- - - - - (continued from above email)

Yeah, Joe, I live in your district and I see no positive impact from whatever you're pretending to be doing. Somebody needs to run you out of office!

It is my belief that a State Senator or State Representative can have a lot of influence on U.S. reps in Washington.  The federal drug war is hurting us right here in Minnesota. Instead of getting more money for schools and community clinics, money is being spent on this stupid drug war.

When Joe Mullery said "People in my district do not want to legalize using marijuana."  Did Joe Mullery do any kind of survey to see if this was true?  Answer: No he did not!  But he does, as he said in his letter, send out questionnaires--and I read everything.  He NEVER asked any question about legalizing cannabis or doing something to end the drug war. 

That is why we need somebody to challenge people like Mullery, Champion, Clark--and yes, even Sen. Linda Higgins.  NO ONE is talking about the drug war--at least not in their campaign literature or to the news media.

But we don't have to wait for the next election cycle to start challenging candidates as they campaign for the November elections. Ask them why they they HAVEN'T dealt with this issue before now?  Why do they make it a taboo topic--while people are dying in turf wars and languishing in prison because of this stupid and cruel federal policy?

Kurt wrote: "I think that it would be a good idea to wait to run for office until a future time when I have a more concrete understanding of the law."  Well, if Kurt means for this year, yes. But between now and the next election campaign, members of MN-NORML can find plenty of legal sources to advise Kurt well enough to challenge his opponents.

Phyllis Kahn is the most liberal representative in the State of MN.  She was fearless enough to speak before a Minnesota Atheist monthly meeting.  So what are her views on the drug war?  --  She doesn't say.

From her website:
Phyllis Kahn (DFL) District: 59B
She is currently a member of Governmental Operations and Veteran Affairs, State Government Finance, Capital Investment, Regulated Industries, and Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources Committees. Her legislative interests include issues dealing with pension and investment policy, science and technology (most recently DNA testing and the role of biotechnology in agriculture) information policy, natural resources and women's rights.
*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  

Okay, here's one: What does R.T. Rybak say about cannabis?  (I'm sure all of you heard this, but I include it for the record here).
RT Rybak blames pot smokers for Minneapolis murders
By Emily Kaiser Thu., May[masked]

. . .
So what could be causing the gun battles on our streets? Mayor RT Rybak blames you and your love of marijuana. Drop the pot and our streets will be saved.

In a Star Tribune story highlighting the city's increasing efforts to stop gang violence, Rybak had this humdinger of a quote:

    "When you pay for marijuana, you are paying for the bullet that goes into the head of someone on the streets. Too many people have winked sideways without being honest that it's white middle class Minnesota that's paying for the drugs that put profit into gangs that kill people."

He gets downright expansive on MPR:

    "What fuels a gang? Where is the money right now? It's in the marijuana trade. Where's the money in the marijuana trade. Frankly, white middle-class Minnesota is buying marijuana and with a wink and a nod thinking it has nothing to do with anything. It is literally paying for bullets that kill people. So anyone listening here who feels they're not connected to this, wants to help in any way, spread that message. That any person who thinks that it is OK to be involved in what is an underground economy that is violent, spread that message. Boycott the people who are killing people... I believe that anybody who buys marijuana... is directly or indirectly giving money to gangs."
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Go here to read the Mayor's response:
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/05/rt_rybak_defend.php


Here's a question: What's the difference between DFL R.T. Rybak and Repub Michele Bachmann?  (Hmm.  Got you on that one!) 

Kurt wrote: "I suggest that we all meet in a park sometime soon."  Well, let me suggest a time and place for that: 21st August 2011.

Copied from Atheist Weekly Events:
Sunday, August 21, Noon. – 4:00 p.m.  Freethought Picnic
Columbia Park  800 Columbia Blvd. Minneapolis
The last of three summer picnics, sponsored by Minnesota Atheists.  The picnic is a potluck. Please bring some edibles to share. The shelter has electricity and a sink.

