The White House has issued a press release that President Barack Obama would nominate Michele M. Leonhart to head the Drug Enforcement Administration. Leonhart is a career law enforcement officer and was appointed by George W. Bush in 2003 as the Deputy Administrator in the DEA. Karen Tandy, another Bush-appointed official, had resigned as the head of the DEA in 2007 and Leonhard has been serving as the Acting Administrator of the DEA ever since. She began working for the agency in the 1980′s when she was hired as a special agent. The President listed her qualifications in the release as having 30 years with the DEA, her management roles in field divisions, and various awards she has earned in her career. John Pistole, deputy director for the FBI, NY US Attorney Boyd Johnson III and California US Attorney Greg Vega were all interviewed for the post and, Pistole was considered a front runner according to Tickle the Wire. Some critics of the Leonhart nomination say that reaffirming Bush policies by retaining his worst appointees is disappointing to say the least. Leonhart was front and center during the federal closing of California dispensaries during the Bush years. Pete Guither writes on his blog
her relationship with super-snitch Andrew Chambers, who was paid over $2 million by the DEA to testify (and lie) for the DEA. He was finally discredited and removed.
What did Michele think about his lying to help them get convictions?
“The only criticism (of Chambers) I’ve ever heard is what defense attorneys will characterize as perjury or a lie on the stand.”
She continued by saying that once prosecutors check him out, they’ll agree with his admirers in DEA that he’s “an outstanding testifier.”
Perfect choice for head of the DEA. Someone who doesn’t even know that perjury is wrong.
Unfortunately it seems that change sometimes means to stay the same.
Police Say Young Man Shot Himself While in Handcuffs in Patrol Car
ASA Gets Their Day in Federal Court
Over 15,000 Pounds of Marijuana Torched in Jamaica
Oregon Joins the List of States Voting to Legalize Marijuana
Michigan Court of Appeals: Defendant Must Prove Marijuana Usage Was Medical
Medical Marijuana Grower In Oregon Convicted on Federal Drug Charges
Medical Marijuana Business in Colorado Can’t File for Bankruptcy
Mother of Teenager Who was Shot by Border Patrol Sues the Agency
Patient Denied a Kidney Transplant Because of Legal Medical Marijuana Use
Another DEA Raid in Sacramento Leaves Dispensary Owners Wondering, “Who is Safe?”
Tommy Chong Battling Cancer
Meghan McCain Supports Legalization
GA Supreme Court Looks at Thermal Imaging Technology
Don’t Quit
You can never tell how close you are
Victory may be near when it seems afar
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit
It’s when things go wrong that you musn’t quit
It seems more and more that Obumer is going to be a one term wonder.
Next time vote Independent.
You have to wonder if no one else wanted the job. Maybe those that would be able to come in with “clean hands” can see that this corrupt agency might one day have to answer to a decade of ridiculous spending, unlawful search and seizure tactics, and a giant loss in their war against certain citizens. If you were the head of such an agency, you would worry that that day might come sooner than you think. Medical Marijuana and legalization efforts show that people who use cannabis no longer want to be labeled as criminals.
I have written to Obama to protest this, and am writing to my Senators to ask them to put this nomination on hold. It only takes one Senator to block a nomination indefinitely.
Excellent point. I will send this on to Radical Russ on the stash blog. Maybe he will give this idea a shout out. …..
Could this be political trickery in our favor? Obama still has ultimate control ( I think, I hope), so this nomination could be a political response to the Mass. election. Could he not still reign her in and make her comply with the people? It seems to me that this would be a huge political move if done right. I know it has us all up in arms but Obama may still have a chance for redemption even if this nomination is approved by the process. Until it’s in stone though I am with Wes (above).
Optimist! Gotta love a guy who sees the glass half full!
Just sent letters to Senators Murray and Cantwell here in WA. I’ll patiently await my reply and let you know if I get one . . . .
Waste of time. I’ve sent letters to both and the response I got back was total blah blah and Senator Murray says she supports our current federal drug laws.
[...] a new and tragic monthly record. Advocates are still worried about a Bush-appointed DEA deputy being nominated by President Barack Obama – Michelle Leonhart as the new head of the DEA. What has she said about the death rate of [...]
[...] during the George W. Bush Administration. (Speaking of Groundhog Day, have you noticed how much Bush’s DEA Administrator looks like Obama’s?) (a) Community-based prevention that focuses not only on preventing drug use among school kids, [...]
[...] during the George W. Bush Administration. (Speaking of Groundhog Day, have you noticed how much Bush’s DEA Administrator looks like Obama’s?) (a) Community-based prevention that focuses not only on preventing drug use among school kids, [...]
[...] Obama has appointed the heads of all these departments. In fact, he evenappointed to the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration Michele Leonhart, the acting administrator who had been appointed by President [...]