TASER-Related Deaths Increasingly Frequent; Total Exceeds 150, Reports Amnesty International

TASER Use Amounts to Torture in Some Cases

Common Dreams
Amnesty International

NEW YORK - March 28 - "[It was] the most horrendous experience [of my life]. At one point I just pretended like I was dead because I thought ... then they would stop." -- Patricia Skelly, who has a mental illness, and was shocked with a TASER between nine and 15 times while in jail and later in a hospital.

Sixty-one people died in 2005 after being shocked by law enforcement agency TASERs, a 27 percent increase from 2004's tally of 48 deaths, finds an Amnesty International study released today. Including 10 TASER-related deaths through mid-February of this year, at least 152 people have died in the United States since June 2001 after being shocked with the weapons.

"Despite a lack of independent research on TASER safety, police officers are using these weapons as a routine force tool -- rather than as a weapon of last resort," said Dr. William F. Schulz, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA). "These weapons have a record that's growing longer each week -- and it's not a good one. The increasingly frequent TASER-related deaths underscore the need for an independent, rigorous and impartial inquiry into their use."

Richard Riley Jr. faces drug charges

Ex-governor’s son denies marijuana, drug paraphernalia belonged to him

The State, SC
The Associated Press
03/31/06

MOUNT PLEASANT — The son of former South Carolina Gov. Dick Riley was arrested early Thursday morning on drug charges, police said.

Richard Riley Jr., 47, was charged with simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to an incident report. Riley also told The Associated Press he had been charged with open container.

An officer found an open beer can, marijuana and metal and glass pipes in the car, according to the incident report.

“None of it was mine,” said Riley. He and his wife sell artwork in Greenville. “I’m hoping to get some charges dismissed. ... The only thing I was doing was speeding.”

Riley said he was driving a friend’s SUV because the friend had a couple of drinks at a restaurant. They were headed to a nearby Isle of Palms beach house to go fishing, but got lost, he said.

Riley was pulled over for going 66 mph in a 45-mph zone, according to an incident report. Riley said he thought the area had a posted limit of 55 mph.

He was taken to the Charleston County jail. He said he paid bail and pleaded not guilty.

Riley was arrested Nov. 17, 1992 with 26 others and charged with conspiracy to unlawfully possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.

His arrest came the same week former President Clinton appointed his father as education secretary.

The younger Riley pleaded guilty to reduced drug charges in February 1993 and was sentenced to 180 days of home confinement and probation for three years.

Clinton pardoned him in January 2001.

Riley’s father served two terms as governor from 1979-87.

Alabama House passes sentencing reform bill

Montgomery Advertiser

A bill to change the way criminals are sentenced in Alabama is on its way to the governor.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, called the a bill that gives judges voluntary sentencing standards the “lynchpin” of a package that has been backed by the Alabama Sentencing Commission and Gov. Bob Riley.

The sentencing reform bill, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, passed the House this morning, and could go to the governor if the upper chamber agrees to a cosmetic change made in the House.

“In Alabama ... we criminalize a whole lot of offenses that probably ought not to be criminalized,” said Rep. James Buskey, D-Mobile.

AMEN Brother Buskey!!

April Campaign Events

Dear Friends and Supporters,

April is going to be an extremely busy month for us at the Nall for Governor Campaign HQ. The following is a list of events currently on my calendar.

On April 8 the Alabama Libertarian Party will hold its annual convention where I will hopefully receive the LP nomination to run for Governor of Alabama. If you are an Alabama resident and you support my candidacy for Governor I implore you to come to the convention. I need a full house to show the LP and the media how much support there is for my campaign. The details are at the link above.

I have to be in court on April 10 unless my attorney is able to get that changed.

On April 11th I am holding a news conference on the steps of the Capitol to formally announce my candidacy and kick off the campaign. Your attendance at the press conference is vital. I'll help you get there if that is needed.
Please let me know.

On April 20th I am speaking to the Mobile County Landowners Association at their candidate meet & greet.

On April 21st I'll be at the other end of the state participating in the the PTA Candidate forums in Huntsville.

On April 28th I will be speaking to the Alabama Forest Owners Association in Montgomery.

And on April 29th I am flying to Vancouver for the International Harm Reduction Conference. The tab for this is being picked up by the DPA because it involves the other legislative work I am currently working on.

Please MAKE A CONTRIBUTION to ensure that I will be able to meet my committments in the month of April.

Also, campaign ad season is about to open and, since it is unlikely that I will have ballot access, most of my resources will be directed to a hard-hitting ad campaign. Please help ensure that I have the resources I need to continue to be a factor in this election. With your help we will achieve major strides toward freedom in Alabama.

I have campaign signs and large info cards available to any Alabama volunteers who would like them. Please send me your name and address and how many of each you would like and I will get them out to you. I need people willing to place signs and distribute the info cards in every county in Alabama. This campaign depends in large part on grassroots networking and word of mouth advertising. Campaign signs and cards are also available at the Libertarian Party HQ located at 2330 Highland Ave. in Birmingham.


In Liberty,
Loretta Nall
Vote Nall Y'all...It's Just Common Sense

Queen of Lies vs Prince of Pot

DEA Administrator Karen Tandy bashes Marc Emery in March 29, 2006 letter to the Washington Post

SSDP/Dare Generation Blog Response



Tandy Monster Strikes Again



Marc Emery



Flashback: July 29, 2005
Tandy crows over the arrest and admits political motives
Click to enlarge

From the Drug War to the Iraq War and beyond

blackwaterusa

U.S. FIRM OFFERS PRIVATE ARMY

sofexjordan

Security news roundup - March 2006

Safe Homes, UK
03/28/06

Whether you are in a classroom, driving your car or in your own home,
Big Brother is Watching You.
-----------------------------


The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is handing out infra-red devices to our local police departments like candy. They claim the devices are used to locate missing persons. What a noble cause.

In reality these devices are being used to illegaly search our homes in what the U.S. Supreme court has ruled to be a direct violation of the Fourth Amendment.

Canadian pair arrested following marijuana drop, pilot escapes

The Casper Star Tribune, WY
Associated Press
03/29/06

OKANOGAN, Wash. (AP) -- A man and a woman from Vancouver, British Columbia, have been arrested in the latest of at least four apparent marijuana deliveries by float plane, but the pilot and plane got away, authorities said.

Both Canadians were booked into the Okanogan County jail Thursday for investigation of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, Sheriff Frank T. Rogers said.

"We're running ourselves ragged," Rogers said. "It's like an epidemic up here. We're running from call to call."

Investigators seized 325 pounds of pot valued at $1.5 million after seeing a float plane land on Soap Lake, a small lake on the Colville Indian Reservation rather than the larger and better known resort area north of Ephrata, said Sgt. Brad Wilson, commander of the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force.

The plane's registration numbers were covered and it took off and flew north before agents from the task force could get to the lake, but they did stop a rental vehicle and arrested the two Canadians, Wilson said.

American morality spotlights contrasts

Topping the "Social Trends" survey of what's immoral was married people having an affair.

Kansas.com, KS
BY CHARLES M. MADIGAN
Chicago Tribune
03/29/06

CHICAGO - Cheating on your income taxes is almost as bad as cheating on your mate, and smoking pot isn't as bad as drinking to excess.

That's what a cross section of Americans reports in the Pew Research Center's latest "Social Trends" study, released Tuesday.

The survey sought to present a blunt test of what Americans believe is moral by measuring the responses to 10 questions. It recognizes that questions of morality are generally quite sophisticated and complicated.

"The survey did not measure intensity of feeling.... Judgments about right and wrong are by nature profound -- and in real life -- often nuanced and situational," the research center says in its report.

But on the surface, the study, which questioned 1,502 people in February, presents a fascinating set of contrasts on questions of moral behavior.

The Pew researchers sought to create "a barometer of modern morals" by ranking the 10 issues.

At the top of the list, 88 percent of the respondents said married people having an affair was wrong. Three percent said that would be morally acceptable and 7 percent said adultery is not a moral issue.

Second on the list, 79 percent said it was not moral to hold back in reporting income on your income tax forms. Just 5 percent said that was OK, 14 percent said it wasn't a moral issue and 1 percent said "it depends."

Number three on the morality scale was drinking too much alcohol. Sixty-one percent said drinking too much alcohol was not moral while 5 percent said that was OK, 31 percent said it wasn't a moral issue and 2 percent said "it depends."

Fourth on the list was having an abortion. Fifty-two percent of the respondents said that would be morally wrong. Twelve percent said that abortion was morally acceptable, 23 percent said it was not a moral issue and 11 percent said "it depends."

Smoking pot was number five. Exactly half of the respondents said smoking pot was morally wrong, which means more people oppose excessive drinking than oppose pot smoking. Only 10 percent said pot smoking was morally OK, while 35 percent said it wasn't a moral issue and 4 percent said "it depends."

Homosexual behavior was also viewed as not moral by 50 percent, with 12 percent saying that it was morally acceptable, 33 percent saying it wasn't a moral issue and 1 percent saying "it depends."

Telling a lie to spare someone's feelings came in seventh on the list. Sex between unmarried adults and the issue of gambling tied at number eight. Overeating was last on the list.

While the numbers are interesting, they may not say much about behavior.

For example, having an affair might be roundly condemned, but other surveys show at least 15 percent of those ever married have had sex outside of their marriage, Pew says.

DRUG-RAID VICTIM IS SUING CITY

ALEX GINSBERG
New York Post, NY

March 27, 2006 -- When authorities raided Patrice Agrippa's Brooklyn home more than two years ago, they said he laundered money for an international coke ring and was so dangerous he should be held on $1 million bail.

Apparently not.

Earlier this month, with trial looming, prosecutors dropped the case against the one-time plasterer, with no explanation.

The 34-year-old father of three filed a notice of claim last Friday announcing his intent to sue the city for millions.

"I was happy, and yet again I was sad," said Agrippa. "Because I knew that these people had my life on hold for two years."

Agrippa was one of 13 people busted in an investigation that smashed a $75 million coke-running ring employing JFK Airport baggage handlers.

He was on Rikers Island for six months until relatives got his $1 million bail reduced.

