Stop the politics and the pandering. Legalize drugs.

The drug violence in Mexico may now be worse that what has been going on in Columbia. The DPS head says spillover is here. How do we stop this problem? Get all macho and bring on the troops? Nope. Get all racist and demonize brown people? Nope. Waste taxpayer dollars and damage the environment by building a monument to racism and fear at the border? Nope.

Why not?

"I think both the U.S. and Mexican governments are starting to see the limitations of military-police solutions to the problems of drug trafficking and related crime and violence," said University of Texas at El Paso Professor Howard Campbell, who specializes in Mexican cartel research.

"You can train someone, but that still doesn't affect their morals," former El Paso customs agent Richard Newton said. "I don't care how good the training is. The problem is that these people can be bribed and they may go to work for the cartels."

It's really, really very simple. Legalize drugs and take away the profit motive. Provide drugs that are as safe as they can be. Encourage and provide access to rehab. It's not only the right thing to do, it's cheaper, safer and more effective.

And, John McCain, following the George Bush thuggery manual, is an a**hole.

Former presidential candidate John McCain is calling for more boots on the border. Yesterday the Arizona senator wrote to Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano asking for reinforcements.