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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#96726: Jul 16th 2015 at 7:26:50 PM

Well, that's true. I mean, we were at least talking about Romney this time last election cycle.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#96727: Jul 16th 2015 at 7:53:15 PM

Well here's someone different then: Chris Christie denounces the War of Drugs.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will call on the justice system to “stop treating the victims of addiction as enemies in a war” in his first major criminal justice speech since he announced his bid for the presidency.

“The war on drugs — from an incarceration perspective for those who are nonviolent, who are addicted — has been a failure,” Christie said. “And we need to go toward treatment for those folks and not incarceration.”

But the governor also maintains that marijuana and other drugs should remain illegal, and that he would not allow states to decriminalize pot if he is elected president.

President Obama has taken a hands-off approach to states that have legalized marijuana, such as Colorado, but Christie said he would reverse that unless Congress legalized marijuana for all 50 states.

The governor said he also opposes making reductions in mandatory minimum laws retroactive, which could free thousands of nonviolent federal prisoners who were put away under harsh drug laws that have since been relaxed.

The governor said he supports Obama’s use of his clemency power to free prisoners serving unfairly long sentences. Christie has pardoned and commuted the sentences of a few people in his own state, a politically risky move that many candidates — such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker — have avoided entirely.

Christie supports funneling low-level drug offenders into special drug treatment courts, which submit people to weekly drug tests and counseling but allow them to remain outside of prison as long as they complete their course.

Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#96728: Jul 16th 2015 at 8:17:20 PM

"I dislike the drug war but will continue its policies" is what i'm getting out of that. I can see Christie trying to wedge himself into a niche with this, but in such a crowded field, its statistically impossible.

Christie's best bet is to show that he's a safer bet than Scott Walker, since both have the appeal of being governors of states that go blue in presidential elections (New Jersey's blue outright, Wisconsin tends red at the state level). If he can somehow overcome Bridgegate (and doesn't end up indicted or worse anyway), he'll have to paint himself as a man who is good at specifically overcoming liberal interest groups.

PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#96729: Jul 17th 2015 at 2:47:42 AM

"I dislike the drug war but will continue its policies" is what i'm getting out of that.
"It's up to Congress to stop it and legislate it as bad policy to be revoked", which all things considered, is politically and legally reasonable. It is supposed to be Congress that makes the laws the executive executes.

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#96730: Jul 17th 2015 at 3:21:20 AM

I'm surprised, or is being a diagnosed schizophrenic not enough to qualify as mentally unfit?

It's not. You have to satisfy the jury that your condition definitely affected your actions as well.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#96731: Jul 17th 2015 at 8:14:25 AM

And schizophrenia as a diagnosis alone does not mean the person is mentally unfit. It is during his psychotic episodes. And since those can be controlled the question becomes "Why did you not take your pills, then?"

The diagnosis does not mean he is free of guilt at all

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#96732: Jul 17th 2015 at 11:13:10 AM

A map showing all of the police killings so far this year has been posted online. Only three state have had 0 killings. Five states have had 25+, and those five make up almost half. Personally I was surprised at #4 and 5. And the year is only halfway over. And we have a lot of states who have higher death counts than some countries.

Now, the map does not say how many of these cases are considered justified, nor how many are under investigation. Just the flat numbers by state.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#96734: Jul 17th 2015 at 12:20:41 PM

[up]

Yesterday, actually, unless there was another one in the same city targeting the same folks today.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#96735: Jul 17th 2015 at 12:27:35 PM

...Is it weird that I'm actually surprised there's 3 states where nobody's been shot by a police officer in over a year?

Leviticus 19:34
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#96736: Jul 17th 2015 at 12:28:46 PM

All the low count ones are in the midwest. Understandable as there's just plain nobody to shoot out there.

Oh really when?
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#96738: Jul 17th 2015 at 12:32:06 PM

[up] Yet Oklahoma is the #5 on the list, and there's still plenty of low numbers going into New England (as well as two of the three 0 states). I don't think the geography has as much to do with the idea as you think.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#96739: Jul 17th 2015 at 12:49:56 PM

Geography probably has plenty to do with South Dakota. It's only a slight exaggeration to say nobody lives there. You do have a point about the others though. What are Vermont, Rhode Island, and Maine doing that the rest of us aren't?

Gabrael from My musings Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
#96740: Jul 17th 2015 at 12:51:19 PM

It's too cold and wet to start drama.

Or if we listen to Stephen King, then they are too busy fighting demons and monsters. tongue

"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur
Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#96741: Jul 17th 2015 at 12:55:35 PM

Vermont is also pretty low population.

I think that map would be better served by a "police killing per 100,000 people," though, just to even out the fact that, with equal quality policing, California's going to have more killings than Nevada.

Nocturna Since: May, 2011
#96743: Jul 17th 2015 at 3:21:19 PM

Just out of curiosity, I decided to crunch the numbers on the police killing to get a per capita ratio. Things change a fair bit. Don't have time to actually get them presentable right now, but I should be able to get them up in a few hours.

Nocturna Since: May, 2011
#96744: Jul 17th 2015 at 6:24:48 PM

Double-post, since I now have the graphic:

(full size)

.

.

.

.

.

The Northeast and northeast Midwest look the best. And seriously, what is with Oklahoma?

edited 17th Jul '15 6:27:17 PM by Nocturna

Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#96745: Jul 17th 2015 at 6:29:59 PM

[up]Probably some less then good police work going on in the reservations.

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#96746: Jul 17th 2015 at 6:35:39 PM

I'm impressed. With the quality of the map, that is.

I'm a little surprised that Oregon (my state) is so high.

Leviticus 19:34
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#96747: Jul 17th 2015 at 6:44:18 PM

Surprised Michigan is so low. Guess there's not a lot of fatalities in Detroit!

AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#96748: Jul 17th 2015 at 6:48:49 PM

[up]Not by the police at least.

Inter arma enim silent leges
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!

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