Posted September 5th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Your Voice in the United States Congress
Recess nearly killed me: 27 presentations this week as the August recess came to a close: 115 for the month. I am worn out. All worthwhile as in this calendar year 269 offices in the House have received a COP presentation, where the marijuana repeal bill was mentioned. I have about 170 more to do this fall. Only twelve (12) offices out of 435 have never had an anti-prohibition presentation – all new Congressmen.
Why not? I will take this Labor Day time to explain how this works. I send out an email invitation to aides at least once a month. In this manner I book about 25% of my meetings. The other 75% will either delete without reading the invitation or never respond. The vast majority of the 75% are aides who are either swamped* or just do not want the ‘work’ of listening. Thus, I go door to door to pick up the vast majority of my presentations. I have to open about 12-15 doors to make one presentation. This is why I go thru so much boot leather (and help burn caloriesJ)
I was unsuccessful during the break to convince a Senate office to sponsor a companion bill to HR 2306. I will hit that nail hard, when I return to the Senate in December.
Where did he learn of me?: A new House employee (not connected to any office) came up to me at lunch on Tuesday. He had heard of my mission and wanted some advice for his combat veteran friend on what the Veterans Administration allowed regarding use of marijuana for the friend’s PTSD. We had a good 7 minute chat and I directed him to the appropriate organization (http://www.veteransformedicalmarijuana.org) I am gratified that knowledge of me and my mission was sufficient for him to just look for the tall guy with a large Stetson.
Happy Birthday COP: Karen had to remind me that COP had started its third year on August 1. I am grateful to all the verbal and financial support that many of you have expressed. Together we have kept a full-time presence of law enforcement in the nation’s capital. We start the third year with a true repeal bill – HR 2306 – that I am working on 24/7 within the confines of being a 501c3. Please take a moment to read the stats at the far bottom. You can take credit for them. Thank you.
*swamped = überbeschäftigt.
Stats for COP’s third year, started on August 1, 2011:
115 presentations to Congressional staffers: 27 this week
1 Letter to the Editor:
2 Other media (blogs, cable TV, etc)
1 (Member of Congress) contacts:
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 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717
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.
Posted August 30th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Your Voice in the United States Congress
Still Busy: The Great East Coast earthquake did cause me to lose three PM appointments but still managed to make 28 this week. I was in the Rayburn basement when it happened. Given the muffled noise* and the shaking, my first thought was a bomb went off in the underground car garage.
Throw down challenge: As of this August recess, I have been challenging the aides to state one benefit, one advantage of drug prohibition & I would go home to Texas the next day. So far, one Legislative Director of a drug warrior quoted a 2010 Rand study that marijuana use would go up, if it were legalized and regulated.
Next day I gave Kevin a sheet which spoke of the Rand study. Problem is the study did not take into account that the how much less alcohol would be consumed by people switching drugs. Marijuana being much less dangerous than alcohol, any such drug switch would be a net gain for the country. Try again, I urged.
Saw you on blog of 500 most interesting people in Washington: I admit to being a bit startled, when I was in line to buy my slice of pizza and coke on Wednesday. A staffer, acting a bit star struck, informed me that she had seen my foto in the blog and to say she thought what I was doing was awesome. See below for the foto and link. I was also mentioned as being one of the Top Ten drug reformers in the country on another blog. Also below. NOTE: I have no idea how many people read these blogs.
Seriously, I am pleased with any exposure. Given 33,000 lobbyists in this town, anything which helps a staffer remember you and the issue helps. On a related note, I have been showing the Reason magazine with the centerfold foto of Misty and me in California, to all staffers whom I had met before. Misty has received many compliments on her beauty. = Extra carrots to her this weekend.
*muffled noise = gedämpfte Lärm
Blog 1: Howard Keep on a Comin – http://peoplesdistrict.com/howard-on-keeping-on-a-comin
Blog 2: Top Ten Drug Reformers: http://www.businesspundit.com/15-of-todays-biggest-advocates-against-the-drug-war-and-police-brutality/
COPs 2nd year stats to date:
285 presentations to Congressional staffers: 28 this week
TV appearances: 14 … this week (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc)
Newspaper stories: 7 dailies, 3 weeklies
Radio appearances: 13 – this week
Published LTE: 20 (this week) –see below
Other media (bloggers, cable TV, minor publications, etc): 12 (this week)
12 (Member of Congress) contacts: this week
6 other VIP (state Senators & Reps):
Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. Your support keeps the COP voice loud and strong in the halls of the United States Congress. We 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 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted August 27th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Your Voice in the United States Congress
Day at the office– bovines, steers, milk cows??: Entering an office on Monday, 3 staffers were having a lively chat about cattle. ”Can you tell us the difference between a milk cow and a steer?” one asked. “Yeahhh” I replied. I explained the difference between a milk cow, steer, bull and the word bovine. They thanked me for the help and then I had my chat with their colleague on the issue of drug policy.
Must have been the hat that tipped them off* that I knew something about cattle. As I have written before, I must be ready to know something about nearly everything.
Busy week: I made 26 presentations this week, as I take advantage of the August recess. Sundays are spent catching up on the data entry into the spread sheets, the contact list and thank you letters. Karen is a saint to not fuss* at me.
Fruits of Longevity: The Legislative Director of a Washington office politely refused a meeting this year. “I remember quite well your arguments and concerns from our meetings the last two years. Besides, you have also met with two others now on my staff.”
Checking my records the LD and I had had a 45 chat and a 20 minute follow-up chat. I could not ask for more exposure to our issue. Three in one office may be a first.
