[kristinn]

Interesting article with good background reporting.

[re_nortex]

Congressman Trey Radel: Why I’m A Hip Hop Conservative:

I felt a thrill listening to this music. Immediately, the hip-hop artists did what artists have been doing for centuries – they opened my eyes up to a whole new world.

[James C. Bennett]

Miron estimates taxpayers shell out about $44 billion yearly for the drug war, and that legalizing and taxing drugs would yield $33 billion more in annual revenue.

But decriminalizing drugs undercuts the police and prison-industrial complex — the ultimate expressions of Big Government power over its citizens.

Now Radel owes that government a solid after the federal cops appeared to cut him some significant slack.

This is what the anti-legalisation buffoons just don't get.

[lee martell]

Of course I wish Trey Radel had not been dabbling in illegal drugs, but he did. The time has come where one should not need to self-exile after a bad choice if there is real contrition. The Dems feel no compulsion to ‘do the right thing and disappear’ after having disgraced oneself. We Tea Partiers need to be disciplined, yes, but wait a while before giving up and wearing the guilty mask. Maybe his career can still be salvaged. It worked for Obama.

[James C. Bennett]

Jay Leno had mentioned something about how this guy got a pass (paid vacation) and lenient treatment from the cops while anyone else with ‘Washington’ as his last name would’ve been treated very differently.

[1010RD]

He’s compromised. No reason to suspect that he hasn’t been turned. He’s their man now.