COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of April 4, 2014

Stories from the week of April 4, 2014

COP or LEAP business card?:  At Grover Norquist’s brunch this week Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal spoke for 10 minutes.  From the situations he had described I knew he could benefit from powerful, law enforcement voices.  I would be lucky to grab 30 seconds of his time, as he was rushed by aides towards the elevator.

He gave me 20 seconds and I told him how LEAP could provide the expertise he was looking for.  The business card I gave him had the LEAP website on it, not COP.

COP members and those reading this, when this horrific drug prohibition is in the history books next to our alcohol prohibition, within a few years no one will know or care what organizations led the charge or which individuals made the greatest impact.  How many  among us can name one person or organization which helped bring about change in 1933?

Thus, when appropriate to have the greatest impact for change, I will distribute a LEAP card.   It simply says I am the Co-Founder of LEAP and the LEAP website.  Know I am very proud of what COP has accomplished and continues to do since 2009.  That will not change.  I hope and trust your support for COP will continue also. You are buying the train & metro tickets which put me in the same room as a Gov. Jindal.  Thank you.    Let’s  git-r-dun.  Your feedback is welcomed.

 Women, Drug Policy and Incarceration in the Americas:  This was the theme at the seminar sponsored by Uruguay at the OAS (Organization of American States) headquarters in the shadow of the White House.  Uruguay’s ambassador Romani – whom I met in Vienna – recognized me and LEAP in his opening remarks as being signs of support and technical help needed to end drug prohibition.

Between the OAS and an earlier one at CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) 5 people I met in Vienna were in attendance +  the Swiss attaché I met last month at the embassy.

Points for style & Not my First Rodeo with a politician: The National Journal  filmed &  interviewed the Chairman of the House  Judiciary Goodlatte on Thursday  at the Newseum .  Sitting on the front row I raised my hand to ask a question.  The moderator said, ‘Points for style.  The gentleman with the nice hat.’  In front of the 200 assembled +  XXXXX in Television Land I made several statements before asking a question I knew he would not answer…always put out your message  inside the question.  (full paragraph at bottom).  And of course  Goodlatte did not touch the question of what are the benefits and advantages of drug prohibition for kids.

COP stats since inception: August 2009

• 79 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.    04 this week

• 41 Radio Interviews..   this week   
•  1490 Presentations to Congressional staffers..    this week
• 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..    this week
• 36 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)… this week
• 18 major conferences attended..  this week (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions.  etc)    this week
• 26  published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine… this week

         77 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $75,000)..  this week

             55 brief chats with Members of Congress..   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.    …  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

** I introduced myself at the co-founder of LEAP – Law Enforcement Against Prohibition..’Per my experience as a police officer the war on drugs has been the most destructive, dysfunctional and IMMORAL policy since slavery and Jim Crow.  My concern is for children who are hurt three ways by policy: 1 – Per the DEA “Drugs are readily available to America’s youth.”  2.  My fellow detectives are missing pedophiles who rape our children because they are  spending time chasing a green plant or a white powder. 3.  Every teen in America has a job option to sell drugs which results in several thousand shot and shot dead every year.

Tell us Congressman the advantages and benefits of the drug war for our kids or do you need to hold some hearings to find out?’