Stories from the week of December 9, 2011

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.