Once more President Obama wades into the online breach with yet another Facebook Town Hall to solicit questions on policy from the public. The event takes place on April 20th, a.k.a. 4/20, the unofficial national cannabis holiday, without any sense of irony that these forums have been dominated by marijuana legalization questions every time the public votes on these questions.
(President Obama’s Facebook) WHAT’S HAPPENING
President Barack Obama will hold a special “Facebook Live” townhall to connect with Americans across the country.
WHERE & WHEN IT’S HAPPENING
Where? Well, everywhere! The event at Facebook’s headquarters, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg & COO Sheryl Sandberg, will be live streamed for anyone to watch. Just come back here at the right time: Wednesday, April 20 @ 1:45pm PDT / 4:45pm EDT. Unless invited to attend in person, please do not show up at Facebook HQ. You can watch and participate via the event’s live stream.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
President Obama will connect with Americans across the country to discuss the tough choices we must all make in order to put our economy on a more responsible fiscal path, while still investing in areas like innovation that will help our economy grow and make America more competitive.
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
Facebook will be selecting questions for President Obama to answer during the event. Submit questions now by posting them right here, on this event’s wall. As an alternative, you may submit a question via WhiteHouse.gov/facebooktownhall.
So how in the world can the president avoid what will surely be voted the number one question once again by the online democracy of Facebook? Simple… don’t let the public vote. Scott Morgan from DrugWarChronicle has the scoop:
It had become clear that as long as Obama’s forums allowed the public to vote on topics for the president to address, the top-ranked questions would be about legalizing marijuana or even ending the War on Drugs altogether. Reluctant to confront the issue further, the White House recently changed its approach and announced an April 20, 2011 event on Facebook in which participants will not be allowed to vote at all. Questions can be sent in by email or posted on the Facebook page, but Obama’s staff will make selections without any public input.
The inherently democratic, vote-powered economy of ideas on the Internet has proven to be a remarkably powerful tool for discovering content of social value. The ability to click on what you like is the currency of social media and it offers insights into public opinion that may be worth more than meets the eye. The participatory nature of a vote-driven web forum makes people care about the outcome. Advocates for a wide variety of causes are inspired to spread the word and work to make sure their issue gets votes. The Obama Administration has abandoned the process simply to silence one particular idea, but the effect will be to make the forum less interesting for everyone.
Moreover, the rise of marijuana policy into the realm of mainstream public discussion should fascinate, rather than frustrate, our political leadership. It’s a phenomenon that should at least interest our elected officials, even if they don’t yet fully understand or care that marijuana prohibition funds murder in Mexico, that innocent family pets are slaughtered in botched pot raids, that precious wilderness is being devastated by black-market marijuana manufacturing, that racism defines our marijuana arrest rates, that public servants are being corrupted before our eyes, and that we blow billions each year just to keep the situation as bad as it’s been for so long.
If – there’s anything good to say about law enforcement – I would say this:
Remember! – whether good or bad – “they are fighting crime” – and – they “CAN” use every dirty trick in the book – fighting it – advantage cops. They haven’t won the war [long national disgrace] since 1937 – and – nothing has changed since then. They’re still losing [still disgraceful] – and – they always will lose. They’re just flushing money down the toilet – but – they [are] getting their paycheck. When I say – “they don’t get it” – I mean “they truly don’t get it!” Look! – “they’re institutionalized and brain washed – puppet cops/ killer robots – and – any cop that thinks out of the box is a rogue cop. What do we expect – miracles?”
Remember! – “They’re fighting crime and they’re after our asses!” One of “theirs” has been killed too – and – they think of us as “complicit cop-killers [maybe we didn’t pull the trigger , but we loaded the gun].” Aside from “truly believing that we’re killing their kids” – and – other than the fact that they insist that we are supporting drug cartels aka terrorists “they are dedicated and totally committed to -getting our asses.” – we’re a notch on their gun and a feather in their hat – good job! good job!.
If – there’s anything good to say about prohibs of any kind – I’d like to hear it.
