Matthew Yglesias: "Obama's Meaningless Commitment to Sparing "Recreational Users" of Marijuana CO and WA"

Matthew Yglesias (Slate):

ABC's Barbara Walters tried to get some clarity from Barack Obama about his administration's attitude to the curious fact that starting next year marijuana will be legal in Colorado and Washington but not in the United States of America. His answer that "it would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it’s legal" because "we’ve got bigger fish to fry" has a lot of people excited. But I think there's less to this than meets the eye. MORE...

"Bad Twinkie, and the food stamp people."

the FIELD NEGRO:

"Seventy percent of counties with the fastest-growth in food-stamp aid during the last four years voted for the Republican presidential candidate in 2008, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data compiled by Bloomberg. They include Republican strongholds like King County, Texas, which in 2008 backed Republican John McCain by 92.6 percent, his largest share in the nation; and fast-growing Douglas County, Colorado."  [Source] MORE...

"Sanders On Fiscal Cliff" (video)

Sanders On Fiscal Cliff (HuffPo Live), with video (11:30):

Vermont senator Bernie Sanders joins Abby to explain why he's worried Democrats will cave on entitlement reforms in the Fiscal Cliff talks.

"Corn on Hardball: Binders Full of Women, Legitimate Rape, 47 Percent, and Other Memorable Election Quotes" (with video)

Mother Jones with video (08:06)from MSNBC-Hardball:

DC bureau chief David Corn relives some of the most biting gaffes, memes, and otherwise memorable lines of the election with Chris Matthews on Hardball. Was this the year of binders full of women? Or legitimate rape. Spoiler alert: 47 percent ranks pretty high.

Howie P.S.: Let the end of year lists begin.

"Obama's corporate charm offensive: wooing the Republicans' beloved base"

Barack Obama with Boeing CEO Jim McNerney. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty  

Heidi Moore (GuardianUK):

Two years ago, Bloomberg ran a survey of American investors. Three-quarters of them believed Obama was against business. Ivan Seidenberg, the CEO of Verizon, was moved to declare the president hostile to investment and job creation. Today, it's a different picture. The president, after blasting fat cats and the self-interest of Wall Street for years, has made a landmark move in his relationship with companies: he is taking corporate donations to fund the parade and parties of his second inauguration. Someone has to pay for the party, so you might as well invite the people with money. MORE...

Patty Murray: "Murray Continues to Urge Passage of Middle Class Tax Cut Act" (video)

SenatorPattyMurray, video (06:55).

FYI: Tonight is the 3rd Night of Hanukkah. (with photo)

More about Hanukkah here.

"McDermott, Becerra predict fiscal cliff deal" (with video)

Politico, with video (02:28):

At POLITICO Pro's P2012 Policy and Politics Tax Luncheon, Rep. Jim McDermott and Rep. Xavier Becerra said they expect a deal to be done on the fiscal cliff.

Micah Sifry: "Jeremy Bird on the Future of Organizing for America, 2012 and Beyond"

Micah Sifry (TechPresident):

Could OFA become the backbone of a revitalized version of former DNC chairman Howard Dean's "50-state strategy"? That is one possibility. But it's not clear yet if that would mean providing resources and staffing to state parties, or it would be more up to former OFA staff and supporters in those states to do the heavy-lifting. Interestingly, one top Obama campaign official told me that Dashboard, the campaign's ballyhooed and somewhat maligned digital field organizing platform, could be an important piece of such a local push. "It could be more important in 2013 and 2014 than it was in 2012," this person commented, "in the same way that it was for a volunteer in say, Tennessee, who didn't have a local Obama office, than it was for one in Ohio who did." MORE...

Seattle: "Watch Couples Marry at City Hall" (with live streaming video)

The Stranger with live streaming video:

The Seattle Channel will be live streaming from two locations in the interior of City Hall from 10 am until 5 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012 as 140 couples get married.

H/t to the West Seattle Blog for the photo.

Melissa Harris-Perry: "Is the War on Drugs finally going to pot?" (with video)

Melissa Harris-Perry, (MSNBC) with video (11:29):

Washington state on Thursday became the first in the nation to allow adults the legal recreational use of marijuana. Colorado will soon join the Evergreen state in enacting marijuana legalization laws after voters in both states approved ballot initiatives that defy federal laws deeming pot illegal. Saturday in #nerdland, host Melissa Harris-Perry took a look at Washington’s historic step, as well as the possibility of how regulated marijuana could provide a boost to the recovering American economy. MORE...

"Gore to Obama on climate change: Talk is cheap, it’s time to act"

Chris in Paris (AMERICAblog):

Just as we’re discovering that the tough talk about the “fiscal cliff” is false, and that President Obama and the Democrats appear to possibly be folding, again, on the important topic of climate change, what we’re hearing from the Democrats is more talk than action.
Al Gore spent a lot of time in Washington, so he has to be well aware of the ability of the political class to talk a lot, yet do nothing.
As we saw with Hurricane Sandy, the problem of climate change is getting worse and we can’t afford to keep letting the party of ignorance dictate the discussion.
The Hill:

Al Gore via spirit of america / Shutterstock.com

Al Gore is calling on President Obama to make climate change a higher priority in his second term.
“I deeply respect our president and I am grateful for the steps that he has taken, but we cannot have four more years of mentioning this occasionally and saying it’s too bad that the Congress can’t act,” Gore said in New York City on Thursday, Reuters reports.
The remarks come three weeks after Obama pledged to focus on climate but offered no specific second-term plans and noted political hurdles to legislation.
“I don’t know what either Democrats or Republicans are prepared to do at this point, because this is one of those issues that’s not just a partisan issue,” Obama said at a post-election press conference on Nov. 14.