Agrippa's civil lawyer, Tracy Grant, a former Brooklyn prosecutor, said it was one of the worst cases of false arrest and malicious prosecution she had seen.

The city Law Department declined to comment, as did the police.

Brooklyn DA spokesman Jerry Schmetterer said, "After a careful review of the evidence at this point, it became clear that the fair thing to do was to dismiss."

Rethinking the drug war

Town Hall, DC
By John Stossel
03/29/06

Getting high can be bad. Putting people in prison for it is worse. And doing the latter doesn't stop the former.

I was once among the majority who believe that drug use must be illegal. But then I noticed that when vice laws conflict with the law of supply and demand, the conflict is ugly, and the law of supply and demand generally wins.

The drug war costs taxpayers about $40 billion. "Up to three quarters of our budget can somehow be traced back to fighting this war on drugs," said Jerry Oliver, then chief of police in Detroit, told me. Yet the drugs are as available as ever.

Oliver was once a big believer in the war. Not anymore. "It's insanity to keep doing the same thing over and over again," he says. "If we did not have this drug war going on, we could spend more time going after robbers and rapists and burglars and murderers. That's what we really should be geared up to do. Clearly we're losing the war on drugs in this country."

No, we're "winning," according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, which might get less money if people thought it was losing. Prosecutors hold news conferences announcing the "biggest seizure ever." But what they confiscate makes little difference. We can't even keep drugs out of prisons -- do we really think we can keep them out of all of America?

Even as the drug war fails to reduce the drug supply, many argue that there are still moral reasons to fight the war. "When we fight against drugs, we fight for the souls of our fellow Americans," said President Bush. But the war destroys American souls, too. America locks up a higher percentage of her people than almost any other country. Nearly 4,000 people are arrested every day for mere possession of drugs. That's more people than are arrested for aggravated assault, burglary, vandalism, forcible rape and murder combined.

Authorities say that warns people not to mess with drugs, and that's a critical message to send to America's children. "Protecting the children" has justified many intrusive expansions of government power. Who wants to argue against protecting children?

I have teenage kids. My first instinct is to be glad cocaine and heroin are illegal. It means my kids can't trot down to the local drugstore to buy something that gets them high. Maybe that would deter them.

Or maybe not. The law certainly doesn't prevent them from getting the drugs. Kids say illegal drugs are no harder to get than alcohol.

Perhaps a certain percentage of Americans will use or abuse drugs -- no matter what the law says.

I cannot know. What I do know now, however, are some of the unintended consequences of drug prohibition:

1. More crime. Rarely do people get high and then run out to commit crimes. Most "drug crime" happens because the product is illegal. Since drug sellers can't rely on the police to protect their property, they form gangs and arm themselves. Drug buyers steal to pay the high black market prices. The government says alcohol is as addictive as heroin, but no one is knocking over 7-Elevens to get Budweiser.

2. More terrorism. The profits of the drug trade fund terrorists from Afghanistan to Colombia. Our herbicide-spraying planes teach South American farmers to hate America.

3. Richer criminal gangs. Alcohol prohibition created Al Capone. The gangs drug prohibition is creating are even richer, probably rich enough to buy nuclear weapons. Osama bin Laden was funded partly by drug money.

Government's declaring drugs illegal doesn't mean people can't get them. It just creates a black market, where even nastier things happen. That's why I have come to think that although drug addiction is bad, the drug war is worse.


John Stossel is co-anchor of ABC News "20/20" and author of "Give Me a Break."

Bitter Old Punk

This Guy ROCKS!!!

His recounting of an entanglement with the local narcotics task force and the ensuing forced NA/AA meetings, cup-pissings and other human indignities, reminds me of my own writings about experiences in Alabama and is absolutely priceless. A MUST READ

By the way, myself, BlueGal and BitterOldPunk will be getting together tomorrow for lunch. Should be a great afternoon!
I'll get pictures if no one objects!

Aldermen experience 'drug raid' operation

By PETE HOLLEY
Annapolis Capital, MD
03/26/06

They appear without warning, all 15 streaming out from behind an inconspicuous red brick home onto a quiet Annapolis street.

Cloaked in black, bearing fearsome-looking weapons, dark masks and shields, the posse resembles the faceless henchmen of some Orwellian nightmare.

As they march double-time across the street, traffic halts and stunned drivers stare in disbelief.

Are We Not Men?

Weaponizing the Shark and Other Pentagon Dreams
By Tom Engelhardt
Mother Jones
03/07/06



Saddam planned to deploy 'camels of mass destruction'
By James Langton
news.telegraph.co.uk
03/26/06







Trained Wasps May Be Used To Detect Bombs, Bugs, Bodies And More
sciencedaily.com
10/21/05





Supreme Court expands police search powers
Drug-sniffing dogs now have access to any car stopped
Bob Egelko
San Francisco Chronicle
01/25/05


The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens.

Henry David Thoreau
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
1849

Palm Springs Man Charged with DUI of Marijuana

First Coast News, FL
03/22/06

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (AP) -- A Palm Springs man is charged with being under the influence of marijuana in the hit-and-run deaths of a mother and her two daughters.

A Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokesman says Michael Smith is charged with three counts of DUI Manslaughter, three counts of vehicular homicide, one count of causing serious bodily injury and one count of reckless driving with injuries.

Witnesses told authorities that Smith was speeding and ran a red light at a major Lake Park intersection in January when he slammed into a car driven by Gertrude Daniels. Daniels and two daughters, 14-year-old Brianna Jones and 9-year-old Shanice Daniels, were killed on impact. Another daughter was seriously injured in the crash.

Toxicology tests showed Smith had recently been using marijuana. An officer who responded to the crash also noted Smith's speech was slurred. The sheriff's office says this is the first DUI manslaughter case to be prosecuted based on the use of marijuana.

Regarding Medical Marijuana

Free Speech TV, CO
03/24/06

This film is a hard hitting look at medical marijuana in the modern day. Particularly relating to the California front line battle to distribute and buy a medicine that under state law is legal, yet under federal law is still a Schedule 1 narcotic. This documentary features interviews with people from both sides of the struggle surrounding this issue, featuring appearances by Dennis Peron (Prop. 215), George H.W. Bush, Michael Moore, Ed Rosenthal and John Walters (National Drug Control Policy).

Click above link for page offering streaming video

Deputy's drug raid death confronts the community

Editorial
Macon Telegraph, GA
03/26/06

Some excerpts:
"poisonous hydra", "inferno", "miscreants", "infiltrating"

"And while they barged into the house at 3135 Atherton Street unannounced in the middle of the night, it seems possible that their approach was tipped off by surveillance equipment that gave the occupants of the house time to arm and position themselves."

Gee, did this guy ever think that barging into someone's house unannounced in the middle of the night might be a bad idea?

Seized assets do pay off

By BILL FREEHLING
The Free Lance-Star, VA
03/26/06

The war on drugs netted Virginia law enforcement agencies nearly $6 million in 2005, and about $40 million since 1990.

That's according to data from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, which runs the state's asset forfeiture program and receives 10 percent of all proceeds from drug seizures.

Law enforcement agencies in the Fredericksburg area received about $442,000 last year from drug asset forfeitures, and more than $1 million since the state's program started in 1990. Before that, seized assets went to the Literary Fund.

Local agencies have used the money to buy a wide variety of items--including drug dogs, polygraph machines, vehicles, surveillance equipment and more.

"I don't have to go to the taxpayer to ask them to pay for it," said Spotsylvania County Sheriff Howard Smith, whose office received nearly $60,000 from seized drug assets last year.

In addition to saving taxpayer money, Smith said the forfeiture program gives police more resources to fight the drug problem. And it lets them hit drug dealers where it hurts--in the wallet.

The desire to shut down illegal activity by seizing assets led Smith and Spotsylvania Commonwealth's Attorney William Neely to approve a controversial prostitution investigation at the Moon Spa massage parlor.

Spotsylvania detectives received sexual services at the now-closed business across from BJ's Wholesale Club on State Route 3. Neely said that was necessary to get the money into the hands of the business owners and shut them down, but Smith has now suspended the tactic.

Virginia's asset forfeiture laws allow the seizure of assets gained through illegal activity, including prostitution and gambling. Local agencies don't have to report non-drug-related asset forfeitures to the DCJS.


Drug War Facts: Asset Forfeiture

United States Charges 50 Leaders Of Narco-Terrorist FARC In Colombia With Supplying More Than Half Of The World's Cocaine

DEA Public Affairs
03/22/06

(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—Fifty leaders of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (the FARC) in Colombia have been indicted on charges of importing more than $25 billion worth of cocaine into the United States and other countries, the Department of Justice announced today.

“From their jungle hideaway, the FARC uses the drug trade to bankroll terrorism in Colombia, finance attacks on innocent citizens, and poison Americans,” said DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy. “Today’s indictment challenges that lawlessness, and the FARC leadership should prepare to face the justice that they have long denied to so many.”



U.S. Elevates River-Combat Role in Colombian 'Counter Narco-Terrorist' Ops
By Stephen Peacock
narcosphere.narconews.com
03/15/06

U.S. government “counter narco-terrorism” forces in Colombia are heightening their ability to conduct river-based missions, the most recent step which involves the planned shipment of “mini armored troop carriers,” or MATCs, to Bogota. The U.S. Navy is arranging to deliver up to 10 of the titanium-reinforced, 14-troop capacity MATCs, beginning with four of the watercraft this year and possibly another six by 2007.

Senate committee approves medical marijuana bill

KARE, MN
AP
03/24/06

A Florida stockbroker testified before a Minnesota Senate committee, urging lawmakers to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. Then he stepped outside the Capitol and lit up a joint.

For 53-year-old Irvin Rosenfeld, it was perfectly legal.

Rosenfeld suffers from a rare bone disease and is one of a handful of people left in a federal program that supplies him regularly with free marijuana.

He said marijuana's anti-inflammatory properties have prevented tumor growths on his bones.

After hearing from Rosenfeld, the Senate Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee approved the medical marijuana bill on a 6-to-5 party-line vote, with DFL'ers in support and Republicans opposed.

Alaskans weigh privacy and drug dangers in marijuana debate

KTVA, AK
Associated Press
03/24/06

Alaska's governor is pushing a bill to recriminalize marijuana in the state - and trigger a constitutional challenge that he hopes to win this time.

