Better Check Him for a Wire
Delmar Burridge, the New Hampshire legislator who reported a constituent to the police for advocating marijuana decriminalization, has seen the light—if not on drug policy, then at least on freedom of speech and the right to petition the government. Earlier this month, responding to an e-mail message from drug policy reformer Toby Iselin, Burridge wrote: "I am copying two members of the Keene Police Department in case you want to change your ways and act legal and save your friends. You are very passionate in your beliefs and would make a great snitch." Now, after being roundly condemned online for this thinly veiled threat, Burridge says he'd like to meet with Iselin. "This is a learning process for me," he told The Keene Sentinel. "I'm certainly learning the power of blogs. … It's fascinating."
[Thanks to NORML's Allen St. Pierre for the tip.]
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"power of blogs" my foot.
this is the Constitution in action being enforced against Burridge by Burridge's lawyers.
If people could see the lawyers telling Burridge how much humble pie he had to eat here, then we would appreciate lawyers more.
Instead, all we see is the blogosphere side and therefore we attribute this outcome to the "power of blogs."
This is a learning process for me," he told The Keene Sentinel. "I'm certainly learning the power of blogs. ... It's fascinating.
Fucking eh. If the "power of blogs" means two-bit state-reps. can no longer call on local law-enforcement to harass anyone that dare disagree with them, then I for one welcome our new pajama clad overlords.
Power to the people!
Some change on the road to Damascus and some change just before they get tied to the stake.
I'll take the win, either way.
"Power of the blogs"? Don't you mean the "power of Lamar's awesome ranting"?
He may have changed his mind about the decrim bill too.
At last that's what the MassCann blog linked from my post (linked in the story above) claims.
That goes beyond what was reported at Homeland Stupidity or the Keene Sentinel.
Let's keep in touch with Burridge, make sure that this is true and if so, that he keeps his word.
All the contact info is in that post and the one that preceded it, linked from there, a lot of it is in the comment sections.
Delmar Burridge? The same Delmar I get that great real schoolgirl porn from? Wow a New Hampshire legislator and a loli-fan!
"power of blogs" my foot. this is the Constitution in action being enforced against Burridge by Burridge's lawyers.
Burridge's lawyers may well be involved. But absent the blogs they'd be telling the Rep to forward Iselin's correspondence to law enforcement for a little percussive counseling. "Drug user sues Rep for protecting the children" wouldn't make it to discovery.
"All those bloggers vote" is the incentive.
Nice one, Warren!
Burridge is not the only ignorant idiot in politics.
A couple of years ago I wrote a letter to my governor, Pennsylvania's Ed Rendell, about drug policy reform. Ed used to be the chairman of the Democratic National Committee and is a career lawyer and prosecutor.
Instead of his office writing me back a polite blow-off letter he had the commander of the state police call me and berate me to advocating illegal behaviors.
I told the commander that I wrote to a political leader about public policy and that as such I considered it unAmerican that the politician would have the police respond to me with coercive and intimidating language.
Philadelphia mayor candidates criminally ignorant
TYPO:
Instead of his office writing me back a polite blow-off letter he had the commander of the state police call me and berate me FOR advocating illegal behaviors.
The only Delmar I know is the town too big for one state.
Pat, there's plenty that qualifies Rendell as an idiot, most notably his new socialized medicine plan that seeks to make Pennsylvania a "smoke-free state". Be happy we have a Republican state congress.
At least he's an Eagles fan.
Shorter zach:
Rendell is an idiot . . . he's an Eagles fan.
Hilarious. 😉
TO: zach | January 29, 2007, 1:48pm |
Combine the Democrats and the Republicans and you have the Jim Crow drug war that was created and designed by Richard Nixon in collusion with the Wallace wing of the Democrats for the purpose of undermining and subverting the Voting Rights Act.
Living in America these past fifty-four years has taught me one thing. Political parties are a festering, pustule ridden, chronic social disease on the body politic of America.
George Washington had it right: "Let me now take a more comprehensive view, & warn you in the
most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party, generally."
It would have been even better to see the police contact the guy and warn him to stop wasting their time by reporting constituents who disagree with him.
TO: MikeT | January 29, 2007, 2:32pm
Good point. It was a form of filing a false police report.
Pat... sorry, should've concluded my thought. Be happy we have a Republican state congress, because they won't pass Rendell's ridiculous health care plan.
If Rendell were a Republican, I would want a Democratic legislature. As stupid as the two-party system is, this is really the best situation we can hope for, unless and until the quality of our politicians improves a bit.
TO: zach | January 29, 2007, 6:32pm
Ed Rendell is a Democrat? (;^>)
Rendell is one of the specific reasons that I am no longer a Democrat. I have watched Rendell's entire career and would love to see him in prison next to Mumia for his complicity before the fact in the 1985 MOVE mass murder. any Party that has him as its chairman does not represent my human rights, civil liberties, social justice value system.
Of course Rendell and big Bubba racking up a world record prison population of the poor, minorities and social non-conformists under the guise of the drug war clinched it for me.
It doesn't matter which party runs Harrisburg, as long as that murderous thug is governor there is not a single valid thing either party can do to impress me. And with the two dominance parties running things, as one party, we voters might as well bend over and spread our cheeks for them.
If you can tell the difference between a Democrat and a Republican in Pennsylvania you are delusional.
I lived in Lebanon, Pennsylvania the year Three Mile Island hiccupped.
I swear whenever I walked into a government office they'd smile and say, "How can we screw you over today?"
I always get a kick out of seeing the different kinds of blow-off letter politicians send out for replies. This one is from Lieberman if you contact him from out-of-state:
Dear Friend:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me. I appreciate the opportunity to know your opinions on the pressing issues facing our nation. Regrettably, due to the huge volume of mail that I receive, I am only able to research and address comments sent to me from Connecticut residents. If you are not from Connecticut, you may want to consider sending a message to the Senators from your state of residence. You can do so by visiting http://www.senate.gov/ for a link to the web sites of each member of the United State Senate. If you are currently residing out of state, but are still a Connecticut resident or have a connection to Connecticut, please be certain to use your Connecticut address or indicate your Connecticut connection in the first paragraph of your email.
I value having the benefit of your thoughtful concerns, since I do receive detailed weekly reports from my staff providing a sampling of comments from across the country on timely issues before Congress.
My official Senate web site is an excellent source of information about my work here. As you know, you can access the site at http://lieberman.senate.gov. I encourage you to visit my web site, or if you have already done so, to return to it often. I am also pleased to let you know that I have launched an email news update service through my web site. You can sign up for that service by visiting http://lieberman.senate.gov and clicking on the "Subscribe Email News Updates" button at the bottom of the home page. I hope these are informative and useful.
Thank you again for letting me know your views and concerns.
Sincerely,
Joseph I. Lieberman
UNITED STATES SENATOR
And this one is from the POTUS (not that I actually thought my opinion had a snowball's chance in hell of being read, but I was just really angry and had to write it any way)
On behalf of President Bush, thank you for your correspondence.
We appreciate hearing your views and welcome your suggestions.
The President is committed to continuing our economic progress,
defending our freedom, and upholding our Nation's deepest values.
Due to the large volume of e-mail received, the White House
cannot respond to every message. Please visit the White House
website for the most up-to-date information on Presidential
initiatives, current events, and topics of interest to you.
In order to better receive comments from the public, a new system
has been implemented. In the future please send your comments to
comments@whitehouse.gov.
Thank you again for taking the time to write.
Brett Gyllenskog, Smithfield, Utah