Posted May 6th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
BLAME DRUG PROHIBITION
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, and The Dallas Morning News don’t have a clue on how to solve the horror and misery that is Mexico today.
They naively believe that tougher penalties will have an impact? Please. As a retired detective, I know that drug dealers accept, as a condition of employment, death and long prison terms.
Drug prohibition is the cause of all the beheadings. To end Mexico’s death and misery, we need to repeal our drug prohibition just like we did in 1933. As women and children are shot dead every day in Mexico, it is immoral for our country to continue this failed, trillion-dollar modern prohibition.
Howard Wooldridge, Dallas
Posted May 6th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
Your voice in the United States Congress
Stories from the week of April 15, 2011
Know your history: Waiting to cross the last street before entering the Longworth building, I noticed the gentleman’s folder with the title: Armenian Issues. I asked if that was his purpose going to the hill. He replied his constituents wanted justice on the issue. I gave him my basic understanding of the forced march during WWI of the Armenians by the Turks and the estimate of perhaps one million died.
We kept chatting into the bldg. I gave him a one sentence of my advocacy before he by-passed the metal detector. Chatting with a Congressman is always a great start to my day.
Be a (Texas) gentleman: Passing Congresswoman Schmidt (R-OH) in the hall on Friday, I tipped my hat to her. That triggered a 30 second chat. She was the first Member I ever spoke to after my arrival in the fall of 2005. I had not seen her since.
Modern, free marketing: This week at Grover’s Brunch came a woman who is an expert on how to use Facebook for pushing an issue. Free, expert advice for a free and effective marketing tool works for COPs limited budget. She is first on my list next week to contact.
NOTE: I will be away the next 10 days taking care of my mom = driving her up to and settled in her summer home in Michigan. On my way back I will attend the 3 day NRA (National Rifle Association) conference in Pittsburgh.
COPs 2nd year stats to date:
TV appearances: 12 (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, cable)
Newspaper stories: 6 dailes, 3 weeklies
Radio appearances: 6
Published LTE: 14 ( one this week)
157 presentations to Congressional staffers: (12 this week)
14 (Member of Congress) contacts : ( 2 this week)
5 other VIP (MD state legislators):
Consider being a member of COPs at $30.00 or more per year. Your support keeps the COPs 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 May 5th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
COPs on the Hill
Your Voice in the United States Congress
CATO: I attended a three hour economic seminar at CATO, where 3 Senators and one Congressman spoke. Seated in the last row, I learned waving my cowboy hat was an effective technique to be noticed and was called upon twice. . My question concerned our ability to borrow more trillions at the current low rate (3.5%) and the other was to a Senator on whether we could have confidence that the new, “born again” Republicans will stop spending money.
At the reception afterwards I had 7-8 people come up to say hi and thank me for the questions. I then turned the chat towards drug prohibition and made several good contacts.
GROVER’S BRUNCH: While chatting with my buddy Colin Hanna, two Congressmen walked up to say hi to him. I was introduced and we enjoyed a two minute chat. Later one of them gave the group the proposed 2012 US budget of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Never hurts to be seen with powerful folks. NOTE: Colin and I share a love of horses and that is how we came to be buddies and sit next to each other.
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: At this monthly breakfast I was able to ask Congressman Tom Price a budget question. All told this week I either had a chat with or asked a question of 8 Members of Congress. My best week ever. NOTE: One can not always ask questions on drug policy. This week was all about the budget.
Lovefest: The main reason I am writing less about my presentations to Member aides is because the chats lack the fire and controversy of earlier years. Republican aides are leaning heavily in the direction of the Ron Paul Libertarian, 10th Amendment (states’s rights) crowd. The Democratic aides agree with the COP position for the many harms done to society by prohibition. There is simply nothing to report.
Howard
COPs 2nd year stats to date:
TV appearances: 11 (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, cable)
Newspaper stories: 7 dailes, 3 weeklies
Radio appearances: 7
Published LTE: 13 ( none this week)
Other media (bloggers, cable TV, minor publications, etc): 9
145 presentations to Congressional staffers: 13 this week
12 (Member of Congress) contacts: 4 this week
5 other VIP (MD state Senator & Rep):
Consider being a member of COPs at $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. Your support keeps the COPs 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 April 9th, 2011 by hiwayhowie
Your Voice in the United States Congress
Bienvenido: At Grover’s Brunch this week came two senators and a house member from Bolivia. They addressed the group, describing two of their main problems, one of which was associated with the prohibition of cocaine.
