ABC's Jake Tapper on Thursday night raised the prediction “genocide” will result after a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, a forecast Tapper put to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at a Capitol Hill news conference: “Do you think the Iraqi people will be safer with U.S. troops out?” Reid didn't respond to the point, leading Tapper to retort in the exchange played on World News: “You didn't answer my question.” A perturbed Reid, presumably not used to challenging questions from the Washington press corps, chastised Tapper: “This isn't a debate. We're answering questions.” Tapper then repeated his question -- “Will the Iraqis be safer?” -- but Reid ignored him and moved on: “Anyone else have a question?”
Tapper's story ran a night after Wednesday's World News featured a report from Terry McCarthy in Iraq on how General David Petraeus, commander of all multi-national forces in Iraq, “is still very optimistic about the military battle, if the politicians give him enough time.” (July 11 NewsBusters item)
Video clip (35 secs): Real (1 MB) or Windows Media (1.2 MB), plus MP3 audio (200 KB)
[UPDATE, 10:25pm EDT: As "bigtimer" noted in a comment below, on his "Political Punch" blog Tapper posted a transcript of the entire exchange with Reid.]
Tapper's July 12 World News story was pegged to the House passage of a resolution calling on troop withdrawal from Iraq to begin within four months, a measure to be taken up next week by the Senate. Following a pro and a con soundbite on the resolution, Tapper showed his exchange with Reid:
JAKE TAPPER: Some foreign policy experts predict that such a U.S. withdrawal could unleash genocide against innocent Iraqis. It's a subject Democrats do not want to discuss.
TAPPER TO REID AT PRESS CONFERENCE: Do you think the Iraqi people will be safer with U.S. troops out?REID: It is clear that the Iraqi people don't want us there. It is clear that there is now a state of chaos in Iraq. And it is up to the Iraqi people to make themselves safe.
[Edit jump]
TAPPER: With all due respect, Senator, you didn't answer my question.
REID: This isn't a debate. We're answering questions.
TAPPER: Will the Iraqis be safer?
REID: Anyone else have a question?
TAPPER: This week's renewed push to withdraw troops, two months before General Petraeus reports to Congress on the progress of the surge strategy, has Republicans saying these votes are more about politics than national security....
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
So will we be taking up a col
July 12, 2007 - 20:50 ET by saw the lightSo will we be taking up a collection for poor Mr. Tapper, who will undoubtedly be out of a job by morning?
"There is a tendency for the world to say to America, 'the big problems of the world are yours, you go and sort them out,' and then to worry when America wants to sort them out." - Prime Minister Tony Blair
Maybe he can go to work for F
July 12, 2007 - 20:57 ET by NortonalecMaybe he can go to work for Fox.
Nortonalec
Surprising, ain't it?
July 12, 2007 - 21:02 ET by goldenthroatNortonalec,
You are absolutely correct - an ABC reporter standing up to Reid? What a concept! Maybe he DOES belong over at FNC!
Wait a minute - that would violate the fantasy "fairness in media" mantra, wouldn't it?
"Yeah, that's the ticket!" - Tommy Flanagan
goldenthroat,He'd better hurr
July 12, 2007 - 21:20 ET by Dave Rgoldenthroat,
He'd better hurry, as John Stossel just may beat him over there.
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
Evening Dave....Stossel could
July 12, 2007 - 21:23 ET by bigtimerEvening Dave....
Stossel could and should replace Geraldo anytime of the day.... easy!
We couldn't be so lucky!
Evenin' bt,John Stossel has s
July 12, 2007 - 21:33 ET by Dave REvenin' bt,
John Stossel has suffered at that hideous All Bull Crap network long enough. I would love to see him move over to Fox, as Geraldo needs to move on down to some obscure TV station in Mexico City, where he would obviously be far more comfortable.
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
... Geraldo needs to move on
July 12, 2007 - 21:43 ET by bigtimer... Geraldo needs to move on down to some obscure TV station in Mexico City,
.....OR Dave....how about just good ol' ABC?
Sounds like a fair and balanced trade to me....
