Countdown to Marijuana Re-Legalization: All hands on deck!

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday May 15, 2010 · 7:26 PM PDT

2010/05/15 · 19:26

Do you consider yourself a member of the reality-based community? Do you value science-based policy? Do you think we need more liberty, not less? Do you object to needlessly enriching organized crime, putting otherwise law-abiding citizens in cages and wasting law enforcement resources on 'crimes' associated with ingestion of a plant that has never actually killed anyone?

If so, we need your help.

The movement to reform our marijuana laws is gaining steam, in spite of our timid elected leader's continued attempts to water down new medical marijuana bills around the nation and to weaken existing laws.

Americans of goodwill in several states are either attempting to get re-legalization measures on the ballot this year or have already succeeded in getting such measures on the ballot. Passing these measures will be proverbial shots heard around the world and will force our government and elected leaders who have buried their heads in the sand to finally deal with this issue.

Poll

32 votes Show Results

I can help get the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act on the November ballot because:

32 votes Vote Now!

I can help get the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act on the November ballot because:

I am an Oregonian and will sign/submit my petiton or have already done so.

8 votes

I am an Oregonian, will submit my petiton AND volunteer

4 votes

I know Oregonians & will encourage them to sign the petition

6 votes

I am a freedom-loving American who will do SOMETHING to help out (tell how in the comments!)

12 votes

Dems Abroad passes sweeping Marijuana resolution at DC Meeting

YoyogiBear

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday May 06, 2009 · 10:57 AM PDT

2009/05/06 · 10:57

Democrats Abroad (DA) is the overseas branch of the Democratic Party. We're considered one of the 56 'state' parties by the DNC and are one of the 6 non-state 'states' (along with Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.). Our members live around the world and come from every US state.

We held our annual global meeting recently (April 24 ~ 26) in Washington DC and, in addition to doing things like our DC doorknock and sharing ideas for increasing voter turnout among Americans overseas in 2010, we considered a number of resolutions, including one (text below), calling for the regulation of marijuana and for treating it in the same manner we treat alcohol.

It was, as you can imagine, a somewhat controversial resolution but I'm proud to say that our members tackled the issue head-on and passed the resolution without modification fairly easily in the end. If you think the so-called 'war' on marijuana should be scrapped and would like to confront this issue in your own state party, read on.

Poll

61 votes Show Results

Marijuana taxation & regulation: Bi-partisan issue? (please explain in comments!)

61 votes Vote Now!

Marijuana taxation & regulation: Bi-partisan issue? (please explain in comments!)

Yes

57 votes

2 votes

Other

0 votes

Marijuana: Why decriminalization alone won't work

YoyogiBear

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday February 27, 2009 · 1:04 AM PST

2009/02/27 · 01:04

As many of you already know, a bill was finally introduced in California recently - by a Democrat, no less - calling for the full legalization of marijuana. This is great news for Californians, freedom lovers, and consumers. Frankly my only disappointment is that this common sense legislation wasn't introduced in Oregon (my home state) by a ballsy politician.

I think most progressives are practical and open-minded about this issue, but I fear that their embrace of 'decriminalization' is poorly thought out and in fact a great disservice to a movement that they'd actually support. I'm not sure why the notion of 'decriminalization' is many people's (not just Democrats) preferred way of describing their position on marijuana usage. I suspect it's because they are afraid of being laughed at or considered a 'dirty hippy'. Well take off your marijuana discussion training wheels because it's time to stop being mealymouthed about this issue and discuss just like we discuss alcohol or cigarettes!

Follow me past the jump to find out why 'decriminalization' is probably not what you think it is and why you should in fact be supporting - and talking about - full legalization.

Poll

294 votes Show Results

Marijuana:

294 votes Vote Now!

Marijuana:

Legalize, tax, regulate

277 votes

Decriminalize

2 votes

Status Quo: I'm an eternal fence-sitter and don't mind wasting billions of $ and 10,000's of lives every year

2 votes

Hell no! I even think we should prohibit alcohol again because it worked so well the first time!

