The pot issue is far more important than just allowing folks to get high! I fear the majority of Americans don't get the real horror of what its illegality has done. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are arrested each year because of it. Countless others have wasted their lives imprisoned due to it. They ultimately emerge from prison, with new "skills" that will often see them return to prison. Those who want to go straight are often shut out off decent jobs. And think of their families on the outside, they've often been without one parent, sometimes two, left to languish on the public dole (welfare, food stamps, etc.). All the while, criminals have gotten fat in the wallet off this stupidity, and how many innocents have died in our streets? Stupid, stupid, stupid. So if Maher wants to rail against the wickedness of outlawing marijuana, more power to him, and less suffering for America. Don't you want lower government spending for prisons (smaller government is the conservative mantra), and increased tax revenue for things we desperately need like infrastructure?

As to our deficits, they have been falling. The debt of course has been increasing, as it would, given the economic crisis we have been trying to dig ourselves out of. You do know the difference between a deficit and our national debt? And would you honestly have advocated for austerity? Europe went that route and has trailed us in economic growth. In a time when companies and households won't or can't spend, it rests with the government to stimulate the economy. President Obama has talked of a "Grand Bargain" that would entail cuts in entitlements for higher taxes, especially on the wealthy, but the GOP won't work with him.

As to the president's alleged "divisiveness", EEE took that one. You gotta be fucking joking! From day one, Mitch McConnell said he wouldn't work with this president, no compromising thanks to the Freedom Caucus. You are aware of this, right?

Your point on immigration has some, I say some, merit. Our country has a moral obligation to take in a reasonable amount of people who are fleeing for their lives. I share your concerns about the possibility of terrorism down the road. Typically, it's not the adults whom we take in. Radicalization in Europe typically has involved the next generation or two. The kids who are torn between two worlds and have identity issues. The United States has done an admirable job of having its Muslim immigrants assimilate (as compared to Western Europe), but we have to be vigilant and do all we can to assist this process. We have to maintain good relations with Muslim communities. What we don't want to do is demonize communities. Now this is where I sometimes get in trouble with my fellow liberals, but we have to stand firm in our commitments to freedom of speech and expression, the rights of women and gays, and the separation of church and state.

Okay, enough said, Cy, I hope you'll read my post and consider it.

Peter T.