LOL....
bt, You know, come to think o
July 12, 2007 - 22:05 ET by Dave Rbt,
You know, come to think of it, that would be better than fair, as ABC may as well be in Mexico City for all of its support of the illegal ivaders (or Riyadh for all of its support for the Jihadists).
Either way, we win.
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
Hey Dave...Listen to this fro
July 12, 2007 - 22:12 ET by bigtimerHey Dave...
Listen to this from Boxer and Ed Shultz....The Fearless Leaders name is mentioned here too...anyway this is another plan these idiots leftists have in the works....
I am telling you they are really going to cook their own goose.
People are dying because of the President....
bt,The senator from Californi
July 12, 2007 - 22:34 ET by Dave Rbt,
The senator from California also says the Bush administration is the "closest we have ever come to a dictatorship."
Me thinks Nancy Pelussolini is profoundly ignorant of what constitutes a dictatorship in the first place. Of course, she is somewhat frustrated that she and "give 'em hugs" Harry Reid have, so far at least, been unable to satisfy the desires of the Kommie Kozzies and force our outright surrender in Iraq (not that she hasn't tried).
As for the impeachment of Mr. Bush, their is no time for that, never mind that the man has committed no impeachable offense. All the congress can really do is cut off the funding for the troops. That would be political suicide for the dems.
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
Who the heck is Ed Schultz???
July 13, 2007 - 06:33 ET by motherbeltWho the heck is Ed Schultz??????
'Can, you know, can you tell
July 12, 2007 - 21:24 ET by Nortonalec'Can, you know, can you tell the truth and be fair?' And I said, 'That's what journalists do.' And everybody in the courtroom laughed.
Nortonalec
I'm thinking more along the l
July 13, 2007 - 08:06 ET by BinxlyI'm thinking more along the lines of MSNBC. I'm not saying they are the most 'objective' of news organizations as its obvious certain viewpoints are given more favor or air time than others, but they do have the most diverse view without beratement from one side or another. It's a shame in America you have to fall in line with the left or the right exclusively when it comes to TV journalism. Not slamming on Fox as I prefer it above all other channels because its more informal and 'open' in its reporting with only a slight implied conservative spin. While places like CNN and the 'BC's and CBS are so glaringly liberal and have that 'this is how it is, if you disagree, you're an idiot and wrong' attitude that is just infuriating it makes me physically ill.
Kudos to this guy (not terribly familiar with him admittedly) for sticking it to an old crazy man who should have been taken out back old-yeller style in the political sense. This sort of extreme on either side of politics (but especially the "im right and you're wrong cause I say so" left) is what is slowly killing America by stopping any forward progress politically. IF ABC fires this guy, we can make a rukus by writing to them and campaigning for open reporting, for BOTH sides.
That's the problem, there is lies and corruption on both sides. The right only sees the good of the right and corruption of the left and the left only sees saints on their side and evil, heartless, money-grubbing dictators on the right. All of this because each side hides it's secrets and touts its bragable accomplishments. If our news outlets allowed the entire political spectrum into its newsroom we as the American people would have a much better view of the reality of today.
What I find interesting about
July 13, 2007 - 10:12 ET by BruzillaWhat I find interesting about some peoples' opinions of Fox News is the little "digs" like yours, where you claim there's a conservative bias. What I have seen on Fox is pretty much what they advertise: fair and balanced. When I watch Special Report with Brit Hume, he almost always has one conservative and two liberals on his panel discussion. Since he's a conservative things balance out nicely. But where I get steamed is Liberals can watch that show and completely ignore when Fred Barnes or Hume are ticked with Republicans and attacking them, but see nothing but a "conservative slant" when Libs like Mort Kondracke, Mara Liasson, Juan Williams, etc., express displeasure with something the Democrats did. It's like Liberals actually believe that 100% of everything Democrats do is right... they are infallible. And when anyone dares to criticize them it must be out of a conservative bias.
What I like about Fox is they have their fair and balanced share of Liberals, but aside from Alan Colmes there aren't a lot of kool-aid drinkers.
