Nation wide legalization of marijuana may be in the works.

[TaraJo]

The Republicans, on the other hand, know they need to change something after the last election

Wishful thinking, methinks. From what I've seen, the Republican party may be growing more and more right-wing.

It even fits in with their political theory of 'small, non-intrusive government.'

But really, since when have people who claimed to support "Small, non-intrusive government" actually followed through on those beliefs? I'm not saying that people don't really believe that this is a good idea, just that the people who do are hardly ever in power. This is the party who came close to turning America into a police state after 9/11 and has long been the biggest supporter of the military-industrial complex. "Small government" is just doublespeak bullshit along the same line as "States' rights."

No, they don't want to change. And generally speaking, they won't change. But on this one issue? Sure. Someone here mentioned what they're wanting to do is a 'rebranding' process where they try to disassociate themselves from the failed brand that killed them in the last election (Tea Party) and try to give themselves a new name. In order for them to be able to say "we're not like those old Republicans" they have to have an issue where they've changed their mind from the past. Marijuana gives them that issus.

So, yeah, they'll still be just as full of shit on all the other issues. They'll still be willing to destroy the rest of the economy to preserve tax cuts for Grover Norquist. They're still going to be firmly convinced that protecting GLBT people will somehow infringe on the rights of fundamentalist Christians. They'll still have a foreign policy reminecent of Ghengis Khan. They'll just flip on one, specific issue, especially since it's an issue where public opinion has shifted rapidly. And they'll use that one flip to say how different they were from previous incarnations of the Republican party.

And the scary thing is that it may very well work. Just get your people to stop talking about rape and pass the immigration bill so you don't have to make quasi-racist speeches.

[Minimalist]

But on this one issue?

Nope. The republicunts are in bed with the cops and the cops need the drug laws to maintain a very lucrative scam.

Expect the dems to keep pushing these issues ( MJ for young voters, gay rights for the gay community, immigration for the Latinos) just to force the old farts of the GOP to take stands against them while they simultaneously try to figure out how to get more tax breaks for their rich cocksucker friends.

Then they will wonder why they lose the next election.

[TaraJo]

But on this one issue?

Nope. The republicunts are in bed with the cops and the cops need the drug laws to maintain a very lucrative scam.

It's not so much the cops that are going to offer the resistance. Ever heard of the prison industrial complex?

[Minimalist]

It's all part of the same thing.

The only growth industry in this country is locking up other Americans and guarding them. The courts, lawyers, (prosecutors and defense) cops and prisons are all in on it and so are way too many politicians who think "Law and Order" is a great slogan.

[Annik]

Nope. The republicunts are in bed with the cops and the cops need the drug laws to maintain a very lucrative scam.

This is changing in Florida. Our whole "justice" department got screwed by Rick Scott ®. I guess we shouldn't be surprised he's be so hard on cops and prison workers since he's a damn criminal himself.

[Something completely different]

After reading a bit into it, I feel like I have to appologise.

The federal legalisation of weed currently seems to be as likely as in some countries here in Europe.
In some cases even more likely.

[Annik]

After reading a bit into it, I feel like I have to appologise.

The federal legalisation of weed currently seems to be as likely as in some countries here in Europe.
In some cases even more likely.

The majority of Americans (although it's juuuust at a majority, I think) are pro-legalization/anti-prohibition. Two of our states have completely legalized it (I doubt the federals can keep up with all that). It'll happen in my lifetime. I'm excited.

[KichigaiNeko]

Making headway here in Oz.

[TaraJo]

It really depends on where the Republicans decide to go. There's a very significant rift in the party right now. Some are wanting to stay with the hard-right path and others realize the ass kicking they got in this last elecion and are trying to be more moderate. So, what happens next will largely depend on where the party goes from here.

But even after that, it really depends. Republican moderates will be more likely to legalize marijuana if they win. If the hard liners win, though, they'll make it more difficult. But the hard liners are going to have a more difficult time getting elected (except with house seats that have been gerrymandered so much that they can only lose by not being extreme enough).

Still, in the 2014 midterms, I still think the Democrats are going to do well. One big issue where the Republican party has been extremely out of step with the public has been taxes. Poll after poll after poll after poll says that the public wants rich people and big corporations taxed more. That's been the one issue the Republican party hasn't been willing to budge on. If they remain this rigid, they're going to get their ass kicked again.