Obama’s Website Should be Called Same.gov

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Will Obama wake up end this tragic war on (some) drugs?

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When it Comes to Marijuana Laws, Obama’s Website Should be Called Same.gov
Posted in Chronicle Blog by Scott Morgan on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 2:05am

Did anyone notice how the marijuana legalization question was ranked #1 on Obama’s Change.gov site, but he answered the question 4th? Not only did Obama’s team fail to explain the "no" answer, but they didn’t even honor the 1st place popularity rank the question earned when it drew the most votes from the public.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2008/dec/17/when_it_comes_to_marijuana_laws_

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know he has no other pressing issues confronting him. :eyes:

Dope is more important than jobs, healthcare and ending the war.....

'Cause if we all had a whole bunch of weed we could forget all about the jobs and the ... wait! WhAT?

Drug laws are fundamentally unjust and should be repealed immediately. I'm sure you say the same thing to gay people too, huh?
I'm sure Obama is capable of multitasking.

would sure help create more jobs in the snack food industry :)

BEFORE HE EVEN TAKES OFFICE! Man I'm tired of this crap. Can we at least give him a chance? The people who are tearing into him sound like the righties I know, who are not willing to cut him any slack.

after I buy a new keyboard with the caps lock key fixed!

Some of those people are posting in this thread and on DU.

For him to continue the WOD makes all of his lofty promises a cruel mockery.

for his crimes instead of eating our own.

We could build them a building somewhere in DC. There should be 1 person for (about) every 689K people in America. Some states will have a lot, but every state will have at least one of these government people to "represent" them. They could have little groups that they could split off into to do more specific work. I know we would have to drastically alter our Constitution, but I think it could be done. Along with that big Court place in DC, my hypothetical "representative" group (can't think of what to call them yet!) could have like, um, oversight over the President and the entire "Runs Stuff" branch of our government.

Come to think of it, we should have two groups of "represents us" people. They could even meet in the same building if it were big enough. There should be 2 from each state because 100 is a nice round number. Since there is less of them in this other thing, they should be appointed or elected for a longer time (cuz it is much harder to get in!!!) This group of people would also have little sub groups so they could get a lot of work done more quickly.

I don't know why nobody has thought of this yet. I might even be willing to pay for some of it. (Once a year, maybe?)

sites should have "justice be done" campaign to hold these criminals responsible for their crimes, let it be an all out campaign to rally the people to get these guys behind bars. We cannot move on until these criminals are held accountable.

And that's the sad truth.

Ya, lets go nuclear on the weed issue.

Imagine how it will be after he's actually inaugurated.

What BS.

I don't suspect that covers that many people.

I try to avoid them wherever possible. Engaging them in conversation is a seriously bad idea.

And engaging them is most definitely a very bad idea. The other social and economic values they espouse between bong hits tend to be extremely repugnant.

I'm thinking of people I've come across at various points in my life whose sole political philosophy amounts to "if weed was legal, nothing bad would ever happen again". I exaggerate, but not much.

Hemp is the magical answer to every problem, weed is a miracle cure for any ailment, etc...

I have no use for any of them.

Because that is exactly what happens. My friend ended up committing suicide as a direct result of the trauma of prison rape. His crime? Possession of one ounce of marijuana.
Did he deserve that? Your attitude suggested that he did deserve to be brutally and repeatedly buttfucked simply for being a pothead.

I favor legalization.

So now, do you hate yourself?

Placing a low priority on marijuana legalization in a troubled world is not an endorsement of prison rape. And holding one or two positions that coincide with libertarian ones does not make one a libertarian.

Sorry, but you've been doing this sort of thing to practically everyone in this thread, and it's ridiculous.

Prison rape is a fact of life for people that go to prison for "crimes" such as marijuana possession. My friend is now dead as a result of the trauma experienced in prison, so excuse the fuck out of me for taking all this bullshit personally. Life must be awfully cushy inside your bubble.
For those of you that want to make fun of marijuana users using ugly stereotypes just show your collective indifference to the realities in America's WOD. You're unwillingness to make this a higher priority means that those people currently incarcerated are unimportant and that their lives are expendable and that they deserve everything that happens to them. If it was your monkey ass in prison, you'd feel a little differently.

