COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of May 8, 2015
Posted May 16th, 2015 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of May 8, 2015
Where is the Luftwaffe? On the 8th I was invited to the German embassy for a lunch meeting. My contact is leaving for a new assignment. He wanted me to make a solid connection with his replacement. Halfway thru lunch, the skies were filled with large, noisy mosquitoes, as World War planes flew overhead for an aerial parade marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII.
One of the three Germans at the table said the German planes should be coming soon to shoot the Americans down. Who said the Germans have no sense of humor?
No one blinks: On my fun day (wearing The Shirt- see home page) I am often patting my briefcase, saying it is full of free samples and is THE reason I expect to pass the bill. Even going thru security (Capitol police who arrested my friend Irv Rosenfeld a year ago), I tell the police about my jam-packed case full of samples…they just smile and wave me thru.
Almost everyone breaks into a smile, or cracks a grin or gives me a thumbs up, when they read the shirt in the hallways of the Congress. It is a very positive sign that in the Halls of Power, few take seriously that marijuana should be illegal.
He likes cigars: Dropping off 100 notices of the new repeal MJ prohibition bill in Rayburn, Rep. Sensenbrenner ( R-WI) {chairman of the subcommittee on crime and drugs), happened to come out of his personal office, when I came thru the front door. As I was chatting with the aide, I smelled a cigar, as the Congressman came back thru the reception area. No doubt he read my shirt (it was a fun day), no doubt annoying him. Mission accomplished.
Five O’clock Somewhere: I was finishing up a floor in Rayburn about to head home, when an aide I had met previously engaged me in a chat. He and his buddy asked if I liked whiskey & then invited me into the back for a conversation. Nearly an hour later and having solved several world problems, we decided to go home.
Karen, recently nominated for Sainthood, kissed me, when I finally arrived home.
Note: much time was spent this week preparing for the German lunch i.e. studying my vocabulary
1838 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 05 this week
03 meetings this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
16 Conversations (five minutes or longer) with Member of Congress.. this week
68 brief chats with Members of Congress.. this week
38 published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 00 this week
145 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 00 this week
88 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. this week
57 Radio Interviews.. this week
22 major conferences attended.. (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0 this week
38 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)
81 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
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