“The anti-antidrug camp had high hopes that Barack Obama would end ‘drug prohibition.’ Last year, George Soros, a leading proponent of drug legalization and perhaps the most generous financial backer of the president, seemed in a position to get the change he wanted. In fact, Obama drug czar Gil Kerlikowske made it his first order of business to tell the press he was ending ‘the drug war.’ More significantly, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that federal enforcement regarding ‘medical marijuana’ would be dialed back, which caused the number of storefront marijuana shops in Los Angeles to skyrocket. Things are looking a little different a year later, however. Kerlikowske turned old school and proclaimed that drug legalization was not in the administration’s ‘vocabulary.’ The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) continues to enforce marijuana laws in California (although without vocal support from Holder). And the Obama administration just released its first drug control budget requesting a fully funded, well, drug war.” [editor’s note: As a former top government drug thug, Walters naturally considers this good news. Hopefully, he’ll someday have an opportunity to make his argument in orange coveralls - TLK] (for publication 03/22/10)