Bob Barr keeping Washington D.C. from announcing medical marijuana election results.
February 6, 2002 9:48 AM   Subscribe

Bob Barr keeping Washington D.C. from announcing medical marijuana election results. The government of the nation's capital skips the U.S. Constitution. Anything goes.
posted by magullo (15 comments total)
 
as an optimist and an idealist, something like this makes my soul hurt.
posted by o2b at 9:53 AM on February 6, 2002


The restrictions placed by Congress on D.C. are arbitrary impositions of politically conservative principles on the city, regardless of the opinions of its residents.
posted by danOstuporStar at 10:08 AM on February 6, 2002


Well, yeah.
Start bending to the whims of the people who elected you, and you run the risk of having to be some sort of public servant. Who needs that?
posted by dong_resin at 10:09 AM on February 6, 2002


Well, we all know how inconclusive elections can be anyhow... Lets ask Scalia to apply his principles of justice to the referendum and decide for us !
posted by BentPenguin at 10:17 AM on February 6, 2002


This happened a couple years ago -- didncha hear?

The Marijuana Policy Project has good information about this, and is suing to have it overturned:

...Congress passed an amendment that allows the citizens of D.C. to increase the penalties for marijuana, but prevents us from decreasing the penalties for marijuana-- even for medical use! As a registered voter of D.C., I [Rob Kampia of MPP] am personally suing the government on behalf of MPP to declare this federal law unconstitutional.


Disclaimer: I once did some database and design work for the MPP, so the more persnickety among you might call this a self-link. To you, I say: thpbpbpbpbpth.
posted by ook at 10:20 AM on February 6, 2002


Barr must have had one puff too many and misread the phrase "secret ballot."
posted by sheauga at 10:27 AM on February 6, 2002


Guess what? The terrorists have won.
posted by hincandenza at 10:46 AM on February 6, 2002


Totally constitutional.

The Constitution expressly makes the District of Columbia a territory subject to the will of Congress, without the right to vote and otherwise exercise self-governance granted to the states. A narrow exception permitting voting for President was adopted a while back, but the basic rule stands.
posted by MattD at 11:38 AM on February 6, 2002


A topic near and dear to my heart. Bob Barr has a history of sticking his nose into DC's affairs, and I keep wondering who the hell elected him? Oh, right, people in Cobb County, Georgia, that does explain it. I can only think that it so chafes Bob Barr's ass that DC's electorate is so left-leaning (86% for Gore in the 2000 election), that he just can't help but impose his will on the city in the name of balancing things up a bit, god bless his heart. One Bob Barr vs. 600,000 mostly leftish residents... that's about right.
posted by Sapphireblue at 12:03 PM on February 6, 2002


The Constitution expressly makes the District of Columbia a territory subject to the will of Congress, without the right to vote and otherwise exercise self-governance granted to the states. A narrow exception permitting voting for President was adopted a while back, but the basic rule stands.

That begs the question. Does the Constitution contradict itself in this case? The citizens of D.C. still have first amendment rights.

I know one thing is for sure: Bob Barr is nuttier than Snickers bar.
posted by McBain at 12:16 PM on February 6, 2002


Lets ask Scalia to apply his principles of justice to the referendum and decide
for us !


I'm sure he will find some way to apply equal protection to his decision not to count the ballots.

Humans make mistakes and
Humans count ballots so
Ballots can't be counted and
I rule the world

posted by McBain at 12:20 PM on February 6, 2002


once again proof that the hysteria surrounding this magical and mysterious herb causes more mischief and damage than the "drug" itself.

what was Barr trying to squash? the idea that the locals who stuck with their crack smoking mayor would also be in favor of offering the mellow medicine to those who are dying of AIDS, terminal cancer, and other serious ills?

truth hurts, dont it, bob.
posted by tsarfan at 12:26 PM on February 6, 2002


Well, at least our children got the message. Right?
posted by Dirjy at 4:59 PM on February 6, 2002


In related news, Rep. Barr has taken to shaving his once luxuriant moustache into a little square right below his nose, and to calling for the burning of the Capitol building...

TAE (Visit my web site!)
posted by clevershark at 8:11 AM on February 7, 2002


All new license plates in DC say "Taxation Without Representation." Bill Clinton even allowed plates with the saying on the Presidential limo. One of the first things Dubya did as president was to take them off.
posted by crunchland at 8:32 AM on February 7, 2002


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