[Vision2020] Call to Action

[Joan Opyr]

On Jun 15, 2005, at 2:59 PM, David M. Budge wrote:

> I'm damned disappointed as well.  The good news is that Denny Rehberg 
> (R-Mont) and your Butch Otter both voted aye, but it is telling about 
> the faux federalist in the GOP as only 15 Republicans voted aye while 
> 54 Dems voted no.  Some drug law reformers were actually rather 
> encouraged that there was 161 ayes and we really are only 52 votes 
> away from getting the bill passed.  I guess that's progress but little 
> help to assuage the pain of chronic illness for those in need.
>
> You can find the complete roll call (activist's hit list) here:
> http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll255.xml
>
> Of course the usual suspects were out claiming victory for "a drug 
> free america" - a country finely tuned with prozac, viagra, oxycontin, 
> and diazapam.  As for the entire notion of "gateway drugs", no one 
> ever seems to mention Budweiser, Jack Daniel's, gasoline or airplane 
> glue all of which are probably the substances used first by 
> adolescents before pot.
>
> It boggles the mind that the minority opinion in Raich v Gonzales 
> included O'Connor, Renquist and Thomas and the GOP walks in almost 
> lock step to block this good legislation.   The staff at the National 
> Review have lobbied hard for medical marijuana for years, led by 
> Buckley himself, as well as Cato and Heritage but it seems the GOP no 
> longer has the ability listen to its own intellectual core.
>
> Seems like the best move is to get more states to put this up as 
> ballot initiative.
>
> I second what Joan said.


My goodness -- I must once again send a thank you note to Butch Otter.  
First, I had to thank him for his opposition to the Patriot Act, and 
now this.  What is the world coming to?  Ah well, at least I got to 
send him a scathing letter over his support for a federal amendment 
banning gay marriage.  There's only so much Republicans-being-sensible 
that one Democrat can take.  (Thanks for the link to the 54 Dems of 
Shame.  I'll vent my wrath on them tomorrow.)

In the meantime, all across America, cancer patients, glaucoma 
sufferers, and the terminally ill continue to risk arrest and 
prosecution in the pursuit of simple and effective palliative care and 
comfort.  That makes me sick, sad, and sorry.

Netherlands, anyone?

Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment
www.auntie-establishment.com

PS: Hey, Dave -- what if Congress toked more and legislated less?  Do 
you think that would further the cause of the "progressive 
libertarianism" thing we were discussing some months ago?  If nothing 
else, I can't help but think it might constitute an improvement.  Just 
picture Bill Frist puffing on a fatty.  "Terry Schiavo who?" he asks.  
"I'm just looking for the Pringles, man.  Hey, Robert Byrd -- make with 
the pork rinds, would ya?"