Joe Biden: Biden Unveils Most Comprehensive Anti-crime Legislation in Over a Decade

From the All American Patriots:

<October 25, 2007 -- Washington, DC– Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs and author of the landmark 1994 Crime Bill, Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) unveiled today the most comprehensive anti-crime legislation in over a decade. The 2007 Biden Crime Bill builds upon the revolutionary approach of his 1994 legislation, while promoting new, innovative programs to focus on today’s problems.

n the 1990s, our nation was facing a coast-to-coast crime wave. As a response, Sen. Biden authored the historic 1994 Crime Bill, which is credited by many as driving down crime rates to the lowest in a generation. Unfortunately, due largely to cuts to programs contained in the 1994 Bill, our nation is now facing a similar crime crisis. Last month, the FBI released its 2006 crime report based on data from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) database. For the second consecutive year, there were measurable increases in violent crime nationwide. This is the first time the crime rate has risen for two years in a row since the passage of the 1994 Biden Crime Bill, with violent crimes increasing 1.9 percent nationally. In 2005, the FBI found that murders were up 3.4 percent – the largest percentage increase in 15 years – with 16,692 murders in 2005 – the most since 1998.

“It should be a surprise to no one that crime is up for the second year in a row,” said Sen. Biden. “The federal government has taken its focus off of street crime since 9/11, asking law enforcement to do more with less. Fewer police on the street protecting communities, plus fewer FBI agents focused on crime control, plus fewer federal law enforcement dollars equals more crime – it's as simple that. We need to meet this problem head-on, with a comprehensive approach that blends traditional crime-fighting tools with 2007 technology.” >

More at http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48735670_joseph_biden_joe_biden_biden_unveils_most_comprehensive_anti_crime_legislation_over_decade

but he won't.

Iowa tends to turn things around, so I'm maintaining an optimistic attitude.

you were to help spread the word as to why he is the best in the field... help to remove the other candidates supporters blinders.

probably because I am getting tired of the daily rhetoric from the "Front Runners".

I also am looking at Bill Richardson.

I would like to know why he had the voting machines wiped clean in NM early in 2005 and why he didn't pursue a proper recount.

That is disturbing.

They were needed for school elections in early February of that year. The recount was requested by the Green and Libertarian parties. Neither the Kerry Campaign or our party asked for a recount in NM. The reason we didn't challenge it is that it couldn't have made a difference in the election given that NM only has 5 electoral votes and the problems lay with a large under vote in the electronic machines. If you download a digital record, it's going to give you the same number each time. The recount could have gone on but NM, being a poor state, required a bond to guarantee payment for the recount. If the recount doesn't make a difference in who won the election then the petitioner has to pay for it according to NM law otherwise the state picks up the tab. The Greens and Libertarians challenged the bond in court (after stating that money was no object) it was upheld by all the courts. Therefore, after the NM supreme court rejected their appeal, the machines were cleared in time for the upcoming election so they could be reprogrammed. In response to the problems with the machines (that were put into place before Richardson was elected) he pushed through a bill requiring a paper ballot with an auditable trail along with random audits. He got this through and in place in time for the 2006 election. I have more details in a journal article with references.

There usually is a reasonable answer and you gave it.

Biden's ideas have substance and are realistic.

No pie in the sky here.

He does security and law enforcement better than the republicans, which is an issue that causes many independents to go repub. Another reason why Biden is also the best general election candidate... Giuliani's whole claim ot fame was that he made new york city safe, but he did that as a result of the BIDEN crime bill. Biden would destroy guliani on Guliani's main points of appeal. Why can't we democrtats pick the right person already?

He is not exactly beloved in NYC and for good reason.

For years I gave credit to Clinton for this great policy. Probably both deserve credit for it. It made a difference immediately. Our cops got an immediate pay raise and lots of new recruits. Now it is back to so few on the streets. Many are in the military since they were often in the Guard.

Biden would make a great president.

have been working on and trying to pass legislation while running for President? I guess that would be (Senators) Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Chris Dodd, and John McCain. Those are the ones that come to mind, anyway.

