Posted January 25th, 2014 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of January 24, 2014
Job Option: I had my third meeting with John at a Senate office. It had been two years and we spent a minute catching up. His wife had their first child 2 months ago and he looked like a man with no sleep. I bragged on our 4 month old granddaughter and 4 y/o grandson.
Near the end of our 15 minute chat I mentioned my desire to terminate the job option to sell drugs for my grand kids and by extension John’s and everyone’s. I said having grand kids certainly focuses the mind and energy to do all one can to protect them. He agreed. He said he appreciated my passion.
I had never before mentioned my own grand kids in a presentation. I will in the future. I choked up during the chat, thinking of Hudson & Charlie whom I had just seen the prior weekend.
Slowing Down: I am making a major change in my day to day work on the Hill. I will be attempting a presentation with each of the 535 offices only once each session, instead of the previous once per year. The mental and physical requirements for completing that level of contact has become too much for this cowboy.
Late last year I had coffee with my mentor and COP Board Member Eric Sterling. I was on the verge of making COP an organization which would primarily connect speakers to Rotaries and radio. Luckily, Eric guided me to this compromise approach. I will still make contact via email and handouts to all offices in order to keep our issue and solution front and center with the Members. I love the work and always will. However, boarding a train at 0740 for a 10-12 hour day is a tough first step.
• 1477 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 07 this week
• 40 Radio Interviews.. 01 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
• 55 brief chats with Members of Congress.. 0 this week
• 48 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0
• 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)
• 72 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000)
• 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
Posted January 21st, 2014 by hiwayhowie
Posted January 20th, 2014 by hiwayhowie
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:
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
Posted January 14th, 2014 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of January 3 & 10, 2014
Push the macro concept: Wednesday was a busy day, starting with a 0730 breakfast of Texas Republicans. Congressman Gohmert was present and we have a small relationship. I asked him that given the smooth roll-out in Colorado, whether his next vacation would take him there. He smiled and shook his head…Later had two good chats with some local VIPs in the Republican Party. I pushed the idea that we need to remove marijuana as an issue for national debate before the next presidential cycle starts. This would become reality if the Congress repealed federal, MJ prohibition.
Later I gave the Grover Norquist group an update. Following that meeting was another meeting of an international group. I addressed them for 4-5 minutes, stressing the international economics of drug prohibition with an emphasis on how it funds terrorists who are corrupting and controlling small countries from Central America to the west coast of Africa. All of this NOT being good for business and security.
Who shakes your hand matters: Sunday we had breakfast at the local Cracker Barrel and it was over packed. Karen was also wearing her shirt and the hostess was about to lead us to our table, when the manager (coat & tie) asked why. Two minutes later he shook my hand and we were seated.
20 minutes later he came to our table to ask some more questions. I stood up and after another two minutes, he shook my hand. Many in the restaurant noticed and it certainly helps one’s credibility to have the manager openly support the shirt/position.
best film clip of 2013..5 minutes: http://wearechange.org/cops-say-legalize-pot/
Life: I will start presentations next week. I did catch up on all my paperwork over Christmas break. However, last Sunday I slipped on the ice and slightly dislocated my left shoulder. It is slowing me down a bit.. should be out of the sling in two weeks…able to ride my motorcycle in two months.
- 1466 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 01 this week
- 38 Radio Interviews.. 02 this week
- 52 brief chats with Members of Congress.. 01 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
- 47 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. this week
- 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)
- 72 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000)
- 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:
Posted January 14th, 2014 by hiwayhowie
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
