Too hot to talk about it: As I stop by the 540 offices for a 2-4 minute follow-up visit this year, I always ask the aide if they had a chance to ask the boss for an opinion of the LEAP position. This week an aide to a Republican (naturally) said he did so at a staff meeting, giving the one minute summary of my 20 minute visit. = (Prohibition is chaos. Crime would decrease by half, no drug dealers, stop funding al-Qaeda, reduce gangs, stop wasting 70 billion and allow LE to focus on child predators, DUI & terrorists.) He said the whole group erupted for 10 minutes in a heated discussion. No one argued with the LEAP premise. Finally, the Congressman said that no matter what, the issue was too hot & drop it. No progress? Hmmmm. But like my friend Peter Christ said, once you have heard the LEAP message, one can never read or hear about the topic, except thru the prism of the LEAP point of view. Five Star Service: I attended a seminar/briefing hosted by the American Constitution Society on Friday. In speaking with one of their staff I was invited to write an oped for their blog read by 50,000. As the staffer & I chatted on the way to his meeting in a Senate room, it occurred to me to stop by Senator Webb’s office & say hi. Webb’s principal judiciary aide was not there but I met his new assistant. I learned that there will be another hearing on the 2.3 million in prison next month. I asked him to consider LEAP speakers for the topic: How the WOD affects the number of people in prison. He said sure. As I boarded the train, it occurred to me (like a thud = duh) of the KISS principle that I had not employed since my arrival in 2005. It is not enough to inform MOCs of LEAP. I need to give them concrete names & bios of potential witnesses. Better late than never, LEAP is making up a list by subject area of who would be best to testify before a federal committee. When completed, I will hand deliver a copy of it to all members of the House and Senate judiciary committees. Make a drug warrior squirm for only 15 dollars: On my birthday I attended the monthly breakfast at the conservative Leadership Institute. Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA) spoke & then had to rush off, as he had breakfast date with President Bush. The moderator allowed for one question. My hand shot up (and as you know I arrive early to grab the closest seat to the speaker) & I was called upon. ‘Congressman, we now have 2.3 million citizens behind bars, more than any country in the world. Is this a tribute to the efficiency of law enforcement and something to be proud of? Or does this situation trouble you?‘ ‘Well, it is not something we should necessarily be proud of,’ he replied. He then began to babble about needing more faith-based prison programs to reduce recidivism. Being only 12 feet away (4 meters), I could see in his face that he felt anguish and was conflicted. That is a start. Small steps. I know that few of you reading this ever have the chance to confront a drug warrior politician & make them uncomfortable. That night I raised my glass of Crown, thought of you & hoped that the vicarious experience thru me was satisfying. BTW, You may be asking, why not ask the Congressman a bold, direct question of why he supports the war on drugs in the face of all the negative consequences. This would really make him squirm…The answer is I am following my instincts. The moderator calls upon me almost every breakfast. If I make his guest too uncomfortable, I am sure he will never let me ask a question again.