***Official Political Discussion Thread***

[mplsdunk]

I'm celebrating by getting pregnant, applying for welfare, and blowing my first check on percocet. Someone get me my free cell phone. I need to call my connect.

that's probably what half the hillbillies do in west virginia who voted romney anyways.

 

[scarsorscabs]

Congrats to Obama and his supporters. Can't see a Democrat winning in '16.

Why is that? Simply because after consecutive terms of a Democrat in office?

It really depends where the country is in 3.5 years, what candidates run...and the direction of the Republican party.

 

[cj863]

at Prop 37 lagging. America what do you stand for?

 

[deleted]

Watching that lady on Fox walk to the "decision room" was embarrassing.

 

[blakep267]

Karl Rove better start getting his flap on. Nothing else gonna save them

 

[sdotc38109]

 

[doitallpaul]

someone please embed and make a gif

 

[bandman]

This guy is getting killed on twitter

@KennethHarbin

 

[denni5themenace]

What calling the race is based on the counties still left to be counted..
If Obama showed well in Republican counties, and most of the rest of counties are Dem. That's how they call them

ty for the clarification

 

[af1 1982]

For all those interested in the 420 bills:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/06/amendment-64-passes-in-co_n_2079899.html

The Rocky Mountain High just got a whole lot higher. On Tuesday night, Amendment 64 -- the measure which sought the legalization of marijuana for recreational use by adults -- was passed by Colorado voters, making Colorado the first state to end marijuana prohibition in the United States.

With about 36 percent of precincts reporting at the time of publishing, 9News  and Fox31  report that Amendment 64 has passed.

The passage of the state measure is without historical precedent and the consequences will likely be closely-watched around the world. In an interview with The Huffington Post, the authors/researchers behind the book "Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs To Know"  pointed out that the measure in Colorado is truly groundbreaking, comparing it to the legalization that Amsterdam enjoys:

A common error is to believe that the Netherlands has already legalized cannabis (the preferred term for marijuana in Europe). What has been de facto legalized is only the retail sale of 5 grams (about a sixth of an ounce) or less. Production and wholesale distribution is still illegal, and that prohibition is enforced, which is largely why the price of sinsemilla in the “coffee shops” isn’t much different than the price in American dispensaries.

Although Colorado "legalized it," it will be several months, perhaps as long as a year, before Colorado adults 21-and-over can enjoy the legal sale of marijuana. However, the parts of the amendment related to individual behavior will go into effect as soon as Governor Hickenlooper certifies the results of the vote, a proclamation he is obligated to do within 30 days of the election, The Colorado Independent reported.

It's a huge victory for the Campaign To Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the pro-pot group behind Amendment 64. This is the second time Colorado voted on legal weed, in 2006 Coloradans voted the measure down, but not in 2012. Mason Tvert, co-director of the campaign, told The Huffington Post in an August interview  why he thought this year might be different:

The 2006 initiative would have simply removed the penalties for the possession of marijuana legal for individuals 21 years of age or older. The current initiative proposes a fully regulated system of cultivation and sales, which will eliminate the underground marijuana market and generate tens of millions of dollars per year in new revenue and criminal justice savings. It also directs the legislature to regulate the cultivation of industrial hemp, a versatile, popular, and environmentally friendly agricultural crop.
More importantly, voters are more informed about marijuana than ever before. They have also experienced the emergence of a state-regulated medical marijuana system that has not produced any serious problems, but has provided a number of benefits. We now know that marijuana cultivation and sales can be regulated, and that medical marijuana businesses do not contribute to increased crime. We have also seen marijuana use among high school students decrease since the state began implementing regulations, whereas it has increased nationwide where there are no regulations. And, of course, localities and the state have seen how much revenue can be generated through the legal sale of marijuana that would have otherwise gone into the underground market. Voters in Colorado no longer need to imagine what a legal and regulated system of marijuana sales would look like; they have seen it.

