Posted March 25th, 2016 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week of March 18, 2016
Vienna 2016 at the UN’s CND conference: Conference on Narcotic Drugs – meets every year in Vienna to discuss progress in creating a world free of about 6 kinds of drugs. About 130 nations send a rep. This trip lasted 12 days.
Two Years Ago: I asked the UK gentleman to explain & help me understand what I was missing. Simply put, ‘nothing is said here which does not have 5 layers of complexity far beyond drug policy.’ In other words; this is an Alice in Wonderland community.
The UK guy gave me his translation of the days’ speeches based on his 20 years of attending this conference: the tone away from ‘get tough’ – War on Drugs is a good thing — to one of human rights, treatment vs. jail and decrim are important changes to make — for him this was a major change for this gathering. I DID feel much better after he put it all in perspective.
One small voice: A side event at the UN this week concerned excessive prison terms for drug offenses. I was given the chance to make this comment: ‘Yes, I support and applaud your efforts to reduce sentences. I want to express a cautionary note. Once you have succeeded in reducing sentences, keep in mind the great evil is anyone spending one day in prison for a drug offense. The evil is drug prohibition and I urge you to destroy it as soon as possible. That is the ultimate solution for much suffering in the world.’
Cripple the Terrorists?: The last ‘side event’ of this conference was titled, ” Illicit Drug Business as a Source of Terrorism Financing.” Two world-class professors of economics laid out the reality that the bad guys are making billions via illegal drug trade. The UN rep tried to minimize the ugly truth of the testimony. I was able to ask the first question. “If the consuming nations legalized and regulated all drugs, as to destroy the illicit market, how much would this change cripple terrorists around the world?”
And the next 20 minutes became a heated, nearly angry debate about how much ending prohibition would hurt the terrorists. Since the terrorists in Europe earn only about Two (2) billion dollars, the UN official blew off the entire concept of legalizing drugs to help in anti-terrorist funding. It was a powerful hour and the 70 older attendees were listening intently to the experts. This event alone may have justified me coming to Vienna, IMHO…..and of course 3 days later the bad guys blew up the airport and metro in Brussels.
Published LTE in the Washington Post on March 2:
DRUG LAWS AND GUN DEATHS
Regarding the Feb. 28 editorial “Gun violence: 7,548 incidents and counting”:
As a retired detective, I do not understand why the editorial board failed to mention the huge role that drug prohibition plays in the deaths of so many of our youths. Young people are shot-sometimes shot dead-every day because of their employment in the drug trade in the United States.
Given the justified concern for the death toll from guns, why continue to support our nearly 50-year-long, trillion-dollar, highly unsuccessful modern prohibition?
Howard Wooldridge, Adamstown
This week’s stats:
187 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 18 this week = UN reps
24 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 01 this week
130 interviews and reports in minor media = 01 this week.
63 Radio Interviews.. 02 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
2149 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
120 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week ( NBC twice )
82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week
* 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. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
Posted March 11th, 2016 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week of March 4 & 11, 2016
CPAC in Summary: 4 hectic, non-stop days of conservative madness. Sitting next to, chatting with X governor of Arizona Jan Brewer for an hour (not our friend). 101 fotos of student supporters of legalization, all going to Facebook, natch. New convert yelling out to 50 in Chipotles, “YES, Legalize Heroin.” First night having a drink with 7 Congressmen & Senator Ernst (R-IA) {came to DC to ‘cut pork’}…about 20 media events, half in camera..what I have called ‘minor media’ contacts shows my ignorance of 2016…one 1 minute clips now seen by 600,000 and still climbing. (See below)..being much more careful, I did NOT lose my voice (first time in 5 years). Several reporters told me I had become a ‘fixture’ of CPAC (? Good thing ?)
Most importantly, resistance to the POT shirt went to an absolute zero (only took 10 years )…therefore, next year I will be wearing the LEGALIZE DRUGS shirt. I go to CPAC to move the needle, not make people smile (which the pot shirt almost always does).
Rice University: Bill Martin of the Baker Institute at Rice invited me. three days on the road to be part of a four person, two hour panel on Drug Prohibition. They were pleased which is all that counts. I spent the honorarium on two hats…Yikes !! Yes, they are very nice hats.
United Nations: I leave today for Vienna to represent LEAP at the annual UN conference on dangerous drugs. Next report will be late March. Karen continues to love me despite my many absences from home. She is the wind under my wings.
No time to spit….
http://gawker.com/these-are-some-people-you-could-meet-at-cpac-1763090191.. foto at bottom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5881TmjFLU.. One of many
https://www.facebook.com/NowThisWeed/?pnref=story 600,000 views !! woohoo One Minute…left side of page under ‘Videos’…next to Gov Gary Johnson of NM
This week’s stats: …..no time …these are last weeks
169 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 03 this week –
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week ( NBC twice )
129 interviews and reports in minor media = 01 this week.