This is a discussion on marijuana laws, not your soapbox to tell the world how much you hate liberatarians. We really don't give a shit what you think about liberatarians. It's simply not relevant to the discussion and its just a cover for your callous disregard for your fellow Americans.
Now kindly fuck off and welcome to ignore.

I'm sorry about your friend's extremely unfortunate story, but you are a very irrational individual. Please keep me on ignore permanently.

A lot of them aren't true libertarians. They are basically fiscal conservatives with a low tolerance for bullshit.

The ideologues like The Free State Project and a certain subset of Ron Paulistas? Different story. When they run around with guns on their hips, try to pay for stuff with gold coins stamped with Ron Paul's image, and refuse to cooperate with cops who ask them a simple "license and registration", they lose me and a lot of other people.

Or TARP. Or FISA.

But if you set all of these "single issues" aside, Obama's a real "progressive"!

with thousands of new jobs, or protecting minorities from a lifetime of crime by going to jail for drug offenses. Obama wouldn't be where he is today if he were caught when he was young.

It's a sad day when they don't care about the drug gangs on their streets fueled by black market marijuana sales that could be ended with legalization.

Shame on you all.

.. and stormed his website?

And, we have every damn right to DEMAND sane drug policy and legislation.

I can't believe the number of comments that take the stance of Obama GIVING to us -

He WORKS for us.

He is NOT a rock god. He is a PUBLIC SERVANT.

Pretty strong reaction to something that is not exactly at the top of everybody's list of important things.

Our prisons are filled with low level criminals, persecuted, instead of treated. Sane marijuana legislation is only a tiny step in addressing the nation's incredibly draconian and punitive drug policies that DON'T work. If Obama can't lead on a policy issue that the vast majority agree upon (legalization of pot), I wonder how the hell he is going to reform a privatized prison system that grows on itself for industry.

The United States has the highest per capita prison population in the world. And, it hugely affects the poor and minority communities. Amnesty International has conducted campaigns to expose the cruel and degrading system that imprisons our poorest. Sane drug policy is vital to fixing the system, and yet, Obama won't touch it.

Your comment is condescending, and out of line.

Yes, that's right. With two wars costing us gajillions of dollars, an economy in the shitter, and our world reputation shattered, the first thing on Obama's priority list should be to LEGALIZE WEED! WOOOOOOOOOOO

I guess not. Sounds like you love our prison industry. Be careful, the next person going away could be your child who is unlucky enough to get caught with a joint. Maybe he can get through his sentence without being raped by another inmate.
So tell,me, is violent anal rape or being stabbed with a shank an apt punishment for possession of a joint?
I think I already know your answer.

.... if we were all high.

Then our number one problem would be the fact that there's not enough Cheetos to go around.

Is we could stop spending billions to imprison folks who got high, and spend that money in better ways. Billions. Innocent people. Lives ruined. Over a thing that is worthy of a snarky joke? That is the scenario. People being locked up at our expense. Can we really afford that? You said something about the economy...billions to lock up Cheeto eaters might just be criminal itself.

He was imprisoned over possession of an ounce of weed and put into a maximum security prison where he was violently and repeatedly. raped.
Oh wait . . . you can't tell him that joke because he committed suicide after he was released. He never recovered from the trauma of his rape.

That joke isn't so funny now, is it Chuckles?

:sarcasm:

Blogging under the influence.

"Marijuana legalization question was ranked #1"??? Before anything else???

I thought smoking weed causes a heightened sense of reality?

:eyes:

Wars (real ones.. not the one on drugs), The Economy, Unemployment, Detroit going under, National Medicare...

Yeah, those should all go by the wayside so we can legalize your addiction to smoke pot.

Sorry - but I totally disagree. There are countries that have legalized drugs.. go there and see how wonderful it is to trip over dirty needles in the streets and look at people walking around like zombies. Thanks but no thanks.

I guess we'll put you in the "yes" column.
Another DUer for prison rape of potheads.

