Tea Party Group Calls On Bachmann To Leave Presidential Race

While the Tea Party supporters show an astounding degree of ignorance regarding public policy matters, they are not total fools regarding politics. They realize that Michele Bachmann is an embarrassment to their cause and some want her to drop out of the presidential race. Following is from a statement posted at Liberty Rising (a poorly named site from a group with so many members who support the agenda of the authoritarian right, but is expected from the Tea Party movement which takes a symbol of the American Revolution while opposing the principles promoted by that revolution):

It’s time for Michele Bachmann to go.  For the last two years, I’ve been cautioning about the dangers of individuals or organizations trying to present themselves as leaders of the Tea Party movement.  An individual personality or organization purporting to be a “leader” of what is truly a grassroots movement can hurt the tea party brand by creating false impressions about its core beliefs.  Bachmann, the leader of the so-called tea party caucus in the House and the most vocal about her affiliation with the Tea Party than any other Presidential candidate, has consistently presented herself as a champion of the movement and its values.  Bachmann has ridden her tea party credentials from obscurity to a national platform like no other.

Reading further, I find their attempt to distance themselves from the religious right to be somewhat admirable, but also quite disingenuous considering the views held by a majority of Tea Party supporters. To say that the Tea Party is purely about matters such as fiscal responsibility and ignore all their other baggage is like saying Fascism was only about getting the trains to run on time.  (Not to mention that their bizarre concept of fiscal responsibility was advocate default on bills previously run up by Republicans, leading S&P to lower the nation’s credit rating.)

CNN reported further comments from the Executive Director of the misnamed American Majority:

“I think it’s pretty obvious that Michele Bachmann is about Michele Bachmann,” American Majority Executive Director Matt Robbins said.

“Anyone who knows the congresswoman, and knows her record, we appreciate a national figure standing up for the tea party types,” Robbins added.

Robbins said the statement is not about the group favoring one candidate over Bachmann.

“We are equal opportunity hecklers.” Robbins said. “We point out the foibles and the flaws in each one of the candidates. And we don’t care which one of the personalities wins, as long as they’re conservative.”

“Let’s face it: she’s a back-bencher and has been a back bencher congressperson for years,” Robbins added. “This is not a serious presidential campaign.”

Despite all my other disagreements, I do agree with this last line from Robbins.

Medical Marijuana Advocates in California Suing Federal Government Over Crackdowns

One of the biggest disappointments of the Obama administration has been the failure to stop action against those involved in the growing and distribution of medical marijuana. Following recent crackdowns in California, medical marijuana advocates have filed suit against the federal government. AP reports:

Medical marijuana advocates in California sued the federal government Thursday in an effort to quash a recent crackdown on the state’s storefront pot dispensaries, claiming government officials have overstepped their constitutional authority by not respecting how local officials have chosen to regulate pot stores and growers.

The lawsuit filed in San Francisco by the advocacy group Americans for Safe Access states that recent raids of licensed dispensaries and letters warning city officials they could be prosecuted for trying to regulate medical marijuana cultivation and sales constitute an illegal power grab under the 10th Amendment. The amendment awards to states legislative authority not explicitly reserved for the federal government.

“ASA does not challenge the congressional authority to enact laws criminalizing the possession and/or control of marijuana, as this issue has been resolved in the government’s favor,” Americans for Safe Access Chief Counsel Joe Elford wrote in the complaint. “It is, rather, the government’s tactics, and the unlawful assault on state sovereignty they represent, that form the gravamen of ASA’s claim.”

The suit names Attorney General Eric Holder and Melinda Haag, the U.S. attorney for Northern California, as defendants. Haag’s spokesman, Jack Gillund, declined to comment on the case.

While I disagree with Holder’s actions, to be fair there is no doubt that the systems to provide medical marijuana are also used to allow for more widespread use of marijuana. However, it is hard to find any reasonable justification for outlawing marijuana, and prohibition does not work. The most reasonable response would be to discontinue these efforts and to seek the legalization of marijuana. The California Medical Association has recently called for the legalization of marijuana despite having questions regarding the benefits of medical marijuana. A recent Gallup poll showed fifty percent support the legalization of marijuana, with Republicans and conservatives being most likely to oppose this.

There Really Is A War On Halloween

Right wingers, who love to act as if they are victims, have been whining about an imaginary War on Christmas for years. Fox has also been claiming there is a War on Halloween:

On Monday’s Fox and Friends , Gretchen Carlson and Brian Kilmeade reported on the “all out assault on Halloween.” “Schools across the country are doing everything from banning costumes to even removing the holiday because it may offend immigrants,” Kilmeade exclaimed. Carlson lamented the fact that schools were “cracking down” on Halloween. “I’m sad, I have two little kids and I’m wondering if they’re not going to ever see the American traditions that all of us had.”

It turns out that Fox is right that there is a War on Halloween but it is not being waged by liberals who wish to avoid offending immigrants. The War on Halloween is being waged by religious fundamentalists who wish to replace Halloween with JesusWeen. From their web site:

JesusWeen is a non profit organization also known as JesusWin. We are focused on helping people live better lives through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. JesusWeen is a God-given vision which was born as an answer to the cry of many every October 31st. The dictionary meaning of Ween is to expect, believe or think. We therefore see October 31st as a day to expect a gift of salvation and re-think receiving Jesus.

Every year, the world and its Every year, the world and its system have a day set aside (October 31st) to celebrate ungodly images and evil characters while Christians all over the world participate, hide or just stay quiet on Halloween day. Being a day that is widely acceptable to solicit and knock on doors, God inspired us to encourage Christians to use this day as an opportunity to spread the gospel. The days of hiding are over and we choose to take a stand for Jesus. “Evil prevails when good people do nothing”. JesusWeen is expected to become the most effective Christian outreach day ever and that is why we also call it” World Evangelism Day”.

Buzzfeed has more links regarding JesusWeen.