML exists for marijuana law reform. Quit with the “derp democrats give us weed and evil republicans don’t. republicans were banning the awful gay people but no not us democrats we love faggots so we’re better.” Really. It’s bullshit. Come on NORML, it makes me not want to like you guys since you’re so liberal. Try and be less biased.
[Editor’s note: NORML has always been a non-partisan organization, favoring neither Democrats or Republicans.]
As a conservative republican (no neocon) I feel it is very anti-conservative to want a government to legislate what I can and cannot put into my body. True conservatives would absolutely be against the criminalization of marijuana. The GOP does desperately need to unite, and get back to the conservative values that made them strong, conservative lawmaking, conservative spending, smaller government. When people tell me they are conservative and anti-pot I know they are either a hypocrite or ignorant of what conservatism is. I am a diabetic too, should I insist sugar be outlawed since it can kill me? The whole thing is ridiculous, a time and resource waster and there must be a stop put to it, especially when there are so many that could benefit medically. The big pharma companies are the biggest lobbying opponents I am sure.
We don’t live in caves and watch shadows anymore! Prohibs can face the light, or face the darkness. It’s up to them. They can face the truth, or turn their backs on the truth, to face their fears with denial. It’s up to them. “Truth is enlightenment – fear is eternal darkness!”
The simple fact of the matter is – BECAUSE OF THE “AMERICAN POLICY – no compelling governmental interest exists with regard to medicinal use of cannabis. Further, if prohibs think that Qualified Patients APPROVE of our children’s use or abuse of cannabis [no matter their age], their position is best defined and described as PITIFUL – to say the least. So! you tell me – what’s it all about Alfie?
the prop 19 momentum has been growing in the last couple of months and shows signs of continuing on a roll. it’s gonna win is my INTUITION.
incumbents are under a lot of pressure to do the right thing (for themselves).
what’s with jerry brown who used to toke with the flowa powa famous? is he now a powa freak converted to fascism?
Does anyone really beleave things will get better for MJ reform if tea party republicans win. Just asking.
I think the Dem’s are fooling themselves if they believe the ground swell turnout for Prop 19 will benefit them. They, to include Obama have spit in our faces. This ain’t about them, it’s about starting to fix a wrong that started 70+ years ago. I do hope it’s a wake up call for all politicians that if they don’t have the gut’s the people do.
#50BusGerb – Libertarians want a limited FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. We believe that the STATES can take care of the fears of “limited government” you just wrote of. And we believe that the STATES can handle this in different ways which will lead to variety and competition of ideas. There is NOTHING to be afraid of with a limited FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. None of the social programs end, they are just handled more efficiently by the state where YOU get more of a say, and the states handle them in different ways so we literally find 50 different ways to solve a problem, not just by 1 way.
#57 – While the Tea Party has a couple good candidates (out of hundreds), they are mostly still war mongering neo-cons who think cutting spending stops at our imperialistic foreign policy. So I don’t trust them either. There are plenty of ‘classical liberal’ (limited federal government) candidates who are libertarians, republicans, and democrats.
mi say: BLOOD CLATT! when are you all going to learn, to stop voting for republican & democratic… when they are the ones that have made these laws and kept these laws on the books. you all are brain wash in to there two party system. VOTE for anything and everthing that is not republican or democratic,,, that is how you will make change. get them criminals out of office… stop VOTEING FOR THEM!!! if there is no one there worthy of your vote then write in “NONE OF THE ABOVE” that all mi hav to say… one lov PEACE
So, anyone here think that it would be better for the Marijuana cause if BUSH/Republicans were still in office instead of Obama? If so, GET REAL!!! Does anyone remember the all out assault from the White House during the BUSH ERA? How soon ya’ll forget. If you don’t think Democrats are better for the Marijuana cause than Republicans—-then just look at the numbers. Democrats VOTE YES to PROP 19 almost 2 to 1 compared to Republicans. Look at House Bills H.R.5143 and Senate Bill S.714
House Bill H.R. 5143 sponsor Bill Delahunt (D-MA). Senate bill S.714 sponsor Jim Webb (D-VA). BOTH BILLS SPONSORED BY DEMOCRATS. Then check out who SUPPORTS these Bills—House Bill H.R.5143 —43 Democrat–Only 3 Republicans.——Senate Bill S.714—35 Democrats—Only 3 Republicans and 1 Independant.
And by the way—-Who do you think is THE MAN behind Bills H.R.5143 and S.714——-OBAMA!!! To come straight out and jump up and down and say as THE PRESIDENT of THE UNITED STATES I suppoot Marijuana!!!, would be political suicide and flat out retarded!!! However—bringing forward National Criminal Justice Act Bills—and having those who you have put in place to study and vote for the bills—–then to present those Bills back to you with their combined voted on recommendations for your approval—-GENIUS!!!
This is how you pass Bills and Laws, and never have your name directly attached. You simply sign off on a Bill that has been presented and recommended to you, that has already been voted on and passed by a group vote in the House and a group vote in the Senate. This happens at all levels of law, including City, State and Federal. You can call it Gunius, or you can call it crooked. Depends on which side of the Bill you stand.
This is not to say this is how it will go or not. The Marijuana reclassification recommendations that come from within(if they come from)the National Criminal Justice Act, will have to pass both the House and the Senate before this could even come to light. Could this be what OBAMA is thinking/planning? When Prop 19 goes to the U.S. Supreme Court, and it will, how will that go? The U.S. Supreme court on May 18th 2009, upheld the right of states to implement and administer their own medical marijuana laws, affirming the long held position that federal law does not preempt state medical marijuana laws. Will this repeat itself for legal Marijuana? It looks to me as if it would of the same. One difference is that we have peace treaties with the promise of not making Marijuana legal. Will that somehow be used to make a legal difference? If not, then it will pretty much stay the same as the Laws are now, only Legal Marijuana will be legal at the State level also, as Medical Marijuana is already. OBAMA said he would not intrude on State Medical Marijuana Laws. Will he take the same outlook for State Legal Marijuana? While that remains to be seen, he will have no more control then, as he already does now, as Medical Marijuana is already illegal per Federal Law. OBAMA could already—RIGHT NOW—- be busting every operation in town if he wanted too per Federal Law. So while some of you may complain that OBAMA is not doing this or that for Marijuana—also remember what he’s not doing, that he could be doing.
What I don’t understand is why questions aren’t being asked about the some 50,000 other uses for this plant. (50,000 may be an exaggeration but I keep seeing it on research). I could care less about the medicinal purpose, but I do care about alternative fuels and sustainable resources. If this was regarded as America’s first billion dollar cash crop in 1938, then why as Americans are we still in the midst of a recession/depression? Think of how many jobs can be created just by legalizing cannabis!
I think that supporting 3rd party and smaller candidates like Ralph Nader and Ron Paul is absolutely pointless, because no candidate has ever won without huge financial backing from corporate interests. In fact in the last election 94% of the candidates that won were the ones who received the most funding. It’s literally impossible, people need to be realistic about this. If we can get more referendums like this one put forth in other states I think that’s a much better strategy. & maybe even voting for ‘lesser of two evil’ candidates, whoever has the least draconian cannabis laws among the two that stand a conceivable chance of winning.
Trump is a Republican & in favor of legalization. Plus, he will be the only one to be able to sway the other closed minded Republicans. I have been a Democrat most my life, but I think Trump knows his numbers & he does have commonsense.