President Obama’s no dummy. He’s intelligent and he’s educated. He’s from Chicago. Is he purposely throwing softballs?

President Obama: Well, what‰s happened is that President Calderon I think has been very bold and rightly has decided that it‰s gotten carried away. The drug cartels have too much power, are undermining and corrupting huge segments [...]

Could it be that the mindless anything-goes-as-long-as-you’re-tough-on-drugs philosophy is showing cracks? “bullet” Editorial: Incarceration Lobby Deserves Tough Questions

Here’s a question to those who gathered in Sparta last week to criticize Gov. Jim Doyle’s public safety budget: Why does the United States, with just 5 percent of the world’s population, house 25 percent of [...]

In the discussion about legalizing medical marijuana in Illinois,

Illinois State Police Capt. Mark Henry specifically cited a provision that would allow patients to grow as many as seven marijuana plants at a time. Henry said seven plants would produce more than 3,500 joints per year Ö meaning a patient would have to smoke [...]

The student newspaper at Illinois State University did an article about legalization, and may do a series. Marijuana legalization to help economy Some of the quotes were accurate. The regulars could probably tell what I did say and what I didn’t. There’s some things I just wouldn’t say, but the overall sense was OK. [...]

Jim Webb’s courage v. the “pragmatism” excuse for politicians Seriously. Just go over there and read the whole thing. But here’s a couple of paragraphs for you anyway.

What’s most notable about Webb’s decision to champion this cause is how honest his advocacy is. He isn’t just attempting to chip away at the safe [...]