Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Murtha lesson Don Surber: "If it looks too good to be true ... it probably is too good to be true. "Righties who fell for this, remember this the next time lefties screw up." "2008 pres" 8:17:42 PM

Leno on President Bush Jay Leno: "Heavy rains caused so much flooding in Washington, D.C. they had to close down the National Archives where they keep the Constitution. Luckily, the Bush administration's not using the Constitution anymore." Thanks to NewMexiKen for the link. "2008 pres" 8:12:30 AM

War on drugs Jessica Peck Corry (via the Denver Post): "I hope my daughter will never smoke marijuana. Regardless of whether she does one day, I know one thing for sure: Keeping it illegal can only harm her future. "Since 1998, the Office of National Drug Control Policy has spent more than $2 billion in taxpayer dollars on twin advertising campaigns seeking to discourage marijuana use. The first speaks to parents, calling them the "Anti-Drug." It fails before it begins. Good parents are going to talk to their children about drugs. All the feel-good ads in the world aren't going to get indifferent parents to engage in such an awkward but essential dialogue. "The second campaign fails as well. In these, youthful but sophisticated graphics tell kids not to use marijuana. If there is one sure way to get adolescents to smoke pot, tell them that the government and their parents don't want them to. In fact, a recently published national study indicates that after viewing commercials for this campaign, young people were more likely to exhibit positive responses about the drug. "Politicians whisper quietly behind closed doors about the insanity of the drug war. Neither party, however, has had the courage to take a stand against prohibition publicly. Just imagine if the $2 billion invested in these ads - or the billions more spent prosecuting peaceful marijuana users every year - had been diverted instead into tuition grants for needy students or back to taxpaying parents who could directly invest in college funds." "2008 pres" 7:59:44 AM

Flag burning amendment The Denver Post editorial staff is blasting the U.S. Senate for election year pandering. They write, "Leaders of the U.S. Senate, desperate to divert voters' attention from a deep deficit and an unpopular war, made time yesterday to take up a constitutional amendment to outlaw flag burning. "Fortunately, the proposition fell one vote short, no thanks to Colorado Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar. They joined in voting for what would have been the first time in history that the U.S. Constitution was changed to restrict the freedom of expression enjoyed by Americans. "This exercise in election-year demagoguery wasn't necessary. There is no epidemic of disrespect for the flag - supporters conceded there were just four such episodes all year. "As Gary May, Chairman of Veterans Defending the Bill of Rights, argues, constricting the First Amendment would not honor veterans; 'it would instead attack the very principles that inspired us to serve our country.' May lost two legs in Vietnam serving his country. Unlike Allard and Salazar, he did not lose sight of the principles of the republic for which our flag stands." Check our Mike Keefe's cartoon on the subject today. Al Knight weighs takes on the subject in his column in today's Denver Post. He writes, "Would it really be a step backwards, would it really ruin the First Amendment (let alone the Bill of Rights) to return to enforcement practices that were once taken for granted? If that isn't reason enough to pass it, how about this: Think what it would do to the ACLU." "2008 pres" 7:53:17 AM

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