11 votes

Latin American leaders declare 'Drug War' failure: Duh! (w/poll)

YoyogiBear

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday February 11, 2009 · 9:59 PM PST

2009/02/11 · 21:59

Now that the election is over, I for one have been enjoying the fact that I have been able to spend time on actual issues. I have been calling my reps about various things like Universal Health Care (I'll be joining the national call-in in support of HR 676 on 2/12), prosecuting bush Administration criminality, ending the rudderless wars, etc.

One issue that really gets under my skin though is the 40 year 'War on Drugs' (tm) I believe the American people are far ahead of their elected leaders in Washington (and in their states for that matter) on the issue of drug use, legalization, etc. and I think it's time for all people of good will to get on the goddamn horn to demand that their representatives stop throwing good money after bad in their quest to 'win' the endless 'war on drugs'.

I just read over at the Wall Street Journal (head on over and comment!) that 3 former Latin American heads of state have blasted the U.S.-led drug war as a failure that is 'pushing Latin American societies to the breaking point.'

Poll

88 votes Show Results

Drugs should be:

88 votes Vote Now!

Drugs should be:

Outlawed! Let's keep doing what we've been doing!

0 votes

Decriminalized

6 votes

Decriminalized (cannabis only)

6 votes

Legalized (cannabis only)

27 votes

Legalized (I'm sick of wasting my money/freedom on this 'drug war')

46 votes

I'm too timid to get off the fence (like most of our elected leaders) and would rather bury my head in the sand

1 vote

Rotary Exchange Students Gunned Down in Portland, OR

YoyogiBear

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday January 26, 2009 · 10:57 AM PST

2009/01/26 · 10:57

This isn't really political as DKos goes, but it's a tragedy wrapped inside of a national embarrasment.

In Portland, Oregon, my hometown, which is currently embroiled in a semi-major scandal between the mayor and a barely of-age young man, two Rotary exchange students (one fromn Peru, one from Clackamas, Oregon - my hometown) were gunned down outside an underage club by a psycho dumbass.

I was an exchange student in the same Rotary district (5100) to the Philippines (Lucena City) from 1987~1988 and it was a highlight of my life. The Rotary people in Oregon and the Philippines were top-notch and really cared for the kids so I feel especially devastated that the kids - who they try their best to protect - were killed in my own hometown.

YoyogiBear

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday September 08, 2008 · 3:51 AM PDT

2008/09/08 · 03:51

NOTE: Sept. 20 is considered to be the last day for Overseas Americans to request their ballots for the election. This should allow enough time for the ballot request to arrive at a voter’s local election office & to follow up with them (highly recommended!) to ensure they are registered. Overseas Americans can request their ballot at http://www.VoteFromAbroad.org

Democrats Abroad (DA), a ‘state’ committee within the DNC, continues to engage in GOTV efforts around the world in preparation for the Nov. election. In Japan, we have a final flurry GOTV events & I wanted to share them with those of you who are working to elect Barack Obama and downticket Democrats.

DA is the Democratic Party organization for the estimated 6 million Americans living outside of the US. We have 8 delegates and we held our first 'Global Primary' from Feb. 5 ~ Feb. 12, 2008, which Obama won with 66% of the vote. In the general election, our members vote thru their home state. Our members come from every state, an important point I’d like to return to later. Howard Dean helped us hire our first ever Executive Director who works at the DNC in D.C. & she helps coordinate our activities.

YoyogiBear

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday August 20, 2008 · 9:04 AM PDT

2008/08/20 · 09:04

I know I'm not a famous blogger here at Daily Kos and my comments tend to garner only a smattering of recommends. This diary is probably going to come across as whiney and I know that many readers DO give money to progressive candidates so I am not intentionally criticizing those people nor do I mean to criticize those who don't have money to spare but who dedicate themselves to electing Democrats thru activism.

