Tabloids, Vallone Deride "Drug Dealer Protection Act"

You know, if those "loony" liberals succeed in repealing the Rockefeller-era drug laws, New York State's going to become a crime-infested hellhole, where "crackheads, dopers and drug gangs will rule the streets." At least that's how the Daily News sees it in today's editorial, a demagogic rant that's almost surely plagiarized from an Archie Bunker monologue. In the editorial board's eyes, the deal reached by Paterson and state lawmakers to let judges send first-time drug offenders to treatment instead of prison amounts to a "Drug Dealer Protection Act" that "all but decriminalizes the possession and sale of narcotics in New York State." Yeah, what's next Paterson, the Helping Homicidal Robots Bill?

Then there's the New York Post, which applauds Democrats for their enlightened philosophy about helping drug addicts with treatment programs. Kidding, the Post wants to frighten and enrage the masses, too: "When New York is falling apart fiscally—with the subways set to follow suit in short order—what does it say about Albany that it's closer to a deal to free felons than it is to fixing what ails New York as a whole?"

And not to be outdone, Astoria Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. doesn't just blame his party for setting free the cracked-out criminals, but also for driving away the defenseless rich people with taxes. In an unsolicited e-mail to Politicker, he declares, "In 2 days, Albany has waged class war on our top earners, while surrendering in the drug war. At least the budget is balanced when it comes to the population on our streets—the fleeing tax payers will be replaced by drug dealers." Maybe we should start taxing the drugs, then?

Meanwhile, on planet Bleeding Heart, NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman released a statement calling the bill "an important step toward safer, healthier communities. We need to urge our leaders to support it." They'll vote tomorrow, so enjoy this last night of safety in a crime-free city everybody.