Frankly – the whole bloody mess is lunacy – crazy – insane – but then – war is too full of horror for human beings. You can never “end a war” by being part of it. We must find an immediate solution to end this senseless evil war – now! One would think – there’s got be a rational, level headed person in government – somewhere! We sure won’t find common sense and reason in prohibs. Because we can’t find common sense and reason in our “elected” leaders [those we have chosen], anger and pain make for a volatile combination, and we seek retribution. Retribution requires nothing more than determination and
execution. Of course – the answer is relatively simple. Tried and true in tradition [it’s] “Put your money where your mouth is – money talks and bullshit walks.” So! its time to take back our country from prohibs. We the People didn’t hand our liberty over to them – they took it away from us with their chicanery. If we’re going to rebuild America, we should start by weeding out the prohibitionists – otherwise – we can only look forward to SOS – “Same old shit different day!” Back in the toilet again.
All of you who supported Obama drank the same kool aid and now your upset. I just have to laugh, sorry!!!
I am conservative as they come and believe marijuana should be legal.
If you want a man of action, listen to former two term New Mexico Gov Gary Johnson at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee). Listen to the people cheer when he talks about marijuana. The people cheering are all conservatives. Hmmmm what do you think about that?
Gary Johnson is a GOP candidate for president in 2012. NORML are you going to support him???? Have a great weekend folks!!!
this is exactly the type of thing that is making myself and, alot of other americans in this country very disheartened about america. and, it is not but one of the many issues that will not be explained by our government.its all become greed and power…ive never been so disappointed so much in all my life. im finding it harder and harder to support such a mockery of true government. i believe in the american people but, not in our government…..so disappointed..i realize it is weak but, i find myself wanting to throw in the towel. its harder then ever to pay taxes and support a group of law makers who do not give a damn about what people really want….their just seems that the flicker of light at the end of this tunnel is going out……for those of you who have not been bitten by the drug test of america in order to keep a good job an are sitting back not worried about all this…wait till you do have to conform…life will suck and then, you will wish you gathered up your stones and stood up…..seems many of us will only know true freedom when we have lost it…
Remember the sick and dying Mr. President. We still have a right to vote and since you are not listening to us at town hall meetings. Or in any other way The Medical Marijuana Community will not be listening to your pleas for another four years to ignore us more. For being college educated you seem out of touch with the concept of mercy. Oh that’s right, your were and are a Lawyer. My Bad……..
so many brothers and sisters in prison just for marijuana how can they ignore that. let alone justify it
105. katiespaw124
Each prisoner runs around $54K per year – and – if one has medical problems, add another $14K a year. $$$ is their justification, and they can’t ignore big bucks. Sickening isn’t it.
I feel I must preface the following remarks with a renunciation of any unjustified violence — it is invariably counterproductive and contrary to both my personal belief system (I’m Buddhist) and against the basic tenets of both of my heroes, Gandhi and MLK. But there is a point at which nonviolence gains nothing more in the advance of social justice. Have We the People reached that point? I don’t know …
Playing Devil’s Advocate: An Argument In Favor Of Domestic “Drug Cartel” Blowback
Malcolm X once used the term “chickens coming home to roost” to describe the cause & effect that resulted in the assassination of President JFK, for which he was excoriated in the MSM press along with the Feds, and the Black Moslem Brotherhood who squelched his public speaking engagements. So much for speaking truth to power. What he was referring to is the axiom that “actions have consequences, sometimes quite predictable (or not) negative consequences”. The USA’s Intelligence Community, long involved in the unwanted intervention in the affairs of other nations as an adjunct to the projection of America’s mercantile colonial empire, under the guise of the Cold War, even coined the term “blowback” to describe those unintended negative consequences.
But the USA Intelligence Community’s many decades of covert & overt interference in the domestic affairs of other nations, which has gone such a long ways toward creating the breeding grounds of resentment and potential blowback against the USA, refuses to this day to take ownership of such unintended negative consequences — only ownership of the term they euphemistically coined. National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice’s infamous protestations that “we had no idea that “this” could happen” in regard to the events of 9/11/2001 were, of course, outright lies. Well, our government lies to its citizens all the time, in the name of either concealing past misdeeds or advancing one ill-advised policy after another that would otherwise foment domestic rebellion and regime change — remember Saddam Hussein’s WMDs and those looming nuclear mushroom clouds over Chicago?
