Pat Robertson says legalize marijuana

Local theocrat Pat Robertson, who supports stoning UFO enthusiasts to death, came out yesterday in favor of marijuana decriminalization. “I just believe criminalizing the possession of just a few ounces of pot, … [is] ruining young people,” Robertson said by way of finally explaining what he meant in 1986 when he called for a “godly fumigation.”

PatRob. (Pic | wizbangpop.com)

You can argue that the comments of a raving lunatic don’t matter, but today for once I hope his words serve as a bellwether. That is, if someone as far-right as Pat Robertson can publicly support decriminalization, then perhaps we’ve entered a political climate in which anyone can.

The conventional wisdom has long been that supporting legalization is political suicide, especially in a conservative state like Virginia. One imagines, however, that plenty of officeholders secretly favor it. Our last three presidents have smoked marijuana. As for harder drugs, George Bush never really denied using cocaine, and Barack Obama admits in Dreams From My Father to having done so.

It seems hypocritical, if not downright morally depraved, for lawmakers to preside over a justice system that imprisons people for harmlessly breaking laws that the politicians themselves have flouted with impunity. So Pat Robertson, if you move us closer to a sane conversation about marijuana laws, I’ll forgive you for blaming hurricanes on me.

Then again, I don’t want to set an untenable precedent; to be honest it’s going to take more atoning from you before we’re square. Did it feel good when you spoke rationally? I’m guessing it did. Being rational feels good! From the first time I tried it, I liked how it felt, Pat. So if you want to let yesterday’s comments function as a sort of gateway drug, here’s how.

First, go on TV and tell us you didn’t mean American slavery was the fault of Islam. Just say your views have evolved. Announce that wives shouldn’t really submit to abusive husbands. As for AIDS being a useful tool for the gay agenda, well, you see the pattern. Feel relaxed yet? Even mildly euphoric? Ready to try harder stuff? Then tell us you’re sorry you befriended Mobutu Sese Seko and Charles Taylor.

We think this may be pot, but since no one associated with AltDaily has ever smoked it, we can't be sure.

My use of direct address assumes Pat Robertson reads AltDaily. His comments about marijuana are evidence that I’m right, but if anyone can offer proof to the contrary, please provide it.

Montana jury pool stages ‘mutiny’ over pot possession charge

On a related note, a Missoula prosecutor “was forced to reach a plea agreement in a felony drug case after almost all 27 members of the jury pool said they would not convict the suspect for possessing such a small amount of marijuana.” The judge in the case said, “I think it’s going to become increasingly difficult to seat a jury in marijuana cases.”

Jury nullification, which is what happens when “a jury disregard[s] either the evidence presented or the instructions of the judge in order to reach a verdict based upon their own consciences,” may have occurred in up to half of Prohibition-era liquor-law cases. In other words, juries saw that defendants were guilty of breaking the law, but they believed the law unjust and voted to acquit. This probably helped lead to repeal.

Many readers who support decriminalization are eligible for jury duty in Hampton Roads, including, I imagine, Pat Robertson. However you feel about jury nullification, it’s legal. And since judges and defense attorneys will never inform a jury that it’s possible, you have to know about it ahead of time.

Some local cities give gift of no jury duty over holidays

This gives Robertson and others plenty of time to read up on jury practices.

Clothing line a point of pride for wounded warriors

Worth reading.

Unless HRT is fixed, Beach wary of light rail

My question to those who say HRT mismanagement means we should abandon light rail in Virginia Beach: if a VDOT audit revealed similar mismanagement, would you demand the cessation of new road construction?

Obama comments at DADT bill signing

I haven’t been following this story—I’ve been sort of busy—but it seems the Senate repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell last weekend.

At a presidential signing ceremony Wednesday, Obama said, “This is done,” concluding some eloquent remarks on the considerable harm the policy has caused. But of course it’s not “done.” Gays in the military won’t be able to come out for months or possibly a year. The policies that will replace DADT are as yet unwritten. Servicemembers who do come out still can be discharged for it. Until Obama, Gates, and others act, the new law only returns us to 1992-era policy, which means also that a future president could possibly still reinstate DADT.

I’m ecstatic that we seem to have reached a Don’t Ask Don’t Tell endgame, and I appreciate the president’s remarks on Wednesday. But there’s no clear sign that DADT discharges, which number near one thousand during his presidency, have stopped. When servicemembers can come out without threat of being discharged, I will happily quit criticizing the administration on this issue, and shift to criticizing it on the Defense of Marriage Act instead.

The secrets TSA keeps

Something to consider while flying: when federal agencies conduct covert tests of TSA airport screenings, “the failure rate approaches 70 percent. Two weeks ago, TSA’s new director said every test gun, bomb part or knife got past screeners at some airports.” Meanwhile Bradley Manning is still being tortured to keep us safe from journalists—or, as Joe Biden calls them, terrorists.

December 25

Tomorrow is the day most people believe is Humphrey Bogart’s birthday, although historians think he was possibly born in the spring.