Check out this blog by Josh Richmond of the Political Blotter

This is a sampling of political writer Josh Richman's blog, The Political Blotter. Read more and post comments at www.ibabuzz.com/politics.

Nov. 19

Oakland-based Americans for Safe Access, a medical marijuana advocacy group, sued the California Department of Motor Vehicles today on behalf of Rose Johnson, 53, of Atwater. The Merced County Superior Court lawsuit claims that despite Johnson's clean driving record — not having caused an accident in 37 years of driving — the DMV refused to renew her license in July after finding she's a medical-marijuana user and deeming that she had an "addiction to, or habitual use of, [a] drug" that renders her unable to safely operate a car.

"The only evidence introduced by the DMV to support this conclusion is the fact of Johnson's medical marijuana use pursuant to state law," the lawsuit says. "The DMV abused its discretion by suspending Johnson's license on this basis."

ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford issued a statement this afternoon saying when California voters passed Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, "they never intended to authorize the DMV to strip medical marijuana patients of their drivers' licenses. The DMV should not be in the business of revoking the licenses of drivers like Ms. Johnson simply because she is a medical marijuana patient."

And ASA says this isn't an isolated incident.

The DMV has suspended or revoked licenses of medical-marijuana patients in other counties, including Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Glenn, Merced, Placer, Sacramento, and Sonoma.

Johnson's case seems particularly ironic because Merced County, where she lives, this past year instructed its sheriff's deputies to respect state law and not cite medical marijuana patients or seize their medicine. Yet Johnson, never accused of driving while under the influence of marijuana or anything else, was denied her license renewal by a state agency for an activity allowed by state law.

And as I write this item, having just finished an article on the state Supreme Court's impending review of Proposition 8, I wonder how much longer we'll have to keep litigating and re-litigating the effects of a medical-marijuana initiative approved by voters 12 years ago. It seems California just can't find a way to stop stepping on its own toes.

Aphrodisiac from Ants: Man executed for massive investor scam!

Chinese authorities announced that they executed the leader of a scheme to swindle investors out of their money by making aphrodisiacs from ants. Wang Zhendong, was put to death in the northeastern province of Liaoning, according to Xinhua News Agency (China's official news source).

Wang managed to steal about 3 billion yuan ($439 million) from numerous investors. One of the investor's even committed suicide when he discovered he'd been ripped off. China does not mess with crime like this. If they catch you, that's it. You're dead. Needless to say, not many people try it.

Can you imagine if we did that here in the United States? Hmmmmm....as a matter of fact that's not a bad idea! That would help deplete the overcrowded prisons. Of course, we would have to start off by executing all the mass murders, serial killers, and just plain old murderers first. And we all know that'll never happen. Oh well...just a thought.

Lakers beat Mavericks to extend their record to 13-1

 

I know the game was Friday night, but as a Laker fan since the early 1960s, I just wanted to crow about their NBA best record so far.

The Lakers have been dismantling opponents this season by an average of 14 points a game!

Left, Trevor Aziza gets a tough rebound against two Dallas players, and on the right - Pau Gasol makes life miserable for Antoine Wright driving to the basket.

What's a Wal-Mart Christmas Mean? See Sunday Times-Standard

As It Stands takes a look at what Wal-Mart's business practices and what they have done to help destroy American manufacturers who can't keep up with the giant retailer.

How desperate are people this year to get a good deal?

How about desperate enough to kill?

That's what happened in Valley Stream, New York, on Friday when shoppers trampled a Wal-Mart contract worker to death!

Where does it end when getting a great deal is worth this? See Sundays Time-Standard's Opinion Page and see where the wages of greed have taken us.

Police look at video tapes to see who killed Wal-Mart worker

Police are looking at surveillance cameras from Friday morning, when an unruly crowd of shoppers burst through the front door of a New York Wal-Mart store and trampled a worker to death. The store was back open hours later. The sales had to go on! Click here for full story.

Wal-Mart Worker Trampled To Death by Mob of Shoppers!

It really is Black Friday for one family in New York. A 34-year-old man New York man was knocked down when (according to Nassau police) "an unruly shoppers physically broke down the front door to rush inside." The man was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead this morning at 6:00 a.m. A pregnant woman shopper was also injured and taken to the hospital. her condition is still unknown at this time.

To me, this is a sad reflection of the desperate times we live in financially. Pundits have called this day Black Friday in reference to businesses coming out in "the black" this holiday shopping season. Still, I find it hard to believe that people wanted a "good deal" that badly, where they felt they had to actually break into the store! These are hard times in more ways than one.

My sympathies go out this Friday morning to the family of that poor man who died while working in Wal-Mart. The whole situation makes me feel sick.

I already hate Wal-Mart's business practices and have even wrote a column that is going in this Sunday's Times-Standard about Wal-mart's affect on the economy. Especially this season. Little did I know something like this would happen to put a punctuation mark on the price of doing business.  CLICK HERE to read more.

Meet James Kuhn: Eccentric Face Painting Artist!

      

James Kuhn calls his creations self-portraits because he uses his own face for a his artwork.

    

These are just some of the vast amount of characters he has come up with.

Happy Birthday to my wife Shirley who won't share her age today!

My wife and I couldn't find the turkey so we're dining out today

I've heard tales of how dumb turkeys are supposed to be, but I suspect some are smarter than others!

 I watched a great special on the History Channel about turkey's last night and it mentioned the rumor that turkeys would drown if left outside in the rain.

Not so, say the experts. The wild turkey's are smarter than the domesticated version grown in the millions every year - but neither version is THAT DUMB.

 Scientists have managed to "dumb down" the domesticated turkey (which is kinda scary when you consider that wild turkey's are the dumbest birds in the bird family!).

I guess the good news is...No dishes or cleaning up this year!

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers - including Turkeys!

My interpretation of Thanksgiving has nothing to do with Pilgrims and myths.

 Instead I choose to make this a day of thanksgiving (not because of the myths and vague history) but because we ALL have something to be thankful for.

I set aside this day to be thankful, and to remember all of my personal blessings, which seems more appropriate.

I'm thankful for my wonderful family, and I'm thankful that people read my column and other articles that appear in this blog.

 I'm thankful to have a blog. I didn't know what I was missing all that time! I started this blog in July, but it seems like just yesterday.

Peace to All!