It’s the same damnable lies regarding the War on Drugs — propping up corporate cronies and suppressing minorities, under the guise of “protecting our children, and society”. There were over 875,000 drug arrests last year, about 750,000 of which were for simple illicit drug possession. Data reveals that whites and minorities engage in illicit drug use in roughly equal percentages, and yet about 70% of those arrested are minorities. With a felony drug arrest comes the prospect of becoming a second-class citizen, especially with the loss of voting rights. This is hardly a coincidence — effectively it’s an organized governmental suppression of minority rights.
President Barack Obama’s long association with Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s suburban Chicago church should have made him quite aware of the phrase “chickens coming home to roost” and the explicit meaning of that Intel euphemism “blowback”. He would have had to be asleep during all those Wright sermons otherwise — not a credible prospect. The foreign policies that spawned the blowback of 9/11/2001 have a domestic policy analog — the tyrannically repressive War on Drugs, which has merged over the past 8 years with the War on Terror, both domestically and internationally. Another term Malcolm X used to describe docile “willing tool” blacks might be apropos for Obama — that of “house negro”. Obama certainly has expressed no particular qualms about suppressing minority rights while ramping up the War on Drugs. The “Unitary Executive” continues unabated, along with ever-increasing erosion of domestic personal rights and liberties. Fascism is fascism, regardless of which political party is in power.
Mexico is experiencing a bloody rebellion between their drug cartels and their government, with over 6,200 lives lost, many of whom are innocent civilians. “Why hasn’t this bloodbath spilled over into the USA”, one might well ask? It could be that the drug cartels don’t want to “poison the well” they get their annual $20 Billion USD from, but it is far more likely that those drug profits have already “bought off & corrupted” all the USA officials at every level of government needed to facilitate their business here — corruption the Mexican government has been fighting back against.
If a similar level of drug war violence was seen on American streets, there might be a public hue and cry to end this Prohibition, not unlike the end of the Alcohol Prohibition in 1933. Then where would a these corrupt USA officials get their extra cash? Where would our corrupt banking system get their extra billions of dollars in drug money to launder through the Wall Street Mobsters? Where would the USA Intelligence Community get their illicit “off-the-books” funds that gives them covert operational independence from the purview of Congress?
The 6,200+ Mexican lives lost in their drug cartel war exceeds the total number of DEA agents, now about 5,000. Factor in the number of corrupt War on Drugs facilitators — the judges that issue poorly justified search warrants, the District Attorneys that persecute and prosecute victimless drug “criminals”, the police commanders that “green-light” violent militarized SWAT raids, and the politicians that financially benefit from asset forfeitures and one might begin to surmise that the USA is a “target-rich” environment for domestic War on Drugs blowback. Bringing the violent War on Drugs back into America with the perpetrators getting some rough “street justice” might be the only way to end Prohibition 2.0. It worked with Prohibition 1.0 back in the day. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made to water the Tree of Liberty — better it be the blood of our tyrants instead of We the People. Just don’t expect we laid-back chilled-out marijuana smokers to do those “dirty deeds” — leave that to the real bad-ass revolutionaries. Harry Anslinger’s hateful invective of “Reefer Madness” was just another example of government lies …
To quote that Village Idiot President from Whacko, Texas: “Bring it on.”
I am grateful that Obama called off the DEA hounds, but now is the time to “CHANGE” the laws and listen to the people of the United States. We want the prohibition to end.
Obama campaigned on the agenda of change. He is just another lying politician. He has not kept his promises.
Everyone is focused on the chemical side of marijuana and forgetting that there are MANY uses for the rest of the plant matter that are not being utilized.
The pharmaceutical companies are controlling the politicians. They want first dibbs on the money so they are lining their pockets with campaign contributions. This is America people. Who ever has the money makes the rules.
What we need to do is have us a END MARIJUANA PROHIBITION March in front of the white house to show that we will not be pushed aside. That we will not go anywere till are voices are heard and our demans are met.
Down with Oppression and up with FREEDOM.
People are standing up all over the world for what they believe in. It’s time we do the same.
“LET IT BE DONE!”
“If you don’t love America – you can kiss my ass.”
Nobody said you have to like the assholes running it. They ain’t nothin’ but a bunch of lizards. You just can’t blame “the country – the free ground you walk on” – because of government’s legion of idiots with their heads caught in their placentas. They’ve hung on to their bullshit too long – now their embarrassing themselves. The whole bunch of them have been on the take for a long time. It’s time to take the take away – pull their plug. It matters not what we replace the “prohibitionist” with, as long as the prohib is down the road, and long gone replaced. – without honor. They deserve no favorable recognition.
