Stories from the week of January 20, 2012

COP on the Hill

Your Voice in the United States Congress

Nurse Karen is not happy/Howard back in the saddle:   I did return to the Senate this week, taking advantage of their last week of recess.  Not so good, I had an excellent response from staffers (21 total) wanting to meet, including 7 my first day back.  It was a bit much, as I did 5 back to back before lunch.  Karen was ready to have me committed/restrained for my own good.  I DID push myself too much.

I survived the day and the week without any real problems or hurting my brain.  My speech stayed solid for every chat and it was important that I regain my confidence.  For all reasons it was nice & important for one staffer to come over to my table during lunch, give me a hug and said how much she was looking forward to our follow-up chat later in the week.  (she did not know I had run out of free samples?)

Transition:  As you know, staffers come and go.  As I updated my notes on each office, it was painful to know some with whom I had had such a good relationship had moved on.  Craig was one such that I met in 2007, my first full year.. we had great chats, he was with me on marijuana, he had written a paper in college on decrim/legalize.   Last year he did ask his Democratic Senator/boss to sponsor a companion bill to the Frank/Paul bill to repeal federal prohibition.  Like the other 8 staffers who asked, the Senator said no.  One Republican staffer this week described her frustration, when she asked her Senator last year for a companion bill and was rejected. 

Personal/health:  All good.  My speech is 97% of normal, walking/balance are 95%, left side fine motor control is up to about 90% (right side at 100% & I am right handed).  Started driving 10 days after the stroke.  As I said, all memories, including my languages were never affected.  Spoke French for an hour on Saturday.  Lucky boy I am.

Stats for COP’s third year, started on August 1, 2011:

253 presentations to Congressional staffers:   21 this week

6 Letter to the Editor:  0 this week

2 Television appearances (Univision):   this week

5 Other media (blogs, cable TV, etc):  this week

7 radio shows:     this week

11 (Member of Congress) contacts:   this week

Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 140 conservative VIPs.

2 Major conferences attended: Drug Policy Alliance International & the Congressional Black Caucus

Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.   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…  Go to:

www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to: 

COP

POB 2902

Washington, DC  20013

If you have questions or comments, please send an email to: howard@citizensopposingprohibition.org

COP total stats in first two years:  August 1, 2009 thru July 31, 2011)

 649 Presentations to Congressional staffers

22 Appearances on major TV networks

10 published interviews in newspapers

12 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, etc

57 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $56,000)

19 brief chats with Members of Congress

13 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, etc.

6 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)

Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 140 conservative VIPs.