cannabisnews.com: This Is The Time To Hold Nothing Back





This Is The Time To Hold Nothing Back
Posted by CN Staff on July 26, 2004 at 08:19:01 PT
By Sheryl McCarthy 
Source: Newsday 
As the Democrats begin their convention, the expectations for the next four days are frankly pretty low.The candidates have already been picked. No floor fights will be waged over the platform. And with events so carefully staged, the feeling is that conventions like this one are a drag. Americans would rather watch cop shows, which at least offer some drama. And presidential candidate John Kerry says he wants to calm the anti-Bush fervor among the delegates, even though Democrats are feeling more passionate about the outcome of an election than they have in years.
To play it safe would be a mistake. If there was ever a time for the Democrats to act up, it's now.I know what would make this a great convention for me. If, instead of hearing well- dressed, well-modulated politicians make their stock speeches, I could hear ordinary, ticked-off folks who aren't worried about looking unkempt, sounding polite or breaking a sweat, talk about how the issues affect them. Wal-Mart employees explaining how hard it is to live off Wal-Mart's meager salaries and benefits. Unemployed folks telling what it's like to have their benefits run out and still be out of work. Seniors who can't afford their medicine, even with President George W. Bush's prescription discount cards.I want to hear from cancer patients who are legally barred from getting medical marijuana, from gays and lesbians who want to get married but can't, and from the parents of schoolchildren who've been left behind despite the president's promises. I'd also like to hear from women who can't buy emergency contraceptives over the counter, and from Iraq war veterans who suffered grievous injuries and want to know what it was for. Stories like theirs cast the parties' differences in sharp relief, and the people listening at home can identify with them. For that matter, why isn't Michael Moore, the schlumpy movie director who's managed to fire up more Americans than John Kerry has so far, giving a keynote speech, instead of being relegated to a sideshow?None of these things will happen because the Democrats, who are themselves divided over these issues, want to put on a united front. But with so much going on in the country right now that's out of whack, I don't need to see a warm, fuzzy image of the Democrats. I want these people catch fire.A few great speeches would help make the convention worthwhile. We can depend on Al Gore and Bill Clinton to give smart, heartfelt talks about the party's core values and what direction the country should be moving in. But I'm counting more on Howard Dean to rally the troops. Ridiculed for being too volatile and angry during his own campaign, he still touched a nerve in Democrats who were equally angry about what the Republicans are doing and needed to hear from someone who didn't mince his words. Dean's rage should fill the convention hall.It will also be exciting if the convention embraces Barack Obama, a hot, young black senatorial candidate from Illinois. Obama belongs to a rising generation of black politicians who could signal a move away from the old-style black leaders in the party who see African-Americans as endlessly downtrodden, instead of as people who need the same opportunities as everyone else.And this will be John Kerry's chance to excite the troops and convince the nation that he's a better choice than George W. Bush. So far he's come across as vaguely better on the issues, but not especially compelling. If he thinks Bush has gotten us bogged down in Iraq, then he should give us his strategy for getting us out. If he thinks the country still isn't safe against terrorists, then he should tell us what he would do that Bush won't. And if he blames Bush for the sorry state of the economy, he needs to tell us how he plans to stoke it up.Kerry doesn't need to hold back. He needs to show the same anger and resolve that he displayed as a young man speaking against the war in Vietnam. If he can do that, then this convention will be far from boring. Source: Newsday (NY)Author: Sheryl McCarthyPublished: July 26, 2004Copyright: 2004 Newsday Inc.Contact: letters newsday.comWebsite: http://www.newsday.com/Related Articles:UMass Professor Sues DEA Over Pot-Growing http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19227.shtmlKerry: End Medical Marijuana Prosecutionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18114.shtml 
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Comment #19 posted by Dankhank on July 27, 2004 at 11:43:15 PT
Kerry/Edwards
We must get in their faces and DEMAND an end to prohibition.Hey all, next time you see Edwards ... ask him if he looked at the CD-Rom, Cannabis research Library, a very angry speaker gave him in Oklahoma.If no, WHY NOT?If so, WHAT SAY YOU?Who's in Boston, Now?Go get 'em ... never stop, till election day and beyond ...
The Way Out!!
