Talk Elections

Where is your God now? (http://reason.com/blog/2012/04/17/obamas-new-drug-control-report-calls-for)

Well let's look at the checklist:

-More workplace drug testing: Inherently I don't see this as a problem since I can understand why most businesses wouldn't want to be employing a meth addict. The problem with such testing is it acts like anyone who had a joint in the last 30 days is equivalent to a meth addict, if most employers just ignored testing positive for marijuana (as many actually do), it'd be a reasonable policy.

-"Zero tolerance" laws: Yeah actually read the article, it's about drugged driving.

-Prescription only status for pseudoephedrine/ephedrine products: I don't agree with this, but I'll note that most over the counter cough medicine already doesn't included these ingredients anymore, and truthfully while I think these type of laws are stupid making it prescription only is more logical than things like that grandmother in Indiana who was fined for buying a ton of cough syrup when many of her grandkids all caught a cold despite the fact there was no warning that she was going over the legal limit.

-Those stupid TV ads: Yes, this is stupid, and indefensible. Someone on another forum once made a valid point by asking how many people could be made clean if the money for them was diverted to rehab programs instead.

..and that's just what he is ADDING to the War on Drugs.

But he put an end to the raids on medical marijuana dispensaries.

False. This one wasn't even a dispensary any more. That was a pretty blatant lie by Obama.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/04/former-oakland-medical-pot-dispensary-raided-by-federal-agents.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%29

Last I heard, he was doing more raids per day than W did...I'm 'bout to go out and smoke (tobacco), but I'll look for a cite when I get back.

From Rolling Stone (http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/obamas-war-on-pot-20120216)

That's really the part that bothers me the most. You want to expand stupid drug policies, okay, sure, but at least consistently say that's what you're going to do. Obama constantly talks about how we need to have more "serious discussions" on drug policy, yet we never do.

And as someone who has often relied on pseudoephedrine as a decongestant in the past, I find that particularly stupid, but whatever. All of this is going to come to a head eventually. These drug policies cannot seriously last much longer, in the grand scheme of things. Right? ..right?

I don't understand why Obama keeps running to the center.  I know that's the MO of most politicians with an election looming, but sheesh, enough is enough.  I want to like Obama, I really do.  He seems like a sensible man 75% of the time, but then he does crap like this.  Maybe we'll get the real Obama after the election, but I won't be holding my breath....or even contemplate voting for him like I did in '08.

Yet another issue where there's no one to blame but Barack Obama. Funny how all of his flip flops have been to the right. Too bad his opponent is so terrible and actually makes him look like a honest straight-shooter. The election is between two candidates who are liars who have flip flopped to the right.

I really doubt that Obama personally endorses those policies they are written by ONDCP not Obama. I think he just can't challenge them publicly or privately. Also I'd like to apologize for Gil Kerlowiske, not sure how such an anti-weed man could have been head of Seattle PD.

This is a pretty obvious flip flop by the Obama administration. He nominated Bush administration hardliner Michele Leonhart to head the DEA. She says the more kids who die in the drug war, the better it's going. Change was just a lying slogan to get us to vote for a right-winger.

From the latest issue of The Economist, p. 44-46

Well change is a lulzy slogan now that we had Obama administration for over 3 years. But you have to realize that he doesn't have full control over the DEA. Of course there is a lot he should be criticized for but this, in this thread in my opinion is just reflexive shouting. You have to realize that if the press found out about Obama meddling with DEA strategy behind the scenes to make it less "war-like" it would have the same political fallout as him favoring legalization of marijuana. I think we will know real positions of Obama(not just about War on drugs) after 2014 midterms when Democrats should pick enough low hanging fruits to hopefully be able to pass something, and Obama can sign executive orders without worrying about political fallout. There is also possibility that he actually changed his mind, or that DNC received enough money from lobbyists that we won't see the real president until he is out office. I know this sounds like I am defending Obama, I just think a lot of this criticism is pointless, but if I could vote I'd vote for Rocky.
If Obama doesn't change his position, we need some Paul-like candidate that would turnout the youngs and hopefully hijack the democratic party with real left-wing with the entire party going paultarded if the party doesn't move back to the left over the next four years(as it should, I hope they understand the demographic trends as well as you and I do). If we get Cuomo elected than we are really f[inks]ed until 2024 (2020), and by that point new trends may be in play.

Well somebody has been inconveniencing me by shutting down dispensaries all over the place. It is very annoying.

gotta love/hate liberals contriving defenses on things like this!