President Trump: Making America Great Again...

[Uncle Ted]

So yeah, nice try. I was expecting you being a true Libertarian and all, to rail against Sessions restarting the war on pot.

As a Libertarian I have no problem with Sessions actions... I side with the National Review on the subject:

It’s Time to Decriminalize Marijuana


But not by executive action


This morning, Twitter sparked to life with the news that Attorney General Jeff Sessions intends to rescind multiple memoranda which effectively made it Justice Department policy not to enforce federal bans on the sale and distribution of marijuana in states that have legalized the drug, so long as those states properly regulated its sale and distribution.
[...]
Sessions’s new policy rescinds the Cole Memo and four other similar memos “effective immediately.” It states that from now on prosecutors “should follow the well-established principles that govern all federal prosecutions” in deciding whether to go after the marijuana industry in states where it has been legalized. Contrary to Huffington Post spin, this isn’t a “crackdown.” It’s a restoration of the rule of law and the end of yet another unconstitutional Obama policy that privileged executive power over the American constitutional structure. It’s also a policy that Congress and the president should quickly override through new legislation. The time has come to decriminalize marijuana.
[...]

http://www.nationalreview.com/articl...gress-must-act

Someone needed to light a fire under congress' collective butts to legally decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.

[frank ryan]

As a Libertarian I have no problem with Sessions actions... I side with the National Review on the subject:


http://www.nationalreview.com/articl...gress-must-act

Someone needed to light a fire under congress' collective butts to legally decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.

Lol, Ted. It's not a step toward decriminalizing weed. It's a crackdown.

Both Republicans and Democrats reacted with dismay and howls of betrayal to the decision by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to renew tough federal enforcement of marijuana laws, illustrating the growing power both politically and economically of the emerging industry.

“I am obligated to the people of Colorado to take all steps necessary to protect the state of Colorado and their rights,” said Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado, a conservative member of the Republican leadership who has rarely broken with the Trump White House.

Mr. Gardner said he had been assured by both President Trump and Mr. Sessions before voting for the attorney general’s confirmation that backtracking on marijuana would not be a focus of the administration. The senator seemed flabbergasted by what amounted to a federal assault on the expanding $1 billion legal pot business approved by voters in Colorado, and he threatened to try to block all Justice Department nominees until Mr. Sessions backed off.

He was not the only unhappy Republican. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said in a statement that she had repeatedly discouraged Mr. Sessions from taking action on marijuana, a move that she called regrettable and disruptive.

Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, a leading Trump ally in the House, said the decision would deny relief to suffering cancer patients, including children. He said the move by Mr. Sessions was “heartless and cold, and shows his desire to pursue an antiquated, disproven dogma instead of the will of the American people. He should focus his energies on prosecuting criminals, not patients.”

New Pot Policy by Trump Administration Draws Bipartisan Fire

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/u...isan-fire.html

[YOhio]

If Trump and Bannon are the number one and number 2 evil people in America today, who should I believe when they contradict each other?

Bannon shit talks Mormons so go with Trump.

[frank ryan]

Bannon shit talks Mormons so go with Trump.

I'm sure Trump does too, and I'm sure we'll hear about it when he has deal with senator Romney.

[myboynoah]

Sloppy Steve

That's pretty good.

[creekster]

As a Libertarian I have no problem with Sessions actions... I side with the National Review on the subject:


http://www.nationalreview.com/articl...gress-must-act

Someone needed to light a fire under congress' collective butts to legally decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.

Lol, Ted. It's not a step toward decriminalizing weed. It's a crackdown.



New Pot Policy by Trump Administration Draws Bipartisan Fire

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/u...isan-fire.html

I think this situation perfectly illustrates the hypocrisy in politics. The problem here is that congress doesn't have the nerve or ability to advocate for and adopt decriminalization measures, which include revisions to a host of federal statutes, so they allowed an executive to direct a lack of enforcement of those laws. This allows states to do what they want with no political danger for congressman but also encourages disrespect for the law and proper process. It boggles my mind that we think Sessions or Trump is at fault here. It amazes me that a Senator from Colorado is incensed that the federal government would enforce its laws, the very laws that the Senate passed! Look, if we want to decriminalize it then we should decriminalize as opposed to un-enforce. The current approach is nothing more than looking the other way most of the time while leaving open the occasional instance of selective enforcement (which then allows racists and jerks to act like such while doing so entirely within the law). We could also leave it up to the states to do what they want, which is what Trump first said on the campaign trail. But any of the proper solutions requires congress to have the courage of its convictions and to legislate from a leadership role, instead of from a following role. Either way, it should never be the president's or the DOJ's job to decide which set of laws to enforce or which ones to ignore. They should enforce all the laws to the extent possible. It is Congress' job to create or amend the laws.