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Comment #18 posted by darlingnikkie on July 26, 2004 at 18:18:00 PT
to mamawillie 
***"Kerry was awarded a D- for his medical marijuana stance and Edwards an F. Right?"***I believe Granitestaters gave Kerry an A- overall. He's currently supporting the scientists suing over medical marijuana research, and he doesn't support interfering with states that have passed medical marijuana laws. Edwards earned a D or an F on that topic.Kerry received a failing grade from industrial Hemp activists for not turning in a survey. Edwards scored a B grade for moderate support of industrial hemp.
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Comment #17 posted by BGreen on July 26, 2004 at 17:21:56 PT
Here You Go, Cannabis Enthusiast
More than 40 million people have no health insurance and Bush said: "We must move forward to expand access to care, and to keep important health decisions in the hands of patients and doctors, not in government bureaucrats."Of course, the lying bastard already said the states should have the right to make these decisions for themselves.Yeah, right.The Reverend Bud Green
Bush gives domestic-agenda overview
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 17:08:21 PT
Ricky Williams
I like the way Ricky Williams appears to think.
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Comment #15 posted by Max Flowers on July 26, 2004 at 15:23:14 PT
Wow, a rasta NFL player?
Thanks CE, that article was great, I never would have guessed that a non-sports-fanatic perspective like that would ever be advanced in Sports Illustrated. That Ricky Williams sounds like a really smart guy. I had never heard of him because I don't care about football. I have heard of Mark Stepnowski (sp?) though, he was another pot-smoking, free-thinking NFL guy.
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Comment #14 posted by Cannabis Enthusiast on July 26, 2004 at 14:43:06 PT
Ricky Williams (pot smoker) article on CNN.com
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/phil_taylor/07/26/taylor.williams/
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Comment #13 posted by Cannabis Enthusiast on July 26, 2004 at 14:34:11 PT
Bush: "We must let patients make decisions..."
"We must let patients and their doctors make health decisions, and not let the government interfere."Bush said this in a newspaper article I read (within the past week) in the [Minnesota] Star-Tribune or St. Paul Pioneer Press. I forget the title of the article though. I'm pretty sure it was AP or Reuters.FoM, do you know the article I am talking about?
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Comment #12 posted by Cannabis Enthusiast on July 26, 2004 at 14:28:41 PT
Prison numbers reach new high
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/07/26/corrections.population.ap/
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Comment #11 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 13:29:34 PT
Robbie: "be happy"
Reminds me of a friend’s effort at saving her marriage through counseling.Therapist wants them both to ask each other to do one thing for the other during the next week that the other requested of them. They were to make the request in her presence. The woman requested something like "help with the dishes" next week. The husband said he wanted her to "be happy", as a thing for her to do for him next week. The therapist looked at him and said something like "Are you saying that whether she is happy or not, you want her to "act" happy?" He did. He honestly didn't care whether she was happy or not, just so long as she "acted" happy.Obviously the marriage folded. The Democratic party is unwise to avoid reality.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 13:11:03 PT
mamawillie 
 I archived this similar article and thought you might want to see it too. U.S. 'Correctional Population' Hits New High: 
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread19233.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by mamawillie on July 26, 2004 at 12:56:59 PT
Yeah, good luck!