If so, what was/is the piece of legislation? Curious.

BIDEN/OBAMA '08

have those actually done anything other than campaign? other than show up to vote? or not?
I can't think of any. nor cam I find anyone.

Why don't you start a thread about it? I would be interested in knowing and so would a lot of people.

and his recent remarks have unmasked that fact. Oh sure the spin fest is on now explaining what he "meant", but his remarks are what they are.

If you believe that you are the one who needs to pay attention as to where the original spin came from. it is the spin of those statements, that produced that slanderous accusation. who do you support?

Our political system is a complete disaster.

and I stand by my statement that I believe he is a racist.

that does not mean he can't have racist thoughts and feelings. His comments were derogatory and I am sorry if you don't like to hear that.

racist.:crazy:

I just love it how the Dems eat their own.

And that law and order b.s. is the reason why I don't want Biden in charge.

He seems like he would make a great diplomat, and he is an okay senator.

Riddle: What is the most dangerous place in Washington DC?
Answer: Between Joe Biden and a camera.

Joe Biden is FOR medicinal Marijuana. As well as here where I live we have eliminated that particular law making MARIJUANA LEGAL. :smoke: More lies and mis conceptions. :eyes:

Medicinal marijuana is a canard that deliberately misses the point. I want to be able to do what I want with my life, and I don't want to make up some phoney illness to get a doctor's note.

Tell me, does Biden really intend that kind of change, or is he after some dramatic cosmetic changes that are intended to show how much money he is going to send to law enforcement if he is elected?

I haven't read his plan, but I bet its a boring rehash of better ways to spend more money on the poor and minorities. You know, more efficient policing, better training, weapons, prisons...

Enlighten me

Sad you live in such an oppressive place. as posted before where I live POT IS LEGAL (yes here in America)so to me your point is Difficult to comprehend. :smoke: :smoke: :smoke:

http://bbsnews.net/bw2003-06-12.html

When I hear him talk about dealing with crime I think more poor people filling up already ridiculously populated prisons.

And continue to lock up people committing victimless crimes for huge amounts of time.

Oh, by the way, the crime decrease in the 90's was driven by demographics and nothing else. Guliani and Biden are both taking credit for a natural event.

Crime can't increase or decrease "by demographics."

The connection is statistically established and is most famously noted by Steven Levitt in his book Freakonomics where he also points out that legalized abortion drives the demographic trend.

"Donohue and Levitt use statistics to point to the fact that males aged 18 to 24 are most likely to commit crimes. Data indicate that crime started to decline in 1992. Donohue and Levitt suggest that the absence of unwanted aborted children, following legalization in 1973, led to a reduction in crime 18 years later, starting in 1992 and dropping sharply in 1995. These would have been the peak crime-committing years of the unborn children.

The authors argue that states that had abortion legalized earlier and more widespread should have the largest reductions in crime. Donohue and Levitt's study indicates that this indeed has happened: Alaska, California, Hawaii, New York, and Washington experienced steeper drops in crime, and had legalized abortion before Roe v. Wade. Further, states with a high abortion rate have experienced a greater reduction in crime, when corrected for factors like average income.<1> Finally, studies in Canada and Australia have established a correlation between legalized abortion and crime reduction.<1>"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalized_abortion_and_crime_effect

Now of course not many politicians want to deal with these facts and their implications. They are far more comfortable with COPS or Three Strikes or War on Some Drugs. Those are simplistic easy to sell panaceas that even if they don't have any good effect on crime rates are good for getting re-elected.

Maybe you should stop smoking it for awhile.

Also, not voting for the best foreign policy mind in the senate because you want to toke up in peace doesn't speak very well to your priorities. I'm for legalization too, I just think you're priorities are waaaaay out of whack.

:boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring:

disrupting their lives, ruining their future job prospects, and stealing all their stuff. Our cops don't have time to go after real criminals.