I have been reading and posting here since about 2005. I am not a wealthy person & the past year has been difficult for me. but when the Front pagers & other posters here at Kos put out a call for contributions to their candidates, I try to help out. Sometimes the amounts are small, but I do what I can because we need more progressives in Congress.

Yesterday, I decided to put out my own request for contributions for a progressive US Senate candidate, Jeff Merkley (OR-Sen), in what is considered one of the top Senate races in the country. I offered & am offering to match contributions totalling up to $1,000 to people who contribute thru my Actblue page: http://www.actblue.com/... . Guess how many people stepped up to the plate?

Poll

14 votes Show Results

In this cycle, I have given

14 votes Vote Now!

In this cycle, I have given

More than 5 hours a week

0 votes

More than 10 hours a week

0 votes

More than 20 hours a week

0 votes

More than 30 hours a week

0 votes

More than $100

0 votes

More than $500

0 votes

More than $1000

2 votes

More than $2000

1 vote

Some combination of the above (low end)

4 votes

Some combination of the above (mid-range)

4 votes

Some combination of the above (high end)

1 vote

Electing a Progressive Senator (OR); Double your impact! Remove Bush 'yes-man'

YoyogiBear

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday August 19, 2008 · 5:40 PM PDT

2008/08/19 · 17:40

Are you interested in putting more *progressives* in the US Senate in the upcoming election? Would you like to double your impact thru a matching contribution? If so, read on!

For the past 12 years, Oregonians have been cursed with a do-nothing Republican Senator who currently polls at under 50% approval. His name is Gordon Smith and his list of legislative accomplishments in the US Senate is as meager as his committment to George bush is great.

Following the Democratic landslide of '06, Smith furiously tried to create the appearance of distance between himself and the Bush administration without actually distancing himself in a meaningful way. He's a pretend 'independent' Republican Senator who 'independently' votes with George Bush approx. 90% of the time. He's sort of like a dumber, more inactive and almost-as-insulting-to-your-intelligence version of Norm Coleman.

YoyogiBear

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday July 14, 2008 · 9:33 PM PDT

2008/07/14 · 21:33

I'm an Oregonian who lives in Japan. I'm flying to NN tomorrow and will arrive in Austin Wednesday night.

One of the reasons I'm looking forward to going to NN is that I'm interested in hooking up with fellow Oregonians and plotting the victory of Democratic US Senate candidate Jeff Merkley & the absolute destruction of our anonymous, crap, 'maverick' Senator, Gordon Smith (R-bush 'Yes Man').

I think NN will be very productive if people get in touch with others from their own states and plan to help candidates in their states over the next few months. In that spirit, it would be great if there was a way for people to get in touch with people from their state. Unfortunately, I've seen scant information about how to hook up with such people while in Austin.

Poll

16 votes Show Results

If you're going to NN, do you plan to meet other attendees from your state?

16 votes Vote Now!

If you're going to NN, do you plan to meet other attendees from your state?

Yes, I'm planning but have no idea at this point when/where & am not even sure where to find such information

5 votes

yes, but I have no idea when/where at this point. I do know where such information can be found though (leave the details in the comments!)

4 votes

Not going

4 votes

Gordon Smith (R-OR) is a pretend 'independent', George bush lackey who will be unceremoniously dumped by Oregonians in favor of Jeff Merkley this year

1 vote

Iranian Basketball Team Coming to the US

YoyogiBear

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday July 10, 2008 · 4:33 AM PDT

2008/07/10 · 04:33

Over at MSNBC, there's a neat article up about an upcoming trip to the US - Salt Lake City, no less - by the 2007 FIBA Asia Champion, Iran. I'm sure that wingnuts and other paranoid ninnies will view this as the opening phase of the long awaited 'Islamo-fascist' invasion of the 'Homeland', but I think this is great news and I hope that someone (Hello, NBA?) either broadcasts the games or films them and posts them somewhere.

We need more of this citizen diplomacy, not less. As a two time exchange student to Japan & the Philippines (thank you Rotary!), I can attest to the effectiveness of citizen diplomacy at improving relations between people, even if their respective governments suck.