Don't get me wrong, I love Fo
July 13, 2007 - 14:10 ET by BinxlyDon't get me wrong, I love Fox News. I agree its WAY more fair and balanced than any other news outlet aside from MSNBC. MSNBC I think comes off more slanted because they have their fair share of liberal loudmouths, while Fox's liberal contributors are more classy and less apt to blow a gasket on air and launch into an anti-Bush Tirade (Colmes might've tried but the guy is such a wimp he couldn't stand up to pee.)
I didn't mean to imply its a conservative news station, I meant overall, its more conservative in its approach (More relaxed approach, less in your face and MUCH less 'leading the audience')
Dingy Harry is at it again...
July 12, 2007 - 20:59 ET by goldenthroat"This is not a debate..."
Oh, really?
Dingy Harry's pompous, arrogant attitude in thinking that he was annoited and not appointed as House majority leader apparently has given him the right to dictate policy without debate?
Hmmm - the upshot of this is that this line of questioning came from a reporter whose employer leans as far left as his dinginess!
Give someone enough rope and they'll hang themselves!
"Yeah, that's the ticket!" - Tommy Flanagan
I now want to see some outrag
July 13, 2007 - 06:25 ET by ThisnThatI now want to see some outrage from the Republicans about the "this is not a debate" comment. It matches Reid's other comments, such as "this war is over".
If Republicans can't "go to the mattress" over words like this, then why are they in Congress? We need to hear Republicans go after this person over and over again until he appologizes.
This epitomizes the reason th
July 13, 2007 - 06:58 ET by BeowulfThis epitomizes the reason the Republicans are in trouble. Reid, Pelosi, Kennedy, Boxer, et al, have, for several years now, been given a pass to say literally abything they want, with no represussions. The Republicans have allowed these inane diatribes with little or no rebuttal. Hence the Democrat perception that the were "annointed, not appointed". The day they are finally challenged on their comments and held accountable for their actions will be when they go down in flames. The same applies to the MSM. But the Republicans passive response to the constant accusations and inflamatory rhetoric has severely undermined their own party.
Where have all the balls gone? Is there not a drop of testosterone left in the Republican party?
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
I couldn't agree more. They
July 13, 2007 - 08:10 ET by BinxlyI couldn't agree more. They want to hang our President for telling the honest truth (afterall he IS the decider) while Harry can walk around acting like Pelosi with the foreign policy gaffe months back. These people do whatever they want and the conservatives feel like to call them out would be like to call out a minority because they are acting a fool. Sure, many conservatives dislike liberal democrats merely for their ideas and thought processes but this isn't about ideologies. This is about VERY powerful political figures trying to ENFORCE their opinions on the people. Show me ANY time in his entire presidency that GW *ever* talked with such authoritarian tones and such an air of 'I know better than you cause Im above you' arrogance.
I think this man should be stripped of all political power and sent to do volunteer work for the rest of his days, afterall, isn't he 'for the people?!'
This man is dangerous, that's all I'll say.
Mr. Baker...I am glad you put
July 12, 2007 - 21:16 ET by bigtimerMr. Baker...
I am glad you put this information up...I had a link to this quite awhile ago here on NB, I think in one of Ken S. blogs....maybe you saw it...lol?!
Like I said in the post I wrote below...the comments posted on the abc blog spot are what surprised me, anyway at the time I read them.
bigtimer Says:July 12, 2007 - 19:08
Here is some more about the war with the latest with Harry Reid, Jake Tapper and abc news....
This is really interesting for a change...
I could not believe the posts that I read below....I was very very surprised.
I think the dems and the Fearless Leader are in for a long hard ride coming up.
Thanks for the tip
July 12, 2007 - 21:28 ET by Brent BakerI have updated the post with a link to Tapper's blog item that you highlighted.
Brent Baker is VP for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center, where he writes the daily CyberAlert e-mail report.
Brent Baker...Oh good....Than
July 12, 2007 - 22:55 ET by bigtimerBrent Baker...
Oh good....Thanks....interesting posts by others, I was really very surprised.
Defining moment - Questions?
July 12, 2007 - 21:23 ET by Gary HallDefining moment - Questions? Well, it's defining for those who have been paying attention. Brent noted. "A perturbed Reid, presumably not used to challenging questions from the Washington press corps.."
