cannabisnews.com: Impeachment Figure in Line for DEA Post Impeachment Figure in Line for DEA Post Posted by FoM on May 09, 2001 at 07:22:11 PT By James Risen Source: New York Times President Bush is expected to name Representative Asa Hutchinson, an Arkansas Republican with a long interest in drug issues, as the new head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, officials said. Mr. Hutchinson, 50, who was one of the House managers in the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, is a former United States attorney in Arkansas who once prosecuted Mr. Clinton's brother, Roger, on drug charges.Mr. Hutchinson's appointment has not been announced by the White House, but officials said it was expected soon. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Hutchinson would succeed the acting agency head, Donnie R. Marshall. Mr. Hutchinson, who had been rumored to be in the running for other senior positions in the Justice Department as well, would be leaving what appears to be a relatively safe Republican Congressional seat for the new post.The appointment of Mr. Hutchinson, whose brother, Tim, represents Arkansas in the Senate, would create a vacancy in the House that would be filled by special election. Republicans say they are not worried that the contest in the state's Third Congressional District would shrink their five-seat majority in the House."This is a district that Bill Clinton lost in Arkansas in '96, and Bush carried it comfortably," said Representative Thomas M. Davis, the Virginia Republican who heads the National Republican Congressional Committee. "This is a pretty good mountain Republican seat. I think we are going to be fine. It has been a Republican seat for 36 years without interruption."Mr. Hutchinson would be joining the Drug Enforcement Administration in the middle of a renewed national debate over the future of the nation's drug policy and how best to balance efforts to block drug trafficking with efforts to prevent drug use.Critics argue that the United States has spent far too much on efforts to block drugs in Latin America and on law enforcement efforts in this country, while failing to provide sufficient money to help treat drug abusers.The mistaken downing of a small plane carrying a missionary family in Peru last month has intensified the debate over whether the United States has over-emphasized interdiction and investigation rather than prevention. The plane was shot down by a Peruvian fighter plane involved in an antidrug program supported by the United States.The expected appointment of Mr. Hutchinson follows President Bush's decision to name John P. Walters, a conservative who was critical of the Clinton administration's counternarcotics efforts, to be the nation's drug czar.Mr. Hutchinson declined to confirm today that he had been selected to run the agency."There has been much speculation about my leaving Congress to accept a position in the administration," Mr. Hutchinson said in a statement. "While I have been in discussions with the White House about the position of D.E.A. administrator, an announcement of the intent to nominate can be made only by the president." In Congress, Mr. Hutchinson, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, has shown an interest in drug issues, an aide to Mr. Hutchinson said.Last year, he sponsored legislation to provide federal money to help reimburse local police forces for their efforts against methamphetamine laboratories, the aide said. Advocates of treating the narcotics problem as more of a public health issue now see the new team that Mr. Bush is putting together as representing a fairly traditional law- and-order perspective on the drug war. "It generally looks like more of the same," said Kevin Zeese, president of Common Sense for Drug Policy. Complete Title: Impeachment Figure in Line for Drug Enforcement PostSource: New York Times (NY)Author: James RisenPublished: May 9, 2001Copyright: 2001 The New York Times CompanyContact: letters nytimes.comWebsite: http://www.nytimes.com/Forum: http://forums.nytimes.com/comment/Related Article & Web Site:Common Sense for Drug Policyhttp://www.csdp.org/Republican Congressman To Head Drug Agency http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9635.shtmlCannabisNews DEA Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/DEA.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Dan B on May 09, 2001 at 14:11:21 PT: I'm there, Dude! Nothing short of death will stop me from continuing my part in the fight against drug war tyranny. You have my word, Dr. Russo, I won't let a few letters after my name distract me from this important work.But, I will admit, I am taking a break for today. Sometimes, a bit of recuperation is in order.Best to you.Dan B. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dddd on May 09, 2001 at 07:58:47 PT 62 percent? Beware the polls Ethan.The 62% of the sheeples,are not necessarily froma poll that includes the entire flock."Poll results",can be drummed up,fabricated,manipulated,and twisted from the same source Barry McCaffrey obtains his"statistics" from......none the less,,Vancouver is indeed a beautiful city...We will keep on keepin' on..................Peace....................dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on May 09, 2001 at 07:44:33 PT: The Developing Triumvirate Ashcroft, Walters, Hutchinson. These are not new voices. These are not reformers. These are not people with new ideas. These are white males with old concepts that have proven repugnant to most Americans and the world at large. It seems to me that this administration becomes less responsive to the people by the day. Autocracy rules. The hard line prevails. Yet, 62% of the sheeple seem to like it. I'm hearing that tune in my head again--- is that you calling, Vancouver? I hope that loyal troops of cannabisnews.com (including the newly minted Dr. Dan B!) will continue the campaign of letters and activism that will force the administration to come to grips with a reality that all but they acknowledge: THE WAR ON DRUGS IS A MISERABLE FAILURE. FREE CANNABIS. LEGALIZE, TAX & REGULATE! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: