New Drug Czar?

[unapatriciated]

Run time: 10:13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3CDjf-8UaA   Posted on YouTube: February 12, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 12, 2009 By DU Member: unapatriciated Views on DU: 1148

 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/11/gil-kerlikowske-to-be-dru_n_166096.html

Seattle's Chief of Police Gil Kerlikowske has been called to Washington to serve as Obama's 'drug czar', the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported today. ABC News confirmed the report. Kerlikowske has led the Seattle police force for nearly a decade. He has worked in Washington before, as a deputy director in the Justice Department during the Clinton years.

Kerlikowske's new appointment will be cabinet level, will have him overseeing the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and will require Senate confirmation.

Here is more from the Post-Intelligencer:

He leaves Seattle with the city's crime rate at a historical 40-year low, despite resurgences in youth and gang violence, especially in the city's South End. Kerlikowske has maintained a national profile, with his interests especially focused on issues such as gun control, immigration and electronic data mining of private records.

[ixion]

1. To hell with drug 'czars'

end the so-called 'war' on drugs now.

[unapatriciated]

2. hopefully this will happen...

He seems to have the opinion that the so-called "war" on drugs was not a good thing.

[spindrifter]

4. It was not a good thing. It removed a generation of

young African Americans to prisons for lengthy sentences. This "glorified" the ones who went to the joint and younger kids imitated the g'sters. Then, when those sentences were served the men who were released came back to a community that had passed them by.

[unapatriciated]

5. I agree the war on drugs was just another way to make money...

too many of our youth went to prison while corporate criminals got a slap and kept the monies they stole.

[spindrifter]

6. It was also a cottage industry for the cops.

Tons of money got spent on overtime for "buy-busts". Then there is the "prison industry."

[unapatriciated]

7. and the Federal funding...

using our money to line their pockets and jail our kids.
With no real interest in rehabilitation for hard drug users.

[Thrill]

3. Reading the reaction from people in Seattle, he appears to be pretty soft

on Marijuana. Apparently thinks arresting people for it is a waste of time. LOL

[Politicalboi]

8. Well let's hope he still thinks that

I don't agree with the war on drugs either.

[Seedersandleechers]

11. I agree with his assessment

but can you imagine what his confirmation hearing will be like with that attitude and the republicons. Sorry to say - they'll be really hard on him.

[trungpa ricochet]

9. Stop the violence and corruption in Mexico and Colombia

Decriminalize all drugs in the United States and eliminate the profit motive.

[roody]

10. What a sensible idea.