Reefer Madness

I bet he's getting a craving for a California cheeseburger!!

Sounds like you have no problem with that.

If you accept the premise of the WOD, then you accept prison rape as an apt punishment. Because prison rape is exactly what happens to those who are unlucky enough to be snared in to the prison industry. My friend Kevin experienced it firsthand and later committed suicide because of the trauma. Was that an apt punishment for him? He was a gentle hippie that never hurt anyone in his whole life, and now he is dead because of the WOD.
Feel free to prove me wrong and unequivocally state here to everyone at DU that you are in favor of legalization.

Yes, I am in favor of legalization and always have been. I just don't put it as a top priority. If our country were in good shape, I probably would. Unfortunately, it's not. I think our entire JUSTICE SYSTEM needs a lot of work, too.

This is a very personal issue for me. One of my good friends was a casualty of the WOD and I take it extremely seriously. So much so that if I encountered one of these cretins making light of this issue IRL, they'd be spitting out their teeth.

"If you accept the premise of the WOD, then you accept prison rape as an apt punishment"

I don't find prison rape to be an apt punishment for anyone, but that doesn't mean that I should favor legalization of crimes such as arson, or assault or murder. What you're presenting is a false dilemma.

...our other problems OR takes a look at our archaic and hypocritical drug laws.

Ridiculous ~ that's just a way not to admit that Obama's team is playing politics with an issue that matters to supporters.

It's not even an 'either' 'or' post, it's a 'I'm angry because Obama isn't putting MY issue above all others!!'

The op is suggesting that, since that issue was #1 for participating supporters, it should be taken more seriously than it was.

I think it's disingenuous for the Obama team to ask for input and then ignore what they don't want to deal with. The "either, or" answers here serve as a big excuse.

with the Obama Admin blessing.

This AFTER tons of single payer 'input' through community meetings - at the request of the Obama team.

Incoming!
:nuke:

It is an important to many americans but for Obama it doesn't matter, when it comes to the WOD, it's business as usual. The prison industry needs to be replenished with fresh bodies and who is he to stand in their way?
Who's cares if they get raped or murdered in prison, they're just potheads, right?

How the hell do people know it doesn't matter to Obama? I think pot should be legalized, I think it's illegality is stupid, every bit as stupid as this OP.

Because it's going to be a long 4-8 years.

Your mother must be proud.

Smoke where the cops don't catch you and chill out.
:smoke:

then chill out. I do understand why Obama is not making it a High visible issue... as the Issue then becomes a target with traction. A whole bunch of people and corporations are adimantly against leglislation. whith the problems faced it is wise to not give the haters any ammo.

I believe it will be legalized on the federal level without much fanfare... in the next two years or sooner. as the push back from the right is actually still strong at this point. Bush is still president and still yields enough power to make things even more difficult.

so just you wait, as Obama is. the gop is trying to make things impossible just now while they still have power. Once they are truly out then things will get done.

I hope to dog your kids never get caught.
Hell, you'd probably turn them in.

He can support off shore drilling

He can retrack his promise to increase taxes on the rich

He can invite a hate mongering bigot to speak at the inauguration

He can perpetuate the war in Afghanistan.

Yeah. He is a fucking change God. It is surreal to see a bunch of 'liberal' progressives descend into the same Bush
sheeple.

His cabinet is center right.

I am not impressed. Change agent? The solutions are RIGHT there. He won't even go there because he is still in the corporate mold.
I don't care if he has a D after his name. It is the policy and practice NOT the political party.

Obama needs to hear from the progressives en masse. He had it so fucking easy in the election.

...instead of looking at each issue as it is ~ as if Obama has to be God or nothing.

Who pissed in your Wheaties?

for months now. I guess she likes the taste of piss in the morning. Heck, all day long, too.

:rofl:

He can support off shore drilling

Obama support of off shore-drilling is soft at best...and he announced that tepid support long before November 4th.

As he stated in his convention speech...."Now is the time to end this addiction, and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. Not even close."




