By "Radical" Russ Belville on July 14, 2009
Programming Note: NORML’s Paul Armentano and possibly also yours truly will be appearing on Rob Van Dam’s online radio show at http://blogtalkradio.com/rvdradio tomorrow night between 6pm-8pm Pacific Time.
Posted in ACTIVISM, ENTERTAINMENT, LEGISLATION | Tagged Drug Czar, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Paul Armentano, Rob Van Dam, wrestling
I am the host of the NORML SHOW LIVE and The NORML Stash Blog. I'm married, live in Portland, Oregon, and I am a registered medical marijuana caregiver in this state. I've worked days as an IT geek and nights as a professional musician. Previously, I have been the host of my own political talk radio show on satellite radio. I've been the High Times "Freedom Fighter of the Month" for my work producing Oregon NORML's TV show, "A Cannabis Community Forum", and for helping to institute Portland's wildly successful medical marijuana cardholders meetings, where we help sick and disabled Oregonians acquire cannabis plant starts, learn gardening, and understand the medical marijuana law. I've dedicated my life to bringing an end to adult marijuana prohibition and re-legalizing cannabis hemp, and I'm honored to be chosen by NORML to be our daily voice.
You make a valid point. I too wonder how they pick the experts. It’d probably be best if someone with “Dr.” in their name got picked.
But failing that we just have to hope that whoever gets put on tv manages to “win” their debate. If they have low credibility they might not convince many people but at least they won’t be doing any harm.
And where you say “biased” I think “informed.” The more coverage the better, even without good experts, because it might eventually lead to people bothering to research the topic themselves.
we are biased anyone who takes the pro-side we will likely support, we do not need to be won over to the pro side of this argument.
Who needs to be won over are the people who are 55+ those who spent the 60′s and 70′s in small towns and farms and watched crazy shit happen on TV, the people who voted for Nixon and Regan because they wanted law and order. Those are the people who need to be won over and a professional wrestler is not going to do that when up against a former general. These people need to be won over because the vote in higher numbers than any other group, and they are constantly in contact with their law makers.
Sounds like Gen. McCaffrey is in favor of the effects of legalization but just doesn’t realize it.
Also, I’d rather see someone who maybe has less credibility but can actually go to the studio. One of the last videos posted on here had horrible time lag that rendered the debate pointless. The prohibition side of the debate always makes the appeal to expert opinion but the experts are usually foolish. I don’t think there’s any need to copy them so long as we can field someone who is informed and well-spoken. Just think, it takes an expert from the other side, fully versed in all the rhetoric in lies, to match up against a regular guy from this side.
Rob Van Dam intelligent, knows the issues, and is well spoken but he is a professional wrestler with the URL of his website on his t-shirt, going up against a former drug czar.
Nothing against professional wrestlers I voted for one for Governor, but how do these shows pick their experts? I mean I smoke pot, I know the issues, can I expect a call from a news organization to debate the head of the DEA? Why didnt they get Mark Sanford, someone from the DPAN, Barny Frank, Allen St. Pierre. really this is a issue.
Again McCaffrey comes out with the 40 yo in a cabin, growing pot. Does this mean he supports legalization or what? Because the guy with 12 huge plants can, in fact, go away to prison.
Wow! More times than not, when a segment regarding legalization hits the news, the tone is usually tilted in favor of the prohibitionist. A DEA guy, a rehab doctor, a politician, and the host vs a pro legalization rep. With the speaking points of our team cut short or discounted. I was impressed with the host on this clip. It seemed to be tilted more in our favor than any others I have seem. I hope this is a sign that we are starting to tip the scales.