Alaska laws regarding the possession of the drug are the most liberal in the country. Residents may possess up to a quarter-pound of marijuana for use in the home.

But Frank Murkowski's bill would make possession of less than four ounces a misdemeanor and possession of four ounces and more a felony.

Past attempts to recriminalize the drug have failed based on a 1975, Supreme Court precedent. In what is commonly known as the Ravin decision, the state high court found that Alaskans' constitutional right to privacy outweighed the drug's potential danger.

But the Murkowski administration insists marijuana is a more potent drug now than it was in the 1970s. And they want the court to consider new scientific evidence.

Opponents say the evidence is bad science and they have their own scientific studies to present should the case ever go to court. The bill also contains measures to curb access to pharmaceutical drugs used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

House Bill 149 awaits action in a legislative committee.



Poll: Alaskans Oppose Marijuana Re-Criminalization 56%-43%
Marijuana Policy Project, DC
03/23/06

JUNEAU, ALASKA -- A new poll of Alaska voters reveals strong opposition to Gov. Frank Murkowski's bill to re-criminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana in the home. In the survey, conducted March 6-11 by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, only 43 percent supported the measure, which the Senate recently tacked onto an anti-methamphetamine bill now being considered by a Senate-House conference committee. 56 percent opposed the bill, with just one percent undecided.

Fifty percent of voters said they supported the Alaska Supreme Court ruling that the privacy provision of the state constitution allows adults to possess up to four ounces of marijuana for personal use in their homes, with 47 percent opposed. When those opposed were asked how they would feel if possession of a smaller amount of marijuana were permitted, support for the decision rose to 56 percent.

'It just went wrong,' sheriff says of slaying

By Phillip Ramati and Joe Kovac Jr.
Macon Telegraph, GA
03/25/06

It all happened in a matter of seconds.

Based on discussions with his deputies at the scene, Bibb County Sheriff Jerry Modena said Friday that there was little his officers could have done differently during the raid that led to the death of deputy Joseph Whitehead early Thursday.

Whitehead was part of a team of deputies that stormed into a house at 3135 Atherton St. about 1:30 a.m.

"They were in the process of executing the search warrant," Modena said. "Because the suspects had a surveillance camera in the front, they were coming through the sides. They announced themselves as sheriff's deputies. Within seconds, they were met with gunfire."

Four shots were fired at Whitehead. The deputy, who was wearing body armor, was shot in the face. His fellow deputies immediately dragged him out of harm's way, retreating momentarily but still identifying themselves to those inside the house. At that point, the suspects, realizing that they had engaged law-enforcement officers instead of gang members, surrendered immediately.

The five suspects had their first court appearance Friday afternoon at the county jail. All five are charged with felony murder in Whitehead's death. The suspects were quiet as Watts informed each one of the charges. Watts told them they weren't entitled to a bond hearing in that court. If there is one, he said, it will be in Superior Court.

After the hearing, Howard Simms, the Bibb County district attorney, reiterated that he would seek the death penalty against all the suspects, although he acknowledged that he may be able to do so only against Fair and Jolly, the two men deputies believe actually fired at Whitehead.

After the hearing, the mother of one of the suspects, Kathy Harclerode, took issue with the turn-of-events involving her son. Hassan Harclerode wasn't present at the time of the shooting. He was arrested later because he rented the home, and authorities said he was responsible for the activities there.

"He wasn't even there," Kathy Harclerode said. "He was at home ... with his fiancee. My son came down on his own to answer questions, and the next thing we know is that he's being charged with murder. It don't make sense."

Kathy Harclerode said she has heard from family members of the other men accused of killing Whitehead. She said they told her the shooting was an accident.

"I really don't think those boys meant to shoot this officer," she said. "If (the police) would have identified theirselves, those boys would have put them guns down and laid on that floor. ... To me, when that officer came in, they didn't know he was an officer. They thought it was (robbers) coming there trying to kill them and stuff because there had been so much violence in that neighborhood. ... But, God knows, I really do not believe ... knowing those kids, that they would have did it intentionally."

American Charged in Deadly Bolivia Blasts

Houston Chronicle, United States
By FIONA SMITH
AP
03/23/06

American Vampire Terrorist Bombs Bolivia
Go figure

Boobs & Panties...Who Knew?

Over the last two weeks my web traffic here, and at the U.S. site and on the campaign site has skyrocketed.

This is all due to the mere mention of boobs and panties. For the complete story please READ THIS.

I have been attempting to keep up with the numerous sites that are carrying this story. I know there are others out there running it and I wanted to say thanks for the coverage and Welcome to the new readers.

I have a simple request.

If you are reading this blog and the stories about the boobies and panties made you laugh then make a $1 contribution to my campaign.
If everyone reading over the last two weeks had contributed $1 then I would have enough money to finance ballot access and the rest of my entire campaign for Governor of Alabama. It really is that simple.

So, if you read about my adventures and laughed, if you just discovered that I exist and you support my run for Governor, like my ideas or simply enjoyed looking at my boobs then help a sister out.

Contributions above one dollar are also greatly appreciated. Anyone wishing to use regular post may send contributions to:

Nall for Governor Campaign
4633 Pearson Chapel Rd
Alexander City AL 35010


In Liberty,
Loretta Nall
Vote Nall Y'all...It's Just Common Sense

Officer in friendly fire incident reassigned from SWAT team

Dallas veteran accidentally shot a colleague during a February drug raid

Family Badge
AP
03/23/06

DALLAS - A SWAT team member faulted in a possible friendly fire incident during a drug raid that ended with him and three other officers wounded last month will be reassigned at his request, authorities said Wednesday.

Sgt. Kenneth Wilkins accidentally shot Cpl. Dale Hackbarth and may have shot himself in the hand, according to the preliminary findings of a police investigation.

Police are determining whether to take disciplinary action and are reviewing policies across the division that oversees SWAT operations, said Deputy Chief Jesse Reyes.

SWAT team members were serving a warrant last month on Alejandro Tamayo, an alleged methamphetamine dealer, when police say Tamayo fired at them from behind the door of his home in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas. Tamayo's shots hit Senior Cpls. Adolfo Perez and Harry Deltufo, according to police.

Tamayo has been charged in the shootings of all four officers, but Reyes said the investigation revealed that Wilkins hit Hackbarth from behind in the leg and may have shot himself in the hand.

Elderly couple hurt in raid on wrong house

WLBT-TV, MS
AP
03/23/06

HORN LAKE, Miss.- An elderly Mississippi couple is in the hospital after police burst into their home thinking it housed a methamphetamine laboratory.
A heavily armed team stormed the house in Horn Lake before dawn yesterday.

A man and a woman -- both in their 80s -- were injured as police secured the house. No drugs were found.

Police say the woman suffered a dislocated shoulder and the man had bruised ribs.

Police later raided another house and arrested two people on drug charges.

The police chief says an investigation is under way.

Nall Court Update

I am back from court. Nothing happened today.
I have to be back in court on April 10, 2006 at 9 a.m. with my attorney.

Transcript of Loretta Nall's Trial TALLAPOOSA COUNTY COURTHOUSE 02/10/04

TRANSCRIPT

I go back to court this morning. For those of you who have not read the transcript of my trial I strongly recommend it.

In my opinion this transcript shows that the School Resource Officer was clearly lying. The scenario he describes is not only implausible, it is also physically impossible. I was jailed for expressing a political opinion on the editorial page of the Birmingham News. The police lied in court in an attempt to cover up their misdeed.

I almost feel sorry for the SRO. It really seemed like he got punked out pretty bad by his comrades. As if it wasn't humiliating enough being assigned kindergarten cop duty, then he had to go to court and take full responsibility for a scheme that I seriously doubt he cooked up by himself. He was quickly reassigned to another county.

This transcript is the result of our having hired a court reporter and obtained the services of a good lawyer. These are two things that you normally don't have in this court.

I don't expect anything to happen today in court. When I last spoke with my attorney on Friday he had not even received his notice to appear in court today. This is spring break and he is out of town with his family.

That has been a reoccuring problem with the Tallapoosa County court system. Our side has asked that we be notified a month in advance because my attorney is from out of town and he is also one of the premiere capital punishment defense attorneys in the state. This being Alabama you can damn well guess that his plate stays pretty full.
However, for the last oh say 22 months, we have never gotten more than a weeks notice despite our repeated requests for an advance date.

So, if the past is any indication I will have to sit in court all day long only to be told my case has been continued. If nothing else perhaps they will provide me enough material for part two of My Day In Court.

2.5 Grams

The United States Mint coin specifications.
A penny weighs 2.5 grams. By coincidence we find the 2.5 number occurring again when we learn that the penny is only 2.5% copper with the balance being zinc.
How many Americans are behind bars or on probation or parole for possessing an amount of a controlled substance weighing less than a penny?
Another parallel between the penny and the drug war is the fact that anyone charged with possessing a substance containing cocaine is sentenced based on the full weight of the mixture, even if it only contains a trace amount of cocaine. Even just 2.5%.
Truly we have entered into a new age of alchemy and magical thinking when we believe a lump of zinc is copper and a lump of baking soda is cocaine.

City fees waived for DEA

Wednesday, March 22, 2006
JOSEPH D. BRYANT
Birmingham News

The Birmingham City Council agreed Tuesday to waive a fee for developers of the new Drug Enforcement Agency building downtown.

The developers of the combined office building for the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives asked the city to waive its $29,000 fee for vacating a 2,200-square-foot portion of 10th Avenue and Ninth Court North.

The land was required to meet security specifications for the new building.

Building developers were joined by Michael Calvert,president of Operation NewBirmingham, who said the request would help the effort to bring the three-story, 38,400-square-foot building to downtown Birmingham.

The cost of the vacated land was unanticipated and was not budgeted, they said.

However, some council members questioned the waiver.

"I am not inclined to waive $29,000 for any special entity to come into the city of Birmingham unless we do it for everyone," said Councilman Joel Montgomery.

Bill Gilchrist, the city's director of planning, engineering and permits, said it is common to waive fees for nonprofit groups and government agencies.

A motion to waive the fee passed with Montgomery casting the lone no vote.

