i think its time we start our own type of identity politics

[AlanCranston]

The republicans succeeded in the late 20th century by using a sort of identity politics. Nixon epitomized this in his silent majority speech. I think that we need to do the same thing. Seeing movies like Lords of Dogtown, The Big Lebowski, the Bill and Ted movies or the Cheech and Chong movies I see people who probably don't vote, but I think the democratic party needs to cater to these type of people. Obama should try to label these people as the "silent majority" in America. Similar to the attack ads used by George HW Bush (like Johnny Horton) we should use attack ads on republican candidates for being "buzzkill" or "player haters". We should try to portray ourselves as being the party of Jeff Bridges character in the Big Lebowski; a misunderstood likeable down to earth guy who doesn't judge anyone and compare the republicans as being the party of David Huddleston's character; an out of touch coot who doesn't understand how most of us feel.

[AlabamaLibrul]

1. Obama's DOJ and DEA has made state-sanctioned medical pot smokers a big-ass priority

Which, by the way, means he lied about how he wasn't going to do so.

You really think he's going to start calling them the "silent majority" and pandering to them?

[SugarShack]

3. I spoke to the DOJ and the DEA and the priority was changed from Bush's "smokers" to Obama's growers

without a license in the medical states. That is still followiong the law. they are not going after the shops in the medical states that are following the laws. If they are now growing without a license....then they are breaking the law. Bush WAS going after any shops....regardless if they were following the law or not. So I don't believe your post. The priority under Obama to those agencies are the growers. Not the medical buyers of small amounts in the right to states. But you are not suppose to be smoking in any of those shops either...and they are. So they are breaking the law. But the DEA told me they did not have the resources to go after those law breakers. Of 35 illegal growers busts they should do daily in Calif..they can only do approximately 4-5 a day. Growers are Obama's number one priority directive to those agencies. Call them yourself.

I spoke of prop. 19 in California to them, the DEA....I said all the shops were smoking up, overwhelming the DEA. They thought prop 19 would pass, and they would just continue smoking in shops. But guess what? It did not pass. But the DEA cannot keep up with the illegal growers. You can grow for your medical supply, but you must have a license and be inspected. That is reasonable. If you want pot...expect regulation like anything else. I was told you will be inspected to insure that you are only growing to accomodate your clientle, your business needs, and not actually growing to supply a cartel. Makes sense to me. But the priorities were changed, the Presidential directives were changed from Bush to Obama. Bush did not honor states rights. Obama is.
The medical marijuana community is not following the laws. They want to toke up like Amsterdam coffee houses. It's not allowed. YOu must get your pot and leave with it. We don't have laws that allow smoking in the "despensing clinics" ...yet.

[LoZoccolo]

2. I like Obama's strategy of encouraging participation better.

I think Cheech and Chong and The Dude might be seen as people who don't participate.