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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
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To: ex 98C MI Dude
Under your scenario, that would be illegal.

Again, I said nothing of the kind.

I merely pointed out that people's motivations for drinking alcohol are highly varied, while only a tiny minority, if any, of cannabis users enjoy cannabis without getting high.

341 posted on 09/16/2004 2:00:08 PM PDT by wideawake (God bless our brave soldiers and their Commander in Chief)
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To: tacticalogic
"edited out the first part of Jefferson's comments"

What first part -- about banks? What are you talking about?

Congress is not allowed to regulate strictly intrastate commerce. You cannot give me one example where they are. It is a non-issue. Let it go.

342 posted on 09/16/2004 2:03:16 PM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: wideawake

Well taste is a pretty subjective thing. I still don't think you'll have much luck convincing people that alcohol drinkers don't care about the buzz. If someone invented an alcohol substitute that tasted exactly the same, but didn't provide the "buzz", I seriously doubt we'd see a wholsale shutdown of breweries and distilleries.


343 posted on 09/16/2004 2:03:24 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: robertpaulsen
What first part -- about banks? What are you talking about?

The part that says it would be void because it would also regulate intrastate commerce. The part that says the exact opposite of what you're trying to tell me. The part you don't want to consider.

344 posted on 09/16/2004 2:06:07 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: wideawake

"I merely pointed out that people's motivations for drinking alcohol are highly varied, while only a tiny minority, if any, of cannabis users enjoy cannabis without getting high."

My question to you is this:

What makes their motivations for doing to themselves what they want YOUR business?

I used to smoke cigarettes. The nicotine in the cigarette had a calming effect, especially when I was angry. Was it your business that I smoked heavily in my home office? No. You are applying your own personal standards to what everyone else should be like. That is a big no-no in this country. You can't legislate morality, no matter how hard you try.


345 posted on 09/16/2004 2:07:47 PM PDT by ex 98C MI Dude (Proud Member of the Reagan Republicans)
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To: getsoutalive
"Does the Interstate Commerce Clause (which you changed to the powers of the several states) enable FEDGOV to regulate what I grow and consume in my backyard?"

I have no idea.

Are they regulating this mystery substance now at the interstate level? Are exceptions made for small growers, like yourself? Are you an active participant in a federal government program involving this mystery substance? Are you receiving a federal grant to grow this mystery substance?

How am I supposed to answer your question?

346 posted on 09/16/2004 2:14:20 PM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: robertpaulsen
Congress is not allowed to regulate strictly intrastate commerce. You cannot give me one example where they are. It is a non-issue. Let it go.

Not the issue, and you know it. For someone who wanted an "honest debate" you don't seem to be very interested in having one.

347 posted on 09/16/2004 2:19:04 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: wideawake
I merely pointed out that people's motivations for drinking alcohol are highly varied, while only a tiny minority, if any, of cannabis users enjoy cannabis without getting high.

Historically, people's motivations for raising hemp have been highly varied, too. I don't see any substantial point in the argument.

348 posted on 09/16/2004 2:21:44 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: robertpaulsen; wideawake
In that case, the government gets squat in [cigarette] revenue (Result? Raise the tax!). The smugglers make out.

Which is different from the current situation w.r.t. illegal drugs how? It seems all you've shown is that if drug legalization is handled as poorly as possible, we'll be no better or worse off than with drug criminalization.

Of course, we have your iron-clad assurance that this won't happen with drugs.

Where did I say that? You wouldn't be lying, would you?

349 posted on 09/16/2004 2:23:54 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.)
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To: robertpaulsen
Well, we're not really banning recreational drugs -- we're just making the possession and/or sales of them illegal.

In what way does that differ from a ban?

By how one judges success.

So how do you propose to judge the success of making the possession and/or sales of some drugs illegal? Is there any evidence that fewer people possess or sell them as a result of these laws?

350 posted on 09/16/2004 2:26:20 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.)
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To: Know your rights
"Which is different from the current situation w.r.t. illegal drugs how?"

I mentioned it to negate your claim that "money that used to go into criminals' hands now goes to the occasionally useful work of the government."

It wouldn't -- therefore your reason to legalize is a non-starter.

351 posted on 09/16/2004 2:30:29 PM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: wideawake
people's motivations for drinking alcohol are highly varied, while only a tiny minority, if any, of cannabis users enjoy cannabis without getting high.

So that small minority of drinkers who drink only for taste ... they're the only reason not to ban alcohol? Nobody has the natural God-given right to get so much as a mild buzz free of government interference?

352 posted on 09/16/2004 2:34:32 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.)
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To: robertpaulsen
"Does the Interstate Commerce Clause (which you changed to the powers of the several states) enable FEDGOV to regulate what I grow and consume in my backyard?"

I have no idea.

Are they regulating this mystery substance now at the interstate level? Are exceptions made for small growers, like yourself? Are you an active participant in a federal government program involving this mystery substance? Are you receiving a federal grant to grow this mystery substance?

How am I supposed to answer your question?

Figured as much. Do you honestly believe that the framers would have had such a hard time answering such a simple question? I seriously doubt they would.

353 posted on 09/16/2004 2:34:56 PM PDT by getsoutalive
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To: robertpaulsen
I mentioned it to negate your claim that "money that used to go into criminals' hands now goes to the occasionally useful work of the government."

It wouldn't

It might possibly not; that falls short of negating my claim.

354 posted on 09/16/2004 2:35:45 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.)
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To: robertpaulsen
I mentioned it to negate your claim that "money that used to go into criminals' hands now goes to the occasionally useful work of the government."

So it's your claim that NYC currently derives no revenue from the cigarette tax?

355 posted on 09/16/2004 2:37:49 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.)
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Comment #356 Removed by Moderator

To: Know your rights

"LOL! Actually, KY has brought much pleasure into my life (chivalry prevents me from going into details)."

KY? Gays why! Sorry, that struck me as funny. You think I can pitch it to the KY folk as an advertising slogan? Are they Johnson and Johnson? Thats kinda funny too it true....Johnson X 2=KY. OK, back to the issues.


357 posted on 09/16/2004 2:57:39 PM PDT by MPJackal ("If you are not with us, you are against us.")
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To: MPJackal
KY? Gays why!

Works for us straights, too.

358 posted on 09/16/2004 2:58:53 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.)
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To: getsoutalive
"Do you honestly believe that the framers would have had such a hard time answering such a simple question?"

You betcha.

That's why they only offered the constitution as a framework.

359 posted on 09/16/2004 3:10:34 PM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: Know your rights

Less than yesterday. More than tomorrow.


360 posted on 09/16/2004 3:11:32 PM PDT by robertpaulsen
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