It's also worth noting that 2012 is a presidential election year, so we will benefit from increased voter turnout compared to an off-year election like 2006. Historically, the more people who vote, the more support marijuana reform initiatives receive.

Under Amendment 64, marijuana is taxed and regulated similar to alcohol and tobacco. It gives state and local governments the ability to control and tax the sale of small amounts of marijuana to adults age 21 and older. According to the Associated Press, analysts project that that tax revenue could generate somewhere between $5 million and $22 million a year in the state. An economist whose study was funded by a pro-pot group projects as much as a $60 million boost by 2017.

However, the big unknown still is if the federal government will allow a regulated marijuana market to take shape. Attorney General Eric Holder, who was a vocal opponent of California's legalization initiative in 2010 saying he would "vigorously enforce" federal marijuana prohibition, has continued to remain silent on the issue this year.

In September, Holder was urged by by nine former heads of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration  to take a stand against marijuana legalization again. "To continue to remain silent conveys to the American public and the global community a tacit acceptance of these dangerous initiatives," the nine said in the letter to holder obtained by Reuters.

Earlier this month those same DEA drug warriors joined by former directors of the Office of National Drug Control Policy on a teleconference call to put additional pressure on Holder  to speak out against Colorado's marijuana measure as well as similar initiatives on the ballot in Washington state and Oregon.

The drug warriors say that states that legalize marijuana for recreational use will trigger a "Constitutional showdown" with the federal government.

In a report published Sunday by NBC News, President Obama's former senior drug policy advisor said that if the marijuana initiatives pass, a war will be incited between the federal government and the states that pass them. "Once these states actually try to implement these laws, we will see an effort by the feds to shut it down," Sabet said.

But proponents of the legislation say they don't foresee federal agents interfering  in states that have legalized cannabis, citing the federal government's silence on the issue this election cycle.

The DOJ has yet to formally announce its enforcement intentions, however, the clearest statement from the DOJ came from Deputy Attorney General James Cole, who said his office's stance on the issue would be "the same as it's always been."  During a recent appearance on "60 Minutes" Cole elaborated, "We're going to take a look at whether or not there are dangers to the community from the sale of marijuana and we're going to go after those dangers," Reuters reported.

 

[elderwatsondiggs]

 

[rosegoldsluggs]

here is to HOPE for 4 prosperous years for the USA!!!!!

 

[finallyfamous]

Twitter is classic right now

 

[Mactastic4167]

They are going hard with that Marvin Gaye, can hardly even hear the commentators.

 

[Coupé It]

These tweets remind me of Will Ferrell in Old School when he's telling everyone "We're going STREAKING" but he ends up running around town nude, and alone.

 

[Smorgasbordgie]

Donald Trump is a jack*** we can all agree on that

Yeah, he sounds ridiculous on Twitter right now.

 

[stealth 23]

 

[Kimchi Papi]

The electoral vote might be a rout for Barack...

 

[maliz]

When is Obama going to talk?

 

[iamyourfather]

gona go on twitter n start trolling donald trump

 

[definition of dopeness]

My guy went out and voted today too...

 

[chris316]

 

[aeropower]

Everyone knows I voted for Mitt, and I think everyone needs to stick together for better change!

My FB Status: Show us what you got Obama! The US must come together now no matter who they voted for and Sir... there is no excuses moving forward... get 'er done.

 

[lyonbc1]

Congrats to Obama and his supporters. Can't see a Democrat winning in '16.

Why is that? Simply because after consecutive terms of a Democrat in office?

It really depends where the country is in 3.5 years, what candidates run...and the direction of the Republican party.

If this doesn't wake up the stubborn republicans and more tea party people emerge....then it'll be EVEN MORE of a landslide for a democrat in 2016 believe that. They need a moderate to be their nominee but they would bash a solid candidate to feed their rabid far right base someone with no shot in a general election. There's some intimidation that you can't be a real conservative without being a staunch, hard nose, no compromise candidate

 

[essential1]

Right now.. Romney is refusing to concede.