If the pathetic “deal” on the fiscal cliff is accurate, there’s little reason to believe that the political class will do anything about climate change either.
Until the Fox News studio is underwater, the Republican flat-earth society will continue to mock Al Gore, and mock climate change, and pretend that it’s not a problem. And the Democrats will continue talking as though they care, but still will do nothing, because they don’t.

Eli Sanders (TIME)-"Mellow in Seattle: Washington State’s First Day of Legal Pot"

More than 600 people showed up for Seattle's first Cannabis Farmer's Market, held at the Little Red Bistro in South Lake Union on Feb. 27, 2011.  

Eli Sanders (TIME):

Clouds of celebratory pot smoke went up at a few quiet outdoor celebrations yesterday, Day One of Washington State’s legalization of possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. But the people who pushed the groundbreaking new law to victory stayed conspicuously dull. “So boring,” is how Alison Holcomb, lead writer of the decriminalization measure that 55% of Washington voters approved in November, described her day. Her one indulgence: a private dinner with friends that was “a very mellow occasion” with “very tasty” food. MORE...

"Adam Sandler - Hanukkah Song" (with video)

taserwon12, video (04:07).

Howie P.S.: Yes, it's that time of year again!

"Obama's Pot Problem"

Tim Dickinson (Rolling Stone):

Now that states have started legalizing recreational marijuana, will the president continue the government’s war on weed?---When voters in Colorado and Washington state legalized recreational marijuana in November, they thought they were declaring a cease-fire in the War on Drugs. Thanks to ballot initiatives that passed by wide margins on Election Day, adults 21 or older in both states can now legally possess up to an ounce of marijuana. The new laws also compel Colorado and Washington to license private businesses to cultivate and sell pot, and to levy taxes on the proceeds. Together, the two states expect to reap some $600 million annually in marijuana revenues for schools, roads and other projects. The only losers, in fact, will be the Mexican drug lords, who currently supply as much as two-thirds of America's pot. Drug reformers can scarcely believe their landslide victories at the polls. "People expected this day would come, but most didn't expect it to come this soon," says Norm Stamper, a former Seattle police chief who campaigned for legalization. "This is the beginning of the end of prohibition." MORE...

USA TODAY Column: "Obama's chance to change (political) climate"

Dan Becker and James Gerstenzang (USA TODAY OP-ED):

9:00AM EST December 2. 2012 - Hurricane Sandy and the 2012 drought drove home the need for President Obama to lead the fight against global warming. Freed from the political constraints of the re-election campaign, he holds three tools. Wielding them successfully, he will make bold action against the world's most pressing environmental problem a legacy of his second term. The president can sharply curtail power plants' emissions of carbon dioxide, the largest global warming pollutant, by using existing law to require that utilities start converting from coal to cleanly extracted natural gas and introduce more renewable energy. To cut demand for electricity, he can set standards that increase the efficiency of power-gobbling appliances. MORE...

"Two Laws Are Welcomed After Midnight in Seattle"

Jane Lighty, left, and Pete-e Petersen received the first gay marriage license in Washington State.

 Stacy Solie (New York Times):

The King County executive, Dow Constantine, operating on one hour of sleep, was on his way to the restroom with a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. It was Mr. Constantine who made the decision to open the doors at midnight and to get staff to volunteer to work through the wee hours. “People have waited years for this,” he said. “They should not have to wait a minute longer to take advantage of their rights.” As at the Space Needle, the atmosphere was celebratory. There were flowers, people blowing bubbles and supporters who serenaded those in line with “Going to the Chapel.” “People are brimming with optimism,” Mr. Constantine said. By midday, the party atmosphere had dissipated a bit, as had the line. The more than 400 licenses handed out, though, handily beat the previous single-day record of 212, Mr. Dow said. MORE...

Howie P.S.: It's going to be hard to refrain from teasing "Mr. Dow" the County Executive about this the next time I see him. And another thing: shouldn't the headline have referenced "Washington state," not Seattle?

"Nickel and Dimed from The American Ruling Class!" (video)

meansofproduction, video (09:57):

Barbara Ehrenreich is featured in this video about the "7 dollar an hour underclass."

Melber: "The White House Favors Susan Rice For Secretary Of State"

Video (03:50) from MSNBC-"The Last Word" with Laurence O'Donnell.

"Watch Out For That 'Fiscal Cliff'!" (cartoon)

 CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE-Tom Tomorrow (The Nation).

"Dan Savage on marriage equality in Washington (Dec. 6, 2012)" (with video)

seattlepi.com, with video (01:33):

One of the first same-sex couples to get a marriage license Thursday in King County was Dan Savage and Terry Miller, who started the It Gets Better Project to help prevent suicide along LGBT youth. Read more here: http://bit.ly/YEvNIQ

"Ed Murray Wants to Be Seattle's First Gay Mayor"

HIS BIG VICTORY Ed Murray, 57, and his partner of more than 20 years, Michael Shiosaki, celebrate marriage equality on election night.