Go Joel Montgomery Go!!

Colorful Candidates in This Years Election

Brewton Standard

In years of yore in past governor's races we would have colorful run for the fun of it candidates, the most notably being the legendary Shorty Price.

Price's antics could fill a book of its own. We have been short of these fun candidates in the past few decades.

However, this year we will have on the ballot one Loretta Nall who will be the pro marijuana candidate.

She will be the Libertarian Party candidate for governor on the November ballot. Nall is president of the U.S. Marijuana Party.

We have developing a true Price prototype in one Harry Lyons. Lyons is making his ninth statewide run for the fun of it race rivaling Price. His demeanor and candor are similar to Price.

He appeared recently before the Alabama Press Association at their gubernatorial candidates' forum and stole the show.

He runs every time there is an election, usually for different offices under a different party almost every time.

He will be fun to watch.

The Republicans would like to take control of the House but as stated earlier it is difficult because there are popular veteran incumbent conservative Democrats sitting in Republican leaning seats.

Therefore they may have to wait until they retire or pass on to take these seats.

They will get a shot at three of these seats this year. Tommy Carter of Limestone will retire after 32 years. In addition, Nelson Starkey of Florence and Jack Venable of Tallassee both 30-year House veterans passed away late last year.

Venable's Elmore County seat will likely fall to the Republicans in this heavily Republican county. A Republican won the recent special election, but it will be interesting to see how the two Tennessee Valley seats of Carter's and Starkey's go.

Starkey's should remain Democratic. Carter's district will be worth watching.

A topic of conversation on Goat Hill is whether an endorsement from the Christian Coalition will be an albatross to candidates.

Rumor is that candidates will use this endorsement against their opponent.

The Coalition headed by John Giles was discredited last year when it was revealed that the group was supported financially by Indian gambling interests.

It is expected that candidates will run last minute ads against their opponents who are endorsed by the Christian Coalition saying the candidate is supported by out-of-state gambling interests by virtue of the fact that the Coalition has been financed by gambling.

There was talk of starting a New Christian Coalition and labeling the group headed by Giles, the Old Christian Coalition with the Old Christian Coalition, being the group cloaking their real agenda as being pro-gambling.

They would also expose the group's mean spirited approach as being more like Old Testament philosophy of “an eye for an eye” and ignoring and ridiculing the poor.

Whereas the new group would be for loving your neighbors and helping the poor, more like what Christ taught.

It doesn't help the old group's image either that their primary advocate in the Legislature is one nutty, irrelevant, back bench, freshman Senator named Hank Erwin who made national news with his beliefs that God directed Hurricane Katrina to attack the Gulf Coast to destroy the people of New Orleans and Mississippi because they were sinful.

You can expect lots of negative advertisements and plenty of dirty tricks this year because sadly they work.

We have a history of bitter campaigns in Alabama. A newly released book by author Kerwin Swint, titled “Mudslinger. The Top 25 Negative Political Campaigns of All Time,” lists the George Wallace vs. Albert Brewer 1970 governor's race as the number one nastiest campaign of all times.

It will be an interesting campaign year in Alabama.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers' column appears weekly in 60 Alabama newspapers. Flowers served 16 years in the state Legislature. You can visit his website HERE

Death raises concern at police tactics

By Matthew Davis
BBC News, Washington
03/21/06

The recent killing of an unarmed Virginia doctor has raised concerns about what some say is an explosion in the use of military-style police Swat teams in the United States.

Armed with assault rifles, stun grenades - even armoured personnel carriers - units once used only in highly volatile situations are increasingly being deployed on more routine police missions.

Professor Peter Kraska, an expert on police militarisation from Eastern Kentucky University, says that in the 1980s there were about 3,000 Swat team deployments annually across the US, but says now there are at least 40,000 per year.

"I have no problem with using these paramilitary style squads to go after known violent, armed criminals, but it is an extreme tactic to use against other sorts of suspects," he said.

Dr Kraska believes there has been an explosion of units in smaller towns and cities, where training and operational standards may not be as high as large cities - a growth he attributes to "the hysteria" of the country's war on drugs.

A Life of Its Own

Every so often one of my writings hits it big on the internet and takes on a life of it's own.

Such has happened with the Great Boobie Flap of the 2006 Alabama Election.

Yesterday BlueGal posted a write-up about it at BlueGal Red State and crossposted it at DailyKos. Then Steve over at Hammer Of Truth posted it as did June over at Wasted Days Wasted Nights and I just got an email from BlueGal directing me to yet another pick-up at Crooks & Liars.

If you see it linked somewhere else let me know so I can link it here.

Not only has this whole thing brought me extra media exposure it has also given me the opportunity to meet another saucy, southern gal as BlueGal and I will be getting together next time I am in Birmingham for a beer. Looking forward to that!!

Bull Tails

By Darryal Ray
Neighbors Magazine
ALFA
03/02/06


Bryant, who has won stock contractor of the year from various rodeo associations nine times since first getting into the business 25 years ago, also stages rodeos. That’s where he also contracts out horses for saddle bronc and bareback riding, calves for roping, and steers for wrestling. “But,” he adds, “bull-riding is the main thing.”

That’s why you’ll find about 30 bucking bulls on his farm in the Lottie community near Atmore. Among those are two who have won bucking bull of the year. There’s Blackjack, a black Brahman cross with a ‘21’ brand on his hip and white striping above his eyes that could be mistaken for war paint, and Seagram’s Seven with his ‘S-7’ brand and an unquenchable thirst for bucking.

“If we don’t take that S-7 bull when we load at home, he’ll jump out of the pasture and start coming down the road,” Bryant says. “Twice I’ve had to stop beside the road, open the gates on the trailer and he’d jump right up in there he wanted to go so bad.”

Shock therapy disputed

BY JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER AND JOHN HILDEBRAND
NEWSDAY
03/21/06

The state's highest education-policy board is considering a proposal to stop sending New York school children to out-of-state facilities that use electric shock to treat psychological disorders.

Although its methods often ignite controversy, Rotenberg, which has about 200 children and about 50 adults, is licensed by the Massachusetts education and mental retardation departments. The aversion-therapy device -- the Graduated Electronic Decelerator -- is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a neurological therapeutic device. Students wear it as a backpack, and electrodes are placed on their arms, torso and legs. A transmitter controlled by staff emits a shock that lasts no longer than two seconds.

While the American Psychiatric Association has no policy regarding the use of mild shock for behavior modification, individual experts say they are surprised at the methods in place at Rotenberg. Edward Carr, a Stony Brook University psychology professor who specializes in autism and mental retardation, called the therapy "primitive."

Montgomery Independent Responds

Mr. Bob Martin at the Montgomery Independent was kind enough to run my letter in response to the boobie flap in this weeks edition.
I am very happy to note that Mr. Martin took this letter in the humorus context in which it was meant to be taken and I apologize for calling him a sexist. It even appears that Mr. Martin is a possible supporter.

Bob...I'll drop you a yard sign by when I am in Montgomery later this week. Would you like your sign with or without cleavage? :)

I also want to point out again that I have spoken to Mr. Bob Ingram since I sent this letter last week and we worked it out.

Gubernatorial Candidate Loretta Nall Heads Back to Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Nall for Governor Campaign
Contact Person: Loretta Nall
Telephone Number: 251-650-2271
Email Address: cnall1@charter.net
Web site address: NallforGovernor.com

Alabama Gubernatorial Candidate, Loretta Nall, Heads Back to Court

Alexander City, AL, March 20, 2006 — Alabama Gubernatorial candidate, Loretta Nall, will appear in Tallapoosa County Circuit Court, located in downtown Alexander City, at 9 A.M. on March 24, 2006 to continue the appeals process in her misdemeanor marijuana possession case.

Mrs. Nall, who had no prior arrest record and maintains her innocence, was arrested in a November 2002 raid on her home less than a week after her Letter to the Editor of the Birmingham News was published.


The affidavit in support of the warrant to search Nall's home used that letter as probable cause.
The Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, which conducted the raid on Nall's home, alleges that the raid yielded 0.87 gram of marijuana.

Nall was convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession and possession of paraphernalia in February, 2004.

After her trial in Feb. 2004 Mrs. Nall filed a complaint with the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission alleging misconduct on the part of Judge Kim Taylor after he commented about the facts of her case to the local media. The Judicial Inquiry Commission sided with Mrs. Nall and reprimanded Judge Kim Taylor for his actions.

In March of 2005 Mrs. Nall again appeared in court for her appeal. The prosecution offered her a plea bargain of 8 months in prison without the possibility of probation or parole in exchange for her guilty plea. Mrs. Nall refused to plea out and instead demanded a jury trial. She wrote a scathing article about her court experience which was published at LewRockwell and one week later she was visited by the F.B.I.

Loretta Nall, 31, wife, mother of two children living in her native Alabama, became involved in drug policy reform in September of 2002, after enduring a terrifying helicopter raid by local, state and federal agents looking for marijuana.

Since that time Mrs. Nall has founded and organized 35 state chapters of the US Marijuana Party, interviewed The Rev. Jesse Jackson and Congressman Dennis Kucinich in regards the drug war in America. Loretta Nall has appeared in Rolling Stone Magazine, lewrockwell.com, and numerous daily newspapers across North America on behalf of her campaign to reduce the destructive effects of prohibition. In 2004 she visited war-torn Colombia, South America where she studied the affects of aerial fumigation on the food crops of peasant farmers as carried out under U.S. Plan Colombia. Currently, she is assisting in guiding a medical marijuana bill through the Alabama state legislature in concert with the Drug Policy Alliance.

She is a candidate for Governor of Alabama in the 2006 election and she is seeking the
Libertarian Party nomination. For more information about her campaign including video clips of recent candidate speeches, photos, campaign updates and more please visit
the campaign website.

To schedule an interview please call the Nall for Governor campaign headquarters at 251-650-2271 or email them

###


Brave Drug Warriors. When someone questions their gravy train they retaliate by picking on a little kindergarten girl. What a bunch of manly studs.

Pop Culture

ONDCP "Myths of Marijuana" video gets a free USMJP makeover with some help from Devo
here
One minute, eight seconds, Real Player
Please feel free to copy and distribute.