How true, but perhaps if I may? This playing field has become such that Reid and the rest of the liberal field of politicans don't recognize a true question at this juncture. After all, most of the "questions" they have tossed their way are actually statements in which the "journalist" simply re-states the accepted view of the left (or conversely - the un-accepted view held by the R's) and beggs the Democrat politican to confer with and to expound on.
Any true research would show this to be entirely true, I am quite positive.
"most of the "que
July 12, 2007 - 21:27 ET by Jerry"most of the "questions" they have tossed their way are actually statements in which the "journalist" simply re-states the accepted view of the left"
Agree 100%! In a court room, it would be referred to as "leading the witness".
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Jerry - 1998 Field Poll contradicted Clinton
July 13, 2007 - 13:51 ET by Gary HallJerry - 1998 Field Poll contradicted Clinton.
As you noted, Clinton said. “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing."
However, this 1998 poll - and taken in Clinton land (the left coast) suggested that one heck of a lot of people believed just that. Note: The poll included more Democrats than Republicans (344-283).
35% of Californians (including 23% of Democrats) felt that Clinton's use of military force was ordered to "divert attention away" from the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Harry Reid is a typical male democrat. He wears panties.
July 12, 2007 - 21:24 ET by Dave RHarry Reid is a typical male democrat of the twenty-first century.
He is a spineless wuss.
One who best be damned thankful that this isn't the 1940's, and/or that I am not the POTUS.
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
There's Chuck the Schmuck b
July 12, 2007 - 21:35 ET by ChriswelLThere's Chuck the Schmuck bringing up the rear!
:"How dare you question me! I'm Harry F'N Reid"
-cs™
no more ABC dem debates
July 12, 2007 - 21:35 ET by Pragmatic-Man"That's it! I've had it with this ABC right-wing neo-con news organization! First Tapper challenges Harry, then has the GALL to follow up with a restatement of his first question," Hillary snorted at the start of the daily morning conference call for the "Manchurian Society".
Obama chimed in, as was the norm without hesitation or relevance, "well, it's about time the Republicans discovered black people!" Jackson quickly reminded everyone to forever deny that MLK was a republican.
It was Edwards who got the session back on track when he stated that he would not be appearing on any more ABC network shows, nor would he be attending any further debates hosted by the rogue network. "I have already dispatched my opportunistic wife to call into every show that Tapper appears on, to challenge him because I don't have the guts to do it myself."
About this time, Kerry began to offer some shard of wisdom when someone coughed the phrase "swift-boat" into their speaker phone. The whole meeting fell silent as fallen John began to sob, with his signature sniffle heard by everyone.
Of course, Hillary pulled everyone back to task, and lined up a list of that day's actions: Sharpton would call Tapper a racist, Jackson would threaten a boycott of ABC advertisers, Obama was tasked with bending Tapper's remarks into a deprecating slogan spoken in a fake southern accent, Bill and Hillary would use the Clinton gestapo to destroy Tapper's complete career and life by day's end, Edwards would launch Tapper's comments on his campaign website to gen more "Coulter Ca$h", and Rosie would blame it all on the Bush administration in a personal message of conspiratorial hate in front of a backdrop of Hasselbeck's moustachio mural.
LOL PM! Summed up quite
July 13, 2007 - 06:32 ET by JerryLOL PM! Summed up quite nicely.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
All-in-all, a complete and sa
July 13, 2007 - 07:25 ET by ThisnThatAll-in-all, a complete and satisfying day.
Jake
July 12, 2007 - 21:41 ET by pbthinkerJake asked a great question, where was he last September?
Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Jake
July 12, 2007 - 21:43 ET by pbthinkerJust another thought, look who's behind our illustrious Senator from Nevada, none other that Chuckie!!!! I hope that played prominately in the ABC story as well. Chuckie didn't take the microphone from Harry and tell everyone how concerned the Democrats were about the Iraqi's did he?
Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Troop withdrawal
July 12, 2007 - 22:22 ET by bigtimerHere is the latest on the House vote today and what the Senate and some RINO's are going to attempt to do with troop withdrawal.
I tell you sometimes I think these critters are just plain brain-dead.
