Posted December 23rd, 2009 by hiwayhowie
Overview: This was an extra, extraordinary week on my DC journey to repeal federal prohibition. I have to believe, you tell me, that after some 40 months on the Hill and in Washington in general, my fruit tree has begun to yield a serious crop.
Am I properly dressed?: MPP’s Marsha Wallen hit a home run with this Christmas card.
Picture a Santa with a little boy on his knee. While holding a gun to Santa’s head the boy tells Santa what he wants for Christmas: “All I want is more marijuana prohibition. It is good for business.” The little boys t-shirt says: ‘Mexican Drug Cartels.’
I took her idea and added on the inside of the card:
“Thank you for all your support in 2009
Feliz Navidad
The Association of Mexican Drug Cartels
my new employer – they pay much better
best – Howard”
I cranked out* 540 copies and hand delivered them to the staffers with whom I have a relationship on Capitol Hill. On Wednesday between presentations to Senate staffers, I delivered the first 100. On Thursday I dressed in jeans and COPS SAY LEGALIZE POT – ASK ME WHY t-shirt to deliver the House’s 435. NOTE: had I played mailman in my coat & tie, I would have been in a sweat all day. In a senior Dem office they were having a Christmas party. They loved the shirt and one young staffer insisted on being photographed with me, DESPITE the warning from colleagues that it might end up on YouTube.
An hour later I had finished my lunch and about to start the Longworth building, when a gentleman rich in melanin* walked up to me, said he liked the shirt and began a two minute chat. I recognized him as Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia** to whom I had addressed a question 16 months ago at a CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) conference. Mr. Johnson & I had a very serious chat about drug policy & agreed on all points regarding drugs should be a medical not criminal problem. I promised to drop off a summary of the Swiss program (after I had informed him of going to a heroin clinic in Switzerland on my honeymoon last year — & of the Swiss offer to send a 3 person team to Congress to explain their program, if Congress would request it). BTW, Congressman Johnson serves on the House judiciary committee.
**NOTE: in a departure from normal protocol, I have mentioned the Member’s name. This only because some 100 saw us in the cafeteria.
After we departed, I was completely flabbergasted* that a Congressman would take the initiative to start a conversation with me in the T-shirt!!! (see bottom of letter) What the heck is going on? Should I wear it more often, perhaps over a shirt and tie? I am wondering.
The next day I dropped off a Misty story to the staffer who had her foto taken. She had expressed a great interest in our horse ride. She handed me her business card upon leaving. She is the chief of staff – easily the youngest I have ever met. Again I was flabbergasted.
Force Multiplier: Besides the Congress, MPP gave me a 100 cards to drop off to those who attend the Grover Norquist brunch. There I met a new reporter for the Washington Examiner, a daily with 300,000 circulation. I gave her a copy of the MPP card and she really liked it. The cartoon ran in the paper later in the week. Since everyone loves cartoons, I am confident that many of the 300,000 read the card & got the message.
Mr. Steele, I presume: About a month ago I made the acquaintance of a man at the Grover Brunch who is a member of the Republican National Committee. He agrees with the COP position, BTW. This week he invited me to a lunch gathering at the Republican National Committee HQ. He directed me to the head of the Republican Party, Michael Steele and introduced us. Mr. Steele & I had a 45 second, serious conversation about the failure of drug prohibition, my police voice in opposition & the need to legalize/regulate.
I have been in the same room as Mr. Steele a half dozen times this year. From now on, when he sees the cowboy hat, he will like most of the others, have this train of thought – cowboy, retired cop, legalize drugs. Small steps, maybe a medium step.
Understanding the adversary: * My very last presentation of the year was with the chief legal advisor to Senator Grassley whose infamous amendment I described a few weeks ago (a prohibition on discussing prohibition of drugs). We had an excellent 45 minute chat & l learned of the Senator’s reasons for opposing the Webb Initiative. This information is being sent to Mr. Webb’s office & others in drug reform. BTW: just before the meeting, I chanced to chat for 3 minutes with Mr. Webb’s point man on S-714. He was eager to learn of why Grassley is in opposition.
End of the year request for support: COPs has given the IRS the form 1023, applying for non-profit status. We have raised 9,000 so far which exceeds the budget of 5,000 for expenses. We are building a fund to provide me with a salary. Since its inception* in August, 231 presentations have been made to Hill Staffers and other VIPs in DC. The money invested the past 3 years by a good woman in New Mexico and the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation brought me and COPs to this point. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to COPs and help bring this mess to an end. Via this newsletter, you know exactly where the money goes & the service delivered.
Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year. Add your voice to those who agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow.
Wishing for you and yours the Merriest Christmas & best of the holiday season.
Howard
*cranked out = habe produziert
*melanin = er war schwarzer
*flabbergasted = ich war platt, umhauen, verblüffen
*inception = Anfang
*adversary = Feinde
Officer Howard Wooldridge (retired)
Drug Policy Specialist, COP – www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org
Washington, DC
817-975-1110 Cell
howard@citizensopposingprohibition.org
Citizens Opposing Prohibition – Become a Member
PO Box 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717-0772
Modern Prohibition/The War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional & immoral domestic policy since slavery & Jim Crow.
Posted December 23rd, 2009 by hiwayhowie
Straw or Beaver:* As I said a short while ago, they keep the temperature high in the Congressional buildings near 72 (22C). This morning while I was preparing four snake oil kits (info I give each staffer), I tried to decide whether to wear the summer straw hat for more comfort or the winter beaver hat which looks better and is more appropriate. Since there was two inches of the snow on the ground and the temp below freezing, I put the beaver hat on my head.