Meetings/Hearings: 2 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
2149 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
120 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
61 Radio Interviews.. 0 this week
23 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) this week
82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week
* 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. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
**
Posted February 29th, 2016 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week of February 26, 2016
Residuals: https://twitter.com/NBCNewsVideo/status/703319474926059521
From NH week – the shirt comes in at 1:28 & lasts long enough to read it..thanks NBC
Bonus…Meet The Press this Sunday (28th) put the shirt on for 5 seconds (using same clip)
Double Time on Sunday?: My buddy Don Murphy invited me to a Rubio rally only 45 minutes from my house. I worked the crowd of 2,000 – had good chats with about 30 in two hours (like doing a Rotary on Sunday), solid 7 minute interview for French, national TV. Later I had a word with Virginia’s former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, thanking him for his 10th Amendment position on marijuana.
Except for Grover’s meeting and three hours at the Rubio Rally, I rested my voice and body….gearing up for the energy needed for the madness of 10,000 rabid conservatives at the annual CPAC convention next week.
This week’s stats:
169 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 03 this week –
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week ( NBC twice )
129 interviews and reports in minor media = 01 this week.
Meetings/Hearings: 2 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
2149 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
120 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
61 Radio Interviews.. 0 this week
23 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) this week
82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week
* 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. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
**
Posted February 25th, 2016 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week of February 19, 2016
Political Junkie/A man has got to know his limitations: At 1PM 3 days after NH, I jumped in the car to make a 9PM debate in South Carolina. I ran out of energy at the SC border and didn’t make it. I was able to make 5 rallies by Wednesday but that was it. The media events of NH were not duplicated in SC…only five in four days. The Trump rally on Wednesday was worthwhile, the rest barely. I drove home on Thursday. So, the score in NH was a home run with bases loaded; SC was a single and nobody on. COP produced a lot of product placement into the media & overall a good bang for the buck. 60 journalists now have the LEAP contact info.
http://elitedaily.com/news/politics/legalization-retired-police-detective/1386523/ —this is from NH…print article 4 minute..fairly typical of how media handled it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujNLiqkEs70&feature=youtu.be –this an 8 minute interview, edited with some good graphics thrown in…fairly typical for the minor media, in camera interview…Wm Pierce is a reporter for a cable channel in NH.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FcZZ6XWd5g The camera shifted at 22:10 and the shirt comes in the frame for the rest of the Trump rally. If you want to see a whole Trump rally, here you go:
Low Energy: Since I went to SC having a cold, I did my health no favor. I will be like Jeb! = low energy for a while longer. Note: Gosh I wish he had been elected in 2000. He is as smart and capable as they come….also good on the 10th amendment for our issue.
This week’s stats:
61 Radio Interviews.. 01 this week Talk of the Town with Larry Rifkin – WATR Radio, CT
128 interviews and reports in minor media = 04 this week.
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 01 this week
Meetings/Hearings: 5 this week ( rallies in this week)
COP stats since inception: August 2009
2149 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
120 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 0 this week
60 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…0 this week
23 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) this week
166 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week –
82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week
* 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. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
**
Posted February 19th, 2016 by hiwayhowie
https://vtdigger.org/2016/02/07/sanders-finds-feverish-support-in-snowy-new-hampshire/ = foto & quotes near end
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-MDwu-BnUos
can’t miss me in the frame…I was always trying to position myself for the cameras.
<<…>> <<…>>
Stories from the week of February 12, 2016
Flying home from New Hampshire: TSA agent, “Hey, I saw you on TV.”
Jake Tapper (CNN reporter) at Fiorina event Tweeted out the shirt
Rubio event – interviews in all four languages..Spanish newspaper, German TV, French Canadian reporter…good practice for Vienna next month
Product Placement (shirt) on CNN on Tuesday.
24 interviews at the Rubio Super Bowl Party…?Have you seen my brain? It is around here somewhere….. As I was leaving, a German TV crew arrived and I did one more interview ‘for the road.’ Completely crazy and exhausting..used all languages again
Don Murphy: Focused heavily on meeting the candidates which resulted in solid chats with all the R candidates, except Trump and Carson (who was not there). Kasich said he would not interfere with Colorado. Walking with Fiorina, their foto together went national, when she dropped out the next day.
Don insisted we stay in the Presidential Suite of the Motel 6….so we paid the extra bucks for that. The champagne on ice at the end of a long day was a nice touch.
Good Morning: Gov. Christie walked over to our table at the café, where he was about to appear on CNN. We had a most excellent chat. He said he would check with medical experts about his MJ beliefs. The night before he allowed me to ask my question. What a way to end the week.
It was a week of weeks. 3 chats with Christie & Bush, two with Cruz, one with Kasich. 55 or so media interviews = I am headed to South Carolina tomorrow for a week…the eyes of the nation & world are there.
This week’s stats:
120 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 01 this week ( Lance (R-NJ)
124 interviews and reports in minor media = 23 this week.
60 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…15 this week
166 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 06 this week –
41 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 01 this week
Meetings/Hearings: 24 this week (lumping all the rallies into this week + Grover meeting)
COP stats since inception: August 2009
2149 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
23 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) this week
60 Radio Interviews.. 0 this week
82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week
* 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. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
**