Dominic Holden (The Stranger):

The Man Behind Marriage Equality Sets His Sights on City Hall----Ed Murray isn't running for Seattle mayor as the gay guy. "It can work both ways," says Murray, who on Wednesday filed an exploratory committee for his campaign. "If people see me just as the gay candidate, they will vote against me. Even gay people will vote against me. I have to be the gay who did something." MORE...

"Frequently asked questions about Medical Marijuana (Cannabis) in Washington State"

Washington State Department of Health:

Are current medical marijuana recommendations still valid with the passing of I-502?

Yes. The laws relating to authorization of medical marijuana by healthcare providers are still valid and enforceable.

Will the passing of I-502 affect the amount of medical marijuana that authorized patients can possess?

No. The current medical marijuana law allows authorized patients to possess 24 ounces of useable cannabis, instead of just one ounce allowed in I-502.

Will medical marijuana patients still be able to grow their own marijuana without a license to grow?

Yes. The current medical marijuana law allows authorized patients to grow up to 15 plants.

Will medical marijuana patients need to purchase their marijuana from a taxed retail store?

No. They can still grow their own marijuana or participate in a collective garden if they don’t want to purchase from a retail store.

Will there be an age requirement for medical marijuana patients now that I-502 passed?

No, healthcare providers may recommend it for any patient where it is medically appropriate under the law and the profession’s standard of care.

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Are dispensaries now legal with the passing of I-502?

No, I-502 authorizes the sale by retailers licensed by the Liquor Control Board only.

Will there be an exception for medical marijuana patients driving under the influence of marijuana?

No, there is no stated exception in I-502 for medical marijuana patients.

Does I-502 remove all criminal penalties for adults possessing one ounce or less of marijuana?

No. Possessing, growing and distributing marijuana are still illegal under federal law.

Is medical marijuana (cannabis) legal in Washington? I've heard conflicting answers to this question.

Some states may allow use of a medical marijuana recommendation from Washington. Washington medical marijuana patients should check with other states before traveling and comply with the laws in the other state. Healthcare provider recommendations, ID cards, and other documentation from other states are not legal in Washington.

I heard the current federal administration legalized medical marijuana (cannabis). Is that true?

No. U.S. Deputy Attorney General James Cole announced updated formal guidelines for federal prosecutors in states that have laws allowing the use of medical marijuana (cannabis). The guidelines do not legalize medical marijuana (cannabis). The president directed federal prosecutors to consider appropriate medical use when making criminal charging decisions. The guidelines only provide direction for prosecutors when reviewing medical marijuana (cannabis) cases.

How can I find out if I qualify to be a medical marijuana (cannabis) patient?

Talk to your healthcare provider. The law includes a very specific list of qualifying conditions you must have before a doctor, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or naturopath can recommend medical marijuana (cannabis). In addition to those conditions in the law, chronic renal failure was added by petition in 2010.

Do I have to register with or obtain a card from the state?

No. If you are a qualifying patient with a valid written recommendation from your healthcare provider, that’s all you need.

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What type of healthcare providers can recommend marijuana for qualifying conditions?

The following providers may recommend marijuana:

• Medical doctors (MDs)
• Physician assistants (PAs)
• Osteopathic physicians (DOs)
• Osteopathic physician assistants (OA)
• Naturopathic physicians (ND)
• Advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs)

Can a healthcare provider from another state recommend marijuana (cannabis) for me?

Not unless the provider is also licensed in Washington. The law says the healthcare provider must be licensed in Washington.

Can I get a list of providers in my area that will recommend marijuana?

The Department of Health doesn't have this information.

What is a valid written recommendation?

As of June 10, 2010, recommendations must be written on tamper-resistant paper. They must include an original signature by the healthcare provider, a date, and a statement that says in the healthcare provider's professional opinion the patient may benefit from the medical use of marijuana. The 2010 law change also prohibits the use of a copy of the patient's medical records in lieu of a recommendation.

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Is my recommendation still valid if it was written before June 10, 2010?

Yes. It is still valid unless your healthcare provider has included an expiration date.

Is my recommendation considered a prescription if it is written on tamper-resistant paper?

No. Healthcare providers cannot write prescriptions for medical marijuana. They may only write recommendations that a patient has a medical condition that would benefit from the medical use of marijuana.

How do I get medical marijuana (cannabis)? Can I buy it?

The law allows a qualifying patient or designated provider to grow medical marijuana (cannabis). It is not legal to buy or sell it.

Are dispensaries legal?

No. The law does not allow dispensaries. The law only allows qualifying patients and designated providers to possess medical marijuana; the new law allows qualifying patients and designated providers to participate in collective gardens.

How much medical marijuana (cannabis) can I have?

A qualifying patient or designated provider may have a 60-day supply of medical marijuana. A 60-day supply is defined as 24 ounces and 15 plants under RCW 69.51A.040. The law says that a patient may exceed these limits if he or she can prove medical need. However, the law only allows for an affirmative defense (and not protection from arrest or prosecution) if the limit is exceeded and the patient is complying with the law.