People are not going to forget this stuff...and some of the RINO's are running like hares for the nearest hole....any ol' way out....
The fools.
BTAnd they know that they can
July 12, 2007 - 22:27 ET byBT
And they know that they can't over-ride a veto
"The more I study science, the more I believe in God." Einstein
Evening bot...Exactly!That is
July 12, 2007 - 22:38 ET by bigtimerEvening bot...
Exactly!
That is why I said the brain-dead fools....zing...right over their pointy little heads.
I would laugh if it wasn't so maddening and as far as I am concerned traitors all.
Here is the President today talking about all of this...his statement that congress should fund the war not run it...was 'nuff said...to bad they don't get it.
For me this is a lot like illegal immigration and the votes, I am not going to forget.
botg,Aside from the obvious,
July 12, 2007 - 22:49 ET by Dave Rbotg,
Aside from the obvious, why does the dimlib leadership in congress, despite the fact that their approval rating is now about 0.5" above the lowest whale dropping, continue to try and force the issue of withdrawing our troops from Iraq, knowing full well that the bill is going to get vetoed?
I can understand one attempt, maybe even two, but this has moved well into the realm of the absurd.
And why isn't the republican leadership doing more to take advantage of this, or, as many think, have they just totally thrown in the towel for the '08 election?
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
You know what's scary, that i
July 12, 2007 - 22:26 ET by zfYou know what's scary, that in Reid's mind the terrorists and insurgents are what he considers the "Iraqi peple."
but, but...
July 13, 2007 - 00:24 ET by mastersofdeceitbut, but...
Reid is caught up in all the
July 13, 2007 - 00:59 ET by jcrapes4Reid is caught up in all the emotion of getting our troops home. Tapper brought forth only 2 logical questions especially given what happened when we pulled out early in Vietnam and had a cease fire in Korea. That press conference should be a wake up call to any and all Democrats who are making policy just based on emotions. They want Bush's legacy destroyed and are willing to use any means to accomplish that no matter the cost later.
I'm afraid Reid and h
July 13, 2007 - 04:10 ET by Army BratI'm afraid Reid and his ilk have no regard for human life, though they act as if they were the guardians of all that is good on this earth and all others are too ignorant to listen to or answer. Happy Trails...
Well stated.
July 13, 2007 - 04:43 ET by jcrapes4Well stated.
Harry and his manager
July 13, 2007 - 04:27 ET by Pasco ConservativeHave you ever noticed every time Harry Reid has a press conference the "Puppet Master" Chuckie Schumer is standing behind the twit?
Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any
man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.
-Unknown
That was the best vid of the week imo
July 13, 2007 - 05:40 ET by blackrain4xmasOh man...seriously, that was a great wake up for me. Harry Reid unable to face reality. Next thing, he'll put his hands over his ears, close his eyes, and start humming.
bwaahahahahahahahaaa!!!!
How can ABC tolerate this rud
July 13, 2007 - 06:08 ET by Sergeant ROCKHow can ABC tolerate this rude, right-wing nut hasslin' Reid with a fair question?
Brent, I have an idea, how ab
July 13, 2007 - 07:48 ET by dscottBrent, I have an idea, how about every time Harry Reid gives a press conference or public appearance, someone ask the question again and again until he gives a statisfactory answer?
Hey MSM, if you really want to demonstrate you have no liberal bias and are not mouth pieces for the Dem Party, ask Reid the question and keep asking it until he answers it. If you have the audacity to be disrespectful to the President over the Iraq issue, then at least show some balance and apply equal distain to the Leader of the Senate over the consequences of his alternate policy prescription.
Will the MSM take up the challenge????? I doubt it, they don't have the cajones to face down their overlords, the Dems.
