COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of January 23, 2015

Stories from the week of January 23, 2015

Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell: “Hey, where are my free samples?” shouted the Capitol Police officer who was checking people at the entrance to the Cannon building. I had just said a few words to a Member and I will admit to be momentarily speechless, before I replied, “Sorry, I already gave them all away.” The Member did not ask & I did not tell and we parted company. Too bold, too open for the officer? Yikes!

Making Grover Norquist smile: Due to the protest march against Roe v Wade, the Norquist brunch had many special guests this week. After the meeting I introduced myself to a German Right to Lifer who was part of an international org. We spoke two minutes auf Deutsch. I then turned to her colleague from Mexico and had a brief chat in Spanish. Making Grover’s guests feel welcome is part of my job.

Good Guy?: Almost late for a soirée in the Capitol I tried to use the tunnel from Cannon. The first officer said I would have to go up and out and come in via the Visitor’s Center…a 10 minute task. His colleague said I know this guy and he is okay…they let me use the tunnel and I arrived just as the event opened their doors. The event featured Senator Paul and the three, black Members: Mia Love of Utah, Will Hurd of Texas and Senator Scott of SC. I made some good contacts. Crown and chocolate that night!

Change the World: Nico Orduz of LEAP and I had a planning meeting before the soirée. We will visit the embassies in this hemisphere. We will introduce them to LEAP and suggest they sponsor changes to the 1961 treaty which began world-wide prohibition. Our first visit should be in two weeks. !Buena suerte a nosotros!

Georgia on my mind: Georgia NORML is working hard for change and a state senator asked for resources to persuade his colleagues. He and I chatted for 15 minutes. I sent his judiciary staffer several sheets on marijuana that I use in Congress. Later I started the ball rolling to provide him with LEAP assets in the Peachtree State…where I graduated from high school

I was knocked out the first part of this year with a nasty cold, laryngitis. I am back to 100%

This week’s raw data:

1702 Presentations to Congressional staffers..  12 this week

58 brief chats with Members of Congress..   04 this week

12 Conversations (five minutes or longer) with Member of Congress..  01  this week

(Weber R-TX, Ros-Lehtinen R-FL, Castro D-TX, Waters D-CA, Roby R-AL)

106 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     01 this week

03 meetings this week

•   COP stats since inception: August 2009
• 20 major conferences attended..   (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review,  etc) 0 this week
• 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..    0 this week

53 Radio Interviews..  0 this week

80 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $79,000).. 0 this week

38  Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)

• 28published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine…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.    …