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How do I become a designated provider?

A designated provider must be at least 18 years old and must be designated in writing by the qualifying patient. A designated provider can only be a provider for one patient at any one time. Chapter 69.51A sets limitations on becoming a designated provider and ending a relationship as a designated provider.

Can I be a patient and a designated provider?

Yes.

Why are bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety not included in the list of qualifying conditions?

The Medical Quality Assurance Commission, in consultation with the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, has the authority to add qualifying conditions to the current list. The commission has received petitions to add these conditions to the list of qualifying conditions. The commission has denied the requests, citing a lack of scientific evidence supporting improved health outcomes from the use of medical marijuana for those conditions. You can find the commission's and board's decision on the latest petition in the Final Order.

How do I request to add a condition to the list of qualifying conditions?

Anyone may petition the commission to add a condition to the list. By law, the commission will consult with the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. For more information about this process, you may contact the commission at:

Medical Quality Assurance Commission
P.O. Box 47866
Olympia, WA 98504-7866

Is medical marijuana (cannabis) legal in Washington? I've heard conflicting answers to this question.

Marijuana possession is illegal in Washington. The medical marijuana law, Chapter 69.51A, provides protection from arrest or other criminal sanctions for qualified patients and designated caregivers who are complying with the law. People who qualify have a valid reason to possess a 60-day supply of marijuana. However, medical marijuana (cannabis) is not legal under federal law. There is no protection for people who are arrested or charged under federal law.

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I have questions that the Department of Health cannot answer. For example: Can I rent my house to a medical marijuana (cannabis) patient? Do I have rights as a tenant? What about using medical marijuana (cannabis) around children? Can I be fired from my job if I use medical marijuana (cannabis)? How do I get help finding the answers?

There may be other laws that apply to some situations. We suggest obtaining legal advice if you are not sure what the law says. You may also consult groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Human Rights Commission. All state laws are on the Washington State Legislative webpage.

Hendrik Hertzberg: "Why a Carbon Tax Should Replace the Payroll Tax"

Hendrik Hertzberg (The New Yorker))

By all means let’s have a stiff carbon tax—a whole carbon-tax package, one that folds in levies on other pollutants and on the wasteful or dangerous use of natural resources in general. And, at the same time, let’s make the carbon tax the source of the trust fund. Call it the Dignity for Seniors tax, because that’s what it would provide. Or the National Patrimony tax, because that’s what it would preserve. Or the Social and National Security tax, because it would underwrite both kinds.MORE...

John Nichols: "The Secret of Bernie Sanders's Success"

John Nichols (The Nation):

Sanders bristles when pundits who don’t know Vermont dismiss his approach to campaigning as a regional deviation that might work in what is often portrayed as a quirky liberal state that couldn’t possibly have relevance for the rest of the country. “It wasn’t that long ago that Vermont was one of the most Republican states in the country. MORE...

Papantonio: "Wall Street's Role In 'Fiscal Cliff' Missing From Media Coverage" (video)

golefttv, with video (04:00):

Mike Papantonio appears on The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann to talk about the current debt talks being held in Washington between Democrats and Republicans, and how the media has completely missed the role that Wall Street played in causing our current problems.

KIROTV: "Pot could be next Washington state bumper crop" (video)

KIROTV7, video (01:58).  

Howie P.S.: KIRO also has this full page of information about the new law.

Sen. Patty Murray: "Poor Getting 'Lost In Shuffle' During Fiscal Cliff Talks"

Dave Jamieson (HuffPo):

With legislators focused on looming cuts to defense spending and entitlement programs, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) told a gathering of progressives on Capitol Hill Tuesday that she is worried the most vulnerable groups depending on domestic programs may get “lost in the shuffle” during the deficit negotiations. MORE...

KUOW: "Naomi Wolf On Sexuality And Creativity" (audio)

Steve Scher, Weekday-KUOW, audio (55:51):

Naomi Wolf, author of "The Beauty Myth," has written a cultural and scientific history of the intersection of sexuality and creativity. She joins us to talk about "Vagina: A New Biography."
Also this hour: Congress is busy working on an agreement to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. Slate's Matthew Yglesias makes the argument for diving off. We check in with state Rep. Marko Liias on a plan to add commercial flights to Paine Field. Plus, Michael Fagin joins us with this week's recommended hike.

"Offer versus counter-offer" (with video)

NOW (Alex Wagner), with video (10:24):

The Washington Post's Ezra Klein joins the NOW panel-- including Joy Reid of The Grio.com, the New York Times' Frank Bruni, The Nation's Ari Melber, and Irin Carmon from Salon.com---translate the fiscal negotiations going on on Capitol Hill between Democrats and Republicans.

"The Barack Obama Story (Updated)"

Tom Englehart (The Nation):

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
 
Dear President Obama,
Nothing you don’t know, but let me just say it: the world’s a weird place. In my younger years, I might have said “crazy,” but that was back when I thought being crazy was a cool thing and only regretted I wasn’t. I mean, do you ever think about how you ended up where you are? And I’m not actually talking about the Oval Office, though that’s undoubtedly a weird enough story in its own right. After all, you were a community organizer and a constitutional law professor and now, if you stop to think about it, here’s where you’ve ended up: you’re using robots to assassinate people you personally pick as targets. MORE...