Canada's growing marijuana problem

By Becky Branford
BBC News
03/20/06

In contrast to the previous Liberal administration, which sought unsuccessfully to reduce penalties for possession, the new Conservative government pledged in its election manifesto to steer Canada "off the road to drug legalisation".

It said it would ensure mandatory minimum prison sentences and large fines for serious drug offenders, including growers.

"There have been studies galore in Canada and elsewhere looking at this issue - it's politics that's stopping [a change in drug laws] and not logic," says lawyer Eugene Oscapella, a founding member of the independent Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy.

"You have to look at Prohibition as an industry: the crime-control industry. There are empires built around it - not only organised crime, but government bureaucracies, police departments, privatised prison industries in the US, pharmaceutical and drug-testing companies. These empires thrive on Prohibition."

He says he fears tougher enforcement will lead to a burgeoning prison population, but have little impact on the illicit industry.

Female inmate found hanged in Lawrence County jail

Times Daily, AL
The Associated Press
03/19/06

A female prisoner was found hanged in a Lawrence County jail cell a little over an hour after being locked up on charges of resisting arrest and an alcohol-related offense.

Sheriff's officials describe the death of 30-year-old Sheila Mullin a suicide. But her sister, Christy Newman, told The Decatur Daily that she heard Mullin screaming over the jail phone about being hurt by officers.

Newman said her sister, who had three children, had never shown signs of being suicidal.

Sheriff Bryan Hill said the death occurred at 9:20 p.m. Friday. She was brought to the jail at 8 p.m. by Trinity police.

The sheriff said he had not heard any suggestion that Mullin's death was something other than a suicide. Hill said the Alabama Bureau of Investigation is investigating. An autopsy is planned.

Trinity police had charged her with resisting arrest and illegal possession of prohibited liquor. Trinity police said they would not provide the arrest report on Mullin until Monday.

A jailer found Mullin hanging from a bedsheet wrapped around her neck.

Hughes County raid nets 13 arrests

Brenda Tollett and Liz Brewer
Ada Evening News, OK
03/17/06

HOLDENVILLE — Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies put the brakes on what Bill Peterson, district attorney in Hughes and Pontotoc counties, describes as a major drug distribution network in southeastern Oklahoma. Mark Woodward, spokesman for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, said 17 arrest warrants and 12 search warrants were executed around 6:30 a.m. Thursday at rural locations around Hughes County including Calvin and Holdenville. Peterson said 13 arrests were made Thursday and more warrants will be executed in the next few days. According to Peterson the warrants are related to a multi-agency investigation that began eight months ago.

"This is a sizable hit on drug distribution in southeastern Oklahoma," said Peterson. "It never ceases to amaze me how organized the drug task force is and how well the plan is executed."

"The law enforcement officers have done a magnificent job today in arresting several organized drug traffickers and high level dealers. Their arrests are the result of an eight-month investigation by the District 22 Drug Task Force, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, District 23 Drug Task Force, Holdenville Police Department, Seminole Police Department, Hughes County Sheriff's Office, Pontotoc County Sheriff's office, Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police and Oklahoma Highway Patrol. This will put a sizable dent in the drug distribution in southeastern Oklahoma," said Peterson.

In addition to several arrests in Hughes County, authorities also seized 105 grams of methamphetamine, a quarter ounce of marijuana, several dozen guns, six cars, three motorcycles, about $3,500 cash and stolen property.


Wow, eight months work by twelve government agencies nets one handful of drugs.

Activist preaches drug legalization

By TERESA SICARD ARCHAMBEAULT
Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ
03/19/06
CAMDEN

A Camden activist says legalizing drugs is the solution to bringing down violence, crime and drug-related deaths in the city.

Trying to persuade his audience, Frank Fulbrook, a longtime Camden activist, said the war on drugs is simply hurting society and cities like Camden, and therefore, drugs should be legalized.

"Camden can't be revitalized as long as drugs are illegal," said Fulbrook, who conducted the recent "Forum on America Drug Policy and Impacts on Cities like Camden" at Rutgers University.

Fulbrook's proposal extends only to people over 21.

"Once you are an adult, you are responsible for what you do, not the government," said Fulbrook.

However, not everybody in the audience felt that drugs should be legalized -- saying that would not end addiction and the problems that come with it.

"Alcohol is legal, and the problems haven't stopped. They still persist," said Anthony Bertolotti, a math major at Rutgers."My father is an alcoholic, alcohol is legal and he abused my mother."


It is important to distinguish between the effects of a drug and the effects of prohibition. Drug Warriors intentionally blur this distinction. They are simply throwing gasoline on a fire and then pointing to the flames as justification for their existence. This can be thought of as rent seeking.

Witch-Burners in Ohio

All of us must enlist in the war on drugs
Chillicothe Gazette, OH
03/19/06

From the lyrics to Witch Hunt (Rush)
The righteous rise
With burning eyes
Of hatred and ill-will
Madmen fed on fear and lies
To beat and burn and kill



A voice of reason in Ohio:
END FAILED DRUG WAR, SAVE SOME KIDS' LIVES
Everett DeJager
Rossmoyne
Letter to the Editor
Cincinnati Enquirer, OH
03/19/06

A March 11 headline tells of kids dodging bullets while walking home from a store ("Neighbors decry kids 'dodging bullets'"). This should not be happening in a civilized society. Why has it become a frequent event? There is a simple reason.

When a law is passed making a substance illegal, businessmen will quit handling it. This leaves the product in the hands of criminals, who are not nice people. In this story, the product was drugs. Rival gangs were disputing the territory.

Our people in government, in their great wisdom, have decided certain substances are bad and must be controlled. Laws were passed naming these substances and declaring them illegal. All this accomplished was to get honest people out of the act. It gave a monopoly on these substances to criminals.

So, when these substances are bought and sold, only criminals will be buying and selling. Surprise, surprise, they use guns! Surprise, surprise, kids get shot.

Libertarians say repeal the laws. End the drug war. It has not eliminated drugs, it has only granted a monopoly to criminals. And kids get shot.

Overfilled Prisons Pollute Rivers

Montgomery Advertiser
By Samira Jafari
The Associated Press


Prison overcrowding has taken a toll on inmates, guards, infrastructure and budgets, but there's a victim that gets little attention: Alabama's rivers.

With the growth of the state inmate population, several prisons at times dump nearly twice the amount of allowable raw sewage byproducts into Alabama's tributaries -- putting aquatic life and humans at risk.

"Nobody wants raw sewage in the rivers. It's a big, stinky mess," said Nelson Brooke, head of the Black Warrior Riverkeeper, a pollution watchdog group that monitors sewage dumpers along the river, running from west Alabama to north of the Birmingham area.

Prison officials say the sewage levels have gotten out of hand because the prisons aren't designed to handle the brimming population -- now at more than double capacity with 28,000 inmates -- and they don't have the funding to update their self-operated wastewater management facilities.

The "wastewater treatment facilities are aging and were built to accommodate original design capacities," said Brian Corbett, spokesman for the Alabama Department of Corrections. "Inmate populations in excess of designed capacity place enormous stress and maintenance requirements on all areas of ADOC infrastructure, including wastewater treatment plants."

The prisons are dumping extremely high levels of toxic ammonia and fecal coliform, parts of raw sewage that produce dangerous levels of bacteria, suck up oxygen and result in heavy algae, according to Alabama River Alliance. Untreated sewage carries dangerous infectious bacteria, viruses, parasites and toxic chemicals.

Raw sewage is supposed to flow into wastewater treatment plants. But aging sewage collection systems, like those operated by the prison system, are riddled by broken, leaking or overloaded pipes that allow untreated sewage to be dumped into the environment, according to the New York-based Natural Resources Defense Council.

"This poses a problem for people who swim in these waters and aquatic life," said April Hall, watershed protection specialist for the Alabama River Alliance.

"Raw sewage needs oxygen to break down," she added. "Dissolved oxygen is a very important way to look at the health of water. ... It affects all those critters that live in the bottom of the creek and plant life."

Concerns by water conservationists spurred two lawsuits by the attorney general's office against the prison system on the river pollution issue. However, environmentalists and the state's attorneys say they don't want to penalize the Department of Corrections, which has violated wastewater permits for years.

"We're mainly interested in solving the problem, not punishment," said Assistant Attorney General William Little, who filed the lawsuits on behalf of the state and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

The Black Warrior Riverkeeper led the fight against the prison system's poor waste management when it filed a November 2004 complaint with ADEM, alleging that since 1999, Donaldson prison in Jefferson County committed 1,060 violations of the Clean Water Act by discharging sewage into Big Branch and Valley Creek, a tributary of the Black Warrior River.

At its worst, Donaldson dumped 808,000 gallons of wastewater in one day, when its permit only allowed 350,000 gallons of treated wastewater and the plant only could handle 270,000 gallons, said Brooke.

Donaldson, built to hold 990 inmates, has held around 1,500 prisoners, since 2001.

The attorney general's office took over the complaint in January 2005, suing the Department of Corrections to avoid federal intervention, and found that several other prisons were committing similar violations, said Little.

A second lawsuit was filed last August, alleging similar violations by wastewater facilities at St. Clair, Draper, Elmore, Fountain/Holman and Limestone prisons and at DOC's Farquhar Cattle Ranch and Red Eagle Honor Farm.

Little said the most recent lawsuit was taken off the trial docket in Montgomery County so DOC can come up with a solution without facing stiff fines.

"We're in the process of working out some sort of settlement," Little said. "We're well aware of their problem. Everybody knows the Department of Corrections is under tremendous pressure."

St. Clair, Draper and Elmore prisons, named in the second lawsuit, already have been confronted by ADEM before, and consent orders were issued in each case that eased the permit standards. But the prisons violated the new standards, too.

The best option for Alabama's prison system may be to turn over their wastewater facilities to private operators, as Donaldson did last year. The prison contracted its treatment plant to Alabama Utility Services, which spent some $400,000 to upgrade the facility, said manager Chris Matthews.

Donaldson prison currently is in compliance with its ADEM wastewater permit, and Matthews said Alabama Utility was interested in taking over the prison system's other treatment facilities.