After they sat down, I had a hushed* chat with one in Spanish to introduce myself and COPs. I informed them that powerful police voices in the USA were working everyday to end drug prohibition/guerra de drogas. All three leaned in to hear my words. We exchanged business cards. I wrote to all three and one Senator replied for the group. More contacts for the future.
Made him think?: Also at Grover’s came 3 Congressmen and one US Senator. During question and answer I was able to ask one if he would support a 10th amendment approach to marijuana policy. He slowly replied he would not, saying he knew people harmed by marijuana. Later a buddy complimented me on the question& how it had made the Congressman squirm.*
Don Quixote has a brother: While in the Senate this week gathering names of aides (as of this writing 6 offices still have not hired an aide for judiciary!), I ran into the chief legal counsel to Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)..whom I have met with four times in five years. We caught up on my issue then…
He said he was the point person for moving the legislation to reduce the excessive bank ‘swipe fee’ for credit cards. The $13 BILLION dollars the banks earn from this has the whole banking lobbyist world breathing down his neck, wanting to separate his head from his shoulders.
Over the past five years I have had several police lobbyists treat me with open disdain.* I know how the aide feels.
*hushed = gedämpft – leise
* squirm = sich winden
*disdain = Verachtung
Howard
COPs 2nd year stats to date:
TV appearances: 11 (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, cable)
Newspaper stories: 7 dailes, 3 weeklies
Radio appearances: 7
Published LTE: 13 (one this week)
Other media (bloggers, cable TV, minor publications, etc): 9
132 presentations to Congressional staffers: (5 this week)
8 (Member of Congress) contacts:
5 other VIP (MD state Senator & Rep):
Consider being a member of COPs at $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. Your support keeps the COPs 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
Modern Prohibition/The War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional & immoral domestic policy since slavery & Jim Crow.
Posted April 3rd, 2011 by hiwayhowie
Your Voice in the United States Congress
Door to door salesman I am: Finally I hit my stride* this week, as the House was in recess. Between scheduled appointments and going door to door, I made 35 presentations. Almost all were new Tea Party offices whose staffers were often eager to hear a message of a policy employing the 10th Amendment and did not require money.
This week I had to retire my trusty briefcase which after five years and nearly 2,000 presentations to Congressional offices simply broke. I have a good feeling that I won’t need a third. I had fair number people ask if my briefcase contained free samples, perhaps due to its larger size. J My third set of boot leather will last thru the summer.
Tombstones* in their eyes: A staffer commented this week that since January many of the 33,000 lobbyists in DC were coming into his office with a dullness on their face. Yes, they make the pitch* for money but they know that most often they will come away with nothing. Per the staffer, they are just going thru the motions.
On the other hand..: A staffer I have known for four years now works for one of the new R offices. Besides our good chat, he gave me the name and contact info of a Texas state legislator whom he believes to be a good resource on building support for the 10th Amendment-based marijuana bill we should see this spring. This is just one example (amongst many) of how staffers are helping COPs succeed.
Marketing tool: At the bottom is the jacket which has sparked so many chats this winter. A guy at the train station asked why and later wanted a foto of it… he was kind enough to send me a copy.
Personal note: This week the Democratic Party asked me for support in 2012. The drug policy portion of my reply letter at the very bottom. The other areas I mentioned were the wars in Afghanistan and Libya.
*hit my stride = im Gang setzen
*tombstones – Grabstein
*pitch = Verkaufstaktik
COPs 2nd year stats to date:
TV appearances: 11 (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, cable)
Newspaper stories: 7 dailes, 3 weeklies
Radio appearances: 7
Published LTE: 13 (one this week)
Other media (bloggers, cable TV, minor publications, etc): 9
127 presentations to Congressional staffers: (35 this week)
8 (Member of Congress) contacts: (one this week)
5 other VIP (MD state Senator & Rep):
Consider being a member of COPs at $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. Your support keeps the COPs 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
Dear Mr. President,
To put me back on the horse and work for your re-election, you will have to begin to show leadership in the following areas:
#1 domestic public policy disaster: Drug Prohibition/War on Drugs – How many Mexicans must die for our prohibition? You have so little compassion for that country. 72 billion spent every year and nothing to show for it. Your new DEA head is anti-science and defies your directive to allow states with medical cannabis laws to live free from DEA arrests. How does my grandson compete with China with so much spent on prisons & cops? You admit the policy is an “utter failure” and yet do nothing. Pitiful.
Howard