POLITICO: "Left-Leaning Columnists Annoyed Journalists Not Pressing Obama To Be More Progressive"

Noah Rothman (MEDIAite):

To his credit, The Nation columnist Ari Melber told POLITICO that “there is no reasonable argument that criticism will result in the defeat of Barack Obama.” MORE...

Howie P.S.: I was just surprised to recall that I have spent a fair amount of time with Ari and Rick at different times in my life.

WA: "Election Day’s referendum revolution"

(Photo: Washington United for Marriage Facebook page)

 Jake Olzen (Waging Nonviolence):

On December 6, two historic new laws in Washington State take effect. A majority of voters chose last month to legalize marijuana and pass measures for marriage equality, thanks to community organizing efforts and social change movements concretely focused on policy issues. Referendum 74, which would allow same-sex couples to marry, passed with 53-percent approval. Meanwhile, Initiative 502 passed with 55 percent of voters assenting to legalize the production, processing and selling of marijuana in the state. Several other states passed similar measures at the same time, but Washington was the only one to claim both. MORE...

Howie P.S.:

Money Quote: "The intersection between electoral politics, ballot initiatives and social change is hardly straightforward. But one thing is clear — movement-based campaigns that take advantage of big election cycles with clear messaging and broad coalitions can be a vehicle for landmark policy reform."

"Trusted Aide to Obama Faces Test in Budget Showdown"

Jacob J. Lew, center, with Hillary Rodham Clinton, Gene Sperling and Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Photo: Jason Reed/Reuters)

Sheryl Fay Stohlberg (New York Times):

When President Obama was locked in painful spending negotiations with House Republicans last spring, his exceedingly meticulous budget director, Jacob J. Lew, went to the Oval Office to propose some complex budget changes. As Mr. Lew delved deeper and deeper into the numbers, Mr. Obama put up his hand, signaling him to stop. Jack, it’s fine,” the president said, according to Gene Sperling, Mr. Obama’s economics adviser, who witnessed the exchange. “I trust your values. I trust your judgment on this.” MORE...

"Marriage, marijuana, charter schools: How West Seattle voted"

West Seattle Blog:

With final election results certified last week, analysts are digging deep into the official numbers. Our partners at The Seattle Times have drawn up maps showing how the vote went on three key ballot measures – marriage equality, marijuana, and charter schools. With permission, we’ve excerpted the West Seattle views – for marriage Referendum 74 (approved with a 7-point margin statewide), above, and marijuana Initiative 502 (approved with an 11-point margin statewide), below, dark green meant 60 percent or more voted to approve, light green meant 50 to 60 percent, and as you can see, both measures were very popular in West Seattle. (Click any image to get the full zoomable regional view as a PDF.) MORE...

Greenwald: "Progressive media claims they'll be 'tougher' on Obama now"

Glenn Greenwald (GuardianUK):

Last week, the Huffington Post's media reporter, Michael Calderone, wrote a long article on the widespread perception that MSNBC isn't so much a progressive network as it is "simply pro-Obama". Citing a new Pew study that found that MSNBC was actually more negative toward Romney than even Fox News was against Obama "and offered mostly positive coverage about Obama" - most remarkably, during the last week of the campaign, MSNBC did not air a single story critical of Obama: not one - Calderone wrote: "post-election, the question is whether MSNBC continues cheering Obama on - or takes him on." MORE...

"West Seattle development: 3062 Avalon Way passes early-design review with standing-room-only attendance"

The West Seattle Blog covered my neighborhood's ass-kicking community shout-out to the City of Seattle's "Early Design Review" meeting

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Dozens of vigilant neighbors comprised a standing-room-only crowd in the Senior Center of West Seattle‘s upstairs meeting room as another 7-story Avalon Way apartment-building proposal debuted before the Southwest Design Review Board last night, second one in two months.
The residents of 32nd SW, north of the proposed development’s vicinity, again wore “Love The ‘Hood” stickers, as they had at the September meeting for 3078 Avalon Way, a similar building proposed next to the site of this one. MORE...

"Jon Stewart Takes McCain and Graham to Task for Hypocrisy of Susan Rice Attacks" (with video)

Heather (Crooks and Liars) with video (09:20):

Senators John McCain and his BFF Lindsey Graham found themselves receiving some similar criticism to that dished out last week by Rachel Maddow, when she slammed McCain for all of the times he said something wrong on a Sunday show. If these two and their "third amigo" Kelly Ayotte want to keep making hypocritical asses of themselves with their petulant attacks on U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, I just hope there's more segments like this to come. MORE...

"Smear campaign against Rice broadens, intensifies"

Steve Benen (The Maddow Blog), with video (07:40) from MSNBC:

The only meaningful complaint raised by Republicans against Susan Rice is that she shared the collective judgment on the Benghazi attack on Sunday shows. It gives new meaning to the phrase "blame the messenger" -- Rice didn't write the CIA talking points, she simply told the public what they said, just as she was asked to do. And yet, the Republican campaign against her appears to be intensifying. The latest criticism comes by way of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who, next year, will ostensibly be the Senate's only GOP moderate. MORE...

