Not for Nothin:  Making initial contact in a Member office, the young lady staffer remembered the cowboy hat…”I liked the message on your jacket I saw at the Subway Shop last week.”

Just another mundane week of first office contact, presenting myself, making presentations or at least receiving the name of the assistant who handles criminal justice.

Weekly Activities:

3899 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 28 this week…

COP stats since inception: August 2009

339 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week….not in session

436 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc   0 this week

96  Radio Interviews:  0 this week;

32 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week

209 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week

107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week

44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters

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 $40 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 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 drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org

Sorpresa (Surprise): Being remembered by someone is the gold standard of relationships.  I was speaking to a Chief of Staff, when he related that his dad was 25 years an officer and narcotics detective in Puerto Rico. I paused, blinked  and then we finished the next 5 minutes in Spanish.  He made the remark of my ability to switch languages in such a fluent fashion…me thinks I made a good impression.

CMan Mann of Kansas (R) came into the reception area where I was chatting with an aide. Per usual protocol, we shook hands and I gave him the one sentence my mission: to decrim all drugs so the police have more time to arrest people trying to hurt you and your family.  He surprised me by shaking my hand again, saying he completely supports that concept.  Yeah!

Bonus this week:  

I was finishing up my Thursday, when I noticed a fairly large box on the coffee table full of fresh veggies.  The aide said to help myself because no one in the office could eat it or take it home.  He had just spoken to the House Ethics Committee about the gift (all the offices had a box like that delivered by someone).  The ethics person said – do not eat!  So, I took the pound of carrots, the small box of cherry tomatoes and the lemon.  Yum!

Weekly Activities:

3871 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 27  this week…

339 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 01 this week  (R-KS) Tracey Mann

436 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc   01 this week former US Senator from Kansas, Sam Brownback at the Grover Norquist meeting

COP stats since inception: August 2009

96  Radio Interviews:  0 this week;

32 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week

209 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week

107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week

44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters

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 $40 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 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 drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org

Seems almost like in a Dream:  Wednesday arrived and I headed to the Hill for the first time in nearly three years.  The Republican fulfilled their promise to open the office buildings to the general public.

Like Riding a Bicycle:  Walking to the Longworth Bldg, I spotted AOC on the curb, waiting to use the crosswalk near the Capitol.  “Congresswoman, may I walk with you for one minute?”  I introduced myself, she introduced her Legislative Director and I gave them the 60 second elevator pitch. At 61 seconds I thanked her for her time and went back towards Longworth.  Piece of cake!  Yeah!

The day continued with great karma, as I had brief chats with two other Members, gave presentations to 12 staffers and had a good number of them remember and say it was nice to see the cowboy hat and or big buckle back in the hallway.  PS.  I AM Older…after 4 hours I was pooped, above and below the neck.

Sample of my last paragraph:  (email came the next day)

Good Afternoon Howard,

It was nice to see you again and having the chat. I’m happy to take a look at the suggestion you had for the Drug Policy Reform Act and can bring that up with the groups who we have been working with. In the meantime, please let me know how I can be of any help and we will be in touch.

Thank you,

Brad Korten

Legislative Director

Office of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)

168 Cannon House Office Building

Office: (202) 225-5801 | Direct: (202) 226-7293 | Cell: (202) 809-7530

Weekly Activities:

3844 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 29  this week…

338 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 03 this week AOC ( D-NY), McGovern (D-MA) and Glen Thompson (R-PA)

435 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc   1 this week (campaign director who just got Senator Johnson (R-WI) re-elected).

COP stats since inception: August 2009

96  Radio Interviews:  0 this week;

32 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week

209 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week

107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week

44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters

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 $40 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 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 drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org

I pulled up to the line at the Costco gas pumps and got out to clean up my interior of misc. trash.  The 25 y/o next immediately rolled down his window and said,” God, I love your shirt!! How do I get one?” I got out a few words before he cut me off and continued, ‘legalize would destroy the Cartels! It would reduce the killings in big cities!  It would give you guys more time to do important shit!!  I just started law school and a buddy explained all this a few weeks ago.’

I thanked him for being well-informed, gave him my business card and wished him luck at law school… irony – when all drugs are legalized/regulated, there will be 1000s of unemployed defense attorneys, as crime drops thru the floor.

Weekly Activities:

335 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 07 this week – Congressmen Michael Burgess (R-TX); Randy Weber (R-TX), Bice (R-OK; Johnson (R-OH); Jeff Duncan (R-SC); Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Congresswoman Debbie Lasko (R-AZ)

434 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc   5 this week

3815 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 02  this week…

96  Radio Interviews:  01 this week; WKOK in Pennsylvania

32 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 01 this week (Third Annual Energy Transition)

** My pitch to the Members: ‘ As a retired detective, I represent a small segment of law enforcement that believe; If one day you have a drug problem, see a doctor at a clinic.  For 2023 plz talk to Nancy Mace of South Carolina.  She has the finest, marijuana bill I have seen in my years on the Hill.  Last, thanks for opening the doors in January.

As the meeting was off the record, I cannot say exactly what one said to me.  The were words of thanks to remind him of the need to medicalize the issue versus ‘keep locking them up.’

COP stats since inception: August 2009

209 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week

107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week

44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters

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 $40 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 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 drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org

424 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc   03 this week

3813 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 00  this week…

Meetings:  3.. Grover Norquist and two more in Switzerland in October

COP stats since inception: August 2009

335 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week

209 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week….interviewed by documentary crew making film about Burning Man

107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week

95 Radio Interviews…

44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters

31 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week

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 $40 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 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 drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org