Corbett said prison officials are exploring options to deal with excess wasterwater, ranging from contracting with private companies to seeking funding to build new facilities.

"Obviously, (privatization) is working at Donaldson," he said. "I think you're going to have to examine each facility on a case-by-case basis. We're certainly eager to resolve these issues, no matter how it's done."


alabamarivers.org

outdooralabama.com Rivers of Alabama

Cahaba River Federal Wildlife Refuge

Private prison blues
Birmingham News Editorial
03/18/06

Private prisons stopgap at best
Montgomery Advertiser Editorial
03/18/06


-----------------------------------------From Loretta:

Dog intimidation at Alabama Protest

Dog intimidation at 02/12/05 protest at construction site of new private prison in Perry County, Alabama.

Yesterday I attended a sit-in in Perry County, Alabama. Uniontown, to be exact. We were protesting the building of a private prison.

Almost as soon as we arrived an SUV pulled up on the opposite side of the road and a clean-cut white man began to take pictures of us with a digital camera.

Then he rolled down his back window and a vicious, trained, man eating german shepherd dog stuck his head out and looked at us.

I told my fellow protesters that there was an undercover across the road with a dog and that photos of us were being taken.

About 10 minutes later as I was filming the sign being erected, and had my back to the road, I hear this god awful snarling, barking and snapping that couldn't have been more than a few inches from my head.

I turned around....camera rolling and saw this man is driving by just inches from us, he has the back window down and this dog is in full "IM GONNA EAT YOUR ASS MODE"!!
The driver had come over onto the shoulder of the road in order to get his dog closer to us.

This is the first time I have ever seen a dog used in a drive-by.
The Abu Ghraib pictures of dog intimidation came to mind.

It's still 1963 here.

Here are some still shots taken from what I videotaped.

1
2
3
4
5


Here's the raw footage.

Fusarium

Fusarium and Verticillium Wilts of Tomato, Potato, Pepper, and Eggplant
The Ohio State University Extension
Plant Pathology
Columbus, OH

Congress tells ONDCP to test Biological Weapons
Drug WarRant

Twelve arrested in alleged pot candy operation

San Jose Mercury News, USA
Associated Press
03/16/06

OAKLAND, Calif. - Federal drug agents arrested 12 people Thursday in connection with a marijuana candy operation, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

Agents seized four indoor marijuana growing operations, between 4,000 and 5,000 marijuana plants, $100,000 in cash, three weapons and hundreds of marijuana-laced candy and soft drinks, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The raids were conducted at four warehouses in Emeryville and Oakland, as well as a Lafayette home, Justice Department spokeswoman Casey McEnry said.

The investigation began last October when the DEA received a tip that a Lafayette man was running Beyond Bomb, a marijuana candy manufacturer in Oakland. The candy and soft drinks mimic real sweets with names like Stoney Ranchers, Rasta Reece's, Buddafingers and Pot Tarts.

The group, whose names have not yet been released, were being held Thursday on charges of marijuana cultivation and distribution, McEnry said. Their initial court appearances were scheduled for Friday in San Francisco, she said.

The case was investigated by federal agents along with police in Richmond, Oakland, Lafayette and two county narcotics enforcement teams.

Speaking in Atlanta on Saturday

On Saturday, March 18, I will be the featured speaker at the 3rd Annual G.O.P. Lobby Buds-B-Q in Atlanta, GA.
Visit the link for more information and if you are in or around Atlanta come out and join us for the evening.

State wants to ban marijuana lollipop

Danbury News Times, CT
03/15/06

HARTFORD – Lawmakers are considering a proposal to ban the sale of lollipops that tastes like marijuana.

Though the candy doesn’t contain the illegal drug, it claims to have the same flavor.
Many state legislators, at the nudging of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, say the candy enocurages use of marijuana.

Others, such as Sen. David Cappiello, R–Danbury, argue the government should stay out of regulating flavors so long as the candy does not contain anything illegal.

The bill, which passed the legislature's General Law Committee last week, says "No person shall sell or offer for sale any candy or other food containing cannabis type substance ... or containing any flavor intended to simulating the flavor of a cannibis type substance."

Winsted man has marijuana mural on his house

WTNH, CT
03/16/06

(Winsted-AP, Mar. 16, 2006 6:10 AM) _ Having marijuana in your house is illegal, but having marijuana on your house is apparently a legal gray area.

A Winsted man accused of have more than 100 marijuana plants in his home when he was arrested last year, has made a statement on the outside of his house.

Town officials say they're getting complaints about giant marijuana leaves Christopher Seekins spray painted on the outside of his house on High Street.

In October, police say they found 100 plants inside the house, along with grow lights, fertilizers and portable heaters. Police charged the 26-year-old man with cultivating marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

There are five marijuana plants painted in green on the western side of his white house and one on the eastern side.

Seekins says his paint job is an advertisement for the legalization of marijuana.

Agents uncover pot, moonshine operations

By Jason Cannon
Clanton Advertiser, AL
03/15/06

Over the past four days, a continuous investigation by the Chilton County Task Force resulted in the search of two residences that yielded the arrest of four individuals.

Arrested were Noah Miller, 33, of Jemison, Jeremy Neal, 39, of Jemison, Jesse Troutman, 70, of Clanton and Willie Troutman, 45, also of Clanton. Charges include manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of illegal alcohol and selling illegal alcohol in a dry county.

"Thanks to the alertness of Jemison Police Officer Robbie Autery and the investigation by the Task Force investigators, these drugs and alcohol will not be distributed or possessed in our county," said Sheriff Billy Wayne Fulmer.

Family Sentenced For Pot-Growing Operation

Today's THV, AR
03/15/06

Law enforcement agencies will split $80,000 in fines or assets forfeited after police broke up a family plot to grow marijuana.

Four family members were sentenced Monday after they entered guilty pleas in Miller County last month.

John Puzz, 57, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to forfeit assets worth$60,000. His wife Janet, age 52, was sentenced to five years' probation and must pay $5,000 in fines.

His son, 32-year-old Justin, was sentenced to 10 years' probation and fined $10,000 and daughter-in-law, 29-year-old Jenny, was sentenced to five years' probation and fined $5,000.

Miller County sheriff's deputies raided the parents' home in rural part of Texarkana on March 22, 2004. Officials say the family had an elaborate marijuana-growing scheme.

Medical Pot Advocate Returns to County Jail

Los Angeles Times, CA
03/16/06

Medical marijuana advocate Steve Kubby returned to Placer County Jail on Wednesday for up to two months for fleeing to Canada five years ago to avoid serving time on a drug conviction.

When his longtime effort to win Canadian asylum was rejected this year, Kubby returned and spent 40 days in jail for his 2000 conviction on possession of a psychedelic mushroom and one peyote button.

This week, a Superior Court judge sentenced the onetime Libertarian candidate for governor to an extra 60 days for violating probation.

The US Gulag Prison System - The Shame of the Nation and Crime Against Humanity

By: Stephen Lendman
The People's Voice, TN
03/16/06

Narcoterrorism, violence and the U.S. drug habit

By Jerry Brewer
mexidata.info
Salt Lake Tribune, United States

Propaganda from a lobbying firm falsely presented as news

Cincinnati poised to toughen pot law

BY DAN KLEPAL
Cincinnati Enquirer, OH
03/14/06

Starting today, getting caught with a little pot could mean a little jail time - for at least the next year.

Cincinnati City Council's Law and Public Safety Committee adopted a tougher marijuana ordinance Tuesday - over the objections of a dozen citizens who testified at the hearing.

The full council will consider the ordinance today - but a majority, five members, has already voted in support of it.

The ordinance would increase the penalty for possessing less than 100 grams of marijuana - even a single joint - from a written citation and a $100 fine to arrest and a possible 30 days in jail.

Councilman Cecil Thomas promoted the ordinance, saying it would be a way to get guns off the streets and make neighborhoods safer because it would give officers broader powers to search people or vehicles. Committee members were lukewarm on the idea, until a compromise one-year sunset clause was added - meaning the law would expire after a year unless renewed by council.

"The most important aspect of this is it gives officers an additional tool for search and seizure," Thomas said Tuesday.

Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell was the only committee member to vote "no."

"This will not change anything appreciably," Tarbell said. "This is a class issue. The people caught and prosecuted will be low-income African-Americans. I think this sends the wrong message to police."

Feds raid medicinal pot grower

No arrests made, but plants, guns confiscated from home

K Kaufmann and Marie McCain
The Desert Sun, CA
03/15/06

Federal agents raided a Sky Valley house Tuesday owned by a man who says he grows marijuana for patients of a Palm Desert medical marijuana dispensary.

No arrests were made in the morning sweep of Garry Silva's Dowell Lane residence. However, agents armed with a federal search warrant did confiscate "guns and a quantity of marijuana," said Sarah Fenno Beers, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Silva said he cracked the deadbolt on his door and 10-12 federal and Riverside County sheriff's deputies slammed the door open and sent him sprawling on the floor with a dislocated shoulder.

The agents also pointed guns at his wife and daughter, Silva said.

Beers, the DEA spokeswoman, declined to comment further about the raid, citing an ongoing investigation.

"They did a home invasion," Silva said. "They took all the plants, all the product (dried marijuana), one light for evidence."

Silva said he had about 70 plants at the time of the raid, 30 of which were under 3 inches tall.

Silva said the agents also took his wallet and his doctor's letter of recommendation verifying he was a legal medical marijuana user. He had applied for a state-issued medical marijuana ID card, he said, and had been scheduled to pick it up in Riverside on Tuesday.

The agents also confiscated two shotguns, a deer rifle and a handgun.

Silva was not arrested or charged with any crime, but he said the agents warned him that if he were raided again for growing medical marijuana, he would be.

Officers conduct random search at Lee High

By Antoinette Konz
Montgomery Advertiser, AL
03/14/06

Students at Robert E. Lee High School were surprised Monday by a random security search by Montgomery police and school officers.

"I didn't know what was going on," said Michael Scott, a parent whose son attends Lee. "I had just dropped him off after a doctor's appointment, and there were officers and dogs searching lockers and backpacks and clothing. Some students were patted down."

Officials with Montgomery Public Schools said they are conducting the random searches with the Montgomery Police Department as a proactive way of keeping students safe.