After finishing my yearly meeting (an excellent 20 minute chat) with the Senate Majority Leader’s chief counsel in the Capitol itself, those in the elevator said there was room for one more. I spied a Senator and boldly stepped. The Senator read outloud my name plate, “ C O P. What’s that? You a cop?” “Retired detective,” I replied & added “Citizens Opposing Prohibition. I am the police voice on the Hill in opposition –said slightly louder and then a short pause –to our failed war on drugs.”
He stuck out his hand and said, “ Bob Corker.” From Tennessee I replied. At that instant the gentleman in the back I did not recognize stuck out his hand saying, “John Thune.” South Dakota I replied and ‘it is an honor.’ No time for even a 10 second pitch. The elevator door opened and we all went our separate ways. So glad I wore the winter hat.
Tipping Point Coming?: Also this week a tourist in the elevator asked about my name plate. I gave my 15 second elevator speech. He left saying, ‘Good luck with your struggle.’ When people ask about the meaning of COP, 4 in 5 will express support for our position. Senator Corker and Thune did not give me the cold shoulder*, rather they introduced themselves shaking my hand. Change is in the air?
Health care commands attention: Only 13 presentations this week. Everyone is pitching in to help Senators with the health care debate. I am grateful for the time they do give me.
*beaver = Biber
*cold shoulder = unhöflich jemand zu sein – unbeachtet lassen
Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 per year. Keep a police presence on the Hill in opposition to prohibition policy. Add your voice to those who agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow.
Howard
Posted December 23rd, 2009 by hiwayhowie
Frustrations: As you can imagine, I have heard 1001 times the past three years that a staffer’s boss (the Member) may agree with repealing at least marijuana prohibition but such a vote remains “too risky.” I burn a lot of mental energy when I do NOT scream, “tell the Senator to do what is right and best for his state & country.” AKA* find some courage.
As one Senate staffer said today, ‘your issue is gaining ground, especially marijuana.’ This beats where we were just a year or two ago.
Hi, I am the Senator’s Chief Legal Counsel: The past 3 years with this very senior Dem office who has a place on the Senate’s Crime and Drugs subcommittee, I had met with a legislative aide. Today I graduated to a direct 30 minute conversation with his chief counsel & two of his aides. I had never met with three staffers at once before. Small steps.
Webb bill update: Yesterday I attended the ‘mark up’ for the bill. This is when the Senators vote to move a bill out of the original sub-committee. For the fourth time they ran out of time before it came up. Stay tuned. On a positive note in my meeting above, the chief counsel said his side was very united against the Grassley Amendment (which would prohibit a discussion on drug prohibition). He stated with great certainty that Grassley would fail. Cross your fingers/hold your thumbs.
*AKA = also known as
Posted December 5th, 2009 by hiwayhowie
Howard on the Hill
Stories from the week of November 27, 2009
Access to Power without Money 101: Which is better? When a lobbyist pays 1000 + dollars to go to a fundraiser which gives him about 2 minutes with a Senator? Or when a trusted staffer takes your message to the boss for free (well, nearly free)? This from a staffer I spoke to last week. “Mr. Wooldridge, thank you for offering your additional assistance. Please be assured I will relay your ideas and information to Senator XXXXX. Feel free to contact me at any time.
Thank you,
Daniel XXXXXX”
The cool thing about meeting these very sharp young staffers is they process the information as it tumbles* out of my mouth. They grasp the concepts, even though very few have heard the COP line of thinking (public safety is the task of law enforcement, not personal safety is one example). They are ‘flipped’* on the spot.
People are hungry for information: This incident happened several weeks ago. I was going to all 100 offices of the Senate to verify the legislative aide who handles judiciary. Since they keep the buildings at 72 degrees (22C), I begin to sweat when I walk. That fact plus I love to wear my t-shirt — I wore it all day in the Senate going office to office.
After finishing one office I stopped to collect my notes and see where I had to go next. After 30 seconds a young staffer approached me and asked if I were handing out information to answer the question (COPS SAY LEGALIZE DRUGS – Ask Me Why).. I replied no but I had a 30 second version. Sure, he responded. We ended up chatting for two minutes, leaving with the COP business card and a request he read our Vision Statement.
Personal Note: these newsletters serve several purposes. First they help me understand what I did this week. They help me see the issue evolve in the corridors of power and then adjust my tactics to reflect a new reality. Secondly they provide you a glimpse into the most important ‘sandbox’ in the world and thus help you understand what is needed to change policy. Third, this is my personal diary. As you know, I write the Good, Bad and Ugly of what goes on. If I seem to be bragging about my ability, my accomplishments, I am not. I need to know & appreciate those events where I made a personal difference. My work is all in the trenches. This is like riding a horse 23 miles per day (39/km), moving across North America. Reaching the opposite ocean seems impossible at this speed. So, to keep my spirits up, I write what put a big smile on my face that week.
And this Modern Prohibition will one day be in the history books, just as one day Misty and I splashed down in the Pacific Ocean in Oregon. Count on it.
Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 per year. Add your voice to those who agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow.
Howard
*tumbles out of the mouth = wenn man spricht
*flipped = überzeugt, zu etwas bekehren
Posted December 5th, 2009 by hiwayhowie
Posted: Friday, December 4, 2009
The author of Tuesday’s letter titled “Be cautious about legalizing marijuana” defends marijuana prohibition based on the possibility it could be harmful.
I understand a liberal’s desire to protect citizens from cradle to grave against harm. But horseback riding will kill many more people this year than using marijuana. Should we make that illegal? Cigarettes kill a few people in Wisconsin every day. Should we make that illegal?
Speaking as a Michigan police officer, now retired, public safety is reduced as my profession spends tens of thousands of hours searching for and arresting adults using marijuana in their own homes. These police hours would be better spent arresting deadly drunken drivers and child molesters.
– Howard Wooldridge, Merrimac
