Stories from the week of October 21, 2011

 COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of October 21, 2011

Your Voice in the United States Congress

I was wrong:  During 2007 -my first full year on the Hill – I made a presentation to Bill, a legislative director.  The next four years I asked him for a 5 minute follow-up chat w/o any answer to dozens of email requests and a good 30 times stopping by his office and leaving a business card.   I sent an email last year ‘return receipt requested.’  He deleted the email without opening it.   ‘Obviously’ he thought little of me or the issue.

Today I made yet another attempt.   Bill came into the office moments after my arrival.  “Got a few minutes?”  “Sure.” He replied.  I was sure he would give me a scant* 60 seconds before showing me the door.  Instead he led me into the Member’s office, where we had an engaging 10 minute conversation, he asking questions and making comments on HR 2306, the repeal bill.  

It took me nearly two minutes into the chat to comprehend that ‘Bill’ was as swamped* as all of us are trying to do our jobs = no time to make an appointment with me.  But, to have an impromptu,*  constructive chat was no problem.  Nothing personal about me or my issue. Thus >  My bad.  My wrong.  Won’t happen again.

Who is a leader & who pretends?:  This week I sat within 10 feet of former Mexican President Vicente Fox, Senator McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Sessions (R-AL) and listened to them speak.  President Fox exuded sincerity, humanity, intelligence, humor and wisdom.  The other two not so much.

At the CATO event I was able to apologize to Fox in Spanish for the pain and suffering his country suffers because of America’s drug prohibition.  It felt so muy bien. (very good)

­Interview from two months ago:  This was miss-placed.  The producers just found it and put it up on the web.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhBNjNRRG7k&NR=1

11 minutes of radio interview

*scant = kaum

*swamped = überschwemmt

*impromptu = improvisiert

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

159 presentations to Congressional staffers:   9 this week

3 Letter to the Editor:   this week

1 Television appearance:  this week

2 Other media (blogs, cable TV, etc)

2 radio shows:  this week

8 (Member of Congress) contacts:    this week

1 Major conference attended (Congressional Black Caucus annual )

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.