"Why Obama Won't Be the One to End the War on Drugs"

Paul Waldman (The American Prospect):

It's the inverse of Nixon going to China.---While Obama may believe that the War has been a failure and it's absurd to lock up hundreds of thousands of people for possessing, buying, or selling small amounts of marijuana, it just isn't all that high on his priority list. If making a major policy change is risky, he's not going to bother. On the other hand, he doesn't want to alienate the 50 percent of the country that now supports legalization, many of whom are his staunch supporters, so his preferred outcome would be that no one pays much attention to the issue for the next four years. MORE...

"Rice met with strong opposition on Capitol Hill" (video)

MSNBC-video (11:00).

Howie P.S.: Ari Melber, Joy-Ann Reid and Chip Saltsman chew the fat.

WA: "How state Democrats overpowered GOP in governor's race: data and doorbelling"

Love him or not, the dude gets s##t done!

Jim Brunner (Fairview Fannie):

The Democratic Party's robust ground game — which combined sophisticated data tracking with old-fashioned doorbelling — played a significant role in the outcome of one of the nation's most-watched gubernatorial races, leaders of both parties said in interviews. "McKenna didn't know who was going to vote, and we did," boasted state Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz, who credited a campaign that focused on persuading 400,000 Democratic-leaning but sporadic voters to mail in their ballots. MORE...

"Former GOP Strategist Kevin Phillips on the Roots of American Revolution and Future of U.S. Politics" (video)

Democracy Now! with video:

With the Republican Party in a state of turmoil following Mitt Romney’s loss three weeks ago, we begin today’s show with a guest who was once one of the most influential Republican strategists. In 1969 Kevin Phillips wrote the groundbreaking book, "The Emerging Republican Majority." Newsweek described the book as the “political bible of the Nixon administration.” After a series of best-selling books on the Bush family, Wall Street and the American theocracy, Phillips is looking back at the roots of the American Revolution in his new book, "1775: A Good Year for Revolution.” “What happened that set the United States in motion in the mid 1770s is still relevant in some ways because what it showed was that you sometimes have to have a lot of very disagreeable politics to make progress. That you don’t get anywhere by having all kinds of nice slogans and by trying to barter every difference with a cliche and pretend thats all’s well and the United States is in wonderful shape,” Phillips says. “The United States is not in wonderful shape and it needs to get back some of that spunk that it had when people were willing to talk very bluntly about harsh and tough measures.” [Includes rush transcript]

I-502: "Vendors respond to pot law"

Stuart Miller (The Western Front):

When Initiative 502 goes into effect on Dec. 6, businesses and institutions in Washington state will be making changes in their policies regarding marijuana. Bellingham Police Chief Mark Young said city police are currently working out a plan on how to enforce the initiative, and are unable to comment on it. Seattle Police, however, have already established their own guidelines under the new law, and it is available to citizens on their website. After raids on three Bellingham marijuana collectives as recently as last March, the non-profit gardens are tentatively hopeful the legalization of recreational marijuana use will deter the police from future raids. “Right now even the medical cannabis law states that we just have an affirmative defense,” said Gus Gunther, a volunteer at the Northern Cross Collective on Cornwall Avenue. The affirmative defense means under Washington’s medical marijuana law, police can arrest and charge medical marijuana patients, growers and collective operators, but if they are verified as medical patients in court, they have a legitimate legal defense against the charges. “Now we have this other law [I-502], that is a blanket law that we fall into and have other rights,” Gunther said, “I think it will end up easing off some of the pressure — they’re going to have a lot more to deal with outside of the medical community.” Even after Dec. 6, medical marijuana dispensaries will be the only place to legally purchase pot until the Washington State Liquor Control Board establishes a system to regulate the legal sale and growing of the plant, no later than Dec. 1, 2013. Until then, distribution and production of recreational pot will stay illegal, but possession of an ounce or less by people older than 21 will be legal. “We see in the Superior Court many instances of the medical marijuana statute being used inappropriately, and so we may see less of that simply because they have another option,” said Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Charles Snyder. The most visible changes in Washington will come in late 2013 or early 2014, said Roger Roffman, professor emeritus at the University of Washington and author of the forthcoming book “A Marijuana Memoir.” “We’ll see stores being established that exclusively sell marijuana or marijuana products,” Roffman said. “They’ll be like the old Washington State Liquor Control Board liquor stores before the voters changed that law, with the exception that stores will be privately owned rather than owned by the state of Washington.” The stores will be privately owned and run by retailers who have applied for and been granted licenses. They cannot be located near schools or playgrounds. Retailers are limited to one sign outside, no bigger than 1,600 square inches, or about a square meter. “The initiative really took that issue to heart and said we want tight regulations on advertising, particularly to avoid marketing targeting young people,” Roffman said. It remains unclear how a legal growing and distribution system will affect marijuana prices. With Washington state taxing the industry 25 percent at every level, that is, a 25 percent tax for growers, the same tax for processors and the same tax for retailers. The price of marijuana could change dramatically from current standards at legal retailers, medical dispensaries and black market pot dealers. The Office of Financial Management estimated in their impact statement 100 producer licenses, 55 processor licenses and 328 retail locations, said Mikhail Carpenter of the Washington State Liquor Control Board. That value will decrease or increase based on a variety of factors. The tax revenue from legal marijuana is estimated at up to $2 billion, Carpenter said. Because nobody has dealth with a system like this before, estimating a lot of things will be difficult, Carpenter said. Carpenter expects the Liquor Control Board to take all of 2013 to finish designing the growth and sales system. Though they will try to learn from current examples of legalization, such as Amsterdam’s marijuana laws, no law like Washington’s exists anywhere yet. The board is building from scratch. Smoking marijuana won’t be allowed in places where tobacco smoking is prohibited, such as in bars and many buildings. The wording in the initiative states that containers holding marijuana cannot be opened in the view of the public. The Cobra Lounge, a hookah-smoking establishment in Bellingham and Tacoma, has found their own way around laws against indoor smoking. “You can be a private club and you can smoke indoors,” said Justin Herrmann, manager and co-owner of the Cobra Lounge. “That’s why we charge the $5 membership for each person who comes in, and we always have to sell our shisha away from where we smoke it.” Though the Cobra Lounge has no plans to change to allow marijuana smoking, the owners are acceptant of the idea. “Personally, I love the style of an artistic city like Amsterdam. Public discourse, creativity and community building all happen in a very real way within its cafes,” said Erin Cobb, co-owner of the Cobra Lounge, in an email. “The more time people spend face to face, talking about the issues in the community, the better, and The Cobra Lounge is the perfect place for that. If we are given the chance legally, I would love to have [marijuana] Volcanoes available for the use of our members.” Perhaps the most significant and intangible change will be how the culture in Washington changes after marijuana becomes legal and openly sold. Roffman said he would be surprised if there wasn't an increase in experimental drug use among people that haven't tried it before after the initiative is fully implemented a year from now. “And then I think over time, and it may take some months, some years, I think that new norms will develop, as to what’s cool and what’s not cool,” Roffman said. Though Gunther dislikes portions of the initiative, especially the DUI conditions, he likes the step Washington voters made. “I think it will be good for us because it’s putting another step in the right direction for everyone socially to accept it,” Gunther said. The initiative’s impaired driving portion, also effective Dec. 6, establishes a 5 ng/mL THC concentration in a driver’s blood as the legal limit for DUI, similar to the 0.08 blood-alcohol content standard for alcohol. A DUI is a gross misdemeanor, but can change to a felony if you have prior DUI convictions. This part of the bill has raised issues with many medical marijuana patients who claim their blood is almost always above the 5 ng/mL level, and needs to be to recieve proper medication. This is expected to increase felony DUI charges, Gunther said.

