cannabisnews.com: Puff Daddy Takes on The General 





Puff Daddy Takes on The General 
Posted by CN Staff on August 03, 2002 at 11:27:58 PT
By Steve Terrell, The New Mexican
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican 
Phil Donahue's new television show on MSNBC isn't even three weeks old, and already New Mexico's Gov. Gary Johnson has been on it twice, both times to talk about drug-law reform. Two weeks ago, Johnson was up against his current favorite sparring partner Drug Enforcement Agency chief Asa Hutchinson - a fellow Republican - in a discussion about mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenders.
Johnson is against them; Hutchinson for them.On Monday's Donahue, Johnson faced an old foe, former Clinton Drug Czar Gen. Barry McCaffrey - yes, the very drug warrior who gave our governor the nickname "Puff Daddy Johnson." Unlike the relatively polite bout with Hutchinson, the Johnson-McCaffrey match-up seemed like an all-out grudge match.In their debate over whether marijuana should be legalized, Johnson basically stuck to script, using appropriate phrases from his usual drug-reform speech.McCaffrey, on the other hand, started getting personal.At one point, McCaffrey chided the governor for not bringing up his drug-reform views when running for office. Donahue called for a commercial break before Johnson could respond to that.The general also alluded to Darren White, who resigned as Johnson's public-safety secretary in protest of Johnson's drug views.Johnson responded that his new public-safety chief (Tom English) is a former federal prosecutor who agrees that the war on drugs has been a failure.A spokeswoman for the governor said Wednesday that Johnson didn't consider this week's clash with McCaffrey to be any more rancorous than other times they've done battle on television.Two for the price of one: Former Federal Communications Commissioner Gloria Tristani, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Senator Pete Domenici this year, wants to do more than represent New Mexico if she wins.According to a recent interview with the Puerto Rican on-line publication WOW News, Tristani promised to help the island even if elected from New Mexico."It won't be from Puerto Rico," she told WOW reporter Melissa B. Gonzalez Valentin, "but for me, I will also be a senator for Puerto Rico."Puerto Rico has a nonvoting representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, but nobody in the Senate. So far.Tristani is the daughter of former Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company Administrator Jorge Tristani. She lived on the island for much of her life before moving to New Mexico 20 years ago.And she's passing out 'no comments' as if she were already representing the commonwealth."The former FCC commissioner, who was in Puerto Rico this month for a short visit, declined to comment on the political status of the island," Gonzalez Valentin wrote. "However, she did express favor for Puerto Ricans' right to self-determination as well as for the withdrawal of the U.S. Navy from Vieques." Source: Santa Fe New Mexican (NM)Author: Steve Terrell, The New MexicanPublished: August 1, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Santa Fe New MexicanContact: letters sfnewmexican.comWebsite: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/Related Article & Web Site:Phil Donahue on Marijuana http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse1446.ramMSNBC Transcripts: Phil Donahue - July 29, 2002 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13581.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by Jose Melendez on August 03, 2002 at 15:49:57 PT
video link
http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-1446.html
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 03, 2002 at 15:46:50 PT
JR, Here Are The Videos I Found
CRRH Video Link - John Stossel
http://www.crrh.org/hemptv/news_ABCnewsJ.html
Phil Donahue on Marijuana
http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse1446.ram
CNN Crossfire: The Medical Marijuana Debate
http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse1436.ram
Pot-TV John Stossel Video
http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse1448.ram
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Comment #3 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on August 03, 2002 at 15:34:12 PT
Video link?
  I didn't see the Johnson/Hutchinson Donahue. Is it archived somewhere like CRRH or Pot-TV?
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Comment #2 posted by Toad on August 03, 2002 at 14:18:27 PT
Donahue a Great help for the cause
When I was watching the Marijuana legalization show last week I could'nt get over how they seemed to be disscussing the subject as if it were actually going to happen.
 San Fransisco city govt. growing weed and Nevada legalization would really be an anal rodgering to the Feds and the Anti's.I'ts only a matter of time and continued effort.
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Comment #1 posted by gloovins on August 03, 2002 at 14:03:34 PT
Johnson / Ventura in 2004
Came back fm vacation & lo & behold did I not have a letter from the Governor's office of the State of New Mexico waiting for me. Yep, it was from Gov Johnson & it was a response to my advocation of writing in him & Jesse Ventura for President & VP. The letter read as follows:Thank you for your words of support and encouragement. I appreciate you taking your time to write. Although I appreciate your willingnesss to pursue a write-in candidacy for me, I have no plans to pursue political office after I complete my term as Governor of New Mexico. This has been the job I have always wanted and I have enjoyed every minute of it. It has been a wonderful and a humbling experience. Thank you again for your support. I am honored by your suggestion. I wish you the best.Sincerely,Gary Johnson
GovernorOk -- so I was a little depressed when I read it but hey, at least he responded. Ventura I have not heard from yet. Oh well, should I give up on Gary or should I just ask him IF he were to win -- by some fluke -- would he accept it? Or should I just forget it? I don't know. I still want to write them in cause hey don't they count every vote still? mmm, in the old US, I thought they did. Maybe them times are over though...guess we'll have to wait for '04....
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