At the client (near New York City) we watched the World Trade Center fall down. Right now I'm still in New Jersey, I can't go home because all the New York City bridges are closed. From my window here I could see the smoke, and where there was once 2 tall buildings, now there's none.

I really wish Bush wasn't in charge, I think he's retarted. The news media will be preoccupied by this event for days, probably ignoring important issues to us.

You are so right as usual...

Anything I have to say about my impressions of the
debate last night will sound trite and inconsequential in
light of this morning's events. God help us all.

But anyway, here goes. Maybe this will prove to have
some kind of relevance someday.

I arrived early for the debate, thinking (hoping) that there
would be a heavy attendence. I was right.

I wandered around, checking things out. Lots of police
seeming to be waiting for the big guys to show up in a
roped off area in the back. Across the street in front was
a small group of protestors, with signs that said things
"Stop the Killing" and "The Drug War is a Farce". I ran
across (busy street) to talk with them and find out what
they were about.

They were wearing black t-shirts with 'Friends of
Justice' printed across the front. These were not your
normal college-type protestors one sees at these
events (though there were a few of those, Green Party
members from a neighboring county) but middle-aged
to retired, men and women who were from the
Tulia/Amarillo area who have been out and about
protesting the Drug War since the mass arrest in Tulia.
Major kudos to them for making the trip out here.

I went back across and sat on a park bench on the side
of the building, to have a smoke and write down a few
thoughts. About six police officers came over around
from the back and stood a few feet from me, looking at
the protestors across the street. They were ignoring me
as they talked among themselves. Overheard:

"What's that?"
"Potheads with signs. One says 'Stop the Killing'.
"Says what?"
"Stop the Killing."
"Well, thats what you get if you smoke that pot."

I had to smile at this bit of ignorance, which one cop
noticed, who smiled back.

I went in to get a seat and passed by a news crew
interviewing Rep. Ron Godby, a major and vocal
opponent of Gov. Johnson's ideas. He said something
to the effect of if the police brought in some drug
sniffing dogs that half the crowd would be arrested. I
looked around at the crowd filing in, and just from
appearances, saw a very balanced cross section of the
American public. Young and old, suits and jeans,
blue-collar, white collar, no collar, male, female, white
hispanic, native. I saw one guy with dreads. What was
he seeing that I didn't?

The auditorium was comprised of a stage upon which
were three podiums. Three big cameras were in front of
the stage, set at eye-level and many smaller ones up in
the balcony. Seats were arranged in a semi-circle
around the stage, two levels, plus some folding seats
were set up in the middle. I counted the seats (ten
across, five deep, etc.) and figured the place could hold
about five hundred people. And it was standing room
only. Many people were sitting in the aisles.

At 4:00pm, when the procedings were scheduled to
start, people were still milling about, a few were getting
their picture taken with Gov. Johnson up near the stage.
They finally started around ten after, doing sound
checks, warning the audience not to make any noise
during the broadcast, and got seriously into it around
4:20. (I kid you not.) We sat and listened to a
pre-recorded lead in of different people talking about
their experiences with the War on Drugs. Then the
debate started. I won't go into detail about who said
what, you'll be able to listen to it on PBS (Oct. 11?)

But throughout the debate, I could tell that the crowd
was heavily behind Gov. Johnson at a percentage of
about 20 to 1. (As was I...sorry, there goes my
journalistic objectivity.) Even though we were warned
not to make any noise such as applause, that didn't last
too long. Especially when Asa Hutchison was
shoveling the usual government polititalk.

He was good, I have to give him that. Right suit, right
hair, right voice, 'right' words. But the audience seemed
to be very 'hip' to this kind of government talk, and were
having none of it. What started out as barely controlled
laughter and snorts to some of the statements he
made grew into outright shouts of 'Not True!' and 'Liar!'
and an actual chorus of Boos when Asa challenged
Gary that he didn't even have the New Mexico
legislature behind him (insinuating that the people
were not behind this). I hope our boos in response
made it clear that we don't feel that the Legislature was
an accurate representation of our feelings. (As it ideally
should be.)

One part that stands out in my mind was during the
open question section, when Asa was asked by a
teenager – "What did he feel caused the most damage
to a family, a kid smoking a joint, or arresting that kid
and throwing him in jail?" Asa launched into the most
incomprehensable piece of politico double-speak that I
have ever witnessed. Listen for it. And if anybody can
explain what his answer was, I'll stick a gold star on
your forehead.

All in all, it was a very entertaining evening. After
experiencing about forty years of staid, controlled
political 'debates', this was breath of fresh air. I think
what I actually witnessed was the Drug war gravy train
coming off the tracks.

Too bad it will be forgotten under the weight of today's
earth-shaking tragedy.

Morgan

***********************************************************

I'm eager to see it. Do you think we'll ever see an unedited version?

***My hopes and prayers to all those affected by today's events. The tragedy notwithstanding, the Drug War must come to an end. There are more important things***

I am here safe in Montana, but flew out of National Airport just 48 hours ago-- what if?

Our country will persevere. We will mourn the dead, and our lost innocence. My greatest worry is that these events will allow the declaration of martial law, and further erosion in our civil liberties. That cannot be permitted. The best result for the terrorists would be a paralysis of America, and a war against its own people. That is another reason that the War on Drugs must end right now. We need to have confidence in common goals, and appreciation for law enforcement and the military without the fear that they are our adversaries.

Here's my take of the event

*****************

I was there. Hutch stuck with the usual line & the Gov. wiped the
floor with him. The crowd was overwhelmingly friendly toward the Gov.
& reform. Drew strong applause for the Gov. & boos for Hutch. An
occasional very light applause for Hutch. Only his agents & cronies
supported him at all & there were only a few of them present.

If anything, Hutch got laughed at more than anything & it wasn't all
reformers there, by any means. A lot of gray heads in the audience &
they supported reform.

Hutch stuck to the latest buzzwords, with "traffickers" his favorite.
No doubt, he watched the movie & that's all that he came away with.

IMHO, he didn't take the Gov. seriously prior to debate, didn't have a
clue what the Gov.'s positions were, thought everyone there would be
for his position, walked into a minefield, & stepped on every mine in
sight.

He was flustered, completely bereft of knowledge of this subject,
became red-faced a number of times, & blew the whole thing, so what
else is new. The guy is way out of his league.

I made a tape of the whole thing, even though they requested that
everyone turn of any recorders. I'm sure I'm not alone. With all the
video cameras in evidence, I think a a clandestine copy should be
available shortly.

C-Span taped it for later broadcast & if they don't censor it heavily,
you'll be very pleasantly surprised.

Hutch got his ass kicked & then some.

Live from the front.....

Sled

We will now go to war.

This I'm afraid is just the beginning. God help us all.

Here is current news on this horrible event. Please feel free to use C News to talk. This is what it does so well.

I'm only doing news on Governor Johnson's debate. I will let the rest go because there will be no hearings on Walters nomination. If an article on Colin Powell returning from Colombia comes up I will post it.