He can retrack his promise to increase taxes on the rich

Obama's promise was that he would either repeal or let expire the Bush Tax Cuts in order to pay for middle class tax cuts. Far as I know, Bush's tax cuts expire not long after they could be repealed, considering how long it takes to pass a bill. The Stimulus package will be what is used to pay for the middle class tax cuts now. It's not like there will be capital gains to tax, and during the economy that is coming, all folks will hurt, period. Waiting a year until Bush's tax cut expire is a more efficient and a smarter way to go. So the rich will see a tax increase, and there is no retrack; rather the issue is, when not if.



He can invite a hate mongering bigot to speak at the inauguration

Yes, this part is true. And we can also understand why that might be so, as Obama also did NOT seek revenge against Lieberman; did appoint Hillary to an important cabinet position; has worked with Sen. Corburn on a Government transparency Website; and did turn the other cheek to John McCain; and did NOT denigrate any of his opponents personally. So Yeah....he did state many times that he would deal with those he disagreed with without being disagreeable. This is obviously part of it, and there has been much debate on this site in reference to this. In the end, Obama stressed that he wasn't a perfect man, and this shows that he meant what he said.




He can perpetuate the war in Afghanistan.

He ran on the fact that he would increase the number of troups in Afghanistan, and would initiate an assertive strategy to get some tribal Taliban cooperation in regards to tamping down Al Qaeda. He said at the convention...."I will end this war in Iraq responsibly, and finish the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan."




Yeah. He is a fucking change God. It is surreal to see a bunch of 'liberal' progressives descend into the same Bush sheeple.

It is obvious that the person you wanted as President didn't run with much a chance at winning, and that Obama beat his primary opponents as well as John McCain. he did so speaking in great consistency as to what he would do. Obama is quite a "change" from George Bush, and it appears that he may do things differently when he gets to Washington, and although it is too early to tell, that's just it....it is too early to tell. As far as 'liberal' progressives, that's a label that many of us wear, and your rant makes you look no different from those who are perpetually against...as that is the easiest thing to do.




His cabinet is center right.

That's up to interpretation. There are some in his cabinet that might be defined that way, and others that cannot or should not. The bottomline is not what his cabinet looks like to you, as much as what his cabinet does in the near future. Time will tell, but you can only guess.




I am not impressed. Change agent? The solutions are RIGHT there. He won't even go there because he is still in the corporate mold. I don't care if he has a D after his name. It is the policy and practice NOT the political party.

You obviously weren't going to be pleased no matter what, although I will agree with you that it will be the policies and practice that it will all come down to....and thus far, Obama has yet to act...beyond the discussion of a 665-750 billion stimulus package to revive the economy, and announcing that he will be making a speech in the middle east somewhere soon. Beyond that, we will have to wait for the details. It certainly isn't enough to judge, except by those who judge without having enough factual information; something freepers engage in all of the time.




Obama needs to hear from the progressives en masse. He had it so fucking easy in the election.

As far as how easy Obama had it during the election, this conclusion of yours only shows your bias as to what we all witnessed. you willingly confuse Obama's skills as mere happenstance. That's very revealing as to how you are willing to bend yourself up in a pretzel in order to withhold any fairness in your assessment. That's not liberal or you, it's just plain wrong.

We've become a nation of narcs.

The people like you who thought he ran on Dennis Kucinich's problem are the ones with the problem, not Obama.

I will keep at it.

I, for one, have opposed his center-right agenda from the beginning.

You see, he's only the president, well, not yet, but he will be only the president once he is sworn in, and he can't just walk in, snap his fingers and change all the laws. There's this little thing called the Congress, and they, not the president, make the laws.

If Congress sends him a bill legalizing pot, he can sign it into law, but the odds of Congress sending him a bill to make pot legal are about the same as Sarah Palin finding a cure for cancer.

This issue ought to be about #5754878 on this list of priorities.

I bet you'd narc on your own mom for enough $.

and yes, I took my asshole pills. I always do.

If one advocates criminalization of MJ, then they have no problem with what happens to these people while in prison.

