Is it time to legalize marijuana?
According to a series of new polls conducted by Rasmussen Reports, CBS News, and Zogby, it’s quite evident that Americans are becoming friendlier to the idea of of legalizing marijuana. So does this mean that we’re going to see the legalization of that mountain cabbage in the next few years?
When looking at this chart from fiverthirtyeight.com, it’s hard to wonder how that wouldn’t be the case:
While the trend is rising, I don’t think that it’s feasible to assume that we will see a nationwide consensus on legalization of marijuana in the next few years. However, I am quite confident that as time goes on, the number of cities, counties, and states passing marijuana-friendly legislation will continue to rise exponentially, which will then lead to the possibility of serious legalization legislation on the federal level.
I think that the quicker the perception of the “typical” marijuana user shifts to a more serious (and political) note, the quicker we’ll see serious legislation moved through the legislature.
So less of:
and more of:
The above song is called “Marijuana” by the Brian Robbins Band.
Strange Congress: Before women got the right to vote in 1920, she was voting as a Member of Congress since 1917
Back when Montana had two congressmen (now Montana only has one At-Large member) Jeannette Rankin, a woman, was on of them.
“I’m No Lady; I’m a Member of Congress” ~Jeannette Rankin
On November 7, 1916 she was elected to the House of Representatives as a Republican from Montana, becoming the first female member of Congress. The Nineteenth Amendment, (which gave women the right to vote everywhere in the United States) was not ratified until 1920; therefore, during Rankin’s first term in Congress (1917-1919), many women throughout the country did not have the right to vote, though they did in her home state of Montana.
Jeannette Rankin was a professional lobbyist for the National American Women Suffrage Association and helped Montana women gain the right to vote in 1914. During the election of 1916 Rankin came in second, winning one of Montana’s at-large seats (the election rules are different today). She trailed the front runner, Democratic Representative John Evans by 7,600 votes, but she topped the next candidate – another Democrat – by 6,000 votes. Rankin had two advantages: her reputation as a suffragist and her politically well-connected brother, Wellington, who financed her campaign.
Rankin’s seat was redistricted and in 1918 after serving one term she decided to run for the Senate and lost. In 1940 she ran again for congress from Montana and won. An ardent pacifist, Rankin was the only Member of Congress to vote against U.S. participation in both World War I and World War II. The war resolution in 1941 passed the House 388-1. Rankin said “As a woman I can’t go to war, and I refuse to send anyone else.”
For more information check out the Office of the Clerk.
This post is part of a weekly series on DCRepublican.com, “Strange Congress,” dedicated to educating Americans about the parts of Congress they may not have learned in school.
How to keep legislators on your side: get them drunk
Now this is something that you don’t see every day. In honor of President George Washington’s 277th birthday’s, members of the Virginia State Senate found a selection of miniature bottles of Whiskey on their desks, complete with a shot glass.
Of course, this wasn’t the act of some Whiskey distiller politician trying to exert a kind gesture to his fellow legislators, no, this gift was courtesy of Historic Mount Vernon and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
Here is the story from WUSA9.com:
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — How better to mark the birthday of George Washington than with a taste of All-American Whiskey? Sunday was Washington’s 277th birthday.
Members of the Virginia Senate found green keepsake boxes left on their desks containing a single 1.7-ounce bottle with a blend of 11 major brands of American whiskeys. Each box, courtesy of Historic Mount Vernon and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, also contained a shot glass.
The labels, as diverse as Tennessee’s Jack Daniel, Missouri’s Platte Valley and home-state Virginia Gentleman, were mingled, vatted, bottled and labeled at Mount Vernon, Washington’s Virginia estate.
Strong drink in Richmond’s corridors of power isn’t new. Presenting it on the Senate floor is rare. Senator Ken Stolle of Virginia Beach said he’s never seen it in his 4 1/2 terms.
I don’t really think this is a big deal, even though they were voting today. But if you look at the minutes from today (February 23rd), you cant help but find this funny:
On motion of Senator Colgan, the Senate adjourned in memory of George Washington and Bishop Levi Willis at 1:26 p.m. to convene Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. and suspended the Rules to allow the Clerk to receive Commending and Memorial Resolutions until 5:00 p.m. (38-Y 0-N). Pursuant to Rule 21 (d)ii, the Clerk was ordered to receive committee reports.
I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure Senator Colgan, and the rest of Senate just wanted to go get their drink on.
Gun ownership could soon cost you $1million
Rep. Kenneth Dunkin (D-Chicago)
If you’re an Illinois resident, you didn’t read that wrong.
Should a bill that was recently introduced by State Representative Kenneth Dunkin, a Chicago Democrat, be passed, all gun owners in the state of Illinois would be required to maintain a liability insurance policy of at least $1,000,000.
Here is the synopsis of this ridiculous piece of legislation from the Illinois General Assembly website:
Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that any person who owns a firearm in this State shall maintain a policy of liability insurance in the amount of at least $1,000,000 specifically covering any damages resulting from negligent or willful acts involving the use of such firearm while it is owned by such person. Provides that a person shall be deemed the owner of a firearm after the firearm is lost or stolen until such loss or theft is reported to the police department or sheriff of the jurisdiction in which the owner resides. Provides that the Department of State Police shall revoke and seize a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card previously issued under this Act if the Department finds that the person to whom such card was issued possesses or acquires a firearm and does not submit evidence to the Department of State Police that he or she has been issued in his or her name a liability insurance policy in the amount of at least $1,000,000 specifically covering any damages resulting from negligent or willful acts involving the use of such firearm while it is owned by such person. Effective January 1, 2010.
While my first instinct is to say that it’s safe to assume that this bill will be killed by the Republicans in the legislature, this is Illinois, so you can never be too sure.
Jon Kyl Invites Geert Wilders to Washington to present Fitna
This is an interesting story that might get buried in everything else that is happening in Washington this week.
It looks like Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) has invited Geert Wilders, the Dutch film maker and politician, to present the film Fitna to the United States Senate later this week.
For those of you unaware with this film, it has stirred up international controversy, as it explores Qur’anic motivations for terrorism in the Netherlands and beyond.
If you have yet to see Fitna, here is some of it:
It should be expected that this will draw some protest in Washington and beyond.
Update: Glad to see this story has recieved a good deal of attention!