COP on the Hill: Stories from the weeks of July 5 , 2013

COP on the Hill

Stories from the weeks of July 5 , 2013

Can you read the tea leaves?:  A slight majority of aides especially in the Senate are careful not to indicate or state  an opinion that is contrary to the Boss.  So how do they communicate to me their support for the COP position?  Over my eight (8) years at this I have learned to read body language, etc.  Or like this week one aide for an R office put it nicely: “Many changes are needed.”

Painter knows more:  Karen and I hosted an exchange student from Finland for two weeks.  I took her to Congress several times.  Upon entering the Senate for the first time this year, a painter asked where I had been.  I introduced Petra to him. The conversation turned serious.

He congratulated her country on having the #1 school system in the world.  He lamented that the USA is now 17^th in science and 25^th in math.  Petra was impressed that a painter was so up on such matters.  Inside the Beltway everyone knows what the 10^th Amendment is.  Outside…not so much.

What stroke?: Even before my stroke I had set a limit of seven (7) presentations in one day.    I had nine (9) on Tuesday, as I just can’t say no to a staffer.  After the first seven my brain was about fried.  Luckily, the next presentation I was able to do in Spanish, giving the English part of my brain a much needed rest.  I did the 9^th one w/o a problem and suffered no physical or mental after effects from the effort.  Rest assured, I will not make a habit of this.

No one wanted to meet the rest of the week.  Karen and I wore our shirts to work the 200,000 (we had about a dozen contacts) or so who came to see the fireworks on the Mall. We also attended the conservative-oriented 4^th  picnic in Virginia. Karen had many positive contacts.  One woman walked up, said I disagree with your shirt and walked quickly away.  Active defense of marijuana prohibition is approaching a statistical zero (outside the political realm).

COP stats since inception: August 2009

• 1260 Presentations to Congressional staffers..16 this week
• 34 Appearances on major TV networks..this week(Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
• 22 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine… this week
• 56 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..  this week
• 71 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000) =  this week
• 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning my efforts & in support of COP position
• 31 Radio Interviews.. this week
• 37 brief chats with Members of Congress..this week
• 40 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.  this week
• 13 major conferences attended..  this week (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, etc)
• Permanent invitation to 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 $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 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 prohibition.  COP provides that voice.   If you agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow and want to be a part of the solution…  Go to:

• www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to:
• Citizens Opposing Prohibition
• POB 543
• Buckeystown, MD 21717