Pot Proponents Shouting Down Governor

[Adam]

:-) That's funny. But I agree, I don't think it was a sad day either. If you listen to the recording of the event, I heard every word the Governor said. And when the supporters would yell comments at him, he would just stop and repeat his last comment so everyone could hear. I also heard all his little croonies that he had at the podium with him. The only person who wasn't heard was John Suthers. But I think we've all heard enough of his lies so I'm not too concerned about the comments of his that were missed.

So I really think the media blew it out of proportion and attempted to cast the supporters as "unruly potheads"

[Adam]

The Rocky Mountain News has yet again printed another article regarding the Press Conference in late Oct. Vincent Carroll appraently received a letter from Allen St. Pierre regarding the negative coverage by Rocky Mountain News.

On Point: Marijuana madness
November 3, 2006

What's with marijuana enthusiasts' blind spot toward free speech?

Last Friday, you may recall, a noisy swarm of pro-pot protesters associated with the group Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation disrupted speeches by state officials who oppose Amendment 44, which would legalize possession of up to an ounce. For a while their clamor actually drowned out Attorney General John Suthers.

The News quickly denounced this assault on freedom in an editorial, pointing out that state officials had a permit for their rally and enjoyed a fundamental right to speak, whatever a mob of self-righteous bullies might have thought.

Even some protesters must later have realized their mistake - in terms of disastrous PR, if nothing else.

So imagine my surprise when Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, e-mailed me this week to rail against the protest's critics.

"I'm genuinely dismayed," he wrote, "to see the Rocky Mountain News' editorial board chose to highlight Governor (Bill) Owens' disgusting slur rather than one hundred and fifty Coloradans' righteous and angry tones confronting prevaricating politicians . . ."

St. Pierre, who witnessed the protest, seems to believe the First Amendment does not apply to anyone who utters what he considers a dangerous lie.

Still, St. Pierre does make one defensible point, which he reiterated to me in a subsequent conversation. He complains that Owens was out of line in comparing the protesters to "brownshirts" - aka Nazi storm troopers. And to be fair, the Nazi analogy in contemporary America is almost always a stretch.

So let's concede that SAFER protesters were by no means the modern equivalent of Ernst Rohm's SA. A more generic term will have to do for those who deny freedom of speech to their fellow citizens.

My humble vote is for "fascists."

View the article HERE

[hrpuffinstuff]

I am across the country, but my attention is in Colorado. I have my fingers crossed because obviously if Colorao does this, others are going to follow.

I appreciate the brave work all of you are doing out there. It is hard to come forward on a topic when some see that as a statement of guilt of breaking the law.

I look forward to the day when this is a national discussion.

[votedforya]

My wife and I, both republicans, voted early. We both voted yes on 44. I don't smoke pot but believe in LESS government and LESS nannyism. So legalize it, tax it, let everyone smoke and be happy. Let police fight crime not pot. We drink but aren't offended by the alcohol-pot comparisons but I don't feel that is really a compelling argument anyhow.

I regret voting yes on 44. You guys have made asses of yourselves between your governer stunt and now the bush/cheney ads. I find them a little humorous actually but I am embarrassed to be siding with you. You lost us.. getting off the pro-marijuana thanks to the jackasses running the movement... good cause otherwise but get it together and grow up next time otherwise I am changing my vote next time (and there will be a next time).

[grasshopa]

Wow! I'm really sorry you feel that way!

While I speak only on my own behalf and wouldn't presume to speak for the organization or any of it's members/volunteers. I am but a humble volunteer.

As such, we have put in a lot of hard time in on this issue. (As, I'm sure, the I 100 team did as well) Many of us though out the entire summer and watched this government try to squash each and every effort.

It is our responsibility as Americans to question what our government does and does not do. That is what this country was taken away from the Native American for! (to give "freedom" to everyone but the original owners)

Given everything you've heard about our government not only of recent but in history as well (Nixon) can we really trust our government only has our best interests at heart? I certainly think NOT.

So what you saw at the capital was not a matter of people trying to squash government...oh no my friend...it was the government trying to squash the people (as usual). This isn't anything new. The government has been doing this for many, many years and will, not only, continue for many, MANY more but also get worse and worse.

Please sir, make NO mistake about it...our government certainly is NOT our friend. So, again, while I only speak for myself and NO one else I did what I felt I had to do. I am, firm, in my belief that what I did was right and given the chance, I'd do it all again. It's high (ha!) time our government understand they belong to us not vice versa!

I trust you remember "By, For and, Of"...

A humble volunteer,
Mike

[kenny]

hmmmm well amendment 44 won in 13 counties and in denver again as well,i wouldnt call that a loss(more of a first step toward common sense).I would say 40% of colorado wants a change and 13 counties agreed with denver that adult marijuana users shouldnt be criminals or fined. 62% voted for 44 in Summit County,Boulder/53%, Clear Creek/54%, Eagle/56%, Gilpin/61%, Gunnison/57%, La Plata/56% , Lake/52%, Pitkin/72%, Routt/53%, Saguache/51%, San Juan/63%, San Miguel/74%, and Denver/56%(so far still not fully counted hmm??)IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTALS,AMENDMENT 44 WINS IN 14 COUNTIES.VOTE YES 2008(Common Sense)

[grasshopa]

I'm going to start this post by saying I just don't get people!

I've been talking to people about 44 and I keep hearing people talking about our protest on the Capital steps.

The more and more I think about it I think that, among other things, really hurt us. I don't understand why people put ANY trust in this fascist gov't. It really bugs me that people still think this gov't has the best interests of the people at heart. The sooner the people realize that the gov't is just and only out for itself the much better off we'll be.

I think the more we stand up to this fascist gov't and tell them this is OUR country and they merely work for us the better off we'll be. If that means shouting down those who work for us, so be it.

Mike

[umay]

The Denver Post poll right before the chutzpah at the capital was 57% no 34% yes, so I don't think it swayed too many people:

www.denverpost.com/search/ci_4568953