YOU CANNOT MAKE THIS UP – AT 8:21 A.M. ET:   Party of Roosevelt?  Party of Truman?  Party of JFK?  Or...party of, hey man, y'know, we're cool, y'know what I mean?  I've heard of strange political strategies, but I never thought the party that led us through World War II would resort to this.  From The Politico:

Forget the billion-dollar budget hole and layoff threats — the big debate in California right now is whether a bong war over legalizing pot could help boost Gov. Moonbeam back into office.

Seizing on new independent polling data, proponents of Proposition 19 — the Golden State ballot measure that would make possessing and growing marijuana legal — argue the measure is going to drive younger-voter turnout in such a way that it will benefit the Democrats statewide, from gubernatorial retread Jerry Brown to Sen. Barbara Boxer.

Yeah. man, well, y'know, it's important...like that UFO up there.

"It literally is the thumb on the scale that has been generally missed by the polling models out there, and it is going to have an impact not only on the initiative but everything else on the ballot including the candidates," said Dan Newman, consultant for the “Yes on 19” campaign.

"The community has been very active and engaged," he added, suggesting there's been "anecdotal and quantifiable evidence" of voters being spurred on by the issue.

"There's an energy and enthusiasm that is literally unprecedented in an initiative campaign," he said.

While the state Democratic Party is neutral on the ballot measure and its standard-bearer and two U.S. senators are all opposed, Chairman John Burton gave a one-word answer to the San Francisco Chronicle back in April when asked at the party’s convention what will bring out young, first-time Barack Obama voters again: “pot.”

COMMENT:  On this the fate of the nation may depend.  I can just imagine the late-night comedians the night after the election if the pot vote puts Jerry Brown in the governor's chair and sends Barbara Boxer back to the Senate.

And, of course, it will work wonders for the image of California.  Not.

I only wish Johnny Carson was still with us.  Can you imagine what he'd do with this?

Oh, you never heard of Johnny Carson?  I'll explain sometime.

October 11, 2010