One does not need to be a Member of Minnesota Atheists; one doesn't even have to be an atheist to join us at that picnic.  EVERY member of MN-NORML should attend this picnic.  So far, with little effort, I gathered 18 signatures of members who are opposed to the drug war.  Not just for legalizing cannabis, but opposed to the entire drug war.  And they want to talk about it with anyone who will listen.  At that picnic, there are potential activist members for MN-NORML.  

And finally: Thank You Kurt for stepping out there first with the idea of running for public office.  You started the ball rolling. That's important!

--Matthew

On 1 August[masked]:18, Hotem <[address removed]> wrote:

I came to the same conclusion, that we would not be getting 500 signatures by Wednesday. However, this thread is important because someone--Kurt--stepped forward to run for political office. So between now and the next time, we need to be prepared to collect signatures quickly.  We need to know the earliest day once can start a petition drive.  We need to have a list of people we can call upon who will gather in one place to sign the necessary petitions. 

If 500 are called for, then we need to gather at least 550 or 600.  Just from members of Minnesota Atheists, we can pick up at least 100 signatures. We can pick up more signatures during both May Day celebrations and Gay Pride next year.  Can I meet someone to walk with me on UofM campus--and campuses of other colleges?  We have plenty of time to collect signatures.

http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=896
    County or legislative office, or office of district judge: 500 signatures

This petition must be filed during the filing period. The signatures may be gathered prior to the filing period for this particular petition. (Reiter vs. Kiffmeyer, A[masked])

This means that we can start gathering signatures early next year.

On July 28th, Kurt wrote: "I probably shouldn't do it. I have too much on my plate as it is."  I disagree.  Nothing is more important than challenging law-makers.

Kurt's first paragraph of his August 1st email was thoughtful and well-written.

Second paragraph, Kurt wrote: "I feel like it would be disrespectful to the position of a lawmaker in the state to run without any real desire to win out of an acknowledgment that I'm still young . . ."  In the late 90s, Fred Askew ran for a seat on the Mpls Council, and he had no intentions of winning.  He did so as a means of advertising his business.  Now, that was disrespectful.  But in this case, Kurt would be running on an important platform: Why are we bombarded with lies from government--federal and state?  What are those lies?  What is the truth?  Who are the people telling these lies? Why aren't candidates discussing the drug war? Who is being hurt by the drug war.  (Answer: all of us, but some groups more than others).

Last week I got a call from a campaign worker for Tarryl Clark who is running, again, against Michele Bachmann.  In the last election cycle, I made a contribution, so this year, they called upon me again.  I told the young lady that I wasn't going to contribute because Ms Clark isn't mentioning anything about the drug war.  The young lady said, "Oh, but there are so many other important issues that Ms Clark is discussing." 

In my book, NOTHING is more important than the drug war, 2.4 million people behind bars, the racial injustice of the drug war, and the Billions of dollars going to support the enforcement/incarceration complex.  As everyone knows, the Drug War has shredded our Bill of Rights.  That, Ms Tarryl Clark, is more important than all your planks combined!


Here is another Minnesota Representative who angers me.  He wrote this to me:

15 August 2005

Dear Matthew:

I read your lengthy response to my questionnaire; however, you didn't really answer any of the questions.  I know you're concerned about legalizing marijuana.  I didn't realize that you also are interested in legalizing all other drugs.  That has even more united opposition.

First of all, the people in my district do not want to legalize using marijuana.

Second, the people in my district would be, and should be, very upset with me if I spent a lot of time on an issue that I can't do anything about.  With the recent Supreme Court decision (just a few months ago) stating that no matter what states say, as far as trying to legalize marijuana, that the federal government has the right to pre-empt the issue and has decided that it is going to be illegal.  The U.S. Supreme Court has more power than I do.  Not even Congress can overrule the Supreme Court.  However, if you are really interested in pursuing this issue, Congress could take back the law pre-empting the issue and make it legal or allow the states to make it legal.  You would have to go through your congressmen and U.S. senators for that.