I wrote that yesterday afternoon, so I guess your asshole pills throw off your sense of time. Off to prison with you, druggie! Bring the vaseline, you'll need it.

Look I'd love to have an abundant supply of legal marijuana, but that's not something I expect the President to prioritize at this current time. I do expect him to address the problem of thousands of non-violent offenders' lives being ruined by this stupid drug war and it looks like we are going to see that.

how's it coming with the American people?

Obama doesn't do stuff in a vacuum you know. If there isn't public support for something, it doesn't matter how good an idea it is, it's not changing.

anyonecanpostbutitdoesntmeantheyshould.com

:rofl:

Shit, Obama wouldn't even be President today if he were arrested for his past drug use.

begging to be free. I mean WTF we are supposed to be the educated ones here. The importance of reforming drug laws and creating new industries is even more important nowadays. There are millions of smokers out there. This could create thousands of new jobs and stop the enormous transfer of wealth to drug gangs and cartels.

All one needs to do is look up what happened before, during and after alcohol prohibition.

They'll change their tune when it's their kids that wind up in prison getting fucked up the ass in the shower by a big lifer.

:thumbsdown:

:shrug:

#1 under Additional Issues.


I like how they scrubbed the Criminal Justice section which had the last drug reform question that was the #1 question asked.

It freaks me out that the obama supporters that have gone to his change.gov website ranked marijuana as the #1 question. What is WRONG with people. There aren't more important questions for Obama to answer? Seriously, if this is your #1 question, get some professional help.

THAT should be everybody's NUMBER ONE concern right now, and except for people who got skin in the game regarding the war. They get a pass. Otherwise, the economy is, and SHOULD be, issue #1. Not saying he can't do two things at once, but if this issue gets put on the backburner for awhile, I won't complain as long as he's working on the economy.

I don't think it should be ANYONE'S number one priority.

...there were a lot of young supporters participating who are sick of having to worry about going to jail.

How absurd that weed smokers go to jail while scotch drinkers go to Congress ~ the hypocrisy is disgusting.

I'm a parent who thinks it's very important to address this double standard.

He can do more than one thing at a time, sure, but the man is going to be working his ass off as it is...and with the economy, the wars, and the problems in India/Pakistan and Israel/Palestine..., plus rebuilding the damage done by Bush, PLUS rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure that Bush has let go to ruin, we just can't do everything at once. It's impossible, and that's why Obama has to have priorities.

We have a Democratic Congress ~ shouldn't be so difficult.

Barney Frank introduced a bill along with Ron Paul that would remove federal penalties for personal use, and another that would allow for State Medical Marijuana laws to be honored by the Feds. Additional co-sponsors include Reps. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Sam Farr (D-CA).
Bi-partisan as can be. This is an issue where I can understand Obama's desire to work with the Republicans on some issues. Rohrabacher is a fierece advocate on this issue, yet I oppose him on most things.

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

On the issue of marijuana laws, (and the death penalty) obviously we progressives have our work cut out for us. It is time that prominent national Democrats, including our President elect, grew a collective pair and overhauled these stupid things.

MEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEME

...in a Q&A session, but not given appropriate consideration.

The Obama team shouldn't pretend to want to know what people care about ~ if they're going to duck and cover.

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The war on (some) drugs is a major violation of personal freedom and a major expense to us all. It ruins lives.

To spout off like some here have, in the immature fashion that they have done is ignorantly embarrassing to say the least, if not down right fool hearty.

This isn't about "sparking one up".
This is about the FUCKING police state we live in and pay for dearly.

WATCH AND LEARN!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYpt_H6g_44

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so boring.

yes'm you sure and showed this country idjit who was boss with that one!

Seriously, go ahead, put on your little clown show. But don't forget your floppy shoes and your big, red nose.

...to that video??

It ain't the prose that's the problem, but the poesy that's woesy.

the clown was for you, because you're just so cute.

where's the downrate button, dammit?

..."stupid shit"?

Wow...how progressive of you.
:sarcasm:

But those dedicated to that cause would do better if they were to avoid using the Bozo Clown Army as their online advocates.

