Sorpresa (Surprise): Being remembered by someone is the gold standard of relationships.  I was speaking to a Chief of Staff, when he related that his dad was 25 years an officer and narcotics detective in Puerto Rico. I paused, blinked  and then we finished the next 5 minutes in Spanish.  He made the remark of my ability to switch languages in such a fluent fashion…me thinks I made a good impression.

CMan Mann of Kansas (R) came into the reception area where I was chatting with an aide. Per usual protocol, we shook hands and I gave him the one sentence my mission: to decrim all drugs so the police have more time to arrest people trying to hurt you and your family.  He surprised me by shaking my hand again, saying he completely supports that concept.  Yeah!

Bonus this week:  

I was finishing up my Thursday, when I noticed a fairly large box on the coffee table full of fresh veggies.  The aide said to help myself because no one in the office could eat it or take it home.  He had just spoken to the House Ethics Committee about the gift (all the offices had a box like that delivered by someone).  The ethics person said – do not eat!  So, I took the pound of carrots, the small box of cherry tomatoes and the lemon.  Yum!

Weekly Activities:

3871 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 27  this week…

339 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 01 this week  (R-KS) Tracey Mann

436 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc   01 this week former US Senator from Kansas, Sam Brownback at the Grover Norquist meeting

COP stats since inception: August 2009

96  Radio Interviews:  0 this week;

32 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week

209 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week

107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week

44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters

Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”

* Consider being a member of COP at $40 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 dollars buys all the copy paper COP uses in one year. Law Enforcement’s voice in opposition to current policy is vital on the Hill to achieve a repeal of federal drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org