In the meantime, I'm not going to butt my head against a brick wall.  There is a huge amount of work that I'm doing for all the residents of my district, that has a positive impact, and I plan to continue doing that.

Sincerely

Joe Mullery.
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- - - - - (continued in next email)

On 1 August[masked]:11, Common Kurt <[address removed]> wrote:

Just so everyone knows, I pay 19 bucks a month to keep TC Cannabis Club and I don't really want people to go there anymore. I might close it soon unless someone gives me a good reason not to. I want people to sign up for [address removed] and to go to the forums at mnNORML.org/mnNORML/forum I'm on the Board of Directors at MN NORML and I think that there is a great thing happening there and I want their site to become the hub for all Minnesota Cannabis activism related traffic. Also, you should think about signing up as a MN NORML member. We are all trying to work together in a grass roots, community based way, and we need your help. Help us reach out to the audience that you know would like to be a part of this movement. We are always looking to expand our base into new communities around Minnesota. Our greatest problem in this state is lack of organization. Because of the obvious problem of traveling distances to talk to one another, organizations throughout the state should start to organize online. Please join the Minnesota NORML forums and tell us about your experiences with cannabis law reform in your area. Tell us your story. We want to know what is happening, as a community, so that we know how respond in an accurate way. We all should also be locally be organizing in person. We should take advantage of our rights as a registered non-profit organization. We are an umbrella organization, so if you know of other groups that are working towards the same goals, we want to work with you. I personally have not only seen this struggle as a work that I do with people that are just of like minds as myself, but I see you all as friends. It is a please to be a part of a diverse community that is committed to a worthy goal, to remove the draconian penalties associated with cannabis possession. Together, we can do this. It is not the work of any single person, but the work of the collective, that will win and sustain a victory.

That's quite an introduction. Moving on... In response to my first email in this email thread, and the emails that I have gotten, I have decided to not run for State Senate. I know that I created my own hype, and maybe this seems a bit silly to ask a question about running and then a few days later say that I'm not running, but upon more consideration, I think that it would be a good idea to wait to run for office until a future time when I have a more concrete understanding of the law. I feel like it would be disrespectful to the position of a lawmaker in the state to run without any real desire to win out of an acknowledgment that I'm still young, naive, and in need of more education on law in general.

But, getting on to my previous soap box once more... let's all start to freaking to a better job of organizing. We should perhaps start by finding worthy and willing candidates amongst ourselves now that we know we can support, just in case another state legislature member decides to quite abruptly, eh? Let's start plotting and planning in general, a lot more. If you see a hole in our operation, jump in and lend us a helping hand. We need a full crew to operate an offensive on the policies encompassed in our drug laws. A lot is at stake in this battle and there are certain Powers That Be that seem to be obsessed with obtaining the status quo. We need all the resources that you are willing to throw in the pot. Yes, you. Money, time, energy, knowledge, positivity, we need anything that you can give. What are the gifts that the Breath gives you? Donate that. I look forward to beginning and continuing to work with all of you, my community. I am privileged to be thrown into this whole situation with all of you fine people. I suggest that we all meet in a park sometime soon. Perhaps at a pavilion and have a pot luck. Would anyone in TC Cannabis Club or MN Norml like to suggest a time or place?

-kurt

On Sun, Jul 31, 2011 at 6:34 PM, H Firm <[address removed]> wrote:

Fuck yeah, go for it!

On Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 6:02 PM, Common Kurt <[address removed]> wrote:
> http://www.twincities.com/ci_18556031
>
> So, my state senator quit. Should I run? I think I only need 500 valid
> signature by the end of wednesday. This could probably get our message out
> there and force whoever is running against me to answer a lot of important
> questions doing the campaign. What should I consider before jumping into
> this? Should I attempt to run for one or multiple of these parties?
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology_Democracy_Party
> http://www.mngreens.org/
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grassroots_Party
>
> -kurt
>