"Obama Returns To The Campaign Trail For Tax Push"

BuzzFeed Politics:

The Obama White House is looking to the 2011 battle over the debt ceiling as a cautionary tale for this year's fiscal standoff, crafting a far more aggressive public relations campaign to fend off Republican policy demands. During the mid-2011 debt ceiling fight, House Republicans credibly threatened to send the economy into a tailspin by refusing to raise the nation's borrowing limit, escalating the conflict and forcing Democrats into a defensive position. Meanwhile, rather than take his case to the public, Obama wavered between closed-door negotiations with congressional leaders and angry statements to the press. Now the president is making his case directly to the people. This month, fresh from his reelection victory, Obama plans to keep the fight public, at the cost of any imagined backroom goodwill. The president will hit the road to push his agenda on the fiscal cliff this Friday, traveling to Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Obama will "continue making the public case for action by visiting a business that depends on middle-class consumers during the holiday season," a White House official said. White House aides believe Obama's inside-the-beltway approach to the last crisis contributed to the Republican wins after they took back the House in 2010 on multiple government shutdowns and tax votes. Now Obama aides believe they have more leverage — with Republicans particularly wary of a tax hike on the top 2% of wage-earners, a tax-increase plan validated, the White House believes, by the presidential election. Tax rates will go up for everyone at the end of the year, and Obama believes he can win by advocating for the 98%. MORE...

"Trying to Turn Obama Voters Into Tax Allies"

The Obama campaign headquarters in Chicago in October. The administration is drawing on supporters for help in other areas.

 MICHAEL D. SHEAR (New York Times):

WASHINGTON — When Tea Party activists swamped town hall-style meetings about health care in the summer of 2009, President Obama’s army of campaign volunteers largely stayed away, seemingly less interested in fighting for legislation than they had been in electing the nation’s first African-American president. Now, Mr. Obama is seizing a second chance to keep his election-year supporters animated. MORE...

"Marijuana is new? Washington State DUI testing plans-"

Photo- Port Hadlock Transit Center

Oak Bay Starfish:

Asking a few questions here is not to defend operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, legal or illegal drugs or marijuana.

“Marijuana consumed within the past seven to 10 days usually triggers a positive result, said Swedish’s Dr. Ray Jarris. In the future, tests — such as oral swabs — may be able to more precisely pinpoint recent usage, but not yet, he said.”

With pot legal, police worry about road safety
“We’ve had decades of studies and experience with alcohol,” said Washington State Patrol spokesman Dan Coon. “Marijuana is new, so it’s going to take some time to figure out how the courts and prosecutors are going to handle it. But the key is impairment: We will arrest drivers who drive impaired, whether it be drugs or alcohol.”
Marijuana is new?
Nonsense.
Medical marijuana has been here since 1998.
Has I-692 caused problems on the highways?
If this is an honest concern- what has the state been waiting on?
People have been able to get behind the wheel after using marijuana for decades.
This would remain so- even if recreational use of marijuana never became legal.
Maybe the Washington State Patrol sees this as a non-issue.

