Stories from the weeks of December 7 and 14, 2012

COP on the Hill

Stories from the weeks of December 7 and 14, 2012

Call United Van Lines:  The hallways of the House Office Buildings are a mess.  Furniture is stacked up in the hallways of over half the offices.   This in preparation to deep  clean the offices of those defeated or retired and Members who want a nicer office now have more seniority.  Name plates are stripped from their mounts, as if the Congressman were already gone.  Thus, making presentations is impossible.

The Senate affords their Members a bit more dignity.  The Senators leaving are allowed in their offices until the last day of the session.  Then the hallways become the same mess as the House.  Since all energy is focused on the ‘Fiscal Cliff’ not much else can be done.

Mundane work for COP:  This whole month is primarily devoted to cleaning up my spread sheets, dropping the Members no longer here and adding the 70 or so that are coming to town for the first time.  I have also sent out some 200 email Christmas greetings to journalists and VIPs I have met over the years.

CATO has put on two excellent programs regarding drug prohibition.  On the 5^th I arrived early and was rewarded.  The DC correspondent for the largest Mexican television network: Televisa: and I started chatting upon his arrival.  He then asked for a 5 minute in camera interview on the topic.  ?You want to be on Mexican TV?  Be ready at the drop of a hat to be fluent in Spanish!  NOTE:  Unless there is an important event or hearing in DC, every Tuesday morning you will find me in a two hour ‘charla’ group at a local coffee shop.  That is how I maintain and improve my Spanish.  My T-shirt allows me to speak to dozens per week.  With TV the same message reaches sometimes into the low millions.

I also attended a film opening in DC, “Colombia Unwrapped.”  I had an excellent chat with the director and producer.  Neill Franklin of LEAP was one of the several stars.  He is a natural for a documentary.

I attended a strategy session on marijuana on the 11^th.  We in reform are confident that our Member/Champion will introduce a bill in the House almost identical to the first one: HR 2306….apply the 10^th Amendment – States’ Rights.   I am relieved.

Throw in a one hour radio program for attorneys and that describes the two weeks.

A moderate wind is blowing on my back.  It feels wonderful.  It feels strange.  I remember well the gale winds in my face in Texas, when I started this journey 15 years ago.

Merry Christmas to you and your family and or Season’s Greetings.  Hug the kids a little tighter.  We have a 3 y/o grandson in Connecticut who just started pre-school. For 2-3 seconds my brain whirled at the thought he could he be a victim, before I realized he could not. Still.

Carpé Diem.

Fourth year stats for COP- August 1, 2012 thru July 31, 2013:

52 Presentations to Congressional staffers: 1 this week

4 TV (major networks = Fox, ABC, Televisa etc) interviews: 1 this week

7 Radio interviews:   1 this week

15 Blog, cable TV, minor media events:  1 this week

7 Newspaper articles:   this week

2 seminar, hearing or briefing attended:  this week

1 chat with Congressman:  this week

11 Presentations to lesser VIPs:  this week

Total stats for COP in first 3 years (not including Fourth Year stats):

• 944 Presentations to Congressional staffers
• 26 Appearances on major TV networks
• 14 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers
• 27 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, etc
• 66 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $65,000)
• 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning my efforts & in support of COP position
• 33 brief chats with Members of Congress
• 19 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, etc.
• 10 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)
• Permanent invitation to 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.   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