Comments on: The Obama drug strategy

By: GrammarNurse

GrammarNurse — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:59:04 +0000

And while we’re at it, a quick google search shows that its June “Sivilli,” not “Savalli” or “Sivili” as stated by the above posters.

By: Evening Fix | Progressive Fix

Evening Fix | Progressive Fix — Wed, 05 May 2010 22:50:12 +0000

[...] Mark Kleiman looks at the Obama drug strategy leaked by Newsweek: “Is this the strategy that I would have written? Not by a long shot. But is it the best strategy produced since the process started in 1989? Incomparably. It deserved better treatment than Newsweek chose to give it.” [...]

By: GrammarDoc

GrammarDoc — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:41:20 +0000

It’s “toe the line” not “tow the line”

By: Dee2

Dee2 — Wed, 05 May 2010 01:28:52 +0000

It was probably that Illinois pseudo psychologist they hired, Keith Humphreys. He was brought in by the Warriors to tow the line on “recovery” (OK, WE GET THAT IT’S A FLIPPIN BRAIN DISEASE) and is pissed off that he hasn’t been called in to be Chief K’s new “mini-me.” Ah, isn’t DC great?

By: The Obama drug strategy « Later On

The Obama drug strategy « Later On — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:06:29 +0000

[...] in Bush Administration, Daily life, Drug laws, Media, Obama administration at 3:05 pm by LeisureGuy Mark Kleiman at SameFacts.com: Some jerk [Update*: to be precise, John Walters, see below] leaked the as-yet-unpublished drug [...]

By: Catherinet

Catherinet — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:23:11 +0000

It’s ridiculous to think that one of the strategy’s primary authors, Kevin Sabet, would have leaked the document.As sad as it may sound, Kevin is unflinchingly loyal to ONDCP and I doubt he’d betray an office he holds in such high esteem.

Although I disagree with Kevin on medical marijuana, and I think ONDCP wastes most of its dollars (since physicians should be able to prescribe whatever they think could benefit their individual patients), Sabet is far from a drug warrior in the do-anything-but-tell-the-truth sense of a guy like David Murray. (I don’t know June Sivili so can’t comment there). I’ve seen him debate and he is actually pretty reasonable. I also would not call him a “holdover” since he left ONDCP in 2004, apparently unpleased with the Walters-Murray fascismo of the time. My money is on Walters–he’s mad tha Kerlikowske isn’t living and breathing student drug testing.

By: Dee

Dee — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:53:22 +0000

Another possible source for the leak could be Kevin Sabet. One of the youngest members of the ONDCP staff, Sabet has been a long time drug warrior and is now a senior aide and apparent confidante of Gil Kerlikowske. While many of the new people at ONDCP seem open to a non-ideologically driven approach to drug policy, there are more than a few holdovers like Sabet and June Savilli who care more about being right than doing the right thing when it comes to effective drug control policy. Hopefully, the Obama administration will get wise and clean house before its attempts at redirecting US drug policy are hopelessly compromised and rendered ineffectual.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 03 May 2010 15:08:20 +0000

One thing Mark implies (but glosses) is that DARE doesn’t work. This is pretty well known in the CJ and Soc communities, but not so much outside those communities.

By: National Drug Control Strategy – nothing to see here - Drug WarRant

National Drug Control Strategy – nothing to see here - Drug WarRant — Mon, 03 May 2010 12:31:05 +0000

[...] believing it can be saved if only we implement better probation policies and adjust marijuana laws) has a clearly different view of the Strategy and takes Isikoff to [...]

By: Suzii

Suzii — Mon, 03 May 2010 06:44:56 +0000

More on the connection of drugs and crime: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j_tg0ZaWKzq1dN409SQUXt1e8zUgD9FES5DG0

By: nattybumpo

nattybumpo — Mon, 03 May 2010 02:03:41 +0000

Isikoff hasn’t yet figured out that Obama doesn’t care about getting credit for every good idea. It’s possible, likely even, that the reason there hasn’t been a big to do about the changes in drug policy isn’t because Obama doesn’t think that drug policy is important, it’s that if you make a big deal of it, it will encourage opponents to fight it, which might result in delays and/or cutbacks.

Obama cares about good policy. If good policy can be implemented without making a big deal out of it, so be it.

By: dan

dan — Mon, 03 May 2010 01:25:40 +0000

Stuff like this reminds me why I voted for the guy. Good.

How much of drug policy reform needs to be approved by Congress? Will they touch it in an election year?

By: larry birnbaum

larry birnbaum — Sun, 02 May 2010 22:26:49 +0000

Mark, it’s tangential to your point I know but I’m stunned to learn that expect some level of competence and balance in the “work” of Michael Isikoff.

To me that’s like expecting some level of competence and balance in the “work” of his old colleague “Judge” Starr.