@112 – Just wondering – What do you actually do to promote ending prohibition besides criticizing, name-calling, and complaining?
Personally, I’ve written numerous times to our nations leaders. I’ve made contributions to help the cause. I’ve participated in many blogs outside of NORML’s…
What have you done, and what have the American Genesist’s done??? Seriously, you seem to consider yourself a religious bunch, but your words sound anything but religious to me… They sound more like the words of an anarchist.
It’s simple, Obama does not get my vote until he addresses drug law reform. Ron Paul is addressing drug law reform. Gary Johnson is addressing drug law reform. WHO DO YOU THINK WILL GET MY VOTE?
113 Don
If I’ve offended [any] prohib – that was my intent – I have nothing to be sorry for – political correctness is a thing of the past – as it should be. As for activity – my resume will equal yours – I’m sure! It is the Genesist’s objective to gather the flock. As far as being a “religious bunch” – we are Protestants, Catholics, Jews or any monotheistic religion believing in God and God’s Sacrament. Our argument is that our Faith and Sacrament has been denied us. This cannot be. As far as being anarchists – “We are prepared to defend the garden.” Criticizing – you bet ya! – I’m sure you can’t disagree that there certainly is something to criticize. Name-calling – yup! A little reality never hurt anyone but the guilty – prohibs wear their shame on the bosom of their soul. Complaining – who’s complaining? – just stating the facts. The fact is – “Genesists will defend the garden” – will you?
Thanks for your comment – and – have a great CDXX Communion Don.
Let it be done.
Be it known by all persons, with intend to be constructive notice, that of this day of our Lord God, April 20, 2011 at 4:20 p.m., the Genesist Faith hereby declares a “Conscience Clause” that prohibits Genesists from obeying any law that denies us our Faith and our Sacrament. “We claim religious right and use.” Our references are: The Holy Bible – Genesis I:1,29,30,31 – and – The Establishment Clause in the First Amendment, Article I. of the Constitution of the United States of America – specifically the Establishment Clause with emphasis on “Prohibiting the free exercise thereof.,” and the definitions of Religious Exercise and Free Exercise.
Religious Exercise means: 1.) any exercise of religion, whether or not compelled by, or central to a system of religious belief. 2.) any conduct protected as exercise of religion under the first amendment of the Constitution.
Free Exercise means: That portion of the first amendment to the Constitution that [proscribes] laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion and includes the application of that [proscription] under the 14th amendment to the Constitution.
@115 – I agree there is much to criticize but I’m concerned about your approach…
I think it is possible that your writings have the potential to do more harm than good toward ending prohibition. Would you agree that it is possible that the prohibs might see your attacks as a reason to keep you under control? That, my friend, is my point and my concern.
117. Don
Being a mediator for 35 years – I recognize your point, and to some degree [potentially], it could be valid. Now! with all due respect to your view, here’s our point! We don’t give a big rats ass what prohibs think, say, or do anymore. We are indifferent to their agenda. To be very frank with you – IT’S NOT A MATTER OF CANNABIS – they can and do – prohibit anything. Prohibs have violated our Constitution [for what ever reason] and have denied us [Genesists] our Faith and our Sacrament. As American Genesists – we will not allow this to continue. Prohibs have had “control” for 74 years [and think they will have control for another 74 years]- but – “no more – we will defend the garden.” Let’s just say – “We’re the icing on the cake – and – there are 3141 cakes [counties] in the United States that believe differently.” I guess in plain old English – “We’re fed up Americans, and is nothing to mess with.
117. Don, my friend. P.S. to 118
This is going to be like a very bad divorce. We [prohibs and Genesists] are at each others throats, and are waring over the settlement agreement. It’s going to get nasty – be prepared.
117. Don. P.S. to all posts.
Prohibs stole something from us. That something was our Constitutional right to our Faith and our Sacrament. We didn’t agree with this theft at the time – and – we sure don’t agree now. We’re simply not going to let any enemy – foreign or domestic – retain what they stole from us – especially after pissing on our Constitution. I guess I’m finished.
