Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

SOROS' $$ TOPPLES DA IN WAR OVER DRUGS (This Is Gettin' Scary)
New York Post ^ | September 16, 2004 | KENNETH LOVETT

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 ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: buyingelections; campaignfinance; drugwar; leroywouldbeproud; soros; wod; wodlist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 281-300301-320321-340 ... 501-514 next last
To: Know your rights
Which substances do you think fall into the latter category?

Most of them are already. Explosives. Radioactive material. Medicines. Tobacco, etc.

301 posted on 09/16/2004 12:41:40 PM PDT by wideawake (God bless our brave soldiers and their Commander in Chief)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 298 | View Replies]

To: MPJackal
It does not affect that person only. It affects family, friends, the medical community, the tax payers that will have to pay for some of the resulting health issues.

Ah, the argument for seatbelt and helmet laws rises its head in another form!

302 posted on 09/16/2004 12:42:44 PM PDT by green iguana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 296 | View Replies]

To: MPJackal
It does not affect that person only.

If "affect" is the test for legitimacy of government intervention, kiss liberty goodbye; my choice of which brand of bread to buy "affects" others.

303 posted on 09/16/2004 12:44:12 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 296 | View Replies]

To: Know your rights

Cheer up, citizen! The borg will accept you.


304 posted on 09/16/2004 12:45:53 PM PDT by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 303 | View Replies]

To: robertpaulsen; wideawake
Legal marijuana at the "coffee" shops in Amsterdam is about the same price as illegal marijuana in the U.S.

Legal medical marijuana in Canada (really horrible stuff) is about the same price as illegal marijuana in the U.S.

Legal medical marijuana in California ... need I go on?

All "legal" marijuanas you mention are subject to far more stringent government restrictions than apply to alcohol or are being advocated here for marijuana.

305 posted on 09/16/2004 12:47:09 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 299 | View Replies]

To: MPJackal; Know your rights
"King K.Y. Rights has declared this law illegitimate."

Oh, nice one. King K-Y. Well, he is slippery, so I suppose it fits.


306 posted on 09/16/2004 12:47:44 PM PDT by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 268 | View Replies]

To: wideawake
Which substances do you think fall into the latter category?

Explosives. Radioactive material. Medicines. Tobacco, etc.

Marijuana?

307 posted on 09/16/2004 12:48:36 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 301 | View Replies]

To: robertpaulsen
But, the courts have ruled that IF Congress is regulating interstate commerce, and IF intrastate commerce has a substantial effect on their regulatory efforts, THEN AND ONLY THEN may Congress regulate the intrastate trade.

Apparently the courts you're referencing edited out the first part of Jefferson's comments, just as you have done, in order to make that determination, if they considered them at all. It's called "selective omission", and falls squarely into the realm of intellectual dishonesty.

308 posted on 09/16/2004 12:49:20 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 293 | View Replies]

To: robertpaulsen; MPJackal
LOL! Actually, KY has brought much pleasure into my life (chivalry prevents me from going into details).
309 posted on 09/16/2004 12:50:56 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 306 | View Replies]

To: Know your rights
Marijuana?

Sure. Like alcohol, I wouldn't want someone driving under the influence of cannabis, or operating heavy machinery while on cannabis, or any number of things.

it should definitely be regulated.

I have no problem with it being illegal, it's just that I think legalizing crack and crank would be even worse than legalizing cannabis.

310 posted on 09/16/2004 12:51:06 PM PDT by wideawake (God bless our brave soldiers and their Commander in Chief)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 307 | View Replies]

To: robertpaulsen
Well, we're not really banning recreational drugs -- we're just making the possession and/or sales of them illegal. And that is working just fine.

Anyone who wants to get illegal drugs can get them. Swiftly and easily. Drug usage is way up since the WOD started. The jails are full of people who want to feel better. The country is coming apart at the seams.

It's working just fine.

311 posted on 09/16/2004 12:52:27 PM PDT by Protagoras (Free speech is fundamental to a free society)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 288 | View Replies]

To: wideawake
Like alcohol, I wouldn't want someone driving under the influence of cannabis, or operating heavy machinery while on cannabis, or any number of things.

it should definitely be regulated.

But, like alcohol, otherwise legal (for adults), right?

312 posted on 09/16/2004 12:54:17 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 310 | View Replies]

To: Know your rights
But, like alcohol, otherwise legal (for adults), right?

Maybe. But it is unlike alcohol in one respect - almost no one smokes cannabis because they just enjoy the taste of it. They smoke it solely to get high.

As I've pointed out, it's not fair to prevent me from enjoying a cool lager with my cheesesteak just because some bum wants to get ripped on Everclear. That doesn't precisely analogize with cannabis.

