The Fray on the charismatically challenged.

A Graham of Flesh: Chris Suellentrop's Assessment of Bob Graham has the candidate pegged as this year's Orrin Hatch, despite being "knowledgeable, likable, and smart." CaptainRonVoyage maintains that "Regardless of party, economic circumstance, American voters have consistently expressed a singular preference: for the candidate who is more interesting." In this event, CRV thinks that the President is infallible over the Democratic field:

Bush II could strangle a nun with his penis while snorting a line of coke on national TV and bombing Mexico, and still clean Bob Graham's clock 100 elections out of 100. Ditto for Kerry, Edwards, Moseley-Braun and Dean. And don't get me started on Clean Joe Lieberman….Charisma, womanizing, a history of substance abuse and/or killing a man in battle are all far better indicators of victory than those tired criteria of experience, geographic origin, pedigree, character, maturity or positions on "the issues."

BigIron doesn't disagree with CRV's theory, but throws this in as his coup de grace:

I'm sticking with my Testosteronic Theory of Presidential Elections, which holds that ther Presidential election will go to the candidate who is perceived as more manly.

According to Iron, who's a manly man? "Kerry, Dean, Edwards, and Clark are the only likely Dem candidates with a decent chance."

Second Prize in a Beauty Contest: The_Bell echoes a lot of Fraysters who feel that the softballs lobbed at Graham during last Saturday's debate were a pretext to a Veep invitation: "His low-key, almost clumsy, style may work against him as a Presidential candidate but it is perfect for the VP role." All that aside, "the thing that makes him so attractive is his home state – Florida," says Bell. Democrat Alex would rather keep him in the Senate, where an open Florida seat would be vulnerable to the Republican's taking. Mikkyld is riddled by Graham's throw-the-baby-out-with-the-bathwater vote against taking military action in Iraq.

Ode to Esther: MichaelRyerson shares a morsel of his memory with the Fray, a diary of snapshots, windowpanes, and maternal wisdom.

Michael: Fraywatch is composed daily less than 2 miles from Sunset & Descanso – atop Elysian Heights…KFA1:40 p.m.

Thursday, May 8, 2003

Put it on my Tab: John Horgan's trip down memory lane and his appeal for decriminalizing entheogens on religious and exploratory grounds have fellow passengers:

Doodahman here: "They are not child's play, but they are well within the capability of most persons to use intelligently, with great benefit, and often lots of fun. Unlike what I've observed with those who use alcohol, even the moderate use of which tends to make people loud and stupid."

Andkathleen here: "So hallucinogens, which have positive benefits and fewer side effects than legal prescription medications, are illegal. And the reason why they are illegal is because of their connection to the 60s drug culture, which is unfortunate. Associating them with a detachment from society aligns them with irresponsibility, which doesn't actually seem to be a true connection."

Geoff here: "After all, they do no physical harm. Consumed responsibly the pose no threat to one's self or to society at large. The greatest source of harm coming out of recreational drug use is the organized crime which creates the black market used to deliver the product to consumers... something which could be dissolved overnight with a bout of legalizations."

Drop the Subject: Misc_t maintains that "the more precise studies of brain tissue, though, are less ambiguous. I can't tell you definitively whether LSD and Ecstasy are good for your mind, but it's clear that they're terrible for your brain." ElboRuum shares some personal, close-to-home anecdotes that make him skittish about the casual approbation a good ol' trip gets among hallucinauts.

Dropping with Nixon: ConservativeJoe speculates here that it will take a Republican to turn the tide on the issue, "like Nixon going to China." Indeed, former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson and California Republican Senatorial candidate Tom Campbell have probably been the most outspoken statewide candidates to come out strongly against the "War on Drugs."

Acid Snobs: Jimmythe Celt applauds Horgan, showers the cause with hosannas, then concludes his post with this bombshell: "I'm also in favor of prohibiting them from legal commerce." Why? "I like that Aldous Huxley Timothy Leary snob cachet. So sue me." Rufous agrees with his sentiment here. And speaking of suits, TheMaxFischerPlayers brings up this practical ohhh-yeahhh-hadn't-thought-o'-that:

Let's see, there are class action suits currently pending against producers of asbestos, tobacco, meat, medicine, cars, factory farms, coffee, shoes … you name it. What company is going to produce LSD for over the counter sales in this litigious society. Bet there would be tort reform when narcotics are legalized.