COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of January 17, 2014

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of January 17, 2014

 Just show up…with The Hat:  After a morning at Grover’s meeting I came out of the Longworth House Office Bldg. elevator to hand-deliver a note to Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke (thanking him for signing onto HR 1523).  Georgia R Congressman Woodall was walking towards the elevator, when he pointed to me and said, “You were on the front row at Grover’s this morning.”

“Guilty.”  I replied.  We shook hands and I was able to have a 90 second chat on the 10th Amendment and HR 1523.  He promised to give it a look.  After we parted, I went directly to his office and dropped off a copy of the one sentence bill.

At Congressman O’Rourke’s office I asked to see his Chief of Staff for a minute (we have met before).  I spied the Congressman whom I had met before.  We shook hands, I thanked him for endorsing the bill and I asked him who else might sign.  He recommended talking to Congressman Cardenas which I will.

Ask the right question:  At a packed (170 person) seminar on Mexican security at the Wilson Center I used my hat to attract attention and sure enough, I was the first called up during Q and A.  I stated that Guatemalan President Perez-Molina was in favor of legalizing all drugs in order to diminish the power of the Cartels in Central America… The five on the panel all jumped in to answer this question and it ended up taking up half of the Q and A time.

It IS who you know:  When a Spanish-speaking Florida-based radio station wanted me to be a guest in 45 minutes…to discuss Senator Reid’s statement regarding his changing views on marijuana, I knew how to spend those minutes.  I called Reid’s office and asked to speak with his chief legal counsel, Gavin Parke…I have had 3 meetings with him over the past 5 years.  I asked about his two young kids, etc. &   I was able to obtain a bit more info on what the Senator was doing.  I spread that positive news during the subsequent 20 minute radio interview in español….Building relationships these past eight (8) years is really beginning to pay dividends.  Double shot of Crown this week.

PS>..the Chicago Tribune published my LTE in the Sunday edition (bottom)

• 1470 Presentations to Congressional staffers..  04 this week
• 39 Radio Interviews..   01 this week
• 55 brief chats with Members of Congress..  03 this week

• 48 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.  01 this week (x Congressman)

• 73 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $72,000) 01this week
•  

COP stats since inception: August 2009

• 65 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..  this week
• 23 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine… 00 this week
• 17 major conferences attended..  this week (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions.  etc)  this week
• 34 Appearances on major TV networks..this week(Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
• 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
• Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders.   Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
• Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 dollars buys all the copy paper COP uses in one year.   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 and want to be a part of the solution…  Go to:

• www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to:
• Citizens Opposing Prohibition
• POB 543
• Buckeystown, MD 21717

MURDER TOLL

Speaking as a retired detective, I was astounded that your lament over the murder rate did not mention the massive role that drug prohibition plays in the carnage ( “Choosing Chicago’s murder toll; Defy the odds; Push the body count lower in 2014 and beyond,” Editorial, Dec.  29 ).  Per experts testifying in the U.S.  House, gang violence would be cut in half if, the gangs had no drugs to sell.  You do your readers a disservice not mentioning the biggest driver of felony crime in Chicago.

– – Howard Wooldridge, Washington