I think Ted's point was that this will force Congress to finally decide if it is going to decrim or not. Which it should have done a long time ago.

[BlueK]

Sloppy Steve

That's pretty good.

I can't remember who said it, but it was after the Alabama election and some pundit talking about the clips of Bannon speaking at Moore's rallies said he looked like a drunk bum who wandered in off the street, or something like that.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Sloppy Steve

That's pretty good.

Yes it is. I hate Trump but I laugh at his nicknames.

[BlueK]

I think this situation perfectly illustrates the hypocrisy in politics. The problem here is that congress doesn't have the nerve or ability to advocate for and adopt decriminalization measures, which include revisions to a host of federal statutes, so they allowed an executive to direct a lack of enforcement of those laws. This allows states to do what they want with no political danger for congressman but also encourages disrespect for the law and proper process. It boggles my mind that we think Sessions or Trump is at fault here. It amazes me that a Senator from Colorado is incensed that the federal government would enforce its laws, the very laws that the Senate passed! Look, if we want to decriminalize it then we should decriminalize as opposed to un-enforce. The current approach is nothing more than looking the other way most of the time while leaving open the occasional instance of selective enforcement (which then allows racists and jerks to act like such while doing so entirely within the law). We could also leave it up to the states to do what they want, which is what Trump first said on the campaign trail. But any of the proper solutions requires congress to have the courage of its convictions and to legislate from a leadership role, instead of from a following role. Either way, it should never be the president's or the DOJ's job to decide which set of laws to enforce or which ones to ignore. They should enforce all the laws to the extent possible. It is Congress' job to create or amend the laws.

I think Ted's point was that this will force Congress to finally decide if it is going to decrim or not. Which it should have done a long time ago.

The spineless congress is really getting me annoyed. Right now they're run by the Republicans, so that's who I'm angry at. I blame gerrymandering. The GOP is in for an epic butt kicking in 2018. It's one reason Ryan isn't running again. He can distance himself from the loss better that way and still (he hopes) have a shot at running for president in the future.

[myboynoah]

Yes it is. I hate Trump but I laugh at his nicknames.

I love that avatar picture.

[frank ryan]

Yes it is. I hate Trump but I laugh at his nicknames.

His nicknames are hilarious. Although I cringe at his war of insults with KJU, little rocket man is pretty funny.

[Uncle Ted]

I think this situation perfectly illustrates the hypocrisy in politics. The problem here is that congress doesn't have the nerve or ability to advocate for and adopt decriminalization measures, which include revisions to a host of federal statutes, so they allowed an executive to direct a lack of enforcement of those laws. This allows states to do what they want with no political danger for congressman but also encourages disrespect for the law and proper process. It boggles my mind that we think Sessions or Trump is at fault here. It amazes me that a Senator from Colorado is incensed that the federal government would enforce its laws, the very laws that the Senate passed! Look, if we want to decriminalize it then we should decriminalize as opposed to un-enforce. The current approach is nothing more than looking the other way most of the time while leaving open the occasional instance of selective enforcement (which then allows racists and jerks to act like such while doing so entirely within the law). We could also leave it up to the states to do what they want, which is what Trump first said on the campaign trail. But any of the proper solutions requires congress to have the courage of its convictions and to legislate from a leadership role, instead of from a following role. Either way, it should never be the president's or the DOJ's job to decide which set of laws to enforce or which ones to ignore. They should enforce all the laws to the extent possible. It is Congress' job to create or amend the laws.

I think Ted's point was that this will force Congress to finally decide if it is going to decrim or not. Which it should have done a long time ago.

Yeah, what Creek said...

[BlueK]

Yeah, what Creek said...

there is a much better chance of this happening if the Republicans are in the minority after 2018 elections.

[Uncle Ted]

there is a much better chance of this happening if the Republicans are in the minority after 2018 elections.

Yeah, I am hoping that both the dems and GOP'ers are the minority.

[BlueK]

Yeah, I am hoping that both the dems and GOP'ers are the minority.

me too. But yeah, not likely