--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Janet Luise" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Joe Biden ** Integrity, Wisdom, Intelligence
I like Biden and wish he had run last time -- but he opted out. But his sponsorship and active promotion of the Rave Act has always concerned me, made me think twice about him. It appears to me that this bill is a gross violation of civil liberties. One can be arrested for even being proximate to someone using drugs. Club owners can be charged if anyone in the club is found with drugs "The RAVE Act which threatens to squash live music and free speech was passed in 2003 when it was tacked onto an unrelated child protection bill. In 2004 there were two additional pieces of legislation considered - the CLEAN-UP Act and the Ecstasy Awareness Act - that threatened to widen the laws to prosecute anyone who holds an event and fails to prevent illicit drug use. Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) forced the controversial legislation commonly known as the "RAVE" Act through both houses of Congress as an attachment to an unrelated child abduction bill. The "RAVE" Act, also referred to as the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2003, was introduced as an addition to the Child Abduction Protect Act of 2003, widely recognized as the AMBER Alert bill (S151). The "RAVE" Act had not passed a single committee before being attached to the AMBER Alert bill. In addition, it was so controversial when it was introduced during the 107th Congress that two Senators withdrew their sponsorship. The "RAVE" Act makes it easier for the federal government to prosecute innocent business owners for the drug offenses of their customers - even if they take steps to stop such activity. This is a threat to free speech and musical expression while placing at risk any hotel/motel owner, concert promoter, event organizer, nightclub owner or arena/stadium owner for the drug violations of third parties - real or alleged - regardless of whether or not the promoter and/or property owner made a good-faith effort to keep their event drug-free. It applies not only to electronic music parties, but any type of public gathering: theatrical productions, rock concerts, DJ nights at your local club or tavern, and political rallies. Moreover, it gives heightened powers and discretion to prosecutors who may use it to target events they personally don't like, such as Hip-Hop events and gay and lesbian fundraisers. ... The Drug Enforcement Administration is prosecuting nightclub owners and promoters that organize electronic dance music events and the military is using drugs as a pretext to close down gay nightclubs. In Michigan in March 2005, a nightclub was raided with some attendees reportedly being strip-searched and over 100 people being ticketed and slapped with a misdemeanor charge, just for being in proximity to people using drugs. A similar incident happened in 2002 in Wisconsin. In addition, drug laws are often enforced unevenly against African Americans and Latinos. Hip-Hop could easily become a target. ...." And what about those Blues clubs??!! > > Please give Joe Biden another look. I went to a "HOUSE PARTY" a few > weeks ago just so I could see that penthouse apartment on the 13th > floor of the new hotel downtown IOWA CITY & discovered the best > candidate I think from either party. > > http://www.joebiden.com/home > but there's lots of good info on youtube too > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v3ccudpkNk&feature=user > > He's for impeaching Bush IF he goes to war in IRAN > And as Chairman of the Foreign Relations committee does have to power > to start it. > His solution for Iraq voted for has majority support of 75 Senators > > next President has so many challenges They can't make mistakes > > Extremely intelligent and passionate as well > teaches constitutional law > Hillary & Biden are the only ones with enough strong supporters to > IMMEDIATELY start returning America to our values. > > Biden would immediately close Guantanino, > Swear to NO torchure, go back to the Geneva conventions... > > He knows all the world leaders. (While Hillary was having teas - he > was in the back room working on policy. > > He NOT a millionaire -- only 1 of 2 Senates who > isn't...... Causing Rush Limbach to complain "Biden > can't even make money in CONGRESS!" Well isn't that > a GOOD THING? > Has served in Congress since he was 29. only 4 have > had more service (but 44 are OLDER than he is.) He's 4 years older > than Hillary at 65. > > IF we want integrity, intelligence & experience in > the White House I don't think we can do better than > Joe Biden! > > And of course the fact that 1/3 of the books in his > library are concerned with spirituality and > comparative religion certainly gets the highest marks > with me. Wisdom over Power is pretty rare in > politics! > > And let me remind you the of the CBS Poll December 2003 > Howard Dean 23% > Wesley Clark 10% > Joe Lieberman 6% > Al Sharpton 6% > Richard Gephardt 5% > John Kerry 4% > > a bit more than a paragraph --- but I DID cut down an the long > rambling letter I sent to all my friends & family. > > This guy is BIG on diplomacy and with his 35 years in > Congress really knows everybody. > > He's also great for compromise. He doesn't see this > as a red/blue fight with Republicans. He sees lots > of Republicans being held down by pressure from the > current administration..... > He sees people not so very different in what they > really want & that we all have to work TOGETHER new > energy, healthcare, etc etc. > HE HAS EARNED MORE RESPECT in Congress from the other > side due to his fairness. >