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
Asshaticus Gigantus Sighting
July 13, 2007 - 07:51 ET by Sua Sponte 75"REID: It is clear that the Iraqi people don't want us there"
Interesting, I'll have to keep that in mind the next time a family or Sheik thanks us. How exactly do these people think they know what is going on, who is feeding these clowns this information? Can we apply the same thinking to poverty in America? Can you imagine a press briefing stating that "poor people don't want our help and are doing nothing to change their status, therefore it is clear they don't want our help or want us there so we are pulling out of the war on poverty". The U.S. is in a state of chaos also, what have you clowns done to straighten that out, nada, because it takes a real man to make difficult decisions, not just popular ones. It's easy to make shady land deals and then try to appear as somone of value. I'll bet shaking hands with these guys would be like shaking hands with a wet dishrag. What amazes me more that anything is that people actually re-elect these asshats. Must be the chemicals from bottled water containers. Too funny, hard questions are a "debate", softball questions are a press conference.
"You're either part of the solution or part of the problem"
The Dems lost the War on Pove
July 13, 2007 - 07:58 ET by dscottThe Dems lost the War on Poverty or at least we gave them 40+ years to do so and then had the nerve to import more poor people to claim "we" need to shell out more to win. Maybe that's the War Reid was alluding that was lost.
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
Or maybe the drugwar, which
July 13, 2007 - 08:05 ET by sarcasmoOr maybe the drugwar, which is doing about as well for taxpayers as the war on poverty, despite constant, mindless spending increases...
JMR
It always comes back to the '
July 13, 2007 - 13:20 ET by Sergeant ROCKIt always comes back to the 'drug war'... <roll eyes>
While the idea of legalizing
July 13, 2007 - 14:56 ET by BinxlyWhile the idea of legalizing all drugs is rediculous outside of pure ideology, and is a terrible idea if implemented into the real world, I think Sarc *does* touch on alot of good points.
We do have some pretty rediculous laws that sometimes send first time, non-violent offenders to jail and I think that is pretty rediculous. There are tons of people out there on house arrest, I don't see why, if someone is a drug user but has no criminal past and no history of violence, should be shoved into prison, in turn, causing us to be less literal with our sentencing of *violent* criminals because 'well they've served *some* time and we need to make room for the cokehead who was valedictorian and did it exclusively at home by himself.
I'm not condoning drug use, but prison should be reserved for people who are a danger when in our society, a physical danger. Someone who smokes pot or blows coke in their bedroom in their freetime and doesn't bother anyone else *should* be punished, but good God, put him on house arrest or better yet, give them an insufferable amount of community service and *enforce* it.
Im sure alot of cokeheads would rethink the habit if they had to stay clean and while doing so, had to pick up garbage in the hot summer sun or the blistering cold winter. Putting them in jail, hell, they probably get better, stronger stuff in there anyways. Plus, I believe if you put a non-violent person into a federal prison with violent criminals two things will happen. They'll get eaten alive or they'll learn to cope by appropriating those violent tendencies in order to keep the 'asskickings' at bay.
Not to get on a tangent, I wo
July 13, 2007 - 15:05 ET by dscottNot to get on a tangent, I would agree there needs to be a prioritizing of those who go to jail versus house arrest or better yet fines. Like you say, those who are a danger to society with violent behavior have to be locked up. However, many potheads/junkies aren't satisfied to not affect others with their behavior, ask the police who does the stealing to support the habits, causes car accidents, etc. Drug use is not a victimless crime IMO, it harms society in many ways starting with the problems I just mentioned moving on to the loss of their productivity or contribution to society. Either you are a cost center or a contributor to society, I prefer to keep the costs down and the profits up.
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
oh no, look, I take a car acc
July 13, 2007 - 15:38 ET by Binxlyoh no, look, I take a car accident or theft as being considered in the same realm as a violent crime. I am simply refering to people found with pot or other drugs on their persons, yet were not causing any problems, or even, happened to be at home. If you cause a wreck, you caused harm to something not yours, you pay. If you drive under the influence of ANY drug, its a DUI and should be treated as such. I was refering to people like the many who say, grow weed, get caught cause of a neighbor, then go to jail for 5 years. Or the White collar guy who does coke during his downtime in his rich new york penthouse. These people, while may eventually may become a problem, are not problems. To think punishing them early because they 'have the potential to become a problem' is like arresting a teenager who got in a school fight because 'he/she has potential to grow into a domestic violence instigator.'
I agree.“The object of life
July 13, 2007 - 15:45 ET by dscottI agree.
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius