Arnold approves bill for pharmacies to sell clean needles

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-09-22 12:01am

Yahoo! wrote:California 'govern-ator' Schwarzenegger OKs sale of clean needles
Tue Sep 21, 3:40 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - AIDS (news - web sites) activists praised California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) for signing a bill allowing pharmacies to sell hypodermic needles to drug users in a bid to combat HIV (news - web sites) and AIDS.

The former movie star, a Republican with liberal social views, on Monday signed legislation allowing the sale of up to 10 clean syringes over the counter.

In California and four other US states, a doctor's prescription is currently needed to purchase syringes amid fears that the move would condone and promote intravenous drug use by addicts.

"The consequences of sharing contaminated needles and syringes have taken a significant toll on the public's health," Schwarzenegger said in a message accompanying his signature of the law.

"My administration supports this measure because it will prevent the spread of HIV, hepatitis and other blood-borne diseases among injection drug users, their sexual partners and their children," said Schwarzenegger, who was elected to lead the most populous US state last October.

The governor said that research had shown that access to syringes significantly reduces the occurrence of HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis C without increasing drug use or crime.

Similar bills were vetoed two years ago by former Democratic governor Gray Davis (news - web sites) amid fears by some law-enforcement figures that they would send drug use soaring.

Under the law, local governments will be able to decide whether to licence pharmacies to distribute needles under what will be a five-year experiment on the move's effectiveness at combating AIDS and HIV.

Health officials and AIDS activists hailed the governor's controversial move as a political victory, saying the scarcity of clean needles helped spread disease among people who share syringes.

"It's one heck of a whole lot of progress," Bruce Pomer, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California told The Los Angeles Times.

"If you asked me a couple of years ago if we could have a governor who could sign a bill like that, I would tell you I don't think so."

Fred Dillon of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation also praised the move.

"Anything that expands access is really key to fighting AIDS and hepatitis and saving lives," he told The San Francisco Chronicle.

Good for you, Arnold. It takes balls to step outside the party line like this, but it'll end up saving lives.

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » 2004-09-22 12:04am

I approve. I would sure as hell vote for him to be President, given the chance.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-09-22 12:08am

Damn it, we'd better be getting a Constitutional Amendment soon. I want to be able to vote this man in as President.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2004-09-22 12:10am

Go Ahnold!!! If he runs as president in '08 (the first year I'll be able to vote, YAY!!!) and he hasn't changed his views too radically, I'll vote for him.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-09-22 12:52am

Arnold is the RNC's MVP right now. He'll put on a show for them, but they don't dare subject him to the same ruthlessness they gave John McCane for stepping out of line, which signing a bill like those most certainly qualifies as.

Unless Arnold does something that throws him out of public favor, I think he'll be fairly insulated from the normal bullshit that most Republicans and Democrats have to go through with regards to keeping the party line.

And that's why he'd be a great candidate for president. He has the public good in mind, is a capable leader, is interested in working with the Democrats and isn't tied to a single set of political ideologies.

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » 2004-09-22 01:09am

Durandal wrote:Arnold is the RNC's MVP right now. He'll put on a show for them, but they don't dare subject him to the same ruthlessness they gave John McCane for stepping out of line, which signing a bill like those most certainly qualifies as.

Unless Arnold does something that throws him out of public favor, I think he'll be fairly insulated from the normal bullshit that most Republicans and Democrats have to go through with regards to keeping the party line.

And that's why he'd be a great candidate for president. He has the public good in mind, is a capable leader, is interested in working with the Democrats and isn't tied to a single set of political ideologies.

He could very well be a bi-partisan president.

Bugsby · Post by **Bugsby** » 2004-09-22 01:19am

I wholly approve of this move, but I honestly can't see the Terminator as president. I know that's a pretty provincial view on the issue, but there are some prejudices one just cannot escape.

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2004-09-22 02:03am

Bugsby wrote:I wholly approve of this move, but I honestly can't see the Terminator as president. I know that's a pretty provincial view on the issue, but there are some prejudices one just cannot escape.

Those prejudices being?

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-09-22 12:41pm

Kamakazie Sith wrote:
Bugsby wrote:I wholly approve of this move, but I honestly can't see the Terminator as president. I know that's a pretty provincial view on the issue, but there are some prejudices one just cannot escape.
Those prejudices being?

That Arnold is/was the Terminator. At least that's what I'm reading from his post.

I guess the same could be said about him having been Conan as well but the Terminator is more recognizable.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2004-09-22 01:14pm

So he was an actor. So was Reagan.

RedX · Post by **RedX** » 2004-09-22 01:25pm

The only problem with "Arnold for Prez" is that a constitutional amendment, even with widespread support, takes forever to jam through the system. Between the State Legislatures, Conventions, Congressional bartering, riders and christmas trees...

It'll be the 2016 elections, at least, before it actually gets passed, even if it gets started in the first place.

PainRack · Post by **PainRack** » 2004-09-22 01:25pm

Beowulf wrote:So he was an actor. So was Reagan.

So far, all actors who have been presidents of their leaders have all been a bit whacko.......... so,

(Points to Estrada gambling cabinet meetings)

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-09-22 02:25pm

Good work, Gov. Schwartzeneggar.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-09-22 03:50pm

Should we be worried if President Schwazenegger signs the Skynet Funding Bill?

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2004-09-22 03:54pm

You got my vote in '08, Terminator! Good work!

Now about the issue of the legalization of marijuana...

Bugsby · Post by **Bugsby** » 2004-09-22 04:54pm

Tsyroc wrote:
Kamakazie Sith wrote:
Bugsby wrote:I wholly approve of this move, but I honestly can't see the Terminator as president. I know that's a pretty provincial view on the issue, but there are some prejudices one just cannot escape.
Those prejudices being?
That Arnold is/was the Terminator. At least that's what I'm reading from his post.

I guess the same could be said about him having been Conan as well but the Terminator is more recognizable.

Pretty much. It's hard to take him seriously when you can't get that image out of your head - half his face torn off, metal sticking out everywhere, saying "I'll be back" in that horribly dull and utterly recognizable accent. And forget Terminator, did you see Twins? And Junior?

I thoroughly approve of the policy move, and everything I've just said really is irrelevant. But again, I can't get it out of my head. Maybe I can fix that.... *goes for lobotomy*

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-09-22 05:02pm

I just wonder how he'd play for election. He's really moderate, one of those radical centrists, but would the Republican party endorse his run for President if such a bill was passed? At this point, the Republican party is run by the far right social conservatives, the sort of people who call less popular people with identical views as Schwartzeneggar "RINOs". Schwartzeneggar is by no means a social conservative, far from it, and thus would alienate the far right quite a bit. Considering that the mainstay of the Republican party are the sort of people who think that Bush Junior is the best thing ever and are the sorts that "feel God" in the White House nowadays, would they dare run him?

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2004-09-22 06:35pm

Right now John McCain has more universal appeal over either Bush or Kerry. Yet he did not get nominated. McCain would easily have won the 2000 election, but the Republican party torpedoed his bid for the presidency because they don't like McCains politics.

Schartzeneggar is another conserative with massive universal appeal whom the republican party does not really like.

The problem is the Republican party is killing off the canadites who would do the best.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2004-09-22 06:42pm

Alyeska wrote:Right now John McCain has more universal appeal over either Bush or Kerry. Yet he did not get nominated. McCain would easily have won the 2000 election, but the Republican party torpedoed his bid for the presidency because they don't like McCains politics.

Schartzeneggar is another conserative with massive universal appeal whom the republican party does not really like.

The problem is the Republican party is killing off the canadites who would do the best.

They're doing it to pander to their hardcore extremist Fundycrat Christofascist constituency, and their policies are reflecting that as well. The WoT is being used as an excuse to further these policies against the American People!

Vohu Manah · Post by **Vohu Manah** » 2004-09-22 07:12pm

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:They're doing it to pander to their hardcore extremist Fundycrat Christofascist constituency, and their policies are reflecting that as well. The WoT is being used as an excuse to further these policies against the American People!

That is the only logical reason I could think of. McCain or Schartzeneggar would have no problem taking the White House if nominated, but neither stands a chance with the current Republican leadership. Things would change if the Democrats, or another party, could be a consistent threat.

Exmoor Cat · Post by **Exmoor Cat** » 2004-09-22 07:34pm

Well, who else do the Republicans have lined up to take on either Edwards or Clinton in 08? THe Dmeocrats, might even attempt to scoop Arnie??

RedX · Post by **RedX** » 2004-09-22 08:59pm

I do hope that all this is merely speculation on what would happen if the Constitution was, miraculosly, amended in less than four years.

Otherwise the posts so far have shown a staggering ignorance of the central charter of the United States of America...

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-09-22 10:36pm

RedX wrote:I do hope that all this is merely speculation on what would happen if the Constitution was, miraculosly, amended in less than four years.

Otherwise the posts so far have shown a staggering ignorance of the central charter of the United States of America...

You can go ahead and unpucker your asshole. There was a thread last week about amending the constitution to let naturalized citizens run for president. Everybody knows about the natural born citizen clause.

RedX · Post by **RedX** » 2004-09-22 11:04pm

RedImperator wrote:
RedX wrote:I do hope that all this is merely speculation on what would happen if the Constitution was, miraculosly, amended in less than four years.

Otherwise the posts so far have shown a staggering ignorance of the central charter of the United States of America...
You can go ahead and unpucker your asshole. There was a thread last week about amending the constitution to let naturalized citizens run for president. Everybody knows about the natural born citizen clause.

Cool your jets. No need to get insulting.

I missed that thread entirely, and have so far seen no evidence that anyone even remembered the natural-born citizen clause in this one. I contributed to what I felt was a telling point to the discussion over Arnold's 2008 chances; namely that they were non-existant. If you choose to take this personally, that's hardly my fault.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-09-22 11:14pm

RedX wrote:
RedImperator wrote:
RedX wrote:I do hope that all this is merely speculation on what would happen if the Constitution was, miraculosly, amended in less than four years.

Otherwise the posts so far have shown a staggering ignorance of the central charter of the United States of America...
You can go ahead and unpucker your asshole. There was a thread last week about amending the constitution to let naturalized citizens run for president. Everybody knows about the natural born citizen clause.
Cool your jets. No need to get insulting.

I missed that thread entirely, and have so far seen no evidence that anyone even remembered the natural-born citizen clause in this one. I contributed to what I felt was a telling point to the discussion over Arnold's 2008 chances; namely that they were non-existant. If you choose to take this personally, that's hardly my fault.

Funny thing about life, when you act like a condenscending jackoff and it turns out your assumptions were wrong to begin with, people respond rudely. Rudely, not insulting. Feel free to keep it up if you'd like to see insulting.