What I found even more heartening were the comments posted in response to the story (go over and check them out!) There are probably 40 comments at the time I'm writing this and they are overwhelmingly positive. I counted 1 negative (some dumbass compared it to playing against the Nazis before WWII), 1 incoherent response, 1 cautious response and 1 asshole. Among the positive comments, there were even some comments from Iranians, one of whom pointed out there are at least 12 Americans who play professionally in Iran.

Poll

23 votes Show Results

Basketball against the Iranian National Team?

23 votes Vote Now!

Basketball against the Iranian National Team?

Great Idea

14 votes

Greatest Idea

6 votes

No - I'm a cheeto munching wienie who thinks it's the first wave of an 'Islamo-fascist' invasion

3 votes

John McCain: Missing in Action (Same Crap, Older Toilet)

YoyogiBear

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday July 02, 2008 · 4:00 AM PDT

2008/07/02 · 04:00

I subscribe to a mailing list called 'Mega Vote' that is run by, of all people, the American Public Health Association. They send out one mail per week detailing my representative's votes in Congress. It's an excellent way to find out how your Senators & Congressperson vote and I enthusiastically recommend it to everyone.

As I was looking thru it today, I noticed that my useless Senator, the pretend 'independent' Republican, Gordon Smith (R-OR) voted Yes on a Cloture Motion regarding the Medicare Improvements for Patients & Providers Act of 2008, which would have cancelled a scheduled cut in Medicare physician reimbursements. As we've come to expect from the Obstructionist Republicans, the Vote to overcome the Republican filibuster was rejected 58-40 with 2 not voting.

And wouldn't you know it, John McCain was one of two Senators who failed to vote. The other was Ted Kennedy, who, unless I'm mistaken, is still recovering from his surgery.

Poll

34 votes Show Results

John McCain:

34 votes Vote Now!

John McCain:

Great Slacker

5 votes

The Greatest Slacker

3 votes

The Greatest Napper

1 vote

Same Crap, Older Toilet!

25 votes

Events for Progressives in Japan: Drinking Liberally Tokyo; Dems Abroad Japan bbq

YoyogiBear

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday June 17, 2008 · 8:59 PM PDT

2008/06/17 · 20:59

I realize that DKos is not exactly the best forum in which to post announcements. If any of the developers are reading, it sure would be nice to have a calendar on which Kossaks could post event information :-)

Progressives in Japan have a couple of events coming up that are open to anyone who happens to be in the Tokyo area.

Drinking Liberally Tokyo, tomorrow! Please feel free to drop by the Clubhouse sports bar in Shinjuku for our monthly Drinking Liberally event. It's a fun group of people and I can help you request your ballot for the '08 election, if you haven't already requested it (you can request it at the link in my signature).

Poll

9 votes Show Results

Are you a member of Democrats Abroad?

9 votes Vote Now!

Are you a member of Democrats Abroad?

Yes (Please specify your country in the comments)

4 votes

No, but I live overseas and will join (please specify your country)

0 votes

No, I live in the US and work for my local party (please specify state)

5 votes

No, I'm not a joiner (but I need to get off of my duff!)

0 votes

Not American

0 votes

Newer
Older

RSS

Countdown to Marijuana Re-Legalization: All hands on deck!

Dems Abroad passes sweeping Marijuana resolution at DC Meeting

Marijuana: Why decriminalization alone won't work

Latin American leaders declare 'Drug War' failure: Duh! (w/poll)

Rotary Exchange Students Gunned Down in Portland, OR

GOTV: Democrats Abroad Edition (Japan, w/ photos)

How badly do you want to win? OR-Sen

Electing a Progressive Senator (OR); Double your impact! Remove Bush 'yes-man'

Netroots Nation: Meeting people from your state

Iranian Basketball Team Coming to the US

John McCain: Missing in Action (Same Crap, Older Toilet)

Events for Progressives in Japan: Drinking Liberally Tokyo; Dems Abroad Japan bbq