Posted on 09/16/2004 5:04:47 AM PDT by publius1
SOROS' $$ TOPPLES DA IN WAR OVER DRUGS By KENNETH LOVETT Post Correspondent September 16, 2004 -- ALBANY —
In an unusual infusion of big money into local upstate politics, billionaire George Soros poured cash into the Albany County district attorney's race — and engineered a stunning defeat of the incumbent because the DA supports the strict Rockefeller drug laws.
The Soros-founded Drug Policy Alliance Network — which favors repeal of the Rockefeller laws — contributed at least $81,500 to the Working Families Party, which turned around and supported the successful Democratic primary campaign of David Soares.
Trying to become Albany's first black DA, Soares on Tuesday unexpectedly trounced his former boss, incumbent Albany DA Paul Clyne, who has opposed changing the drug laws. The victory was overwhelming: Soares took 62 percent of the Democratic vote.
"This was more than a local race, that's what the [Soros] funding shows," said Assemblyman John McEneny, who supported the challenger's candidacy.
Soros, an international financier and philanthropist who says he is dedicating his life to defeating President Bush, favors legalizing some drugs.
Clyne backers claim that the Working Families Party, using the Soros money, illegally involved itself in the Democratic primary. They charge the Soros cash was used to target Democratic voters with mass mailings and phone calls labeling Clyne as the reason the drug laws were not reformed, as well as highlighting his anti-abortion stance.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
There was no 11th Amendment guaranteeing the right to keep and smoke crack.
The implication is that they do not exist otherwise. You may clear that up if you wish. Just say that no amendment is need for any specific activity, like the ninth amendment explains.
But what can you do about someone that determined to destroy themselves? Prohibited drugs are hardly the only way to go for people who want to do that... not only is all that stuff available anyway, there's also alcohol, prescribed pharmaceuticals, gambling, violence, suicide, homosexuality, and every other sin known to mankind.
The governing regime doesn't work and I resent being taxed for it.
"And eliminate penalties for most drug laws."
Without penalties the laws don't make sense, so if you are going to legalize them, I want my right to have a beer at the beach back !
I was just about to post the same thing. I hate George Soros, the man is a communist scumbag pigdog. But, the Rockefeller drug laws are terrible, and only fill up the courts and prisons with drug users, not even sellers, let alone dangerous criminals committing actual crimes.
Yes, Soros is lower than the scum of the Earth, but that doesn't change the fact that current drug laws in NYS do more harm than good. They've created a huge black market and are the cause of so much of our violent drug crime.
FOLKS! These drug laws are NOT working! Drugs are on our streets, in our schools, the military, and maximum security prisons! There is another answer and we can NOT let the government bully us into believing that merely DISUCUSSING ALTERNATIVES TO THE CURRENT SYSTEM equals total legalization.
THAT IS A LIE, IT IS DANGEROUS GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA!
Still, I wish someone would "pie" Soros like they did to Bill Gates.
Hey, weren't you one of those weeping and gnashing their teeth because John Walters was in Nevada about the time that Nevada was trying to legalize possession of three ounces?
HE'S UNFAIRLY INFLUENCING THE PROPOSAL, was the cry, even though he was just doing his job.
But Soros shoveling some of his personal billions into a Democratic primary election of a state official is just fine with you, huh?
I'm opposed to criminalizing the private use of any drug, or legalizing the public use of any drug.
But Soros shoveling some of his personal billions into a Democratic primary election of a state official is just fine with you, huh?
Can't tell the difference between individuals spending their own money and governments spending taxpayer money, huh? I'm not surprised.
This is true. My family has been touched by tobacco-related emphysema, in point of fact.
I'll compare my case to a family I know whose son was a cocaine addict who died of an overdose.
Although my grandmother died from emphysema at too early an age, her disease did not change her her personality. It did not inspire her to physically assault any family members and it did not humiliate the family in the community.
The other family had a situation where a mother was dragged naked by her hair from a shower into the street in broad daylight by a drug-crazed son who was angry with her for not giving him money for drugs. He was a son who had gone from being a somewhat irresponsible but affectionate kid, to a man who beat and stole from his parents, stole from his parents' neighbors, who repeatedly needed to be bailed out of jail for his violent behavior while coked up and who died at the age of thirty leaving behind a young son and a family which had been physically, financially and emotionally drained, battered and humiliated.
Alcohol addiction also falls into this category.
It does.
As well as gambling addiction.
Not the same. Financial ruin, definitely.
"... or legalizing the public use of any drug."
Starbucks is going to get really upset with you....
It does.
So should alcohol be banned? If not, how is addiction to other drugs an argument for banning those drugs?
The people can be trusted to understand the ideas and to get what they deserve.
The Working Families Party
WFP calls for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. The WFP opposed the war from the beginning.
WFP opposes tax cut proposals of New York City Mayor Bloomberg and Council Speaker Miller. The WFP has consistently called for a fair, progressive tax system that places the burden on those best able to bear it, and raises sufficient revenue for high-quality, universal public services. While the WFP supports targeted tax relief for low-income families.
WFP calls for creation of Industrial Employment Districts
WFP supports full funding for Legal Aid. The Legal Aid Society represents over 300,000 poor and low-income residents of New Yorkers each year
WFP opposes constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. The U.S. Consitution has never been amended to limit equal protection of the law, only to extend it. An amendment prohibiting states from recognizing marriages between gay men and lesbians would, for the first time, enshrine prejudice in our founding document.
******
BACON & EGGS
WORKING FAMILIES BREAKFAST READING
September 16, 2004
Quotes of the Day: "All 'lock-'em-up, throw-away-the-key' DAs should take notice of what just happened to Paul Clyne. There will be consequences for people who advocate inhumane and ineffective laws."
-- Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, commenting on the upset victory of David Soares (D/WFP) in the Democratic primary for Albany County DA (NY Post, 9/16/04)
It's sad - the dopertarians' brains are too clouded to see that DAs picking and choosing the laws they will enforce is yet another step toward tyranny.
You see a problem there? I don't.
Have you never heard of prosecutorial discretion?
Not really. In NYC you can buy an 8oz flask of whiskey and a rock of crack for about the same price.
I would say that there are two factors at work: with alcohol one can keep the high going but getting hammered and then drinking a little more and a little more as you go.
With crack, you take a hit, it wears off rather quickly and you need another hit. The high is much more intense and short-lived.
Another factor - a person can get by at many jobs even if they're somewhat buzzed. It's impossible for all but a very few crack addicts to hold down a job for any length of time.
I do believe this is a scary development. Unlimited cash put to the wrong uses can be devastating. Absolute power ....
Next on the Soros agenda is legallization of marijuana, the drug of choice for the mob to lure kids into more profitable addictions, prostitution, loan sharking, etc.
Meanwhile, he was convicted on financial frauds by France, as I recall.
Soros appears to be intent on using the rules of a free capitalist society to undermine and destroy it. It has to be his communist upbringing, and his revenge on the world.
Yet another socialist splinter group.
And your point?
The Post recently reported that Soros' son, Robert, and his wife, Melissa Schiff Soros, donated $100,000 to state Senate Democrats.
Karenna Gore Schiff (Al Gore's daughter) is married to Dr. Andrew (Drew) Schiff, a managing director at Perseus-Soros BioPharmaceutical Fund, which makes investments--in the $10 million to $50 million range--in the biotechnology sector.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.