"We are making sure that our schools are drug-free, weapon-free and contraband-free," said Mona Davis, public information officer for the district. "This is not something new. It's something we've been doing for quite awhile."

Davis said the search at Lee confiscated between 100 and 200 cell phones, a few CD players, a BB gun and a small amount of a substance believe to be marijuana.

Similar searches at Bellingrath and Capitol Heights junior high schools conducted last week also netted a number of cell phones, Davis said.

"Cell phones are not allowed on campus. It's clearly spelled out in our policy," she said. "If a cell phone was confiscated, the parent of the student will have to come to the school to reclaim it. The phones will be given to the parent or guardian only."

Davis said the searches are random and can take place at any of the district's 59 schools.

"Obviously, we don't want the kids knowing ahead of time that there will be a search at any school," she said. "The bottom line is keeping our students safe. We've had a lot of incidents lately where people have perceived that some of our schools are unsafe. This is just one way we are trying to assure parents that we are taking the safety of their children very seriously."


Public Schools, Prison and the Military
Blind Video :39 Real Player

Officer fires by mistake during raid; no one hurt

By Ralph Ranalli
Boston Globe, United States
03/14/06

A Boston police officer accidentally fired his service pistol during a drug raid in Jamaica Plain Saturday night, a spokesman said last night.

Four adults and a 1-year-old child were inside the Centre Street apartment when the gun discharged about 7 p.m., but no one was injured, police spokesman Michael McCarthy said.

A resident of the apartment below where the raid took place said last night that the bullet went through the ceiling of her daughter's bedroom and hit the girl's bed, which was empty at the time.

''My kids are traumatized," Lakisha Roberson told WCVB-TV last night. ''My kids don't want to sleep in their room. They're scared."

Acting on a search warrant, officers found seven large bags of marijuana, digital scales, ledgers, and other drug-selling paraphernalia in the apartment, McCarthy said.

They arrested one of the occupants, 20-year-old Candido Morales, on drug charges, he said.

State drug reform law needs to reform ... itself

Newsday, NY
Editorial
BY ANTHONY PAPA
03/14/06

Just more than a year ago, Albany launched a partial reform of New York's drug laws through the Drug Law Reform Act of 2004.

The State Legislature boasted that the new changes would lower most drug sentences, allow for the application of retroactive resentencing, increase time off for good behavior for drug offenders and expand prison-based drug treatment. In theory, the implemented changes were to affect about 1,000 prisoners. But these changes weren't effective.

"Managed" People - Rights vs. Reality

Nancy Levant
SierraTimes.com
03/14/06

Let’s look at American freedom. Let’s investigate exactly what it is that we are free to do:

Boobs, Pointless Panties and other Nall for Governor Campaign Updates

Dear Readers and Supporters,

It has been quite busy around the Nall for Governor Headquarters for the last few weeks. In that time I have spoken in Huntsville and made the front page of The Huntsville Times, which is one of Alabama's largest daily newspapers.

About a week after the Huntsville engagement I got a call from the Alabama Conference of Black Mayors inviting me to address them in Selma, AL as they prepared to commemorate the 41st Anniversary of Bloody Sunday. I only got about 15 hours notice and had to really hammer away at writing my remarks for the engagement. This was my first opportunity to be presented with the other candidates and a big chance to add credibility and legitimacy to my campaign in the eyes of the voters. Here is the text of my speech here is the video and here are my reflections on the event.

I spent some time in Montgomery last week doing many things. I looked around for office space and I have found one place that is very nice, in a great location and only two blocks from the Capitol Building, which would enable me to keep my eye on the prize. The rent is $850 a month and the suite includes three offices, a reception area and a conference room. I have another colleague who is looking for office space as well and we may go in together and lease that space for a year. Please help me with that if you can.

On Thursday of last week I met with my friend Rachel Kurtz of the King County Bar Association and Pastor Kenneth Glasgow of The Ordinary People Society for lunch and to discuss future plans for drug policy and prison reform in Alabama. After lunch Pastor Glasgow invited us to head over to S.K.I.P, which stands for Saving Kids of Incarcerated Parents, to watch him teach his weekly class to the kids.

Pastor Glasgow, simply put, is a human dynamo!! A real mover and shaker. I have been impressed by his work since I met him last year in Huntsville, AL at a Town Hall meeting and we have stayed in touch and sometimes worked together on projects since then. However, I have never been more impressed with Pastor Glasgow than I was that afternoon at SKIP. There were about 10 kids there that afternoon and naturally all of them had parents in prison, the majority for drugs. The kids ranged in age from 6-14 and the amount of knowledge they held about their communities, the problems and the solutions was astounding. One 14-year-old girl left my jaw on the floor with her ideas and her grasp. They all talked about how they felt about their parents being in prison. When asked if they thought prison would help their parents they all said NO because jail won't help sick people. Even at 6-years-old kids understand that basic premis.

One little 7-year-old boy, (who was so precious I could have gobbled him right up) began to tell us about Dr. Martin Luther King and he started out with the words, "Several years ago..."
I thought I'd fall out of my chair laughing at that. The center director clapped her hands together and said "No he didn't". It was priceless. This same little boy led us in a closing prayer to boot and even this Atheist was moved at his confidence and courage and surprised by the quality of his prayer.

I decided as we left that I want to be a part of that. So, I talked to one of the directors and asked what I can do. Once a week when my schedule allows I will be volunteering a couple of hours at SKIP in Montgomery, AL. Those kids are spectacular and if I can do anything to lessen their chances of following in their parents footsteps then I will do it.

When I arrived home that afternoon I had received an invitation in the mail to attend and address the Alabama Forest Owners Association in late April. This is a group of Alabamians who own large tracts of lan and, hate the fact that the taxes they pay for that land go to a public education system that fails year, after year, after year. They are anti-fed for the most part, believe in property rights and want to be left completely alone.
I think my address to them will go over very well. The other candidates will be in attendance there as well and we each get ten minutes to speak.

On a more somber note my dear friend Roberta Franklin lost her son last Monday. Roberta's son had been sick since last August with heart problems. Before we marched on Washington D.C. in August last year he had to have a pace maker put in. Then a month or so later he had to go back and have a defibilator put in. A few months later he was still very sick and so they went back in and put in some sort of patch on an artery or valve. Well that patch infected everything else so the doctors went in and removed the pace maker and defibilator but left the patch. Damon kept spitting up blood. So about three weeks ago he is placed back in the hospital in ICU and the doctors said that whatever was bleeding was behind the patch but the patch had attached itself to Damon's heart and lung and in order to get it out they would have to remove a piece of each.

They sent him home to wait for the surgery.
On Monday Roberta sent me an email saying that Damon came into her room around 3:30 something AM pouring blood from his nose, mouth, ears and eyes and begging her to help him. She said she got him in the bathroom and the medics were called at 3:37. By the time they got there at 3:41 Damon had bled to death ....in front of his mother and little sister (who slipped in his blood in the hall and is traumatized, of course.)

I lost a child back in 2000....but not is such an awful way. I spent much of last week with Roberta. I feel so sorry for her....and she goes to prison tomorrow for six months. The state are some real heartless fuckers (scuse my French).....Christian family values my ass. A mother will greive the loss of her son behind bars while her 10 year old daughter, who witnessed the death, will be shipped off to a relatives house to deal with both the loss of her brother and her mom....all over $232 worth of food stamps.

Makes me want to claw my eyes out.

I attended the funeral. Man I hate funerals, especially the funeral of someone so young and someone that I knew and liked.

And I tell you what....I am not religious....but Rev. Nettles, who preched the service....that man flat got down....and the black women in the choir....all I can say is I want a black choir to sing me out of here and I hope they sing at my funeral like they sang on Saturday at Damon's ....I've still got chill bumps and am thinking about becoming a frequent visitor to Freewill Missionary Baptist Church in Montgomery,AL just to hear that singing.

Roberta is doing about as well as can be expected. I spent a lot of time with her last week. I've lost a child too and am glad that I was able to be nearby during what has to be one of the most difficult and painful things a human being can experience.

On Saturday I encouraged her to talk with her lawyer about filing for a hardship case.
Keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Another strange thing that occured last week was discovering two prominent media people in Alabama discussing my cleavage in the newspaper. Needless to say I was SHOCKED! It appears that Mr. Bob Ingram wrote a smarmy little column about me and my campaign. I had never spoken directly with Mr. Ingram, or anyone affiliated with him, so I was surprised that any journalist would write about my campaign without calling me for information and a quote or two. Not only did he not call me he asked the editor of another newspaper to find a picture to run with the column. That editor searches the internet and finds the only picture where I am showing cleavage. It was done deliberately to make me look bad....but I think they failed at that.

I wrote to both men and said, "Now that you and the rest of Alabama have been introduced to the twins perhaps you would like to meet the rest of me. I'll don my burka so y'all won't be offended and then perhaps we can discuss the other planks in my platform since you only covered one.

I have spoken to Mr. Ingram since then and and he assures me that he wrote the column but had nothing to do with the selection of the photo. He and I talked for about 20 minutes. I asked him why he had decided that I was a "just for the fun of it candidate" when he and I had never actually met or spoken. He said, "I have been in politics 55 years and I know what I am talking about. You are a one issue candidate."

I told him he couldn't possibly know that because he had never visited my campaign website. I knew this because they printed the wrong URL with the article. He admitted as much and asked me what else I stood for. By the time I was done he had changed his opinion of me somewhat and seemed to be impressed with my grasp of other critical issues we face in this state. He even agreed with me on many issues. He and I will talk again and he promised to call me next time he is writing either about me, drug policy or prisons for his column which appears weekly in over 40 Alabama newspapers.

I find it amazing that journalists often complain about the quality of candidates available to the voters, ask why the "tough issues" like prison reform aren't being addressed, complain about how politicians never actually say anything and don't seem to have positions on any issues and along I come, being the very thing that they claim to want in a politician and the first thing they do is try to trash me by showing a photo of me in a low-cut shirt.
Go Figure!!?

On Saturday, March 11, I was able to visit my brother Randy in prison for the first time in two years. Some of you will remember that the last time I attempted that myself and my sweet Christian mother were denied entry because we weren't wearing panties.

