– Lee will probably have more, but it looks like at least initially, the Obama administration won’t go after Washington and Colorado marijuana users.
– The Global Washington conference looks like it was pretty amazing.
– I don’t think building a death star is practical.
Re: the death star: I find your lack of faith disturbing.
News on the “Fiscal Cliff” negotiations: there is no news to report.
It looks like Congress will go out of town for their Christmas break, except for perhaps a token select group which will be available if, perchance, something happens. The President, of course, can work from wherever he happens to be, via Air Force One and the mobile communications office set up wherever he is.
Which makes one wonder: is there really any need for Congress to physically meet for debates and passing bills? It really could all be done electronically. And the sight of Senators arguing heatedly in front of TV cameras to an empty chamber reminds us of how useless the current system really is.
Couldn’t agree more, but I will add that a 4 million dollar tax paid vacation in Hawaii seems to be more important to his Majesty!
Speaking of excessive force…
A while back I was talking to a retired Snohomish County deputy and reserve deputy. He said he was pulled over by a local city copy who had a real attitude. Of course, the first thing the former deputy did was identify himself and let the officer know he was carrying a handgun. The copy pulled out his gun and had him spread-eagled against the car, and was talking trash.
According to this former deputy and reserve officer, the problem seems to be a lot of younger police are either are ex-military or SWAT “wannabes” that don’t understand the concept of community policing. For them, excalation of the situation into a “take-down” they can call “resisting arrest” is the goal. These younger officers will do a few years on the force, then transfer to another job offering higher pay and perhaps a promotion.
In contrast, the old timers were long-term residents of the community, they knew who was a real threat and who was not, and how to defuse a situation. Many of them who were on patrol duty went for many years without having to draw a weapon or make an arrest.
Some interesting news from my home page:
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says federal authorities should not target recreational marijuana use in two Western states where it has been made legal given limited government resources and growing public acceptance of the controlled substance.
His first comments on the issue come weeks after Washington state and Colorado voters supported legalizing pot, or cannabis, last month in ballot measures that stand in direct opposition of federal law.
Wow! It’s about time somebody got some common sense regarding cannabis!
rhp6033 said:
“the problem seems to be a lot of younger police are either are ex-military or SWAT “wannabes” that don’t understand the concept of community policing. For them, excalation (sic) of the situation into a “take-down” they can call “resisting arrest” is the goal.”
Yes, I have noticed that the police often conduct themselves as if they were some sort of occupation army, dressing in military gear and using military-style weapons and tactics. At one of the local coffee shops, I’ve noticed that the cops look like they got their dress code from the WWII German military manual on uniforms. They honest to God & Goddess look like storm troopers right out of Hitler’s army! It’s a very disturbing trend towards militarism which I think we should work to reverse. Cops are not the military and the military is not the cops. End of story!
# 4: I haven’t read the full statement from the feds, but I think it’s only a half-victory. The feds haven’t targeted individual users possessing small quantities for decades. They may make some arrests, but that’s only part of a scheme to go after the “bigger fish”.
But in this case, the “bigger fish” are the cultivators, processors, and distributors. You can’t have recreational use of small quantities without a supply system in place. Currently that whole is being filled by illegal drug organizations and drug cartells. But for many, the whole purpose of the referendum was to create a legal supply chain, taking the money away from the cartels.
So – will he feds refuse to prosecute a Washington grower, processor, and distributor operation? What if the State itself takes a role in that process?
Another American tragedy for the privilege of any asshole to arm themselves with weapons designed to kill people.
That’s one helluva “well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state,” we’ve got.
Stay safe.
Sad day in Connecticut.
ABC News reports 1 shooter at Sandy Hook Elementary was a 24-year-old in a bulletproof vest with 4 guns.
27 reported killed in Newtown, Conn., school shooting
I’d love to read someone who thinks the most important part of the 2nd Amendment is “shall not be infringed” tell us how they’d explain this to those children, who shall never forget this day, all about how that phrase justifies the death of their schoolmates.
And if they feel up to it, how to explain the risk of random execution to any elementary school child.
Republican WINGNUTS are killing you … and your children
Sweeping changes in Michigan’s concealed handgun law go beyond allowing weapons in ‘gun free zones’
George W. Bush took 490 vacation days (about 60 days every year) during his presidency. I wonder how much that cost?
Probably not as much as Bush’s 2 wars, his military build up, his FREE MONEY give away to the 2%ers and the 2 (count them, 2) recessions he caused.
Maybe you forget, but just before the Shrub stole the election, President Clinton had given us a booming economy and was paying down the National debt.
@3 What a stupid comment.
The government doesn’t pay for Obama’s vacation. It pays for the security and communications that necessarily accompany the commander-in-chief wherever he goes.
Is it your position that (a) presidents should be confined to the White House and never allowed to leave for any reason, and/or (b) that when a president goes on vacation, the nuclear launch codes shouldn’t go with him, to save money?
Jackass.
Thinking about going to law school, but reluctant to take the plunge? You may find this article interesting.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100315734
And by the way no “Santa Clause Rally” this year, while your dude is off sunning himself in Hawaii waiting for the biggest tax increase in history to hit all of us…
Great job.. The stock market is tanking, interest rates in the hole.
President Obama acknowledged today the conflict between federal and state marijuana laws is a “tough problem” but said the federal government has higher priorities than going after recreational users.
Legal experts said the president’s comments are not definitive. Specific polices that accomodate state laws authorizing recreational use remain to be worked out. And with production and market still illegal under federal law, the question of how legal users will be supplied is unanswered.
Also, federal prohibitions go beyond just production, transportation, marketing, and possession. Crop insurance for marijuana also is illegal, and banks are prohibited from processing financial transactions involving the marijuana trade. Unless Congress changes federal drug laws, it will continue to be difficult to be in the business of supplying marijuana to legal users.
ermm..lest you forget, the dot com bust and economic slide started well before the 2000 election.
LMFAO @ “2 recessions”….really dude, where you like 12 in 2000-2001? the fed jacked the interest rate 6 times in less than two years(1999-2000) which was the beginning of the end…..that and all the idiots who decided to burn up cash on never-profiting .coms…..
Bush inherited and crumbling economy in 2001just the same way Obama did in 2009.
I’ve never understood people’s obsession with mind-altering substances. If you need to light up in order to enjoy your life, our former marijuana laws were not your biggest problem.
@17 wahhh wahhh mitt robme didn’t win the election, wahh wahhh, please pass the tissues.
@17 The S&P 500 is up 4.45% since Nov. 15, dumbass.
@19,
Oh, it couldn’t have been that Bush’s friends at Enron just might have had a hand in tanking the California economy? By raising the cost of electricity 800% and more?
Oh, yeah, you forgot that one…