Sad you live in such an oppressive place. as posted before where I live POT IS LEGAL (yes here in America)so to me your point is Difficult to comprehend. :smoke: :smoke: :smoke:

http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4413

or this

http://www.mpp.org/site/c.glKZLeMQIsG/b.1493403/apps/nl/content2.asp?content_id={9F59FE2E-A5A0-42C3-A9AD-745172C137F8}¬oc=1

I support Biden for a plethora of other reasons. like restoring our constitution, restoring our respect in the eyes of the rest of the world. medicinal is the first step. standing up to pharmaceutical company's is Joe Biden. standing up for universal health care (insurance) is also a priority. mary-jane is am issue but not of the most important. Hillary will build more prisons. Obama is mute on the subject. Edwards will cozy up to oil and pharma, and insurance.(bet on it)
of these industry's they all are against your right to have a doobie. someone who will stand up to them is a first start.
Biden is still your candidate.

I would have more articles for you to read on the subject. Like did you know the British conducted a study that found High drivers were safer than sober drivers?/ who were safer than drunks. who were safer still than cell phones???

Add 500 Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Agents to Fight Drug Trafficking. The DEA has been suffering from a hiring freeze that has crippled the agency’s ability to deny funding to drug trafficking organizations. The 2007 Biden Crime Bill authorizes these desperately needed agents. Earlier this year, DEA Administrator Karen Tandy testified to a House subcommittee about the effect of the DEA hiring freeze: “he impact of the freeze and the loss of these positions is expected to amount to 180-plus fewer primary drug organizations that we will be able to disrupt or dismantle, and most likely, approximately $300 million less in revenue that we will be able to deny the traffickers.” While circumstances are slowly improving at DEA, there should be a vigorous effort to restore the special agent positions lost through attrition. This provision achieves that.

---------------------------------------------


Its supposed to sound good, but the DEA historically targets pot smokers above all other targets. The reason is simple: pot-heads are an easy target; they tend to be non-violent easy busts and prosecutions.

I have contacted Biden's office about the issue, and the response I got was very dismissive. The senator is all about sending a message. As I recall, he was also against medicinal marijuana, so if you could, please show me where he has updated his position.

Got google? First on the results list for biden "medical marijuana":

http://granitestaters.com/candidates/joe_biden.html

In Short

Sen. Biden has publicly promised to end the federal raids on state medical marijuana programs.

What Sen. Biden Has Done:

Sen. Biden has neither cosponsored nor voted on any legislation specifically addressing medical marijuana.

What Sen. Biden Has Said:

At a house party in Canterbury, New Hampshire, on May 12, 2007, Sen. Biden was asked if he would end the federal raids on medical marijuana patients. He responded, "Yes!" He added, "But you know that one of the things we have got to deal with is the issue of pain management. I spent a lot of time in the hospital, fortunately I wasn't, for most of the time, in serious pain. But, you know, lying there for 59 days in an ICU unit you see people and hear people in pain. We have not devoted nearly enough science or time to deal with the pain management and chronic pain management that exists. There's got to be a better answer than marijuana. There's got to be a better answer than that. There's got to be a better way for a humane society to figure out how to deal with that problem."

edit: the website is Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana

and: they gave him a B+ ... granted, the lowest score among Democrats. ;)

Why? A humane society can't/ won't/ shouldn't/ use marijuana for pain management? Even if it works? I suppose there isn't much profit in it, and God forbid people have the choice.

I'd differ with Biden and suggest that a humane society would not be putting people in jail for using marijuana, either for pain management, or recreationally.

http://granitestaters.com/candidates/joe_biden.html

Sen. Biden has publicly promised to end the federal raids on state medical marijuana programs.

the Marijuana Policy Project gave him a B+

http://granitestaters.com/candidates/joe_biden.html
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhCJ6h_p0GA&feature=RecentlyWatched&page=1&t=t&f=b
We Both know the dea is lazy and goes after pot smokers as they are an easy bust. please pay attention as in the video he only aludes to it as alternative medicine. as it is a non issue one that will polarise those unthinking goosestepping rethugs. the last thing we need is Hillary or to give the rethugs any ammo to utilize.

would get more votes for that than s/he would lose because of it? Not just explicitly because of that policy, but also because such a candidate would be marginalized in the media, and so on.

