Posted January 2nd, 2012 by hiwayhowie
Regarding the editorial “Bay City attorney’s broadside on BAYANET gets professional reply, but no formal debate:”
Writing as a retired detective, BAYANET is a horrific waste of tax dollars, both federal “free” money and Michigan residents’. We taxpayers must pay the $30,000 per year to lock up those arrested by my colleagues. The feds are $15 trillion in the red, in case anybody cares.
After 40 years of Drug War and a trillion tax dollars spent, drugs are cheaper, stronger and readily available to Michigan residents young and old. We know that every drug dealer arrested is quickly replaced.
Due to my experience as a street cop, these illegal drugs, even marijuana, are too dangerous to leave in the control of criminals and teens. They should be brought under the control of Lansing, like we do with alcohol and tobacco products.
Howard Wooldridge
LeRoy
Posted January 1st, 2012 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Your Voice in the United States Congress
Beat the dead horse: The House went home on Tuesday night after not passing a bill to extend a few things. Everyone has left town, many of the office closed completely till the New Year. I managed 3 presentations.
If I had a dollar for everyone who asked, “Why is marijuana still illegal?” I could fund COP for the next 20 years. Now I simply respond, what can you really expect our Congress to accomplish? The Dead Horse is Old Nellie and I am just trying to get her to do one simple thing, repeal drug prohibition.
Beating her with words or a stick will accomplish little. The Congress is beyond shame. Thus, my little pet project, www.wearethecartels.com to embarrass the Congress and other politicians has been put in mothballs.
From the archives of Stories, my two most favorite during the past 5 years:
Capitol Newsletter: December 30, 2005 (very first newsletter)
Funny Story of the Week: Meeting with a Congressional staffer on Tuesday, I came to realize I was not in Kansas anymore. This man was sympathetic with LEAP’s position but he said I just did not understand how Washington works. “It is all about pork.” He said. “Take your idea of treatment instead of jail. How does that help my district? You need to propose that the federal government build a regional treatment center in our district. That would definitely help you get such a bill passed. Your ideas would lay off thousands of high-paying, federal prison guard jobs. You have to replace those lost federal paychecks with other paychecks or you won’t go anywhere in this town.” After leaving, I lost it and just started laughing. I am so naïve but this cowboy is learning the ropes.
Capitol Newsletter: January 6, 2006
FUN STORY OF THE WEEK: As many of you know, I have been working on ending drug prohibition for 8 years and with over 14,000 persons asking me why, I thought I had heard all the reasons why not. A Congressional staffer had a new one. His reason for opposing ending prohibition? ‘If we legalize marijuana, eventually the growers will want to receive a subsidy to grow it, the same as farmers receive subsidies to grow tobacco, rice, sugar etc. It will just mean one more expense for the federal government.’ Most of you don’t know it but I do have a poker face. I coolly replied, “Well, this is the first day of second rodeo. Call me naïve but I have faith that the US Congress will never subsidize cannabis farmers.” The staffer remained unconvinced. I went onto another meeting, chuckling all the way down the hall of the Rayburn Building.
note: here rodeo = job as educator/lobbyist
Stats for COP’s third year, started on August 1, 2011:
232 presentations to Congressional staffers: 03 this week
5 Letter to the Editor: 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: 1 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.
Posted January 1st, 2012 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Your Voice in the United States Congress
Shake hands with four Members, chat with one: Congressman Session (R-TX) asked about the LONG RIDER belt buckle. With two other Members I shook hands & kept going and with one from Georgia we had a 90 second chat on the issue, as I walked him to the elevator. Another day at the salt mines, it was.
Meanwhile I made 14 presentations this week. Especially important was with a legislative director who blocked out 45 minutes for our conversation. He wanted and received chapter and verse on how to sell HR 2306 (Repeal MJ prohibition) to his boss and voters. Another LD that I met again (three times over four years) likes 2306 and will go to bat for it as soon as the budget crisis has a lull. Small steps.
I was struck this week by how many aides had never heard of the Frank/Paul to repeal. And that reinforces how important it is to meet with all 535 offices, not just our friends. BTW, we are up to 20 co-sponsors. My goal is 40 by this time next year.
Snooze – you lose: I called the NRA this week (National Rifle Association) to reserve a booth for their April national conference in St. Louis. Oops. They rented that last 10 feet two weeks after their show in Pittsburg closed this past May. Damn! I will put COP money down for 2013, as soon as I arrive in St. Louis on April 12.
Stats for COP’s third year, started on August 1, 2011:
229 presentations to Congressional staffers: 14 this week
5 Letter to the Editor: this week
2 Television appearances (Univision): this week
5 Other media (blogs, cable TV, etc): this week
7 radio shows: this week
10 (Member of Congress) contacts: 1 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.
Posted December 13th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Your Voice in the United States Congress
Small Steps: I attended the monthly breakfast of the Leadership Institute (trains young Republicans) (www.leadershipinstitute.org) on Wednesday. In the elevator as I was leaving a woman my age said, “I like your jacket.” I thanked her. She went, “No, really I love your jacket. Tell me who you are.” We had an excellent 5 minute chat. She is a declared candidate for the Republican Party for a Congressional district in northern Virginia.
I want to convince my boss: Today I had a 50 minute meeting with the legislative director of a Democratic House member. The LD is completely on board with the COP point of view. He wanted talking points to convince the Congressman to sign onto HR 2306, the repeal of Marijuana prohibition bill. Small steps & I will let you know either way.
Horrific fotos: I will NOT use the 4 head shot in any correspondence. I received excellent feedback from several of you and staffers. I AM going to use the first foto to demonstrate the silliness of grown men chasing a green plant.
3 one hour radio shows this week chewed up a bunch of my time this week. All good.
Stats for COP’s third year, started on August 1, 2011:
215 presentations to Congressional staffers: 05 this week
5 Letter to the Editor: 1 this week
2 Television appearances (Univision): this week
5 Other media (blogs, cable TV, etc): this week
7 radio shows: 3 this week
9 (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.
Posted December 5th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Your Voice in the United States Congress
What makes the difference?: During my chat with Molly she said her boss is on our side and might even co-sponsor the repeal of marijuana bill. However, she informed me that no one in her district had sent a letter/email this year in regards to marijuana prohibition. The boss would not stick his neck out, if his constituents did not care enough to write.
Shake them up or alienate them? At the very bottom are two fotos I am contemplating using for my follow-up thank you note with staffers I meet. The past 6 years I have used a foto of Misty and me en route from LA to NYC = warm and fuzzy. Asking 5 aides on Friday, the vote was 3 to 2 in favor of using the fotos. WARNING: the very bottom foto is real. It is 4 heads placed on the rear window sill of a car. I value your opinion. Please share.
Personal Note: I took some time out on Black Friday to protest the war in Afghanistan (not wearing my COP t-shirt). The local, daily paper was kind enough to put a large foto of us on the front page… along with a nice article which mentioned my work in DC.
First for everything: In the past six years I was never too sick to work…until this week. I ‘called-in-sick’ the first four days. By Friday I was feeling okay enough to have 7 meetings with staffers. All better now.
Stats for COP’s third year, started on August 1, 2011:
208 presentations to Congressional staffers: 07 this week
4 Letter to the Editor: this week
2 Television appearances (Univision): this week
5 Other media (blogs, cable TV, etc): this week
4 radio shows: this week
9 (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.
Because we marijuana prohibition in the United States:
In Mexico, Guatemala & Honduras – they have this —
