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Off to Aspen for NORML Drug Law Seminar

It's that time of year again. I'm off to Aspen for the NORML Aspen Legal Seminar. My topic this year: Crackadoodledoo! A New Dawn in Crack Cocaine Sentencing. (I only wish it were true.) Here's the full schedule.

Like last year, I'll be staying in Woody Creek at Hunter Thompson's Owl Farm, with his wife Anita and his longtime Washington editor, Shelby Sadler. And of course, the peacocks.[More...]

From his famous kitchen where he greeted his guests fueled by his favorite substances and talked on the phone at all hours of the night, to his books, photographs and hundreds of posters and objects that grace the walls and furniture, to the bedroom known as “Johnny’s room” because it’s where Johnny Depp always slept when visiting Hunter, it’s like stepping into a moment frozen in time. The house and land remain a testament to Hunter, and if Anita has her way, they always will.

Here's Hunter's Nixon mask. And a rather odd note that hangs on in the kitchen.

On Saturday afternoon, Owl Farm will be the site of the NORML barbecue and party. Here's my video from our 2006 Owl Farm party and me interviewing Tommy Chong at Owl Farm in 2007.

Anita, as you can see from her Owl Farm Blog, is another huge Hillary supporter. Shelby is too. We'll probably be the only Hillary supporters at the NORML party tonight, since Obama has somehow convinced the marijuana law reformers he's on their side. We'll see what happens if he's elected, but I fully expect next June, I'll be telling them "told you so." (This is not to imply Hillary would be better on the issue, only more honest.)

While I won't be live-blogging Hillary's Saturday concession speech, either Big Tent Democrat will or there will be some open threads up for you to discuss it in comments.

I am hoping I at least get to watch it. Last year, the Sopranos' final episode aired during my Owl Farm stay. Anita, who doesn't watch tv, ordered HBO just so I could watch it. When a rather rude commenter on TalkLeft suggested I was a terrible houseguest for letting her do so, she came to my defense.

Saturday will be a sad day for many of the 18 million people who voted for Hillary, particularly her female supporters. Other than the readers here at TalkLeft, I can't think of any better company to spend it with than Anita, Shelby and 100 fellow fighters against the War on Drugs.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Good luck with the conference and enjoy! (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Esme on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 08:17:39 AM EST
    We'll definitely miss your liveblogging though.

    Very cool!! (none / 0) (#1)
    by Eleanor A on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 02:41:22 AM EST
    Thanks for all this info, Jeralyn.  I had no idea you were buds with the folks who were close to The Good Doctor.

    This week I've often thought of a quote of his as it might apply to another political personage this day and age...

    If the right people had been in charge of Nixon's funeral, his casket would have been launched into one of those open-sewage canals that empty into the ocean just south of Los Angeles. He was a swine of a man and a jabbering dupe of a president. Nixon was so crooked that he needed servants to help him screw his pants on every morning. Even his funeral was illegal. He was queer in the deepest way. His body should have been burned in a trash bin.

    Looking forward to hearing about the conference, too.  Be careful driving.  

    Enjoy (none / 0) (#2)
    by themomcat on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 02:42:35 AM EST


    Lucky you! (none / 0) (#3)
    by Grace on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 02:56:58 AM EST
    That's a beautiful part of the country.  

    Unfortuantely, Aspens remind me of Scooter Libby (are they turning yet?)

    Anyway, enjoy!  Hope the weather is good!  

    Maybe people will notice that another Marine (none / 0) (#4)
    by knowshon on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 02:57:27 AM EST
    accused at Haditha has been absolved.

    Early in the investigations, based upon unknown evidence, Democratic Rep. John Murtha (PA) stated that "there was no firefight, there was no IED that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."

    Barack Obama, asked about Murtha's charge by Alan Colmes in June of 2006, stated, "I would never second guess John Murtha... I think he's somebody who knows of which he speaks."

    Murtha's "in cold blood" statement and the Democratic Presidential nominee's unquestioning acceptance came seven months before the military charged eight Marines with various offenses in December of 2006. Charges against five of the eight Marines have since be dropped for lack of evidence, and in the first of three scheduled trials, Grayson has been acquitted. It remains to be seen if Rep. Murtha or Senator Obama will offer Lt. Grayson an apology, cold-blooded, or otherwise.

    Of the two cases remaining, only Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich faces charges directly related to the killings. The most serious charges he faces are nine counts of involuntary manslaughter. Curiously, his case has been postponed indefinitely, and was not expected to resume until after both of his military defense attorneys had retired, weakening his defense in a complex case. Late-breaking information from Bruce Kessler of The Democracy Project, who has been covering the Haditha cases in detail, states that Lt. Col. Colby Vokey will delay his retirement again to stay with Wuterich's defense.

    The third case, against commanding officer Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, is said to be tainted by "unlawful command influence" in charging Chessani according to the judge presiding over the case, suggesting that Chessani is a political scapegoat for higher-ranking officers seeking to appease anti-war politicians. His trial is expected to commence June 17.

    WOW.  The Left was hoping for that moment when it we could see that Americans were assassinating people at will.  But they werent.  They were more professional than the journalists in the media.


    Was there (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Edgar08 on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 07:00:47 AM EST
    some more specific group or some individual you had in mind when you wrote "The left is hoping" or were you just simply trying to slander an entire half of the political spectrum?

    That said its a bummer Obama has gone back on his word and second guessed murtha's judgment on who shout be president.

    Parent

    That pic makes me homesick for the west (none / 0) (#5)
    by nycstray on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 02:58:45 AM EST
    You live in a truly beautiful state.

    Have a great seminar (love your topic title!) and greet the critters for me  ;)

    I'll be enjoying my first CSA pickup of the season, which means excellent kitchen time (YES!) so I'm unsure as to watching her speech. I know I should, but it will be hard.

    Rocky Mountain High... (none / 0) (#7)
    by Jackson Hunter on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 04:52:07 AM EST
    Sorry, someone had to use that stupid pun, so I took one for the team.

    Jeralyn, you have become a Goddess in Progress for me, I absolutely loved HST.  The "Hunter" in my last name is his, although it is a true insult to his memory since I can't write my way out of a wet paper sack filled with large rocks.  (See, that tortured metaphor proves my point, eh?-LOL)  I used to comment on Blogs as "Raoul Duke" as an homage to him, but I wanted to be a little more original and not steal from such a Great.  (BTW, the Jackson is from Jack London.)

    All this is new to me because I only really discovered Talk Left recently due to the craziness on all the other blogs, so I had no idea that you had these types of connections.  You'll have to ban me and seize my computer to kick me out of here now!  This is like the sprinkles on top of the icing on top of the cake.  Not only is this one of the more intellectual blogs (sure, sometimes I don't like not flaming those who have it coming, but since HST was my favorite author, what do you expect?) where the discourse is reasonable and sharp but now I see it has to be one of the coolest blogs I've ever visited.  Bob Dylan quotes and an Owl farm devotee, hot DAMN!  I've thanked you before, and I thank you again, for such a marvelous place to kick off my shoes and learn and discuss.  When I am financially able, you will get my first ever donation to a blog and I will be a Talk Left reader/participator for life.  I only wish I had discovered it earlier, but I can't change the past.

    But really Jeralyn, are you shocked about that 911 sign?  LOL

    So, were you one of the lawyers or women who were laughing at the Prosecutor and Sheriff when they were taking a dip in Hunter's underground "pool"?  (Actually, you would have been both I imagine.)

    I don't know how to say this, but if you get a chance, honor him in a way befitting the occasion if you do/can in my name, I'd really appreciate it.  'Nuff said on that score.

    Seriously, this is like an harmonic convergence for me.  If you gave me a "cocktail" with a jogging suit and a pair of Nikes, I would probably take them gladly.  LMAO

    RES IPSA LOQUITOR!

    "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."

    And in closing:

    SELAH

    Okay, gush off, I almost felt like an Obama supporter writing like that!  /SNARK  No offense to his supporters, just a joke, calm down, he probably has my vote if he plays his cards right, which he probably will.

    Have fun at the Conference and we'll be thinking of you, and I will be writhing with envy.

    J.  Hunter (modified to honor HST)

    How cool! (none / 0) (#8)
    by Dawn Davenport on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 04:57:35 AM EST
    HST is my all-time favorite political writer. I've especially missed his writing about this election, with its twists and turns over the past year.

    And thanks for the link to Anita's blog! Have a great time in Aspen, this is a lovely time of the year to be there.

    Sorry... (none / 0) (#9)
    by Jackson Hunter on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 05:06:09 AM EST
    Sorry for the back to back comments, but I was just wondering among HST devotees in the crowd what is your favorite book of his?

    For me, it is a real tie between "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas" and "Fear & Loathing On The Campaign Trail" (is that the title, I can't believe I have forgotten it, but it has been a while for me.)

    "Hell's Angels" is his best "straight" work, but you can feel the seepage of the Gonzo era peeking in from time to time.  "The Gonzo Papers Vol II" is also a particular favorite of mine, that story about "Andrew" in the Law Library was just hysterical.  "It was a bad time in America to be sitting outside of a Library ripped to the t*ts on crank and listening to powerful music..." and of course talks about the legal case that I referenced in my kiss-*ss post to Jeralyn above.  "Nothing but crumbs" indeed.

    Okay, I'll quit blogclogging now.  :)

    J. Hunter

    R.I.P. (none / 0) (#18)
    by Claw on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 09:42:02 AM EST
    HST.

    Parent
    Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 (none / 0) (#10)
    by ruffian on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 05:40:02 AM EST
    Best book about politics ever.  Close to being my favorite book about anything ever.  I've been a political junkie ever since I read it right after college.  Still have my old paperback.

    I'm sure Hunter's spirit and Anita will be just the tonic you need this weekend.  Not to mention those wonderful mountains.

    I was supposed to be in Colorado this weekend, up at Gold Lake Lodge near Ward, but my doggie is sick so I had to cancel. Enjoy the mountains for me and my pup.  We miss them.

    That sucks... (none / 0) (#11)
    by Jackson Hunter on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 05:43:07 AM EST
    about your dog, I hope that he/she gets better very soon.

    And Muskie was on Ibogaine.  :)

    J. Hunter

    Parent

    Thanks Jackson (none / 0) (#17)
    by ruffian on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 09:37:58 AM EST
    I appreciate that a lot.  It has been tough.  He's my best friend, for sure.

    Good one about Muskie. I'll have to skim that book again this weekend.  So funny.

    Parent

    rocky mountain (none / 0) (#13)
    by isaac on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 07:38:22 AM EST
    high
    colorado

    Cold and Windy in Aspen (none / 0) (#14)
    by ding7777 on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 07:43:35 AM EST
    Hunter Thompson and Jimmy Carter (none / 0) (#15)
    by andrys on Fri Jun 06, 2008 at 07:54:05 AM EST
    Jeralyn, it was because of Hunter Thompson's article that I was a volunteer on Jimmy Carter's campaign.  Loved that long, rambling article and the image of the two of them talking all night with, as I remember, Thompson on the floor, fascinated to find himself enjoying Carter.  He convinced me.

      I'm impressed!  And what a GREAT video!  Thanks for that.

      Don't have to tell you to have a great time, do I !

      :-)

    As for Saturday, somehow she'll make it upbeat.  I note the 'support' rather than 'endorse' words and the hints that their duo activity will begin in the Fall rather than in the summer.  I hope.