Overheard conversation between a couple of 15-year olds recently:

"OMG, have you heard? No one likes him. They're all telling me what a jerk he is."

"Oh, I know. He just doesn't have a clue about anything, does he?"

That clip from Morning Joe at the top almost gets to that, with Scarborough's snide suggestion that the Senators just think President Obama is clueless. Assume the Scarborough Seven would include Ben Nelson, Max Baucus, Mark Warner, Blanche Lincoln, Joe Lieberman and who else? (By the way, I make that assumption because of the assertion that he's 'gotta get Republicans' in there...no progressive Senator would say that.)

Greg Sargent:

Sure, Scarborough could very well be exaggerating wildly or makin' it up. But you know something? Having watched Congress up close for the past two years -- the backbiting, the shortsightedness, the scheming, the elevation of individual careers over party, and the bizarre addiction some Dems have to currying favor with journalists and outlets who are openly hostile to them -- It wouldn't surprise me at all if there's some truth to it.

Assuming "all those Senators" actually said what Joey says they said, it makes sense because of the jockeying right now between BlueDogs and the rest of the Democrats. Keep the message out in the media via the one guy willing to act as megaphone in the hopes Democrats will move right at a time where they should absolutely be moving left.

Reefer Madness: The debate about Medical Marijuana is on!

Does marijuana help people like Angel Raich? Is it illegal if a doctor prescribes it? "The justices refused three years ago to protect distributors of medical marijuana from federal anti-drug charges." Or do people just want to get stoned?

There’s also the argument that says we need the FDA to study it more closely. What about the Vioxx scandal and a supposed coverup by the FDA that David Graham brought to the public? I think all you need to do is talk to someone from the seventies and you'll get all the information that you need to know. Why did it take a study from 2001 to tell us that pot gives you the munchies?

I'm surprised the big drug companies aren't pushing to allow them to distrbute yet another drug legally out into society. There are ads on 24/7 that makes it seem like happiness is a just a pill away!

Yet children are commiting suicide from these Antidepressants that are supposed to be a godsend.

Where’s the outrage?

When has anyone jumped off a bridge after smoking a joint? You might want to eat the bridge, but normally, one wants to lie on the couch with a bag of chips and a subway footlong sandwich and watch the tube.

The side effects for oxycodone, percocet, and vicodin often include addiction and painful withdrawals, yet are almost completely ignored as a deterrent in their prescription by doctors.

The other argument that doctors will write prescriptions blatantly like drug dealers is capricious at best. I don’t think a person will be able to walk into a doctor’s office and say, "I have this twinge, can you write a script for chronic?" They can already go to the mall and do that. If marijuana will help people, then what is all this hubbub? Do we still have Reefer Madness on our minds?

Talk Left has a series of great articles about MM.

Here's an in-depth video clip segment from Aaron Brown on the subject:

Video

Robert Downey Jr. makes it back form drug addiction and jail to release his first record entitled "The Futurist"

Here's a video clip of him singing "Broken" from his appearance on "Oprah."

Video

His vocals sound great and I'm happy to see him turn his life around so completely!

Dan Rather retires and the religious right takes its shots!

There can be many things said about Dan Rather, but this one was the most ridiculous we heard all day.

Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition appeared on "Hardball" with Marty Kaplan of the USC Annenberg School of Communications and took her shots at Dan.

Video

Andrea: "I don't think he likes Americans!"

Matthews: "Dan Rather doesn't like Americans?"

Andrea: 'I don't think so. I think he's a grumpy old guy."

Marty: "Andrea, you just made my point about the right wing as well as I could ever possibly make it."

Here are some of the 'values" of TVC:

"Right To Life We also believe the government has the power to take the lives of those who murder others ...

Pornography: Pornography is a progressive addiction that ruins the conscience of the person. Frequently, this person acts out his sexual fantasies by molesting children, raping girls, and committing other sexual crimes—including murder.

Discrimination And Tolerance: We are not tolerant of behaviors that destroy individuals, families, and our culture. Individuals may be free to pursue such behaviors as sodomy, but we will not and cannot tolerate these behaviors. They frequently lead to death.

Love And Hate: The Bible teaches us that we are to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us.

Obama made a big speech in Lansing, Michigan, on our energy dependence and need to move away from foreign oil.

Without a doubt, this addiction is one of the most dangerous and urgent threats this nation has ever faced - from the gas prices that are wiping out your paychecks and straining businesses to the jobs that are disappearing from this state; from the instability and terror bred in the Middle East to the rising oceans and record drought and spreading famine that could engulf our planet.

In response to these challenges, Obama announced his New Energy for America plan, which includes an immediate energy rebate to Americans struggling with high gas prices, the creation of five million new green jobs, and the elimination of our dependence on Middle Eastern oil in ten years.

All Spin Zone: GOP - Grand Old Pornhounds: In an update to an earlier ASZ story, tonight's the night for Dubya - his date with a real life porn star at a gala GOP fundraising event! No word yet if Jimmy Jeff will be attending this soire, one that is sure to rank high on the family values meter, or whether Donald Wildmon's crew will be seeking autographs...read on

John has an interview with Mary.

I know some "social conservatives" have spoken out against her being there, but where are the Evangelicals like TVC who proclaim that: "Pornography is a progressive addiction that ruins the conscience of the person. Frequently, this person acts out his sexual fantasies by molesting children, raping girls, and committing other sexual crimes—including murder." I guess her throwing down a couple a grand gives the President and her a pass for the night.

The Republican Party is all inclusive. The Republican Party is full of ideas. The Republican Party loves Porn Stars.

Download | play -WMP

Except a few of their big supporters say: Pornography is a progressive addiction that ruins the conscience of the person. Frequently, this person acts out his sexual fantasies by molesting children, raping girls, and committing other sexual crimes—including murder.

Oppps, what will they do now?

via Polizeros:

Most of the people in prison are there, directly or indirectly, because of drugs and alcohol. Today I heard amazing talks by Jeanne Woodward and Stephen Manley about the seismic shift happening now in California prisons towards rehabilitation and away from punishment. She is Director of the Calif. Dept. of Corrections. He is the author of Prop. 36, which mandates treatment not prison for addicts. For the head of the California prison system to openly endorse rehabilitation not punishment, to actually meet with inmates, is a staggering, most welcome change. She's the real deal, she means it...read on

This is an important story that Bob has brought to light.

Alcoholism and addiction is treatable. And treatment instead of prison benefits everyone.

Talk Left weights in: Gov. Arnie Shows Support for Felons

Fla. Court Refuses to Hear Limbaugh Appeal

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday declined to consider an appeal from commentator Rush Limbaugh claiming his privacy was violated when his medical records were seized for an investigation of whether he illegally purchased painkillers....

writes: ...Like most evil liberals, I object to harsh sentencing for drug offenders and certainly think treatment is preferable to jail. But, Limbaugh has a very prominent platform which he could be using to advocate changes to the laws along these lines, which he doesn't do. Go here and scroll around the page for some of Rush's deep thoughts on drug users.

I agree with Mr. Atrios. The real crime is Rush's hypocrisy on this issue. I had to laugh at Dick Morris the other day defending Rush on The Factor, saying that Limbaugh had "conquered" his addiction. No one conquers addiction. (Definition -conquer- To defeat or subdue by force, especially by force of arms.) Anyone in recovery will tell you that a person surrenders to his or her addiction so that they may have a chance to become free of it.