The problems you raise can be addressed without full-on legalization/decriminalization.

Sentencing policy is a whole realm where things can be done. There is no reason for the kinds of sentences that are given out in the US for cannabis possession (or simple possession of any other drug). I'm quite sure that the legislation allows for people to be fined or put on probation for a possession offence.

Prosecution policy is another. Police discretion can be used to decline to prosecute unimportant offenders.

That's how it's being done in Canada. I buy my pot seeds at a shop on one of the main streets in town, and grow the plants on my deck. Nobody cares. If the police were here for some other reason, I just can't imagine an issue being made of it if they saw a half-dozen scraggly plants in the yard.

We quite likely would go for full-on decriminalization of possession if given our own druthers -- our sober-second-thought Senate recommended doing that a couple of years ago. Our problem, of course, is the US, which would retaliate even more than it has so far if we did this. And so we live with a slightly different kind of misery from what you've got -- we have organized crime running grow-ops and making lots of money from exports to the US, making them richer and more powerful, and using their credit in the US to buy firearms and smuggle them back into Canada where they would be unable to get them, and using the firearms to protect their share of the production and distribution market ... and kill bystanders on the streets of Toronto ...

I'd love it if the US decriminalized pot possession. I just don't see it being a winning election policy.

But once in power, a government could really quite easily implement or encourage (at the state/local level) prosecution and sentencing policies that weren't designed to fill the jails with people who don't belong there.

Hell, Joe's such a foreign policy wonk, and apparently such a friend of Canada (his immediate choice as where he'd want to live if he couldn't live in the US), he might even turn a serious gaze on the international relations aspect of this whole issue (and hey, maybe even the issue of opium growing in Afghanistan).

He might decide that threatening to disrupt trade at the Canada-US border if we up here don't toe the line on drug policy isn't really nice, and that domestic policies that support organized crime across the border (not to mention on his own side) aren't really nice, and find in this some other good reasons for not prosecuting the war on people who are no danger to anyone.


The other naysayer here said s/he hadn't bothered to read the outline of the plan. You both might want to try it, if you haven't. It's not my idea of perfect -- for instance, the real single biggest bang for the buck to reduce crime is known to be, unquestionably, accessible and affordable childcare / early childhood education programs -- but it does talk about social/community initiatives to assist at-risk youth and help offenders reintegrate into society, not to build more penitentiaries.

here in Denver we have voted on legalization twice so far and a third this nov. the first; pot was made legal in the city of Denver.(2005, I got a great personal story about that one) the second vote was to make it statewide. that failed by a slim margin, only two points. rural counties decided that one specifically colo spgs and greeley and grand junction. in these places it is still arrestable. the third vote is to make it (state law)the lowest priority for The cops (DPD). it is becoming redundant as here in Denver the cops would not write you up for it if you were cool with them. however if you decide to be an asshole they will write you up not only for pot but they would get the book out and find the littlest infraction. as long as I can remember DPD would make you dump out your bag and grind it into the ground... no ticket. be an asshole and you might go to jail.

"I'd love it if the US decriminalized pot possession. I just don't see it being a winning election policy."

I fear it's going to take a long time for this country to change it's way of thinking -- even about industrial hemp!

I'd go even further - I'd like to see the US decriminalize all illegal drugs. Not in my lifetime!

moving up every day in what I hear about him, this is impressive.

Why haven't I heard anything about him before? He sounds fantastic! I bet he has all the answers!

learn about Biden completely unbiased is to go to his website- joebiden.com
Skip the first page and go to issues. He literally has a list a mile long about his political platform and how he wants to turn this country around in the right direction again. Seriously, take the time to go to his site and you can even go to his link on his site to Youtube and watch some of his interviews. He will blow you way. The man's a genious. After you read his ideas you won't want anyone else in office- mark my words!

and then go from there. It is one of the best political speeches I've ever heard. If it doesn't spark an interest, then he's not the candidate one is looking for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU7yhHWuTC4