My brother was recently transferred to a work release camp that is closer to home than the last place he was in and has much more relaxed rules. The men live in doublewide trailers (although there are 50 people to a trailer and that has to be incredibly trying for even the most polite of people).

We had planned this visit a week in advance and last night my mother (God she is a riot!) called to remind me to wear panties. That incident has become something of a family joke.

The conversation went a little something like this.

"Hello"

"Hey it's mama. Y'all still plannin on goin tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I'm picking Teresa up at 9:45 in the morning." (Teresa is my brother's wife)

"Well, don't forget to put panties on."

"I won't mom. I'll probably have to go buy some...I don't think I own any."

"Well go to the dollar store and get you a pair."

"I'll wear panties mom...I can stop and get some at Wal-Mart in Sylacauga."

"Don't go to Wal-Mart they'll charge you four-dollars. Go to the dollar store."

"Mom there isn't a dollar store between here and there. I'll just stop at Wal-Mart and get some if I have to."

"No.... I'll just brang you a pair of mine."

(Oh Jesus)

"No mom really...I think I can spring four bucks for a pair of new panties...although I appreciate the offer. And by the way, YUCK!"

"Well...I only wear them to church on Sunday and only then to keep my dress from sticking in my behind...you know you never see a woman in stand up in church that don't reach back there."

Oh god, my mother is such a scream!!
She is so funny because she is being genuine when she says these things and she doesn't realize how hilarious the things she says and does are. I love her so much and dread the day that I no longer have her to brighten my life with little momisms like the one above. Bless her...she is precious.

So, anyway, I had arranged to pick up my sister-in-law in a little town called Millerville in Clay County. It is the county where I grew up. As usual I am always early. I strive to always be on time and really hate to be late to anything.
I had been sitting in the parking lot of a convenience store that is closed down for about 15 minutes when I see a Sheriff's car coming very slowly down the road. I know he is going to turn in and question me about sitting there so I just rolled down my window and waited for him to pull even with me.

I wasn't a bit scared. Clay County, Alabama is stil very much Mayberry, USA and a lot of the cops are lifelong residents with family histories going back generations. Everybody knows everybody and it ain't unheard of for the local cops to drive you home instead of giving you a DUI.

"Hi Deputy, how you doin' today?" (I recognized him...he has been a Clay County cop for a very long time. I couldn't recall his name though and couldn't see his tag.)

"I'm alright...say do you know anything about somebody fixin' to open this store back up? I saw somebody down here yesta-d and I was wonderin'."

"I don't know. I live in Alex City and I am waiting on my sister-in-law to meet me here."

"You got people here?"

"Yep. She lives in Cragford."

"What's her name?"

(I had to smile before I said her name as my sister-in-law and my brother have a very long history with Clay County law enforcement.)

"Ah...you'll recognize this one....you know her well..Teresa Sapp."

"Heh...yep I reckon we do know her pretty well. That means you Randy's sister."

"Yes."

"I always liked Randy. He always respected me and never gave me a minutes trouble. How is he doin' now?"

"Well, he's in prison again. We're actually going to visit him today at Childresburg Work Release."

"He in for drankin again?"

"Of course."

"So what are you doin' now?"

"I am running for Governor with the Libertarian Party."

"You for real?"

I reached in the back seat and grabbed one of my info cards (they are really nice) and passed it through his window to him.

We began to talk about the drug war and he said right off the top that marijuana should be regulated like alcohol and tobacco and that it causes no problems.

I told him only an honest cop will say that and he must be an honest cop.

I asked him what kinds of problems Clay County is having with meth and he said they were pretty bad. It is an extremely rural, remote and sparsely populated county. I asked him if he thought all of the new laws restricting the sale of cold medicine had had an effect and he said no. I then asked him if he thought enforcement was working and he said no. Then I asked him what he thought should be done.

"I think they should make penalties stiffer. People on that stuff get a slap on the wrist, or a fine or a few months in jail and get right back out and go right back to it. I say make it tougher on them."

"Well...look at all the enforcement that has gone into the drug war already. Has it worked?"

"No."

"Seems to me like it always morphs into something else."

He sat ther for a minute or so and then said,
"You know you're right. First we had cocaine, then crack and now meth."

"Did you know that you could get meth by prescription from a doctor?"

"You kiddin' me?"

"No sir. And here is what I think we should do. Open meth clinics...just like the ones they have for opiate addicts, and get them on a clean prescription dose. Then that gets them off the streets and the cook houses out of the neighborhoods. We could also offer treatment to them because as you said many drug users begin using drugs again once they get out of jail...so prison isn't a cure right?"

"That makes the most sense of anything I've heard so far."

He and I continued to discuss other political issues and in the end he looked at me and said,

"You make more sense than anyone I have heard in a long time. I'm voting for you. Tell your brother and your mom I said hello and I hope Randy gets to come home soon. All the luck to you in the election...I'll spread the word."

Wow!! It isn't often one can say they are glad to attract the attention of the law.

My sister-in-law arrived and we headed down to C'Burg to try and get past the guards and visit Randy. On arrival we spotted my mom and my other brother John. They came over to us and the first thing out of mom's mouth is, "Did you get you some panties?"

I thought for one horrified second before I could answer that she was about to pull a pair out of hers out of purse in front of God and everybody, but I was spared that humiliation.

"Yes mom...I got it covered."

We proceed up to the gate and get in line. We had been told to be there at 10:45. There were already a lot of people standing in line and after we had been standing there about 20 minutes a guard announced that they were cutting visits off until 11:30. We wound up not getting in until closer to 12 and my brother John, who recently spent six weeks on life support, got very sick having to stand in the sun for that long. It was hot too...about 85 and there was no shade and no where to sit down.

While standing in line some people behind us started talking about the relatives they were there to visit and one of them said their son was there because of pot. I listened to the story without turning around for a few minutes and then, when I could stand it no longer, I joined in. I introduced myself and told them I am running for Governor and that part of my platform is drug policy and prison reform.

The rest of the people waiting in line crowded around. There were about 100 people or so out there. I began to talk a little politics and before I knew it everyone was telling their story and they were all very similar. Non-violent drug offenders, failed piss-tests, couldn't pay the probation officer and so on. Outrageously long sentences. One guy has been in there for six years for a failed drug test.

Everyone wanted information about my campaign and so I told them I had info cards in my car. I said I would hand them out but only after we went in because I didn't want to piss off the guards and lose anyone their visitation for that day. This camp allows you to bring in food from the outside and I knew the delicious smells wafting from bags of KFC, Mickey D's and boxes from Pizza Hut must be maddening to the prisoners and to be denied after being subjected to the smell would be a terrible thing.

Finally we were allowed in. I was prepared to proudly show my drawers to the guard but all she wanted was my keys, ID and sunglasses. In effect, I had donned those offensive things for nothing. I gave her the items she requested and she placed them in a box, gave me a number and told us to enjoy our visit. Not even a pat down. I was pleasantly surprised to be treated like a free human instead of an inmate. What a change.

It was really great to see my brother. He looks good and is doing well. He has a good job and will have good insurance for him and his wife in 30 days. He wants to come home of course, and we all want him home..but where he is now beats where he was a few months ago by a long country mile.

We were able to take folding chairs outside the fence and sit in the shade.
While we were visiting Randy mentioned the panty incident. Some of you will remember that in the aftermath of that story a bunch of women from all over the US and Canada all bought panties and mailed them to Elmore Correctional with notes saying "These are spares...please keep them for the next time someone shows up to visit their loved one without any on."

Although I had gotten an acknowledgement from the DOC spokesman that some panties were received, I never knew just how many of my fellow girly girls actually sent a pair. Randy told me that a few weeks after all of that happened he asked one of the female kitchem employees he had made friends with at Elmore about it. She said she hadn't heard anything but would check it out that night when she clocked out.

As it turns out there were many hundreds of pairs of panties sent in to Elmore Correctional.
So thank ya Girls for that awesome stunt!! It will not soon be forgotten.

We were able to visit for about two and a half hours and it was a very pleasant day. After two years it was really good to see my brother and to see him looking so well. I hope he comes up for parole soon and is allowed to go home. My mom needs help taking care of my other brother who is still very sick.

At 2:30 the guards announced that time was up and everyone began to make their way to the guard office to retrieve their keys and ID. Then they all went out and waited for me to get my info cards. I wound up giving out over 100 cards and 20 yard signs at the prison camp.
I think I will make work camps regular campaign stops. I don't have to win over the people standing in those visiting line....I simply need to inform them that I am here.

All in all it was a day well spent.

Here is what I have coming up in the next month.

On Tuesday March 13, I will be meeting with a writer for High Times in Montgomery to be interviewed for an article covering my campaign.

On Saturday March 17, I will be speaking at a fundraiser in Atlanta being hosted by Georgians Opposed to Prohibition.

On April 8, the Alabama Libertarian Party will be holding their annual convention where I am hoping to officially receive their nomination to run for Governor. Please join us if you are an Alabama resident and interested in casting your vote to confirm my nomination. Information about the convention is available at the above link.

On April 21, I will be participating in the Alabama Parent Teacher Assoc. Gubernatorial Candidates Forum.

On April 28, I will be speaking to the Alabama Forest Owners Association during their "Candidate Meet & Greet".

On April 30, the airwaves open up to candidates for campaign advertisements. Please make a donation to ensure as many Alabamians as possible hear my message of sanity and plans for a better future.

I will also need contributions to continue printing campaign materials such as signs, info cards and flyers as well as money for travel expenses to get to all of the upcoming events I have on my plate and the ones that will come up at the last minute.

So far, with your generous contributions, I have had over 300 campaign signs printed, over 1500 info cards printed and 5000 business cards printed. This money also goes to pay for the website and office expenses such as paper, ink, stamps, envelopes, phone and internet. Every penny you send helps me meet basic operating costs and ensures that I will continue to be a viable candidate in this election and that the opposition will be continually forced to address issues that they would otherwise never be pressed publicly on. It's a BEAUTIFUL thing.

This is how change happens and progress is made. Please do what you can to ensure that change and progress continue to be made in Alabama, one of the places where it is needed most.

Your Compatriot in the Fight for Liberty,
Loretta Nall