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LEAP on the Hill - Week of October 5, 2007 ( 1157 reads) |
Friday, October 12, 2007 (14:21:16) |
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Not my First Rodeo: Historic and ground-breaking. The Democratic, junior Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Jim Webb, held a hearing on Thursday. Title - Mass Incarceration in the United States: At What Cost? The hearing heard from 5 expert witnesses after 6 Senators and Congressmen spoke on the record. The word ‘prohibition’ was spoken by Congressman Hinchey. Others used the phrase War on Drugs as the generator of the massive incarceration numbers. An audience of about 50 of my colleagues attended this event. As the old hands said, no one could remember a hearing EVER being held on the consequences of the policy. I usually sit in the last row of such hearings because I don’t want my hat to block someone’s view. However, here I positioned myself near the front on the right edge. This allowed me to make eye contact with the several politicians who left before the formal end. Mouthing the words thank you and two thumbs up to Congressman Hinchey, he responded by tapping me lightly on the shoulder. Senator Webb promised more hearings on this topic. I later thanked him personally. THIS, boys and girls, was a small to medium step in the process of ending the New Prohibition. Keep the faith.
Explaining the Basics: On Wednesday morning I had my monthly breakfast at the conservative Leadership Institute. The ambassador from Taiwan was the featured speaker. His aide sat next to me and engaged me in conversation. (The Misty ride is a great ice breaker and I always carry her photo with me) I gave him a mini-Kiwanis club presentation which helped him go from zero to a decent grasp and understanding of the dynamics of our drug policy. (He was a very bright guy). Having read his business card when he gave it to me (a very good habit, by the way), I noticed his title. Thus I made sure to mention that terrorists make billions selling drugs here in the century of 9/11. How does the time spent with the political director of the Taiwan embassy move the issue forward? I don’t know exactly. However, he will never again be without the LEAP point of view on this topic.
Finding Allies: On Friday I attended the Americans for Prosperity convention in DC. We heard from 5 Republican presidential candidates. After Giuliani spoke for a good 20 minutes Ron Paul spoke. After a scant 10 minutes they started playing marching music to get him off the podium. He ignored the rude behavior (Texans hate rude behavior) and finished his speech two minutes later. (I have a Ron Paul sign in the front yard) Later, John Stossel of ABC News spent 5 of his 30 minutes giving a LEAP speech worthy of remembering. Wearing the LEAP shirt over my good clothes, I had about 35 chats with folks from 18 to 80. All but the one religious person agreed of the need to end prohibition. Mr. Religion did go so silent when I quoted from the Bible: Matthew 15:11 ….”Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; that which cometh out of the mouth defileth a man.” One’s quiver should contain an assortment of arrows, n’est-ce pas?
Next Week: As you know Karen and I are getting married next weekend. I am back the next day and have a busy, busy week. I may not write a newsletter next week.
Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired)
Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc)
Washington, DC
Hablo espanol, je parle francais, Deutsch auch |
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