My view is that traffic safety professionals should initiate recommendations on speed limits, guard rails, road signs, traffic lights, DUI protocols, etc.
A new testing protocol is now forced on the traffic safety professionals of our state by the voters.
Where is the marijuana related accident data of the past 20 years?
If there has been a problem on the roads- why has Washington State Patrol made no recommendations on how to address the situation?

the FIELD NEGRO: "White on Rice."

the FIELD NEGRO:

“You’ve got grumpy old (white) men going after a young accomplished woman of color,” Milbank wrote in a piece this week. “It’s arguable this is not the path to convincing the American people that the GOP is truly a big tent where all races, religions and classes are welcome.”

That was Dana Milbank of the Washington Post writing about the GOP's latest attempt to find skeletons in O's presidential closet. This time they are hoping that Susan Rice will be the crack in O's armor that will lead to his ultimate downfall. (Good luck with that. They will find that Troy was a cake walk compared to getting to O.) Poor "grumpy old (white) men", they tried to make Eric Holder their Trojan Horse but to no avail. Now, unfortunately for her, Susan Rice will have to face the wrath of the "grumpy old (white) men".MORE...

John Heilemann on why Susan Rice will be confirmed

John Heilemann (newyorkmag.com):

Beyond the spectacle of gratuitous spleen-venting, does any of this Republican fulmination matter in the least—or, as the headline of a recent Maureen Dowd column in the Times put it, “Is Rice Cooked?” As a rule, your columnist avoids predictions, but in the spirit of holiday indulgence, I will make an exception here: Not only will Obama appoint Rice to succeed Clinton but she will be confirmed. And though I offer this forecast without the aid of polling averages to lend a patina of statistical certainty to the endeavor, I do believe there are at least five sound reasons to think it will come true: MORE...

Howie P.S.: Snarky quote from the above:

I estimate there is a 79.4357 percent probability that Susan Rice will be confirmed early next year as secretary of State, and the vote won’t even be close. Just remember: You read it here first—and Nate Silver ain’t got nothing on me.

WaPo: "Patty Murray likely to be a key voice in Senate on budget deal"

  Rosalind S. Helderman (WaPo):

One of the biggest winners in the sweeping Democratic victories in Senate races this month was a woman whose name appeared on no ballot: Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). With a low-key style that contrasts with some of the Senate’s camera hogs, Murray may be the most powerful senator a whole lot of people have never heard of outside of the two Washingtons where she lives and works. MORE...

"Highlight Of This Year's Macy's Parade" (photo)

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE) 

Greg Mitchell (Pressing Issues):

Someone sighted the return of the Pepper-Spray Cop.

"McGinn and challengers: The race for mayor begins"

Joel Connelly (SeattlePI.com):

Hizzoner is facing reelection next year: After disastrous stumbles on the tunnel and S.R. 520, McGinn is trying to show he can walk the talk, learn to stroke his city’s interest groups, and be a bearer of bearer of good economic news as the Emerald City (formerly the Queen City) recovers from the Great Recession. He’ll get no respite. A front-rank challenger, Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess, appears on the verge of announcing his candidacy. The former policeman and businessman flirted with the 2009 race, and probably would be running for reelection had more than his toe gone into the water. MORE...

"NBC News Stopped Gay Rights Group From Releasing Chelsea Clinton Ad, According To Report"

Josh Feldman (MEDIAite):

If you’re part of a political family and a paid employee of a news network, how do you strike that balance? Chelsea Clinton was not on the campaign trail this time around because she was hired by NBC News last year to be a correspondent on the network’s “Make A Difference” series. That did not stop Clinton from filming a video for a group fighting to legalize gay marriage in Washington (which ultimately passed on election day). The video never saw the light of day because NBC News, according to a report by BuzzFeed, killed it. MORE...

"Bill Maher: Here's How Obama Can Get Back at All the Rightwing Hacks Who Accused Him of Being an Angry Black Man Pushing a Liberal Agenda... " (with video)

Dan Savage (The Stranger) with video (04:56) from Buzz sourse:

While progressives may be happy that President Obama will be around for another four years, Bill Maher warned them not to get too complacent, and pointed out that now Obama no longer has to run for reelection, they can "hold his feet to the fire" on a number of important progressive issues, from the drug war to the the defense budget. Maher said that after four years of conservatives accusing Obama of being an "angry black man with a liberal agenda," the president should do... just that for the next four years.

"Frank Rich on the National Circus: Lessons for Obama’s New Cabinet"

Frank Rich (New York Magazine):

Much of his cabinet has performed well, so I am not sure there are a ton of lessons to be learned. My biggest concern is Treasury. To me, the biggest failure of the Obama administration has been its inability to address the malfeasance of the financial sector that inflicted so much damage on the country and largely walked away from the wreckage scot-free once America and the world plunged into the Great Recession. The president can try to improve on that record with an economic team that, unlike the departing Geithner and the departed Larry Summers, is free of Robert Rubin protégés who were complicit in the greed-fueled abuses that led to the meltdown. MORE...