I especially think we ought to retire the "war on ________" propaganda for various agendas.

If you had to use war as a metaphor for opposition, though, for me it would be "war on centrism, corporatism, conservatism, and the right wing."

It only includes Obama when he takes a centrist, conservative, corporate, or right-wing stand.

I'm on your side with this issue.

But really, cant we wait until he's the freakin president before deciding he's a failure.

or an actual Constitutional President?

I don't think that everyone gets, accepts, or even believes in the concept of political capital. Everybody wants Obama to come to the table and throw his balls out there, forgetting that if he gets them chopped off in the process that we go into stalemate at best mode.

I'm between 90-110% against all vice law. It is nanny state bullshit that has no place in a free society but I'm also 100% certain that political capital must and should be used first for issues that affect the most people, the economy, energy, health care, and the environment. As far as I'm concerned EVERYTHING else is on the backburner except getting out of Iraq most importantly to clear up some borrowed resources to be used to deal with the society crushing four issues.

To be fair, a lot of this could just be a school of thought issue because most of us agree on most issues but the dividing line seems more about conflict between the "blow your wad" and the "build steam" schools of thought on use of political capital.
Of course here the corporatist and the nanny staters can find common ground but most are on the same page other than priority and should keep that in mind as we discuss. We have to work first on tides that lift all boats and there is far and away enough on the table to easily earn multi-tasking street cred just focusing on four interconnected issues with a side of rehabbing our fucked up world image.

.
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Yow!

:loveya:

in short, lack of good information . . . which leads to lack of good understanding . . .

in both cases our task will be one of education . . . in the case of marijuana, he's probably not even aware of all of its potential uses, or how it could reinvigorate small farms across the nation . . . hell, it's even been shown that safe cars can be made from the stuff! . . . he'll need to be educated . . .

same thing with gay marriage . . . if he doesn't have a good understanding of homosexuality, he won't know how painful the whole gay marriage issue is to millions of his supporters . . . again, he'll need to be educated . . .

I can forgive Obama for not putting either issue at the top of his agenda, what with the two wars, the tanking economy, the healthcare crisis, the collapsing infrastructure, the ongoing environmental destruction, and all of the other "crisis" issues that will be on his desk on Day One . . . he can only do so much, and he's going to tackle the biggies first . . . can't blame him for that . . . on the bright side, it will give us some time to do a good job educating him on the issues he's weak on . . .

But we will get them addressed if we keep insisting.

For the people whose lives are scarred by such archaic and hypocritical laws, these issues are just as critical as other problems.

We have to expect the administration to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time ~ there will be thousands in Obama's employ to get the job done.

we get this economy jump started.

Edit note: Toss in equal rights for everyone, single-payer healthcare, getting our judicial system out of whack too

Inner city crime, especially gun violence, is fueled largely by black market marijuana sales that were created with prohibition. Every time an inner city youth is killed because of drugs, every time you see that in the newspaper you can thank Reagan's war on drugs, oh and Joe Biden for helping to enable it with the creation of the drug czar.

The legalization of cannabis/hemp can create a billion dollar industry just like the legalization of alcohol did, and could provide hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Who do you think should get the profits, Al Capone or Budweiser?

The border violence can be drastically reduced by removing the profit drug smugglers/gangs get from selling black market drugs in America and then purchasing heavy firepower in Mexico. Prohibition has caused an enormous transfer of wealth from America to drug gangs largely because of stupid policy that Democrats seem to not really care about changing.


In countries with relaxed drug policies, drug rates are actually lower than those in America. We make them seem dangerous and cool. America has the highest rate of drug use and the highest incarceration rate.


It's time for our government to admit they made a HUGE mistake just like they did with prohibiting alcohol. Put restrictions on it, tax it and let the free market control it, not the black market.

FDR new what was up and it's time Democrats did too. This isn't an issue we can just keep putting on the back burner and hoping for the best in the future.

but honestly, if we put this first and not the fact that jobs are being lost and an illegal war is being battled then we are going to have alot of unhappy people in this country.

But again, we can have huge job creation with the creation of an industrial hemp/marijuana industry.