Kerry was awarded a D- for his medical marijuana stance and Edwards an F. Right? I'll have to go search for that link. Point: don't hold your breath-- cause you'll be holding it at least 4 more years no matter who gets voted in.And an interesting article from AP:
Adult Corrections Population Hits Record By CURT ANDERSON, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - A record 6.9 million adults were incarcerated or on probation or parole last year, nearly 131,000 more than in 2002, according to a Justice Department (news - web sites) study.  Put another way, about 3.2 percent of the adult U.S. population, or 1 in 32 adults, were incarcerated or on probation or parole at the end of last year. A record 4.8 million adults were on probation or parole in 2003, about 73,000 more than the year before. About 70 percent of adults involved in federal, state or local corrections systems fall into this category. The states of California and Texas together accounted for about 1 million. The number of adults on parole after serving a prison sentence rose by 3.1 percent from 2002 to 2003, to more than 774,500 people. That compares with an average annual rise of about 1.7 percent since 1995 for those on parole, a figure that has been increasing at a much slower rate than those in jails (4 percent a year), in prison (3.4 percent) and on probation (2.9 percent). Since 1995, states around the country have increased the use of mandatory parole after prison release and cut down on use of discretionary releases overseen by parole boards, the report says. The report, released Sunday, focused most on the characteristics of those on probation or parole. Its findings include: _Almost half of all probationers were convicted of a felony, with 25 percent convicted of a drug violation. _Washington state had the highest number of people on probation per 100,000 population, at 3,767. New Hampshire had the lowest rate at 426. _Of the 2.2 million people discharged from probation in 2003, three out of five met the conditions of their supervision. Another 16 percent were jailed because of a rule violation or a new crime, with 4 percent becoming fugitives. _About 95 percent of those on parole had been convicted of a felony. _Of the 470,500 parolees discharged from supervision last year, 38 percent went back to jail for a new crime or a rule violation, with 9 percent becoming fugitives. 
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 12:42:32 PT
Nuevo Mexican 
I just voted and thank you. 50% said she would make a good first lady. I hope others vote too. We have Direct TV and I don't think we can get the convention unless it's somewhere where I don't know. Hopefully it will be on World Link TV.
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Comment #7 posted by Nuevo Mexican on July 26, 2004 at 12:31:50 PT
I'm voting for Teresa Heinz-Kerry!! I saw her too!
But on Larry King! She is great! You go Girl! Womens' voices are the least heard these days, so it's no surprise the Dims are squelching their own best Assets,(Margaret Cho) WOMEN, out of fear of the Repug Media morphing truthful statements into lies by Fox, CNN, and all the rest.If you have a dish FOM, you can watch Free Speech TV at 9415, and watch the real Convention, as you monitor the Corporate Media bashing of the Democratic Convention, (while trying to make it look like they are being fair in their smug, sarcastic, frat-boy leers and snickers).BuzzFlash Exclusive: Margaret Cho Reacts to Being "Uninvited" to Human Rights Campaign/GLBT Event During Democratic Convention http://www.buzzflash.com/interviews/04/07/int04038.htmlQUICKVOTEWould Teresa Heinz Kerry make a good first lady? 
 
http://www.cnn.com/HLN/
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 12:03:51 PT
Shove It!
Way to go Teresa! EJ I like her style! I'm so bored with the convention coverage so far that I want to put in a music DVD but I'm afraid I'll miss something. The theme as I see it for the DNC so far!I love you, you love me and that's the way it's gonna be! LOL!
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Comment #5 posted by E_Johnson on July 26, 2004 at 11:50:51 PT
There's a new theme now
I think it's being called "shove it".
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Comment #4 posted by Robbie on July 26, 2004 at 09:56:43 PT
Sorry Kapt
The theme of this year's convention is "be happy!" Dems don't want anyone "upset" at all. They want everyone to be happy and positive and full of political cheer. No negativity, no attacks on those who initiated horrendous programs, NO talk about Iraq.Everyone is (supposed to be) happy.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 09:43:42 PT
Teresa Kerry
I just wanted to say I enjoyed watching the interview on MSNBC last night with Teresa Kerry. She reminds me of a person who will listen to what people say to her. She is outspoken. She's what I call sassy. Sassy's a good thing in my mind. She seems like a free spirit. John Kerry is very reserved but having a wife like Teresa might give him a push or two. I can hope.
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Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on July 26, 2004 at 08:44:11 PT:
Like a Slinkie-toy
Almost everybody has played with a version of it: you pull it, the spring expands, then contracts, pulling the rest of the contraption forward.That's what's happened in America. The country has surged ahead, pulling in a progressive direction; the pols are like the arse end of the Slinkie that hasn't caught up yet.And they better have, and fast. This is no time for soft, fluffy little speeches. For, as the old saying goes, "When the People lead, the leaders follow." This is no time to be hesitant. Ms. McCarthy is quite right in her hopes that 'real people' would take the podium, to let both the opposition and the Dem leadership know JUST HOW ANGRY Americans really are. 
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 08:26:24 PT
I Want To Hear This Too!
I want to hear from cancer patients who are legally barred from getting medical marijuana.
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