Someone said:
“If we get our politicians to feel that if they don’t work for legalization, they will be out of power, then we will see some definite change.”
That will work ONLY if EVERY person who supports the reform of drug laws takes the few minutes necessary to actually email (via the congress critter’s webform) their thoughts on the issue, and their threats to ACTIVELY work against the re-election of said congress critters should they refuse to vote FOR reasonable reform, or even if they just ignore it to prevent it coming to a vote on the floor of either house of congress.
I’ve been doing this for more years than I like to count, but it takes a LOT more than one or two voices to get them to move in any direction but that ordered by their corporate masters. It is going to take a TSUNAMI of emails and phone calls to make this happen. So if you really care about this issue, don’t just post on the pages of the choir, go tell your elected officials, too, and not just those in congress, lobby your State and local officials, too, with the same intensity.
@121 Windy – You are so right!!! I’ve contacted my State Reps several times and have written to President Obama twice now. I got no response from the President or his staff, and I’ve got your standard replies from my State Reps. But at least I can feel like I’ve done my share and that they are aware that people that have the power to vote for or against them don’t like things the way they are.
Now, anyone reading this that hasn’t already contacted the leadership – PLEASE DO SO!!! Else, don’t bother complaining…
Greed can be a powerful ally, this they vigorously and ignorantly possess. It is not us of whom it will betray. Be diligent yet patient for greed WE THE PEOPLE do not possess. This is their downfall, not ours. Because of the good we seek,we have already won! This WE THE PEOPLE shall see.
Just came across a brand new social networking website for medical cannabis. Looks very good – www .. weedpals .. com
Want to thank all of you, for your Powerfull stand against Oboma & His Corrupted political partners.
But there is so much more we can
do. Being aggressive and focusing on the facts and truth is only the first step.
We musT follow Up with more details standing by our
convictions and dont back down.
Oboma has NOT brought CHANGE, In fact ~! ~ THE ONLY real THING needing CHANGE !….Was
Barack Hussein Obama II.
HIMSELF
Barack Hussein Obama II ( Who hates American Values ) who is A ” SELF
PROCLAIMED Enemy” ~of responsible, Morally Conscious
HARD WORKING Americans.
oBOMAS Irresponsible & DRUG MAFIA and
reckless supporters KNOW~ that Barack Hussein Obama II, WILL FORCE YOU to paY THEM,
out of your PockeT
.{ FOR all of their
UNCHECKED Vices and THRILLS/ { All on YOU | /
At your COST & Sacrifice
…This UN~CHANGABLE fraud, has done His VERY BEST to
Inspire VIOLENCE.
THESE ARE OBAMAS OWN WORDS.. saying ………To his supporters.
Saying “Get ready for hand-to-hand combat with
your Fellow Americans”
– Obama has ALSO DECLARED to his Supporters.
“I want all Americans to get in each others faces!– Obama
demands !
“You bring a knife to a fight pal, we’ll bring a gun” –
THESE ARE OBAMAS OWN WORDS..
ANGER VIOLENCE and more
taxes….. THIS IS OBAMAS Change for america
/“Hit Back Twice As Hard”. He commands !
*Obama on the private sector: ~~ “We talk
to these folks…~ / so I know whose a*$ to KICK.“ OBOMA wants to KICK your a*$ /
Shouting THAT Republican victory would mean ~
“hand to hand combat”
HE IS EXPECTING people to be on Edge and BORDERLINE killing MODE, VIOLENT / and STAND up for their
immoral CAUSES and THIS
IS WHAT HE LIVES FOR ./ ./ ./
THESE ARE OBAMAS OWN WORDS.. !
* Obama Tells democrats: “ I’m itching
for a fight.” !
….PLEASE…. go to reXes NEW WebsiTe ~ ! Oboma *( Just like Adolf Hitler~~\
oBOMA~~~ Demands ! — [ THE FINAL
SOLUTION – for Un~Wanted Children
Barak Obama is A MURDERER .~Torturing UNWANTED babys on DEATH ROE
CLICK HERE
http://obomlnation.webstarts.com/index.html
OBAMA TAKES a little NEW BORN innocent child. BORN. ALIVE
sTabS it iN the head SUCKs ITS BRAINS OUT.
What’s eating Obama? http://420.at/Obama