Transitions: Jennifer Stiddard was the first ever staffer I spoke to in the US Congress in the fall of 2005. She was with Eddie Bernice Johnson’s office (D-Dallas, Texas). We had a nice chat every year for five years. She recently moved on to another job. I will miss her.
*tipped them off = bekannt machen
*fuss = Umstände machen
COPs 2nd year stats to date:
257 presentations to Congressional staffers: 26 this week
TV appearances: 14 … this week (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc)
Newspaper stories: 7 dailies, 3 weeklies
Radio appearances: 13 – this week
Published LTE: 20 (this week) –see below
Other media (bloggers, cable TV, minor publications, etc): 12 (this week)
12 (Member of Congress) contacts: this week
6 other VIP (state Senators & Reps):
Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. Your support keeps the COP voice loud and strong in the halls of the United States Congress. We 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 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted August 20th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Your Voice in the United States Congress
Busy week: Vacation was definitely over this week, as I made 25 presentations in four days (10 per week is about average). Recess also allowed the staffers more time for each chat, thus improving our relationship. 25-30 minutes per meeting was the rule, even for follow-up visits.
Bull Rider?: Meeting a house staffer –Jim -who used to work for at a Senate office, he told me a story. A few weeks ago a colleague had asked, if he had heard about a retired cop with a huge belt buckle inscribed with BULL RIDER. He was a retired cop who wanted to legalize drugs. Jim replied that he had seen the guy in the Dirksen (Senate) café and believed he had an appointment with him this week.
I spent the first minute talking about my ‘Paul Revere Ride’ & how Misty carried my little butt across America, thus earning the buckle of LONG RIDER. Then we got down to business and had a good chat. LOL
Love/Hate to see staffers leave: HATE-Every year about 25% of staffers leave the Member’s office. Short term – this is lousy because our relationship is over and I have to ‘break-in’ a new person. This makes it less certain the aide will ‘carry water’ i.e. the bill or the COP message to the Member with a positive recommendation.
LOVE: -As Peter Christ of LEAP pointed out many years ago, once a person has heard an anti-prohibition presentation by a police officer or other law enforcement professional, they will always filter any discussion about drug policy thru the COP/LEAP filter. Staffers often move back home, where they continue in politics, becoming young members of state legislatures or upper level staff of state politicians. The time & information I give them are not lost by any means. This prohibition will take many more years to be stamped out at the federal and state levels.
New record: I spoke to 5 legislative directors (second most important position in a member office) this week, all of whom gave me 30 minutes. Most I had met before, so such a long chat was much appreciated. They all had great questions about 2306 – the repeal MJ bill. One gentleman from Tennessee completed several of my statements =great feeling.
The very last presentation on Friday was a 37 minute chat with John Boehner’s judicial aide. I floated down the hallway. It was double Crown Royal and Swiss chocolate night! (now you know that the real reason I went to Europe this year = I was out of Swiss chocolate!!)
COPs 2nd year stats to date:
231 presentations to Congressional staffers: 25 this week
TV appearances: 14 … this week (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc)
Newspaper stories: 7 dailies, 3 weeklies
Radio appearances: 13 – this week
Published LTE: 20 (this week) –see below
Other media (bloggers, cable TV, minor publications, etc): 12 (this week)
12 (Member of Congress) contacts: this week
6 other VIP (state Senators & Reps):
Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. Your support keeps the COP voice loud and strong in the halls of the United States Congress. We 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 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted August 15th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Your Voice in the United States Congress
With the big boys: On Monday I did my first in camera interview in the rotunda of the Cannon building. This is where nearly all House Members interviews you see on TV are done. It was a reporter for Danish television. It was a hoot. It felt good.
Not a tenther:* Leaving the interview, I matched up with a Member walking down the hall. He asked how it was going. I told him about the TV interview which was about the violence and death our teens encounter because they sell drugs and are shot. I continued that the Ron Paul-Barney Frank bill would employ the 10th amendment to allow the states to choose their own path. “What do you think?” “Not a good idea, “he replied. „Not a big fan of the 10th amendment? “ I asked. „I am but not with drugs,” he responded and we parted company. Too many Members like him = no principles.
Need your help on 2306: Please send an email to your Congressman, asking for their support for the Frank-Paul Repeal Federal Prohibition Act of 2011 (HR 2306). They will answer. Then send their reply to me. We have an 8 person working group which is dedicated to passing 2306. We need to learn where each of the 435 Members stand on this and why they oppose. For you over-achievers, ask your friends outside your District to do the same. This is how regular citizens can help pass legislation. Thanks in advance.
*Tenther = eine Person, die über unser 10te Zusatz ein Fan ist; 10te = die Staate sollen mehr Vorrechte haben, ihre eigene Politik einzuführen
One published letters to the editor below.
COPs 2nd year stats to date:
206 presentations to Congressional staffers: 9 this week
TV appearances: 14 … this week (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc)
Newspaper stories: 7 dailies, 3 weeklies
Radio appearances: 13 – this week
Published LTE: 20 (1 this week) –see below
Other media (bloggers, cable TV, minor publications, etc): 12 (this week)
12 (Member of Congress) contacts: this week
6 other VIP ( state Senators & Reps):
Published in the Baltimore Sun: Aug 3
TIME TO END FAILED WAR ON DRUGS
Speaking as a retired police detective and member of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), I heartily concur with the NAACP that it is past time to terminate our failed war on drugs also known as the war on people — mostly of color (“The NAACP is calling for an end to the drug war; what about you?” July 31). My profession, which is shrinking all over America, must return to its true mission of public safety.
If you have a drug problem, see an addiction clinic.
Howard Wooldridge,
Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. Your support keeps the COP voice loud and strong in the halls of the United States Congress. We 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 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717