When I drink an alcoholic beverage I may choose something with less alcohol content or more, depending on what flavor or taste I want. People who smoke cannabis will always choose the stuff with the most THC.

313 posted on 09/16/2004 1:00:43 PM PDT by wideawake (God bless our brave soldiers and their Commander in Chief)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 312 | View Replies]

To: Protagoras

Am

NOT

for doing away with FREE SPEECH in principle.

I do wonder if we need to refine the definitions or parameters of it somewhat. I realize that's a slippery slope.

So is the one of pretending all Free speech is not dangerous to our survival.

YES, CFR is hideous. Soros is probably a favorite bed partner of all of them, at least philosophically.

But our founding fathers realized that a society which forsake the founding beliefs--essentially Judeo-Christian beliefs--which ceased to be MOSTLY good--would cease to exist.

Soros is DILIGENTLY, ENERGETICALLY--WITH GREAT POWER setting about to shred the foundations of our culture even more than they already are.


314 posted on 09/16/2004 1:06:01 PM PDT by Quix (PLEASE EMAIL ZELL MILLER AND OTHERS INSISTING HE SPEAK OUT LOTS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 228 | View Replies]

To: wideawake
almost no one smokes cannabis because they just enjoy the taste of it. They smoke it solely to get high.

Not many people drink alcohol solely for the taste, and many post smokers seek no stronger a buzz than what two beers provides. The line here is much more blurred than what you seem to think.

315 posted on 09/16/2004 1:09:33 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 313 | View Replies]

To: wideawake
When I drink an alcoholic beverage I may choose something with less alcohol content or more, depending on what flavor or taste I want.

So you have never been high? Or mellow? Or relaxed? Or had a buzz from any of your drinking? You only have had a drink for the taste? Can't you find a taste you like without any alcohol in it?

316 posted on 09/16/2004 1:10:39 PM PDT by Protagoras (Free speech is fundamental to a free society)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 313 | View Replies]

To: wideawake

post smokers --> pot smokers


317 posted on 09/16/2004 1:11:55 PM PDT by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 315 | View Replies]

To: wideawake
When I drink an alcoholic beverage I may choose something with less alcohol content or more, depending on what flavor or taste I want. People who smoke cannabis will always choose the stuff with the most THC.

The implication you seem to be making is that when you drink, you always drink the same amount, and adjust your alcohol intake by the alcohol content of the beverage. I don't think anyone's buying it.

318 posted on 09/16/2004 1:14:08 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 313 | View Replies]

To: getsoutalive
"Well, first of all, it sounds to me like price fixing, which i don't believe is a legitimate govt. function."

Certainly, one could argue that the government should not be interfering with the free market. But, that's a whole different argument.

"Their deal may have been with farmers of wheat, corn, tomatoes, peppers, or whatever else, but that should certainly have no bearing on my backyard garden."

You're starting to slide off the issue. The issue was limited to the wheat farmers, since not too many non-farmers grow their own wheat.

"But no, I don't believe that growing a little extra for personal use would have any discernable effect on market pricing on a national level."

OK. You are entitled to your opinion.

The USSC, however, felt that the cumulative effect of farmers growing their own would have a substantial effect on the demand for wheat. I happen to agree.

WICKARD v. FILBURN, 317 U.S. 111 (1942) is a landmark case which defines when Congress may regulate intrastate commerce.

"That appellee's own contribution to the demand for wheat may be trivial by itself is not enough to remove him from the scope of federal regulation where, as here, his contribution, taken together with that of many others similarly situated, is far from trivial."

Oh by the way, the court also commented on "price fixing". FYI:

"It is well established by decisions of this Court that the power to regulate commerce includes the power to regulate the prices at which commodities in that commerce are dealt in and practices affecting such prices."

319 posted on 09/16/2004 1:14:22 PM PDT by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 270 | View Replies]

To: Protagoras
So you have never been high?

The only high-inducing substance I've ever partaken in is alcohol. I've been drunk a few times, mostly when I was an amateur drinker.

Or mellow? Or relaxed?

You don't need drugs to feel either mellow or relaxed.

Or had a buzz from any of your drinking? You only have had a drink for the taste?

In the past, certainly. Now I drink only for the taste. As a husband and father I don't think it's a good idea to put myself in a condition where I cannot trust myself to drive, in case my family needs me.

Can't you find a taste you like without any alcohol in it?

Sure I can. I just think that some wines or beers are the best things to accompany certain foods.

320 posted on 09/16/2004 1:15:44 PM PDT by wideawake (God bless our brave soldiers and their Commander in Chief)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 316 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 281-300301-320321-340 ... 501-514 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson