A Blue Activist in a Red State

Welcome to LivingSocial

2011-12-09T10:03:00.001-06:00

welcome to LivingSocial! Thanks for becoming a LivingSocial member! Each day, we'll email you with great experiences and values at local restaurants, theaters, spas, and more. You'll love it--we promise. how

Tammera Halphen thinks you should join LivingSocial Deals

2009-12-10T23:32:00.001-06:00

Tammera Halphen thinks you should join LivingSocial Deals A personal message from Tammera Halphen: Hey, have you checked out LivingSocial Daily Deals? I'm already in and this is your invitation to join -- it's free, all you do is click on

Well, It's Been a While

2005-12-02T10:20:00.000-06:00

Well, I know I haven't been posting in a while. I have been without broadband at home for the last several month and that has made postings difficult. I will get in the swing of things when my DSL gets installed on Monday.Lots of things are happening. Tom Delay is up to his eyeballs. Randy "Duke" Cunningham has resigned because of corruption charges and the Bush regime seems to be imploding.

Re: [francesnewton2005] NCADP Conference in Austin Oct. 27 -30, 2005

2005-10-07T12:23:00.000-05:00

Thought you might be interested in this editorial about another death row case - this one in Virginia. http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2005/10/07/opinion/editorial/71edit07deathpenalty.txt Examiner Editorial - No evidence, no execution 07Oct'05 Published: Friday, October 7, 2005 12:06 AM EDT The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the case of Arlington's only

Dealing with Venezuela

2005-08-23T09:37:00.000-05:00

From the Drug War Rant - http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/2005/08/23.html#a1115 Dealing with Venezuela So after Chavez kicked out the DEA from Venezuela (accusing them of spying and running drugs), the U.S. government retaliated ( http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/2005/08/12.html#a1102 ) by revoking Visas and threatening their "rating" with the U.S. Now so-called religious leader Pat Robertson has

Re: Frances Newton

2005-08-19T10:10:00.000-05:00

Dear Rick, I read your Dec. 2, 2004 column, Mock gone, not mockery. - http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/casey/2929494 Please consider running another column on Frances Newton. She is set to be executed in less than a month and having read the circumstances of the case I seriously believe she might be innoncent and that the murderers may be walking around free. Even if

Rolling Stones Threatened with Boycott

2005-08-10T09:26:00.000-05:00

PRESIDENT Bush takes it on the chin in the new Rolling Stones tune "Sweet Neo Con." In the most political song from their upcoming "A Bigger Bang" album, Mick Jagger sings: "You call yourself a Christian, I call you a hypocrite/ You call yourself a patriot. Well, I think your are full of [bleep]!" Jagger tells Newsweek he's not sweating possible repercussions. "I think [Keith Richards] is a bit

Fwd: Jerry Falwell Attacks Christian Alliance as "Hardly Christian"

2005-07-20T10:28:00.000-05:00

I received the email below from the Christian Alliance for Progress. I will post my response when I write it. Dear Tammera: Send us YOUR response to Rev. Jerry Falwell. Read on to find out how and why… On July 8, the Reverend Jerry Falwell sent out an email to the Moral Majority Coalition and the Liberty Alliance attacking the Christian Alliance for Progress. He claims that we are "hardly

Frank Introduces Medical-Marijuana Shield Bill

2005-07-07T11:54:00.000-05:00

Frank Introduces Medical-Marijuana Shield Bill http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summaries/reader/0%2C1854%2C577645%2C00.html 7/7/2005 Doctors and pharmacists who recommend medical marijuana to their patients would be shielded by federal prosecution under a measure introduced in Congress by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.). The Washington Times reported May 5

re: your interesting article

2005-07-06T11:43:00.000-05:00

I read your very interesting article on medical marijuana here - http://www.blacktable.com/kinard050706.htm While I agree with much of your article and won't dispute many of the negative effects of marijuana you site I do take issue with a few of them. I won't take issue with the others either because I don't have details of the studies which you sited but didn't identify or because I don't

[DrugWar] US: Web: Study: Smoking Marijuana Does Not Cause Lung Cancer

2005-07-04T07:31:00.000-05:00

I heard Michael Savage the other day saying that marijuana causes cancerand that it has 200 times more tar than tobacco. I had always heardthat it wasn't necessarily the tar that caused the cancer but the factthat tobacco has radioactive isotopes in it and marijuana does not. -----Original Message-----From: Richard Lake [mailto:rlake@mapinc.org] Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2005 6:26 PMTo: mmjlist@

Court to Revisit Whether "Actual Innocence" Matters

2005-06-29T14:35:00.000-05:00

The Supreme Court has agreed to reconsider a ruling that they made in another case and it's about time. Several years ago, I believe it was in the case of Leonel Torres Herrera the Supreme Court ruled that "actual innocence didn't matter" .In a story in the Washington Post, Paul House of Tennessee is seeking release from death row because of what his appeal to the court calls "powerful new

We've already taken Canada without firing a shot! Is the Annexation of Canada part of Bush's Military Agenda?

2005-06-28T14:14:00.000-05:00

This should be disturbing to Canadians. We have become an empire and we shall surely grow too big for our britches, just like all the other empires before us that came and went as the new citizens of the empire decided they didn't like the empire. SUMMARY For nearly two years now, Ottawa has been quietly negotiating a far-reaching military cooperation agreement, which allows the

Bush Family Name Comes Up in Spitzer Investigation

2005-06-24T11:22:00.000-05:00

Elliot Spitzer is doing good work. If this leads to where it looks like it's going and doesn't get waylaid by Bush's big money lawyers, I guess I'll be gloating. If it leads to Bush Sr., Bush Jr. and Cheney - at the very least (maybe even Jeb and Marvin), I hope they get hauled before court and thrown in Club Fed.WASHINGTON, DC, June 20, 2005 -- Two criminal investigations based in New York are

Action Alert: Cut Military Aid to Colombia!

2005-06-23T06:34:00.000-05:00

Urge members of Congress to create an opening for peace bysupporting an amendment to cut military aid to Colombia. Takeaction now - before the June 27 vote. In 2000 Colombian Mennonite Church leaders wrote a letter toNorth American churches raising awareness of Colombia's internalconflict and the massive U.S. military "aid" package to Colombialegislated that year. Now Ricardo Esquivia, President

Medical Marijuana - Is Jury Nullification the Next Step?

2005-06-22T13:29:00.000-05:00

Perhaps the last defense against intrusive law will finally start to be employed and medical marijuana users will start having juries come back with NOT GUILTY verdicts.Medical MarijuanaIs Jury Nullification the Next Step?By CLAY CONRADSince the June 6 Supreme Court decision in Gonzalez v. Raich, medicalmarijuana supporters have largely determined to focus on lobbyingcongress. While Raich did not

The American people have been had

2005-06-17T20:00:00.000-05:00

The American people have been hadPHILIP GAILEYPublished June 12, 2005The war has taken a dangerous turn - not in Iraq but here at home. It has lost the support of a majority of Americans. According to the latest Washington Post/ABC News Poll, for the first time since the war began a majority of the American public doesn't believe the toppling of Saddam Hussein's regime has made the United States

[Houston NORML] Drugs, Crime and Politics 6/15/05 streaming video

2005-06-16T12:40:00.000-05:00

Here is a link - http://dpft.org/dcp.html to Drugs, Crime and Politics, a TV show that me and my friends film every other Wednesday on Houston MediaSource on Channel 17 on Time Warner in Houston. We've been doing it for several years but we only have a few of the most recent shows on the website. > Interview with Medical Marijuana patient Clay Jones> and Lance Findley of the Bayou City

Mother of dead soldier vilifies Bush over war

2005-06-15T17:18:00.000-05:00

Posted on Tue, Jun. 14, 2005 R E L A T E D C O N T E N T Pablo Alcalá, Staff Cindy Sheehan, left, president of the Gold Star Families for Peace and other touring activists were greeted by supporters after arriving at a rally on the Freedom and Faith tour bus at a lawn on the grounds of the Red Mile track in Lexington, Ky.,Monday, June 13, 2005. Mother of dead soldier vilifies Bush over

Bush for Life: GOP introduces new bill to Congress

2005-06-15T14:43:00.000-05:00

This is now confirming my fears that the Republicans (or some of them) are attempting to kill our democracy and establish one party rule. We need to circulate this far and wide and not let this get a chance to be passed. We need to get this message to everyone far and wide and convince as many people as possible that they have now gone way too far.---------- Forwarded message ----------From: S

The Devolution of American Politics

2005-06-15T12:37:00.000-05:00

Here's something funny for you

US: Poll Finds Opposition to Pot Raids

2005-06-14T10:12:00.000-05:00

Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jun 2005Source: Oakland Tribune, The (CA)Copyright: 2005 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG NewspapersContact: triblet@angnewspapers.comWebsite: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/314Author: Josh Richman, Staff WriterCited: Marijuana Policy Project http://www.mpp.orgCited: Gonzales v. Raich http://www.angeljustice.orgBookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/

Howard Dean Speaks For Me

2005-06-14T10:09:00.000-05:00

Howard Dean Speaks For Me View Current Signatures - Sign the Petition TO ALL SIGNERS: Questionable petition signatures have been and will continue to be deleted. As petition owner, it is my responsiblity to ensure the integrity of this petition. I WILL ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION SO A VALID SIGNATURE MAY END UP BEING DELETED. I WILL DELETE ANY SIGNATURE WITHOUT A

We Love Howard Dean

2005-06-14T08:16:00.000-05:00

What do you think? The Truthout Town Meeting is in progress. Join the debate! Go to Original We Love Howard Dean By John Cory t r u t h o u t | Perspective Friday 10 June 2005 The Bush GOP is a Wal-Mart of five-and-dime ethics, self-enriching corporate sponsored war, imitation morality made in China, and a fresh baker's dozen of half-truths for every occasion.

Survey Says . . . DEMS Are the Values Party

2005-06-13T12:28:00.000-05:00

Survey Says . . . DEMS Are the Values Party By The MavenSection: PoliticsTake that, GOP! A newly released poll "Moral Dilemma: Which Morals?" conducted June 2-5 by Westhill Partners/The Hotline should give pause to those who fear having the Democratic Party push a "values-oriented platform" in upcoming election cycles. "Which political party - (ROTATE) the Democratic Party, or the Republican

A REMEDY OR AN EXCUSE?

2005-06-13T09:32:00.000-05:00

June 13, 2005, 1:02AMA REMEDY OR AN EXCUSE?Medical marijuana supporters see hopeBackers say the call to legalize use by patients grows despite court decreeBy ROBERT CROWECopyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Scooting around the grocery in a motorized wheelchair, Marcia Baker doesn't look like a criminal.But when she gets home to her Fort Bend County subdivision, the 41-year-old former accountant

[infowarsnews] Former DEA Agent: Mexican Commandos Killing In South West US To Protect Bush Drug Cartel

2005-06-10T06:17:00.000-05:00

Shocking but not surprising story from Alex Jones who has a radio show in Austin, Texas and is the producer of the film, "The Road to Tyranny". If you haven't seen it you should.Former DEA Agent: Mexican Commandos Killing In South West US To Protect Bush Drug CartelPrison Planet June 9 2005Retired DEA Agent Celerino "Cele" Castillo III served for 12 years in the

LET STATES DECIDE Medicinal marijuana ruling invites Congress to change law

2005-06-08T06:48:00.000-05:00

LET STATES DECIDEMedicinal marijuana ruling invites Congress to change lawhttp://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/3215657Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle The U.S. Supreme Court Monday ruled 6-3 that sick people who use small amounts of physician-prescribed marijuana to alleviate pain and nausea are subject to federal prosecution. A day later, not much seemed to have changed. Attorneys

COURT'S RULING ON MARIJUANA REEKS OF 'REEFER MADNESS'

2005-06-07T15:31:00.000-05:00

Here's one of probably the first of many very good editorials - I am guessing that most of hte editorials on this issue are going to be on our side. This ruling basically says "let them eat cake - or marinol". COURT'S RULING ON MARIJUANA REEKS OF 'REEFER MADNESS' Diane Monson has suffered for years from degenerative spine disease andpainful muscle spasms. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court told

Stop Supporting the Cops!

2005-06-07T12:03:00.000-05:00

Stop Supporting the Cops!by Michael PeirceA few years ago I was working as a contract software developer at a big insurance company in Atlanta when a young intern came running in, all excited. He was laughing out loud as he told us "someone has blown up a bunch of BATF in Oklahoma!" Cheers broke out and people came rushing out of their cubes to chatter and look for more information. As the

Medical users fair game

2005-06-07T11:58:00.000-05:00

This ruling really irritates me - but it is not the end. For one thing it DOES NOT invalidate the state's medical marijuana bills. These laws still protect patients from arrest by state and local officials. Not only that there is a current rescheduling petition that was submitted to DEA and passed with merit to HHS. Quoting a Drug Policy Forum of Texas-Houston Co-Founder and past President

The Fight to Stop the Patriot Act Expansion Begins Now

2005-06-03T14:27:00.000-05:00

The Fight to Stop the Patriot Act Expansion Begins Now The debate around the Patriot Act is approaching a crucial moment of decision. Will we sit back while the Bush Administration sacrifices our liberty, or will we answer freedom's call and help Congress bring the Patriot Act in line with the Constitution? There are significant flaws in the Patriot Act, flaws that threaten your fundamental

Congress is about to expand the drug war! Don't let them do it!

2005-06-03T13:34:00.000-05:00

Congress is about to expand the drug warFROM: Rob Kampia, executive director, Marijuana Policy ProjectThe Marijuana Policy Project is forwarding you the message below on behalf of DownsizeDC.org.New legislation currently making its way through the House of Representatives poses a grave threat. If passed, H.R. 1528 will force Americans to inform on their friends, family members, or neighbors

Drug War Chronicle, Issue #389

2005-06-03T10:28:00.000-05:00

Drug Reform Coordination Network is a good resource for information on about drug prohibition. I encourage everyone to support one or more drug policy reform organizations with either your money or your time or both. Drug War ChronicleA publication of StoptheDrugWar.orgRaising Awareness of the Consequences of Drug Prohibition Issue #389, 6/3/05 subscribe |

100,000 signatures needed-EXTREMELY IMPORTANT-This could be enormous-shades of Watergate

2005-06-03T07:50:00.000-05:00

I received this email on one of my message groups. I'd also like an answer and an explanation from President Bush. I want to know when it was decided that they were going to invade Iraq and why. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Jun 2, 2005 11:04 PMSubject: [Kucinich-Hou-Core] 100,000 signatures needed-EXTREMELY IMPORTANT-This could be enormous-shades of WatergateTo:

Crime lab faked results in 4 cases, probe finds

2005-06-01T13:20:00.000-05:00

The question I'm wondering is if the crime lab also does the testing for the probation department? Are there people in prison for testing positive for controlled substances based on this crime lab? Even if it isn't, something of note: I have a friend and fellow NORML member who was a guest on our local show "Drugs, Crime and Politics," who was on probation for possession of cocaine - which

Bush's Calvin College surprise

2005-05-31T09:45:00.000-05:00

by Jim Wallis As I've traveled the country this spring - 82 events, 48 cities, and hundreds of media interviews since January - I've witnessed a new movement of moderate and progressive religious voices challenging the monologue of the Religious Right. An extremely narrow and aggressively partisan expression of right-wing Republican religion has controlled the debate on faith and politics in the

Phone companies' TV plan is dead

2005-05-29T19:04:00.000-05:00

Phone companies' TV plan is dead'It's over,' says lawmaker who pushed proposal, and it's a rare defeat for powerful SBC lobby.By Claudia GrisalesAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFFSunday, May 29, 2005 A controversial proposal that would have made it easier for big phone companies to get into the television business died in the Legislature Saturday night after all-night negotiations failed to break an

The Lies that Kill - Why Isn't Bush in the Dock?

2005-05-28T17:30:00.000-05:00

The Lies that KillWhy Isn't Bush in the Dock?By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTSGeorge W. Bush and his gang of neocon warmongers have destroyed America's reputation. It is likely to stay destroyed, because at this point the only way to restore America's reputation would be to impeach and convict President Bush for intentionally deceiving Congress and the American people in order to start a war of aggression

Howard Zinn Against Discouragement / Spelman Commencement

2005-05-27T08:54:00.000-05:00

This was sent to me on the mailing list of Houston Progressive Action Alliance which is a group of people who got together to campaign for Dennis Kucinich but stayed together afterwards to work for progressive causes.Against DiscouragementBy Howard Zinn[In 1963, historian Howard Zinn was fired from Spelman College, where he was chair of the History Department, because of his civil rights

Signs of drug-war shift

2005-05-27T07:21:00.000-05:00

From: Drug Policy Forum of Texas [mailto:DPFT-L@listserv.tamu.edu] On Behalf Of Alan and Nancy BeanSent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 8:49 PMTo: DPFT-L@listserv.tamu.eduSubject: Signs of drug-war shiftFriends:H.M. Baggarly, once upon a time editor of the nationally acclaimed Tulia Herald, told his readers, “We would that the nation had no more racial problems than exist in

NEXT DEM BATTLEFRONT: IRAQ

2005-05-26T09:51:00.000-05:00

http://www.ariannaonline.com/index.phpHere is my latest column. For those wanting more, I -- and dozens ofothers -- are blogging 24/7 athttp://www.huffingtonpost.comCheck it out.Next Dem Battlefront: Iraq (May 25, 2005)Now that the Democrats have won the battle over the nuclear option (or, atleast, come away with a tie), they need to turn their attention to what it's going to take to become more

Maher fires back at congressman with too much free time..

2005-05-26T09:46:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, May 25 2005 @ 01:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time Contributed by: Stranger From over at Arianna's place: First, I had never heard of Congressman Bachus before this. Now lots of people have heard of him. You're welcome, Congressman, glad I could help get your Q rating up. By the way, are we sure he's really a Congressman? Maybe he's just a guy with a fax machine. You know how fact

Texas: Tighter car-search rules are endorsed

2005-05-26T09:38:00.000-05:00

Passed the House only so far. Tighter car-search rules are endorsed House measure requires probable cause or documented consent11:27 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 25, 2005By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN – The House voted to limit police officers' ability to stop motorists and search their cars Wednesday, rejecting arguments that the legislation would strip law enforcement of a

Bill named after Tulia to be filed today

2005-05-26T08:55:00.000-05:00

Reverend Alan Bean and his wife Nancy were instrumental in getting justice for the Tulia defendants and their families. I remember meeting him the first time when I went on the Journey for Justice in October, 1999 in Austin at the rally there. On 5/25/05, Alan and Nancy Bean wrote: Friends: I protested the Tulia drug sting long before I knew Tom Coleman had a checkered past. I

The Drug War: Back with a Vengeance

2005-05-26T08:26:00.000-05:00

The Drug War: Back with a VengeanceA new bill in Congressional committee would drastically increase sentencesfor many kinds of drug offenses.For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:http://citypages.com/databank/26/1277/article13318.asp

Telling the truth about the Drug War

2005-05-26T08:25:00.000-05:00

Telling the truth about the Drug WarI am writing to thank you for "connecting the dots" regarding the war on drugs in your recent editorial. I think it's really important to do something about the drug problem, but what we're doing in the drug war is making things worse.The victims of the drug war are poorly served by being put in jail, and can usually get drugs while they are in prison. We would

Mothers in Chains, the real crime against society

2005-05-25T17:53:00.000-05:00

I received this in email from Nora Callahan of the November Coalition. She forwarded this story that was published in Salon.Nora Callahan wrote: Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 08:57:41 -0700Subject: Nov-L: Mothers in Chains, the real crime against societyFrom: Nora Callahan To: Newshawk: Suzanne WillsPubdate: 23 May 2005 Source:

Doesn't ring a bell

2005-05-24T15:04:00.000-05:00

From time to time I am going to send political cartoons, humor and weird news stories if I find them amusing. Here is one fromhttp://www.liberty-news.com/showNewsletter.php?id=200505241&src=tyg2396

Tell Congress to Oppose HR 1528

2005-05-24T09:27:00.000-05:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------From: G@®¥ Date: May 13, 2005 3:57 PMSubject: [Houston NORML] Tell Congress to Oppose HR 1528To: houstonnorml@yahoogroups.comGet ready to go to prison if you are a college student who knows someone who sells marijuana.How many more prisons can America afford to build given the record level deficit? What is an acceptable cap on the

The Tragedy of Today's Gays

2005-05-24T07:54:00.000-05:00

I have a friend who has a teenaged son. One of his friends was kicked out of the house because he is gay. Well, the actual reason was that he knocked over a lamp and didn't pick it up and "it could have started a fire" but that was just the excuse. His stepfather gave his mother the ultimatum - "it's either him or me". He was 18 and without a job so he is now living in my friend's house.

Flag Desecration Amendment Crisis

2005-05-23T15:56:00.000-05:00

This idiocy rears it's ugly head again. Why is it that they think that free speech is limited to what comes out of your mouth. Burning someone else's flag is already illegal. Why should burning a flag that you bought and paid for be illegal?

My friend Peg

2005-05-23T15:16:00.000-05:00

I talked to my friend Peg, who is also a drug policy reform activist today. She is my friend and she recently suggested I go to her doctor, Dr. Patricia Salvato, who specializes in Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrom (CFIDS) and HIV. I went to her and she had some labwork done and so far I have found out that I have high levels of Epstein-Barr virus (that's the one that causes

No Raich decision today

2005-05-23T14:47:00.000-05:00

The Supreme Court still has not ruled for or against medical marijuana. We are all anxiously and hopefully awaiting what is going to happen.

The Constitution on Trial

2005-05-23T13:39:00.000-05:00

David Van Os is a great progressive Texan. He ran for Texas Supreme Court and lost this year but I hear he may be running for Attorney General. Here is his latest statement posted to the Texas Progressive Populist Caucus Yahoogroup.---------- Forwarded message ----------From: David Van Os Date: May 22, 2005 9:05 AMSubject: [texasppc] The Constitution on TrialTo: texasppc@

First thoughts

2005-05-23T12:50:00.000-05:00

I started out as a marijuana legalization activist but later evolved into a drug policy reform activist. In 2000, I also became a Democrat activist. Now it is 2004 and I decided to start this blog to track my thoughts on politics and life in general. As such this will include blogs on Democratic politics, drug policy reform, my life - health, life in Houston, life as a tech support person and